Fields of Glory

It is 1346 and Edward III is invading France to show that he is truly King of France as well as England.  Sir John de Sully leads one of the groups going to fight for Edward.  Arriving in Normandy, the English are met by a French force, but quick thinking by Sully and Earl Warwick, result in the French being dispersed.

Berenger is the leader of a vintaine, a group of sixteen soldiers, which should have been twenty, and, who have landed with Sully.  Each man of the vintaine is unique.  After seeing a dead black cat hanging in a cottage, one of Berenger’s men is convinced that the enterprise is doomed.  In addition, Berenger and his men have come into conflict with a group of Welshmen.

Meanwhile the French populace run in fear of what the English will do.  Amongst them is a young woman by the name of Beatrice.  Alone, she is in as much danger from Frenchmen as the English.

Caen is a major, walled city in the way of the English.  Take it and the way to Paris would be clear.  This was also the place that Beatrice hoped to be safe.  Surprisingly the English take Caen with relative ease.  Fortunately for Beatrice, she runs into Beringer’s group and Archibald, a powder maker.  Berenger’s group offer her safety.

Rouen is the next major city in the path of the English.  Unable to besiege it, the English army continued eastward on the southern side of the Seine.  At no point were they able to cross the river.  All of the marching drains the army.

At Poissy, the English gain a bridgehead and are able to cross the Seine.  King Edward refuses to do battle with the French on their terms, so he marches his army northwards.  The English march in fear and hunger as the French chase them.  They need to cross the Somme, if they don’t, the French will massacre them against the river.

Author Michael Jeck’s story of the background to the battle at Crécy and that battle itself are clear and vivid.  The reader feels as though they are actually there, participating.  An excellent read and hard to put down.