The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-22

King John, who had been liberated in or
der to seek his ransom, found the task
of "canvassing'' for the money more lrk-
some than Imprisonment, returned to Eng
land, and soon after died, as 1t is said,
from the effects of a too jovial celebration
Of his return to captivity.
The great military hero, Bertrand du
Guesclin, constable of France, had the
bad fortune to be captured twice by the
English. On the first occasion his ran
som was fixed at 100000 francs portion
of which was paid by the king of France
and the remainder by himself. On the
second occasion he was Kept a prisoner
for some time before any ransom would
be taken, 1t being considered impolitic to
allow the French to have the benefit of
his great military talents Froissart re-
lates the following conversation when took
place between the Black Prince and du
Guesclin and led to his being ransomed
from his second captivity.
zone day, when the prince was in great
good humor he called Sir Bertrand du
Guesclin and asked him how he was.
My lord,' replied Sir Bertrand. 4 was
never better. l cannot otherwise but be
we'll, for l am, though In prison, the most
honored knight in the world
" How SOP rejoined the prince.
""They say in France answered Sir
Bertrand, as well as in other countries,
that you are SO much afraid of me and
have such dread of my gaining my lib
| erty, that you dare not set me Free and
| this is my reason for thinking myself so
much valued and honored.'
"The prince answel ed;
WHAT Sir Bertrand, do you imagine
| we keep you prisoner for fear of your
prowess2 BY St. George, 1t is not sol for,
my good sir, If you will pay 100000 francs
| you shall be free"
| Sir Bertrand paid the money within a
month, and as soon as he was released he
| went to asst the Duke an Anjou, who
! was the besieglng a town in Provence.
Thus 1t happened that fortunes were
sometimes made by successful warriors in
a victorious campaign. The wars of
| Henry V in France enriched sundry now
noble families. In that way Talbot was
enabled to hand down the earldom Of
| Shrewsbury and considerable possessions
to his descendants. Caister castle was
| built out OF the proceeds of ransomed
prisoners, and Bodiam castle, in Kent,
| and on a more modest scale Rye house
that popular resort with the modern holt
day-maker. And when reverses came, and
the English were driven from Normandy,
there were still good pickings to be had in
the way OF payments for surrendering
fortresses to tho conquerer for the
French king rather bought than fought his
way when he found the enemy accessible
20 pecuniary considerations
From that time, however, the fighting
chvalry Of England was left to prey
upon Itself, as the civil wars of the roses,
and with the advent OF regular armies
and modern military organization, the ex-
ira profits of chivalry have almost van
ished. Ransom, indeed. IS still extorted by
the victorious after national wars, as In
tho case OF France and Germany, and
China and Japan; but II is ransom which
enriches nobody. and. indeed, is expended
i'm the increase of already bloated arma-
ments in a way which, IL persisted in,
must eventually bring poverty all round.
Ibid you read that story about The
House on the Bluff" asked the literary
boarder.
NO" answered the Cheerful idiot.
What was tia boarding house?-In-
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