were all slain, and on the morrow they were found on the ground with their horses all tied together." 27. In the thick of the fight the battalion of the Prince of Wales was hard pressed and in great danger. A knight rode off 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 honour of this day shall be given to him, and to those into whose care I have entrusted 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." 28. At last the battle ended; the French king had to flee, and his huge army was broken to pieces. 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 honour 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 any one quite sure how he came by them, nor what they mean. Welsh people say "Ich Dien" are Welsh words; but most people think they are German, and that the King of Bohemia really used them. If they are German, those two words mean "I serve." Rather a strange motto for a victorious prince! One wonders whether in the hour of triumph he had a thought of Him who come not to be ministered unto, but to minister; if he began to feel, what the noblest spirits ever feel, that all great gifts and glory, high place, talents, and wealth are only theirs that they may serve;" serve their brothers who have them not. We shall see, as we go on, how he acted on his motto, and was "lowly and serviceable," after his greatest triumph. 66 Siege of The six burghers. 29. 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 very indignant with the inhabitants for their obstinate resistance, and demanded that they should submit themselves absolutely to his will, without making any terms or conditions at all. 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, '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 favour; 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." 30. 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. So cruel was war in those days. Three hundred years after this, and when Calais had been long restored to the French, an English traveller tells us how, passing through the city, he went to see "the reliques 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. LECTURE 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. 1. As we saw, the French and the Scotch had become friends and allies at the time when England was against them both; so now that the war with France was going on, and Edward and his son were abroad, the Scotch took the opportunity of invading England in the north. This time, however, they got the worst of it; they were defeated in battle near a place called Nevil's Cross, and their king, David, was made prisoner and kept in England for nine years. Froissart says that Queen Philippa headed the English army, but this is not believed now, for no old English writer says anything about it. 1356. Battle of Poitiers. 2. The English now began to feel quite unconquerable. Perhaps it was at this time they first took up the idea, which we may have often heard old men repeat, that "one Englishman could beat ten Frenchmen." 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." Ten years after the battle of Crecy there was another great battle, as famous as that one, 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. This time the army of the Black Prince consisted of only 8000 men, while the French king had more than 60,000. 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 honoured 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 kinsmen; these shall revenge us. Therefore, sirs, for God's sake, I require you to do your duties this day; for if God be pleased, and St. George, this day ye shall see me a good knight.” 3. The small English force was so skilfully posted, and so well managed, that once more the French were utterly defeated, and their king, who had fought very valiantly, was made prisoner. It was now that the Black Prince showed his generous spirit, his courtesy and modesty. "When evening was come," writes Froissart, "the Prince of Wales gave a supper in his pavilion to the King of France, and to the greater part of the princes and barons who were prisoners. . . . The prince himself served the king's table, as well as the others, with every mark of humility, and would not sit down at it, in spite of all his entreaties for him so to do, saying that he was not worthy of such an honour, nor did it appertain to him to seat himself at the table of so great a king, or of so valiant a man as he had shown himself by his actions that day.' He added also with a noble air, 'Dear sir, do not make a poor meal because the Almighty God has not gratified your wishes in the event of this day; for be assured that my lord and father will show you every honour and friendship in his power, and will arrange your ransom so reasonably that you will henceforward always remain friends. In my opinion you have cause to be glad that the success of this battle did not turn out as you desired, for you have this day acquired such high renown for prowess that you have surpassed all the best knights on your side. I do not, dear sir, say this to flatter you, for all those of our side who have seen and observed the actions of each party have unanimously allowed this to be your due, and decree you the prize and garland for it.' At the end of this speech there were murmurs of praise heard from every one, and the French said the prince had spoken nobly and truly, and that he would be one of the most gallant princes in Christendom if God should grant him life to pursue his career of glory." 4. Three or four years after this, when both countries were quite worn out with fighting, and France was almost ruined by her own armies, and the English armies for ever ravaging and devouring everything, a peace was made. The French promised 3,000,000 of gold crowns as a ransom for their king, who was then allowed to go back to his country; but as he could not collect the promised sum, he afterwards honestly returned to England. He died in the Savoy Palace in London, which had been fixed upon as his residence while in captivity. Edward gave up his claim to be King of France; but he kept the duchy |