1338-46]
THE ANGEVINS
39
the most important export of England; Flanders bought
the wool, made fine cloth, and sold it to England. This
Interruption to trade stopped the work of the‘ Flemish
Weavers, and seriously interfered with the business of both
countries, The French king was also attempting to gain
control of Flanders, and if he succeeded, English trade
With that country would be erippled.
Philip, king of France, now seized Aquitaine and refused to
surrender it to Edward. The English king, on his part, put
forth a claim to the throne of France on the ground that
he was the rightful heir, as his mother, Isabella, was a Sister
of the late king, while Philip was only a cousin. The French
asserted that, under their law, no woman could either rule
mn France, or transmit the crown to her son; this, however,
Edward refused to admit. The war to secure the throne of
France for an English king began in 1338 and lasted, with
Some intervals, for over one hundred years.
The first battle of the war was for the mastery of the
Channel, in order that the wool trade with Flanders might
be carried on with safety. "The English gathered a strong
flect, and in 1340 attacked the French off Sluys, on the
Netherland coast. In the battle that followed, the French
Were defeated with great loss. No man dared tell the
news to Philip until his court jester said, “Those Kng-
lish are terrible cowards.” “Why?” said Philip. ‘“Be-
Cause they were afraid to lcap into the sca as OUT brave
French did,” said the clown.
Six ycars later, Edward landed in Normandy, ravaged
the country, and then began a march across France to
Join his allies in Flanders. Philip pursued, and the Kng-
lish army awaited attack at Cr6cy, where in 1346 was
fought one of the most famous battles of English history.
The French king was depending mainly on his mounted
Knights, clad in armour, who fought with sword and
lance. He had also fifteen thousand Genocse archers, who
fought with the ecrossbow, an awkward weapon, which
had to be wound up with wheel and ratchet to set the
String every time it was discharged. The English archers,
Who formed the main bodv u“ Edward’s army used the
