Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-16

In an old English church, called Can
terbury Cathedral, is a richly scuI Ptured
tomb, overhung by helmet and a coat
Of mail
One lovely June day, more than i've
centuries ago, 4 very long procession,
headed by eowled monks attended by
low music. came to the old fame, and left
among the dusky kings slumbering there
the body of a prince.
He had worn black armour on the
field of battle, and they hung his helmet
and his black coat Of mail above him
when they left him amid the shadows.
Edward. Prince Of Wales, called the
Black Prince, was the son Of Edward
Ill, Of England, and PhilliPPa, OF
Hainaut
His father was q most warlike king
with nerves Ike iron and heart like
stone. His mother was a nOble-hearted
lady. as you shall presently see. She
was beloved as greatly as her husband
the king, was feared.
Prince Edward possessed the spirit OF
his father, and he was early schOOled IN
the art of war. When fifteen years Of
age, be entered France at the head of a
large army, the main division Of which
he commanded in person.
A great battle was fought near the
little French village Of Crecy one stormy
day. late in summer, and the king left
the direction of his army chiefly to the
boy prince he himself watching the
centest from a gusty old windmill on a
hill.
At one point Of the battle, the boy
prince was placed in a very critical situa-
ton, being obliged to contend with
superior numbers. The Earl Of War
wick. seeing the danger, dispatched a
messenger to the old windmill to ask
immediate aid of the king.
is the prince killed p asked the
king.
81 No sire.
Is he wounded p
mo"
"k he unhOrsed 2
No, but he is hard pressed
Then let him win his spurs. l have
set NV heart upon it, that he shall this
day prove himself to be a valiant knight,
and that the victory shall be his. shall
send him no aid.
The words Of the king were reported
TO the PRINCE and to the soldiers. The
message 50 animated them that they
fought with wonderful yalOr, and the
Young prince won the field.
II was a dreadful fray and when the
summer moon and the stars came out on
that August night and glimmered on
the field where the French had fought,
eleven princes, and twelve hundred
knights, and thirty thousand common
soldiers. might have been seen lying
there, who would never behold the moon
and stars any more.
The English lighteS their watchfres
and ioyous strains of music filed the aiF.
All the army praised the boy prince
gathered around him with ringing
Shouts. The grave old king returned
70 the merry camp. Taking the boy to
his bosom, he kissed him, proudly de-
claring 4at he was his own true son, and
well worthy Of bis throne. .
Among the slain on the French side
was tie king Of Bohemia, a blind OLD
man His crest consisted of three
ostrich feathers, with the motto Ieh der
n serve.) This motto was adopted BY
the Prince Of Wales, in remembrance
of the field Of Crecy, and it has beer
ALWAYS berne by his successors.
After the battle of Crecy the Enghsf
army lail seige to Calais, an Ole
French town on the straits Of Dover
The siege lasted eleven months, at the
end of which period the soldiers and
citizens we're ready to perish Of hunger
The Governor Of Calais then sen
messengers to Edward, asking him Of
what terms he would accept the sur
render of the place. The king repiled
on condition that they should send Eln
six of the principal citizens, bare legge'
and in their shirts, with ropes srouni
their necks, ready for immediate eKecu
tion-
The reply of the king was repeate'
in the market place, where all the peo
ple groaned and wept.
At last a noble citizen by the name Q
Eustace de ST. Pierre, said that he wa
wiIling 10 offer his life as a sacrifice
Five other men, as noble as he, spok
:, like manner, and the Governor con
dnciad them into the presence OF tn
king. Il.
execution. But good Queen PhllliPp
fell down before him, and with man
tears and much gentle persuasion, 10
dueed him 20 spare their lives.
She then made feast for them, an
IT strikes me that more Of the spirit
the Sermon on the Mount was exhibits
in the feast, than the old king suspecte
or should receive credit for.
We fancy that we see it noW--th
GOOD queer at the head of the tabl'
and the six men who had offered the
lives to save their fellow-citizens sittin
near her. And We fancy, too, that y.
see an invisible King smiling upon u
lovely Queen and upon the SIX mob
wen on that beautiful summer eve, an
his kingdom we number not among Il
Kingdoms Of the world.
We would like to tell you more abo