The King, who was in the flower of his youth, showed himself on that day
a gallant knight, as did the earls of Derby, Pembroke, Hereford,
Huntingdon, Northampton, and Gloucester; the Lord Reginald Cobham, Lord
Felton, Lord Bradestan, Sir Richard Stafford, the Lord Percy, Sir Walter
Manny, Sir Henry de Flanders, Sir John Beauchamp, Sir John Chandos, the
Lord Delaware, Lucie Lord Malton, and the Lord Robert d'Artois, now
called Earl of Richmond.
I cannot remember all the names of those who behaved so valiantly in the
combat; but they did so well that, with some assistance from Bruges and
those parts of the country, the French were completely defeated, and all
the Normans and the others killed or drowned, so that not one of them
escaped. This was soon known all over Flanders; and when it came to the
two armies before Thin-l'Eveque, the Hainaulters were as much rejoiced
as their enemies were dismayed.
After the King had gained this victory, which was on the eve of St.
John's Day, he remained all that night on board of his ship before
Sluys, and there were great noises with trumpets and all kinds of other
instruments. The Flemings came to wait on him, having heard of his
arrival and what deeds he had performed. The King inquired of the
citizens of Bruges after Jacob van Artevelde, and they told him he was
gone to the aid of the Earl of Hainault with upward of sixty thousand
men, against the Duke of Normandy. On the morrow, which was Midsummer
Day, the King and his fleet entered the port. As soon as they were
landed, the King, attended by crowds of knights, set out on foot on a
pilgrimage to our Lady of Ardemburg, where he heard mass and dined. He
then mounted his horse and went that day to Ghent, where the Queen was,
who received him with great joy and kindness. The army and baggage, with
the attendants of the King, followed him by degrees to the same place.
BATTLE OF CRECY
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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