Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

other answer than to affure him he fhould lofe his head.

The three chief Commanders of the garrifon, when they found the English gave no quarter, exhorted each other to fell their lives as dearly as poffible; and drawing together a few chosen men, they placed themselves in an advantageous fituation, with their banners difplayed, refolved to defend themselves to the last. They were immediately attacked by the Duke of Lancaster and the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke, who in the true spirit of chivalry, that they might engage on equal terms, alighted from their horfes and entered into fingle combat with the three Generals: the contest was maintained on both fides with fo much gallantry

and courage, that the Prince drew near in his chariot to behold them. He was fo great an admirer of martial atchievements, and fo charmed with the fkill and valour of his adverfaries, that he commanded no more flaughter should be made in the city,

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

The

and that all who were then engaged fhould not fuffer beyond the law of arms, French Knights hearing this, delivered up their fwords to their antagonists, and were received as their prifoners.

Before the Prince put a stop to the flaughter great numbers were flain, and the city, after being given up to plunder, was burnt and levelled to the ground.

The Bishop had many friends among the English, particularly the Duke of Lancafter, who artfully pretending to be his enemy, prevailed on the Prince his Brother to deliver him into his hands, and to leave the execution of his fentence to him: this being granted, the Duke fent privately to Pope Urban the Fifth, who was just returned from Italy to Avignon, informing him of the Bishop's danger, and that a letter from his Holinefs in his behalf, directed to himself, might prove beneficial to him. The Pope took the hint, and immediately

wrote

[ocr errors]

wrote to the Duke, defiring him, in reverence, to the Apoftolic See, to procure a pardon for the Bishop and fend him to Avignon. The Duke of Lancaster fhewed the letter to the Prince his Brother, who acknowledged that the Pope's request ought to be granted; but remembering the provocation he had received, he could not help withing that his Brother had not delayed the execution fo long.

[ocr errors]

1

[ocr errors]

1

After the reduction of Limoges, the Prince and his army returned with their fpoil and prifoners to Cogniac, where the Princess met him with a mixture of pain and pleasure the fuccefs which had attended his arms gave her fatisfaction, but her foul was tortured when the beheld the hafty steps of the grim tyrant to rob her of all the held dear: to obferve the fecret venom, for which no antidote could be found, gradually wafting that grace and beauty which had once attracted the admiration of every beholder, gave her inexpref

[ocr errors]

fible pangs. She however ftrove to affume a cheerful countenance, and imitate, in fome degree, the magnanimity of her Edward. He beheld the uplifted dart of death with the fame undauntedness he had often met those of his foes in battle, and felt no apprehensions but such as were occafioned by a reluctance to part from the woman he loved, and from friends whom he respected.

The winter now approaching, he permitted the greater part of his forces to retire to their quarters; and this proved the laft warlike exploit of this renowned Prince.

About this time he was pleased to express his love for his Brother the Duke of Lancafter, by granting him the town and castle of La Roche fur Yon. The inftrument bears date the eighth of October 1370, wherein the Prince is ftyled Edward, eldest Son of the King of France and of England, Prince of Acquitain and of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chefter, Lord of Biscay

and

and of the castle of Ordiales. Appendant is his feal of green wax, on which he is reprefented in his robes, fitting on a throne, with a circle on his head, and a fceptre in his right hand as Prince of Acquitain: on each fide are two oftrich feathers and scroles, whereon are the words ICH DIEN, and over which are the letters E P, viz. Edvardus Princeps. On the reverse he is figured on horfeback, his furcoat, fhield, and the caparison of his horse, charged with the arms of France and England: the inscription round the feal is in Saxon characters after the manner of the age, viz. S. EDVARDI PRIMOGENITI REGIS ANGL. PRINCIPIS AQUITANIÆ ET WALLIÆ, DUCIS CORNUBIÆ ET COMITIS

CESTRIÆ.

In the beginning of the year 1371, 45th Edw. III. Edward, the eldest Son of the Prince of Wales, died at Bourdeaux in the feventh year of his age, to the extreme regret of his parents and of the whole court:

the

« ZurückWeiter »