The constable and other lords of France that night watched well the town of Caen, and in the morning armed them with all them of the town:  then the constable ordained that none should issue out, but keep their defences on the walls, gate, bridge and river, and left the suburbs void, because they were not closed; for they thought they should have enough to do to defend the town, because it was not closed but with the river.  They of the town said how they would issue out, for they were strong enough to fight with the king of England.  When the constable saw their good wills, he said:  ’In the name of God be it, ye shall not fight without me,’ Then they issued out in good order and made good face to fight and to defend them and to put their lives in adventure.

OF THE BATTLE OF CAEN, AND HOW THE ENGLISHMEN TOOK THE TOWN

The same day the Englishmen rose early and apparelled them ready to go to Caen.[1] The king heard mass before the sun-rising and then took his horse, and the prince his son, with sir Godfrey of Harcourt marshal and leader of the host, whose counsel the king much followed.  Then they drew toward Caen with their battles in good array, and so approached the good town of Caen.  When they of the town, who were ready in the field, saw these three battles coming in good order, with their banners and standards waving in the wind, and the archers, the which they had not been accustomed to see, they were sore afraid and fled away toward the town without any order or good array, for all that the constable could do:  then the Englishmen pursued them eagerly.  When the constable and the earl Tancarville saw that, they took a gate at the entry and saved themselves[2] and certain with them, for the Englishmen were entered into the town.  Some of the knights and squires of France, such as knew the way to the castle, went thither, and the captain there received them all, for the castle was large.  The Englishmen in the chase slew many, for they took none to mercy.

[1] This was 26th July.  Edward arrived at Poissy on 12th August.  Philip of Valois left Paris on the 14th, the English crossed the Seine at Poissy on the 16th, and the Somme at Blanche-taque on the 24th.

      [2] ’Set themselves for safety in a gate at the entry of the
      bridge.’

Then the constable and the earl of Tancarville, being in the little tower at the bridge foot, looked along the street and saw their men slain without mercy:  they doubted to fall in their hands.  At last they saw an English knight with one eye called sir Thomas Holland, and a five or six other knights with him:  they knew them, for they had seen them before in Pruce, in Granade, and in other viages.  Then they called to sir Thomas and said how they would yield themselves prisoners.  Then sir Thomas came thither with his company and mounted up into the gate, and there found the said lords with twenty-five knights with them,