e piles on
which it stood were still standing, and he determined to endeavour to
cross here. He accordingly halted for five days, but despatched troops
in all directions, who burned and ravaged to the very gates of Paris.
The villages of St. Germain, St. Cloud, Bourg la Reine, and many others
within sight of the walls were destroyed, and the capital itself thrown
into a state of terror and consternation. Godfrey of Harcourt was the
first to cross the river, and with the advance guard of English fell
upon a large body of the burghers of Amiens, and after a severe fight
defeated them, killing over five hundred. The king himself with his
whole force passed on the 16th of August.

Phillip, with his army, quitted St. Denis, when he heard that the
English army had passed the Seine, and by parallel marches endeavoured
to interpose between it and the borders of Flanders. As his force was
every hour increasing he despatched messengers to Edward offering him
battle within a few days on condition that he would cease to ravage the
country; but Edward declined the proposal, saying that Phillip himself
by breaking down the bridges had avoided a battle as long as he could,
but that whenever he was ready to give battle he would accept the
challenge. During the whole march the armies were within a few leagues
of each other, and constant skirmishes took place between bodies
detached from the hosts.

In some of these skirmishes Walter took part, as he and the other newly
made knights were burning to distinguish themselves. Every day the
progress of the army became more difficult, as the country people
everywhere rose against them, and several times attempted to make a
stand but were defeated with great loss. The principal towns were found
deserted, and even Poix, which offered great capabilities of defence,
had been left unguarded. Upon the English entering, the burghers offered
to pay a large ransom to save the town from plunder. The money was to be
delivered as soon as the English force had withdrawn, and Walter Somers
was ordered by the king to remain behind with a few men-at-arms to
receive the ransom.

No sooner had the army departed than the burghers, knowing that the
French army was close behind, changed their minds, refused to pay the
ransom, and fell upon the little body of men-at-arms. Although taken
quite by surprise by the act of treachery Walter instantly rallied his
men although several had been killed at the first onslau