Page:The history of medieval Europe.djvu/564

 5 i4 THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE and he ordered his Genoese crossbowmen to open the battle, just as a modern general begins with a heavy artillery fire. These mercenaries were not so eager to advance as were the French knights, however, especially since a recent shower had affected their bows. On the other hand, the English archers had kept their long bows dry, and the de- structive volleys of shafts which they poured in throughout the battle were probably the decisive factor. When the Genoese made no headway, the French king lost his temper and ordered the knights to ride them down, thus throwing his entire front into confusion. The knights made many successive attacks upon the English position, but to no avail, and they were slaughtered in great numbers. Edward did not follow up his victory by invading France again, but continued his march northward, and, after a long Capture of siege, took the important port of Calais, just Calais across the Channel from Dover. England would henceforth have a Continental port handy for landing armies to invade France and for its wool and import trade with Flanders. Meanwhile the Scots had been defeated at Neville's Cross and their king captured, and a like fate be- fell the French candidate in Brittany. Another truce was arranged by papal intervention, which lasted from 1347 to x 355- Meantime the count recovered his power in Flanders, but Edward III did not attempt to save the Flemish towns either on this occasion or later in the Treaty of Bretigny. In Calais he now had a port of his own for the Continental wool trade, and many Flemish weavers were emigrating to England and manufacturing their cloth there. In 1348 not only both France and England, but the countries of Europe generally were visited by a plague com- ih< Black pared to which the most destructive wars of that time seemed but slight disasters. This pestilence was known as the "Black Death," from the dark blotches which appeared upon the body. It also was marked b> swellings of the glands in the groin, arm-pits, and neck where hard lumps would suddenly appear as large as hen'; •eggs, and by many smaller boils and carbuncles. Some