At the time when nothing but this croisade was talked of, the lord Robert of Artois was in England, very near the king's person, whom he was continually advising to make war upon the king of France for wrongfully withholding his inheritance. The king held many councils on this subject, and consulted with his most special and privy councillors by what means he could maintain his right, for he would gladly amend himself if he knew how. The question was argued, supposing he should demand his right, and it was refused, as it was probable it would be, and afterwards he sit quiet and not support his claim, he would be more blamed than if he had never moved in it. He saw clearly that it was impossible for him, and all the force he could bring from his own country, to subdue such a great kingdom as that of France, if he did not obtain powerful friends and assistance in the Empire, and in other parts, by means of his money; he therefore frequently demanded of his privy council what opinion they had on this subject.
They at length gave as their unanimous answer, - "Dear sir, the question is of such importance, that we dare not advise you definitively upon it, but recommend to you, dear sir, to send ambassadors sufficiently instructed to the gallant earl of Hainault, whose daughter you have married, and to lord John, his brother, who as before so valiantly assisted you, to entreat their lordships to advise you how to act, for in such a matter they are better informed than we can be: if they agree with you in opinion, they will give you counsel who are the lords most able to assist you, and also point out the most proper means of gaining them to your interest." The king agreed to this proposal, and entreated the bishop of Lincoln to undertake this journey through affection to him, and desired two knights bannerets, and two counsellors learned in the law, to accompany him on the embassy. They set out as soon as they could, embarked and landed at Dunkirk; whence they rode through Flanders to Valenciennes, where they found William, earl of Hainault, so sorely afflicted with the gout and gravel that he could not move. The lord John, his brother, was there also, by whom they were much feasted: and to him they explained the object of their mission. Upon which the gallant earl said, - "I vow to God, if the king can succeed in this, I shall be much rejoiced; for as you can easily imagine, I feel more interested for him who has married my daughter than for king Phillip, who has never done anything for me although I am married to his sister. He also prevented, clandestinely, the marriage of the young duke of Brabant with my daughter; on which account I will not fail my dearly beloved son, the king of England, in any respect, if his council should advise the undertaking of it. I will also give him every aid, as will John, my brother, now present, who has before assisted him. But know, that you must seek for other supporters more powerful than we are, for Hainault is too small a territory to measure itself with the kingdom of France, and England lies too far off to be of help to it."
"Certainly, sir, you have given us very excellent advice, and testified great love and good will, for which, in the name of our lord and king, I return you my thanks," replied the bishop of Lincoln; "but, dear sir, tell us the names of those lords that you think can best help our master, that we may report them to him."
"Upon my soul," replied the earl, "I cannot think of any lords, that can so powerfully assist him as the duke of Brabant, his cousin-german, the bishop of Leige, the duke of Gueldres, who married his sister, the archbishop of Cologne, the marquis of Juliers, sir Arnold de Bacqueghen, and the lord of Fauqumont: - these are the lords that can furnish greater numbers of men at arms than any I know; - they are very warlike themselves, and, if they choose, can easily make up ten thousand men completely armed and equipped; but you must give them money beforehand, for they are men that love to gain wealth. If by your means the king, my son in law and your lord, could ally himself with these lords whom I have just mentioned, and were on this side of the sea, he might pass the river Oise to seek king Phillip, and offer him battle.
The ambassadors returned to London with the answer they had received, which, when king Edward heard it, gave him much pleasure and comfort. News of what was going forward was soon carried to France, and by degrees magnified, so that king Phillip grew very indifferent to this croisade which had been preached, and of which he had undertaken to be chief. He countermanded his officers (who were making very great preparations), and gave them directions not to proceed further, until he should see upon what footing the ling of England meant to act, as he was incessantly employed in assembling men at arms.
The king of England ordered ten knights bannerets, and forty knights bachelors, in company with the bishop of Lincoln, who was a right valiant man, to cross the sea, and to go straight to Valenciennes, to treat with those lords of the empire, whom the earl of Hainault had named, and act as he and his brother John might advise. When they were arrived at Valenciennes, all were emulous of the state they should hold, and spared no expenses; for if the king of England had been there in person they could not have done more, by which they gained great renown and reputation. There were among them many young knights bachelors, who had one of their eyes covered with a piece of cloth so that they could not see with it. It was said that they made a vow to the ladies of their country, that they would never use but one eye until they had personally performed some deed of arms in France; so that all marvelled at their strange demeanor. After they had been sufficiently feasted and honoured at Valenciennes, the bishop of Lincoln and the greater number of them drew toward the duke of Brabant, by the advice of the earl of Hainault. The duke treated them magnificently, and agreed afterward to promise his support and assistance to the king of England, to whom he was cousin-german, with all the means in his power, and to allow him to enter and quit his territories, armed or disarmed, as often as he pleased. He also promised, by the advise of his council, and for a round sum of florins, that if the king of England, his cousin, would defy the king of France, and enter his territories with a magnificent force, and could obtain the support of the lords before mentioned, he would defy him also, and join him with a thousand armed men.
The ambassadors then returned to Valenciennes: - by their negotiations and gold, they had prevailed upon the duke of Gueldres, brother-in-law to king Edward, the marquis of Juliers for himself, and for the archbishop of Cologne, and his brother Waleran and the lord of Fauquemont, to come to Valenciennes, to treat with them before the earl of Hainault, who was unable to ride on horseback; and before his brother John. They managed matters so well, by a plentiful distribution of florins among the principals and the others, that they agreed to defy the king of France, and to go with the king of England whenever and wherever he pleased, and that each would serve him with a certiain number of men at arms with helmets surmounted with crests. Now is the time come when we must speak of lances, swords and coats of mail; and I inform you, that the above named lords promised the ambassadors from England, that they would ally themselves with the lords on the other side of the Rhine, who had the power to bring a large number of men at arms, but they must first be furnished with the means to fix them. These lords from Germany then took their leave, and departed to their own country; the English lords remained some little time longer with the earl of Hainault. They sent many messages to Raoul, bishop of Leige, and would most willingly have drawn him over into their own party; but he would do nothing against the king of France, whose liegeman he was, and to whom he had sworn fealty. The king of Bohemia was not sent to , because they knew he was so connected with the king of France, by the marriage of John, duke of Normandy, with the lady Bona, daughter of the king, that he would never act against him.