Editing Hook and Cod wars (section)

=== William's first attempt to become Count of Holland ===
In 1349 Margaret decided that it would be better if William of Bavaria became count of Holland and Zeeland, while she would remain Count of Hainault with William as her lieutenant. In return she wanted to have 15,000 gold guilders, and 6,000 guilders each year. Neither Beaumont nor the cities of Holland were prepared to agree with these conditions, but William then started to style himself as Count of Holland and Zeeland.{{sfn|Blok|1923|p=323}} The Egmonds, Heemskerks and Wateringens, later known as Cods now started to appear in the county's charters. 

Meanwhile the bishop had attacked Holland shortly after 25 March 1349. He besieged and burned the small Holland city [[Oudewater]]. The army of Holland then marched to [[Schoonhoven]], where it was beaten. On 24 August a truce was made till 11 November 1350.{{sfn|Aurelius|De Hamer|2011|p=212r}}

Margaret had meanwhile travelled from Bavaria to Hainaut. She summoned her unruly son to [[Le Quesnoy]]. Here William begged for forgiveness in April 1350. With William removed from Holland, Margaret seems to be in control, but none of the causes of the troubles had been solved.

[[File:Delft Stadhuis Turm (Blick von der Nieuwe Kerk) 1.jpg|thumb|Belfort from 1275 above Delft city hall]]
The trigger that led to open hostilities was the assassination of the Cod lord Claes Dirkszoon van Zwieten van Drakenburg. This happened on 23 August 1350. The city of Delft and its allies reacted by attacking their enemies, robbing, plundering and taking prisoners. The city next held trials after which a number of prisoners were decapitated and [[breaking wheel|wheeled]]. The trials and executions were a direct infringement on the [[high, middle and low justice|high justice]] of the count of Holland.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=213}} Meanwhile there was also a conspiracy between part of the nobility and the Bishop of Utrecht.{{sfn|Blok|1923|p=324}}

In September 1350 Margaret and William were both in Geertruidenberg, where William renounced his pretensions on 27 September 1350.{{sfn|Van Mieris|1754|p=786}} [[John II, Lord of Polanen|John of Polanen]], [[Dirk III van Brederode|Dirk van Brederode]] and their party offered to help Margaret.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=215}} In September 1350 they signed the [[Hook Alliance Treaty]]. Meanwhile the dissatisfied nobles and cities formed the Cod League. The earliest proof of the [[Cod Alliance Treaty|Cod Alliance]]{{sfn|Van Mieris|1754|p=778}} dates from November 1350.

Margaret and the Hook lords then tried to restore order from Geertruidenberg. They summoned all suspected subjects to send hostages to await their judgement. However, those of Delft and their allies simply did not appear, and said that everything had been done by the orders of their true lord Count William.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=216}} In the council of nobles and cities that Margaret held, William denied this. He then sent open letters to Delft and other cities, ordering them to submit to Margaret. Delft and its allies simply kept the letters, and conspired with the Bishop of Utrecht, who burned the [[Binnenhof]] in The Hague.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=217}} Margaret stayed in Geertruidenberg till at least 23 October 1350.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=215}}

With Delft and many cities north of the [[Hollandse IJssel]] in open rebellion, Margaret now summoned the council and commoners of the area south of the Hollandse IJssel to Dordrecht. Here a ceremony was held in which the abdication of William was repeated. Margaret then sent William to Hainaut.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=218}}

[[File:Nobelpoort_Zierikzee.JPG|thumb|The Nobelpoort in Zierikzee]]
Margaret next continued to Zeeland to restore order there. She went to [[Zierikzee]] to become acknowledged there, and to handle some court cases. While there, she summoned William and John of Beaumont. She wanted to make Beaumont her lieutenant in Holland, Zeeland, and Friesland. Her only condition was that she would retain the high justice. This made the offer unacceptable to Beaumont, and so both returned to Hainaut.{{sfn|Van den Bergh|1842|p=220}}{{sfn|Blok|1923|p=324}} In October 1350 Margaret then started negotiations with [[Edward III of England]]. The idea was that he would use force to take control in Holland, Zeeland and Friesland, and would be compensated by getting temporary custody of the area.{{sfn|Van Mieris|1754|p=786}}