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In 1337, after Phillip VI of France confiscated Gascony, one of only two bits of France held by the English King, Edward III,
fearing for his French toy collection, declared himself King of all France and so began something historians have called the Hundred Years War, because it lasted
116 years. Don’t even think about asking me? It wasn’t even a continuous war, just a series of battles spread over time. Armies would meet for a battle that
sometimes lasted for days or even weeks. When that battle was over they would both go away and maybe not have another battle for years.
It started well for Edward when he defeated a French invasion fleet at the Battle of Sluys in 1340 and then he won a victory on land at Crecy in 1346,
which meant he captured the port of Calais, and another victory at Poitiers in 1356. We won’t talk too much about all the various battles as none of them happened
on English soil. Obviously, as always, men were called up to fight as each lord had to provide his King with men for the army and this affected life in England but
there were no battles here.
Much of the fighting in France was led by Edward's eldest son who
was called Edward. He may well have also been bored by this lack of imagination as he became known as the Black Prince, except that he wasn’t known as that during
his lifetime. He was actually Edward of Woodstock. When people wrote about him later they said he was known as the Black Prince but again no one knows why. Some
say his shield and armour were black, some say he was so brutal toward the French who called him “the black boar”. We will never know. The picture shows his
shield and I have to agree it is quite black, except the ostrich feathers which aren't. However he was nice enough to die one year before his father thereby
avoiding yet another King Edward.
In 1348, Edward III, who like Edward I before him, was inspired by
tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter. This order still
exists today and is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Knights, who originally would have ridden into battle with their king, are now both
male and female. They used to be limited to aristocracy, but today they are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, in recognition of their public service. There are
only ever 24 of them. I don't think that they will be riding into battle on horseback, suitably clad in armour, as the youngest of the present Knights is only three
years younger than I am. I also notice that, as at February 2020, there are two vacancies. OK Your Majesty if you ask I will but I've only ever once ridden a horse
so don't expect too much. However if you want the average age to come down a bit......I may be your man.
Their motto is "honi soit qui mal y pense" which you can probably spot is not English. It is French. There are a few versions of what it means but roughly
translated means evil to anyone who thinks badly of things. In other words, be positive.
Forward to 1348AD
