Chapter 12 through 14 Summary and Analysis

King Charles summons Edward, the Black Knight, to Paris, but he replies that if he comes it will be "with helmet on our head and 60,000 men in our company," prompting Charles to declare war in 1369. Enguerrand finds his loyalties torn. He feels he owes allegiance to his father-in-law because of his English holdings but his "natural liege" is the King of France. One suggested solution is that Enguerrand fight for the king to whom he first pledged loyalty and send a replacement to fight for the other king. Just a few months after the declaration of war, Enguerrand leaves for Austria in an attempt to lay claim to disputed land. It is not clear what happens, but he drops the claim, pleads his case for neutrality to both England and France and is heard of only briefly, in Prague...