unsuccessful: and the
king was at last obliged to turn the siege into a blockade, in hopes
that the great numbers of the garrison and citizens, which had enabled
them to defend themselves against his attacks, would but expose them to
be the more easily reduced by famine.[*] The count of Eu, who commanded
in Tournay, as soon as he perceived that the English had formed this
plan of operations endeavored to save his provisions by expelling all
the useless mouths; and the duke of Brabant, who wished no success
to Edward's enterprises, gave every one a free passage through his
quarters.

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 54.

After the siege had continued ten weeks, the city was reduced to
distress; and Philip, recalling all his scattered garrisons, advanced
towards the English camp at the head of a mighty army, with an intention
of still avoiding any decisive action, but of seeking some opportunity
for throwing relief into the place. Here Edward, irritated with the
small progress he had hitherto made, and with the disagreeable prospect
that lay before him, sent Philip a defiance by a herald and challenged
him to decide their claims for the crown of France either by single
combat, or by an action of a hundred against a hundred, or by a general
engagement. But Philip replied, that Edward having done homage to him
for the duchy of Guienne, and having solemnly acknowledged him for his
superior, it by no means became him to send a defiance to his liege
lord and sovereign: that he was confident, notwithstanding all Edward's
preparations, and his conjunction with the rebellious Flemings, he
himself should soon be able to chase him from the frontiers of France:
that as the hostilities from England had prevented him from executing
his purposed crusade against the infidels, he trusted in the assistance
of the Almighty, who would reward his pious intentions, and punish the
aggressor, whose ill-grounded claims had rendered them abortive: that
Edward proposed a duel on very unequal terms, and offered to hazard only
his own person against both the kingdom of France and the person of the
king: but that, if he would increase the stake, and put also the kingdom
of England on the issue of the duel, he would, notwithstanding that the
terms would still be unequal, very willingly accept of the challenge.[*]
It was easy to see that these mutual bravadoes were intended only to
dazzle the populace, and that the two kings were too wise to think of