midnight
Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts . In the first division , commanded by Du Guesclin , were four thousand veteran French knights and men-at-arms with eight thousand foot soldiers ; the second was led by the prince 's brother , Don Tillo , with sixteen thousand horse ; while he himself commanded the third , in which were a multitude of soldiers , making up the gross total of one hundred thousand men . As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers , the English army had lain down supperless . Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded , and the troops soon moved forward . At sunrise the prince and his forces reached the summit of a little hill , whence was visible the approaching host of Spain . The first division , under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos , immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin , which received it with great steadiness , and a desperate conflict ensued . The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo , which gave way at the first attack , and its commander , with two thousand horse , at once fled .