Page:Conquest of France (1).pdf/5

 of Edward the Black Prince. 5 a great fleet, who robbed the Engliſh mer- chants, being full of valour, and reakoning the French as his ſubjects, and inferior in arms, eſpecially on the ſeas, ſet upon their whole navy, with ſuch courage, that after a long and bloody fight, very few of the French ſhips eſcaped, but were either taken, ſunk, or burnt by the Engliſh, with incon- ſiderable loſes on our ſide. This great ſea victory diſcouraged the French, and migh- tily encouraged the Engliſh, ſo that the King landed at Sluys in triumph, and going from thence to Gaunt, where his Queen lay, and the Black Prince, was accompanied with 7 Earls, 8 Biſhops, 28 Barons, 200 Knights, 4000 Men at arms, and 9ooo Archers; he joined the Duke of Brabant, who command- ed 22,000 men, and Jaques Dartwell, who commanded 60,000 men, Lord Talquemont and others. With this army he beſiged the city of Tourney with great valour, (defended for ten weeks); in which time the French King appeared not to relieve it; however, by the mediation of Jane d' Vallois, Mother to the Queen of England, a truce was concluded; but that expired, ſoon after theſe delays, the war began in earneſt. During theſe tranſactions, the King re- turned home to beat the Scots out of Eng- land, who in his abſence, invaded it, under the leading of David their King, fell deſperately