hman: he twice recovered himself: blows were redoubled
with equal force on both sides: the victory was long undecided; till
Ribaumont, perceiving himself to be left almost alone, called out to his
antagonist, "Sir Knight, I yield myself your prisoner;" and at the
same time delivered his sword to the king. Most of the French, being
overpowered by numbers, and intercepted in their retreat, lost either
their lives or their liberty.[*]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 140, 141, 142.

The French officers who had fallen into the hands of the English, were
conducted into Calais; where Edward discovered to them the antagonist
with whom they had had the honor to be engaged, and treated them with
great regard and courtesy. They were admitted to sup with the prince of
Wales and the English nobility; and after supper, the king himself came
into the apartment, and went about, conversing familiarly with one or
other of his prisoners. He even addressed himself to Charni, and avoided
reproaching him, in too severe terms, with the treacherous attempt which
he had made upon Calais during the truce: but he openly bestowed the
highest encomiums on Ribaumont; called him the most valorous knight that
he had ever been acquainted with; and confessed that he himself had at
no time been in so great danger as when engaged in combat with him.
He then took a string of pearls, which he wore about his own head, and
throwing it over the head of Ribaumont, he said to him, "Sir Eustace,
I bestow this present upon you as a testimony of my esteem for your
bravery; and I desire you to wear it a year for my sake. I know you to
be gay and amorous; and to take delight in the company of ladies and
damsels: let them all know from what hand you had the present. You
are no longer a prisoner; I acquit you of your ransom; and you are at
liberty to-morrow to dispose of yourself as you think proper."

Nothing proves more evidently the vast superiority assumed by the
nobility and gentry above all the other orders of men, during those
ages, than the extreme difference which Edward made in his treatment of
these French knights, and that of the six citizens of Calais, who
had exerted more signal bravery in a cause more justifiable and more
honorable.

CHAPTER XVI.

EDWARD III.

{1349.} THE prudent conduct and great success of Edward in his foreign
wars had excited a strong emulation and a military genius among the
English nobility; and these turbulen