New-York tribune., 1906-04-01

all men could read through the landward gates
there rolled constant stream OF wagons pouring
down the Libourne Road and bearing the booty of
Southern France The town was full OF loot
soldiers for none but mounted men had been taken
by the Prince With sad faces and longing eyes tney
watched the passing of the train OF plunder-laden
carts piled high with rich furniture silks, velvets,
tapestries carvings and precious metals which had
been the pride of many lOrdly home IN TAR Au-
vergne the wealthy Bourbonnais.
Let no think that in these wars England alone
was face to face with France There is glory and
10 spare without trifling with the truth. Two
Provinces in France, both rich and warhke, had
become English through royal marriage, and
these Cuienne and GascOny, furnished many OF the
most valiant soldiers under the island flag So poor
a country as England could not afford to keep a
great force overseas. and must needs have lost
the war with France through want OF power to up
hold the struggle The feudal system enabled an
army TO be drawn rapidly together with small
expense; but the end of few weeks II dispersed
again as swiftly and only by well-tllled money
chest could it be held together. There was no such
chest IN England, and the King was forever at his
wits end how TO keep his men IN the held.
But Guienne and Gascony were full OF knights
and squires who were always ready to assemble
from their isolated castles tor rad INTO france
and these with the addition of those English cav
alters who fought for honor, and few thousand OF
the formidable archers, hired for fourpence day:
made an army with which short campaign could
be carried on. Such the materials OF the
Princes force some eight thousand strong, who
were now riding in great circle through Southern
France leaving broad vale OF Dackened ana ruined
country behind them.
But France even with her southwestern corner
in English hands still very Warhke power
far richer and more populous than her rival Single
Provinces were SO great that they were stronger
than MANY a Kingdom. Normandy IN the north,
Rrrgundv in the east Brittany in the west, and
Languedoc in the south each capable OF hitting
out great army of their Therefore, the brave
and spirited John watching from Paris this lnsolent
raid into his domnons, sent messengers IN not
haste to all these great feudatorieS, as well as to
Lorraine Picardv Auvergne, Hainaut Nernandols,
Champagne, and to the German nercenares over over
his eastern border bidding all OF them TO ride hard
with bloody spur day and night, until they should
gather to a head at Chartres
There a great army had assembled early IN sep
+e,nber whilst the Prince, all unconscious OF Its
presence, sacked towns and besleged castles from
Bourges to Issoudun, passing KonoTantlr ana 50
nrv,a7d 10 Vierzon and to Tours. From week to
week there were merry skirmshes at barriers brisk
assaults of fortresses in which much honor was Won
niqhtlv meetings with detached parties OF French
men and occasional spear-runnlngs where noble
chan1nons degned 10 venture their persons Houses
too We're to be pundered, while wine and women
were in plenty Never had either knights or archers
had so pleasant and profitable an excursion so that
= 1-ae with HIGH heart and much hope OF pleasant