The Genoese required time to wind up their cross-bows before they could re-load; and in the meantime the English longbowmen shot so continuously that the ranks of the Genoese broke in terror and fled.
Still the archers sent their deadly hail upon the French army, while a number of Welsh and Cornish soldiers, armed with long knives, crept in under the horses and stabbed them, so that both horse and rider fell heavily to the ground. The confusion was rendered still more dreadful by means of a weapon which King Edward used for the first time in battle; small 'bombards,' or cannon, as they were afterwards called, 'which with fire threw little iron balls to frighten the horses.'
While the battle raged with great fury on both sides, King Edward was sending out his orders from a windmill from which he could overlook the progress of the fight.
Presently a messenger came from the Earl of Warwick, beseeching the king to send aid to his son, the Black Prince.
Warwick's messenger asking for aid to be sent to the Black Prince.
'Is my son killed?' asked the king.
'No, Sire, please God,' replied the messenger.
'Is he wounded?'