his hand of protection from the tyrant, the other having reached forth unto him his hand of help for the recovery of his kingdom. But howsoever these things do interest his grace in his particular, yet he knoweth well that the higher bond that tieth him to procure, by all means, the safety and welfare of his loving subjects, doth disinterest him of those obligations of gratitude, otherwise than these, that, if he be forced to make war, he do it without passion or ambition. If it be in the

French king's purpose (or if it should not be in his purpose, yet if it shall follow all one as if it were sought), that he shall make a province of Bretagne, and join it to the crown of France, then it is worthy their consideration how this may import England, as well in the increasement of the greatness of France, by the addition of such a country, that stretcheth his boughs unto our seas, as in depriving this nation, or leaving it naked of so firm and assured confederates as the Bretons have always been. For then it will come to pass, that whereas, not long since, this realm was mighty upon the Continent, first in territory and after in alliance, in respect of Burgundy and Bretagne, which were confederates indeed, but dependent confederates: now, the one being already cast, partly into the greatness of France, and partly into that of Austria, the other is like wholly to be cast into the greatness of France; and this island shall remain confined, in effect, within the salt waters, and girt about with the coast countries of two mighty monarchs. For the example, it resteth upon the French king's intent. For if Bretagne be carried and swallowed up by France, as the world abroad conceives it will, then it is an example very dangerous and universal, that the lesser neighbour's estate should be devoured by the greater. For this may be the case of Scotland towards England, of Portugal towards Spain, of the smaller estates of Italy toward the greater; and so of Germany; or as if some of you of the commons might not live and dwell safely beside some of these great lords. And the

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bringing in of this example will be chiefly laid to the king's charge, as to him that was most interested and most able to forbid it. But then, on the other hand, there is so fair a pretext on the French king's part, (and yet pretext is never wanting to power), in regard the danger imminent to his own estate is such, as may make this enterprise seem rather a work of necessity than of ambition, as doth in reason correct the danger of the example. For that the example of that which is done in a man's own defence cannot be dangerous, because it is in another's power to avoid it. But in all this business the king remits himself to your grave and mature advice, whereupon he purposeth to rely."

That advice was, that the king should espouse the cause of the duke of Bretagne, and send him speedy aid, for which a large supply was voted. That aid proved unavailing: the French warily confined themselves to a war of skirmishes; the duke died, the nobles were engaged in factions and intrigues, and the English, perceiving this, and "considering that it was in the midst of winter, in the which time it is not wholesome for men to lie in the frosty and moist field, were compelled, in manner by necessity," within four months after their landing, to return to England †; and the annexation of Bretagne to the crown of France was brought about by marriage, the best means whereby such unions can be effected. On the side of Flanders, the French were taking advantage of the turbulent state of that country, to pursue their own plans of aggrandisement. The whole of the Low Countries had devolved to an infant son, upon the death of his mother, the only daughter of Charles the Bold; and the government was administered, in trust for him, by his father Maximilian, king of the Romans. The people were tenacious of their rights and privileges, the king of his authority; moderation and equity were alike disregarded by both: and though both parties avoided any thing like a general engagement, a war in detail was + Hall, 442.

*Parl. History, i. 451-455.

carried on- not of that kind which was denominated bad war, in which no quarter was given, but in which, by agreement, a ransom was fixed per head; and both parties reserved to themselves the right of burning houses and churches!* The war then extended throughout Flanders, Brabant, Hainault, and Namur. Things were in this state, when Philip, the young lord of Ravensteyn, forsook his lord Maximilian, and got possession of Sluys, with its two castles, which he manned and victualled, and made himself strong both by water and by land. He got possession of Ypres also, counting not only upon the disposition of the Flemings, but upon the aid of France. This was gladly supplied by the sieur des Cordes, who had revolted from the service of his own sovereign, Charles the Bold, to that of Louis XI., and was now lieutenant in Picardy for Charles VIII.: he, as one who had sufficient instructions upon any such offered occasion so to do, despatched 8000 Frenchmen to assist the Flemings in this revolt, and instructed them to take and occupy such towns as were on the way between France and Bruges, or Calais and Bruges. The sieur des Cordes, indeed, used to say that he would gladly lie seven years in hell, so that Calais were in possession of the French †; and his views of aggrandisement included both the English pale and Flanders.

Ravensteyn sent 4000 Flemings to join his allies: they besieged Dixmude, laying their siege on the north side of the town, in a marshy ground, which was then dry; and they so deeply ditched their camp, and so highly trenched it, planting their artillery on the trench, that they thought it in a manner impossible for any assailant to enter their camp, or annoy them in it. Henry was duly informed of their proceedings. He desired nothing less than to have the English pale en

* "Het was een schadelijcke oorloghe, sonder eenige ordinante, want de ruyters ende knechten aen beyden sijden hadden een compact ende overdracht met malcanderen ghemaeckt van rantsoen te geven, als een pont. groot-vlaems, ende yeghelijck die woude mochte alsoo veel huysen ende kercken aen brande steken als hy woude."-Oude Chronijcke van Holland, &c. 542.

Hall, 445. Holinshed, 499.

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vironed with French fortresses; and he perceived that if the French won Dixmude, they could then attack Nieuport and Gravelines: and, "consequently, what with force and what with corruption, that their purpose was to have the possession of the young duke Philip and of all Flanders, which could not be to the profit of him nor his subjects." He sent over, therefore, to Calais, with all speed, 1000 archers and soldiers, chosen men, 1489. under lord Morley; and on their arrival a report was spread, pursuant to his instructions, that they were come to defend the pale, in case any attempt should be made against it by the French or Flemings. But, drawing soldiers from that garrison, and from Hammes and Guisnes, about 2000 men, under the deputy of Calais, lord Daubeney and lord Morley issued out at nightfall, left 600 archers at Gravelines, for a stale, and also to keep the passage, and, proceeding to Nieuport, where they found 600 Germans, with whom the enterprise had been concerted, halted there for the remainder of the night. On the morrow, as they advanced toward Dixmude, they came to a gallows near the highway, on which the people of that town were about to hang one of the besieging army, who had ventured among them as a spy. Luckily for him, he recognised among the English sir James Tyrrell, who was then captain of Guisnes, and, calling out piteously upon him, promised, if his life might be saved, to guide them so that they might come upon the enemy unperceived, and to be the first assailant himself. On that condition his pardon was obtained from the magistrates and captain of the town; and on the day following he led them out at the south gate, under a high bank set with willows, which covered them from the sight of the besiegers, so that they came unperceived to the end of the camp, and there halted. The lord Daubeney then commanded all men to send back their horses and waggons; Morley, however, said he would ride till he came to handstrokes. So they passed on till they came to a bank, low on that side, where the ordnance was planted, and a

ditch in front of it. The archers shot one flight of arrows, and immediately fell prostrate: and the enemy, discharging, in all haste, all their artillery, overshot them: upon which they instantly rose, let fly a second flight, and beat them from their guns. The Germans leapt the ditch with their pikes*, and then helped up the English who waded it; and while these "set on the enemy, and slew and took many prisoners," others hasted by the causeway to enter at the north gate of the camp; and here lord Morley, being on horseback in a rich coat, was singled out, and shot. His death was dearly and wickedly revenged, for every man killed his prisoner, and no further quarter was given. The account which states the number of the slaughtered at 8000 must be greatly exaggerated: it is said, however, on the authority of some Flemish chronicle, that of 2000 men who went from Bruges to this siege, not 100 returned. The loss of the English was less than that little number. They took all the artillery, and sent it with the spoils of the camp to Nieuport, while they proceeded to Ostend, hearing that it was occupied by some French; but the French evacuated that place in time, and, having burnt part of it, Daubeney returned, left his wounded at Nieuport, and carried Morley's body to Calais for honourable interment. "The field was profitable to the English; for they that went forth in cloth came home in silk, and they that went on foot returned on great horses."+

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The sieur des Cordes, who was at Ypres with a large force, was sore discontent" at this overthrow, and, thinking to be revenged, came and besieged Nieuport strongly. His men fared well; for the three principal cities of Flanders, where the popular cause prevailed, took care that they should be abundantly supplied. They

"Morishe pikes they are called by Hall, morice by Holinshed. Does this mean moorish, i. e. marsh pikes, so called as being meant to serve on occasion for leaping-poles? During the famous siege of Ostend the besieged had a company of leapers, who used "a long and great pike, with a flat head at the nether end thereof, that it should not sink too deep into the mud. With these they could clear a ditch four and twenty feet wide."Grimestone's Hist. of the Netherlands, p. 1299.

† Hall, 445, 446. Holinshed, 494.