ABSTRACT
In 1343 Edward had been King in fact as well as in name for wellnigh thirteen years. Most of his time had been spent in warlike enterprises or preparations therefor, but all had failed. Edward, realising that he must now put everything to the venture of a battle, did not hasten on his march the following day, but only moved to the other side of the forest, nearer to the village of Crecy, where next morning he arrayed his men betimes in the usual three "battles". From The siege of Calais was only less venturesome than the campaign which preceded it. To Edward at Calais the news must have been very gratifying, more especially as earlier in the same month Lancaster had crowned his brilliant raid into the heart of Poitou by the capture of Poictiers. By degrees the Black Death spent itself; it can hardly have ceased from any other cause.
