ge measure to the
superiority of the English longbow over the crossbow used by the Genoese
mercenaries; but it was also a victory of foot soldiers over horsemen. The
field of Bannockburn had shown how easy a thing it was for a body of
horsemen to crush a body of archers, if allowed to take them in the flank,
whilst that of Halidon Hill had more recently taught the king, from
personal experience, that archers could turn the tide of battle against
any direct attack, however violent. Edward profited by the experience of
that day. He not only protected the flank of his archers, but interspersed
among them dismounted horsemen with levelled spears, the result being that
the French were driven off the field with terrible slaughter.

(M309)

Flushed with victory Edward proceeded to lay siege to Calais. His forces,
which had been already greatly reduced on the field of Crecy, suffered a
further diminution by desertion. The mayor and sheriffs of London were
ordered to seize all deserters, whether knights, esquires, or men of lower
order, found in the city, and to take steps for furnishing the king with
fresh recruits and store of victuals.(549) By Easter of the following
year, the City was called upon to furnish two vessels towards a fleet of
120 large ships, which the council had decided to fit out. All ships found
in the port of London were pressed into the king's service.(550)

In July (1347) the king was in need of more recruits and provisions.(551)
Calais still held out, although both besiegers and besieged were reduced
to sore straits. At last it surrendered (4 Aug.). Edward spared the lives
of its principal burgesses at the intercession of his queen, but he
cleared the town of French inhabitants, and invited Londoners and others
to take up their abode there, offering them houses at low rents and other
inducements.(552) A truce with Philip was agreed on, and Edward returned
home. For a time England was resplendent with the spoils of the French
war--"A new sun seemed to shine," wrote Walsingham.(553) Every woman of
position went gaily decked with some portion of the plunder of the town of
Caen or Calais; cupboards shone with silver plate, and wardrobes were
filled with foreign furs and rich drapery of continental workmanship. The
golden era was of short duration.

(M310)

In August, 1348, the pestilential scourge, known as the Black Death,(554)
appeared in England, and reached London in the following November. The
numbe