Both Edward III and the Black prince bow out!
All of Edward’s gains in France were made at enormous cost!
Now, one by one, they were all eventually lost!’
King Edward III’s dream of becoming king of France had proved to be a costly delusion. His third surviving son, the mediocre John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, launched a blistering chevauchee from Brittany, towards Paris and Rheims in August 1373 with the intention of taking both. However, John of Gaunt lacked the military skills of both his father and his brother, so the French forces had little difficulty in repelling his assault. In desperation, John marched his army south and reached Bordeaux in December, having sustained heavy losses in terms of men and materials. The survivors presented a sorry sight as they shuffled into the city, bedraggled, bereft of armour and suffering from starvation.
‘The proud English Duke, John of Gaunt led his army through France on a disastrous jaunt!
As Duke John entered Bordeaux, the men gathered behind him stood hungry, emaciated and gaunt!’
In 1375, given the dire military situation in France, King Edward had no choice but to agree to a truce. John of Gaunt was sent to negotiate with Charles V and the process was overseen by Pope Gregory XI. The outcome of this was a net loss in terms of land to England.
Pope Gregory XI.
The only territories of substance which remained under English control were Bayonne, Bordeaux, Brest and Calais.
‘King Edward once had ambitions of securing from France, their royal crown!
Now the only thing that he got from the French was an almighty frown!’
The situation in England in the mid 1370’s was a most sorry one. King Edward was now in an advanced state of senility and the Black Prince grew weaker by the day. It was clear that the mark of death was now on both father and son. Of course the mantle of power fell on the shoulders of the unpopular John of Gaunt. With the Treasury empty and many allegations of corruption levelled at senior courtiers, a parliament was called for April 1376. This would become known as ‘The Good Parliament’ for it sought to root out the corrupt elements at the English court.
The Good Parliament of 1376.
‘The Good Parliament asked, why are the coffers bare? Where did the money go?
John of Gaunt and his smiling allies replied, well, we simply do not know!’
The Black Prince would have supported ‘The Good Parliament’, but he was to die in June 1376 and John of Gaunt and his associates felt free to dismiss it. A year later in June 1377, Edward III would die and his grandson, the ten year old Richard, son of the Black Prince would become king.