He thought it was quite beneath his dignity, as his
ancestor Rollo had thought when told that he must kiss the foot of
King Charles.
So Edward tried to persuade the nobles of France that he himself
ought by right to be the king of France instead of being only
a vassal. Philip of Valois was only a cousin of the late French
King Charles IV. Edward was the son of his sister. But there was
a curious old law in France, called the Salic Law, which forbade
that daughters should inherit lands. This law barred the claim
of Edward, because his claim came through his mother. Still he
determined to win the French throne by force of arms.
A chance came to quarrel with Philip. Another of Philip's vassals
rebelled against him, and Edward helped the rebel. He hoped by
doing so to weaken Philip and more easily overpower him.
Philip at once declared that Edward's possessions in France were
forfeited.
Then Edward raised an army of thirty thousand men, and with it
invaded France.
The Black Prince was now only about sixteen years of age, but he
had already shown himself brave in battle, and his father put him
in command of one of the divisions of the army.
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