were appointed (Rot. Pat.) to organise resistance in Romney Marsh; and on learning the neglected condition of its embankments, he commissioned, on July 4th, "Giles de Breaunzon, John Fillol, W. de Robertsbridge, and John de Dallyngrygge to superintend the repairs of the banks, ditches, guttere, sewere, portes, and pools on the seashore near Pevensey and Hastings, which the force of the sea, the reflux and inundations and quantities of fresh waters (aquar' daleium) had so burst and broken, that inestimable damage might ensue." (Pat. Rot. Tower MSS.) — On August 6th, a royal order was also sent to the Bishop of Chichester (John Langton), to assist Ralph de Camoys, and Robert de Kendale, and also Nicolas Gentil and John de Ifeld (arraiatoribus), his marshalmen in Sussex, in levying forces to resist invasion. (Rym. Foed, p. 563).
The doubts and troubles of the king were now evinced by irresolute orders; on August 30, he formally appointed the Prince of Wales to exercise royal authority in England during his own absence, and then soon revoking his act, resigned to him for ever his continental domains, so that he might do homage for them.
The young Prince, already under the influence of his mother, the "she-wolf of France," left Dover on September 12th for France in order to do so. The king dated several documents in the autumn from (Mersefeld) Maresfield; on September 22d, and October 2d, he there wrote "concerning the business arising from the death of the Countess Armagnac."[1] Walter Stapleton, bishop of Exeter, was watching the court of France for his master, as ambassador, and reported that King Edward II's conciliatory letter to the French king met with no response, and soon afterwards warned the king of his queen's plots, which he had detected. (Rot. Pat. Edw. II, p. 1, m. 23). On September 23d, he here confirmed the charter of Bayham Abbey ((Dugd. Mon. ii, 160, xix.) On September 24th, he addressed a dutiful letter to the pope concerning the Scots having kept Berwick contrary to treaty, humbly beginning his letter : — "The king to the pope, devout kisses to the blessed feet (devota pedum oscula beatorum)." On September 30th, he desired the officers of the Cinque Ports to be ready with their levies, and
- ↑ Gaston d'Annagnao, Vicomte de Fezensaguet, died in 1310, holding the county of Armagnac in Gascony under the English king. His line ended in 1403.
