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He therefore performed homage, but he phrased his
submission in terms which left him free to urge his claims at a more
convenient season. "Lord king," he said to Philip, "I do you homage for
all the lands which I ought to hold of you." The vagueness of this
language suggested that, if Edward could not get Saintonge, he might
revive his claim to Normandy. The king appointed a commission to
continue the negotiations with the French court, and then betook himself
to Aquitaine.[2]
[1] "Hic amor dici potest amor cati et canis," _Chron. Limov._,
in _Recueil des Hist. de la France_, xxi., 784.
[2] C.V. Langlois' _Le Regne de Philippe le Hardi_ (1887), and
Gavrilovitch's _Le Traite de Paris_, give the best modern
accounts of Edward's early dealings with the French crown.
It was nearly ten years since the presence of the monarch had
restrained the turbulence of the Gascon duchy. Edward had before him
the task of watching over its internal administration, and checking the
subtle policy whereby the agents of the French crown were gradually
undermining his authority.


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