The good
king, his father, did no such thing, for he advanced so close to his enemies that he landed a blow with his sword, indeed three of four; he fought very courageously as did all those who were with him. They advanced so far into the
English ranks that all remained there, and the next day were found surrounding their lord, their horses all still fastened together.
SHF 1-280 syncI can tell you that the
king of France felt great anguish in his heart when he saw his men defeated in such a way by a handful of Englishmen. He asked advice from
Sir Jean de Hainault, who replied saying,
"In truth, sire, I would not know what to advise for the best, unless it be that you withdraw to safety, for I see no hope of recovery. It will soon be late, and you might just as easily ride against your enemies and be lost, as find yourself among your men."
The
king, who was quivering with rage and ire, did not respond immediately but rode still further on and seemed to Jean de Hainault that he was intent on finding his brother, the
count of Alençon, whose banner he could see atop a small hill. This
count of Alençon came down on the
English in orderly fashion, engaging them in combat, and the
count of Flanders a little further off. I can assure you that these two lords and their companies, flanking the archers, came right up to the
prince's division and fought there at length and with great valour. The
king would gladly have come there himself, had he been able, but there was such a great wedge of archers and men-at-arms in front that he could never have got through, for the further forward he rode, the thinner became his escort.
That day in the morning,
king Philippe had given to
Sir Jean de Hainault a fine great black courser.
Sir Jean de Hainault had handed it to a knight of his named
Sir Thierry de Senzelles, who was carrying
Sir Jean's banner. It so happened that the knight mounted the courser, the banner of
Sir Jean de Hainault unfurled before him, and cut through the English ranks. Once through to the other side, as he made to turn round, he fell in a ditch for he was wounded and would have perished there, but his page had followed him on his courser through the battle, and found him fallen there but he could not get up; the only thing holding him down was his horse, for the
English were not breaking ranks to capture or harm anyone. The page dismounted and succeeded in getting his master to his feet and back on his mount. This commendable service he rendered him. The
lord of Senzelles did not go back by the path he had carved for himself, neither could he have done so.
SHF 1-281 syncThis battle, fought that Saturday between
La Broye and
Crécy was most cruel and grim, and many great feats of arms were performed which were not at all acknowledged, for when the battle began it was very late. This hurt the French cause more than anything else, for several men-at-arms, knights and squires lost their masters and leaders as night began to fall. They wandered the field and often ran into the
English and were immediately overrun and killed. None were held to ransom or treated with mercy, for the English had given orders to that effect in the morning due to the large numbers of people following them.
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