(1)
Geoffrey Ie Baker was a monk at Osney Priory. Baker's Chronicles
cover the period 1303 to 1356. The section on the Battle of Crecy
was based on an interview with Thomas de la More, one of Edward Ill's
knights.
The French army
was so large, that its leaders were sure they would win. They
began to argue over which English prisoners they should have. The
King of Majorca wanted
the King of England as his prize... and others wanted
other leaders...
King Philip ordered the
banner to be unfurled. When this was flying, it was unlawful
for anyone, on pain of death, to spare a prisoner.
The first attack was made
by the French to the sound of trumpets, drums and clarions.
With a shout like thunder, the Genoese crossbowmen advanced... The
English archers were ordered to fire on them.
When they saw that their
crossbowmen were not harming the English at all, the French knights
rode down their crossbowmen. They crushed the crossbowmen beneath
the feet of their horses, and charged headlong forward, to show the
English how brave they were. The Genoese who were being trampled gave
such shrieks of pain that the French army at the back thought it
was the English who were being killed.
The French knights pressed
forward but many of their horses were killed and wounded by the English
archers. Those who reached the English were beaten down with axes
and swords. Many Frenchmen were crushed to death by the weight of
numbers.
Prince Edward, the king's
eldest son, being then only 16 years old, showed his courage to the
French. He pierced horses, shattered helmets, broke spears, parried
blows and set all men a fine example. The battle went on for most
of the night. During this time, the French attacked fifteen times,
but at last they fled in defeat. The number of French knights and
nobles killed in the battle was more than 4,000. No one bothered to
count the others who were slain. The English then discovered that
only 40 of their army had been killed.
English
soldiers in France during the 100 Years War (c. 1350)
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
