it. Not
elated by his present prosperity so far as to expect the total conquest
of France, or even that of any considerable provinces, he purposed only
to secure such an easy entrance into that kingdom, as might afterwards
open the way to more moderate advantages. He knew the extreme distance
of Guienne: he had experienced the difficulty and uncertainty of
penetrating on the side of the Low Countries, and had already lost much
of his authority over Flanders by the death of D'Arteville, who had
been murdered by the populace themselves, his former partisans, on his
attempting to transfer the sovereignty of that province to the prince of
Wales.[*] The king, therefore, limited his ambition to the conquest
of Calais; and after the interval of a few days, which he employed in
interring the slain, he marched with his victorious army, and presented
himself before the place.

John of Vienne, a valiant knight of Burgundy, was governor of Calais,
and being supplied with every thing necessary for defence, he encouraged
the townsmen to perform to the utmost their duty to their king and
country. Edward, therefore, sensible from the beginning that it was
in vain to attempt the place by force, purposed only to reduce it by
famine; he chose a secure station for his camp; drew intrenchments
around the whole city; raised huts for his soldiers, which he covered
with straw or broom; and provided his army with all the conveniences
necessary to make them endure the winter season, which was approaching.
As the governor soon perceived his intentions, he expelled all the
useless mouths; and the king had the generosity to allow these unhappy
people to pass through his camp, and he even supplied them with money
for their journey.[**]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 116.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 133.

While Edward was engaged in this siege, which employed him near a
twelvemonth, there passed in different places many other events: and all
to the honor of the English arms.

The retreat of the duke of Normandy from Guienne left the earl of Derby
master of the field; and he was not negligent in making his advantage of
the superiority. He took Mirebeau by assault: he made himself master of
Lusignan in the same manner: Taillebourg and St. Jean d'Angeli fell into
his hands: Poictiers opened its gates to him; and Derby, having thus
broken into the frontiers on that quarter, carried his incursions to the
banks of the Loire, and filled all th