any, and at the suggestion of King Edward himself
did homage to Charles V for the duchy, which he afterwards ruled with
wisdom.

CHAPTER XXII: VICTORY AND DEATH

While the Black Prince was with difficulty governing his province
of Aquitaine, where the mutual jealousies of the English and native
officers caused continual difficulties, King Edward turned all his
attention to advancing the prosperity of England. He fostered trade,
commerce, and learning, was a munificent patron of the two universities,
and established such order and regularity in his kingdom that England
was the admiration of all Europe. Far different was the state of France.
The cessation of the wars with England and the subsequent disbandment of
troops had thrown upon their own resources great numbers of men who had
been so long engaged in fighting that they had no other trade to turn
to. The conclusion of the struggle in Brittany after the battle of Auray
and the death of Charles of Blois still further added to the number,
and these men gathered in bands, some of which were headed by men of
knightly rank, and scattered through France plundering the country and
extracting heavy sums from the towns.

These "great companies," as they were called, exceeded 50,000 men in
number, and as almost all were trained soldiers they set the king and
his nobles at defiance, and were virtually masters of France. The most
tempting offers were made to them to lay down their arms, and the
pope sent legates threatening excommunication, but the great companies
laughed alike at promises and threats. At last a way of deliverance
opened to France. Pedro, named the Cruel, of Castile, had alienated
his people by his cruelty, and had defeated and driven into exile his
half-brother, Henry of Trastamare, who headed an insurrection against
him. Pedro put to death numbers of the nobles of Castile, despoiled
the King of Arragon, who had given aid to his brother, plundered and
insulted the clergy, and allied himself with the Moors.

His quarrel with the clergy was the cause of his ruin. The pope summoned
him to appear before him at Avignon to answer to the crimes laid to his
charge. Pedro refused to attend, and the pope at once excommunicated
him. The King of Arragon and Henry of Trastamare were then summoned to
Avignon, and a treaty of alliance was concluded between them, and the
pope declared the throne of Castile vacant owing to the excommunication
of Pedro, and appointed H