ઃઃ fale petræ et aliis, viz. fulphure & carbonum pulverem. Præter hanc, (fcilicet combuftionem,) funt alia ftupenda, nam foni velut tonitus et cor"rufcationes fieri poffunt in aëre, immo majore hor"rore quàm illa quæ fiunt per naturam:-By our "fkill we can compofe an artificial fire, burning "to any distance we please, made from faltpetre and other things, as fulphur and char"coal powder. Befides this power of com 66 દ buftion, it poffeffes other wonderful pro"perties; for founds like thofe of thunder and corufcations can be made in the air, more "horrid than those occafioned by Nature.". EDWARD THE THIRD. "THIS Monarch," fays a French Hiftorian, Prince, fhould have all the honour of the "glorious day at Creffy. He wifhed to teach "him to be victorious, and he entrusted him "to two Noblemen very proper for that pur pofe. He faid to him, after the battle, Beau fils, Dieu vous doit bonne perfeverance; vous "étes mon fils, car loyaument vous êtes acquité en "ce jour, fi êtes digne de terre tenir." Aimeri di Pavia, an Italian by whom Edward the Third was educated, was entrusted by him with the government of Calais, then lately taken from the French. He had agreed for a certain fum to restore it to them; and Geoffroy de Charny, the Governor of St. Omer, was on a day fixed to bring the money, and enter the town. On the day appointed, he came with fome chofen troops, placed them near Calais, and sent in the money to the Governor. A delay took place, under pretence that the money was wrong; and Edward the Third, to whom Aimeri had difcovered the whole tranfaction, rushed out on horfeback, disguised, with fome horfemen, to attack the French troops. Among them was a Knight celebrated for his bravery, named Eustache de Ribaumont. The King, defirous to try his ftrength with him, cried out, "A moi, Ribaumont!" The valiant French Knight immediately flew at him with great violence, and unhorsed him. Edward, remounting, attacked him again with great bravery, but could make no impreffion upon him: at last, Ribaumont finding himself alone, his friends and companions having fled, furrendered himfelf to Edward, without knowing that he had the honour of being made prifoner by a Sovereign. Edward conducted him to the Castle of Calais, where, among fome other foldiers, he found B 3 found the Governor of St. Omer. "For you, "Sir," faid he to Charny, "I have very little "reafon to love you, for you wished to get "from me for fixty thousand crowns, what had "coft me much more. For you, Meffire Ribau"mont Eustache, of all the Knights in the "world that I have ever feen, you best know "how to attack your enemy, and to defend "yourself. I never in my life was engaged in σε any combat, in which I had more to do to "defend myself than I have had just now with you. I give you very readily the glory of it, and that of being above all the Knights of my "Court, as I am in honour obliged to do by a "juft judgment." At the fame time the generous Prince, taking from his own head a coronet of pearls, which he had worn, placed it on that of Ribaumont, and told him to wear it for that year, as a mark of his courage. "I know," added Edward, "Meffire Euftache, that you દ are gay, fond of the ladies, and delight in "their company; fo wherever you go, always mention that I gave you this coronet. I re<< leafe you from your prifon, and you may quit "Calais to-morrow, if you please. "This inftance," fays the candid Author of Hiftoire du Patriotifme François, "of goodhumour and generofity, in the true spirit of "chivalry, "chivalry, in Edward, must be extremely pleafing to every one, as it makes that Monarch .66 66 appear in his true character. If rage and in"dignation at the delay of the surrender of "Calais to him, had not for a moment put a "violence upon his disposition, his crown of pearls would have been for Euftache de St. "Pierre, or Jean de Vienne." EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE. "EDWARD, Prince of Wales," fays Montagne, "that English Prince who governed "Guienne for fo long a time, a perfonage whose "condition and whofe fortune had always fome "diftinguifhed points of grandeur, had been << very much offended by the inhabitants of the 66 city of Limoges; and, taking the town by "ftorm, could not be wrought upon by the "cries of the people, of the women and of the "children, who were given up to slaughter, im"ploring his mercy, and throwing themselves ર at his feet, till proceeding farther in the town, "he perceived three French Gentlemen, who " with an incredible degree of courage were "alone fuftaining the fhock of his victorious. army. His confideration and respect of fuch "distinguished valour, immediately blunted the edge of his refentment, and he began, by "granting B 4 1 8. EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE. "granting the lives of thofe three perfons, to fpare the lives of all that were in the town." 66 Froiffart has preferved the names of these three brave men: "They were," fays he, "Meffieurs Jehan de Villemur, Hugues de la "Roche, and Roger de Beaufort, fon of the "Count de Beaufort, Captains of the town. "When they faw," adds the Chronicler, "the "mifery and the destruction that was preffing 66 upon themselves and their people, they faid, "We shall be all dead men, if we do not defend "ourfelves: let us then fell our lives dearly, as "true Chevaliers ought to do: and these three "French Gentlemen did many feats at arms.. "When the Prince in his car came to the spot. "where they were, he observed them with great "pleasure, and became foftened and appeafed by "their extraordinary acts of valour. The "three Gentlemen, after having fought thus "valiantly, fixing their eyes upon their fwords, "faid with one voice to the Prince and the "Duke of Lancaster, " My Lords, we are yours; હતું 65 you have conquered us; difpofe of us according "to the law of arms."-" By Heaven," replied "the Duke of Lancaster, "we have no other in❝tention, Meffire Jehan, and we take you as our "prifoners."-And fo," adds Froiffart," these "noble Chevaliers were taken, as I have been "informed." Livre 1. c. 289. "The |