CHAPTER XX 197. The great battle between the French and English at Crecy(i346). (From Froissart's Chronicles. ) THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR I. FROISSART'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF CRECY [Having reached a point near Crecy,] the king of England was well informed how the French king followed after him to fight. Then he said to his company : " Let us take here some plot of ground, for we will go no farther till we have seen our enemies. I have good cause here to abide them, for I am on the right heritage of the queen, my mother, the which land was given her at her marriage ; I will challenge it of mine adversary, Philip of Valois." And because he had not the eighth part in number of men that the French king had, therefore he commanded his marshals to choose a plot of ground somewhat for his advantage ; and so they did, and thither the king and his host went. . . . That night the king made a supper to all his chief lords of his host, and made them good cheer ; and when they were all departed to take their rest, then the king entered into his oratory and kneeled down before the altar, praying God devoutly that if he fought the next day he might achieve the expedition to his honor. Then about midnight he laid him down to rest, and in the morning he rose betimes and heard mass, and the prince his son with him ; and the most part of his company were confessed and received the com- munion ; and after the mass was said, he commanded every man to be armed and to draw to the field, to the same place before appointed. . . . Then [after arranging his army in three divisions,] the king lept on a palfrey, with a white rod in his hand, one of his marshals on the one hand and the other on the other hand. He rode from rank to rank, desiring every man to 466
