Chronicles

Edward III increasingly asserted himself against the political influence of his mother and her lover Roger Mortimer. He had Queen Isabella imprisoned and Roger Mortimer executed for treason. Edward then married Philippa of Hainault, the daughter of the Count of Hainault and began having children. Also, Edward III launches several successful military campaigns against Scotland. As a result, the new Scottish king, David II, fled to France and formed an alliance with the French king. Meanwhile, the pro-French Count of Flanders is overthrown in a revolt by Flemish burghers since Flanders’ economy depended on wool exported from England.

In response to rising tensions, by 1337 Edward III revoked his homage and declared war on France. To prepare for the war, Edward III made numerous decrees: He outlawed all sports except archery; absolved craftsmen making bows and arrows from their debts; “decreed that every knight, squire and fighting man serving the King in his war should draw the King’s pay but that each should maintain himself according to his standing for half the years out of his own funds” (58); that the coastal and island regions should fortify and arm themselves; that all nobles and burghers in larger cities should teach their children French “in order that they should be more efficient and feel more at home in the wars” (58); and, finally, that horses should not be exported out of England.

The Bishop of Lincoln is sent to deliver the declaration of war to Philip VI. In it, Edward III announced that he was the rightful king of France. While Philip VI was just the cousin of the previous French King Charles IV, Edward III was, through his mother Isabella, Charles IV’s nephew:

Wherefore we give you notice that we shall claim and conquer our heritage of France by the armed force of us and ours, and from that day forward we and ours challenge you and yours, and we rescind the pledge and homage which we gave you without good grounds…” (59-60)

Philip still receives the bishop with courtesy and gives him safe conduct back to England.

The English attack and seize the island of Cadsant on the English Channel. Edward III and Queen Philippa go to the Netherlands to try to rally allies against the French. Soon, the English begin attacking mainland French territory. Then, an army mainly comprised of soldiers from Normandy (in northern France) and Genoa (in Italy) attack the English port town of Southampton, looting the town and assaulting the town’s women. Pirates from Normandy continue attacking the English coast. In the meantime, Edward III convinces the Count of Hainault to join the war effort and formally adopts the title of King of France.