1324-10-06, Porchester

To the duke of Britanny. Although it has been usual that all debates questions between the king of France and any of the peers concerning fees should be tried in the great chamber of Parys before and by the called for this purpose, the king of France, without cause and without process being made as above, having no regard to the treaties of peace between him and the king and the king's ancestors, or to the other alliances made by kinship, affinity, marriage, and in many other ways, or to the reminders and great pursuits of treaties of peace made to him by the king, or to the estate of the peerage (parautee), has sent his uncle Sir Charles with a great army against the king in war in his duchy [of Aquitaine], and Charles is moved against the king, God knows why, and the king understands that the said duke of Britanny and many others are intendent to him, and Charles has taken many of the king's lands in Ageneys by force of war, and has destroyed his lands and people there, and has now besieged the king's brother, nephew of Charles, Edmund, earl of Kent, in the king's town of La Rieule, and is strengthening himself to take all the said duchy, unjustly and withont reason, contrary to right and the prerogative of the peers. As for the supposition and assertion of the king of Frauce that the king has been duly required to do homage, and would not do so, the king was never required to do it as he ought to have been, and he has not been able to do so by reason of the great injuries and wrongs done to him by the king of France since Easter, and no process has been made against the king before his peers in the great chamber, and the king has not been cited thither. The king therefore prays and requests the duke of Britanny to give his aid, by way of request to the king of France or by other suitable way, according to his good counsel, so that the aforesaid wrongs committed upon the king may cease, and the estate of the peerage be maintained as it should be, as each peer is bound to aid others in safeguarding the estate of the peerage. He is requested to certify the king as soon as possible what he will do in the matter. [Jedera.]