the way. The French mounted a defence at Caen, but were ultimately defeated. The French had been planning to cross the channel and invade England with a force of about 14,000 led by Jean le Franc, but Edward's attack forced them onto the defensive. The French king, Philippe VI, destroyed several bridges to prevent Edward's advance, but the English took the town of Poissy in August and repaired its bridge in order to advance. The French king mounted a defence near the forest at Crécy, which ended in another English victory. Edward then proceeded to Calais, laying siege to the city from September 4. Meanwhile, Jean de France, King Philippe's son, besieged the city of Aigullon, but with no success. Philippe also urged the Scots to continue the fight against England to the north. The Scots, believing that the English were preoccupied with Calais, marched into England toward Durham in October, but were met and defeated by an English force of knights and clergymen at the Battle of Neville's Cross, and King David of Scotland was captured. The Irish also mounted a brief resistance, but were similarly defeated. Before the end of the year, Edward also captured Poitiers and the towns surrounding Tonnay-Charente. For his role in the Battle of Crécy, Edward, the Black Prince, Philippe VI honoured the bravery of John I, Count of Luxemburg and King of Bohemia (also known as John the Blind) by adopting his arms and motto: "Ich Dien" or "I Serve". John's decades of fighting had already made his name widely known throughout Europe, and his heroic death at Crécy became the subject of legend, recorded by writers such as Froissart. Births July 20 – Margaret, Countess of Pembroke, English princess, daughter of King Edward III of England (d. 1361) date unknown – Eustache Deschamps, French poet (d. 1406) Deaths February 10 – Blessed Clare of Rimini (b. 1282) March 28 – Venturino of Bergamo, Dominican preacher (b. 1304) August – Muhammad Aytimur, leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar (alternative date is September) August 26 (killed in the Battle of Crécy): Charles II, Count of Alençon (b. 1297) Louis I, Count of Flanders (b. 1304) Louis II, Count of Blois John of Bohemia (b. 1296) Rudolph, Duke of Lorraine (b. 1320) October – Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí, Scottish magnate October 17 (killed in the Battle of Neville's Cross): John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray Maurice