Captors at Bourdeaux: but remaining maf ters of the field of battle, they were all enriched by the fpoil they found upon it; for the French, confident of fuccefs, had decorated their horfes and themfelves with their best furniture and apparel, that they might celebrate their victory with the greater pomp: the prifoners alfo, though their ranfoms were fixed at a low rate, brought in confiderable fums. Every one was allowed to apply to his own use the money he received for the captives he had taken; the French Monarch, his Son, and those whose redemption exceeded ten thoufand crowns only excepted, as fuch belonged by the law of arms to the King. Early the next morning after the battle, the Prince ordered his army to be drawn up, and on the field where its protection had been fo confpicuous, caufed thanks to be publicly rendered to Heaven for their fignal deliverance. Among his many virtues and amiable qualities, an unaffected piety held not a fecondary place instead of vaunting himself on his great prowefs, and priding himself in his victories, he was not ashamed to attribute his fuccefs to the interpofition of a fuperior Power, and publicly to offer up his grateful acknowledgments: this humility diffused itself through every action, and gained him the love and esteem of those who were witnefles to it, with the encomiums of fucceeding ages. Having allowed his army a proper time for their refreshment, he prepared to continue his march, intent on the fecurity of his royal prize, and the spoil his troops had acquired. Thus did Edward the Black Prince (now doubly dyed black by the terror of his arms, as Froiffart expreffes it) after another fuccefsful expedition, march leifurely back, and arrive crowned with honour at his chief city of Bourdeaux: the extravagant joy and triumph, the fumptuous feafts, and fplendid pageants, with which this victorious Prince and his gallant troops were were received into that city, are scarcely to be imagined or defcribed. From hence the Prince wrote letters to the King his Father, giving him a full but modeft account of his fuccefs, and promifing the next spring to attend his royal Prifoner to England. Whilft he remained at Bourdeaux he was employed in deciding various differences about the French prifoners: thofe he defigned to carry with him to England, which the Gascoigners laid claim to, he paid them the ransom for; among these were Philip the French King's Son, the Count de Ponthieu, and feveral other Noblemen: he alfo heard before him the pretenfions of Sir Dennis de Morbeque to the perfon of the King of France; and notwithstanding Sir Dennis thewed the gauntlet the King had given him, a 'Squire of Gafcoigué, named Bernard de Troutes, averred that he had more reafon to claim the honour of taking the royal Prisoner, and thereupon challenged him; but the Prince commanded them both, on pain of his difpleasure, not to proceed, being determined to leave the decifion of fo intricate an affair to the King his Father: however, on the French King's declaring in favour of Sir Dennis, the generous Prince fecretly gave him two thoufand nobles to enable him to support the dignity he had acquired, till he should arrive at the English court; and the next year, when King Edward had determined the caufe in his favour, the Prince gave him five thousand crowns of gold more as a reward for that service; for though the honour was decreed to him, yet the King's ranfom being above the ten thousand crowns ftipulated by the military laws, the Knight was not entitled to it. So many French Noblemen being flain or taken prifoners at the late battle, there remained but few able to manage the affairs of that kingdom. The Dauphin, now about eighteen years of age, naturally af fumed the royal power during his Father's captivity; 1 captivity; but though endowed with excellent abilities, he poffeffed neither the experience or authority neceffary to defend a nation, affailed at once by foreign powers, and shaken by internal factions. In order to obtain fupplies he affembled the ftates of the kingdom; but instead of supporting his administration, they laid hold of the prefent opportunity to demand limitations of the Prince's power, and a renewal of those rights they supposed to have been infringed by his Predeceffors: a fcene of confufion confequently enfued, and France experienced for fome months all the horrors attendant on anarchy. : The provinces of Languedoc and Champeigne alone feemed ready to contribute towards the King's redemption and the exigences of the state affembled by the Earl of Armagnac, the King's Lieutenant in thofe parts, they agreed to pay their quota in money, and to raise five thousand men; at the fame time they iffued out an ordonnance, forbidding N 3 |