ABSTRACT
If Edward had hoped by his interference in Scotland to protect his rear in case of a French war, he had grievously miscalculated. The Scots were now more ready than ever to assist France against England, and the opportunity to give such assistance might come at any time. The claims of Edward had been officially put forward with some show of substantiating them by force, but when Philip sent over a demand that his vassal of Aquitaine should perform the homage due to him as King of France, followed by an ultimatum in 1329, a promise to do so speedily was given. Edward had been doing his best to postpone the inevitable struggle with France. He wanted peace on the Continent that he might prosecute unhindered his ambitions in Scotland. With the Count of Flanders Edward had already quarrelled, but this led him to ally with the Brabanters, the great rivals of the Flemings.
