No one dared tell the outcome of the battle to Philip VI until his jester was thrust forward and said, "Oh, the cowardly English, the cowardly English!" and on being asked why, replied, "They did not jump overboard like our brave Frenchmen." The King evidently got the point. The fish drank so much French blood, it was said afterward, that if God had given them the power of speech they would have spoken in French.
During a tense moment, no one felt brave enough to share the battle's outcome with King Philip VI until his jester stepped forward. The jester mockingly criticized the English as cowards and highlighted the bravery of the French, who had jumped into the fray. This witty remark seemed to resonate with the King, suggesting an understanding of courage amidst adversity.
The aftermath of the battle led to a macabre saying about fish drinking the blood of the French soldiers. It was humorously noted that had fish been able to speak, they would have conversed in French, symbolizing the depth of loss experienced by the French forces in the conflict.