CHAPTER II.

WARFARE IN CHIVALROUS TIMES.

Delusion about character of war in days of chivalry 32

The common slaughter of women and children 33

The Earl of Derby’s sack of Poitiers 34

The massacres of Grammont and Gravelines 35

The old poem of the Vow of the Heron 36

The massacre of Limoges by Edward the Black Prince 37

The imprisonment of ladies for ransom 38

Prisoners of war starved to death 39

Or massacred, if no prospect of ransom 41

Or blinded or otherwise mutilated 42

The meaning of a surrender at discretion 44

As illustrated by Edward III. at Calais 44

And by several instances in the same and the next century 45

The practice of burning in aid of war 47

And of destroying sacred buildings 47

The practice of poisoning the air 49

The use of barbarous weapons 50

The influence of religion on war 51

The Church in vain on the side of peace 52

Curious vows of the knights 54

The slight personal danger incurred in war by them 54

The explanation of their magnificent costume 55

Field sports in war-time 56

The desire of gain the chief motive of war 57

The identity of soldiers and brigands 57

The career and character of the Black Prince 59

The place of money in the history of chivalry 61

Its influence as a war-motive between England and France 62

General low character of chivalrous warfare 64