The victory of Poitiers was followed by another truce; then war began
again. Edward intended besieging Paris, but was forced to retire to
obtain provisions for his troops. Negotiations were now opened by the
French. While these great negotiations were going on, a terrible
thunderstorm destroyed great numbers of men and horses in Edward's
camp.
Edward, believing it a sign of the displeasure of Heaven against his
expedition, fell on his knees, and within sight of the Cathedral of
Chartres vowed to make peace. A treaty was accordingly signed at
Bre'tigny near by. By it, Edward renounced his claim to Normandy and
the French crown. But notwithstanding that fact, all English
sovereigns insisted on retaining the title of "King of France" down to
a late period of the reign of George III. France, on the other hand,
acknowledged the right of England, in full sovereignty, to the country
south of the Loire, together with Calais, and agreed to pay an
enormous ransom in pure gold for the restoration of King John.