eat in English waters were the odds so
immense or the victory so thorough and complete. The result of the fight
was, that after some negotiations a truce of twenty years was concluded
with Spain.

CHAPTER XX: POITIERS

After the great sea-fight at the end of August, 1350, England had peace
for some years. Phillip of France had died a week before that battle,
and had been succeeded by his son John, Duke of Normandy. Upon the part
of both countries there was an indisposition to renew the war, for their
power had been vastly crippled by the devastations of the plague. This
was followed by great distress and scarcity owing to the want of labour
to till the fields. The truce was therefore continued from time to time;
the pope strove to convert the truce into a permanent peace, and on the
28th of August, 1354, a number of the prelates and barons of England,
with full power to arrange terms of peace, went to Avignon, where they
were met by the French representatives. The powers committed to the
English commissioners show that Edward was at this time really desirous
of making a permanent peace with France; but the French ambassadors
raised numerous and unexpected difficulties, and after lengthened
negotiations the conference was broken off.

The truce came to an end in June, 1355, and great preparations were made
on both sides for the war. The King of England strained every effort to
furnish and equip an army which was to proceed with the Black Prince to
Aquitaine, of which province his father had appointed him governor, and
in November the Prince sailed for Bordeaux, with the advance-guard of
his force. Sir Walter Somers accompanied him. During the years which had
passed since the plague he had resided principally upon his estates,
and had the satisfaction of seeing that his tenants escaped the distress
which was general through the country. He had been in the habit
of repairing to London to take part in the tournaments and other
festivities; but both he and Edith preferred the quiet country life to
a continued residence at court. Two sons had now been born to him, and
fond as he was of the excitement and adventure of war, it was with deep
regret that he obeyed the royal summons, and left his house with his
retainers, consisting of twenty men-at-arms and thirty archers, to join
the prince.

Upon the Black Prince's landing at Bordeaux he was joined by the Gascon
lords, the vassals of the English crown, and for three m