130 



On a Hoard of Gold Nobles 



convent and Church there, to which Bremeridge, five miles distant, 

 afterwards belonged. He introduced Bonhommes, an order of 

 Augustin friars, into the convent by the persuasion of Edward the 

 Black Prince. He was Treasurer and Chancellor of England, took 

 much interest in the coinage, was a great favourite with Edward III., 

 and was offered the Archbishopric of Canterbury, but refused it. 

 He invented and introduced, in 1351, the groat and half-groat, 

 which seem to have been intended as a boon to the poorer sort of 

 the community, and so a fit sequel to the gold nobles for the rich 

 and great. He died in 1366, and was succeeded as Treasurer and 

 Chancellor of England and as Bishop of Winchester by William of 

 Wykeham. 1 



1346. On Saturday, the 26th of August, was fought the battle of 

 Crecy, and on the 8th of September and 24th of March following 

 were signed by Edward III. at Westminster agreements for the 

 currency of English nobles in Flanders, and for coining nobles in 

 Flanders to be current both there and in England. 2 



In the same year was fought the battle of Neville's Cross, in 

 which David II. of Scotland was taken prisoner. He remained 

 captive in England eleven years. 



1356. Battle of Poitiers. 



John II. of France was taken prisoner with his fourth son Philip, 

 then 1 6 years of age, who, from his bravery on this occasion and 

 general character, was ever afterwards called " the Bold/'' 



1360. Treaty of Bretigni. Edward III. renounced his claim to 

 the throne of France in return for great concessions. This change 

 is noted on his coins. 



1363. Philip the Bold created Duke of Burgundy and first peer 

 of France. 3 



1 The property at Bremeridge was not acquired by the Convent of Edington 

 till about a year after the decease of its founder ; but he had been brought into 

 near connection with the locality from having the care and profits of the manor 

 ofWestbury, &c, granted to him by Edward III. Hoare's " Hist, of Wilts, 

 Westbury," p. 59, 



2 See Appendix B. 



3 "Geneal. Hist, des Mais. Souv.," above cited. "Hist, de Bourgogne," 

 Dijon, 1739. 



