Edward, impelled by his necessities, was obliged, in order to procure money, to acquiesce in almost any measures which his parliament Wright. propose ; and they, taking advantage of his situation, passed an act, which made considerable encroachments upon the an cient prerogatives of the crown. They required that the great charter should bo confirmed anew by the King; and that all the great officers of the state should also take an oath to observe it : that no peer should be punished, but by the award of his peers in parliament : and that the ministers of the crown should be amenable to parliament for their conduct in the discharge of their public duty. Edward consented to this statute ; but he had no sooner received the promised supply, than he annulled it ; and, about two years after, even pre vailed upon the parliament to repeal it.
Affairs on the continent began now to wear an aspect more promising to Edward's ambitious views. The Count of Mountfort had seized upon Brittany, to the exclusion of his brother's daughter, who had been invested in the duchy during the lifetime father, and had been married to Charles of Blois, nephew to the king of France. Charles was powerfully supported by his un cle in the recovery of his wife's inheritance; while Mountfort strengthened his usurpation by an alliance with the King of England. War was immediately re newed; but, in the very outset of the contest, Mount fort was taken prisoner, and conveyed to Paris. This accident seemed to give a fatal blow to his pretensions. His fortunes, however, were soon retrieved by the mag nanimity of his countess, who, having assembled the inhabitants of Rennes, presented to them her infant son, as the only male remaining of their ancient prin ces, and conjured them, if they had any regard to their ancient liberties, to save them from the dominion of France, by defending the rights of her family. They unanimously declared their resolution to live and die in her cause ; and their example was followed by all the fortresses of Brittany. Having placed the province in a proper state of defence, she shut herself up in the fortress of Hennebone, where she was immediately invested by Charles of Blois. During the siege, she displayed the most heroic courage and indefatigable perseverance. The garrison, animated by her exam ple, performed prodigies of valour ; and when their strength was nearly exhausted, she broke through the enemy's line with a small force, retired to Brest, and forced her way back with a reinforcement of 500 caval ry. All her exertions, however, were unable any longer to resist the numbers of the besiegers, and she was up on the point of capitulating, when succours from Eng land rescued her from her perilous situation.
After five years of almost constant warfare, in which neither party had gained any material advantage, the memorable battle of Cressy established the fame of England, and secured to Edward a footing in the king dom of France. Accompanied by his principal nobi lity, and his eldest son Edward, Prince of Wales, usual ly denominated the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour, and then only fifteen years of age, the king of England embarked with a strong force for the relief of Guienne ; but the winds proving contrary, he ordered the fleet to steer for the coast_of Normandy, and land ed his army at La Hogue. The French, under the
Count d'Eu, constable of France, attempted to oppose his approach to Caen; but they fled at the first onset, and the constable was taken prisoner. The English artily, scattered over the country, now destroyed and pillaged wherever they came without opposition, and carried their ravages to the very gates of Paris. Phi lip, with 100.000 men, advanced to Rouen; but Ed ivard retired before his superior numbers, and hastened by rapid marches towards Flanders. The impatience of Philip, however, to be revenged upon his invaders, who had dared to insult him in his very capital, hur ried him forward with such precipitation, that Edward was under the necessity of hazarding an engagement, or of exposing his rear to the attacks of a numerous ca valry. The King of England accordingly halted near the village of Cressy, and, having chosen an advanta geous position, disposed his army in three lines, and awaited the approach of the enemy. The first line was entrusted to the Prince of Wales, with the Earls of Warwick and Oxford under him; the Earls of Arundel and Northampton commanded the second ; and the king took charge of the third. The French soon af ter arrived in great disorder, and overpowered with fatigue. They immediately drew up in battle array. The van, consisting of 15.000 Genoese cross•bowmen, was led on by Anthony Doria and Charles Grimaldi ; the heavy armed cavah y formed the second division, and were commanded by the Count of Alencon, bro ther to the king ; and Philip himself brought up the rear. The Genoese began the attack, but were soon obliged to give way before the English archers ; and, falling back upon their cavalry, threw both lines into confusion. The Prince of Wales perceived the favour able moment, and rushed with his division to the charge. Ile was followed by the second line ; but the French cavalry, recovering themselves, and encouraged by the example of their leader, made such a desperate resistance, that the battle was long and doubtfully con tested. The Earl of Warwick, apprehensive of the is sue, from the superior numbers of the enemy, sent to entreat Edward to advance to the relief of the prince. The king was viewing the action from an eminence ; and asking the messenger if his son was wounded or slain, lie was answered in the negative. "Tell my son then," said he, "that I reserve the honour of this day to him. He will be able, without my assistance, to repel the enemy." This confidence of their monarch inspired the prince and his companions with fresh cou rage; and young Edward that day performed such feats of valour, as filled even veterans with astonishment. The French cavalry were again thrown into disorder, and their leader slain. Their whole army soon after took to flight, and Were pursued without quarter, till darkness saved them from the rage of their enemies. In this battle there fell on the side of the enemy, the Kings of Bohemia and Majorca, the Dukes of Lorraine and Bourbon, the Earls of Flanders, Blois, Vaudemont, and Au male, with 36,000 combatants; while the loss of the English was very in considerable.