and the prince of Wales, the
splendid success of their former enterprises, and the certain prospect
of plunder from the defenceless provinces of France, soon brought
together the whole military power of England; and the same motives
invited to Edward's standard all the hardy adventurers of the different
countries of Europe.[**] He passed over to Calais, where he assembled an
army of near a hundred thousand men; a force which the dauphin could not
pretend to withstand in the open field: that prince, therefore, prepared
himself to elude a blow, which it was impossible for him to resist. He
put all the considerable towns in a posture of defence; ordered them to
be supplied with magazines and provisions; distributed proper garrisons
in all places; secured every thing valuable in the fortified cities;
and chose his own station at Paris, with a view of allowing the enemy to
vent their fury on the open country.

{1359.} The king, aware of this plan of defence, was obliged to carry
along with him six thousand wagons, loaded with the provisions necessary
for the subsistence of his army. After ravaging the province of Picardy,
he advanced into Champagne; and having a strong desire of being crowned
king of France at Rheims, the usual place in which this ceremony is
performed, he laid siege to that city, and carried on his attacks,
though without success, for the space of seven weeks.[***]

* Froissard. liv. i. chap. 201.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 205.

*** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 208. Walsing. p. 174.

{1360.} The place was bravely defended by the inhabitants, encouraged
by the exhortations of the archbishop, John de Craon; till the advanced
season (for this expedition was entered upon in the beginning of
winter) obliged the king to raise the siege. The province of Champagne,
meanwhile, was desolated by his incursions; and he thence conducted his
army, with a like intent, into Burgundy. He took and pillaged Tonnerre,
Gaillon, Avalon, and other small places; but the duke of Burgundy, that
he might preserve his country from further ravages, consented to pay him
the sum of one hundred thousand nobles.[*] Edward then bent his march
towards the Nivernois, which saved itself by a like composition: he laid
waste Brie and the Gatinois; and after a long march, very destructive to
France, and somewhat ruinous to his own troops, he appeared before the
gates of Paris, and taking up his quarters at Bourg-la-Reine, exten