EDWARD IV. IN FLANDERS. 119 of York was false even to absurdity. Charles, though he had married a daughter of that house, was, by his mother, of the red rose line, and he had inherited strong prepossessions in favour of that illustrious branch of the Plantagenets, from which the greatest men of the preceding generation had sprung. When he heard that Edward had landed as a fugitive upon his coast, Comines says he would much rather have heard of his death. He was not, however, led by this feeling to any act unbecoming his station or himself. Edward, by his orders, was entertained, as he had been first received, as his brother-in-law, and as an exiled king; at the same time, knowing of how great importance it was to his subjects to be at peace with England, and how little it concerned them whether the house of York or Lancaster were in possession of the throne, he sent Comines to Calais to negotiate for a renewal, or rather a continuation, of the treaty between the two countries.* Hostilities had commenced from Calais as soon as Warwick had sent the tidings of his success there, and at the same time a reinforcement of some 400 men. They made an inroad into the Boulonnois; in return for which, Comines had despatched orders to seize all English merchants and merchandise at Gravelines. Hitherto he had at all times entered Calais confidently, without a safe-conduct; relying not more upon his acquaintance with the persons in authority there, than upon the honour of the English, to which he bears honourable testimony; but upon this occasion he thought it necessary to provide himself with all possible securities. Accordingly, he informed the duke of his apprehensions, and the duke sent him his signet, requiring him to proceed on his mission, and assuring him that, if he were arrested, he should be ransomed ; an assurance on which he seemed to place no great reliance, as knowing that Charles cared little to what danger he might expose any of his servants. But Comines thought it better to rely upon the good faith of his enemies (if such they were to *Comines, 160. be) than upon the protection of his prince, and applied to Vaucler for a safe-conduct, who replied, in the friendliest terms, that he might enter as he had ever before done. There came, however, none to meet and welcome him, as they had been wont: white crosses, the badge of France, met his eyes; songs celebrating the confederacy between Warwick and the king of France resounded in his ears; Vaucler himself wore in his bonnet the ragged staff, and whosoever had not that badge of the Nevils in gold, had it in cloth. He was told, that the revolution in England had not been known in Calais a quarter of an hour before every one had put himself in this livery. Comines observes, that he never till then felt the instability of human affairs; and he noticed, when dining with Vaucler, that the persons whom he had always regarded as most attached to king Edward, were now the most outrageous in their expressions of joy at his expulsion. He was then a young man, little experienced in state practices; but he had already learnt the art of dissimulation, and, though he had received certain information that Edward was safe in Holland, made no scruple of assuring the guests that he was dead; but whether he were or not, he said, the treaties which the duke his master had made were not with Edward IV., but with the king and realm of England; and these words had been advisedly used in framing them, that they might hold good whatever king might reign, and whatever mutations might take place in that kingdom. So it was agreed, that these treaties should continue in force; and though the merchants had received intimation that it was Comines who had advised the seizure of the goods in Gravelines, and for that reason would fain have had him arrested, he conducted his business so well as to adjust that cause of dispute. There had been an old agreement with the house of Burgundy, that the garrison of Calais, in case of need, might carry off cattle within a certain district, paying for them a just price. That price now was paid for what had been taken in the last inroad; and the merchants themselves, that their staple 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, Yet 66 and defend that noble house both by word and deed, 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 cir cumstances, 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.* 66 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." |