in Flanders was crushed, Phillip summoned the King
of England to do homage for Aquitaine, Ponthieu and Montreuil, fiefs
held absolutely from the crown of France. Such a proceeding placed
Edward and his council in a great embarrassment. In case of a refusal
the whole of the possessions of the crown in France might be declared
forfeited and be seized, while England was in no condition to defend
them; on the other hand, the fact of doing homage to Phillip of Valois
would be a sort of recognition of his right to the throne he had
assumed. Had Edward then held the reins of power in his hands, there
can be little doubt that he would at once have refused, and would have
called out the whole strength of England to enforce his claim. The
influence of Isabella and Mortimer was, however, all powerful, and
it was agreed that Edward should do homage as a public act, making a
private reservation in secret to his own councillors, taking exception
to the right of Phillip.

"Edward crossed to France and journeyed to Amiens, where Phillip with
a brilliant court awaited him, and on the appointed day they appeared
together in the cathedral. Here Edward, under certain protestations, did
homage for his French estates, leaving certain terms and questions open
for the consideration of his council. For some time the matter remained
in this shape; but honest men cannot but admit that King Edward did, by
his action at the time, acknowledge Phillip to be King of France, and
that he became his vassal for his estates there; but, as has happened
scores of times before, and will no doubt happen scores of times again,
vassals, when they become powerful enough, throw off their allegiance to
their feudal superiors, and so the time came to King Edward.

"After the death of Mortimer and the imprisonment of Isabella, the king
gave rein to his taste for military sports. Tournaments were held at
Dartford and other places, one in Westcheape. What a sight was that, to
be sure! For three days the king, with fourteen of his knights, held the
list against all comers, and in the sight of the citizens and the ladies
of the court, jousted with knights who came hither from all parts of
Europe. I was there each day and the sight was a grand one, though
England was well-nigh thrown into mourning by an accident which took
place. The gallery in which the queen and her attendants were viewing
the sports had been badly erected, and in the height of the contests
it gave wa