Page:History of the Kings & Queens of England.pdf/12

 12

EDWARD III.

Born 1312. Began to Reign Sep. 22, 1327. Died June 21, 1377. Reigned 50 Year's.

Had been placed on the throne when his father was deposed. Edward after a successful inroad into Scotland, turned his attention to France, where he urged his claims to the throne, through his mother, who was a daughter of Philip, the late king. Having landed in Flanders, he took villages and towns in his advance to Paris ; after which followed the famous battle of Cresey, and the capture of Calais. The Black Prince, eldest son of Edward, gained a victory near Poictiers, where he took John, king of France, prisoner, and had him conveyed to London. The Black Prince died shortly after, in the forty- sixth year of his age. The king, who was painfully grieved at the loss of his son, did not long survive him, but died the year after at Surrey, in the fiftieth year of his reign.

Eminent men in this reign : Edward, the Black Prince ; John, Lord Chandos; Latimer, Lord Chamberlain; Roger, Lord Mortimer.