Prince himself, to the success of those chivalrous expeditions which Ingland undertook against the banded powers of France on their own soil. Though a foreigner by birth as well as by lineage, he made England the country of his adoption at an early age, and all his laurels were won in her service. We, therefore, hold ourselves fully entitled to class him amongst those illustrious men whose names and fortunes are identified with the period of English history to which they belong.

When Isabella of England, accompanied by her son, arrived at Valenciennes to solicit the aid of William, earl of Hainault, against her husband, Edward II., the young Walter, whom the earl had taken under his own guardianship after the death of his father, won the friendship of the prince of Wales, and would have accompanied him to England if his patron had not disapproved of the proposal at the time; but he was soon afterwards sent over in the suite of the lady Philippa, Earl William's daughter, in the quality of page. His first martial service was performed in the camp before Berwick, when that place was vigorously besieged by Edward III. at the head of his northern nobles, and gallantly defended by Lord Marr and Sir Alexander Seaton. In the battle of Halidon-hill, so disastrous to the Scottish arms, Walter de Manny bore himself so gallantly, that all confessed him worthy of the honour of knighthood, which the king bestowed upon him on the field.

In 1337, Edward having resolved to invade France from the Flemish frontiers, the joint command of the expedition to open the Scheldt was intrusted to Sir Walter and the earl of Derby. The forces placed under their command on this occasion, consisted of 600 men-at-arms, and 2000 archers. The garrison, on the isle of Cadsant, commanding the navigation of the river, amounted to 5000; 1000 of whom were men-at-arms. As the English squadron bore down, Lord Derby, standing on the poop of his vessel, exclaimed to Sir Walter, whose ship was at a little distance, "What think you, Sir Walter, shall we assail these Flemings, or delay ?" "As wind and tide are in our favour, it becomes us not to lose them," replied Manny, adding at the same time," In the name of God and St George, let us run close on shore !" "In the name of God and St George, be it so !" rejoined the earl, and the signal for attack was instantly given by the trumpets The English archers drew their bows stiff and strong,' and quickly cleared the outworks of their defenders, while the barons and knights, with their men-at-arms, plunging into the sea, made good their landing, repulsed the headlong charge of the Flemish horsemen, and carried the whole works by assault. This success having opened the way for the English army, Edward soon afterwards arrived, and prepared to invest Cambray. In the meanwhile, Sir Walter having collected fifty lances, proceeded to redeem a promise which he had made in the presence of certain noble knights and fair dames, that he would be the first that should enter France, and take some castle or stronghold. For this purpose he spurred with his gallant band through Brabant, and having gained the wood of Blaton, he there broke his design to his companions, and suggested that they should surprise the town of Montaigne. The proposal was received with acclamations, and the gallant band arrived at Montaigne a little before sunrise; but although they entered the town without opposition, they found the garrison of the

castle fully prepared for them, and would have been speedily overpowered by numbers, had they not succeeded in making good their retreat. Sir Walter, however, was not to be thus baffled in his object. He persuaded his companions, instead of returning straight to the English camp, to diverge by Conde and Valenciennes in search of adventures, and the result gratified their most ardent wishes. The governor of Bouchain, mistaking them for the advanced guard of a great army, opened his gates to them; and the castle of St Eveque, at no great distance from Cambray, was taken by a coup-de-main.

In the fight with the powerful fleet of Philip of France, off the coast of Hampshire, Sir Walter Manny was the first to board the enemy. He sprung from his ship on the deck of the Christopher, and his example being followed by other knights, that huge vessel was speedily in the hands of the English. The fight has been described as a very murderous and horrible' one, but it ended in the total defeat of the Normans. We next find this star of chivalry engaged in the relief of the fortress of Hennebon, then gallantly held out by Montford's countess against Charles of Blois. At the head of a small, but select body of men, Manny cast himself into the town at the very moment when it was about to be given up to the enemy; his arrival changed the face of affairs, and the negotiations for surrender being broken off, the troops of Charles renewed their attacks with more determined fury. A catapult of more than ordinary dimensions had greatly annoyed the townspeople by the enormous masses of stone which it cast into the place. Sir Walter was at dinner with the countess, when one of these projectiles came crashing through the roof of an adjoining house, to the great alarm of the ladies; but Sir Walter instantly vowed to destroy the machine, and rising from table with the other knights, in a few minutes sallied forth from a postern gate, overturned and hewed the catapult to pieces, burned the sow, and threw the whole camp of the enemy into confusion. On their return, after having performed this gallant deed, the enemy, having recovered from their surprise, pressed hard upon them; but the knights stood their ground until their archers and attendants had passed the ditch in safety, after which they crossed the drawbridge themselves, and were received with hearty gratulations by the townspeople, while the countess "came down from the castle to meet them, and with a most cheerful countenance, kissed Sir Walter and all his companions, one after another, like a noble and valiant dame." The consequence of this sortie was, that the corps employed in the siege under Prince Louis of Spain, abandoned their camp the same evening, and marched to join Charles himself before the castle of Arrai. From this latter place, Prince Louis marched upon Dinant, which opened its gates to him, and then passing into Lower Brittany, landed at Quimperle, and proceeded to lay waste the surrounding country. But Sir Walter, hearing of these proceedings, resolved to have another and bolder stroke at his enemy. With the sanction of the countess, he placed his men-at-arms and 3000 archers on board of ship, and set sail for the harbour, where the fleet of Louis lay. On his arrival at Quimperle he found the enemy's vessels but slightly guarded, and immediately made himself master of the whole. He then set out to intercept the prince, who, with 6000 men, was hurrying back to the coast, having learned the arrival of his antagonist.

They met, and a fierce conflict ensued, in which Louis's whole force was nearly cut to pieces, or made prisoners, the prince himself only escaping with a small retinue.

On his return to Hennebon, Sir Walter assaulted and took many places of considerable strength, but little could be done towards the ultimate deliverance of Brittany, without fresh reinforcements from Edward. Carhaix fell into Charles's hands, and Hennebon was again invested. This time the siege was pressed more vigorously than before; but the courage and resources of De Manny seemed to rise with the difficulties of his position. Hearing that his friends, Sir John Botelor, and Sir Matthew Trelawney, who had been made prisoners by the enemy, were about to be sacrificed to Prince Louis's thirst for revenge, he called his knights around him, and proposed that they should immediately attempt the rescue of their comrades. The plan proposed was sufficiently daring; but the courage and high enthusiasm of the parties engaged in it, directed by the genius and indomitable valour of De Manny, secured its success. The prisoners were relieved at the very moment when they expected to be led forth to execution; and Charles, perceiving that Hennebon, with such defenders, was not likely soon to fall into his hands, dismissed the greater number of his followers, and retired to Carhaix.

In the campaign in Gascony with the earl of Derby, Sir Walter gave ample evidence of his being possessed of the higher qualities of a military commander. The fall of Bergerac was chiefly due to his skill in combining the most rapid movements with the most deliberate and well-advised plans of attack. Town after town, and castle after castle, fell before his genius, till the English standard floated over almost every stronghold in Gascony. One of the most splendid victories obtained by the English arms in this campaign, was wholly due to the valour and sagacity of Sir Walter. The earl of Derby, with Manny in his train, had marched to the relief of Auberoche, then closely invested by the count de Lisle. Orders had been sent to Lord Pembroke, who commanded at Bergerac, to join them on the march; but before he came up, they found themselves with a force of only 300 men-at-arms, and 600 hobeler archers, in the presence of De Lisle, at the head of 10,000 men. In this emergency, De Manny's counsel was prompt, but wise:-" Gentlemen," said he, addressing a council of war, it were a shame to us were our friends to perish, and we so nigh to them. Let us mount our horses, skirt this wood, and advance upon the enemy's camp. We will come upon them unexpectedly, just as they are sitting down to supper, and with St George to aid us, they shall be discomfited." The proposal was well received, and instantly put into execution with complete success. The French were beaten down before they knew whence their assailants came, and De Lisle himself was taken prisoner.

The winter of 1344-5 was spent by Manny in well-earned indulgence amid the gaieties of the viceregal court at Bourdeaux; but the campaign was early opened by the duke of Normandy at the head of a large army, and the indefatigable Manny required no summons to the post of danger or enterprise. The important castle of Auguillon was threatened, and Sir Walter, in the face of 100,000 men, threw himself into it with 300 men-at arms, a corps of archers, and good store of

'meal.' In the month of May, the duke of Normandy sat down before this stronghold, but October came and its gallant defenders still held out as vigorously as ever. At last the besiegers determined to cross the river and cut of all means of foraging from the garrison. A bridge was with this view constructed at a prodigious expense of labour, but just as the troops were about to put themselves in motion upon it, Manny let slip three heavy vessels, which carried down by a rapid current, struck the props and swept them away. A second bridge, stronger and better provided with the means of warding off a similar attack, was instantly constructed; but Manny, in a single night, cut down or rendered abortive the labour of several weeks. Again, De Lisle resumed his bridge-building, and with more success; his army crossed the Garonne, and the castle was assaulted without intermission for several successive weeks. Battering-rams were wrought incessantly against the walls, catapults and other engines poured showers of stones, beams, and darts, upon the battlements,-while from large moveable towers or belfries, the cross-bow men and archers sent flights of arrows within the walls. Still the brave De Manny, untired in spirit and unexhausted in resources, held out, till the assailants, despairing of conquest by any other means, thought of converting the assault into a blockade ; but the battle of Crecy changed the face of affairs, and the siege of Auguillon was suddenly raised by the duke, who set off to support his father.

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When the duke was fairly gone, Manny, loathing to be shut up in inactivity whilst his brethren in arms were gaining such splendid laurels elsewhere, sent for a 'great knight,' whom he had captured, and demanded to know what sum he was willing to pay for his ransom. "Three thousand crowns," replied his prisoner. "I know you are nearly related to the duke of Normandy," answered Manny, “that you are much esteemed by him, and one of his counsellors. I will set you free upon your honour provided you will instantly go to the duke and obtain a passport for myself and twenty others, that we may ride through France to Calais, paying courteously for whatever we may require. If you obtain this, I will hold you free from your ransom, and also be much indebted to you; but if fail, you will return within a month to this fortress as your prison.' The knight accepted the proposal and obtained the wished-for passport; and such was the high faith and courtesy of those days, that under its protection, Manny, with his twenty companions, set out to travel the whole breadth of France, and were well received and hospitably treated wherever they came. At Orleans, however, Sir Walter was arrested by order of King Philip and conducted to Paris, where he was cast into prison; but the duke of Normandy hastened to remonstrate against such a breach of knightly faith, and declared, that unless Sir Walter was instantly liberated, he would never again wield sword or lance in defence of the French crown. The king yielded to his son's representation, and Manay was not only set at liberty, but received various costly jewels and other gifts from Philip, which he accepted on the condition that he should be permitted to return them if his royal master disapproved of his retaining them. The conclusion of the story we give in Froissart's own words:" He arrived at Calais," says the chronicler, "where he was well-received by the king of England, who, being informed by Sir

Walter of his presents he had from the king of France, said, 'Sir Walter, you have hitherto most loyally served us, and we hope you will continue to do so send back to King Philip his presents, for you have no right to keep them. We have enough, thank God, for you and for ourselves, and are fully disposed to do you all the good in our power for the services you have rendered us.' Thereupon, Sir Walter took out all the jewels, and giving them to his cousin, the lord of Mansoe, said :— Ride into France to King Philip, and recommend me to him, and tell him that I thank him many times for the fine jewels which he presented me with, but that it is not agreeable to the will and pleasure of my lord, the king of England, that I retain them.' So the knight did as he was directed," continues Froissart; "but the king of France would not take back the jewels, but gave them to the lord of Mansoe, who thanked the king for them, and had no inclination to refuse them."

During the prevalence of the plague in England, and while London was threatened by that dreadful visitant, Sir Walter exerted himself with great humanity to soothe the sufferings of the people. "It pleased God," says Henrie, "in this dismal time to stir up the heart of this noble knight to have respect to the danger that might fall in the time of this pestilence, then begun in England, if the churches and churchyards in London might not suffice to bury the multitude. Wherefore, he purchased a piece of ground near St John's street, called Spittlecroft, without the bars in West Smithfield, of the master and brethren of St Bartholomew Spittle, containing thirteen acres and a rood, and caused the same to be enclosed and consecrated by Ralph Stratford, bishop of London, at his own proper costs and charges. In which place, in the year following-Stow reports-were buried more than 50,000 persons, as is affirmed by the king's charter, and by an inscription which he read upon a stone cross sometime standing in the Charter-house yard."

In 1360, Sir Walter accompanied the army which Edward led to the gates of Paris, and when it was proposed to withdraw without having measured lances with any part of the garrison, deeming such a thing a disgrace to English chivalry, he requested and obtained permission to make an incursion as far as the barrier; and he effected his purpose after a long and furious encounter with the Parisian knights. Nine years after this, Sir Walter closed his military services with conducting a destructive inroad from Calais into the heart of France. He then retired to his home in London, where he employed the remaining years of his life in calmly preparing for his last change. He died in 1372, and was buried with great pomp in the cloister of a Carthusian convent founded by himself; the king himself, and a long train of nobility honoured his funeral with their attendance. He left behind him one only child, a daughter, named Anne, who marrying the earl of Pem broke, transferred to that noble house all the possessions of her family both in England and Hainault.