1324-09-30, Porchester

To James, king of Aragon, Valencia, Sardinia, and Corsica, ete. The king remembering the treaties of love between his and James's royal house that have existed for a long time, is supported by the belief that James will readily assist him in preserving his royal honour and in repelling the injuries of his adversaries. As Charles, king of France and Navarre, in whose friendship the king had full confidence, based upon the bonds of consanguinity and treaties of peace and alliances, endeavours to occupy the king's duchy [of Aquitaine] and other lands with a great army without having sent defiance, as is usual, and to persecute and aggrieve the king's subjects there, taking as a pretended occasion, not as a cause, the failure of homage, which, he asserts, the king ought to have done to him at the quinzaine of Midsummer last, although the king was not in any wise summoned to do homage in the duchy, as was usual in the times of Charles s ancestors, or elsewhere, and at that day safe access to Charles did not lay open to the king, because Charles had then caused a great army to be assembled to attack the king and his subjects in the duchy; and the king sent many envoys to Charles, humbly requesting him to deign to recall his army, and offering himself ready to submit to the judgment of the peers of Charles s court, if Charles had any question against the king by reason of the duchy, and praying that, after the army should be recalled, he would assign to the king a certain day and place for the king to come to him to do the duties that the king ought to do to him of right, and the king gave his envoys full and express power by his letters, and sought out other means of agreement, which would be too long to insert in the presents; but Charles nevertheless refused not only to hear the king's previous envoys concerning the premises, but did not permit the later ones to have access to him, and did not care to assent to the treaties of peace, but preferred to gratify his rancour by war. Wherefore the king, considering the severity and malevolence of Charles, and that the king did not act unjustly to him, but that he acts wilfully against the king, and that the king gains nothing by seeking concord, has taken steps to prepare himself, with God's help, to resist Charles s power, requesting the aid of his friends: the king therefore prays James to aid him with men-atarms, horsemen and footmen, so that, by James's protection, Charles s greed may be restrained and his pride repressed. If like case shall happen to James, the king will be bound to help him in the same manner at suitable times. He is requested to certify the king of his proceedings in writing by the bearer of the presents. [Federa.]