A.D. 1372. which was used for the government of the kingdom during the King's presence in England, and depobarks with sited it with the Treasurer, for safe custody, in a bag

He em

the Black

30th.

Prince on sealed with his signet; at the same time he gave August another like seal to the Chancellor, to be used during his absence. This took place on the 30th of August in the "hall" or chief cabin of the King's ship, the "Grace de Dieu."1 It had been previously arranged, that the Duke of Lancaster should invade France by Calais; but, as this plan was abandoned in consequence of the news from Thouars, all the preparations that had been made for that expedition were available without delay to aid the present purpose. The fleet consisted of 400 ships, large and small, having on board 4,000 men-at-arms and 10,000 bowmen. The cost of the expedition was estimated at 900,000l., but the expenditure of such a sum, which would represent nearly six millions of money at this day, seems utterly incredible.

the expedi

tion.

2

Before sailing, the King appointed his grandson, Richard, son of the Black Prince, then six and a half

years old, the nominal guardian of the kingdom during Disastrous his absence. This ill-fated expedition never reached failure of its destination. The fleet was five weeks at sea, beating about with contrary winds, often losing as much way in one day as it had made in three, and utterly unable to gain the land. The 30th of September arrived, while the fleet was still at sea; the King therefore ordered it to return to England, and thus ended almost the last chance which the English had of re-establishing their possession of

1 Rymer, vol. iii. p. 962. 2 Buchon's Froissart, vol. i. p. 658. 3 Walsingham, p. 315.

4 Rot. Parl. 46 Ed. III. (m. 1.) 2; and Rymer, vol. iii. p. 962.

CHAP. XI. DISASTROUS END OF THE CAMPAIGN.

213

the Duchy of Aquitaine. No sooner had they landed, A.D. 1372. than the wind changed, and the people exclaimed that "God was for the King of France."1

The siege

of Thouars

goes on.

In the meanwhile, the English and Gascon barons who held Niort were watching the fate of Thouars with great anxiety. When the day of surrender had passed, they endeavoured to persuade its garrison to break their word, and come out and join them in battle with the French. When a truce was granted on promise of surrender at a certain time if no deliverance arrived, the understanding was, that no additional force should be added to the besiegers; but the King of France did not, on this occasion, consider himself bound by any such condition. He sent "the flower of his kingdom" to join the Constable, so that at last there were 15,000 men at arms and 30,000 other soldiers, encamped round Thouars, at the end of September. The garrison of Niort used every argument to persuade that of Thouars that they were not bound by the agreement made with the Constable; but the garrison was well aware that to evade it would have been rank treachery. The argument of strong battalions was Surrenalso against them; and they therefore surrendered.3

When Thouars was taken, the greater part of the French army "returned to France," as Froissart expresses himself; but the Lord of Clisson besieged Mortagne, which was saved by timely help from Niort. During the rest of the year, there was no more fighting in Aquitaine. The greater part of the English retired to Bordeaux, leaving garrisons in Niort,

1 Buchon's Froissart, vol. i. p. 658.

der of

Thouars.

A.D. 1372. Roche-sur-Yon, Lusignan, Chizey, and Mortemer; these were almost the only fortresses in Aquitaine remaining in their hands. The French cruisers, however, did not leave England at peace, and were very active in harassing the English coast. Portsmouth suffered greatly from their attacks, and was set on fire several times.1 The English navy had sadly declined in power, and its inefficiency became the subject of serious complaint in the next Parliament.

Brittany.

2

The account of the campaign of 1372 would be incomplete without a notice of what had been done in Brittany. The Duke of that province, Edward's son-in-law, had made a formal alliance with him in the course of the year; but, his nobles were so generally on the side of the French, that he dared not support the English openly. Edward sent Sir John Neville with 400 men-at-arms, and as many bowmen, to St. Mahé de Fine Poterne to assist the Duke; but the Breton nobles soon convinced him, that it would be dangerous to attack the French; no fighting, therefore, took place in Brittany before the following year.

1 Rymer, vol. iii. p. 965.

• Ibid. pp. 943, 948, 955, 959, 964, 968.

CHAP. XII.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

215

CHAPTER XII.

THE LOSS OF AQUITAINE.

Parlia

SOON after the return of King Edward to England, A.D.1372. Parliament again met. Two days subsequently to Meeting of the appointment of the child Richard as Guardian of ment. the Kingdom, the nobles, who formed his council, had issued writs in his name for the assemblage of Parliament on the 13th of October. The King however returned before that time; Richard's power therefore ceased, and Edward ordered Parliament to assemble on the 3rd of November. "The great men and Commons,' for some reason or other, did not make their appearance on that day, and Parliament was therefore prorogued till the following Friday. On its meeting in the Painted Chamber, the Chancellor, Sir John Knyvet, stated the reasons for its assemblage. "Receivers and tryers" of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Gascony and other countries beyond the seas, and from "The Isles," were then appointed in the usual way; after this, the Commons departed for the day, and the King, the Prince of Wales, the Prelates, the Dukes, Earls, Barons and Bannerets ad- ment of journed to the White Chamber. Guy Bryan then Prince's made the important announcement, that the Prince surrender had surrendered the Duchy of Aquitaine to his father. taine to

1 Rot. Parl. 46 Ed. III.

Announce

the

of Aqui

his father.

A.D. 1372. Bryan asked the Prince if this were done with his will; to which, in the language of Northern France, he answered "oyl." Parliament was then adjourned. The reason given for this act by the Prince was, that the revenues of Aquitaine were not enough to defray the expenses. But there can be no doubt that his failing health, and a feeling of despair of ever recovering possession of the province, were the causes which really actuated him.

subsidy.

The next day, the whole Parliament assembled in the White Chamber, when Guy Bryan gave an account of the King's unfortunate attempt to invade France; he then stated, that the King had summoned Parliament to give him advice on this important Grant of matter, and to grant him a subsidy. To this request, an immediate assent was given, and the subsidy was to be raised in the following manner, viz.: On each sack of wool exported, 43s. 4d. ; on every twelve score of woolfells, the same; and on every last of leather, 4l., in addition to the old customs. These duties were granted for two years; but inasmuch as they alone would not be sufficient, Parliament granted also a fifteenth for one year. Other important matters were then considered. The first, was the complaint, that lawyers abused their privileges as Members of Parliainent, by using them to promote the business of their clients; it was therefore ordered,1 that no lawyers having business in the King's Court should be allowed to sit in Parliament, for counties. In like manner, the Sheriffs "who are common ministers of the people,

Lawyers

and She

riffs not allowed to sit in Parliament.

1 "Est accorde et assentu en cest Parlement, qe desormes null homme de ley pursuant busoignes en le Court de Roi . . . soient retournez ne acceptez chivalers des countees."-Rot. Parl. vol. ii. p. 310 (13). On this important matter see chap. xix. vol. i.