during the repaft, and then only short and obliging fentences to the Prince, who con→ tinued to wait on him till it was finished. But the French Nobles could not contain their admiration at fuch uncommon húmility in fo young a Conqueror: overcome by this elevation of mind, more than by their late defeat, they burst into tears of joy, and dwelt untired on his praises. All the English and Gafcon Knights, imitating the generous example fet them by their Prince, treated their Captives with great humanity, and difmiffed them on moderate ranfoms.

"the illuftrious King of France (whom the event of war "hath brought into your prifon) that honour which belongs

to fo great a Prince: upon which account, returning "unto your Highness our deserved praises, and hoping,

undoubtedly, that the omnipotent God, who hath "refpect unto the lowly, but knoweth the proud afar off, "will beftow on you more abundantly and freely the grace of his benediction, &c." Dat. Aven. V. Non. Octob. anno Pontif. IV. Odor Rainal. Epift. Secret.

This

This ever-memorable victory, termed the battle of Poitiers, was obtained on the nineteenth day of September 1356, beginning about nine in the morning, and ending a little after noon. There were flain in it, according to both the French and the English accounts, the chief and most valiant of the Nobility of France, among whom were two Dukes, nineteen Counts, and fix thousand men at arms, exclufive of the meaner fort, who were reckoned at eight thousand more. The flaughter was much lefs here than at Creffy, the English forces being not a third fo numerous; and the Prince of Wales was unwilling to con tinue the pursuit too long, for fear of hazarding the victory, as his foes were fo abundant. When the prifoners were collected together they amounted to twice the number of the English army; they therefore released many of them immediately, after fixing a small ranfom upon them, and receiving no other fecurity than their promife to remit it before Christmas to their

Captors at Bourdeaux: but remaining marters 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 ufe the money he received for the captives he had taken; the French Monarch, his Son, and those whofe 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 efteem of those who were witneffes 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 fpoil 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 fcarcely 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 fpring to attend his royal Prifoner to England.

Whilft he remained at Bourdeaux he was employed in deciding various differences about the French prifoners: those he defigned to carry with him to England, which the Gascoigners laid claim to, he paid them the ranfom 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 fhewed the gauntlet the King had given him, a 'Squire of Gafcoigné, named Bernard de Troutes, averred that he had more reafon to claim the honour of taking the royal Prifoner, and thereupon chailenged him; but the Prince commanded N 2

them