Late Medieval Books, Chronicle of the Monastery of Melsa

And meanwhile, every day, Edward and his men endured attacks from the French on all sides, but he gained victory over them all. Philip, however, blocked a gate of Paris, called the Gate of Hell, with lime and stones, recalling the ancient saying: 'Through the Gate of Hell, the English king entered.' King Edward, after crossing the repaired bridge at Pistiacum (Pontoise) with his men, realizing that access to Paris was not possible due to the destruction of the bridges, set out towards Picardy, intending thereby to provoke Philip into battle. After capturing and returning several towns, he often triumphed over the French. Meanwhile, Philip began to break the usual causeways and crossings of the Seine River.

Et interim indies Edwardus cum suis a Francis undique insultus patiebatur, sed de eisdem omnibus victoria est potitus. Philippus autem quandam portam Parisiorum, Portam Inferi nuncupatam, calce et lapidibus fecit obturare, memorans illud antiquitus; "Per portam inferi rex Anglicus introivit" Rex autem Edwardus pontem de Pistiaco reparatum cum suis pertransivit, sed perpendens accessum Parisiorum sibi propter pontium fractionem non patere, versus Pikardiam est profectus, ut saltem sic Philippum ad belli collisionem provocaret; et, captis ac redditis quibusdam villis, de Francigenis sepius triumphavit. Interim calcetz et passagia fluvii de Seyn usitata frangere coepit Philippus.

On that same day, King Philip suddenly appeared with a large army. Therefore, King Edward took up his position in the field, waiting for the said Philip until the following day until evening. But as Philip moved towards Abbéville, King Edward withdrew towards Crécy, to his own land rightfully due to him by ancient hereditary right, so that he might confront Philip on the other side of the forest.

Ipsoque die apparuit subito rex Philippus cum exercitu copioso. Unde rex Edwardus campum arripuit, ubi dictum Philippum in diem alterum usque in vesperam attendebat. Sed, Philippo versus Abbatis Villam tendente, Edwardus rex versus Cressy, ad solum proprium jure hereditario sibi debitum ab antiquo, se traxit, ut ipsum Philippum ex altera parte forest obviaret.

But, the French, repeatedly repulsed in the conflict and attempting to regroup, were finally defeated when the Bishop of Durham came to the aid of Edward, Prince of Wales. Philip, now for the third time confused and wounded, realizing that his forces could no longer hold their ground, fled under the banner of the Dauphin of Auvergne and retreated to Amiens. All his remaining men also fled, and the English pursued them. However, as the day was drawing to a close, the English returned to King Edward on the battlefield, spending the past day and the following night fasting and keeping watch; they seized the wine and provisions that the French had brought with them, and captured and burned the wagons and carts loaded with crossbows, arrows, lances, and other weapons. The next night, more French forces came to aid Philip, but unaware of his misfortune, they wandered like sheep without a shepherd, in groups of hundreds and two hundreds, into the English lines, mistakenly thinking they were among their fellow Frenchmen. Their watchword, which they shouted, betrayed them, and they were immediately intercepted and all were killed. On the following Sunday, two large groups of French cavalry approached the English, ready to fight. Then the Earl of Warwick and others, mounting their horses, went out to meet the French. But the French, unable to withstand the English in the first clash, immediately turned to flight; the English pursued them for five miles, causing great slaughter.

Sed, spe in conflictu repulsi Franci et sepius se ‘relevantes, tandem, veniente episcopo Dunelmensi in auxilium Edwardi Principis Walliee, victi sunt. Et Philippus quidem sic jam tertio confusus et vulneratus, perpendens suos subsistere non valere, sub vexillo Dolphini de Alvernia fugiens Ambianis se recepit. Sui etiam vivi relicti omnes fugerunt, et eos Anglici per-. sequebantur. Sed, inclinata jam die, ad regem Edwardum in dictum campum redeuntes, diem praeteritum et noctem sequentem jejuni et vigiles perduxerunt ; et vinum ac victualia que Franci secum detulerant preeoccuparunt, cariagiaque et currus arcubalistis, telis, lanceis et aliis armis onerata, capta incenderunt. Nocte vero sequente venerunt alii Franci in subsidium Philippi; sed ejus infortunium ignorantes, velut! oves errantes: absque pastore, vicissim et gregatim per centenos et ducentenos, inter Anglicos, sperantes ipsos esse suos Francigenas, inciderunt, et verbum suum vigile vociferantes, quod illos prodidit, continuo preeoccupati fuerunt et omnes pariter interfecti. Die vero dominica sequente, duo cunei magni equitum Anglicis appropinquabant, cum eis confligere praeparati. Tunc comes de Warwyk et alii, equis ascensis, obviam Gallicis processerunt. Sed Franci, in primo congressu Anglicis resistere non valentes, in fugam continuo convertuntur; quos Anglici per 5 milliaria persequebantur, cedem plurimam facientes.