XV.

bravery and conduct in the wars, but was utterly HA P.
deftitute of every principle of honor and fidelity.
This man agreed to deliver up Calais for the fum
of 20,000 crowns; and Geoffrey de Charni, who
commanded the French forces in thofe quarters
and who knew, that if he fucceeded in this
fervice, he should not be difavowed, ventured,
without confulting his master, to conclude the
bargain with him. Edward, informed of this
treachery, by means of Aimery's fecretary, fum-
moned the governor to London on other pre-
tences; and having charged him with the guilt,
promised him his life, but on condition that he
would turn the contrivance to the deftruction of
the enemy. The Italian eafily agreed to this
double treachery. A day was appointed for the
admiffion of the French; and Edward, having
prepared a force of about a thousand men, under
Sir Walter Manny, fecretly departed from London,
carrying with him the prince of Wales; and
without being fufpected, arrived the evening
before at Calais. He made a proper difpofition
for the reception of the enemy; and kept all his
forces and the garrifon under arms. On the
appearance of Charni, a chofen band of French
foldiers was admitted at the poftern, and Aimery,
receiving the ftipulated fum, promised, that,
with their affiftance, he would immediately open
the great gate to the troops, who were waiting
with impatience for the fulfilling of his engage.

ment.

1349.

All the French who entered were im- ift Jan. mediately flain or taken prifoners: The great gate

1349.

CHAP. opened: Edward rushed forth with cries of battle XV. and of victory: The French, though aftonished at the event, behaved with valor: A fierce and bloody engagement enfued. As the morning broke, the king, who was not distinguished by his arms, and who fought as a private man under the standard of Sir Walter Manny, remarked a French gentleman, called Euftace de Ribaumont, who exerted himself with fingular vigor and bravery; and he was feized with a defire of trying a fingle combat with him. He stepped forth from his troop, and challenging Ribaumont by name, (for he was known to him) began a fharp and dangerous encounter. He was twice beaten to the ground by the valor of the Frenchman: He twice recovered himfelf. Blows were redoubled with equal force on both fides: The victory was long undecided: Till Ribaumont, perceiving himself to be left almost alone, called out to his antagonist, Sir knight, I yield myself your prifoner; and at the fame time delivered his fword to the king. Moft of the French, being overpowered by numbers, and intercepted in their retreat, loft either their lives or their liberty

120

THE French officers, who had fallen into the hands of the English, were conducted into Calais; where Edward discovered to them the antagonist with whom they had had the honor to be engaged, and treated them with great regard and courtesy. They were admitted to fup with the

** Froiffard, liv. 1. chap. 140, 141, 142.

XV.

1349

prince of Wales, and the English nobility; and c A P. after fupper, the king himself came into the apartment, and went about, converfing familiarly with one or other of his prifoners. He even addreffed himself to Charni, and avoided reproaching him, in too fevere terms, with the treacherous attempt, which he had made upon Calais during the truce: But he openly bestowed the highest encomiums on Ribaumont; called him the most valorous knight that he had ever been acquainted with; and confeffed, that he himself had at no time been in fo great danger as when engaged in combat with him. He then took a ftring of pearls, which he wore about his own head, and throwing it over the head of Ribaumont, he said to him, "Sir Euftace, I beftow this present upon you, as a teftimony of my esteem for your bravery: And I defire you to wear it a year for my fake: I know you to be gay and amorous; and to take delight in the company. "of ladies and damfels: Let them all know from "what hand you had the prefent: You are no « longer a prifoner; I acquit you of your ransom; and you are at liberty to-morrow to dispose "of yourself as you think proper.

сс

NOTHING proves more evidently the vaft fuperiority affumed by the nobility and gentry above all the other orders of men during thofe ages, than the extreme difference which Edward made in his treatment of these French knights, and that of the fix citizens of Calais, who had exerted more fignal bravery in a caufe more juftifiable and

С НА Р.

XVI.

$349.

Inftitution

of the gar

ter.

CHAP. XVI.

EDWARD

I I I.

Inftitution of the garter State of France

Poitiers

-

Battle of

Captivity of the king of France

of that kingdom - Invafion of France

Bretigni State of France

State

Peace of

Expedition into Caftile

and

Mifcellaneous tranfactions in

THE
HE prudent conduct and great fuccefs of
Edward in his foreign wars had excited a strong
emulation and a military genius among the Eng-
lifh nobility; and thefe turbulent barons, over-
awed by the crown, gave now a more useful
direction to their ambition, and attached them-
felves to a prince who led them to the acquifition
of riches and of glory. That he might farther
promote the fpirit of emulation and obedience,
the king inftituted the order of the garter, in
imitation of fome orders of a like nature, religious
as well as military, which had been established in
different parts of Europe. The number received
into this order confifted of twenty-five perfons,
befides the fovereign; and as it has never been
enlarged, this badge of diftinction continues as

XVI.

1349.

honorable as at its firft inftitution, and is ftill a c HA. valuable, though a cheap, prefent, which the prince can confer on his greateft fubjects. A vulgar ftory prevails, but is not fupported by any ancient authority, that, at a court-ball, Edward's miftrefs, commonly fuppofed to be the countefs of Salisbury, dropped her garter; and the king, taking it up; obferved fome of the courtiers to fmile, as if they thought that he had not obtained this favor merely by accident: Upon which he called out, Honni foit qui mal y penfe, Evil to him that evil thinks; and as every incident of gallantry among those ancient warriors was magnified into a matter of great importance, he inftituted the order of the garter in memorial of this event, and gave thefe words as the motto of the order. This origin, though frivolous, is not unfuitable to the manners of the times; and it is indeed difficult by any other means to account, either for the feemingly unmeaning terms of the motto, or for the peculiar badge of the garter, which feems to have no reference to any purpofe either of military ufe or ornament.

BUT a fudden damp was thrown over this feftivity and triumph of the court of England, by a destructive peftilence, which invaded that kingdom as well as the reft of Europe; and is computed to have fwept away near a third of the inhabitants in every country, which it attacked. It was probably more fatal in great cities than in