ersing
France in search of a force with which to try conclusions in the field, a
Norman fleet swept down upon the south coast and sacked Winchelsea. The
news of this disaster so incensed the king that he determined to march
direct on Paris. The Londoners, in the meantime, assisted in fitting out a
fleet of eighty vessels, manned with 14,000 men, including archers, in
order to wipe out this disgrace, but the enemy contrived to make good
their escape.(570)

(M318)

At length Edward was induced to accede to the terms offered by France, and
the peace of Bretigny was concluded (8th May, 1360). The terms were very
favourable to England, although Edward consented to abandon all claim to
the French crown. King John was to be ransomed, but the price set on his
release was so high that some years elapsed before the money could be
raised, and then only with the assistance of a few of the livery companies
of the city, which showed their sympathy with the captured king by
contributing to the fund being raised for the purpose of restoring him to
liberty.(571) It was John's high sense of honour that kept him in
captivity in England until his death in 1364. He had in fact been
liberated and allowed to return to France soon after the conclusion of
peace, on payment of part of his ransom, hostages being accepted for
payment of the remainder. In 1363 one of the hostages broke his pledge and
fled, and John, shocked at such perfidy, returned Regulus-like to England.
Hence it was that he appears as one of the four kings whom Picard, the
mayor, entertained that same year at a banquet, followed by play at dice
and hazard.(572)

(M319)

The citizens now enjoyed a period of leisure which they were not slow to
turn to account. The years which followed the peace of Bretigny, until war
broke out afresh in 1369, witnessed the re-organisation of many of the
trade and craft guilds. Some of these, like the Goldsmiths, the Tailors or
Linen-Armourers, and the Skinners, had already obtained charters from
Edward soon after his accession, so had also the Fishmongers, although the
earliest extant charter of the company is dated 1363. The Vintners date
their chartered rights from the same year; the Drapers from 1364; whilst
the more ancient company of Weavers obtained a confirmation of their
privileges in 1365. Minor guilds, like the Founders, the Plumbers, the
Fullers and others, had to content themselves with the recognition of
their ordinances by the