Philip V. died in January, 1322, and the homage of Edward for the provinces of Ponthieu and Gascony was forthwith demanded for his successor, Charles IV. A series of negotiations followed which early in 1324 led to a peremptory summons and a threat of forfeiture, no indistinct prelude to war. Edward might easily have crossed over to his brother-in-law’s court, as he had done more than once before, but the Despensers would not allow it. They dared not suffer him to escape from their direct control, they dared not accompany him; if he left them in England they knew their doom. The French court too was filled with their enemies; Roger Mortimer, the lord of Wigmore, who had been taken prisoner in 1322, had escaped from the Tower and gone to France. Henry of Lancaster was waiting to supplant them at home. War was the only alternative. Still negotiations proceeded. First Pembroke was sent; he died on the mission; then Edmund of Kent, the king’s half-brother; he failed to obtain terms. The king’s most trusted chaplains were sent to the Pope; but they spent their labor and treasure in securing their own promotion. At last in 1325 the queen went over. She parted apparently on the best terms with both Edward and the Despensers, and continued in friendly correspondence until she had prevailed on the king to send over his eldest son. It was arranged that the provinces should be made over to him and that he should do the homage. This was done in September, 1325, and almost immediately afterwards she threw off the mask. How long she had worn it we cannot tell. Possibly she left Edward in good faith and fell on her arrival in France into the hands of those who were embittered against him; possibly she was a conspirator long before. Anyhow the tie to the king, which could be so easily broken, could not, in the case of either mother or son, have been a strong one. As early as December the king was warned that Isabella and Edward would not return to him. [Sidenote: Intrigues of Isabella in France. ] Quickly she gathered round her all whom the king had cause to fear. Roger Mortimer, whether by reason of passion or of policy, gained complete ascendency over her. The young Edward was instructed that it was his duty to deliver his father out of the hands of the Despensers or to deliver England out of the hand of Edward. Edmund of Kent, the king’s brother, was persuaded to join, and the conspirators, if not actually supported by promises from England, were too willing to believe that to be victorious they had only to show themselves. As the French king was slow to commit himself, Isabella contracted an alliance with the Count of Hainault, and obtained money from the Italian bankers. They furnished supplies, the count furnished men and ships. [Sidenote: Helplessness of the king. ] [Sidenote: Landing of Isabella on the coast of Suffolk. ]