The revenues of all the foreign priories in England, a hundred and ten in number, were appropriated to the crown.
Provisions of bacon, wheat, and oats were granted, and the king pawned his own jewels, and even the crown itself, to hire soldiers, and purchase him allies on the Continent.

So great did the scarcity of money become in the country that all goods fell to less than half their value.
Thus a vast army was raised, and with this King Edward prepared to try his strength with France." "Phillip on his part was making great preparations.

While Edward had purchased the assistance of many of the German nobles Phillip raised large armaments in the maritime states of Italy.

Spain also contributed a number of naval adventurers, and squadrons were fitted out by his vassals on the sea coasts of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy.

King Edward had crossed over into Belgium, and after vast delays in consequence of the slowness of the German allies, at last prepared to enter France at the end of September, 1339.