eard the news, was very wroth, "for he had good hope of finding the
English on the Somme and fighting them there. 'What is it right to do
now?' asked Philip of his marshals. 'Sir,' answered they, 'you cannot
now cross in pursuit of the English, for the tide is already up.'"
Philip went disconsolate to lie at Abbeville, whither all his men
followed him. Had he been as watchful as Edward was, and had he, instead
of halting at Airaines "by the ready-set tables which the English had
left," marched at once in pursuit of them, perhaps he would have caught
and beaten them on the left bank of the Somme, before they could cross
and take up position on the other side. This was the first striking
instance of that extreme inequality between the two kings in point of
ability and energy which was before long to produce results so fatal for
Philip.

When Edward, after passing the Somme, had arrived near Crecy, five
leagues from Abbeville, in the countship of Ponthieu which had formed
part of his mother Isabel's dowry, "'Halt we here,' said he to his
marshals; 'I will go no farther till I have seen the enemy; I am on my
mother's rightful inheritance which was given her on her marriage; I will
defend it against mine adversary, Philip of Valois;' and he rested in the
open fields, he and all his men, and made his marshals mark well the
ground where they would set their battle in array." Philip, on his side,
had moved to Abbeville, where all his men came and joined him, and whence
he sent out scouts "to learn the truth about the English. When he knew
that they were resting in the open fields near Crecy and showed that they
were awaiting their enemies, the King of France was very joyful, and said
that, please God, they should fight him on the morrow [the day after
Friday, August 25, 1346]. He that day bade to supper all the high-born
princes who were at Abbeville. They were all in great spirits and had
great talk of arms, and after supper the king prayed all the lords to be
all of them, one toward another, friendly and courteous, without envy,
hatred, and pride, and every one made him a promise thereof. On the same
day of Friday the King of England also gave a supper to the earls and
barons of his army, made them great cheer, and then sent them away to
rest, which they did. When all the company had gone, he entered into his
oratory, and fell on his knees before the altar, praying devoutly that
God would permit him on the morrow, if