that account much inferior in
the shock of battle to good infantry: and as the whole were new-levied
troops, we are led to entertain a very mean idea of the military
force of those ages, which, being ignorant of every other art, had not
properly cultivated the art of war itself, the sole object of general
attention.

The king created the earl of Arundel constable of his army and the earls
of Warwick and Harcourt mareschals: he bestowed the honor of knighthood
on the prince of Wales and several of the young nobility, immediately
upon his landing. After destroying all the ships in La Hogue, Barfleur,
and Cherbourg, he spread his army over the whole country, and gave them
an unbounded license of burning, spoiling, and plundering every place of
which they became masters. The loose discipline then prevalent could
not be much hurt by these disorderly practices; and Edward took care to
prevent any surprise, by giving orders to his troops, however they might
disperse themselves in the day-time, always to quarter themselves at
night near the main body. In this manner, Montebourg, Carentan, St.
Lo, Valognes, and other places in the Cotentin, were pillaged
without resistance; and a universal consternation was spread over the
province.[*]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 122.

The intelligence of this unexpected invasion soon reached Paris, and
threw Philip into great perplexity. He issued orders, however, for
levying forces in all quarters, and despatched the count of Eu,
constable of France, and the count of Tancarville, with a body of
troops, to the defence of Caen, a populous and commercial but open city,
which lay in the neighborhood of the English army. The temptation of so
rich a prize soon allured Edward to approach it; and the inhabitants,
encouraged by their numbers, and by the reenforcements which they daily
received from the country, ventured to meet him in the field. But their
courage failed them on the first shock: they fled with precipitation:
the counts of Eu and Tancarville were taken prisoners: the victors
entered the city along with the vanquished, and a furious massacre
commenced, without distinction of age, sex, or condition. The citizens,
in despair, barricaded their and assaulted the English with stones,
bricks, and every missile weapon: the English made way by fire to the
destruction of the citizens; till Edward, anxious to save both his
spoil and his soldiers, stopped the massacre; and having obliged the