The French Court retorted by refusing to acknowledge Henry as king, while the truce concluded with Richard came at his death legally to an end.

In spite of this defiance however Burgundy remained true to the interests of Flanders, and Henry clung to a truce which gave him time to establish his throne.

But the influence of the baronial party in England made peace hard to keep; the Duke of Orleans urged on France to war; and the hatred of the two peoples broke through the policy of the two governments.

Count Waleran of St.Pol, who had married Richard's half-sister, put out to sea with a fleet which swept the east coast and entered the Channel.

Pirates from Britanny and Navarre soon swarmed in the narrow seas, and their ravages were paid back by those of pirates from the Cinque Ports.