France:
by restoring John to his liberty, and making peace at a juncture so
favorable to his arms, he had now plainly renounced all pretensions of
this nature; he had sold at a very high price that chimerical claim; and
had at present no other interest than to retain those acquisitions which
he had made with such singular prudence and good fortune. John, on the
other hand, though the terms were severe, possessed such fidelity and
honor, that he was determined at all hazards to execute them, and to
use every expedient for satisfying a monarch who had indeed been his
greatest political enemy, but had treated him personally with singular
humanity and regard. But, notwithstanding his endeavors, there occurred
many difficulties in fulfilling his purpose; chiefly from the extreme
reluctance which many towns and vassals in the neighborhood of Guienne
expressed against submitting to the English dominion;[**] and John,
in order to adjust these differences, took a resolution of coming over
himself to England.

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 213.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 214.

{1363.} His council endeavored to dissuade him from this rash design;
and probably would have been pleased to see him employ more chicanes for
eluding the execution of so disadvantageous a treaty: but John replied
to them, that though good faith were banished from the rest of the
earth, she ought still to retain her habitation in the breasts of
princes. Some historians would detract from the merit of this honorable
conduct, by representing John as enamored of an English lady, to whom he
was glad on this pretence to pay a visit; but besides that this surmise
is not founded on any good authority, it appears somewhat unlikely
on account of the advanced age of that prince, who was now in his
fifty-sixth year.

{1364.} He was lodged in the Savoy; the palace where he had resided
during his captivity, and where he soon after sickened and died. Nothing
can be a stronger proof of the great dominion of fortune over men, than
the calamities which pursued a monarch of such eminent valor, goodness,
and honor, and which he incurred merely by reason of some slight
imprudences, which, in other situations, would have been of no
importance. But though both his reign and that of his father proved
extremely unfortunate to their kingdom, the French crown acquired,
during their time, very considerable accessions--those of Dauphiny and
Burgundy. This latter provinc