Edward the Black Prince black Prince". Raphael Holinshed uses it several times in his "Chronicles" (1577); and it is also used by William Shakespeare, in his plays "Richard II" (written "c".1595; Act 2, scene 3) and "Henry V" ("c".1599; Act 2, scene 4). In 1688 it appears prominently in the title of Joshua Barnes's "The History of that Most Victorious Monarch, Edward IIId, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, and First Founder of the Most Noble Order of the Garter: Being a Full and Exact Account Of the Life and Death of the said King: Together with That of his Most
Edward the Black Prince Renowned Son, Edward, Prince of Wales and of Aquitain, Sirnamed the Black-Prince". The origins of the name are uncertain, though many theories have been proposed. These fall under two main heads: The black field of his "shield for peace" is well documented (see Arms and heraldic badge above). However, there is no sound evidence that Edward ever wore black armour, although John Harvey (without citing a source) refers to "some rather shadowy evidence that he was described in French as clad at the battle of Crécy ' "en armure noire en fer bruni" ' – in black armour of burnished