62 
EDWARD II 
accompanied by his son, the Prince of Wales, and a powerful army. 
landed at Cape la Hogune in Normandy. He met the 
Battle Of Jyench army on the 26th of August at Crecy, a smal! 
Crecy. s + . en x, * 
village near Abbeville. The English army was far out 
numbered, but made up in discipline and energy what was lacking in 
numbers. A shower relaxed the bow-strings of the French archers: 
while the stout yeomanry of England discharged their arrows with 
such terrible directness of aim as to scatter the enemy in confusion 
The Prince of Wales, who was only sixteen years of age, performe‘ 
wonderful feats of valor. He received the name of Black Prince from 
the color of his armor. The French losses were very great, Philip 
gurprised and mortified by his defeat, gathered together the remnan‘ 
of his forces and withdrew to Amiens, 
9. Edward followed up his vietory by laying siege t 
en 9f Calais ; which, after being belcaguered for nearly x ycar 
alals. “ x . 
was compelled to surrender to avoid famine, Calais wa“ 
held by the English for upwards of two centuries, 
10. During the siege of Calnis, David Bruce invader 
Battle England, but was defoated at the Battle of Nevil* 
of Nevil’s Rn x . . ; 
Cross. Cross, near Durham, King David was taken prisone! 
and was held in captivity for eleven years, 
11. In 1347 a truce was concluded between Kungland and Franc 
through the mediation of Pope Clement VI, Before leaving the Con 
Edward’s tinent, Kdward, who was always anxious for the com 
Dower, mercial prosperity of his country, took steps to make hit 
new possession, Calais, a grand distributing point fo 
English products. Soon afterwards, ho reached the height of his 
glory by defeating a powerful Spanish fleet in the Channel. Ho wa* 
virtually master of England, Scotland, and France. 
12. In 1349 England was devastated by a terrible pestilence, F 
which was given the expressive name of the Black Death, This frightfV 
plaguo had its origin in the far Kast, and in its passap' 
The Black 4rouzh the intermediate countries was estimated € 
Death. 9 S : 80 EM 
have destroyed one-third of the population 1ying in it 
path. Some, indecd, suppose that it slew on*-half of the inhabitanf 
of England. Its ravages led to a great seareity of lahorers, which th‘ 
King and Parliament vainly tried to remody by legislation. 
13. In 18355 war with France was renewed, through diffieulties co” 
sequent on the death of Philip VI. On the part of England, it w# 
chiefly condueted by the Black Prince, though Kdwart 
Battle for a time had his head-quarters at Calais, The chie 
of Poitiers, We | 
engagement was the celebrated Battle of Poitiers, fough 
on Septumber 19, 1856, With a force of ten thousand men, the Englis! 
Prince encountered an arıny six times as larıze, under £he command 9 
Jah Ö’hyr ef Frapes in varsan. Rv skilful management and dete”