CHAP. I. The failure of the two last campaigns might have weaned Edward from his attachment to The king continental alliances. But he was destined to supports the new experience a more cruel mortification. The em-Bretagne. peror, who had concluded a peace with France, duke of revoked his commission of imperial vicar:57 and June 25. the princes of the empire declined to fight any longer under the king's banner. It is not improbable that in these circumstances the quarrel between the two crowns might have been accommodated, had not an event happened, which promised to open to the king of England a road into the heart of France. John III. duke of Bretagne, had three brothers, Guy, Peter, and John earl of Montfort. Guy and Peter died before him, but Guy had left a daughter, Jane, who, as the duke had no children, was considered by her uncle and the states as apparent heir to the dutchy, and as such was married to Charles de Blois, nephew to April 30. the king of France.58 But when John himself died, his brother Montfort claimed the succession, seized the treasures of the late duke, obtained possession of the principal fortresses, and crossing over to England, did homage, it was said, to Edward as king of France, and his sovereign.59 The cause, however, was carried before Sept. 7. the legitimate tribunal, the peers of France, and by them the dukedom was adjudged to Charles 57 Rym. 5. 262. 264. 58 D'Argentré, v. 1—6. 59 Edward mentions nothing more than fœdus et amicitiæ firmi tatem. Rym. v. 280. de Blois in right of his wife. The king of France immediately sent a strong force under his son and his nephew into Bretagne: the king of England armed in aid of his vassal. It is difficult to justify the conduct of Edward on this occasion for if he admitted the claim of Montfort to the exclusion of Jane, he ought also to have admitted Philip's right to the French crown to the exclusion of Isabella and her offspring. Philip was more consistent. For by the laws of the monarchy, though females could not inherit the throne, they could succeed to fiefs equally with males. CHAP. I. of the dutchess. Oct. The war began to the advantage of Charles, Heroism who by treachery or surprise made himself master of Nantes, and got possession of the person of his rival. But the interests of the Montforts were still supported by the courage. and perseverance of his wife, Jane, sister to the earl of Flanders. As soon as she heard of the captivity of her husband, she presented her infant son to the citizens and garrison of Rennes, and exhorted them to defend the cause of the child, the only male issue, besides his father, of their ancient princes. Affected by her tears, beauty, and eloquence, and perhaps still more by the distribution of a liberal donative, they swore to live and die in her service: the rising enthusiasm diffused itself through the neighbouring cities; and the interests of Charles appeared to be rather prejudiced than advanced by the captivity of his competitor. I. 1342. March. CHAP. During the winter Jane retired to the fortress of Hennebon, sent her son for greater security to England, and earnestly solicited succours from Edward. In the spring Charles with a numerous army invested the fortress, and the heroine, on horseback, and in armour, directed and encouraged the garrison. On one occasion during an assault she sallied out at the opposite gate, set the camp of the besiegers on fire, retired to the neighbouring castle of Aurai, and shortly after fought her way back into Hennebon. Still no succour arrived: the garrison was thinned by repeated assaults, and enfeebled by famine: and the bishop of Leon had already arranged the terms of the capitulation, when the countess from the highest turret of the castle espied a fleet in the horizon, and exclaimed, "The Eng"lish! I see the English!" The garrison immediately ran to the ramparts: all thoughts of a surrender were banished: and sir Walter Manny, with a strong body of troops, who had been detained forty days by contrary winds, safely arrived in the harbour.60 She receives suc The force under Manny raised the siege of Cours from Hennebon, but was too weak to venture into the England. field. The countess sailed to England herself, July. returned with Robert of Artois and a small force of archers and men at arms, and besieged and took the city of Vannes. Edward followed in 60 Froissart, c. 70, 71. 79. I. Oct. 5. 1343. Jan. 19. autumn with twelve thousand men, but by at- CHAP. tempting too much, effected nothing. He divided his forces into three divisions, with which at the same time, he pretended to invest Rennes, Nantes, and Vennes, which had lately been retaken by Charles: but the arrival of the duke of Normandy, the eldest son of Philip, compelled him to concentrate and intrench his forces. The French did the same: and the two armies remained for several weeks during the depth of winter in the vicinity of each other.61 At this juncture, to the equal satisfaction of both parties, two cardinals arrived, charged to mediate a peace by Clement VI., who had been lately raised to the chair of St. Peter. A truce was concluded for three years and eight months, during which a negotiation for peace should be opened before the pontiff, as a private individual, and the common friend of the two powers.62 One of the conditions stipulated for the release of John de Montfort: but Philip evaded its execution, and to the complaint of the pontiff answered, that he kept him in prison not for any public, but for private and particular reasons. At the end of three years he escaped from the Louvre disguised as a merchant, arrived safely in 61 Avesb. 98 et seq. 62 Rym. v. 357. 366. The parliament assented that messengers should be sent to the pope, par monstrer et purposer devant le seint pier le pape, come devant meen amy, et noun pas come juge ne come compromessair, les droitz ñre Seign' le Roi sur ses chalenges. Rot. Parl. ii. 136. I. CHAP. England, and returned to Bretagne to die in the castle of Hennebon. By his will he appointed Edward guardian to his son.63 1345. Sept. 26. Recom mence ment of the war. It was not long before the hope of an accommodation, which had been so fondly cherished by the pontiff, was entirely extinguished. Each party daily violated the armistice, and the negotiators, instead of settling the conditions of peace, were employed in discussing complaints and recriminations. The two nations were exasperated by mutual injuries; and their sovereigns sought only a respite to breathe, that they might renew the contest. Preparations for war were made on both sides: Edward obtained grants of wool from his parliament: Philip established the gabelle, the monopoly of salt for the benefit of the crown, which was so long considered an intolerable grievance by the French. These modes of raising money afforded them opportunities of exercising their wit. The king of England declared that his adversary now reigned salic law: and the king of France retorted by denominating Edward "the wool-merchant."64 At length the English parliament recommended the renewal of hostilities:65 and an army proceeded to Guienne under the command 63 Rym. v. 365. Knyght. 2585. D'Argentré, v. 109. 65 Rot. Parl. ii. 147. They begged the king not to suffer himself to be deceived, but to finish the war in a short time, either by battle or treaty, p. 148. 152. |