After a long truce, war again broke out. Philip VI had died, and his
son, John II, now sat on the French throne. Edward, during this
campaign, ravaged northern France. The next year his son, the Black
Prince (S238), marched from Bordeaux into the heart of the country.
Reaching Poitiers with a force of ten thousand men, he found himself
nearly surrounded by a French army of sixty thousand. The Prince so
placed his troops amidst the narrow lanes and vineyards, that the
enemy could not attack him with their full strength. Again the
English archers gained the day (S238), and King John himself was taken
prisoner and carried in triumph to England. (See map facing p. 128.)