ore from the English, with trumpets and other warlike
instruments, and ordered her to fall upon the English.

The battle then began very fiercely; archers and cross-bowmen shot with
all their might at each other, and the men-at-arms engaged hand to hand.
In order to be more successful, they had large grapnels, and iron hooks
with chains, which they flung from ship to ship, to moor them to each
other. There were many valiant deeds performed, many prisoners made, and
many rescues. The Christopher, which led the van, was recaptured by the
English, and all in her taken or killed. There were then great shouts
and cries, and the English manned her again with archers and sent her to
fight against the Genoese.

This battle was very murderous and horrible. Combats at sea are more
destructive and obstinate than upon the land, for it is not possible to
retreat or flee--everyone must abide his fortune and exert his prowess
and valor. Sir Hugh Quiriel and his companions were bold and determined
men, had done much mischief to the English at sea and destroyed many of
their ships; this combat, therefore, lasted from early in the morning
until noon, and the English were hard pressed, for their enemies were
four to one, and the greater part men who had been used to the sea.

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 o