Siege of Calais--Battle of Neville's Cross--Capture of the Scottish King--Institution of the Garter--The Black Death--Disturbances in France excited by the King of Navarre--Battle of Poitiers--The King of France taken Prisoner and brought to England--Disorders in France--Affairs in Scotland--Fresh Invasion of France--The Peace of Bretigny--Return of King John to France--Disorders of that Kingdom--The Free Companies--Expedition of the Black Prince into Castile--Fresh Campaign in France--Decline of the English Power there--Death of the Black Prince--Death of Edward III.--Character of his Reign and State of the Kingdom 420 CHAPTER XXXII. THE REIGN OF RICHARD II. Accession of the King--Attitude of John of Gaunt--Patriotic Government--Insurrection of the Peasantry--John Ball--The Poll-tax--Wat Tyler--The Attack on London--The Meeting at Mile End--Death of Wat Tyler, and Dispersion of the Insurgents--Marriage of the King--Expedition of the Bishop of Norwich--Death of Wycliffe--Unpopularity of Lancaster--He Retires to Spain--Gloucester Attacks the Royal Favourites--Committee of Reform--The Lords Appellant--The Wonderful Parliament--Richard sets Himself Free--His Good Government--Expedition to Ireland--Marriage with Isabella of France--The King's Vengeance--Banishment of Hereford and Norfolk--Arbitrary Rule of the King--His Second Visit to Ireland--Return of Hereford--Deposition and Murder of Richard 449 CHAPTER XXXIII. THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Power of the Church--Ecclesiastical Legislation--Rapacity of the Papacy--Resistance of the Clergy--The Bull "Clericis Laicos"--Contests between the Civil and Ecclesiastical Power--The Scottish Church--Literature, Science and Art--State of Learning--The Nominalists and Realists--Medicine--The Universities--Men of Learning and Science--Roger Bacon and his Contemporaries--Historians--Growth of the English Language--Poetry--Architecture--The Early Decorated Style and its Characteristics--Domestic Buildings--Sculpture and Painting--Music--Commerce, Coinage, and Shipping--Manners, Customs, Dress, and Diversions 486 CHAPTER XXXIV. REIGN OF HENRY IV.