vassal in the right of himself and his queen. The proposal was scornfully rejected by Philip; and although, shortly after Philip's death in 1351, bis son and successor John the Second discovered a willingness to accept it, the French, after delay in négociation, declared that they would never suffer their king to surrender a sovereignty which formed the brightest jewel in the French crown. In 1355, Edward, indignant at what he deemed the bad faith of the French, again took up arms. The war was commenced by Prince Edward, who, with an army of sixty thousand men, issued forth from Bordeaux, and, in the short space of seven weeks, pillaged, burnt, and destroyed about five hundred French cities, towns, and villages in the provinces, from which the King of France drew a considerable portion of his revenue. During this expedition King Edward marched from Calais towards the heart of France with a powerful army. Put he had scarcely proceeded on the work of devastation, when he was startled by the intelligence that the Scots had taken Berwick by surprise, passed over the borders and ravaged the northern counties. He, therefore, hastened to England, assembled his forces at Northumberland, recovered Berwick by the sole terror of his approach, and at Roxburgh purchased from Baliol his right to the Scotch throne for the present sum of five thousand marks, and a yearly rent of two thousand pounds. He then marched through the Lothians to the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, committing such havoc that the natives in their similar excursions into England long afterwards, animated themselves to equally horrible acts by the cry of "The burnt Candlemass !" Whilst these devastations wore being committed, Philippa resided in quiet retirement chiefly at Windsor, as the continuance of the plague in the metropolis rendered it dangerous for her to visit either the Tower or the Palace at Westminster, CHAP TEH III. France devastated by the Black Prince—The battle of Poitiers—Xing John of France and his son Philip taken prisoners—Received and entertained with courtesyby Philippa and her lord—Du Guesclin's ransom—Tournament in Smithfield— Anoilier, in which tlie King personates the Mayor of London—Edward reinvades France—Philippa accompanies him thither—He négociâtes a peace and returns with the Queen to England—Releases King John—Marriage of the Princess Isabella—And of the Black Prince—King John returns to England and dies— Philippds sickness—Deathbed—Burial—Tomb—Children—Edward's unfortunate widowhood—His love for Alice Ferrers—Miserable death—Acts of munificence—• Person and character. HE e ver-memorable victory of Poitiers jnalized tho year 1356. The success of the late campaign stimulated Prince Edward to a similar attempt in a different direction. With an army of twelve thousand men he desolated with fire and sword the fertile provinces of Ouerci, limousin, Auvergne, and Bern. Hia obiect was not to conquer, but to enrich his followers at the expense of his enemies. What his army could not consume or carry away, was destroyed. Towns, villages, and farm-houses, were levelled with the dust, the cattle were slaughtered, and every wealthy prisoner was conducted to Bordeaux, and there held captive till his ransom was paid. Having penetrated into the very heart of France, he resolved to march into Normandy and join his forces with those of the Duke of Lancaster, and the partisans of the King of Navarre; but