CHAPTER LV.

THE BATTLE OF CRECY, BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND OF ENGLAND.

The English, who were drawn up in three divisions and seated on the ground, seeing their enemies advance, rose undauntedly up, and fell into their ranks. That of the prince was the first to do so, whose archers were formed in the manner of a portcullis, or harrow, and the men at arms in the rear. The Earls of Northampton and Arundel, who commanded the second division, had posted themselves in good order on his wing to succor the prince, if necessary.

You must know that these kings, earls, barons, and lords of France did not advance in any regular order, but one after the other, or any way most pleasing to themselves. As soon as the King of France came in sight of the English, his blood began to boil, and he cried out to his marshals, “Order the Genoese forward, and begin the battle, in the name of God and St. Denis!” There were about fifteen thousand Genoese crossbow-men; but they were quite fatigued, having marched on foot that day six leagues, completely armed and with their crossbows. They told the constable they were not in a fit condition to do any great things that day in battle. The Earl of Alençon, hearing this, said, “This is what one gets by employing such scoundrels, who fall off when there is any need for them.” During this time a heavy rain fell, accompanied by thunder and a very terrible eclipse of the sun; and before this rain a great flight of crows hovered in the air over all those battalions, making a loud noise. Shortly afterwards it cleared up, and the sun shone very bright; but the Frenchmen had it in their faces, and the English at their backs. When the Genoese were somewhat in order, and approached the English, they set up a loud shout in order to frighten them; but they remained quite still, and did not seem to attend to it. They then set up a second shout, and advanced a little forward; but the English never moved.

They hooted a third time, advancing with their crossbows presented, and began to shoot. The English archers then advanced one step forward, and shot their arrows with such force and quickness, that it seemed as if it snowed. When the Genoese felt these arrows, which pierced their arms, heads, and through their armor, some of them cut the strings of their crossbows, others flung them on the ground, and all turned about and retreated quite discomfited. The French had a large body of men at arms on horseback, richly dressed, to support the Genoese. The King of France, seeing them thus fall back, cried out, “Kill me those scoundrels; for they stop up our road, without any reason.” Then you should have seen the above-mentioned men at arms lay about them, killing all they could of these runaways.

The English continued shooting as vigorously and quickly as before. Some of their arrows fell among the horsemen, who were sumptuously equipped, and, killing and wounding many, made them caper and fall among the Genoese, so that they were in such confusion they could never rally again. In the English army there were some Cornish and Welshmen on foot, who had armed themselves with large knives: these, advancing through the ranks of the men at arms and archers, who made way for them, came upon the French when they were in this danger, and, falling upon earls, barons, knights, and squires, slew many; at which the King of England was afterwards much displeased. The valiant King of Bohemia was slain there. He was called Charles of Luxembourg, for he was the son of the gallant king and emperor Henry of Luxembourg. Having heard the order of the battle, he inquired where his son the Lord Charles was: his attendants answered that they did not know, but believed he was fighting. The king said to them, “Gentlemen, you are all my people, my friends and brethren at arms this day: therefore, as I am blind, I request of you to lead me so far into the engagement that I may strike one stroke with my sword.” The knights replied, they

would directly lead him forward; and, in order that they might not lose him in the crowd, they fastened all the reins of their horses together, and put the king at their head, that he might gratify his wish, and advanced toward the enemy. The Lord Charles of Bohemia, who already signed his name as King of Germany, and bore the arms, had come in good order to the engagement; but, when he perceived that it was likely to turn out against the French, he departed, and I do not well know what road he took. The king his father rode in among the enemy, and made good use of his sword; for he and his companions fought most gallantly. They advanced so far that they were all slain; and on the morrow they were found on the ground, with their horses all tied together.

The Earl of Alençon advanced in regular order upon the English, to fight with them, as did the Earl of Flanders in another part. These two lords with their detachments, coasting, as it were, the archers, came to the prince’s battalion, where they fought valiantly for a length of time. The King of France was eager to march to the place where he saw their banners displayed; but there was a hedge of archers before him. He had that day made a present of a handsome black horse to Sir John of Hainault, who had mounted on it a knight of his called Sir John de Fusselles, that bore his banner; which horse ran off with him, and forced his way through the English army, and, when about to return, stumbled and fell into a ditch, and severely wounded him. He would have been dead if his page had not followed him round the battalions, and found him unable to rise: he had not, however, any other hinderance than from his horse, for the English did not quit the ranks that day to make prisoners. The page alighted, and raised him up; but he did not return the way he came, as he would have found it difficult from the crowd. This battle, which was fought on the Saturday between La Broyes and Crecy, was very murderous and cruel, and many gallant deeds of arms were performed that were never known. Toward evening many knights and squires of the French had lost their masters: they wandered up and down the plain, attacking the English in small parties. They were soon destroyed; for the English had determined that day to give no quarter, or hear of ransom from any one.

Early in the day some French, Germans, and Savoyards had broken through the archers of the prince’s battalion, and had engaged with the men at arms; upon which the second battalion came to his aid, and it was time, for otherwise he would have been hard pressed. The first division, seeing the danger they were in, sent a knight in great haste to the King of England, who was posted upon an eminence near a windmill. On the knight’s arrival he said, “Sir, the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Reginald Cobham, and the others who are about your son, are vigorously attacked by the French; and they entreat that you would come to their assistance with your battalion, for, if their numbers should increase, they fear he will have too much to do.” The king replied, “Is my son dead, unhorsed, or so badly wounded that he cannot support himself?”--“Nothing of the sort, thank God,” rejoined the knight; “but he is in so hot an engagement that he has great need of your help.” The king answered, “Now, Sir Thomas, return to those that sent you, and tell them from me not to send again for me this day, or expect that I shall come, let what will happen, as long as my son has life: and say that I command them to let the boy win his spurs; for I am determined, if it please God, that all the glory and honor of this day shall be given to him and to those into whose care I have intrusted him.” The knight returned to his lords, and related the king’s answer, which mightily encouraged them, and made them repent they had ever sent such a message.

It is a certain fact, that Sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who was in the prince’s battalion, having been told by some of the English that they had seen the banner of his brother engaged in the battle against him, was exceedingly anxious to save him; but he was too late, for he was left dead on the field, and so was the Earl of Aumarle, his nephew. On the other hand, the Earls of Alençon and of Flanders were fighting lustily under their banners, and with their own people; but they could not resist the force of the English, and were there slain, as well as many other knights and squires that were attending on or accompanying them. The Earl of Blois, nephew to the King of France, and the Duke of Lorraine, his brother-in-law, with their troops, made a gallant defence; but they were surrounded by a troop of English and Welsh, and slain in spite of their prowess. The Earl of St. Pol and the Earl of Auxerre were also killed, as well as many others. Late after vespers, the King of France had not more about him than sixty men, every one included. Sir John of Hainault, who was of the number, had once remounted the king, for his horse had been killed under him by an arrow: he said to the king, “Sir, retreat while you have an opportunity, and do not expose yourself so simply: if you have lost this battle, another time you will be the conqueror.” After he had said this, he took the bridle of the king’s horse, and led him off by force, for he had before entreated of him to retire. The king rode on until he came to the castle of La Broyes, where he found the gates shut, for it was very dark. The king ordered the governor of it to be summoned: he came upon the battlements, and asked who it was that called at such an hour. The king answered, “Open, open, governor: it is the fortune of France.” The governor, hearing the king’s voice, immediately descended, opened the gate, and let down the bridge. The king and his company entered the castle; but he had only with him five barons,--Sir John of Hainault, the Lord Charles of Montmorency, the Lord of Beaujeu, the Lord of Aubigny, and the Lord of Montfort. The king would not bury himself in such a place as that, but, having taken some refreshments, set out again with his attendants about midnight, and rode on under the direction of guides who were well acquainted with the country, until about daybreak he came to Amiens, where he halted. This Saturday the English never quitted their ranks in pursuit of any one, but remained on the field, guarding their position, and defending themselves against all who attacked them. The battle was ended at the hour of vespers.

[There can be no better opportunity than this celebrated chapter affords to show the young reader how Froissart’s Chronicles looked, both in their first English guise, and in the original old French. It is, therefore, repeated here in both versions.

The first is especially valuable as an example of how our language looked and sounded during the first quarter of the sixteenth century. The translator, John Bourchier, Lord Berners, was a notable soldier and statesman, as well as a scholar. He came of a good family: his grandfather was son of Anne, granddaughter of King Edward the Third. He was born about 1467; in due time went to college, fought in the French wars, travelled on the Continent, became a favorite of King Henry the Eighth, was employed in honorable embassies, became chancellor of the exchequer, and finally passed his quiet age as governor of Calais. It was at the request of King Henry the Eighth that he translated Froissart into English, though he evidently loved our fine old writer on his own account, and speaks thus in his quaint preface: “...Whan I advertysed and remembred the manyfolde comodyties of hystorie, howe benefyciall it is to mortall folke, and eke howe laudable and merytoryous a deed it is to write hystories, fixed my mynde to do some thyng therein; and ever whan this ymaginacyon came to me, I volved, tourned, and redde many volumes and bokes, conteyning famouse histories; and amonge all other, I redde diligently the four volumes or bokes of sir Johan Froyssart of the countrey of Heynaulte, written in the Frenche tonge, whiche I iudged comodyous, necessarie, and profytable to be hadde in Englysshe, sithe they treat of the famous actes done in our parties; ... and specially they redounde to the honoure of Englysshemen.”

Accordingly, under the “gracyous suppertacyon” of the king, he made his translation, the first volume of which was printed by Pyason in the year 1523, announcing itself thus: “Here begynnith the firste volum of Syr John Froissart: of the Cronycles of Englande, Fraunce, Spayne, Portyugale, Scotlande, Bretaine, Flaunders: and other places adjoynynge. Translated oute of Frenche into oure maternall Englysshe tongue, by John Bouchier, knyghte, lorde Berners: At the commandement of oure moste hyghe redouted Soveraygne lorde kynge Henrye the VIII, kynge of Englaunde, Fraunce, and Irelande, defendour of the faith: and of the church of Englande and also of Irelande in earth the supreme heade.”

I earnestly hope that this following chapter of what may perhaps fairly be called the first classic in modern English prose may tempt some young reader hereafter to study Berners more carefully, and to re-infuse, under his influence, the old fire and color and brightness into the pale and often pitiful sentences of our current style.--S. L.]

_Of the batayle of Cressy bytwene the kyng of England and the frenche kyng._

CAP. CXXX.

Thenglysshmen who were in thre batayls, lyeing on the grounde to rest them, assone as they saw the frenchmen aproche, they rose upon their fete, fayre and easely, without any hast, and arranged their batayls: the first, which was the princes batell, the archers there stode in manner of a herse,[7] and the men of armes in the botome of the batayle. Therle of Northāpton,[8] and therle of Arundell, with the second batell, were on a wyng in good order, redy to confort the princes batayle, if nede were. The lordes and knyghtes of France, cāe{A} not to the assemble togyder in good order, for some cāe before, and some came after, in such hast and yvell order, yᵗ[9] one of thē{A} dyd trouble another: whan the french kyng sawe the englysshmen, his blode chaunged, and sayde to his marshals, make the genowayes go on before, and begynne the batayle in the name of god and saynt Denyse; ther were of the genowayes crosbowes, about a fiftene thousand, but they were so wery of goyng a fote that day, a six leages, armed with their crosbowes, that they sayde to their constables, we be not well ordred to fyght this day, for we be not in the case to do any great dede of armes, we have more nede of rest: these wordes came to the erle of Alanson, who sayd, a man is well at ease to be charged wᵗ[10] suche a sorte of rascalles, to be faynt and fayle now at moost nede. Also the same season there fell a great rayne, and a clyps, with a terryble thunder, and before the rayne, ther came fleyng over both batayls, a great nombre of crowes, for feare of the tempest comynge. Than anone the eyre beganne to wax clere, and the sonne to shyne fayre and bright, the which was right in the french mens eyen and on the englysshmens backes. Whan the genowayes were assembled toguyder, and beganne to aproche, they made a great leape and crye, to abasshe thenglysshmen, but they stode styll, and styredde not for all that; tha[=n]e the genowayes agayne the seconde tyme made another leape, and a fell crye, and stepped forward a lytell, and thenglysshmen remeued not one fote; thirdly agayne they leapt and cryed, and went forthe tyll they come within shotte; tha[=n]e they shotte feersly with their crosbowes; than thenglysshe archers stept forthe one pase, and lette fly their arowes so hotly, and so thycke, that it semed snowe: when the genowayes felte the arowes persynge through heedes, armes, and brestes, many of them cast downe their crosbowes, and dyde cutte their strynges, and retourned dysconfited. Whan the frenche kynge sawe them flye away, he sayd, slee these rascals, for they shall lette and trouble us without reason: then ye shulde have sene the men of armes dasshe in among them, and kylled a great nombre of them; and ever styll the englysshmen shot where as they sawe thyckest preace; the sharpe arowes ranne into the men of armes, and into their horses, and many fell, horse and men, amōge[11] the genowayes; and when they were downe, they coude not relyve agayne, the preace was so thycke, that one overthrewe another. And also amonge the englysshemen there were certayne rascalles that went a fote, with great knyves, and they went in among the men of armes, and slewe and murdredde many as they lay on the grounde, bothe erles, baronnes, knyghtes, and squyers, whereof the kyng of Englande was after dyspleased, for he had rather they had bene taken prisoners. The valyant kyng of Behaygne, called Charles of Luzenbourge, sonne to the noble emperour Henry of Luzenbourge, for all that he was nyghe blynde, whan he understode the order of the batayle, he sayde to them about hym, where is the lorde Charles my son, his men sayde, sir, we can not tell, we thynke he be fyghtynge; than he sayde, sirs, ye ar my men, my companyons, and frendes in this iourney. I requyre you bring me so farre forwarde, that I may stryke one stroke with my swerde: they sayde they wolde do his commandement, and to the intent that they shulde not lese hym in the prease, they tyed all their raynes of their bridelles eche to other, and sette the kynge before to acomplysshe his desyre, and so thei went on their ennemyes; the lorde Charles of Behaygne, his sonne, who wrote hymselfe kyng of Behaygne, and bare the armes, he came in good order to the batayle, but wha[=n]e he sawe that the matter wente awrie on their partie, he departed, I can not tell you whiche waye; the kynge his father was so farre forewarde that he strake a stroke with his swerde, ye and mo than foure, and fought valyantly, and so dyde his company, and they advētured themselfe so forwarde, that they were ther all slayne, and the next day they were founde in the place about the kyng, and all their horses tyed eche to other. The erle of Alansone came to the batayle right ordynotlye, and fought with thenglysshmen; and the erle of Flaunders also on his parte; these two lordes with their cōpanyes coosted the englysshe archers, and came to the princes batayle, and there fought valyantly longe. The frenche kynge wolde fayne have come thyder whanne he sawe their baners, but there was a great hedge of archers before hym. The same day the frenche kynge hadde gyven a great blacke courser to sir Johan of Heynault, and he made the lorde Johan of Fussels to ryde on hym, and to bere his banerre; the same horse tooke the bridell in the tethe, and brought hym through all the currours of thēglysshmen, and as he wolde have retourned agayne, he fell in a great dyke, and was sore hurt, and had ben ther deed, and his page had not ben,[12] who folowed hym through all the batayls, and sawe wher his maister lay in the dyke, and had none other lette but for his horse, for thenglysshmen wolde not yssue out of their batayle, for takyng of any prisoner; tha[=n]e the page alyghted and relyved his maister, than he went not backe agayn yᵉ same way that they came, there was to many in his way. This batayle bytwene Broy and Cressy, this saturday, was right cruell and fell, and many a feat of armes done, that came not to my knowledge; in the night, dyverse knyghtes and sqyers lost their maisters, and sometyme came on thenglysshmen, who receyved them in suche wyse, that they were ever nighe slayne, for there was none taken to mercy nor to raunsome, for so the englysshmen were determyned: in the mornyng the day of the batayle, certayne frenchemen and almaygnes[13] perforce opyned the archers of the princes batayle, and came and fought with the men of armes hande to hande: than the seconde batayle of thenglysshmen came to socour the princes batayle, the whiche was tyme, for they had as than moche ado; and they with yᵉ prince sent a messanger to the kynge, who was on a lytell wyndmyll hyll; than the knyght sayd to the kyng, sir, therle of Warwyke, and therle of Cāfort, sir Reynolde Cobham, and other, suche as be about the prince your sonne, ar feersly fought with all, and are sore handled, wherfore they desyre you, that you and your batayle wolle come and ayde them, for if the frenchmen encrease, as they dout they woll, your sonne and they shall have much ado. Than the kynge sayde, is my sonne deed or hurt, or on the yerthe felled; no sir, quoth the knyght, but he is hardely matched, wherfore he hath nede of your ayde. Well, sayde the kyng, retourne to hym, and to them that sent you hyther, and say to them, that they sende no more to me for any adventure that falleth, as long as my sonne is alyve; and also say to thē, that they suffre hym this day to wynne his spurres, for if god be pleased, I woll this iourney be his, and the honoure thereof, and to them that be aboute hym. Than the kynght retourned agayn to thē, and shewed the kynges wordes, the which gretly encouraged them, and repoyned in that they had sende to the kynge as they dyd. Sir Godfray of Harecourt, wolde gladly that the erle of Harecourt, his brother, myght have bene saved, for he hard say by thē that sawe his baner, howe that he was ther in the felde on the french partie, but sir Godfray coude not come to hym betymes, for he was slayne or he coude cōe at hym, and so was also the erle of Almare, his nephue. In another place, the erle of Alenson, and therle of Flaunders, fought valyantly, every lorde under his owne baner; but finally, they coude not resyst agaynt the puyssance of the englysshemen, and so ther they were also slayne, and dyvers other knyghtes and sqyers. Also therle Lewes of Bloyes, nephue to the frenche kyng, and the duke of Lorayne, fought under their baners, but at last they were closed in among a cōpany of englysshmen and walsshemen, and there were slayne, for all their prowes. Also there was slayne, the erle of Ausser, therle of saynt Poule, and many other. In the evenynge, the frenche kynge, who had lefte about hym no mo than a threscore persons, one and other, wherof sir John of Heynalt was one, who had remounted ones the kynge, for his horse was slayne with an arowe, thā he sayde to the kynge, sir, departe hense, for it is tyme, lese not yourselfe wylfully, if ye have losse at this tyme, ye shall recover it agayne another season: and soo he toke the kynges horse by the brydell, and ledde hym away in a maner perforce: than the kyng rode tyll he came to the castell of Broy, the gate was closed, bycause it was by that tyme darke; than the kynge called the captayne, who came to the walles, and sayd, who is that calleth there this tyme of night, than the kynge sayde, open your gate quickely, for this is the fortune of Fraunce: the captayne knewe than it was the kyng, and opyned the gate, and let downe the bridge; than the kyng entred, and he had with hym but fyve baronnes, sir Johan of Heynault, sir Charles of Momorency, the lorde of Beauiewe, the lorde Dobegny, and the lorde of Mountfort: the kynge wolde not tary there, but drāke and departed thense about mydnyght, and so rode by suche guydes as knewe the countrey, tyll he came in the mornynge to Amyense, and there he rested. This saturday, the englysshemen never departed fro their batayls for chasynge of any man, but kept styll their felde, and ever defended themselfe agaynst all such as came to assayle them: this batayle ended aboute evynsonge tyme.

COMMENT LE ROI DE FRANCE COMMANDA À SES MARÉCHAUX FAIRE COMMENCER LA BATAILLE PAR LES GÉNOIS: ET COMMENT LES DITS GÉNOIS FURENT TOUS DÉCONFITS.

Il n’est nul homme, tant fut présent à cette journée, ni eut bon loisir d’aviser et imaginer toute la besogne ainsi qu’elle alla, qui en sut ni put imaginer, ni recorder la vérité, specialement de la partie des François, tant y eut pauvre arroy et ordonnance en leurs courois (disposition); et ce que j’en sais, je l’ai su le plus par les Anglois, qui imaginèrent bien leur convenant (ordre), et aussi par les gens Messire Jean de Hainaut, qui fut toujours de-lez (près) le roi de France.

Les Anglois qui ordonnés étoient en trois batailles, et qui sévient jus (bas) à terre tout bellement, sitôt qu’ils virent les François approcher, ils se levèrent moult ordonnément, sans nul effroi, et se rangèrent en leurs batailles, celle du prince tout devant, leurs archers mis en manière d’une herse, et les gens-d’armes au fond de la bataille. Le comte de Northampton et le comte d’Arundel et leur bataille, qui faisoient la seconde, se tenoient sur aile bien ordonnément et avisés et pourvus pour conforter le prince, si besoin étoit. Vous devez savoir que ces seigneurs, rois, ducs, comtes, barons François ne vinrent mie jusques là tous ensemble, mais l’un devant, l’autre derrière, sans arroy et sans ordonnance. Quand le roi Philippe vint jusques sur la place où les Anglois étoient de là arrêtés et ordonnés, et il les vit, le sang lui mua, car il les héoit (haïssoit) et ne se fut adonc nullement refrené (retenu) ni abstenu d’eux combattre; et dit à ses maréchaux: “Faites passer nos Génois devant et commencer la bataille, au nom de Dieu et de monseigneur St. Denis.” Là avoit, de ces dits Génois arbalétriers, environ quinze mille qui eussent eu aussi cher néant que commencer adonc la bataille; car ils étoient durement las et travaillés (fatigués) d’aller à pied ce jour plus de six lieues, tous armés, et de leurs arbalétres porter; et dirent adonc à leurs connétables (commandants) qu’ils n’étoient mie adonc ordonnés de foire nul grand exploit de bataille.

Ces paroles volèrent jusques au comte d’Alençon, qui en fut durement courrucé et dit: “On se doit bien charger de telle ribaudaille qui faillent (manquent) au besoin.”

Entrementes (pendant) que ces parols couroient et que ces Génois se reculoient et se détnoient (différoient) descendit une pluie du ciel, si grosse et si épaisse que merveilles, et un tonnerre, et un esclistre (eclair) moult grand et moult horrible.

Paravant cette pluie, pardessus les batailles, autant d’un côté que d’autre, avoient volé si grand’ foison de courbeaux que sans nombre, et demeué le plus grand tempêtes du monde. Là disolent aucuns sages chevaliers que c’étoit un signe de grand’ bataille et de grand effusion de sang.

Après toutes ces choses se commença l’air à éclaircir et le soleil à luire bel et clair. Si l’avoient les François droit en l’œil et les Anglois par derrière. Quand les Génois furent tous recuellis et mis ensemble, et ils durent approcher leurs ennemis, ils commencèrent à crier si très haut que ce fut merveilles, et le firent pour ébahir les Anglois; mais les Anglois se tinrent tous cois, ni oncques n’en firent semblant. Secondement encore crièrent eux ainsi, et puis allèrent un petit pas avant; et les Anglois restoient tous cois, sans eux mouvoir de leur pas. Tiercement encore crièrent moult haut et moult clair, et passèrent avant, et tendirent leurs arbalétres et commencèrent à traire (tirer). Et ces archers d’Angleterre, quand ils virent cette ordonnance, passèrent un pas en avant, et puis firent voler ces sagettes (flèches) de grand’ façon, qui entrèrent et descendirent si ouniement (à la fois) sur ces Génois que ce sembloit neige. Les Génois qui n’avoient pas appris à trouver tels archers que sont ceux d’Angleterre, quand ils sentirent ces sagettes (flèches) qui leur perçoient bras, têtes et banlevre, furent tantôt déconfits et confèrent les plusieurs les cordes de leurs arcs et les aucuns les jetoient jus (à bas); si se mirent aussi de retour.

Entre eux et les François avoit une grand’ haie de gens d’armes, montés et parés moult richement, qui regardoient le convenant (disposition) des Génois; si que quand ils cuidèrent (crurent) retourner, ils ne peuvent, car le roi de France, par grand mautalent (mécontentement), quand il vit leur pauvre arroy, et qu’ils se déconfisoient ainsi, commanda et dit: “Or tôt, tuez toute cette ribaudaille, car ils nous empêchent la voie sans raison.” Là vissiez gens d’armes en tous lez (côtés) entre eux férir et frapper sur eux, et les plusieurs trébucher et cheoir parmi eux, qui oncques puis ne se relevèrent. Et toujours traioirent (tiroient) les Anglois en la plus grand’ presse, qui rien ne perdoient de leur trait; car ils empalloient et féroient parmi le corps ou parmi les membres gens et chevaux qui là chéoient (tomboient) et trebuchoient à grand meschef; et ne pouvoient être relevés, si ce n’étoit par force et par grand’ aide de gens. Ainsi se commença la bataille entre la Broye et Crécy en Ponthieu, ce samedi à heure de vespres.