to Duke Philip his Father first made his addresse Who bearing an implacable hatred to Lewis of France desired to gaine so potent a neighbour to his party and that he might secure the friendship against all vacillation he by his Embassadors entreated a marriage with the Lady Margaret the Kings sister A motion heard in England with much acceptance and which every circumstance well weigh'd brought both honour and securitie But it was thought by some intimate with the Earle in his most inward counsells that really he never intended this marriage having from his mother neece to John of Oaunt Duke of Lancaster deriv'd an irreconcilable malice against the house of Yorke And that this negotiation aim'd onely to temporize with England in case the Duke of Brittaine and the French Kings brother should desert him and make their peace with Lewis against whom these three were then in confederacie but this I beleeve an overcunning in conjecture since marriage among Princes as it seldome confirmes a sound friendship so doth it never extirpate an ancient hatred the proofe of our and all times shewing how false a love is created by alliance But the thoughts of Princes are so unknowne to Posterity that they are beyond the â—orâ—tiâ—â—e of the present time I will not therefore dispute what the Earles inward designes were but certainely both according to reason of state and the â—vâ—oâ—â— which is the best light Historians can discerne by as it vvas pretended so vvas it intended The marriage of his sister thus far advanc'd he began to advise with Counsell concerning his owne A strong alliance abroad was soone resolved most necessary both for the dignity and safety of his Crowne and among all the Princesses that time gloried in the Lady Bona was thought worthyest his bed In respect of the excellencie of her beauty greatnesse of birth as being daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and the mighty marriage of her other sister with Lewis the Eleventh of France This last consideration being a maine inducement as by which all feare might bee taken away of a tempest from that coast whence Queene Margaret seem'd to prepare a storme To this negotiation the Earle of Warwicke was deputed as the fittest person both for his great faith to the King and authority in the Kingdome Who no sooner arriv'd at the French Court where the young Lady then resided in company of her sister but was withall triumph entertain'd and his motion heard with joy and acceptation The ambition of the French Queene to have her sister married to so great a Prince prevailing against many politique respects which might else have overswayd King Lewis And soone after for an absolute conclusion of all businesses Mounsiur D'ampmartin was design'd Embassador for England These two Kings equally solliciting the perfection of this marriage Edward that hee might without feare of more danger enjoy the glory of a late recover'd Kingdome Lewis that freed from the danger of an English invader he might give a period to his busie projects at home by laying the deuill of civill warre rais'd by a tumultuous Nobility But while policie acted severall parts abroade love on the suddaine chang'd the whole Sceane at home For the Young King after hunting comming to visite the Duches of Bedford at her Mannor of Grafton neere Sâ—ony Stratford was sollicited by a faire petitioner the Duchesses daughter widow of Sir John Gray â—â—â—â—e on King Henries part at the battaile of S â— Albans The King could not but yeeld to any request made by â—â— conquering a beauty and presently himselfe glew as earnest in solliciting her but in a more unlawfull suite But she arm'd her â—oule with a modesty able to breake the hottest battery of lust and though on every side assaulted by the engines of temptation shee repulst her enemie so nobly that he offer'd party upon honorable tearmes For when the King perceiv'd her adorn'd with a chastitie strong enough to resist him who had scarce ever beene but victorious in those attempts he grew enamor'd on the beauty of her minde and resolv'd her vertue was dowre enough to marry her to the highest Throne Reason of state argued sharpely against a marriage so unequall to Majestie by alleaging the perill of irritating so potent a neighbour as King Lewis and so dangerous a subject as Warwick as likewise the inconvenience of raising a widdow to his bed who could bring nothing with her but her poverty and an unprovided issue Who if not advanc'd by him would bee a scorne to his children if advanc'd a ruinous charge to his Exchequer and an envie both to the Princes of his blood and the Nobility of his Kingdome But Love like a cunning Sophister easily refell'd all pollitique arguments and perswaded reason her selfe almost to be of his side For he repeated to the King his owne prerogative which being so large why should he then be denyed the liberty of a free choyce which is allowed the meanest subject Why might not he wooe with his owne eyes and make election where his fancie best delighted As for the Lady her selfe he found her in the treasures of her minde most abundant and in the perfections of her body excellent to please him who and not the state was to marry For her birth she was by the father Noble in descent at home by her mother of the house of Luxenbourge a family with which the greatest Princes of Christendome had neere alliance As for marrying a subject and the widdow of his enemie the later argued more charity and the former could not but tye the affection of his people when they saw their Prince disdain'd not affinity with them For a president to authorize these his intended Nuptialls he had Edward the Blacke Prince his great Vncle great indeede if not the greatest among all the Princes of his name And for the threatned danger from King Lewis or the Earle of Warwicke from France he could never expect how neere so ever the alliance had beene but an unfaithfull amitie and should this his marriage thrust Warwicke upon rebellious attempts the rebell would but fondly runne upon his owne ruine since it could not stand with the Majestie of a King to hold his Crowne by so base a tenure as to have his actions awed by a subject These and such like arguments which love is cunning upon all occasions to enforce prevail'd so far that though the old Duches of Yorke his mother most violently opposed by throwing the highest calumnies upon the Lady Gray and alleaging a precontract with the Lady Lucy yet one morning secretly did he marry her For the disparity of birth or Fortune is no impediment and for the precontract upon examination the Lady Lucy her self acquitted the King only laying to his chaâ—g the guilt of a most winning courtship And though afterward during the usurpation of Richard the third in open Parlament was alleaged against the lawfulnesse of King Edwards marriage strange potions and amorous charmes by which the
of the Army and raised a strange murmure both against S. Paul and the Duke Which increast by the difficulties of a tempestuous night with which the English after were troubled For an extraordinary raine fell and made the so open lodging very unpleasing with danger of diseases to the Army The Duke of Burgundy opposed against this discontent with his authority but in vaine For not able to give satisfaction for his owne weakenesse and breach of promise he was more disabled to cleere suspicion from another Whereupon he tooke his leave of the King intreating his and the Armies patience for a while till he brought his Forces to joyne with them and a full account from the Count S. Paul of his Garrisons demeanure at S. Quintin But this his departure compared with the former carriage of things begot yet a stronger doubt of their intentions in the English who being strangers in that place and not having any particular arme in conduct of the businesse but onely a generall resolution to regaine France interpreted these delayes and false play to direct treason And began openly to inveigh against their owne folly in confiding on the promises of such who indevored not the glory of the English name or the Kings title but onely their owne safety For preservation of which under a specious pretext of recovering a Kingdome they had seduced them into a strange Country in hope hereafter to sell them to the French And although this discourse were onely in the mouth of the common Souldier yet did the thoughts of the Commanders participate with the vulgar though not so freely opened For hitherto there had been no assurance given of any reall intention either in Burgundy or Saint Paul The much indignation exprest by the English upon this occasion was thought a strange kinde of rude ignorance and a note even of barbarisme Which censure savoures too much of malice considering it could not be judged blinde presumption induced our Nation to this undertaking the State for it having the fairest appearence of humaine reason and the religion of the strongest oathes And if the unexpected trechery of S. Paul ingendred choller why should this passion be so contemptible since an injury from a friend is ever quicker and sharper to the sence and all nations removed from their owne seates upon dangerous adventures are prone to suspicion And for ignorance in the Art of warre â— see not how by mallice it selfe it can bee obtruded upon the English since their onely misery was too much experience in armes which ever begets knowledge Neither could they be but skillfull even in the militar exercise of the Frecnh few of the Souldiery who were now of any age but their youth had beene bred up and instructed under the command of that great Captain Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury and others Not full twenty yeares expired since we turned our swords upon our selves and gave France liberty to recover breath But this delatory way in the Duke and treachery in the Count prepared the army to a good thought of peace And brought the two confederates into more hatred then an open enemy So that when an Herauld came from King Lewys he was received into the English Campe with much humanity and friendly invited by the Souldier to refresh himselfe with wine and meate till the King who was then at dinner were at leisure to give him audience For Lewys following the instructions of our Herauld soone as he understood King Edward was landed and had heard likewise of some disgusts appearing betweene him and the Duke resolved to send to him and attempt to perswade a peace But so poore was hee in the outward ceremonies of Majesty that no Herauld attended on his Campe whereupon he was enforced to suborne a fellow of whose wit and confidence he had taken some notice to act the part Who having received full instructions from his Master addrest himselfe to the Lords Stanley and Howard and the English Herauld by whose aide being brought to the King â—e hansomely delivered his message The effect of which was To show the great desire the King his Master had to live in perfect amity with all neighbouring Princes but above all with his Majesty of England as who in the extent of Empire and his owne Prowesse was most considerable That he had much reason to believe the present warre had not received the first life in England especially not in the disposition of the King which as he was informed abhorred the unnecessary drawing of Christian blood That they who had first hatcht this quarrell did it onely with their neighbours danger to procure their owne safety and when they had made an advantagious peace to conspire with him who before had beene the common enemy for beating backe their best friend the English That he doubted not but that his Majesty would suddenly finde good ground for suspicion when he should perceive the Duke of Burgundie not able to bring into the field one entire regiment All his Forces having beene utterly broken upon desperate services to which an innate love to the warre had madly engaged him Then he proceeded to excuse his Masters succouring the faction of Lancaster To which he protested he never gave comfort for it selfe but onely for the Earle of Warwickes sake Whom he supported onely to affront Burgundy whose irreconciliable enemy Warwicke had ever profest himselfe And if he had inclined more to favour King Henry he might well excuse it in respect of his neere kindred to him and his wife Queene Margaret and something too in reason of state to oppose Burgundy who pretended to be a friend how false soever he proved to the house of Yorke That if his Majestie would be pleasd to search up to the very head of this businesse hee shall find more streames of assistance to have flowed from Burgundy then from France to King Henry Duke Phillip and this Duke till his marriage with the Princesse Margaret having most passionately labord the supportation of that family to which they were so neare in kindred The conclusion was to desire his Majestie to grant a safe conduct for a hundred horse in whose company should come Embassadours enabled with larger instructions and who should make proposall of such conditions as could not bee rejected by the King or Kingdome of England since they should be for the honour and profit of both Vnlesse it would better stand with his Majesties liking to assigne a place of treatie in some village betweene both armies to which they might joyntly send Commissioners This message delivered in a soft tone expressing much humilitie and ever ascribing to the Kings greatnesse of Spirit and the nations glory together with promise to make overture of conditions both honorable and profitable begot a favorable audience And many of the great Lords who had plentifull revenues at home were as forward as the King to listen to peace and forsake unnecessary dangers abroad Neither did the greatest statists dislike
the expedition The universall language of the Kingdome being of the warres and all exercises military No person of blood or quality but prepared for the journey except onely those whom infancy or extreame age exempted or the necessary administration of the Common weale And all they who went emulated each other in the glory of their armour the richnesse of their pavilions the bravery of their horses furniture and servants apparell Every man being held so farre to recede from honor as in his preparations he exprest an unwillingnesse to the businesse The army consisted of fifteene hundred men at armes fifteene thousand Archers eight thousand common Souldiers beside three thousand Pioners appointed to guard the ordinance and the carriage Three thousand good souldiers were sent into Brittaine to joyne with his forces and assault France on the other side All things disposed in so full a readinesse the King sent over to the Duke of Burgundy to acquaint him with the state of the army and to know in what forwardnesse businesses were on that side Who returned answers full of confident promises and exhortation to the King to make all possible haste over the Summer comming on a pace which if past further without action would indanger the losse of the whole expedition for that yeare He assertain'd him moreover of certaine Townes under the governement of the Count S. Paul which should be surrendred into the Kings hands for retreat to the English upon any occasion of the badnesse of weather or fortune And indeed how weake soever the Duke knew the condition of his army yet fearefull he was to expresse it least the King should take advantage to give over the undertaking The Kings nature being knowne diseased so much with the love of peace that the Duke was justly suspicious how sound soever it appeared for the present it might upon the least distemper fall into a relapse Vpon these assurances from the Duke the King gave order that all his Forces should repaire to London Whence after some few moneths spent in preparations he marcht toward Dover But before he tooke shipping that the progresse of the Warre might be the more successefull the beginning was made according to the old heroicke straine of bravery For the King sent a Herauld over with a letter of defiance to Lewys of France in which he was required to surrender up to the King of England the Realme of France as due to him by the lawes of inheritance and violently wrested away from Henry the sixth by Charles the seventh and as unjustly possest by Lewys By which voluntary resignation of the Crowne was showed how without effusion of blood the King of England should be inabled to restore the Clergy and Nobility to their ancient greatnesse and priviledges and the Commons to their liberty Of which they had all beene so cruelly deprived by the injurious usurpation and tyrannicall government of Charles and Lewys It shovved likevvise hovv farre the Kingdome of France in generall vvould by this receive benefit considering it would be eased of all those many and unsupportable exactions which by those covetous Princes had beene laid upon it It concluded with a threatning of all the mischiefes accompany warre and an absolute despaire of all future mercy or care to bee had of Lewys his provision if upon so faire an admonissiment and summons given he refused to yeeld the Kingdome This Letter saith Comines an Authour of that time happy in vvriting many cunning particulars of the Princes hee serv'd but rude in the art of History and ever blemishing the glory of our Nation was pen'd so elegantly both for language and matter that hee beleeved it vvas beyond the abilities of an English wit A bold and ridiculous censure For how could he who was borne no Native of France and never had beene instructed in any learning judge of language Or how of the witty contrivance of the Letter since in his owne History which is received by the world with so universall an applause there is an apparent defect in order and method And without vanity our Nation may assume to it selfe the praise considering the narrow limits of the Island to have produced as many Schollers admirable in all degrees of knowledge as any Country on this side the Alpes Neither was that age though according to the necessity of the time more expert in armes then arts without excellent wits famed for literature But this digression the reader must pardon a sence of our Nations honour thrust my pen out of the way if this be from the purpose Whatsoever the Letter was in the composure it was such in the substance that it discomposed King Lewys and troubled all his imaginations Hee read it softly and fearefully which was beneath that part of understanding he was most Master of even pollicy it selfe For it could not but beget strange interpretations in the Court when the message of an enemy delivered publickely by letter should be kept concealed The demand must probably be easily conjectured and this silent way of answering could not but procure suspicion that his resolution might discend to yeeld more then became a Prince But in the manage of this as in all other businesses King Lewys delighted to give order alone and show his authority independant of any Councell without perplexing himselfe at all to satisfie opinion Having read the Letter he withdrew himselfe into a Wardrobe and commanded the Herauld to be brought to his presence To whom hee in answer to the Letter said That he knew the King his Master had not resolved upon this enterprise out of his owne disposition but overcome by the sollicitation of his people and the perswasion of the Duke of Burgundy and the Count S. Paul His people infatuated with a vaine presumption of victory because heretofore the successe of their wars in France had beene fortunate never considering the disparity of the state of things or the uncertainety of events especially where fury and fortune two blind powers beare the wholesway The Duke of Burgundy loving warre for it selfe and having rashly engaged himselfe into many quarrels out of desire to draw the King of England into his dangers or at least at anothers cost to beate the bargaine of peace to a lower rate The reason why he had so laboured King Edward to take armes and revive an absolute title to the kingdome of France being onely for his owne preservation which was threatned by all his injured neighbours or else as it is reported of people diseased of the Plague in envy to the health of other Nations desirous to infect even his neerest allies with the contagion of his quarrell As for the Count S. Paul who had ever subsisted by dissimulation and setting division betweene Princes whereby his assistance either for the prosecution of the warre or conclusion of peace might be required as necessary All his hopes in this quarrell were onely to fish in troubled waters and by an universall combustion to raise
a treatie considering that all our warres in France had rather purchaste fame then treasure to our Kingdome and when our Souldier returnd home their scarres were greater then their spoiles And howsoever we had at staits got possession of the largest territories in France yet still wee retired back againe As if the devine providence had decreed to have our Empire bounded with our Seas Moreover they who affected the happinesse of a Kingdome and loved their owne country desired rather France under a forraigne governour least if in possession of our King England being the lesse both in extent and fertility might be reduc'd to the condition to a Province and live in obedience to a Deputie enriching the greater Kingdome with her tribute Other consirations likewise of the present state of the warres prevail'd to get content for a treatie whereupon with reward the Herauld was dismist a safe conduct granted and the place for the Commissioners appointed in a Village neare Amiens For the King were nominated the Lord Howard Sir Anthony St. Leger and Doctor Morton for the French the bastard of Burbon Admirall of France the Lord Saint Peire and the Bishop of Evereux This at the first meeting brought almost the treaty to a conclusion for on both sides they brought mindes disposed to peace And although the English Commissioners at first demanded the Crowne of France as due to the King by right from which in honour he could not recede and afterward with much apparence of difficultie condescended to be content with Normandy and Guien yet they themselves knew well Princes never use to part with Countries upon treatie before the battaile hath imposed a necessitie to yeeld And indeede the English expected not that Lewys would be frighted out of so important lims of the body of France onely upon the braving of an enemy Soone this first florish of businesses came to more easie termes Edward desired to be gone without losse of honour Lewys to have him gone with as much reputation as he desired Edward had occasion of mony and Lewys was willing to make him a bridge of Gold from Callice to Dâ—ver whereon to carry backe his Army And shortly to both their contents an absolute atonement was made Whereby threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes were to be paid to King Edward before his departure out of France and fifty thousand annually Concerning the annuitie of fiftie thousand Crownes there is much controversie among French and English writers about the name They call it a Pension wea Tribute And certainly the later to speake without partialitie to our selves hath in it much more proprietie of language For a Prince who over-awed by a powerfull Armie mediates by deprecatory massages to divert the battaile and afterward buyes his safetie not onely with a present Summe but an annuall payment cannot have a freer name then tributary And as for pensions they are granted upon petition to the poorer and weaker not upon feare to the mightier But to compare the greater actions of Princes to the customes of Subjects The threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes was the fine King Lewys payd for France and the fiftie thousand annually the rent Onely the farme was too mightie to be set and the tennant too strong and stubborne ever to quit possession to his Landlord Then for establishment of future peace that posteritie might partake in the benefit of this accord it was concluded that the Princesse Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward should marry with Charles the Dolphin Son to Lewys And for her present maintenance five thousand Crownes from France to be payd in the Tower of London and after the expiration of nine yeares shee and the Dolphin to be invested in the Dutchy of Guyen And that on the English side there might bee no fraud upon payment of the first summe the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheinie Master of the Horse were to remaine in hostage untill the Army were return'd into England But that the King might not seeme to forget his confederates the Duke of Burgundie and Britaine were comprehended if they would accept the peace The Count S. Paul was abandon'd in this treatie as an efficiall servant and subject to the Crowne being Constable of France and who by his dissimulation and treason had most offended the nature of our King And usually thus to reconcile great Princes lesser are offered up for sacrifice This peace was generally receiv'd by the Army with applause as by people who began to consider no victory before the battaile certaine and in the battaile much hazard Onely the Duke of Glocester who stood aloofe off on the other side for honour frown'd at this accord and exprest much sorrow as compassionating the glory of his nation blemisht in it Hee repeated his jealousie of the worlds opinion which necessarily must laugh at so chargeable a preparation to attempt nothing And scorne either the wisedome or courage of the English when they shall perceive them in so full numbers and so well arm'd to passe the Sea after a defiance sent and challenge to a Crowne to returne backe without drawing a Sword Moreover to forsake the amitie of so constant friends and in extreame necessitie to betray them beguiled by a common dissembler whose shifts and trickes of state like the slights of hand in juglers are discovered and wondred at by those fooles onely whom hee cozens And what carried with it an apparence of most danger to necessitate the Duke of Burgundie to a peace with King Lewys whereby both may hereafter joyne in a common league against us Who by this one act have forfeited all leagues with our ancient confederates and frighted any other Princes from joyning with us With Glocester agreed many of the Army who were either dependant upon him or who had as unquiet thoughts as hee some likewise who having set up the rest of all their fortunes upon this gaine found themselves undone in their hopes because the Princes had drawne statues But most of a discontented humour that maliciously alwayes interprets the actions of Princes to the worst sence But the Duke of Glocester had a further and a more dangerous aime as who by the dishonour of his brother thought his credit receiv'd increast and by how much the King sunke in opinion he should rise And in regard good and quiet men were delighted in the accord he would be had to the wicked and unquiet and adde a luster to his faction by drawing the nations honour to his part But why this peace should endure so hard a censure both at home and abroad is strange and above all why King Lewys should ascribe any honour to himselfe or thinke the advantage on his side For what ecclipse soever the English glory suffered certainly the French by a most servile way purchast safetie They descending beneath the honour of men by mony to wave a battaile wee being onely faultie in not having perform'd more then men For if we consider our selves subject to
the veines of both people and so many blessings of peace like to enrich both Kingdomes His congratulation was intermingled with prophesie of future happinesse which would grow stronger by the age of time touching in that upon the marriage of the Dolphin with the Lady Elizabeth of England But the good Bishop of Lincolne for in him was then the office of Chancellor in this showed himselfe a better Orator then Prophet Himselfe living afterward to disprove his owne divination After the Oration ended and the two Kings sworne to the forementioned peace King Lewys something wantonly as who knew how to tune his language best to King Edwards eare invited him to take a journey as farre as Paris where if any of the beauties should make him trespasse upon his chastitie the Cardinall of Burbon a gentle Ghostly father should easily afford him absolution The King in the pleasure of his looke approved the faceciousnesse of the discourse and found no great difficultie in himselfe to admit the offâ—r But King Lewys who never used mirth but as a preparative for something serious having wrought himselfe into the Kings good liking and as he thought facilitated him to grant any request urged that the Duke of Brittaine might not remaine in the protection of the English But that he might be left to his owne defence against the just anger of the French whom hee had so often provoked by open confederacies and secret practises To which the King answered resolutely that hee never would forsake the care of a confederate who had maintaind his faith so constantly And afterward importuned by some great Lords imployd to that negotiation by Lewys hee not onely shewed an apparent distaste to the motion but openly profest that rather then the Duke should be endangerd in his safetie he would forget all other amities and passe the Seas himselfe to his reliefe Which shewed a noble disposition in the King and an advisd judgement For the Duke had beene ever friendly to him in the worst of fortune and in his better a most faithfull neighbour and in this enterprize on France had used no dissimulation nor in the least carriage of businesse betraid that faith at first he promist In the protection therefore of him against the French the King shewed the gratitude of his memory as likewise a polliticke caution that the Crowne of France might not grow too potent by warring with a weaker Prince whose ruine could not but give to it a dangerous addition But this discourse touching the Duke was in private betweene the Kings for Lewys to show the authoritie he had over his greatest Lords had commanded them to retire when hee enterd into this speech And in treating this businesse which so nearely concern'd the pollicie of his intentions he shewed a great art not urging the King so farre as that the deniall might come off with a distaste But smoothly he gave it over when hee perceiv'd him not easily to be remov'd although with some inward difficultie to finde his affection so constant to the Duke of whom hee had resolv'd to make a spoile and to lay the first stone of his mightie building in his destruction Hee presently therefore diverted his discourse againe to ceremony and after some short intercourse of courtship they both at the same minute parted from the grate and tooke horse publickly giving very liberall commendations of each other And how ever enterviewes are generally esteem'd unsafe for Princes in regard the advantage falling of necessitie on the one part throwes a contempt upon the other yet this was both in probabilitie before and after in the successe most fortunate For both Princes though of different complexions had equall preheminences and by severall wayes came to stand upon even ground King Edward had the advantage in youth personage and behaviour which win suddenly upon estimation Lewys in the cunning of wit and authority of his carriage which although slowlier sinke deeper in opinion Edward had a daring courage ever seconded by a propitious fortune Lewys a circumspect judgement which orderd businesses so sure that he left scarce any thing to fortune Edward by his Sword had brought himselfe to the present greatnesse of his state Lewys by his pollicie had setled himselfe in his fathers conquests And indeed so apparent was the equalitie of these Princes that they both dispaired to gaine any thing by opposition which made Lewys at any rate desirous to buy King Edwards returne and Edward willing no more to traffique with Lewys from whom nothing was to be got in the way of bargaine What soever the one did by valour the other likely to undoe by cunning This peace by all conjecture was likely to suffer in opinion at home where by comparing the fortune of the present with that of former expeditions expectation promist it selfe nothing lesse then the entire recovery of France To prevent which the King had happily perhaps judiciously as who foresaw that the successe might end an accord brought over with him many from London for their wealth of most reputation in the Citie These men whom plentie endeard to the love of life soone as hee had resolved to decline the present watre hee causd to be assaulted every houre with new feares Representing to their affrighted minds the horror of a battell the many difficulties of a siege and the certaintie of a timelesse death if not by the Cannon or the Sword yet by the inconveniences of lodging and the weather which the winter comming on was likely to be most tempestious And if beyond hope death were escaped how cruell might bee an imprisonment and how deepe the ransome Then hee gave order that the Enemie should bee reported of farre more danger then indeede hee was and every night false alarums to bee given And for distrust already held of Burgundie and S. Paul hee let it bee augmented in the Army causing rumors to be spread abroad that there was treason in them from the beginning of this enterprise and that now they were prepard to unite their forces with the French to the utter destruction of the English By which frights hee so moulded them to his desires that they writ backe to their friends the impossibilitie of any successe in the present businesse and the great judgement and fortune of the King if he could conclude a peace with advantage of honour The example of this pollicie King Edward bequeath'd to Henry the seventh who left none of his predecessors arts unpractisd that might advance eyther his profit or reputation And so farre this desire of peace and delight in it spread it selfe that when upon the day of the enterview by accident a white pigeon lighted upon the Kings pavilion and there pruned it selfe after a shower of raine the Sunne shining comfortably the Souldiers cryed out it was the Holy Ghost who descended in that forme to show how gratefull the present accord was to heaven Which interpretation pleasd exceedingly the present humour of the King
to King Lewys might render him formidable from abroad Certainely there was no just ground for suspicion The French being so lately enter'd into a particular amity with England and never having afforded either comfort or countenance to the young Earles exile Then for any claime to the Crowne the King could not feare him his title being of so impure and base a mettall it could no way indure the touch His Mother by whom onely he could pretend heire indeed of the house of Sommerset but not of Lancaster in regard the streame of this descent was poisoned in the very Spring For John of Gaunt having entertained an affection to Katherine Daughter of Sir Paine de Ruet during her attendance on the Lady Blanch his first wife in the life time of his second the Lady Constance his affection grew into a neerer familiarity and so happy was he that his familiarity proved not barren his Mistris for to what a servitude doth lust betray a sinner making him Father of three Sonnes and a Daughter The Duke zealous to reward any that had so well deserved marryed his bedfellow to Sir Otes Swinford and either through impotency or conscience afterward refrained her company Some yeares past she having buryed her Knight and he his Dutchesse in gratitude to her former merits being now growne very old he tooke her againe to his bed with the lawfull ceremonies of the Church And thus his ancient Concubin became his new Bride Having righted her honour to leave no monument of their sin to posterity he laboured the ligitimation of the children and so farre in the time of Richard the second prevailed that both the sentence of the Church and Parliament pronounced them lawfull and enabled to inherit the Lands of their Father in case his issue by his former wives should faile The eldest Son of the three thus ligitimated was John created Earle of Sommerset Father of John Duke of Sommerset whose sole Daughter and heire Margaret marryed Edmond of Haddam Earle of Richmond whose Sonne Henry was now the marke at which all the arrowes of the Kings suspicion aymed By this Pedegree to the eye at first appeares so me dawning of a title but certainely it is a false light such as oftentimes deceives the credulous traveller For the legitimation by the Church was to take away as much of scandall as possibly from the children and a dispensation onely for the benefit of the bastards without prejudice to the right of any other For these bastards were not of the common nature such as after marryage may make legitimate being not Naturall but Spurious begot in adultery on the one side and consequently incapable of any benefit by dispensation Adde to this that not being of the whole blood according to the common Law of England the house of Sommerset was farther of from inheriting any title from King Henry the sixt then the most remote of the line of Yorke Lastly in the very legitimation it selfe the children were onely made capable to inherit the estate of their Father The Crowne being never mentioned and for the Dutchy of Lancaster they could not pretend that being the inheritance of the Lady Blanch his first wife from whom they no way descended Neither were the Princes of the house of Sommerset ever numberd among the Plantaginets or ever obtained so much as to be declaired heires apparent if Henry the sixt and his Son Prince Edward should extinguish without issue As Mortimer had got to be before in the raigne of Richard the second and Delapole after during the usurpation of Richard the third And if there were any cause of suspicion from the branches of that Family then was the Duke of Buckingham much more to be feared Who was by his Mother heire of Edmond Duke of Sommerset and himselfe a Prince mighty in descent otherwaies from the Crowne as being heire likewise of Thomas Duke of Glocester younger Son to Edward the third Moreover in the faction of a great kindred and dependancy of a multitude of tennants farre more to be suspected Then an exild Lord who claiming by his Mother could during her life have no colour of a Title But the King found the wound of this jealousie ranckle in him and nothing but Richmonds apprehension to heale it He therefore most earnestly sollicited the Duke of Brittaine by his Embassadors to returne him into England Their motives were the much good will the Duke owed their Master who never would forsake his protection though severall wayes and at severall times most importunately provoked That he had in answer to the French requests to that purpose protested that if the Duke were any way endangerd by them personally to crosse the seas and make the quarrell the same as if his owne kingdome were invaded Then for the innocency of the Kings intentions toward the Earle they affirmed that so far from malice the desire to have him returnd into England was that it meerely tended to his present safety and after honour In regard his Majesty would not onely restore him to the possessions of his Ancestors but endeare him in a neerer tye even by the marryage of one of his owne daughters to him and this blessed way absolutely to roote up all the ancient rancor betweene the houses of Yorke and Sommerset This was the pretention which though the King no way intended yet the Almighty afterward made good to instruct after times that the deepe misteries of cunning Princes are meere illusions compared with true wisedome and the disposition of kingdomes is the worke of Heaven By this simulation and tender of a large sum of money for the King had learnt how to traffique by example of King Lewys the poore Earle of Richmond was delivered up to the Embassadours and immediately by them conveyd to St. Malos the next haven Towne where instant preparations were made for his transportation into England Here fortune or what is lesse uncertaine the wind tooke compassion on his affliction for the very imagination of the ruine he was betrayd to had throwne him into a violent Feaver and hindred the Embassadours from taking shippe Where while they remaind joyfull in the successe of their undertaking Peter Landois Treasurer to the Duke in apparence of a ceremonious visit but indeede to contrive the Earles escape most officiously came to them For no sooner had the Duke given up this innocent victim to be sacrific'd but some of the Court sensible of the Law of Nations and their Masters reputation to himselfe related the injury and dishonour of this action And so farre aggravated the perpetuall infamy that would cloud his fame by selling his guest to whom he had promist safetie and protection that the Duke repented the delivery of him and advised Landois by some art to regaine him And indeede Landois undertooke the imployment readily willing perhaps to gaine the honour of doing one good deed among the multitude of his mischiefes and likewise to revenge himselfe upon the evill memory of
title to the Crowne of England be just as man did alwayes allow in judgement and Almightie God hath approved in the successe The same title is good to the Crowne of France Both having beene united into one ever since the usurpation of Philip de Valois The peoples affection to Princes of their owne nation enacted an injurious Law that authoriz'd injustice and confirm'd the Soveraigntie in the heires Male The Female were excluded as if the distinction of kind could make a difference in right and the being borne a woman were to bee borne illigitimate for the Law Salique in a manner bastardizeth the whole Sex Your great Ancestor Edward the third whose name and magnanimity you inherit with his Sword abrogated this Law And call'd the Lawmakers to a severe acacount at Crecie and Poitiers where more veines of France were opened and more blood issued then any time records Considering the small numbers of the English In the later of the two battels John Sonne to Philip of Ualois laboring to make good the pretentions of his Father was taken prisoner and so continued lesse then a free Subject by endeavouring unjustly to be a Soveraigne The little handfull of men with which the English then opposed the vast armies of the French not onely showing the high advantage the Nation hath in courage But the miraculous justice of the Almighty who delights to make the destruction of Vsurpers his owne Worke and not to permit man by his power to rivall heaven in the punishment Your Majesty needes not History to perswade you to the quarrell or example to assure you of the successe The justice of the claime will easily prevaile with you to draw againe your sword which hath beene hitherto almost still unsheathed in vindication of your right And that with so much prosperity that they who admire your valour and direction applaud your fortune But if the nature of man delighted in the felicities of peace should advise your Majesty to satisfie your mind with the triumph of those victories you have already purchast Yet neither a just revenge nor discreet pollicy will admit it For how can England remaine safe from future injuries and acquit her selfe in honour against those who have heretofore affronted her if France where all the late combustions were first conceived remaine unpunished The huge body of the civill Warre lies now a dead trunke wounded to death by your arme but yet Lewys of France the head of that monster though contrary to the ordinary course of Nature retaines still a life and quickens mischiefe hourely against this Kingdome least otherwise his owne be not secure And should your Majesty out of desire to avoid the further effusion of Christian blood permit him to continue in the unjust possession of a Kingdome he would interpret his safety and your mercy to be either a blind ignorance or a degenerate feare And from your lenity draw the boldnesse to prepare new troubles against your quiet And if it be not an over much care in a confederate and an allye to make so narrow a scrutinie into your Majesties affaires Our Master beleeves that this warre will not be unnecessary for the present state of England In regard this way those many evill humours gathered in the body of the Kingdome by the late disorders will be easily purged away or at least diverted Seeing experience teacheth us how impossible it is for a Nation nurst in civill war suddenly to embrace a peace and endure a severe government And should the discontented not vent themselves thus abroad how dangerous it might make the disease at home is easie to be conjectured But all this showes only the justice and necessity of your warre Preparations great enough to oppose a King of France yet we have not toucht upon And that indeed is it our Master gave us in our instructions most to acquaint your Majesty withall As by which it will be most apparent how without any reflection upon his owne occasions he invites you to this undertaking For his Highnesse understands how farre this overture lyes open to a false interpretation considering his enmity with King Lewys did not the circumstance of the businesse show how your Majesty is rather desired to a triumph then a battle Never had France so many enemies so powerfully united and never so few friends if shee may be said to have any For except onely the poore Duke of Lorraine who happily may be a burthen never an aide to any Prince wee can hardly reckon a confederate For so trecherous have beene all King Lewys his arts so dissembling his nature that the world hath concluded it much safer to be at enmity with him then upon the fairest termes His friendship having ruined some his armes never any man In confederacy with our Master and in absolute resolution to invade France are the Duke of Brittaine and the Count Saint Paul Brittaine able of his owne Subjects to bring a powerfull army into the field Saint Paul by his kindred and intelligence to cause a generall revolt of all the nobility from the King And indeed such hath beene the carryage of that polliticke Prince for that epethite his poore shifts have got him that a continuall contempt hath beene throwne by him upon the great Lords and a most neere familiarity enter'd into with the basest people His barber being more acquainted with the affaires of state then the whole body of his Councell This preposterous course of favor hath made the greatest states of the Kingdome scorne their present King and reflect upon your Majesty whose comportment in warre and peace hath beene such as justly makes your triumph in the generall affections of your many friends and utter destruction of your enemies If it may therfore please your Majesty to admit of that greatnesse your high descent hath title to and your Predecessors ' have had possession of The armes of these great Princes are prepared to serve you Our Master first honoured your Majesty as a potent neighbour great in your selfe as in dominion Then by marryage he grew into the neerest degree of correspondence the title of Brothers a ceremony used betweene Princes being of due in alliance between you two Lastly he had the happinesse which Potentates seldome have though with some trouble to your Majesty to enjoy entire familiarity By which those other respects common among persons of like quality and which are often but weake tyes of amity converted into a perfect friendship So that this desire his Highnesse hath to advance your Majesties glory and command proceeds onely from love to the posterity of your person and iust claime With How powerfull forces he will concurre to this great action hath beene of purpose omitted Because the world hath had sufficient testimony how able his Highnesse hath beene to oppose if not oppresse King Lewys without borrowing aid from a confederate He therefore intreates to know your Majesties resolution whether you will passe over and personally make your
himselfe into authority in regard peace levelled him with inferior Lords and made his service of no use King Lewys proceeded on to tell him in how miserable a condition the Burgonian army was having beene broken at the siege at Nuz a desperate and madde undertaking and now returned home the Souldier destroyd either by the sword or famine and that small number escaped so wretched that the Duke might well expect protection from the King but could no way bee of power to advance his purpose Hee added how the season of the yeare Summer being almost past must of necessity deterre the King from crossing the Sea and many other arguments against the present undertaking As if the Herauld being perswaded to quiet by Oratory France might have beene reprived from warre for that yeare And to make him the more his friend hee gave him three hundred crownes with promise of a thousand more if the peace so much desired by him tooke effect The Herauld overcome much by his perswasions but much more by his money replyed That no travell on his part should bee omitted that might tend to the service of his Majesties intentions And that he as farre as his observation upon the Kings nature could reach imagined no great difficulty to bring his Master to a faire accord But that as yet the motion would be most unseasonable Considering that after so vast a charge in levy of an army and so universall an applause to the designe his Majesty could not retire untill at least he had led his Forces into France and made some apparence of intending what so constantly he had pretended Hee advised him therefore to let the army passe over to Callice thither to send his Herauld to desire a safe conduct for Embassadors with order to make addresses to the Lords Stanley and Howard and himselfe And that the way should be prepared so plaine for King Lewys his purpose that there should be no impediment at the worst to a faire respect if not to a full satisfaction of his desires All this discourse past in private In publicke there was caution by the Kings strickt command given that no French man should have any communication with him And soone as possibly he was dismist with many faire words and thirty Ells of crimson velvet for reward The King after his departure expressing in his looke and carryage much cheerefullnesse and courage either comforted by the faint hopes our Herauld gave him or else cunningly dissembling his feares The order of this discourse betweene them is delivered to us as a high reach of pollicy in King Lewys But to an indifferent understanding it appeares nothing but the ordinary wit of cowardize and certainly how covetous soever the necessitie of his occasions made him to buy peace yet his manner of traffique at this time was beneath the spirit of a Prince For although his largesse to the Herauld wrought the wisht effect yet he might have beene deceived by him and by his so earnest desire to avert the present warre have endangered it much more fierce upon him Neither could it be imagined common discretion to commune his feares to an enemy who might perhaps betray them to the scorne of the English army or to negotiate peace with a Herauld though even persons of much worth and understanding yet commonly remote from the knowledge of the inwarder resolutions of state But the manage of this businesse thus tooke a good effect and that concurring in a Prince whose other actions were pollitickely ordered made it have so happy a censure Vpon returne of the Herauld the King embarqued for Callice and after him followed his army Which was transported in certaine slat bottom'd boates of Holland and Zeland by them usually called Scuts lent as before covenanted by the Duke of Burgundy And notwithstanding the commodiousnesse of the vessells and the multitude being five hundred in all three weekes were they in their passage among all the forces not being one page Which as it instructs us in the vast numbers of the Souldier so doth it in the strength and power in regard they were all able men who undertooke this enterprise and who came not to learne but to make proofe of their knowledge in armes Soone as he heard they were certainly a shore the Duke in all haste came to congratulate the Kings safe landing and happy arrivall of the armie for there was just ground for feare that the French Navy might have endeavoured to trouble their passage But the Duke comming with a very small traine much afflicted the expectation of the English who thought to have seene him march to meet them with five and twenty hundred men at armes well appointed beside a large power of horse and foote As by his Embassadours and his owne Articles had so amply and frequently beene promist But to take away this suspicion from them for feare it might any way drive backe their thoughts toward England he told them that his so private comming to the King was onely to expresse his joy for the Kings safety and theirs and that his army was further in the Country so well prepared for the present designe that they should have no reason to thinke him any way to have boasted He therefore invited them to march up into the Land where they might be better accomodated and conducted the King to Bullen A Towne which having beene heretofore morgaged by the French to Phillip Duke of Burgundy with a large part of Picaray was notwithstanding the often tender of the mony by Lewys still detained violently by Duke Charles There hee gave the English a free intertainement and still kept their expectation high From thence hee went with them to Peron another Towne of Picardy kept upon the same termes Into which hee admitted but few of the better sort of the English and over those too he carryed a watchfull eye The army forced to lodge in the field which was the lesse inconveni convenient in regard of the Season of the yeare and the commodiousnesse of pavilions and tents with which they were so plentifully furnisht The Duke perhaps loath to trust the armie in possession of so important a place least their expectation irritated they might attempt to him some trouble To Peron the Count Saint Paul sent to congratulate the Kings arrivall in France to promise all service to his enterprise and his townes to his use and command Whereupon the King removed to Saint Quintin over which Saint Paul commanded there to accommodate his Army till the Dukes forces were in readinesse to take the field But as some over-hastie Troopes having got the start of the Army came confidently toward the gates expecting to be receiv'd if not with triumph at least with all the demonstrations of joy the Artillery from the towne shot against them and some of the Garrison issued forth to skirmish in which two or three of the English perisht This apparence of hostility from a Confederate confirmed the former jealousie
game quite lost and made his addresses to the King of England whom he believed to be of the easiest nature and from whom he expected lesse severity because the King had suffered lesse then the others by his dissimulation He therefore first excused the distaste given the English at S. Quintin casting the whole fault upon the unhappy rashnesse of his Souldiers billited in the Towne and the jealousie of the Townesmen Then hee advised him to be wary of giving too much faith to King Lewys who was resolved after the departure of the English army to observe no covenant wherefore his safest course would be to demand Eu and S. Valerie to billet his Souldiers in this Winter which he was secure Lewys his feares durst not deny and by which grant hee would not be necessitated to so sudden a returne Lastly observing the avarice of the Kings disposition in the last treaty hee tendered him the loane of fifty thousand Crownes and promise of all faithfull service in the future But the memory of former unfaithfull passages and desire to enjoy the pleasures of peace defend the King so farre to these new propositions that it ended even in scornefull language of the offerer which drove S. Paul into utter despaire For the King was not to be remooved from his new begunne amity with Lewys which every day by the interchange of favours and by laboring to excell each other in confidence gathered increase For presently upon conclusion of the Articles betweene the Commissioners a truce being made untill the peace were ratified by the oathes of both the Princes the English souldiers had free admission into all the French townes And one day so great number of the army went to make merry in Amiens as might have endangered the surprisall if there had not beene faithfull intentions in King Edward But hee to shew the integrity of his mind and to take away all occasion of jealousie of any underhand designe sent to King Lewys to intreate him to give order for restraint if by entering in so large multitudes the souldier endangered suspicion which Lewys never overcome in Complement refused with many protestations of his confidence onely desiring our King if he disliked the absence of so considerable a part of his Army from the Campe to send some Yoemen of his Crowne to guard the gates in regard he was resolved no French man should stop the passage of the English But our King strained his curtesie much too high when to out-vye King Lewys his favours he offered to give him a catalogue of all the French Noblemen who had conspired with S. Paul in this warre and had given faith to revolt to the English For as in the rule of common justice this discovery could give no better an attribute to the King then that of state Informer so could it not but infinitely prejudice the affaires of England considering it would shut up for ever the passage to all intelligence if this peace should chance to breake hereafter And indeed by so voluntary undertaking that office which an honest minde thinkes it selfe unhappy to be forced to presents his nature to us most ignoble since this treason was onely intentionall and as the state of businesses now stood in France reconciled to the English it no way concerned the safety of his new confederate On the other side King Lewys showed himselfe most affectionate to the English when contrary to the circumspection of his nature hee rejected all the suspicions of his Councell who wisht him to be watchfull that King Edward by pretending this peace did not betray him to a ruinous security When likewise he sent such exceeding plenty of all provision to the English Campe and liberally feasted those so innumerable multitudes who dayly resorted to Amiens But perhaps some state Critickes will interpret the former in him not a good opinion of our faith but a conceit of a dull ignorant honesty in our Nation not quicke to take advantages and the later onely an obsequious way to continue us in our former resolution for peace What ever passion prevaild with him in other curtesies I am confident hee exprest more Noblenesse then in any other action of his life When he refused to destroy the English army having oftentimes so faire opportunity by reason of the many disorders the truce begot While these passages of endearement lasted betweene the two Kings a place convenient for an enterview was found out at Picquigny a Towne three leagues from Amiens standing upon the River Some Commissioners to provide there should be no danger of treason in the place for the King were the Lord Howard and Sir Anthony S. Leger for the French the Lord of Bouchage and Comines In the choyce of which place Comines layes a grosse oversight to our Commissioners For he affirmes by reason of a Marish on both sides the causey on which the King was to come to the Bridge where the meeting was his person might have beene in danger if the French had not meant good faith And if this were true it certainely deserved a signall reprehension in regard the sad experience of those times taught there could not bee too much circumspection at such an enterview But the successe guilty of no infelicity cleered the Commissioners either quite from the fault or from much of the blame At the meeting there was as much interchange of curtesie as could bee betweene two Princes The French King was first at the grate for these two Lions could not without danger of combat meete but at so safe a distance and our King was a Gallant in manage of his body by bending himselfe lower at salutation In which he exprest youthfullnesse and Court ship In their language was much of sweetenesse and endearing and in their behaviour an apparence of a congratulatory joy Each labouring to obtaine the victory in the expressions of a cordiall affection and indeed the maine businesse tooke up lest part of the time Twelve persons of principall name attended on each Prince according to the nature of the Ceremony out-vying each other in the curiosity and riches of their apparell On the English side the Duke of Glocester was absent in regard his presence should not approve what his opinion and sence of honour had heretofore disallowed And that there might bee no fraud nor treason on the English side were foure of the French and on the French foure of the English who watchfully observed every word and gesture So much jealousie waits upon even the most friendly meetings and so suspected is the faith of Princes Eight hundred men at armes attended on the French King on the King of England his whole Army Which set in battell array to the best advantage for the eye afforded a prospect of much delight and bravery to them who at a more unfriendly encounter would have trembled at the sight The Chancellor of England made an Oration congratulatory for the happy accord whereby so much blood was preserv'd in
battells fought by her father in Lorrain And the faith of all the Commanders who remained bought up by King Lewys and turn'd wholly French with surrender of the Townes and Forts under their government And all hope of any Levies at home vaine and false the Commons by practise of the French King every where in tumult and the few who wisht well to their Princesse affaires either not daring to declare themselves or suffering death or imprisonment for their faith They concluded with intreatie that the King would engage his armes in so iust a quarrell which as it could not bee but most honorable to his name and no way unprofitable so likewise would it cast a perpetuall obligation upon their Princesse and devote her power hereafter to his service This Embassie carried with it every way so much iustice that it begot a generall approbation For the opinion was that England never had so faire an opportunitie to winne honour to the nation relieve an opprest Princesse checke an insoleut and unfaithfull neighbour and provide for its owne safetie So that in the Court no person of honour not corrupted with the French pension but passionately desired the undertaking and thought it necessitie in every point to begin this defensive warre But the King in so deepe a lethargie that no danger could wake him nor touch of honour make him sensible heard this with a faire respect and dismist the Embassadors with some faint comfort And though hee could not perceive what a cloud it would bee upon his reputation to permit so foule an injury to the young Princesse and sit still yet hee resolved to listen to the safer counsailes of peace and beleeve how improbable soever the many protestations of King Lewys Who soone as hee understood of these addresses to England which at the very first hee expected dispatcht his Embassadors to undoe whatsoever had beene wrought by the former sollicitation And whereas the Dutchesse of Burgundie perswaded this warre by the arguments of honour and a generous pittie Hee disswaded it by menacing an absolute breach of the peace sworne at Piguignie whereby the King should bee frustrated of his tribute and the so mightie marriage of his daughter Hee showed farther how it was not onely against the so neare amitie begun and likely to continue betweene them and their posteritie but even against the custome of common confederacies to hinder a neighbour Prince in league when hee onely attempted the recovery of his owne right And if the truth of his actions were layd open to the world it would appeare the re-assumption of those townes into the power of France what interpretation soever they might suffer among the ignorant or malicious was but an act of justice Since those many places in Picardie were no way of right belonging to Duke Charles but permitted him onely to avoyd the continuance of warre which was notorious to any man who would but call to memory how they were morgaged to Duke Phillip The absolute alienation of them from the Crowne having never beene eyther in the will or power of any French King Then for the Dutchy of Burgundie the originall grant and the common practise in French would manifest that it onely was conferd upon the heires male which fayling in the present Dutchesse implyes a returne of it backe to the Crowne whence it past at first by an inconsiderate transaction Lastly that his taking armes was onely to recover and iustisie his right and reduce the Princesse Mary to performe her homage which never was denyed by any Earle of Flanders And if there bee any infidelitie or tumult among her subjects shee ought either to blame the evill disposition of her people to rebellion or the misfortune of her owne government This was the effect of King Lewys his answer at first which the King was joyfull to have divulged because it gave his slownesse to action a spacious show of justice and discretion But the reliefe of the opprest Lady grew so much into the vote of the Commonaltie and even the better sort of people bended so much to compassion that the French began to suspect the King might be induced to undertake her protection Whereupon new Embassadours came with new instructions something more plausible then the former in which they were to keepe the King upon any termes at home These offerd to his Majestie a full relation of King Lewys his proceedings hitherto with promise to referre it wholly to him if any violence had beene by the licence of warre committed That their Masters ayme was so far from injury that hee would submit to indifferent judgement all the passages in this quarrell and bind himselfe to any restitution the King of England should order For all his desire these Armes was onely the reduction of his owne and maintenance of the prerogatives of the Crowne of France And ever among these excuses he mingled some discourse concerning the Dolphin his so forward growth and the great expectation of him something too of the Lady Elizabeth and the joy all France conceiv'd of the future marriage Neither was the ceremony of paying the tribute ever omitted at the day nor the great Lords forgotten to be presented with their precious and something too of addition to increase their diligence By these Arts hee won time a merchandize hee then traffiqu'd for and the purchase of which so nearely concern'd his present designe For it was his and certainly a pollitique course to send often and still severall Embassadors who if in their overtures they were contradictory layd the fault on their instructions and desired respite till they had some farther understanding of their Masters intentions and when any thing new was proposed they imbraced it intreating onely time to informe the state of France But when by frequent treating the businesse was come oftentimes to necessitie of absolute resolution then suddenly was the Embassadour recall'd and some new person sent to supply his place wholly ignorant or at least pretending to bee wholly ignorant of all former passages At the length when hee saw there was an impossibilitie farther to dissemble by pretending restitution of whatsoever had beene wrested away from the Dutchesse Hee discover'd the trechery of his former carriage and made propositions advantageous to the Kings profit Offering if hee would passe the Seas with a full armie and joyne in the quarrell to defray halfe the expence of the warre and never forsake the English untill hee had setled them in possession of Flanders and Brabant so that the spoile might bee equally divided betweene the two Kings In this one overture exprest the deceit of his former purchase to make which good he tenderd so great a brokage But the King refused this proposition Not out of conscience unwilling to enter upon estates to which he had no title Nor greatnesse of spirit disdaining to make advantage of the misfortune of a Lady opprest by an over-potent neighbour and forsaken by an ungratefull and disobedient people