Compare 1577 edition: 1 The French king, before he approched neere to his enimies, sent forth foure skilfull knights to view the demeanor of his enimies, the which returning a|gaine, made report as they had séene, and that for so|much as they could gesse, the Englishmen ment to abide him, being diuided into thrée battels, readie to receiue him and his puissance, if he went forward in purpose to assaile them. Here was the French king counselled to stay and not to giue battell that day, but to aduise all things with good deliberation and regard, to consider well how and what way he might best assaile them.The disorder among the Frenchmen. Then by the marshals were all men commanded to staie, and not to go anie further, they that were formost and next to the enimies taried, but they that were behind would not abide but rode foorth, and said they would not staie till they were as far as the formost: and when they before saw them behind come forward, then they marched on also a|gaine, so that neither the K. nor his marshals could rule them, but that they passed forward still without order, or anie good arraie, till they came in sight of their enimies: and as soone as the formost saw their enimies, then they reculed backe, whereof they be|hind had maruell, and were abashed, supposing that the formost companie had béene fighting. Then they might haue had roome to haue gone forward, if they had béene minded. The commons, of whome all the waies betwixt Abuile and Cressie were full, when they saw that they were néere their enimies, they tooke their swords and cried; Downe with them, Let vs slea them all. There was no man, though he were present at the iornie, that could imagine or shew the truth of the euill order that was among the French EEBO page image 371 [...] EEBO page image 372 partie, and yet they were a maruellous great num|ber.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Englishmen which beheld their enimies thus approching them, prepared themselues at leisure for the battell, which they saw to be at hand. The first battell, whereof the prince was ruler, had the archers standing in maner of an herse, and the men of armes in the botome of the battell. The earle of Northamp|ton and the earle of Arundell with the second battell, were on a wing in good order, readie to comfort the princes battell if néed were. The lords and knights of France came not to the assemblie togither, for some came after, in such hast and euill order, that one of them troubled another.

Charles Gri+mald [...] & An|thonie or O|thone Doris were capt [...]ins of these Geno|wa [...]es, which were not past six thousand, as Gio. Villani saith.

Polydor. Froissard. The earle of Ilanson.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Raine and thunder with an eclipse.Also at the same instant there fell a great raine, and an eclipse with a terrible thunder, and before the raine, there came flieng ouer both armies a great number of crowes, for feare of the tempest com|ming: then anon the aire began to wax cleare, and the sunne to shine faire and bright, which was right in the French mens eies, and on the English|mens backs. ¶ When the Genowaies were assem|bled togither, and began to approch, they made a great leape and crie,T [...]e Geno|wa [...]s. to abash the Englishmen, but they stood still and stirred not at all for that noise. Then the Genowaies the second time made an other leape and huge crie, and stepped forward a little, and the Eng|lishmen remooued not a foot. The third time againe the Genowaies leapt, and yelled, and went foorth till they came within shot, and fiercelie therwith dischar|ged their crosbowes. Then the English archers stept foorth one pase,The battell is begun. and let flie their arrowes so wholie and so thicke togither, that it séemed to snowe. When the Genowaies felt the arrowes persing their heads, armes and breasts, manie of them cast downe their crosbowes, and cut the strings, and returned discom|fited. When the French king saw them flee awaie, he said:

Slea these rascals, for they will let and trouble vs without reason.