Jacob was very grave when he told Philippa the news.

‘I fear for the Earl of Salisbury,’ he said. ‘He is known to be very close to the King.’

Philippa was deeply distressed. ‘They have been friends for so long,’ she said. ‘In fact I think that William could be said to be his greatest friend. I hope that no harm comes to him.’

‘The mood of the King of France is not very benign towards the English at this time.’

‘How I wish Edward were here. He might be able to do something.’

Jacob shook his head. ‘There is little to be done, I fear. We can only hope for the best.’

There was even greater cause for concern. The French fleet was assembling to intercept Edward on his return to the Continent, and its strength would greatly exceed anything that Edward could muster.


* * *

Rumours of the assembling of the French fleet reached Edward and he was dismayed—not for himself, for he welcomed the opportunity of meeting the enemy—but on account of his daughter.

He should never have been so weak as to promise to take her with him. When he was away from her he realized that he spoilt Isabella. Philippa was aware of it and tried to curb his generosity towards their eldest daughter, but he had never been able to withstand her wiles. He smiled, thinking of her soft delicate skin, her pretty hair, those clear eyes that could cloud so quickly with passion when she was in a rage. Naughty Isabella! But he would not have her other than she was.

And now what? He could not break his promise to her. That was out of the question. Why, he thought indulgently, she would never forgive me

He gave orders that three hundred of the bravest men at arms and five hundred archers should be assigned to protect the little Princess and a train of countesses, ladies, knights’ wives and other demoiselles were chosen to travel with her that she should do so in the utmost comfort.

So they set sail and as they came near to the Helvoetsluys the King, from the deck of his ship, had his first glimpse of the great fleet of French ships which were assembled to intercept him.

His own fleet was small but it was either a matter of going on or turning back which was unthinkable.

‘I have long wished to meet them,’ he cried, ‘and now by the help of God and St George, I will fight them. They have done me so much mischief that I will be revenged on them.’

It was true that he welcomed the conflict; his only fear was for his daughter. He sent word to those who guarded her to do so with their lives, for if aught happened to her they would have to answer to him.

There was exultation among the French when they saw the English because of their greater numbers and they believed it would be an easy task to overcome those paltry two hundred English ships.

Edward was never better than when at a disadvantage and he had learned a great deal since the days of his first campaign in Scotland. He was now showing those signs of generalship which had distinguished his grandfather; and he never ceased to think of him when he went into battle. He had read of his campaigns; he had inherited his spirit and though the old King had been dead before he had been born he felt that he knew him well.

The fight had begun. Isabella, in her cabin surrounded by her ladies, listened to the tumult and wondered whether she would ever see her family again. She did think fleetingly that _she should not have coerced her father into taking her for she knew that while he should be thinking only of the enemy he would be concerned for her.

‘But,’ she said confidently, ‘he will win. My father will always win. He will fight even harder because I am here. So it is a good thing after all.’

Isabella had learned that it was pleasant to believe that what she did was for the best. She was not one to suffer great remorse.

All through the long hot day the battle raged. The noise was deafening; the ship rocked and there were times when it seemed as though it would sink. But as the day wore on the heat grew less intense and so did the battle.

Isabella was not surprised when she was told that the English had sunk countless French vessels, that the rest were in flight, and the result was victory for her father.

Such triumphs gave especial gratification to the winning side because they had successfully come through when it had seemed almost impossible that they could.

Edward ordered special thanksgiving services on each ship and he said they must cruise along the coast for a while to make sure that the French fleet did not have an opportunity to rally and fight again. Battles had been lost more than once when the victorious had retired from the scene of conflict too soon.

He came to Isabella and asked her how she had fared.

‘Such a lot of noise,’ she said, ‘and the ship rocked back and forth.’

‘So you thought you were going to sink, did you?’

‘I knew you wouldn’t let that happen.’

Now Philippa would have pointed out to the child that only God was omnipotent and what had been achieved had been done with His help. Edward was different; he could not help basking in his daughter’s admiration and he did not want God to have a share in it.

‘I’ll warrant you wished you were back in the Tower.’

‘How could I when you are here! I want to be in all the battles you win, dear father.’

‘I could not risk that,’ he told her.

And she smiled contentedly, knowing how precious she was to him and that, even if he refused her something in the first place, she would always get it in the end.


* * *

After a pilgrimage to Ardenberg to give thanks to the Virgin there for this great victory, Edward and his train set out for Ghent.

With what joy was Philippa reunited with her husband and her eldest daughter. Isabella was beside herself with delight.

She looked with mild interest on the new brother John; even two-year-old Lionel was a stranger to her. Her brother Edward seemed a great deal older than when he had left England and Joanna had undoubtedly changed. She was quiet and there was a certain sadness about her which was doubtless due to the unpleasant time she had had in Austria.

When Philippa was alone with her husband she broke the news of William Montacute’s capture. Edward was deeply distressed.

‘William was always a good friend to me,’ he said. ‘In fact I know of none other outside my family whom I love so well. I trust he will not be treated badly. I must do what I can to get him released.’

‘It will not be an easy matter,’ the Queen pointed out, ‘for all know him to be one of your most faithful friends.’

Edward wanted to know how he had been taken and was even more distressed to know that it had been in a mere skirmish near the town of Lille.

‘I must set about getting him released without delay,’ he declared.

‘It will not be easy. Philip will not readily let him go.’

But I must do my best. I shall send a message to Philip immediately.’

Philippa was certain that after suffering a disastrous defeat during which his fleet had been routed Philip was very unlikely to parley for the return of one of Edward’s friends.

After a few days she broached the subject of the family with Edward.

‘They are all here in Ghent,’ she said. ‘Is that wise?’

‘I was thinking how delightful it is for us all to be together though it is only for a short time.’

‘So it is,’ said Philippa, ‘but the people will not like it if the entire family is out of England. They will be restive. You know how it is. They might turn against us.’

Edward pondered this and in his heart he knew it was true. He had been very foolish to have allowed Isabella to accompany him. She should have stayed in the palace of the Tower and Joanna should have been sent to join her.

‘Isabella pleaded so earnestly ...’ he began.

‘I know,’ replied Philippa indulgently, ‘and she can do as she wills with you.’

Our daughter is such an enchanting child.’

‘Still,’ said Philippa, ‘I think that she and Joanna should return to England. The little boys must stay with me, of course, and Edward must be with you here. But the girls should go back. It is no place for them here and they will be an extra anxiety for you.’

‘They will hate to go. Joanna has only just come back to us.’

‘I know, I know. But, my dear lord, they must go. Isabella will forget her disappointment in comforting Joanna.’

Edward knew that she was right.

Shortly after—although Isabella protested—the two Princesses set sail for England. To please Isabella Edward made sure that she travelled in great style. She had three ladies-in-waiting while Joanna as the younger had but two; they had new gowns and cloaks bordered with fur and fashioned in the German style which was new to them. Isabella was a little placated and as her younger sister was put into her care and she could feel her importance she accepted her fate.

‘Ere long,’ the King promised her, ‘we shall all be together.’


* * *

Although Edward had routed the French and destroyed the naval power of France it was beginning to be borne home to him that to win this war was a near impossible feat. If it had not been necessary to fight on foreign soil transport problems would not have arisen. Constantly victory was either snatched from him or he was unable to consolidate his gains because he must pause to wait for supplies. This was the case at Tourney which he had besieged and violently attacked but which he had to abandon because of lack of supplies for his army.