They cross the Garonne. A.D. 1355. took with them." During the whole of this expedition there were no particularly brilliant feats of arms. Plunder and burning of towns, when not too strong to be assaulted with safety, seemed to be its object; and, that better part of valour, which consists in discretion, and which in this campaign induced the allies. to abstain from attacking citadels, was, as will be seen, its chief characteristic. Even Froissart, the eulogist of the Black Prince, designated this army as robbers. The little army passed the Garonne at Sainte-Marie, three leagues above Toulouse, and the Prince made a feint of attacking it, but changed his plans, and passed it by. On the day of his arrival before the city, there was a little skirmishing between the reconnoitring parties of the English and the garrison of the town, and the English took a few prisoners. The next day, they marched in grand battle array, with banners flying, almost up to the gates of TouThey pass louse. The garrison expected an immediate attack, Toulouse and were anxions to sally out and attack the English; attacking but the Count of Armagnac, who defended the town, would not permit it, saying they were not so much used to war as the English and the Gascons, and that they could not do better than guard their town. On the other hand, the English saw that "if they attacked them the Toulousians would defend themselves, and passed peaceably beyond, without They sack saying anything."3 They then went on to Mont Giscar, which they took, burnt, and plundered. "There was great persecution of men, women, and children, Neuf Cha- which was a pity," says Froissart. Avignonet was without it. Mont Avignon et, and tel d'Aury. . 1 Froissart, vol. i. p. 314. 2 Ces pillards. Buchon's Froissart, vol. i. p. 315. 3 Ibid. vol. i. p. 314. |