Since you tell me that you do not well understand French, especially that old dialect, which Comines wrote; and that you are willing to have an account of the treaty which was made betwixt our Edward the Fourth and Lewis the Eleventh of France, by the intervention of some mean fellows; and that you desire likewise to be informed of the intrigues of the great constable of France, who played with all sides, and was the chief trickster of that time; I am willing to oblige you, and am satisfied you will be pleased with the diversity of scenes that the story presents to your view.

THAT treaty, which Comines gives an account of so much to the

dishonour of our nation, was first set on foot to publick appearance by an ordinary fellow, servant to a gentleman of the French King's houshold, who had not above twenty crowns salary per annum, himself; therefore, I can suppose the servant to have been no more than a footman. This fellow was taken near St. Quintin, by the English, when they marched up to the town in hopes of being received into it without opposition, according to promise by the Count de St. Paul, Great Constable of France, who was the chief trickster of his time, but lost his head for it at last, as you shall hear in its place. The footman being brought before King Edward the Fourth, and the Duke of Burgundy, one of the predecessors to the house of Austria, who was his ally in this war against France, they examined him; after which the King ordered him to be set at liberty, since he was the first prisoner they

had taken in this expedition. As the fellow was going, the Lord Howard and Stanley give him a noble, and bid him in the stile of those times recommend them to the good grace of the King his master, if he could have access to speak to him.

The fellow made haste to the French King, who was then at Compiegne, and found access to deliver the message. Lewis XI. took him at first for a spy, because his master's brother was in the service of the Duke of Britany, who was also in alliance with the King of England and Duke of Burgundy, and therefore ordered him to be kept in custody that night. Abundance of people had liberty however to talk with him, and finding him speak with so much assurance, they gave it as their opinion, that the King ought to allow him a further hearing. Next morning betimes the King sent for him, and, after examining him more thoroughly, ordered him still to be kept in custody.

As the King went to dinner, he was full of thoughts about this matter, whether he should send to the King of England or not? And, before he sat down, whispered Comines in the ear, that he remembered the English herald had told him, that, when the King of England landed, he needed not send to him for a pass-port, but might direct any messenger to the said Lords Howard and Stanley. [This mystery you will find unravelled in the course of the story.] The King, having spoke thus, sat down, and ruminating a little, he whispered again to Comines, bid him rise up, and seek for one who was servant to the Lord Halles, and ask him if he durst undertake to go to the English army in the habit of an herald; Comines found out the man, and asked what the King commanded him, but was perfectly amazed when he saw the fellow, for he had neither mein nor behaviour fit for such an undertaking, nor had the King ever spoke to him but once; Comines owns though, that the man had sense, and a very graceful and smooth way of speaking. The servant was so much surprised when Comines spoke to him, that he fell on his knees as if he would have dropped down dead, so that he had much ado to keep him from falling into a swoon, the proposal was so amazing to one in his circumstances. Comines, to encourage him, promised him a post and money, and told him, that he needed not be afraid, for the motion came from the English, kept him to dine with him, and instructed him what he should do. In the mean time the King sent for Comines, who gave him an account of the man, and advised him to some others that he thought more proper; the King would not hear of this, but went and talked with the fellow himself, and having animated him by promise of a great reward, he taught him his lesson; but was so hard put to it to rig him out on a sudden, that he was forced to take a banner from one of his trumpets, to make him a herald's coat, and to borrow a badge from a herald belonging to the admiral, for the King had none of his own there, and so mounted him with his habiliments, put up in a fine bag fixed to the bow of his saddle, till he should come to the English camp, which was but eight miles distant. Thus he sent him a-going unknown to any body but Comines, and the Lord Villiers, his master of the horse.

The fellow, according to instructions, came to the English camp, and, putting on his coat of arms, was brought to the King's tent; told

those in waiting, That he was sent from the King of France to the King of England, and was ordered to address himself to the Lords Howard and Stanley to be introduced. The King being at dinner, this new vamped herald was carried to another tent, where he had his belly-full of more substantial food than French kick-shaws; and, when the King had dined, the herald was brought before him, and delivered his message thus: "The King of France had of a long time coveted his Majesty's friendship, and that their two realms might live in peace; that, since his master came to the crown, he had never undertaken any war directly against the King, or King of England; and, though he had entertained the Earl of Warwick, it was only against the Duke of Burgundy, and not against him. He likewise said, that the Duke had invited his Majesty beyond sea, only that he might be able to make the better terms for himself; and that the rest of the allies, who concurred with him, had done it to retrieve their own affairs, and to gain their particular ends: That the winter now drew on; that his master, the King of France, knew his Majesty had been at great expence, and that there were many in England, both of the nobility and gentry, &c. who were eager for war at home, in favour of the pretenders of Lancaster; but, if the King of England would listen to a treaty, the King his master would do all that was possible on his part, that both he and his kingdom should have satisfaction, and that he might be more thoroughly informed of matters. If he would grant a passport for an hundred horsemen, the King of France would send ambassadors to him fully instructed; or, if the King of England had rather that they should meet at a village, half way betwixt both armies, the King of France would readily agree to it, and send passports on his side."

The King of England, and part of his great men, liked these proposals very well, and gave this supposed herald such a passport as he desired, and a present of four nobles; they also sent a herald with him, to get the King of France's passport; and next day there met in a village near Amiens, on the part of the French King, the bastard of Bourbon, the admiral, the Lord St. Peter, and the Bishop of Eureux; on the part of the King of England, my Lord Howard, Mr. Chalanger, Dr. Marten, Chancellor of England, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Thus, Sir, you see the treaty so far advanced by a footman; for I can suppose a gentleman who had only twenty crowns, or 41. 10s. per annum salary, was not able to keep a servant of a higher station, and a valet de chambre, for so we must account of this new vamped herald at best.

I come next to tell you how a nine years truce was concluded betwixt Edward the Fourth and Lewis the Eleventh, notwithstanding all the endeavours used by the Duke of Burgundy and his other allies against it.

The French valet de chambre having thus performed his part, he was rewarded with a post and money, and the day after the ambassadors on both sides met; the English (says Comines) demanded, according to custom, the crown of France, or, at least, Normandy and Guienne. They made a vigorous attack, and the French made as brave a defence; however, the very first day of meeting, they began to come within ken

of one another, for both sides were eager for a peace. At last, the demands of the English terminated in 70,000 crowns, to be paid down before they marched off. That Lewis the Eleventh's son should be married to King Edward's daughter, and that the duchy of Guienne should be given to King Edward, or 50,000 crowns paid him annually, in the Tower of London, for nine years; after which, Guienne was to be peaceably enjoyed by the prince and princess above-mentioned. Some other articles there were, relating to trade, &c. which are not worth mentioning; and there was room left for the allies on both sides to come into this treaty, if they pleased. Nay, the King of England was so forward, that he offered to give the French King an account in writing, of several of his own subjects, who were traytors to his crown and dignity.

The French ambassadors having reported these things to Lewis the Eleventh, he was extremely rejoiced, and called a council upon it; at which Comines was present. Some were of opinion that the English dissembled, and that there was fraud couched under the proposals; which proceeded, I suppose, from the extraordinary forwardness that appeared in the English court towards a peace. But the King of France was of another opinion, because of the advanced season, that the English had not one place of retreat in their hands. That there was a misunderstanding betwixt them and the Duke of Burgundy, and that the King knew our Edward the Fourth was wholly given up to his ease and pleasures; and as to the constable of France, though the King knew him to be a trickster, yet he was sure he would deliver up none of the places he had promised to the Duke of Burgundy and the English, because the King, being jealous of him, kept fair with him, and was continually sending messengers, with fine words and large promises, to keep him from doing any mischief. Therefore it was concluded to raise the money demanded by the English with all possible speed, and to borrow it from those that were able to lend; for the King was resolved to be rid of the English at any rate, and rather to hazard all, than to suffer them to get get footing in the kingdom of France, which they were just ready to enter.

Comines, being sensible that this was a very mean submission on the part of the French King, excuses it thus: That he knew what mischiefs the English had formerly done in France, and knowing the danger of his own circumstances from the Duke of Britany, and others, that were ready to raise commotions in the bowels of the kingdom, he wisely chose this part, as the only means left him to disappoint the designs of the Duke of Burgundy, and the other confederates.

The constable of France perceiving the treaty to be near concluded, and being sensible that he had tricked with all sides, he sent his secretary, and one of his gentlemen, to the King, with proposals to break off the treaty. At the same time one of the Duke of Burgundy's gentlemen, who had been taken before Arras, was let go on his parole to procure his ransom, and promised a great sum by the French King, besides being let go ransom-free, if he could bring his master to a peace. He happened to return the very same time when the constable sent his servants to the King of France, who improved the opportunity thus. He put

the Duke of Burgundy's gentleman and Comines, behind a large screen in his own chamber, and called in the constable's secretary and gentleman, that the Duke of Burgundy's servant might hear their proposals, and report them to his master, which he doubted not would have a good effect. The constable's servants began their discourse, and told the French King that their master had sent several times to persuade the Duke of Burgundy to break with the English, and found him so much incensed against the King of England, that he had almost gained him not only to desert them, but to fall upon them as they retired; and, the better to please the King, one of the constable's servants acted the Duke of Burgundy before him, stamped with his foot against the ground, swore by St. George, which was the duke's usual oath, and called the King of England Blayborgne, the bastard of a beef-cater of that name, and all the other reproachful names which he could invent. The French King laughed heartily, and, pretending to be thick of hearing, bid the fellow repeat it, and speak out louder; which he did with a very good grace. The conclusion of their message was, that the constable advised his Majesty to make a truce with the English, to avoid the dangers which otherwise threatened him from the allies, and to grant the King of England a little town or two for winter-quarters, pointing at Eu and St. Valery; and added, That the constable was sure this would please the English; and for his part he would be guarantee they should keep the treaty. The French King having gained his end, which was to let the allies know the constable's knavery, he answered his messengers very civilly, told them he would in a little time let his brother the constable know his mind, for so he thought fit to call him, because he had married a daughter of Savoy, sister to the Queen of France; and then dismiss'd them, after one of them had taken his cath that he would discover every thing that he knew to be transacted against his Majesty's interest. The King had much ado to dissemble his wrath at the constable's proposal to give the English those two towns, because he knew it was made on purpose to excuse himself at their hands for not delivering them St. Quintin, &c. according as he had promised to the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy; but he concealed his displeasure, and sent a civil answer to the constable to keep him in suspense, and prevent his delivering up the towns under his government. When the constable's messengers were gone, the King called the Duke of Burgundy's gentleman (who had much ado to keep his patience when he heard his master so much abused) and Comines, from behind the screen. The King laughed heartily, and was very merry, while the Duke's gentleman was in such a rage, that he could scarce be kept from taking horse immediately to acquaint his master with the constable's treachery. But the King prevailed with him to stay till he wrote down with his own hand what passed; and the King writ to the duke, assuring him of the truth of what his gentleman Seigneur de Contay (for that was his name) had writ. The truce with England was concluded before this, on the terms above-mentioned, and an interview agreed on betwixt the two Kings; after which the King of England, upon receiving his money, was to return to his own country, and to leave the Lord Howard and Mr. Cheyney, who was master of his horse, as hostages behind him.