|
|
|
|
|
|
Ian was in a dreadful position. He knew John's hatred for him had been viciously reinforced by his part in the quarrel with the northern nobles. For everyone's sake, he avoided contact with the king as much as possible and now, in this bitter moment, he dared not offer either comfort or advice or even inquire as to John's plans. He did not know whether John would send news of the situation to Flanders. Doubt held him inactive for a few days, but he dared wait no longer and wrote to Salisbury describing what had happened. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
''All is not completely black," he concluded. "It seems that when Louis had news that we had lifted the siege of Roche-au-Maine he believed that we were moving to attack. him and, instead of coming to battle, he retreated in haste. This gave us good time to regroup and to move in good order and without loss to La Rochelle. I believe that Louis will remain on guard in this part of the country for a time, but it cannot be long before he understands the blow we have sustained. When he is sure the king is powerless, doubtless he will move the larger part of his army to his father's support. Thus I urge you, if you intend to attack Philip at all that you do so very soon. If you defeat the French king, all may yet be saved and your chance of winning over him will be far greater before Louis's forces are added to his own." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The news from Aquitaine distressed Salisbury, but he agreed wholeheartedly with Ian, and his determination and that of the others to come to grips with Philip did not change. He, Ferrand, and Renaud Dammartin all wrote urging Otto to make haste. By the third week in July Otto had arrived at Vivelles, where he declared himself equally unshaken, and the combined forces moved on to Valenciennes immediately. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They were just in time to avert complete disaster. The delay caused by Otto's vassals had given Philip the time to summon the full strength of his levies. The French king was already moving into Flanders with the intention of cutting Otto off from his English and Flemish allies. The meeting at |
|
|
|
|
|