Secondly, That King John fhould pay as a ranfom for himfelf three millions of 'crowns of gold, and one million for the Lords of France. In confideration of thefe conditions King Edward would give up and wholly remit all his right in and to the duchies of Normandy, Anjou, and Maine; and renounce his pretenfions to the crown of France, never after taking upon him the title of King of that country. This agreement was figned and fealed by both Kings on the twenty-fourth of March 1359, and a copy thereof fent to France for the acquiefcence of the Dauphin, by the Lord James of Bourbon, and the Lord Arnold d'Endreghan: but the Dauphin and the States of France rejected a treaty which they efteemed difhonourable to that nation. This refufal being brought to the French King by the two Lords, he turned to King Edward who was prefent, and thus expreffed his his diffatisfaction: The fatal obftinacy of my infatuated people is providing another 66 66 L trophy for your victorious arms; you "muft again fhew them the fad effects of war, before they will understand the ad66 vantages of peace but thrice unhappy I, who cannot regain my liberty till I fee 66 my fubjects once more vanquifhed; and "can only impel them to their duty by the 66 arms of my Conqueror.", From this time King Edward began to make preparations for war; and in the interim, to keep his Knights in employ, as well as to indulge their turn for chivalry The following inftance, recorded by Pêre Daniel, will fhew the prevalence of chivalry and gallantry at that time, and countenance this romantic exploit, though it now appears only worthy of ridicule. A folemn duel of thirty Knights on each fide was fought between Bemborough an Englishman, and Beaumanoir a Breton, of the party of Charles de Blois: the Knights of two nations being come into the field, before the conteft began Beaumanoir called out, That it fhould be feen that day who had the fairest Miftreffes. After a bloody combat the Bretons prevailed, and gained for their prize the liberty to boast of their Miftreffes beauty. which the people of that age were enthusiastically fond of, he caufed a folemn just to be proclaimed in London, to hold three fucceffive days for the amusement of the citizens: in the proclamation made on this occafion it was given out, that the Lord Mayor, the two Sheriffs, and the Alderdermen, as challengers, agreed to maintain the field against all opposers: but on the day appointed the King himself, according to a private agreement, came into the city, attended by his four Sons, Edward, Lionel, John, and Edmund, and by nineteen of his principal Barons, where, bearing the city arms on their fhields and furcoats, they perfonated the corporation, and entered the lifts in their ftead: they fupported their challenge with great honour for three days, in the presence of the Kings of France and Scotland, the whole court, and an infinite number of fpectators: a few only of the Citizens had been let into the fecret; but when it was publicly known that the King and his Sons had done them fo great an honour, honour, and fought fo gallantly under their cognizance, they were greatly rejoiced, and found, if poffible, their love for their Sovereign and his amiable family increased. The truce was no fooner expired, and the neceffary preparations made, than King Edward embarked his army, which confifted of one hundred thousand men, on board one thousand one hundred and twenty fail of fhips at Sandwich, and landed the fame evening at Calais: on the fourth of November early in the morning they left that town, and marched with great regularity into France, the King obferving a stricter difcipline on this occafion than on any former one. The carriages which had been brought from England confifted of fix thoufand carts and waggons, each drawn by four horfes; they were laden with provi fions for the army, befides many things rarely seen in a camp, but useful in an enemy's country; fuch as hand-mills to grind their corn, moveable ovens and forges: these these were committed to the care of the Prince of Wales, who had with him his three Brothers, two thoufand fpears, and four thousand archers on horfeback, befides infantry. As this army was the greatest that ever paffed the fea from England in any prior or fucceeding reign, in memory of the principal leaders I shall recite their names: Edward the Third, King of England, France, and Lord of Ireland; with his four Sons, viz. Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwal, &c.; Lionel of Antwerp, Earl of Ulfter, afterwards created Duke of Clarence; John of Gaunt, Earl of Richmond, afterwards Duke of Lancafter, and King of Caftile and Leon; and Edmund of Langley, Earl of Cambridge, afterwards Duke of York. The King's fifth Son, Thomas of Woodstock, was left in England, and though not fix years of age, was conftituted by his Father Lieute nant and Lord Warden of the kingdom dur ing |