On 21 September 1355, the day after the prince's arrival in Bordeaux, King Edward's letters patent were read in the cathedral of St-André to an assembly of the lords, senior clergy and prominent citizens of Gascony and Bordeaux. The prince pledged to be a good and loyal lord and to respect the rights of the citizens. In return he received the homage of the lords and citizenry. This large assembly was followed by a council of war of the most prominent lords. The prince expressed his outrage at the activities of Jean, count of armagnac, who had been making a series of successful and disconcerting raids into aquitaine. It was decided that the war should be carried into the territory of armagnac, and that the chevauchée should start in two weeks' time. This decision for a prompt departure appears to have taken some by surprise, but it was already getting late in the season for campaigning and the expedition would need to start soon to reduce the risk of being caught by winter weather. In addition, there would be an advantage if the Anglo-Gascon army could set off before the French had the chance to organise their defences. The objective first and foremost was to spread devastation throughout Languedoc, with the territory of the count of armagnac as the first target.