The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-22
THE BLACK PRINCES PRISONER.
How John the Good of France Fared
i'm England While Waiting His
Ransom.


Ransom.
London Letter In New York Sun.
John the Good was one Of the worst
kings that France ever had. He was King
of France from 1850 TO 1884, during which
time his country suffered terribly from
war and from his exactions,
but he got his title of GOOD
because ne kept his faith with his
enemy Edward the Black Prince. The
Black Prince. with 5000 men, polished off
King Johns army of $1,000 at Poitiers,
Sept. 10, 1856, as easily as a good bowler
polishes off the ten pins at the other end
of the alley. Then John went to England
as a prisoner.
The plain people had no quarter in war
in those days, but a nobleman VINO coulh
be held for ransom had A good time OF II
as a prisoner. So with King John. he
reached England on May 4, 1857, and was
lodged in the Savoy palace for two years.
He made little trips around London, see
ing his relatives and friends, and had
nice time. In August, 1853, certain re-
strictiOns which had begun near the emo
of 1858. eliminated in his being removed
from the Savoy palace to Somerton cas-
tie, in Lincolnshire. He had to give up
and send home for forty-two of his retain
ers but he still kept about as many those
whom he dismissed being outdoor serv-
ants Undoubtedly he felt himself mucn
abused man when he sent the unfortunate
forty-two away.
Re that as il may be, while he lodged at
Somerton he had these retainers; TWO
chaplains, a secretary, a clerk OF the
chapel. a physicion, a maitre dhotei, three
naCns four Wallets, three wardrobe men,
three furriers, six grooms, two COOKS,
fruiterer a spiceman barber ana q
washer. besides some higher officers, and
a "rov dc menestereulx" (who was men
der of musical instruments and CLOCKS, as
well as a MINSTREL and a fool. who was
called Master John. King John brought
with him tables chairs, stable httngs,
1frewood and peat, and fitted up MS ROOM
his sons room, the chapel ana Master
Iohn's room with all desirable comfort.
lie lived too. in a style BETTING his
rank and his train. He imported claret,
as much as 40 tons, at time; part OF IL
he drank: and part he sold for money
TO keep up his state; perhaps ne was the
original nobleman in trade. He bought
sugar i'm London, Lincoln, ana Boston,
ana spices in large quantities. Sugar was
an expensive luxury in those days ana
his maiestys candy cost u the pound,
about o. shillings, or SIS In our money
lie liked to dress well and caused TO
no set uD In Lincolntown a regular tail
oring establishment, over which a Mr..
Tassin nresided. Within five months the
King bought eight new suits. and the
Countess de Boulogne sent him a ninth
suit. His Easter quit. in 1860 was made
in Brussels. Of marbled violet velvet, lined
with mlniver; for Whitsunude he had a
suit OF rosy scarlet velvet, lined with blue
taffeta. The Easter suit took 2,50O skins
TO line II suitably; they cost f26. equal
nowadays TO about $500, or say $500. The
King amused himself by reading novels,
listening 10 music, and playing chess and
baclxuammon. His son, Prince Philip,
who was prisoner with him, kept dogs
and fighting cocks, and perhaps King John
nut his novels down occasionally, long
enough to go out with his son TO see a
gentle main. or a little course by the
dogs He was a constant alms-giver,
foo and never Travelled without tipping
the parish priest or the monks.
After being In England three years,
from May 4, 1851 to May 49, 1860, King
Iohn peid 500 COO crowns out Of his agreed
ransom Of 5000 000-about $3.50, 00D-and
leaving his son, the Duke OF Anjou. as
hostage he went back to France But in
december 1863, the Duke broke his parole
ana returned to France, whereupon John
AGAIN surrendered himself TO Edward the
Rack Prince Probably his return rather
grieved the Prince, as II made clear TO
him that the rest Of the ransom would not
be forthcoming. King John went back to
the Savoy. and died there in about four
months. So the Prince didn't get his ran
som.