St. George for England
Page 19
Edward left Oisemont at midnight and reached the ford at daylight. Theriver, however, was full and the army had to wait impatiently for lowtide. When they arrived there no enemy was to be seen on the oppositebank, but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to beattempted, Sir Godemar du Fay with 12,000 men, sent by King Phillip, whowas aware of the existence of the ford, arrived on the opposite side.
The enterprise was a difficult one indeed, for the water, even at lowtide, is deep. Godemar du Fay, however, threw away part of his advantageby advancing into the stream. The English archers lined the banks, andpoured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy, while the Genoesebowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistanceto the French.