This　act；　although　common　enough　at　the　time；　is　so　opposed　to　the　principles　of　mercy　and　humanity　which　throughout　all　the　previous　acts　of　his　life　distinguished　the　conduct　of　the　Black　Prince　that　it　cannot　be　doubted　that　his　brain　was　affected　by　the　illness　which　was　fast　hurrying　him　to　the　grave。　　Shortly　afterwards　he　returned　to　England；　and　busied　himself　in　arranging　the　affairs　of　the　kingdom；　which　his　father's　failing　health　had　permitted　to　fall　into　disorder。　For　the　remaining　four　years　of　life　he　lived　in　seclusion；　and　sank　on　the　8th　of　June；　1376。
  Walter；　Lord　Somers；　returned　home　after　the　conclusion　of　the　campaign　in　Spain；　and　rode　no　more　to　the　wars。
  Giles　Fletcher　and　his　wife　had　died　some　years　before；　but　the　good　citizen　Geoffrey　the　armourer；　when　he　grew　into　years；　abandoned　his　calling；　and　took　up　his　abode　at　Westerham　Castle　to　the　time　of　his　death。
  In　the　wars　which　afterwards　occurred　with　France　Walter　was　represented　in　the　field　by　his　sons；　who　well　sustained　the　high　reputation　which　their　father　had　borne　as　a　good　and　valiant　knight。　He　and　his　wife　lived　to　a　green　old　age；　reverenced　and　beloved　by　their　tenants　and　retainers；　and　died　surrounded　by　their　descendants　to　the　fourth　generation。
  End