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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 HAT 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

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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 hiin 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

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