The die seemed cast.  Philip VI. pronounced the forfeiture of Gascony and Ponthieu.  The French at once invaded Edward’s duchy and county, while the French sailors in the Channel plundered the Anglo-Norman islands and the towns on the Sussex and Hampshire coasts.  Edward redoubled his preparations for war, and issued a long manifesto to his subjects in which he set forth in violent language his grievances against Philip.  It was at this unlucky moment that the two cardinal legates came upon the scene, reaching Paris in August, intent on arranging a pacification.  The irritation, which Benedict showed against Edward for concluding an alliance with the schismatic emperor, did not make him more disposed to the work of conciliation.  But the pope saw in the outbreak of a great war the destruction of his last hopes of humiliating the Bavarian, and once more played upon the weakness and impolicy of Philip.  Though France was more ready than England, and Philip had everything to lose by delay, the French king allowed himself to be persuaded by the two legates to enter once more upon the paths of conciliation.  As a preliminary measure, he revoked the order for the confiscation of Gascony, and accepted a temporary armistice.  As before in the Scottish business, Philip again played the game of the papacy.  Unlike his adversary, Edward continued steadily in the line which he had determined upon, while welcoming any delay that gave him opportunity to get ready.  He employed the interval in making peace more impossible than ever.  On October 7, he renewed his claim to the French crown, repudiated the homage into which he had been tricked during his infancy, and sent Bishop Burghersh straight from Valenciennes to Paris as bearer of his defiance.  Thus the autumn of 1337 saw a virtual declaration of war.  In November the first serious hostilities took place.  Sir Walter Manny devastated the Flemish island of Cadzand, taking away with him as prisoner the bastard brother of the Count of Flanders.

Papal diplomacy had not yet exhausted its resources.  Benedict XII. was deeply concerned at the conclusion of the Anglo-imperial alliance.  He was convinced that the only possible way of avoiding its perils was to persuade Edward and Philip to bury their differences and unite with him against the emperor.  He succeeded in obtaining short prolongations of the existing armistice and, in December, 1337, the two cardinal legates landed in England, and were gladly received by Edward, who was delighted to gain time by negotiations.  For the next six months they tarried in England, hoping against hope that something definite would result from their efforts.  Meanwhile the English hurried on their preparations for war, and Edward made ready to cross over to the continent.  As months slipped away, the tension became more severe, and in May Edward denounced the truces, though he still kept up the pretence of negotiations, and so late as June appointed ambassadors to treat with Philip of Valois.  The