I suggest hitting the English on the very first turn.

Use the 5* UM from Brittany and entire Toulouse force to hit Aquitaine and the rest goes to Anjou led by the king.

only the peasant in flanders stays put.

train a UM in Ile-de-France

and queue up towers and then border forts in all provinces except for flanders which goes for inn.

send emissary to try to bribe welsh longbows.

both brit forces retreat

assault castle in Aquitaine and leave enough peasants to maintain loyalty in Anjou and attack Normandy.

move 5* UM hero to Flanders.

next turn move as many troops to Flanders as you can and the Welsh longbws should be bribed.

similarly, hire up as many mercs as you can in flanders and let the 5* lead an invasion into Wessex and try to have the Wales force attack Mercia at the same time.

this allows you to go for the kill and often you can wipe out the Brits without excomm.

then, consolidate and go from there.

Why Anjou and Aquitaine?

Anjou since attacking this and another would cause the forces in the other to be ransomed and it's too difficult to win in all 3 provinces in 1 turn.

Aquitaine since the British hobilar production is more important than that extra star from Normandy.