with his crown on his head, his sword at his side, and his gilded spurs
on his heels. When he drew near to the throne, the Viscount de Melun,
king's chamberlain, invited him to lay aside his crown, his sword, and
his spurs, and go down on his knees before Philip. Not without a murmur,
Edward obeyed; but when the chamberlain said to him, "Sir, you, as Duke
of Aquitaine, became liegeman of my lord the king who is here, and do
promise to keep towards him faith and loyalty," Edward protested, saying
that he owed only simple homage, and not liege-homage--a closer bond,
imposing on the vassal more stringent obligations [to serve and defend
his suzerain against every enemy whatsoever]. "Cousin," said Philip to
him, "we would not deceive you, and what you have now done contenteth us
well until you have returned to your own country, and seen from the acts
of your predecessors what you ought to do."

[Illustration: Homage of Edward III. to Philip VI.----250]

"Gramercy, dear sir," answered the King of England; and with the
reservation he had just made, and which was added to the formula of
homage, he placed his hands between the hands of the King of France, who
kissed him on the mouth, and accepted his homage, confiding in Edward's
promise to certify himself by reference to the archives of England of the
extent to which his ancestors had been bound. The certification took
place, and on the 30th of March, 1331, about two years after his visit to
Amiens, Edward III. recognized, by letters express, "that the said homage
which we did at Amiens to the King of France in general terms, is and
must be understood as liege; and that we are bound, as Duke of Aquitaine
and peer of France, to show him faith and loyalty."

The relations between the two kings were not destined to be for long
so courteous and so pacific. Even before the question of the succession
to the throne of France arose between them they had adopted contrary
policies. When Philip was crowned at Rheims, Louis de Nevers, Count of
Flanders, repaired thither with a following of eighty-six knights, and he
it was to whom the right belonged of carrying the sword of the kingdom.
The heralds-at-arms repeated three times, "Count of Flanders, if you are
here, come and do your duty." He made no answer. The king was
astounded, and bade him explain himself. "My lord," answered the count,
"may it please you not to be astounded; they called the Count of
Flanders, and not Louis