。
Here； a great number of peasantry attempted a defence； but were easily defeated and a number of prisoners taken。 Late in the evening the Earl of Warwick； who had pushed forward as far as Abbeville and St。 Valery； returned with the news that the passages at those places were as strongly guarded as elsewhere； but he had learnt from a peasant that a ford existed somewhere below Abbeville； although the man was himself ignorant of its position。
Edward at once called the prisoners belonging to that part of the country before him； and promised to any one who would tell him where the ford lay his freedom and that of twenty of his companions。 A peasant called Gobin Agase stepped forward and offered to show the ford； where at low tide twelve men could cross abreast。 It was； he said； called 〃La Blanche Tache〃。
Edward left Oisemont at midnight and reached the ford at daylight。 The river； however； was full and the army had to wait impatiently for low tide。 When they arrived there no enemy was to be seen on the opposite bank； but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to be attempted； Sir Godemar du Fay with 12；000 men； sent by King Phillip； who was aware of the existence of the ford； arrived on the opposite side。
The enterprise was a difficult one indeed； for the water； even at low tide； is deep。 Godemar du Fay； however； threw away part of his advantage by advancing into the stream。 The English archers lined the banks； and poured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy； while the Genoese bowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistance to the French。
King Edward shouted to his knights； 〃Let those who love me follow me；〃 and spurred his horse into the water。 Behind him followed his most valiant knights； and Walter riding close to the Prince of Wales was one of the foremost。
The French resisted valiantly and a desperate battle took place on the narrow ford； but the impetuosity of the English prevailed； and step by step they drove the French back to the other side of the river。 The whole army poured after their leaders； and the French were soon entirely routed and fled； leaving two thousand men…at…arms dead on the field。
King Edward； having now freed himself from the difficulties which had encompassed him on the other side of the river； prepared to choose a ground to give battle to the whole French army。
Louis had advanced slowly； feeling confident that the English would be unable to cross the river； and that he should catch them hemmed in by it。 His mortification and surprise on finding； when he approached La Blanche Tache； that twelve thousand men had been insufficient to hold a ford by which but twelve could cross abreast； and that his enemy had escaped from his grasp； were great。 The tide had now risen again； and he was obliged to march on to Abbeville and cross the river there。
King Edward now advanced into the Forest of Cressy。
Hugh de le Spencer； with a considerable force； was despatched to Crotoy； which he carried by assault after a severe conflict； in which four thousand of the French men…at…arms were slain。 The capture of this city removed all danger of want from the army； for large stores of wine and meal were found there； and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the tired army in the field。
The possession of Crotoy and the mouth of the Somme would have now rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops to England； and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of his extraordinary and most successful march through France。 The army； however； was elated by the many great successes it had won； he was now in Ponthieu； which was one of his own fiefs； and he determined to make a stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy。
Next morning； then … Friday the 25th of August； 1346 … he despatched the Earl of Warwick with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham； to examine the ground and choose a site for a battle。
The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his councillors； and the king yielded to the Black Prince the chief place of danger and honour placing with him the Earl of Warwick； Sir John Chandos； and many of his best knights。
The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope between the forest of Cressy and the river Maie near the little village of Canchy。 The slope looked towards the south and east； from which quarters the enemy was expected to arrive； and some slight defences were added to the natural advantages of the ground。
On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host were entertained by King Edward。 Next morning； Mass was celebrated； and the king； the prince； and many knights and nobles received the Sacrament； after which the trumpet sounded； and the army marched to take up its position。 Its numbers are variously estimated； but the best account puts it at about 30；000 men which； considering that 32；000 had crossed the Channel to La Hogue； is probably about the force which would have been present allowing that 2000 had fallen in the various actions or had died from disease。
The division of the Black Prince consisted of 800 men…at…arms； 4000 archers； and 6000 Welsh foot。 The archers； as usual； were placed in front； supported by the light troops of Wales and the men…at…arms； on his left was the second division； commanded by the Earls of Arundel and Northampton； its extreme left rested on Canchy and the river； and it was further protected by a deep ditch； this corps was about 7000 strong。
The king himself took up his position on a knoll of rising ground surmounted by a windmill； and 12；000 men under his personal command were placed here in reserve。
In the rear of the Prince's division an enclosure of stakes was formed； in this； guarded by a small body of archers； were ranged the wagons and baggage of the army； together with all the horses； the king having determined that the knights and men…at…arms on his side should fight on foot。
When the army had taken up its position； the king； mounted on a small palfrey； with a white staff in his hand； rode from rank to rank exhorting his soldiers to do their duty gallantly。 It was nearly noon before he had passed through all the lines； and permission was then given to the soldiers to fall out from their ranks and to take refreshments while waiting for the coming of the enemy。 This was accordingly done； the men eating and drinking at their ease and lying down in their ranks on the soft grass with their steel caps and their bows or pikes beside them。
In the meantime the French had； on their side； been preparing for the battle。 Phillip had crossed the Somme at Abbeyville late on Thursday afternoon； and remained there next day marshalling the large reinforcements which were hourly arriving。 His force now considerably exceeded 100；000 men； the number with which he had marched from Amiens three days previously。
Friday was the festival of St。 Louis； and that evening Phillip gave a splendid banquet to the whole of the nobles of his army。
On the following morning the king； accompanied by his brother the Count d'Alencon； the old King of Bohemia and his son； the King of Rome； the Duke of Lorraine； the Count of Blois； the Count of Flanders； and a great number of other feudal princes； heard Mass at the Abbey； and then marched with his great army towards Cressy。 He moved but slowly in order to give time to all the forces scattered over the neighbourhood to come up； and four knights； headed by one of the King of Bohemia's officers； went forward to reconnoitre the English position。 They approached within a very short distance of the English lines and gained a very exact knowledge of the position； the English taking no measures to interrupt the reconnaissance。 They returned with the information they had gathered； and the leader of the party； Le Moyne de Basele； one of the most judicious officers of his time； strongly advised the king to halt his troops； pointing out that as it was evident the English were ready to give battle； and as they were fresh and vigorous while the French were wearied and hungry； it would be better to encamp and give battle the next morning。
Phillip saw the wisdom of the advice and ordered his two marshals the Lord of St。 Venant and Charles de Montmorency to command a halt。 They instantly spurred off； one to the front and the other to the rear； commanding the leaders to halt their banners。 Those in advance at once obeyed； but those behind still pressed on； declaring that they would not halt until they were in the front line。 All wanted to be first； in order to obtain their share of the honour and glory of defeating the English。 Those in front； seeing the others still coming on； again pressed forward； and thus； in spite of the efforts of the king and his marshals； the French nobles with their followers pressed forward in confusion； until； passing through a small wood； they found themselves suddenly in the presence of the English army。
CHAPTER XIV： CRESSY
The surprise of the French army at finding themselves in the presence of the English was so great that the first line recoiled in confusion。 Those marching up from behind imagined that they had been already engaged and repulsed by the English； and the disorder spread through the whole army； and was increased by the common people； who had crowded to the field in immense numbers from the whole country round to see the battle and share in the plunder of the English camp。
From King Edward's position on the rising ground he could see the confusion which prevailed in the French ranks； and small as were his forces he would probably have obtained an easy victory by ordering a sudden charge upon them。 The English； however； being dismounted； but small results would have followed the scattering of the great host of the French。 The English army therefore remained immovable； except that the soldiers rose from the ground； and taking their places in the ranks； awaited the onslaught of the enemy。
King Phillip himself now arrived on the field and his hatred for the English led him at once to disregard the advice which had been given him and to order the battle to commence as soon as possible。
The army was divided into four bod