army, under the command of Godemar de Faye,
was stationed on the opposite banks: Philip was advancing on him from
the other quarter, with an army of a hundred thousand men; and he was
thus exposed to the danger of being enclosed, and of starving in an
enemy's country. In this extremity, he published a reward to any one
that should bring him intelligence of a passage over the Somme. A
peasant, called Gobin Agace, whose name has been preserved by the
share which he had in these important transactions, was tempted on this
occasion to betray the interests of his country; and he informed Edward
of a ford below Abbeville, which had a sound bottom, and might be passed
without difficulty at low water.[**] The king hastened thither, but
found Godemar de Faye on the opposite banks. Being urged by necessity,
he deliberated not a moment; but threw himself into the river, sword in
hand, at the head of his troops; drove the enemy from their station;
and pursued them to a distance on the plain.[***] The French army under
Philip arrived at the ford, when the rearguard of the English were
passing: so narrow was the escape which Edward, by his prudence and
celerity, made from this danger! The rising of the tide prevented the
French king from following him over the ford, and obliged that prince
to take his route over the bridge at Abbeville; by which some time was
lost.

* Froissard, liv, i. chap. 125.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 126,127

*** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 127.

It is natural to think that Philip, at the head of so vast an army, was
impatient to take revenge on the English, and to prevent the disgrace to
which he must be exposed if an inferior enemy should be allowed, after
ravaging so great a part of his kingdom, to escape with impunity. Edward
also was sensible that such must be the object of the French monarch;
and as he had advanced but a little way before his enemy, he saw the
danger of precipitating his march over the plains of Picardy, and of
exposing his rear to the insults of the numerous cavalry in which the
French camp abounded. He took, therefore, a prudent resolution: he chose
his ground with advantage near the village of Crecy; he disposed his
army in excellent older; he determined to await in tranquillity the
arrival of the enemy; and he hoped that their eagerness to engage, and
to prevent his retreat, after all their past disappointments would hurry
them on to some rash and ill-concerted acti