many more alfo were decoyed by fome French ftandards, which the victors placed upon the mountains, and to which the fugitives reforted, where they were cut in pieces without mercy. Never was a victory more seasonable, or lefs bloody to the English than this. Notwithstanding the great flaughter of the enemy, the conquerors loft but one efquire, three knights, and a few of inferior rank. The creft of the king of Bohemia was three oftrich feathers, with this motto, Ich Dien, which fignifies, in the German language, I ferve. This was thought to be a proper prize to perpetuate the victory; and it was accordingly added to the arms of the prince of Wales, and it has been adopted by all his fucceffors. But this victory was attended with ftill more fubftantial advantages; for Edward, as moderate in conqueft, as prudent in his measures to obtain it, refolved to fecure an easy entrance into France for the future. With this view he laid fiege to Calais, that was then defended by John de Vienne, an experienced commander, and fupplied with every thing neceflary for defence. The king, however, knowing the difficulty of taking fo ftrong a town by force, refolved to reduce it by famine. He chofe a fecure ftation for his camp; drew entrenchments round the city, and made proper provifions for his foldiers to endure a winter campaign. Thefe operations, tho' flow, were at length fuccefsful. It was in vain that the governor made a noble defence, that he excluded all the ufelefs mouths from the city, which Edward generously permitted to pafs unmolefted through his camp. It was at length taken, after a twelvemonth's fiege, the defendants having been reduced to the laft extremity by famine and fatigue. The obftinate refiftance, made by the townfmen, was not a little difpleafing to Edward; and he had often declared, that when put in poffeffion of the place, he would take fignal revenge for the numbers of men he had loft during the fiege. It was with great difficulty, therefore, that he was perfuaded to accept of their fubmiffion; and to spare their lives, upon condition, that fix of the moft confiderable citizens fhould be fent him, to be disposed of as he should think proper; but on these he was refolved to wreak his refentment, and he gave orders that they should be led into his camp, bare-headed, and bare-footed, with ropes about their necks, in the manner of criminals juft preparing for inftant execution. When the news of this fierce refolution was brought into the city, it fpread new confternation among the inhabitants. Who fhould be the men, that were thus to be offered up as victims to procure the fafety of all the reft, and by their deaths appease the victor's refentment; was a fresh fubject of dreadful enquiry. In this terrible fufpenfe, one of the principal inhabitants, whofe name was Euftace de St. Pierre, walked forward, and offered himself as willing to undergo any tortures that could procure his fellow citizens fafety. Five more foon followed his noble example; and these marching out like criminals, laid the keys of their city at Edward's feet; but no fubmifhons feemed fufficient to appeafe his refentment; and they would in all probability have fuffered death, had not the generofity of their conduct affected the queen, who interceded in their behalf, and with fome difficulty obtained their pardon. Edward having thus opened himself a paffage into France, by which he might at any A. D. time pour in his forces, and withdraw them with fcrutiny, refolved on every 1347. method that could add ftrength or stability to his D 2 new new acquifition. He ordered all the French inhabitants to leave the town, and peopled it with his own fubjects from England. He alfo made it the staple, or principal market for wool, leather, tin, and lead; which were the principal English commodities for which there was any confiderable demand upon the continent. All the English were obliged to bring their goods thither; and foreign merchants came to the fame place to purchase them. By thefe means, the city became populous, rich, and flourishing; and although it had like to have been taken fome time after by treachery, it continued above two centuries after in the poffeffion of the English, and braved all the military power of France. The treachery, which had like to have restored it to the French, arofe from the perfidy of Aymer de Pavie, an Italian, who had been appointed governor of the place. He agreed to deliver it up to the enemy, when his perfidy was difcovered by Edward, who obliged him to carry on the treaty, and to perfuade the enemy that he was still in their interefts. Accordingly a day was appointed for the admiffion of the French troops into the city; while the king, with a strong body of forces, took care to prepare for their reception. All thofe who entered the city were immediately cut to pieces; and the garrifon, with Edward, and Sir Walter Manny at their head, rushing out in pursuit of the reft, a fierce and bloody engagement ensued, in which the king overthrew and took Eustace de Ribaumont, a man of remarkable ftrength and valour, with his own hand. In this manner, the war between the English and French was carried on with mutual animofitv, a war which at once thinned the inhabitants of the invaded country, while it drained that of the in vaders. off vaders. But a deftruction ftill more terrible than that of war contributed, at this time, to defolate the wretched provinces of Europe. A peftilence, more dreadful than any mentioned in the annals of hiftory, which had already almoft difpeopled Afia and Africa, came to fettle upon the weftern world with encreased malignity. It is faid to have taken its origin in the great kingdom of Cathay, where it rofe from the earth with the moft horrid and fulphureous stench, destroying all the inhabitants, and even marking plants and minerals with its malignity. The fourth part of the people were cut and it particularly good with f London, that in one year's fpace, there were buried in the Charter-houfe church-yard, above fifty thoufand perfons. It was in the midst of this terrible infliction from nature, that the ambition of Edward and Philip was exerted for new conquefts, and was adding to the calamities of mankind. Yet ftill these ravages were filently repairing by commerce and industry; thefe arts, which were then defpifed by princes, were laying the feeds of future opulence, and encreafed population. The arts of peace had for fome tiine been revived in Italy, and were gradually travelling weftward; the refinements and the plea fures of fenfe, every day began to improve, altho' intellectual refinements were as yet totally unknown.' Senfual enjoyments must ever be carried to fome. height before mankind can find leisure or talte for entertainments of a more exquifite nature. A. D. 1349. Nor was England free from internal war during this dreary period. While Edward was reaping victories upon the continent, the Scotch, ever willing to embrace a favourable opportunity of rapine and revenge, invaded the frontiers with a humerous army, headed by David Bruce their D3 king. king. This unexpected invafion, at fuch a juncture, alarmed the English, but was not capable of intimidating them. Lionel, Edward's fon, who was left guardian of England during his father's absence, was yet too young to take upon him the command of an army; but the victories on the continent, feemed to inspire even women with valour: Philippa, Edward's queen, took upon her the conduct of the field, and prepared to repulfe the enemy in person. Accordingly, having made lord Percy general under her, he met the Scots at a A. D. 1346. place called Nevill's Crofs near Durham, and arab king was no less impatient to engage; he imagined that he might obtain an eafy victory against undisciplined troops, and headed by a woman. But he was miferably deceived. His army was quickly routed and driven from the field. Fifteen thousand of his men were cut to pieces; and he himself, with many of his nobles and knights, were taken prifoners, and carried in triumph to London. This victory diffufed an univerfal degree of joy through the nation; a captive king was an object that flattered their pride, and they foon had new reasons for exultation. Philip, who was furnamed the Fortunate, upon coming to the crown of France, ended his life under the accumulation of every misfortune that could render a king unhappy. John his fon fucceeded him on the throne, which was but ill fupported by Philip, and yet ftill worse by him., This weak, yet virtuous prince, upon coming to the crown, found himself at the head of an exhaufted nation, and a divided and factious nobility. France at that time, pretty much resembled England under the reign of a prince of the fame name fome ages before. They had |