is considered the most cowardly of birds. Then in loud tones he called upon
the knights present each to swear on the bird to perform some deed of
chivalrous daring. First he presented it to King Edward himself, giving him
to understand that he regarded him but as little braver than the heron for
resigning without a blow the fair heritage of France."

"The moment was well chosen, for Edward was smarting under the answer he
had just received from Phillip. He at once rose and took an oath to enter
France in arms; to wait there a month in order to give Phillip time to
offer him battle, and to accept the combat, even should the French
outnumber him ten to one. Every knight present followed the example of the
king, and so the war with France, which had been for years a mere question
of time, was at last suddenly decided upon. You yourself, Walter, can
remember the preparations which were made throughout England: men were
enrolled and arms prepared. We armourers were busy night and day, and every
man felt that his own honour, as well as that of the country, was concerned
in winning for King Edward the heritage of which he had been unlawfully
robbed by the King of France."

"On the 17th of March, 1337, at the parliament at Westminster, the king
created the little prince, then seven years of age, Duke of Cornwall; and
the prince immediately, in exercise of his new dignity, bestowed upon
twenty of the most distinguished aspirants the honour of knighthood.
Immense supplies were voted by the parliaments held at Nottingham,
Westminster, and Northamton. Half the wool shorn in the summer following
was granted to the king, with a variety of other taxes, customs, and
duties. The revenues of all the foreign priories in England, a hundred and
ten in number, were appropriated to the crown. Provisions of bacon, wheat,
and oats were granted, and the king pawned his own jewels, and even the
crown itself, to hire soldiers, and purchase him allies on the Continent.