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 way. The queen and her