.

was

diffuaded by fome of his counsellors
not to be deterred from his purpose of re-
turning to the Continent. Though his ar-
mament was greatly inferiour to that of the
French, confifting only of two hundred and
forty fhips, yet depending on his own cou-
rage, the valour of his forces, and the skill
of his feamen, he fet fail. By a manœuvre
he gained the wind of the enemy; and in
this pofition the English had the fun, which
then happened to fhine with great power,
on their backs; advantages which operated
greatly in their favour. Thefe, added to
the King's great example, and that of his

*The Bishop of Chichester, then Chancellor, endeavoured to divert the King from this design, and strenuously opposed his embarkation; but when he found that his admonitions would not avail, he refigned the feals, and haftily retired from court. King Edward imputing his warmth to its right caufe, a real zeal for his intereft, inftead of being offended at it, did not think it beneath him to fend for the Bishop and re-inftate him in his office. A convincing proof that Hiftorians have juftly celebrated that Monarch for his moderation and prudence.

gallant Nobles, animated the foldiers and feamen to fuch a degree, that though the French, encouraged by their fuperior numbers, maintained the combat with great fteadiness for a confiderable time, yet they were at length obliged to yield. Great numbers, intimidated at the irresistible fury with which they were attacked by the men at arms, threw themselves headlong into the fea. Two hundred and thirty French ships were taken; and thirty thousand of their men, with two of their Admirals, killed or drowned. When the news of this defeat arrived at Paris, not one of King Philip's courtiers dared to deliver him the fatal intelligence, till his Jefter gave him a hint, by which he discovered the lofs he had fuftained. The Buffoon came into the royal prefence, and exclaimed feveral times with great warmth and vehemence, "" Cowardly Englishmen; daftardly Englishmen; faint-hearted Englishmen." The King alking him the reason why he gave them thefe opprobrious epithets, he replied, Be

caufe

cause they had not the courage to leap into the fea like our brave Frenchmen.

The King of England's authority among his allies was greatly ftrengthened by this fuccefs; they confequently affembled their forces with greater alacrity than they had done the last campaign, and joined the Eng

army in good feafon. Edward marched

lish army

to the frontiers of France at the head of one hundred thousand men, whilst the Flemings to the amount of fifty thousand, under the command of Robert d'Artois, laid fiege to St. Omer's. The latter being chiefly compofed of artizans unexperienced in war, were routed by a fally of the garrifon; and, notwithstanding the abilities of their leader, were thrown into fuch a panick, that they were inftantly dispersed, and never after appeared in the field.

King Edward at the fame time laid fiege to Tournay, then one of the confiderable cities in Flanders. Philip having been informed

D 3

formed of this defign, had fupplied it with fourteen thousand of his best troops, commanded by the braveft of his Generals; Edward confequently met with a vigorous refiftance. His own valour, which his foldiers ftrove to emulate, could not avail; every affault, though planned with the greatest judgment, and executed with uncommon perfeverance, proved unfuccessful; he therefore turned the fiege into a blockade, in hopes that the great numbers of the garrifon and inhabitants would oblige them to furrender through famine. After the blockade had continued ten weeks, the city was reduced to great diftrefs; and Philip advanced at the head of a mighty army to its relief. But even now the fame caution with which that King had hitherto acted, continued to be the rule of his operations; he ftill avoided coming to a decifive action, and only fought for an opportunity to afford the garrifon fome fuccour.

King Edward, irritated with the small progrefs he had made, and impelled by his natural valour, which could not brook fuch tardy proceedings, fent Philip a defiance by a herald; challenging him to decide their claims to the crown of France either by a fingle combat, by an action between one hundred Knights on each fide, or by a general engagement. To this, the French King replied, that as Edward had done homage to him for the Duchy of Guienne, and had thereby acknowledged his fuperiority, it by no means became him to fend a

defiance to his Sovereign. By this and other evasive excufes he declined the combat; and both armies lay adjacent to each other, expecting every day that a general action could not long be avoided.

Whilft things continued in this fituation, Jane Countefs Dowager of Hainault, mother-in-law to Edward, and fifter to Philip, interpofed, and endeavoured to reconcile the contending Monarchs. Though this PrinD 4