at appellation, and always quartered the arms of
France with those of England in his seals and ensigns. The parliament
thought proper to obviate the consequences of this measure, and to
declare that they owed him no obedience as king of France, and that
the two kingdoms must forever remain distinct and independent.[*] They
undoubtedly foresaw that France, if subdued, would in the end prove
the seat of government; and they deemed this previous protestation
necessary, in order to prevent their becoming a province to that
monarchy: a frail security if the event had really taken place!

* 14 Edward III.

{1340.} As Philip was apprised, from the preparations which were making
both in England and the Low Countries, that he must expect another
invasion from Edward, he fitted out a great fleet of four hundred
vessels, manned with forty thousand men: and he stationed them off
Sluise, with a view of intercepting the king in his passage. The English
navy was much inferior in number, consisting only of two hundred and
forty sail; but whether it were by the superior abilities of Edward, or
the greater dexterity of his seamen, they gained the wind of the enemy,
and had the sun in their backs: and with these advantages began the
action. The battle was fierce and bloody: the English archers, whose
force and address were now much celebrated, galled the French on their
approach: and when the ships grappled together, and the contest became
more steady and furious, the example of the king, and of so many gallant
nobles who accompanied him, animated to such a degree the seamen and
soldiery, that they maintained every where a superiority over the enemy.
The French also had been guilty of some imprudence in taking their
station so near the coast of Flanders, and choosing that place for the
scene of action. The Flemings, descrying the battle, hurried out of
their harbors, and brought a reenforcement to the English; which, coming
unexpectedly, had a greater effect than in proportion to its power and
numbers. Two hundred and thirty French ships were taken: thirty thousand
Frenchmen were killed, with two of their admirals: the loss of the
English was inconsiderable, compared to the greatness and importance of
the victory.[*] None of Philip's courtiers, it is said, dared to inform
him of the event; till his fool or jester gave him a hint, by which he
discovered the loss that he had sustained.[**]

The lustre of this great success increased