'A messenger arrives demanding fealty to King John of France, to which Edward returns a challenge. War is virtually declared.'
Edward III
King Edward is discussing with Artois his claim to the French throne thorough his descent from Queen Isobel. Artois informs him that his claim is good, although through the female line. A messenger arrives demanding fealty to King John of France, to which Edward returns a challenge. War is virtually declared. In the meantime, however, Edward has to deal with a threat from the Scots on his northern border.
The Scots have captured the Countess of Salisbury in her castle at Roxborough. As the Scottish king vows to attack England, English forces arrive to rescue the Countess, whose husband is away in France. Edward is attracted to the Countess and is persuaded to stay with her. He protests his love for her but she reminds him of the sacredness of marriage. The King commands Warwick, her father, to woo her for him. Appalled, he agrees but when he broaches the subject to his daughter, she refuses. Both agree to deny the king.
Derby and Audley have succeeded in mustering armies. The King, however, is lovesick and distracted. The sight of his son reminds him of his wife and his duty to her but then the Countess summons him. She offers to submit to him if he will have both her husband and his wife killed. Once he has agreed to this, she reveals that she was merely testing him and makes him swear to give up his suit. He does so, and stirs himself to organise the French wars.
The French and their allies are awaiting the arrival of the English forces. The English fleet is sighted and the battle at sea begins. Soon word is brought that the French navy has been defeated.
Prince Edward ('The Black Prince') brings his father news of more English victories. Those French who surrendered have been dealt with leniently, but any who resisted have met with harsh treatment. King John of France, withdrawing to Crecy, confronts King Edward and taunts him by offering booty. Refusing to give up his crown, even at the risk of the slaughter that must follow, John exhorts the French to follow him as their rightful king. Edward ceremonially arms his son and they prepare for battle.
With the French in retreat, King Edward hears that his son is surrounded and in great danger. However, he refuses to send him help, intending this as a test of battle which the Prince has to pass unaided. The Prince does, emerging with the body of the King of Bohemia, whom he has killed, and is knighted by his father. The Prince and others pursue the fleeing French king, while Edward marches on to besiege Calais.
Salisbury releases his prisoner Villiers on the understanding that he will go to the French king and obtain Salisbury a passport (safe conduct) to Calais, and then return.
In Calais, King Edward deals mercifully with six poor citizens evicted from the town. News comes that the Scottish rebellion has been put down and the Queen is on her way to France. Having waited in vain for relief from King John, Calais is ready to surrender but Edward now withdraws his former offer of clemency. He demands that six of the wealthiest merchants should be given up to him as a ransom.
Prince Charles at first refuses Villiers' request for the passport for Salisbury but is so impressed by Villier's sense of honour in planning to return to be a prisoner that he gives in. Charles tells his father of a prophecy given to him by a hermit at Crecy: although it is ambiguous, John takes it as optimistic and expects to win the day. News comes that Prince Edward is trapped by surrounding forces. He refuses offers of surrender or flight from the French commanders and makes a defiant speech. Suddenly word comes to King John that his soldiers have been cowed by mysterious fog and a flight of ravens, fulfilling a prophecy. At the same time Salisbury is brought in: under the terms of the passport, Charles defies his father and allows him to pass. King John tells Salisbury that the Black Prince is by now surrounded and tells him to tell King Edward of his son's fate. However, the French, in chaos, are turning on each other and the Black Prince enters in triumph, bringing in all the French, captured. They march on toward Calais to rejoin the king.
The six wealthy citizens of Calais appear before Edward, who agrees to spare the town but intends to execute them. The Queen, however, pleads for them and wins mercy. the Queen is angry that the squire who captured the Scottish king will not yield her his prisoner but when he appears and pleads his own sense of honour, he is pardoned and knighted by the King.
Salisbury returns to the King bringing news of victory and, as he thinks, the fate of the Black Prince. Fearing his son dead, Edward swears revenge on the French. At that moment, however, the Prince himself arrives, leading the French King and Dauphin prisoner. Hearing that he is to be taken to England as a prisoner, the French King realises how he had misconstrued the prophecy.
The Black Prince declares that his fame will be a warning to all future nations who set themselves up against England's power. They prepare to set sail for England.
