46. She also founded several schools, and was a friend to those who distinguished themselves by their learning.
47. I must not forget to tell you that Chaucer, the first great poet that wrote in English, lived at this time, and received much kindness from the king and queen.
48. The English language was now beginning to be spoken by the higher classes, instead of French, and was not very unlike the English spoken now, as you might see, if you were to look at the poems written by Chaucer.
49. Edward the Third was, unfortunately, as fond of war as his grandfather. He renewed the war with Scotland, but his great wars were in France, for his ambition was to be king of that country, and he pretended he had a right to the throne, because his mother was the sister of the late king.
50. But the French thought otherwise, and chose another prince for their king, so Edward invaded France, where he commenced a long and destructive war, which lasted nearly forty years, and was carried on, for a great part of that time, by his eldest son, who was called the Black Prince, because he wore black armour.
51. He made great conquests in the south of France, and, at the celebrated battle of Poictiers, took the French king prisoner, and brought him to England, where he remained a captive for the rest of his life, but was treated with so much kindness and respect, that he had little to complain of but the loss of his liberty.
52. The Black Prince was not only a brave warrior, but was a good and clever man; therefore, his death, which happened a few months before that of his father, was a great grief to the English people.
53. Edward the Third died in 1377, after a long reign of fifty years. He had been a pretty good king, had made the people obey the laws, and, in general, observed them himself.
54. When he wanted money for the French wars, he had allowed the villeins and serfs, on his manors, or crown lands, to buy their freedom, so that there were now, comparatively, but few of the lower orders remaining in bondage; and the agricultural labourers were paid for their labour, as well as the artisans and mechanics.
55. Their wages were, in general, from twopence to threepence a day, but you must remember that twopence, at that time, was equal, in purchasing the necessaries of life, to about one shilling and eightpence of our money, and would buy much more than sufficient food for a whole family.