goodwill would be
valuable.

It was generally supposed, when the fleet started, that Guienne was
their destination, but they had not gone far when a signal was made to
change the direction in which they were sailing and to make for La Hogue
in Normandy. Godfrey of Harcourt had great influence in that province,
and his persuasions had much effect in determining the king to direct
his course thither. There was the further advantage that the King of
France, who was well aware of the coming invasion, would have made his
preparations to receive him in Guienne. Furthermore, Normandy was the
richest and most prosperous province in France. It had for a long time
been untouched by war, and offered great abundance of spoil. It had made
itself particularly obnoxious to the English by having recently made an
offer to the King of France to fit out an expedition and conquer England
with its own resources.

The voyage was short and favourable, and the expedition landed at La
Hogue, on the small peninsula of Cotentin, without opposition. Six days
were spent at La Hogue disembarking the men, horses, and stores, and
baking bread for the use of the army on the march. A detachment advanced
and pillaged and burnt Barileur and Cherbourg and a number of small
towns and castles.

In accordance with custom, at the commencement of the campaign a court
was held, at which the Prince of Wales was dubbed a knight by his
father. A similar honour was bestowed upon a number of other young
aspirants, among whom was Walter Somers, who had been highly recommended
for that honour to the king by Sir Walter Manny.

The force was now formed into three divisions--the one commanded by
the king himself, the second by the Earl of Warwick, and the third by
Godfrey of Harcourt. The Earl of Arundel acted as Lord High Constable,
and the Earl of Huntingdon, who was in command of the fleet, followed
the army along the sea-coast. Valognes, Carentan, and St. Lo were
captured without difficulty, and the English army advanced by rapid
marches upon Caen, plundering the country for six or seven leagues
on each side of the line of march. An immense quantity of booty was
obtained. As soon as the news of Edward's landing in Normandy reached
Paris, Phillip despatched the Count d'Eu, Constable of France, with the
Count of Tankerville and 600 men-at-arms, to oppose Edward at Caen. The
Bishop of Bayeux had thrown himself into that city, which was already
garrisoned by 300