CHAP. ment, and where therefore the inhabitants re XXVIII. 1368. of certain of the tained with less adulteration the genuine character of Frenchmen, it was ordinarily reSecession garded with antipathy and abhorrence. In a general assembly of the provinces of the barons. prince's government held at Niort, several of the lords of Gascony remonstrated forcibly against the measure, and at length withdrew in discontent; their principal leaders shortly after resorting as refugees to Paris, to the court of Charles V d Various causes, as always happens in similar cases, co-operated to swell the tide of disaffection which now manifested itself against the English government. However popular were the manners of the prince of Wales, however equitable his temper and generous his sentiments, he found it impossible to satisfy all in a nation of men born the subjects of his natural enemy. Many of the nobles were suspicious; they saw, or thought they saw, themselves slighted, and others pre XXVIII. ferred before them; and they began to cast CHAP looks of impatience and affection toward the 1368. young monarch of the realm of France, the reputation of whose government became every day more grave and imposing. summoned by Charles V. to an swer the complaints sals. It is extremely probable that this monarch Black Prince had secretly from the first fomented these discontents; it is certain that he contemplated the appearance of the refugees at his court of his vaswith undisguised pleasure. Meanwhile he affected an extreme reluctance to come to extremities with his "dear nephew," the prince of Wales, and seemed finally to be prevailed upon only by the importunities of the malcontents to take part in their grievances At length however, in January 1369, he dispatched a summons to the Black 1369. Prince, under the style of prince of Wales and Aquitaine, to appear before him as his sovereign lord, to answer certain complaints of his vassals'. This could amount to nothing less than a e Froissart, ubi supra. f Ditto, Chap. ccxlvii. CHAP declaration of war. By the treaty of Bretigni XXVIII. 1369. it was solemnly stipulated that France should renounce for ever all claim of sovereignty over the territories ceded to the English. Nothing therefore could be more audacious and unprincipled, when tried by the dictates of morality, than the proceeding of Charles V. His plea, so far as he condescended to colour his measures with the technicalities of justice, appears to have been that, though the treaty of Bretigni had now been concluded more than eight years, the stipulated renunciations had never been executed. Yet this circumstance had been solely caused by his artificial delays. Edward III, confident in the high and merited reputation of himself and his son, entertained not the slightest suspicion of the new king of France, and did not allow himself to imagine that the French monarchy which had repeatedly been humbled at his feet, would ever dare willingly to unfurl its banners against him. Froissart, Chap. ccxlvi. XXVIII. 1369. War. Intelligence of the hostile and insulting CHAP. proceedings of Charles V. being brought to the court of London, Edward III, by the advice of his parliament, resumed the stile of king of France, and began vigorously to prepare for war". He saw that he had been deceived in relying upon the terror of his arms flowing from the past, and that he must now contend afresh for the monuments of his glory and the acquisitions of his prowess. Reasoning perhaps on chivalrous principles, he disdained to measure himself with the youthful tenant of the throne of France; and, while he appeared copious in measures of precaution and defence, he left the active direction of the campaign to his sons. Charles V. on the other hand had nothing of the spirit of chivalry: he contented himself with the wisdom of the cabinet, and never once during his reign appeared at the head of his armies. In the present instance he threatened the British dominions with an invasion, Rymer, Tom. VI, 43 Edv, s, June 3. CHAP. and obliged Edward III, to adopt measures XXVIII. of prevention on the side both of Scot 1369. Duke of in Picardy. land and Ireland; at the same time that, having gained intelligence of the defenceless state of the English possessions in Picardy, he pushed forward a strong and rapid body of troops, and seized upon Abbeville, St. Valori and Crotoy, before Edward III. could take the proper steps for their relief1. At length the duke of Lancaster, with a commands small but select army, sailed from Dover, and by his appearance at Calais, put an end to the real or ostensible preparations for invading the dominions of England. The duke of Burgundy, brother to the king of France, and intended admiral of his fleet, marched from Harfleur, its rendezvous, to watch and counteract the motions of the English general. The principal companion of the duke of Lancaster in this expedition was the illustrious sir Walter Manny, one of the original Froissart, Chap. ccliii. k Dugdale, Vol. II, art. Fauconberg. Froissart, Chap. cclii. |
