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XVI. Edward III
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HistEngVii_201-250.indd 42 5/27/11 3:03 PM IJ49· Institution of the garter . XVI EDWARD III Institution ofthe garter - State of France- Battle ofPoictiers- Captivity ofthe king ofFrance - State ofthat kingdom - Invasion ofFrance - Peace ofBretigni - State ofFrance - Expedition into Castile - Rupture with France Ill success ofthe English- Death of the prince ofWales - Death - and character ofthe king - Miscellaneous transactions in this reign. T HE PRUDENT CONDUCT and great success of Edward in his foreign wars had excited a strong emulation and a military genius among the English nobility; and these turbulent barons, over-awed by the crown, gave now a more useful direction to their ambition, and attached themselves to a prince who led them to the acquisition of riches and of glory. That he might farther promote the spirit ofemulation and obedience, the king instituted the order of the garter, in imitation of some orders of a like nature, religious as well as military, which had been established in different parts of Europe. The number received into this order consisted of twentyfive persons, besides the sovereign; and as it has never been enlarged , this badge of distinction continues as honourable as at its first institution, and is still a valuable, though a cheap, present, which the prince can confer on his greatest subjects. A vulgar story HistEngVii_201-250.indd 43 5/27/11 3:03 PM 243 CHAPTER XVI prevails, but is not supported by any ancient authority, that, at a court-ball, Edward's mistress, commonly supposed to be the countess of Salisbury, dropped her garter; and the king, taking it up, observed some of the courtiers to smile, as if they thought that he had not obtained this favour merely by accident: Upon which he called out, Honi soil qui mal y pense, Evil to him that evil thinks; and as every incident of gallantry among those ancient warriors was magnified into a matter of great importance,* he instituted the order of the garter in memorial of this event, and gave these words as the motto of the order. This origin, though frivolous, is not unsuitable to the manners of the times; and it is indeed difficult by any other means to account, either for the seemingly unmeaning terms of the motto, or for the peculiar badge of the garter, which seems to have no reference to any purpose either of military use or ornament. But a sudden damp was thrown over this festivity and triumph of the court of England, by a destructive pestilence, which invaded that kingdom as well as the rest of Europe; and is computed to have swept away near a third of the inhabitants in every country, which it attacked. It was probably more fatal in great cities than in the country; and above fifty thousand souls are said to have perished by it in London alone.' This malady first discovered itself in the north of Asia, was spread over all that country, made its progress from one end of Europe to the other, and sensibly depopulated every state through which it passed. So grievous a calamity, more than the pacific disposition of the princes, served to maintain and prolong the truce between France and England. During this truce, Philip de Valois died, without being able to 1350. re-establish the affairs of France, which his bad success against England had thrown into extreme disorder. This monarch, during the first years of his reign, had obtained the appellation of Fartunate , and acquired the character of prudent; but he ill maintained either the one or the other; less from his own fault, than because he was overmatched by the superior fortune and superior genius of Edward. But the incidents in the reign of his son john, gave the " See note [H] at the end of the volume. ' Stowe's Survey, p. 478. There were buried so,ooo bodies in one churchyard, which Sir Walter Manny had bought for the use of the poor. The same author says, that there died above so,ooo persons of the plague in Norwich, which is quite incredible. [18.189.180.244] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 21:03 GMT) HistEngVii_201-250.indd 44 5/27/11 3:03 PM IJ54· State of France. 244 HISTORY OF ENGLAND French nation cause to regret even the calamitous times of his predecessor. John was distinguished by many virtues, particularly a scrupulous honour and fidelity: He was not deficient in personal courage: But as he wanted that masterly prudence...