In the meantime the disposition of the queen towards heretics became more relentless in proportion as her temper became more soured from ill-health, by disappointment in not having off-spring, and by the increasing neglect of her by her husband. Tired of her importunate love and jealousy, Philip took the first opportunity of quitting her side and crossed over to the continent (4 Sept., 1555) on a visit to the Emperor Charles. The abdication of the latter towards the close of 1556 made Philip master of the richest and most extensive dominions in Europe, and his greatest wish at the time was to engage England in the war which was kindled between Spain and France. In this he received the support of Mary, who had in August (1556) succeeded in obtaining a loan from the city of £6,000.(1448) The seizure of the castle of Scarborough by Thomas Stafford,(1449) second son of Lord Stafford, in which he was reported to have received encouragement from the King of France, was made a _casus belli_, and Henry was proclaimed an open enemy (7 June, 1557).(1450) French subjects were allowed forty days to quit the country, and letters of marque were issued by proclamation on the 9th June.(1451) On the 5th July Philip once more left England for Flanders,(1452) having succeeded in the object for which he had come, viz., the declaration of war against France. (M730) The citizens of London at once began to take stock of their munitions of war. On the 22nd June the Chamberlain was instructed to prepare with all convenient speed four dozen good _splentes_ and as many good _sallettes_ or _sculles_ for the city’s use, and to cause a bowyer to "peruse" the city’s bows and to put them in such good order that they might be serviceable when required.(1453) In the following month a large force crossed over to France under the leadership of Lords Pembroke, Montagu and Clinton. To this force the City of London contributed a contingent of 500 men, the best (according to Machyn(1454)) that had ever been sent. They mustered at the Leadenhall on the 16th July in the presence of Sir Thomas Offley,(1455) the mayor, the sheriffs and Sir Richard Lee, and were conveyed thence by water to Gravesend and Rochester under the charge of ten officers, whose names are duly recorded.(1456) (M731)