midday on the 1st of January
Walter was one of those summoned , and although much surprised at the secrecy with which he was charged , and of such a call being made while the truce with France still existed , he repaired to Dover on the day named , accompanied by Ralph and by twenty men , who were all who remained capable of bearing arms on the estate . He found the king himself with the Black Prince at Dover , where they had arrived that day . Sir Walter Manny was in command of the force , which consisted in all of 300 men-at-arms and 600 archers . A number of small boats had been collected , and at midday on the 1st of January the little expedition started , and arrived at Calais after nightfall . In the chivalrous spirit of the times the king determined that Sir Walter Manny should continue in command of the enterprise ; he and the Black Prince , disguised as simple knights , fighting under his banner . In the meantime a considerable force had been collected at St. Omer , where a large number of knights and gentlemen obeyed the summons of Jeffrey de Charny . On the night appointed they marched for Calais , in number five hundred lances and a corresponding number of footmen .