tched to Crotoy,
which he carried by assault after a severe conflict, in which four
thousand of the French men-at-arms were slain. The capture of this city
removed all danger of want from the army, for large stores of wine and
meal were found there, and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the
tired army in the field.

The possession of Crotoy and the mouth of the Somme would have now
rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops
to England, and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of
his extraordinary and most successful march through France. The army,
however, was elated by the many great successes it had won, he was now
in Ponthieu, which was one of his own fiefs, and he determined to make a
stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy.

Next morning, then--Friday the 25th of August, 1346--he despatched the
Earl of Warwick with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham, to examine the
ground and choose a site for a battle.

The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his councillors,
and the king yielded to the Black Prince the chief place of danger and
honour placing with him the Earl of Warwick, Sir John Chandos, and many
of his best knights.

The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope
between the forest of Cressy and the river Maie near the little village
of Canchy. The slope looked towards the south and east, from which
quarters the enemy was expected to arrive, and some slight defences were
added to the natural advantages of the ground.

On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host
were entertained by King Edward. Next morning, Mass was celebrated,
and the king, the prince, and many knights and nobles received the
Sacrament, after which the trumpet sounded, and the army marched to
take up its position. Its numbers are variously estimated, but the best
account puts it at about 30,000 men which, considering that 32,000 had
crossed the Channel to La Hogue, is probably about the force which would
have been present allowing that 2000 had fallen in the various actions
or had died from disease.

The division of the Black Prince consisted of 800 men-at-arms, 4000
archers, and 6000 Welsh foot. The archers, as usual, were placed in
front, supported by the light troops of Wales and the men-at-arms; on
his left was the second division, commanded by the Earls of Arundel and
Northampton; its extreme left rested