her at Cressy, was
sixteen years of age, was naturally even more hostile to the English
than the late prince had been, and he strove to win over his subjects to
the French alliance, while Phillip made them magnificent offers if they
would join him. The Flemings, however, remained stanch to the English
alliance, and held their prince in duresse until he at last consented
to marry the daughter of Edward. A week before the date fixed for the
nuptials, however, he managed to escape from the vigilance of his guards
when out hawking, and fled to the court of France.

In Scotland Phillip was more successful, and David Bruce, instead of
employing the time given him by the absence of Edward with his armies in
driving out the English garrisons from the strong places they still held
in Scotland, raised an army of 50,000 men and marched across the border
into England plundering and ravaging. Queen Philippa, however, raising
an army, marched against him, and the Scotch were completely defeated
at Neville's Cross, 15,000 being killed and their king himself taken
prisoner.

Walter's conduct at the battle of Cressy gained him still further the
favour of the Black Prince. The valour with which he had fought was
conspicuous even on a field where all fought gallantly, and the prince
felt that more than once he would have been smitten down had not
Walter's sword interposed. Ralph too had fought with reckless bravery,
and many French knights and gentlemen had gone down before the
tremendous blows of his heavy mace, against which the stoutest armour
availed nothing. After the battle the prince offered to make him an
esquire in spite of the absence of gentle blood in his veins, but Ralph
declined the honour.

"An it please you, Sir Prince," he said, "but I should feel more
comfortable among the men-at-arms, my fellows. In the day of battle I
trust that I should do no discredit to my squirehood, but at other times
I should feel woefully out of my element, and should find nought for my
hands to do, therefore if it so pleases your Royal Highness, I would far
rather remain a simple man-at-arms."

Ralph did not, however, refuse the heavy purse which the prince gave
him, although indeed he, as well as all the soldiers, was well supplied
with money, so great were the spoils which the army had gathered in its
march before Cressy, and which they now swept off in their raids among
the northern provinces of France.

One evening Walter was returnin