r of victims it carried off in the city has been variously
computed,(555) but all conjectures of the kind must be received with
caution. All that is known for certain is that the mortality caused a
marked increase in the number of beggars, and, at the same time, raised
the price of labour and provisions within the city's walls to such a
degree that measures had to be taken to remedy both evils.(556) Besides
the losses by death, the population of the city and the country generally
was sensibly diminished by the flight of numbers of inhabitants to the
continent, with the hope of escaping the ravages of the plague. The king's
treasury threatened soon to become empty, and the country left
defenceless, if this were allowed to go on unchecked; he therefore ordered
the sheriffs of London to see that no men-at-arms, strangers or otherwise,
left the kingdom, with the exception of well-known merchants or
ambassadors, without the king's special order.(557) Pilgrimages to Rome or
elsewhere were made an excuse for leaving England, at a time when the
king's subjects could ill be spared. The king endeavoured to limit this
drain upon the population of the kingdom by allowing none to cross the sea
without his special licence. The city authorities having negligently
executed his orders in this respect, received a rebuke in October, 1350,
and were told to be more strict in their observance for the future.(558)

(M311)

On the night which ushered in New Year's day, 1350, an abortive attempt
had been made by the French to recapture Calais. This ill success rendered
Philip the more willing to agree to a further prolongation of the truce
with England. Notification of this cessation of hostilities was duly sent
to the sheriffs of London.(559) Before the truce had come to an end Philip
of Valois had ceased to live, and had been succeeded on the throne of
France by John II.

(M312)

The city had scarcely recovered from the ravages of the late pestilence,
before it was called upon (24 July, 1350) to furnish two ships to assist
the king in putting down piracy. These were accordingly fitted out; the
ship of Andrew Turk being furnished with 40 men-at-arms and 60 archers,
whilst that of Goscelin de Cleve had on board 30 men-at-arms and 40
archers.(560) With their aid, Edward succeeded in utterly defeating a
Spanish fleet which had recently inflicted much damage on the Bordeaux
wine fleet, and capturing 24 large ships laden with rich merchandise.(5