replied, that he would come to Paris,
but it should be at the head of sixty thousand men.[*] The unwarlike
character of Charles kept Prince Edward, even yet, from thinking that
that monarch was in earnest in this bold and hazardous attempt.

It soon appeared what a poor return the king had received by his distant
conquests for all the blood and treasure expended in the quarrel, and
how impossible it was to retain acquisitions, in an age when no regular
force could be maintained sufficient to defend them against the revolt
of the inhabitants, especially if that danger was joined with the
invasion of a foreign enemy.

{1370.} Charles fell first upon Ponthieu, which gave the English an
inlet into the heart of France: the citizens of Abbeville opened their
gates to him:[**] those of St. Valori, Rue, and Crotoy imitated the
example, and the whole country was, in a little time, reduced to
submission. The dukes of Berri and Anjou, brothers to Charles, being
assisted by Du Guesclin, who was recalled from Spain, invaded the
southern provinces; and by means of their good conduct, the favorable
dispositions of the people, and the ardor of the French nobility, they
made every day considerable progress against the English. The state of
the prince of Wales's health did not permit him to mount on horseback,
or exert his usual activity: Chandos, the constable of Guienne, was
slain in one action;[***] the Captal de Buche, who succeeded him in
that office, was taken prisoner in another:[****] and when young Edward
himself was obliged by his increasing infirmities to throw up the
command, and return to his native country, the affairs of the English in
the south of France seemed to be menaced with total ruin.

The king, incensed at these injuries, threatened to put to death all the
French hostages who remained in his hands; but on reflection abstained
from that ungenerous revenge. After resuming, by advice of parliament,
the vain title of king of France,[*****] he endeavored to send succors
into Gascony, but all his attempts, both by sea and land, proved
unsuccessful.

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 247, 248.

** Walsing. p. 183.

*** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 277. Walsing, p. 185.

**** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 310.

***** Rymer, vol. vi. p. 621. Cotton's Abridg. p. 108.

The earl of Pembroke was intercepted at sea, and taken prisoner with
his whole army, near Rochelle, by a fleet which the king of Castile h