nothing about it. There is no doubt, however, that artillery began to be employed about this time.

Froissart says that in this battle the king of England had not more than an eighth part of the forces which the king of France had, but they were fine soldiers, and excellently disciplined. There were more than five thousand of the English archers. The king of France, however, had fifteen thousand Genoese with cross-bows, on whom he depended, besides immense numbers of Frenchmen, all eager for the fight. But Froissart tells us that "no man, unless he had been present, can describe truly the confusion of that day, especially the bad management and disorder of the French, whose troops were out of number."

Before the battle began Edward "rode at a foot's pace through all the ranks, encouraging the army, and entreating that they would guard his honor and defend his right; so sweetly and with such a cheerful countenance did he speak that all who had been before dispirited were directly comforted by hearing him.'

The young Prince of Wales, surrounded by many gallant knights, had command of the first battalion. When all were duly arranged the English army "seated themselves on the ground, with their helmets and bows before them, that they might be the fresher when their enemies should arrive. The king overlooked all from a little hill near.

Before long the great and tumultuous French army approached, longing for the battle, but obeying no commands, and keeping no order. "As soon as the king of France came in sight of the English his blood began to boil," and he ordered the Genoese bowmen forward. "During this time," says Froissart, "a heavy rain fell, accompanied by thunder, and a very terrible eclipse of the sun; and before this rain a great flight of crows hovered in the air, over all those battalions, making a loud noise. Shortly afterwards it cleared up, and the sun shone very bright, but the French had it in their faces, and the English in their backs."

Then came the meeting of the excitable Italians with the dogged, undemonstrative English. "When the Genoese were assembled together, and began to approach, they made a great leap and cry to abash the Englishmen, but they stood still and stirred not for all that. Then the Genoese a second time made another leap and a fell cry, and stepped forward a little, and the Englishmen removed not one foot;

thirdly, again they leaped and cried, and went forth till they came within shot; then they shot fiercely with their crossbows. Then the English archers stepped forth one pace, and let their arrows fly so hotly and so thick that it seemed snow. When the Genoese felt the arrows piercing through heads, arms, and breasts, many of them cast down their cross-bows, and did cut their strings, and returned discomfited. . . In the English army there were some Cornish and Welshmen on foot, who had armed themselves with large knives; these, advancing through the ranks of the menat-arms and archers, who made way for them, came upon the French when they were in this danger, and falling upon earls, barons, knights, and squires, slew many."

One of the allies of the French, who fought very bravely on their side, was the blind king of Bohemia. When he heard that the order for the battle was given, he said to his attendants, "Gentlemen, you are all my people, my friends, and brethren at arms this day; therefore, as I am blind, I request of you to lead me so far into the engagement that I may strike one stroke with my sword.' The knights replied that they would directly lead him forward; and in order that they might not lose him in the crowd, they fastened all the reins of their horses together, and put the king at their head, that he might gratify his wish, and advanced toward the enemy. The king rode in among the enemy and made good use of his sword, for he and his companions fought most gallantly. They advanced so far that they were all slain, and on the morrow they were found on the ground with their horses all tied together."

In the thick of the fight the battalion of the Prince of Wales was hard pressed and in great danger. A knight rode in all haste to the king to entreat him for assistance. "The king replied, 'Is my son dead, unhorsed, or so badly wounded that he cannot support himself?' 'Nothing of the sort, thank God,' rejoined the knight, but he is in so hot an engagement that he has great need of your help.' The king answered, 'Now, Sir Thomas, return back to those that sent you, and tell them from me not to send again for me this day, or expect that I shall come, let what will happen, as long as my son has life; and say that I command them to let the boy win his spurs; for I am determined, if it please God, that all the glory and honor of this day shall be given to him, and to those into whose care I have en

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trusted him.' The knight returned to his lords and related the king's answer, which mightily encouraged them, and made them repent they had ever sent such a message. At last the battle ended; the French king had to flee, and his huge army was broken and scattered. When Edward saw his noble young son return to him victorious, he “embraced him in his arms and kissed him, saying, 'Sweet son, God give you good perseverance; you are my son, for most loyally have you acquitted yourself this day; you are worthy to be a sovereign." The prince bowed down very low and humbled himself, giving all honor to the king his father."

Some people think that it was from the brave, blind king of Bohemia that the Black Prince took the famous badge of the three ostrich feathers, and the motto "Ich dien," which are still the crest and motto of the Prince of Wales. This is not very clear; nor is it known how he came by them. The Welsh say "Ich dien "" are Welsh words; but most people think they are German, and that the king of Bohemia really used them. In German those two words mean "I serve." One wonders whether in the hour of triumph the viotorious prince had a thought of Him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister! It will be seen hereafter that he acted on his motto, and was "lowly and serviceable," after his greatest triumph.

Siege of

Calais.

After the victory of Crecy the king of England at once laid siege to Calais. It was bravely defended, but at length was forced by famine to surrender. Edward was indignant with the inhabitants for their obstinate resistance, and demanded that they should submit themselves absolutely to his will, without any terms or conditions. Even his own barons and knights entreated him to be less harsh than this, and he at last consented to pardon all the rest if six of the principal citizens would come to him "with bare heads and feet, with ropes round their necks, and the keys of the town and castle in their hands." These six were to be at his absolute disposal. When the inhabitants of the town received information of the king's decision, it caused "the greatest lamentations and despair, so that the hardest heart would have had compassion on them." But before long "the most wealthy citizen of the town, by name Eustace de St. Pierre, rose up and said, The six burghers. 'Gentlemen, both high and low, it would be a very great pity to suffer so many people to die through famine.

if any means could be found to prevent it; and it would be highly meritorious in the eyes of our Saviour if such misery could be averted. I have such faith and trust in finding grace before God, if I die to save my townsmen, that I name myself as first of the six.' When Eustace had done speaking they all rose up and almost worshipped him; many cast themselves at his feet with tears and groans." The brave and devoted man soon found companions; one after another stood forth to offer themselves; and when the six were completed they were led before Edward, who, as Froissart tells us, "eyed them with angry looks," and ordered their heads to be struck off. All his attendants, and especially one of his bravest knights, Sir Walter Manny, entreated him to be more merciful, and not to tarnish his noble reputation by such a cruel act. But it was all in vain till the Queen Philippa, who had come from England to visit her husband, fell on her knees before him, and said, "with tears, 'Ah, gentle sir, since I crossed the sea with great danger to see you I have never asked you one favor; now I most humbly ask as a gift, for the sake of the Son of the blessed Mary, and for your love to me, that you will be merciful to these six men.' The king looked at her for some time in silence, and then said, 'Ah, lady, I wish you had been anywhere else than here; you have entreated in such a manner that I cannot refuse you; I therefore give them to you to do as

you please with them.' The queen conducted the six citizens to her apartments, and had the halters taken from their necks; after which she new clothed them, and served them with a plentiful dinner; she then presented each with six nobles, and had them escorted out of the camp in safety."

But though the six citizens were thus kindly treated by the queen, and the rest of the inhabitants escaped with their lives, they were not allowed to remain in the conquered city. All the knights and lords were put in prison, and the rest of the inhabitants were compelled to leave their homes and all they possessed, for King Edward determined to repeople the town with English alone. Three hundred years after this, when Calais had been long restored to the French, an English traveller relates that, passing through the city, he went to see "the relics of our former dominion there," and was shown on the front of an ancient dwelling these words in English, engraven on stone, God save the king.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

GLORY AND SORROW.

The Battle of Poitiers. The Black Death. The serfs. Loss of Aquitaine. The Black Prince and the parliament. Death of the prince.

THE French and the Scotch had become friends and allies at the time when England was against them both; so now while the war with France was going on, and Edward and his son were engaged in it, the Scotch took the opportunity of invading England. But they were defeated in battle near a place called Nevil's Cross, and their king, David, was made prisoner and kept in England nine years. Froissart says that Queen Phillippa headed the English army, but this is not now credited, for no old English writer says anything about it.

The English began to think their armies invincible. They grew more and more fond of fighting, and of the rich plunder they brought home: "the gold and silver plate, fair jewels, and trunks stuffed full of valuables."

1356.

Battle of

Poitiers.

Ten years after the battle of Crecy there was another great and famous battle, fought near Poitiers, in the more southern part of France. The Black Prince, who, though still young, was a grown man now, was at the head of the English; and the French king, John, at the head of his own troops. The army of the Black Prince consisted of only eight thousand men, while the French king had more than sixty thousand. The prince encouraged his men with brave but not boastful words. "Now, sirs," he said, "though we be but a small company, in regard to the puissance of our enemies, let us not be abashed therefore; for the victory lieth not in the multitude of people, but where God will send it. If it fortune that the day be ours, we shall be the most honored people in the world; and if we die in our right quarrel, I have the king, my father, and brethren, and also ye have good friends and