Hello and welcome to the History of England, episode 104, Lancaster and the Battle of

Cormorosh. Last time, a period of uneasy peace are descended on England and France. I know

exactly what you're thinking. This is when the two nations search for peace and have honest and

open discussions about their differences. Well, you're half right in your thoughts. They were indeed

peace discussions, but sadly everyone thought they had about as much chance of finding peace as they

did of finding Elvis. To misquote, Edward hoped for war and prepared for war. It didn't help that it was

the Pope who was acting as the honest broker. Clearly, I don't want to get OD on similars, but as

far as the English were concerned, the Pope was as much use in mediation as the proverbial chocolate

teapot. It was quite clear who the Pope favored. He was French. France was the leading nation of

Christendom, and Philip was his friend. Philip himself also rather smugly acknowledged the same thing

when he said that the Pope was, quote, my own friend, you know. In Pope Clamont's view, England

was incapable of winning this war, it was quite inconceivable that England should meet the power of

France on the battlefield and win. This bias had produced practical problems for Edward. So,

for example, arranging marriage alliances. It was pretty much impossible for the heads of most

European states, dukedums or counters to marry each other, because they were all within the

Church's five degrees of relationship. So, it was absolutely normal for the Pope to be asked

and to give dispensation to marry. It happened all the time. It was just a rubber stamping exercise.

However, when asked for the necessary dispensation for Edward's daughter to marry the Duke of Brabant,

the Pope refused. And then, coolly agreed when the French king asked for the same dispensation.

And in this way, the Duke of Brabant moved into the French sphere of influence and out of

Edward's. Unsurprisingly, Edward was thoroughly irritated by this, and so at this time this

starts a quite vicious war of words between Edward and the Pope. The Pope had the right to make

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