The English, making one step forward, let fly their arrows, which came down so thick upon the Genoese that it looked like a fall of snow.

The Genoese, galled and discomfited, began to fall back.
Between them and the main body of the French was a great hedge of men-at-arms who were watching their proceedings.

When the King of France saw his bowmen thus in disorder he shouted to the men-at-arms, 'Up now and slay all this scum, for it blocks our way and hinders us from getting forward.'" Then the French, on every side, struck out at the Genoese, at whom the English archers continued to shoot.
"Thus began the battle between Broye and Crecy, at the hour of vespers." The French, as they came up, were already tired and in great disorder: "howbeit so many valiant men and good knights kept ever riding forward for their honor's sake, and preferred rather to die than that a base flight should be cast in their teeth." A fierce combat took place between them and the division of the Prince of Wales.

Thither penetrated the Count d'Alenccon and the Count of Flanders with their followers, round the flank of the English archers; and the King of France, who was foaming with displeasure and wrath, rode forward to join his brother D'Alencon, but there was so great a hedge of archers and men-at-arms mingled together that he could never get past.

Thomas of Norwich, a knight serving under the Prince of Wales, was sent to the King of England to ask him for help.