people and the country, we desire, as the quarrel is between you and us, that the decision of our claim should be between our two bodies.  And if you have no mind to this way, we propose that our quarrel should end by a battle, body to body, between a hundred persons, the most capable on your side and on ours.  And, if you have no mind either to one way or to the other, that you do appoint us a fixed day for fighting before the city of Tournay, power to power.  Given under our privy seal, on the field near Tournay, the 26th day of July, in the first year of our reign in France and in England the fourteenth.”

Philip replied, “Philip, by the grace of God King of France to Edward, King of England.  We have seen your letters brought to our court, as from you to Philip of Valois, and containing certain demands which you make upon the said Philip of Valois.  And, as the said letters did not come to ourself, we make you no answer.  Our intention is, when it shall seem good to us, to hurl you out of our kingdom for the benefit of our people.  And of that we have firm hope in Jesus Christ, from whom all power cometh to us.”

Events were not satisfactory either to the haughty pretensions of Edward or to the patriotic hopes of Philip.  The war continued in the north and south-west of France without any result.  In the neighborhood of Tournay some encounters in the open country were unfavorable to the English and their allies; the siege of the place was prolonged for seventy-four days without the attainment of any success by assault or investment; and the inhabitants defended themselves with so obstinate a courage, that, when at length the King of England found himself obliged to raise the siege, Philip, to testify his gratitude towards them, restored them their law, that is, their communal charter, for some time past withdrawn, and “they were greatly rejoiced,” says Froissart, “at having no more royal governors, and at appointing provosts and jurymen according to their fancy.”  The Flemish burghers, in spite of their display of warlike zeal, soon grew tired of being so far from their business and of living under canvas.  In Aquitaine the lieutenants of the King of France had the advantage over those of the King of England; they retook or delivered several places in dispute between the two crowns, and they closely pressed Bordeaux itself both by land and sea.  Edward, the aggressor, was exhausting his pecuniary resources, and his Parliament was displaying but little inclination to replenish them.  For Philip, who had merely to defend himself in his own dominions, any cessation of hostilities was almost a victory.  A pious princess, Joan of Valois, sister of Philip and mother-in-law of Edward, issued from her convent at Fontenelle, for the purpose of urging the two kings to make peace, or at least to suspend hostilities.  “The good dame,” says Froissart, “saw there, on the two sides, all the flower and honor of the chivalry of the world;