Lively and open war

 

In February 1298, after extending the truce with France, Edward I paid a visit to Brabant. He went to see his daughter, married to Duke Jan II of Brabant, and to do a bit of business.

The duke was notably pro-English in his outlook. During the king's visit, Jan granted the port of Antwerp and the adjoining towns of Liere, Herentals and Liere to his father-in-law.

This was a hefty slice of Brabant, including the chief port, and probably a temporary lease called 'achterleen'; a form of subinfeudation, whereby a grant was made in exchange for money and military support. Technically the margraviate of Antwerp was held of the Holy Roman Empire, but there was nothing to stop Duke Jan from making out a temporary sub-grant.

In the same month, Edward moved to Aardenburg near the border of Zeeland. Here the king renewed his military contract with the barons of Franche-Comté in Burgundy (see pic, original document held at the National Archives). In exchange for another 30,000 livres tournois, the barons were to continue to make 'lively and open' war against the French.

The Battle of Stirling Bridge had occurred in September 1297, but Edward showed no particular haste to go home and deal with the crisis in Scotland. Instead he delegated the task to Earl Warenne and the council in London. Writs for the Scottish expedition were issued in October 1297, for a muster at Newcastle on 6 December. The bulk of this northern army was composed of Welsh infantry; 5157 Welshmen were in pay from 8 December 1297-29 January 1298.