Philip of Valois was the first prince of truly chivalrous spirit that ascended the throne of France. Unfortunately for him, he succeeded at a period when chivalry was insufficient either to illustrate the warrior or achieve great results in war. Unfortunately, too, he derived from his predecessors those unscrupulous habits of wreaking vengeance and spilling blood, which they were taught to consider their sovereign right, as if royal power and descent cancelled every crime, and consecrated even the basest treachery and felony. French kings are lauded by their countrymen for having considered themselves above feudalism. Feudalism, however, had its laws of honour and its sense of right; with these, unfortunately, French kings too soon and too completely dispensed.[b] [Illustration] FOOTNOTES [16] [Charles intrusted the siege to Louis of Spain, a descendant of Ferdinand de la Cerda--eldest son of Alfonso the Learned. Ferdinand’s sons had been set aside in favour of their uncle. Some of this family took up their residence in France. This Louis de la Cerda was Ferdinand’s grandson. In 1341 he received the title of “Admiral of France.”] [17] Lord Berners reads, “She caused damoselles and other women _to cut shorte their kyrtels_,” instead of “to unpave the streets,” as Mr. Johnes translates it. The words in D. Sauvage’s edition are “_dépecer les chaussées_,” to tear up the causeways, but when we consider that the streets of cities were very rarely paved at this period, Lord Berners’ version appears the more probable, and may be reconciled to the text if we read “_chausses_” for “_chaussées_,” which is not unlikely to be an error in transcribing. [18] [Among the captures at Caen, was a document dated 1338, wherein the Normans offered Philip to reconquer England at their own cost, on condition he would reportion it among them after the fashion of William the Conqueror. It was used with good effect in rousing English spirit and continuing the wars. Some authorities regard it as a forgery.] [19] [Prince Edward of Wales--the famous “Black Prince.” He was but thirteen years old and only nominally in command of the first line under the guardianship of the earl of Warwick and Godfrey d’Harcourt.] [20] [His blindness was supposed to have been caused by poison, which was alleged to have been given to him when engaged in the wars of Italy.] [21] [According to Froissart the English reconnoitring party slaughtered 7,000 in the fog. He declares that more perished on this Sunday than on the day of battle. The clerks sent by Edward to tally the dead reported 11 princes, 80 bannerets, 1,200 simple knights, and above 30,000 common men.] [22] Edward announces in a letter to the archbishop of York that he had accepted the challenge, and that the fight did not take place, because Philip marched off precipitately before the day, after having set fire to his camp.