In anticipation of such a move, the French had carried away all stores of food from the region the English were advancing into, forcing them to spread out over a wide area to forage, which greatly slowed them.
Bands of French peasants attacked some of the smaller groups of foragers.
Philip reached the River Somme a day's march ahead of Edward.
He based himself at Amiens and sent large detachments to hold every bridge and ford across the Seine between Amiens and the sea.
The English were now trapped in an area which had been stripped of food.
The French moved out of Amiens and advanced westwards towards the English.
They were now willing to give battle, knowing that they would have the advantage of being able to stand on the defensive while the English were forced to try and fight their way past them.

Edward needed to break the French blockade of the Somme and probed at several points, vainly attacking Hangest and Pont-Remy before moving west along the river.
On the evening of 24 August the English were encamped north of Acheux while the French were 6 miles (10 km) away at Abbeville.
During the night the English marched on a tidal ford named Blanchetaque.
The far bank was defended by a force of 3,500 French.
English longbowmen and mounted men-at-arms waded into the tidal river and after a short, sharp fight routed the French.
The main French army had followed the English, and their scouts captured some stragglers and several wagons, but Edward had broken free of immediate pursuit.
The French had been so confident that the English could not breach the Somme line that they had not denuded the area, and the countryside was rich in food and loot.
So the English were able to resupply, Noyelles-sur-Mer and Crotoy in particular yielding large stores of food, which were looted and the towns then burnt.

Meanwhile, the Flemings, having been prevented from crossing the bridge at Estaires by the French, besieged Bethune on 14 August.
After several setbacks they fell out among themselves, burnt their siege equipment and gave up their expedition on 24 August.
Edward received the news that he would not be reinforced by the Flemings shortly after crossing the Somme.
Nor was his fleet waiting with reinforcements at the mouth of the Somme.
He decided to engage Philip's army with the force he had.
Having temporarily shaken off the French pursuit, he used the respite to prepare a defensive position at Crécy-en-Ponthieu.
The French returned to Abbeville and doggedly set off after the English again.
In anticipation of such a move, the French had carried away all stores of food from the region the English were advancing into, forcing them to spread out over a wide area to forage, which greatly slowed them. Bands of French peasants attacked some of the smaller groups of foragers. Philip reached the River Somme a day's march ahead of Edward. He based himself at Amiens and sent large detachments to hold every bridge and ford across the Seine between Amiens and the sea. The English were now trapped in an area which had been stripped of food. The French moved out of Amiens and advanced westwards towards the English. They were now willing to give battle, knowing that they would have the advantage of being able to stand on the defensive while the English were forced to try and fight their way past them.
Edward needed to break the French blockade of the Somme and probed at several points, vainly attacking Hangest and Pont-Remy before moving west along the river. On the evening of 24 August the English were encamped north of Acheux while the French were 6 miles (10 km) away at Abbeville. During the night the English marched on a tidal ford named Blanchetaque. The far bank was defended by a force of 3,500 French. English longbowmen and mounted men-at-arms waded into the tidal river and after a short, sharp fight routed the French. The main French army had followed the English, and their scouts captured some stragglers and several wagons, but Edward had broken free of immediate pursuit. The French had been so confident that the English could not breach the Somme line that they had not denuded the area, and the countryside was rich in food and loot. So the English were able to resupply, Noyelles-sur-Mer and Crotoy in particular yielding large stores of food, which were looted and the towns then burnt.
Meanwhile, the Flemings, having been prevented from crossing the bridge at Estaires by the French, besieged Bethune on 14 August. After several setbacks they fell out among themselves, burnt their siege equipment and gave up their expedition on 24 August. Edward received the news that he would not be reinforced by the Flemings shortly after crossing the Somme. Nor was his fleet waiting with reinforcements at the mouth of the Somme. He decided to engage Philip's army with the force he had. Having temporarily shaken off the French pursuit, he used the respite to prepare a defensive position at Crécy-en-Ponthieu. The French returned to Abbeville and doggedly set off after the English again.
Crécy campaign