EDWARD IV. IN FLANDERS. 121 might not be interrupted, used all their influence to further the object for which Comines was sent there. It was of the utmost importance to Charles the Bold: Louis had just taken from him Amiens and St. Quentin; and if a serious attack had been made upon him by the English at the same time, the worst consequences might have been apprehended.* Charles, therefore, had now no cause of anxiety from England; yet he had some difficulty how to act between two parties, to both which, setting aside political considerations and personal feelings, he was in some degree bound in honour. The duke of Somerset, his kinsman, as of Lancastrian blood, was a refugee at his court, and was espousing there, with all his influence, the cause of king Henry, when Edward came to his brother-in-law at St. Pol, and told him what invitations he had from his friends in England, and besought him as the husband of his sister, and as his brother in the order of the Garter, not to desert, but aid him in the recovery of his rightful throne. Both had their adherents about them; and there was a danger that their inveterate hatred of each other might break out into open hostilities, even when both were suppliants. Charles, therefore, for his own sake, desired to be rid of both; and this he effected with sufficient impartiality, though not by holding an open and honourable course. Indeed, even in the best ages of chivalry, any consistent principle of honour was almost as rare as the virtue of humanity; and, at this time, the avowed maxims of the great were such as might justify any practices, however unworthy or nefarious. He publicly assisted Somerset with means, and secretly covenanted with him to act against Warwick, whenever opportunity might be favourable. Somerset and Warwick were ostensibly reconciled at this time, and acting in the same cause; and Charles had written "lovingly" to Warwick, saying, that, as he was himself of the Lancastrian stock, he was by nature obliged as well as by alliance bound to support, honour, * Comines, 162–167. Yet and defend that noble house both by word and deed, against all manner of persons and estates: "flattering terms and glosing words," relating to Warwick himself, were added, "which," says Hall, "I think neither the duke inwardly minded, nor the earl outwardly be lieved." Further to confirm these protestations, he declared that he would give Edward no assistance, and forbade all persons from engaging in his service; but Edward received a private intimation that the duke found it necessary to consult his own safety by thus conforming to the times: and when Somerset and his followers had joyfully taken their departure for England, the duke secretly put Edward in possession of 50,000 florins of the cross of St. Andrew; lent him three or four ships, which he gave orders for equipping in Veere, being a port free for all men; and covertly hired for him fourteen Easterling vessels, well appointed, taking bond of them to serve truly till he was landed, and for fifteen days afterwards." The Easterlings gladly engaged in this service, regarding Warwick as their enemy, and trusting that, if Edward recovered the kingdom, "they should, for the help which they had thus afforded, the sooner come to a concord and peace, and obtain the restitution of those franchises which they claimed in England." ""* They were not deceived in this: one of the first acts of Edward's government, after his restoration, was to conclude a perpetual peace with the Hanse Towns.t 66 A.D. The duke considered himself now safe on the side of 1471. England: let whatsoever king might reign, he was the friend and ally of the government for the time being; and having acted bountifully to both parties, he believed that on both sides there must be a friendly feeling towards him. The aid which he had given to Edward was, though secret, very considerable, considering the circumstances, and so far worthy of the character which * Hall, 289. 290. Comines, 167-169. Holinshed, 303. "Ce secours fut très-grand selon le temps."- Comines, 169. EDWARD LANDS IN THE HUMBER. 123 12. he had obtained, of exceeding in splendour all princes of his time.* Edward," being thus furnished, thought nothing more painful and wretched than the tarrying of one day longer, nor nothing more to be desired than with all celerity to sail toward his own country." But his patience was put to some trial; for, having embarked at Flushing, he remained aboard nine weary days before the wind "turned meet for his journey:" when once it came about, he hoisted sail, di- Mar. recting his course straight over to the coast of Norfolk. The next day brought them to Cromer, in the evening; and he sent sir Robert Chamberlaine, sir Gilbert Debenham, and some others, ashore, to discover how the people were affected. They returned with information that there was no surety for him to land there, because of the good order which Warwick and Oxford had especially taken in that country to resist him; the duke of Norfolk, and all of whom any suspicion was felt, having been sent for to London, by letters of privy seal, and either committed to safe keeping or else compelled to give security for their loyal demeanour toward king Henry. Yet his agents had been well received by their friends, and entertained with good cheer. The feeling of passionate attachment to either house seemed to be worn out among the people: they were weary of changes, and wished to be at rest under a settled government. Edward, finding such poor encouragement, proceeded to the north. A storm arose that night, and continued the two following days; on the second of which, his fleet was scattered, so that, of necessity, they were driven to land separately, each where they could, lest they should be cast away. Edward's force amounted to about 2000 able men-at-arms, besides mariners. In his own ship some 500 of these men were embarked, with one of the most faithful of his friends, the lord Hastings. They found themselves off the mouth of the * At his marriage with the English princess, the old chronicle. says, "alle de heeren ende princen gaven ghetuyghenisse ende seyden, dat gheen keyser, coninck ofte prince in Christenrijck en ware te ghelijcken hertoghe Kaerle, in eere, glorie ende moghentheyt." Humber; and, putting up that estuary, landed on the Holderness side, at Ravenspurgh, the very place where Bolingbroke landed, when he came to deprive Richard II. of the crown, and to usurp it for himself: so fatal was that spot to the Plantagenets, first of the one and then of the other line.* His brother Richard, with 300 men, landed about four miles distant; and earl Rivers, with some 200, higher up the river, at Paul; the rest here and there, where they could, yet none so remote from the poor village in which the king took up his hard lodging for the night, but that they joined him on the following day. Some who had light horses rode about "to see if, by any persuasion, the rustical and uplandish people might be allured to take king Edward's part, and wear harness in his quarrel;" but they came back on the mormaking relation that all the towns round about were permanent and stiff on the part of king Henry, and could not be removed, and that it was but folly further to solicit them; for, when they were moved on his behalf, not a man durst speak for fear of Warwick: row, 66 66 yet, in respect of the good-will that many of them had borne to his father, they could be content that he should enjoy his due inheritance of the duchy of York." That right they could clearly understand; but the right of succession to the crown was a neck-question, too high and too perilous for them. They would not help, yet as little did they wish to hurt him; so they let him pass till they should understand more of his meaning. When Edward had digested this unpalatable intelligence, he accommodated himself to it; and, instead of reclaiming the crown, publicly declared that he required only the duchy of York. Deeming all artifices allowable when his life and his crown were at stake, he produced the letter and seal of the earl of Northumberland, which he persuaded the easily deluded people were sent for his safe-conduct, when he was invited to come and take possession of the duchy; and this dissi *Hall, 290. Holinshed, 303. EDWARD'S DISSIMULATION. 125 mulation he is said to have carried so far, that in many places he proclaimed king Henry himself, and wore an ostrich feather, which was Edward the prince of Wales's livery. * "It is almost incredible," says the honest chronicler of these wars, "to see what effect this new imagination, although it were but feigned, sorted and took immediately upon the first opening : such a power hath justice ever amongst all men." When it was blown abroad that king Edward's desire was farther from nothing than from the coveting of the Kingdom, and that he no earthly promotion desired before his just patrimony and lineal inheritance, all men, moved with mercy and compassion, began, out of hand, either to favour him, or not to resist him, so that he might obtain his duchy." He, "when he had found these means to pacify men's minds and to reconcile their hearts," determined to make for York, instead of proceeding straight for London; because he apprehended that, when he went to cross the Humber, it would be thought he had withdrawn himself to the sea for fear, and that such a rumour would lightly be spread, to the hinderance of his whole cause. This answered so well, because it seemed to confirm his declaration, that a force of 6000 or 7000 men, who had been collected in divers places, chiefly by a priest, and a gentle. man named Martin de la Mere, instead of offering any resistance, with which intent they had been raised, "took occasion to assist him ;" and he advanced to Beverley, in the direct line for York. From thence he sent to Kingston-upon-Hull, requiring the people to receive him there also; but the ruling party were predominant there, and they refused him admittance in any wise. + Warwick's brother, Montacute, who was stationed at Pomfret with a great number of soldiers, was instructed with all speed to attack Edward, if he was strong enough; or else "to keep the passages, and stay him from advancing," till Warwick himself, who was col * Speed, 682. + Hall, 291. Holinshed, 304. |