King John

Family: France · Role: king · First appears: Book 1, Chapter 76

On the Sunday morning, King John sent Lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, Lord John de Landas and Lord Guiscard de Beaujeu to inspect the English army and advise how best to attack. After hearing their estimate of the English forces, he agreed to fight on foot, selecting three hundred mounted knights and squires to break the archers. He also entrusted his eldest son to three lords. When Cardinal de Perigord asked leave to seek terms with the Prince of Wales, John agreed, but the prince refused the demand to surrender himself and one hundred knights; by Monday, the cardinal told the prince that battle could not be avoided.

In Book 1, Chapter 80, John surrendered to Denys de Morbeque, saying, “I surrender myself to you.” English and Gascon fighters then disputed who had captured him, before Earl of Warwick and Lord Cobham conducted him to the prince. Presented to the prince again in Chapter 81, John was received with reverence; that evening, the prince served him at supper and promised that his father would show him honor and friendship.

At Bordeaux, the prince and John lodged together at the monastery of St. Andrew. John later arrived in England and disembarked at Sandwich; after a truce was secured between the two kings and their allies, he and his household were moved from the Palace of Savoy to Windsor Castle, where he was permitted to hunt and hawk alongside Lord Philip.