Duke of Cornewall and Earle of Chester and his younger brother Richard created Duke of Yorke The fate of their honour and their ruine being still the same At this creation according to the ceremony many young Lords and Gentlemen of principall name were made Knights of the Bath among whom Brian chiefe Iustice of the Common pleas and Littleton that learned father of the Lawes are registred But the publicke glory of these extraordinary pompes and the wantonnesse of his private pleasures could not be maintaind with the ordinary revenue Therefore to make good the expence of his owne errours the King began to looke narrowly into those of his subjects that by this art in a manner he might sinne upon free cost And as it hath beene a certaine observation that the most delicate and voluptuous Princes have ever beene the heaviest oppressors of the people Riot being a far more lavish spender of the common treasure then Warre or magnificence so those parts of the Kings life which were wantond away with varietie of delights are noted to have bin severest But perhaps the subject repents not the free gift of the Kingdomes substance when hee sees the returne of it in triumph but repines if the least part of his contribution bee the reward of parasites or persons to whom fortune not merit gives a growth And Historians likewise have more leasure to examine the crimes of Princes in the silence of peace then in the noyse of warre Or else Princes want opportunitie to inclose their thoughts to the studie of private gaine when the Souldier in a manner layes the wealth of the kingdome open and makes a common of every mans particular treasure For now the King began to cause the Poenall Lawes to be put in execution and wanting higher aimes to looke downeward into every sordid way of enriching himselfe So that a generall feare possest the people that his after government would be both sharpe and heavie considering the first part of it was not without a foule blemish in that kind For in the seventh yeare of his raigne hee proceeded against many of the wealthiest Citizens with so much severitie that it was repoted tyranny The chiefe of them were Sr. Thomas Cooke Sr. John Plumer Knights Humphrey Hewward and other Aldermen And their crime in their having given assistance to King Henry Which considering the circumstance of things could hardly beare any capitall accusation had it beene clearely proved but against these men there was no testimony but what was forc'd with torture and even that testimony not high enough to bring them to the barre yet the King commanded them to be arraigned of high treason at Guild Hall and withall exprest an earnest desire that upon any tearmes they might bee found guiltie Their wealth being the principall witnesse that gave evidence against their lives But the Iurie well directed by Sir John Marckham Knight chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench acquit them of their treason Which neverthelesse releast them not their estates however found guiltie and the greatest part escheated to the King VVith the offenders the Iudge was condemn'd and because hee prefer'd his integritie before a severe command made forfeiture of his dignitie The memory of these carriages heretofore in a businesse that concern'd the life of man reputed innocent drew the world into much feare that hee would now decline to rigour Neither was the King totally excused although this cruell avarice was laid to the Queene who having a numerous issue and kindred by favour raisd up to the highest titles was almost necessitated for supportance of their honours to wrack the Kingdome And happily the universall malice that waited on her and hers serv'd well for the King They being as a screene betweene him and the unwholesome ayre of envie which otherwise might have endangerd his reputation with the people From this rugged way hee was soone diverted by necessitie to looke abroad and perhaps by the gentlenesse of his nature or repentance of his former severitie For the face of the world adjoyning began von the sudden to change and while the Kings of England and France were dividing the territories of the Dutchesse of Burgundie a third stept in and got possession of her and her rich countrey Maximilian Arch Duke of Austria sonne to the Emperour Fredericke the third entertain'd heretofore politckly by Duke Charles was now seriously invited to this marriage For the Lady dispairing to receive succours from the English to the affection of whom she was perhaps inclined by the neighbour-hood of the countrey and perswasion of the Dutchesse Dowager whom deservedly shee much honourd condescended in the end to the desire of her subjects who ever labord to marry lier to some Prince of Germany in regard of the nearenesse in language and concordance in dispositions And although the hereditarie countries of this Prince lying farre remote were unlike to bee any support to her weakned state yet considering him as sonne to the Emperous and in probabilitie like to succeede for in an elective Kingdome scarce ever is the heire put by if equally deserving he might appeare necessary to her present affaires For he was young of a noble spirit strong and healthfull in constitution bold in any attempt of honour and what wonne upon the affections of the Low countreymen extraordinary affable and courteous I know both his actions and the histories of that time deliver him to us of no deepe judgement and so negligent that he ever left things imperfect oftentimes in maine businesse betrayd by his credulitie But this I impute to him as an errour of the climate under which he was borne and a certaine generous honesty which is above suspition The motion of this marriage was imbraced with much joy to accomplishment of which hee instantly prepared Neither could King Lewys with all his Engines batter the resolution of the Emperour who though a most passionate lover of peace which oftentimes hee bought with losse ran the hazard of a warre from France rather then let his sonne loose the advantage of so great a Countrey And suddenly sent him to the Dutchesse attended by many great Commanders who among a people so opprest with armes would bee the best witnesses of a marriage His presence although it did not absolutely turne the streame of Fortune yet gave a stay to the French conquests And after he appeard in the quarrell victory doubtfully inclind sometimes flattering Maximilian at other times King Lewys Maximilian by his brave valour overtaking Lewys who had the start in experience and pollicy So that frequent truces were concluded betweene them and unfaithfully observd the first opportunitie of advantage renewing the warre Lewys handled these businesses apart never admitting King Edward though hee ever officiously labord to interesse himselfe into any part of the warre of peace For as hee knew the strength of his understanding such that hee in treatie could loose nothing by the Arch-Duke so he well consider'd that the safest way to
large territories in France hee certainly from his heart desired And when he invited King Edward into France to that purpose and there fail'd him of his promist succours it proceeded doubtlesse not from any underhand practise or remissenesse in the undertaking but onely by the misfortune of his Armie somewhat broken not long before at the siege of Nuze He was therefore a friend to us if an ambitious man be sayd a friend to any or rather so great an enemy to Lewys of France that he loved us onely in opposition and desired our prosperitie because it could not grow without ruine to the French How just a governor hee was in peace appertaines little to our knowledge and the world had little leasure to consider hee was so everlastingly in Armes In which as hee shewed great courage and judgement so likewise did hee commit much injustice And who will examine what licence warre gives to injury and how it imposeth almost necessitie of doing wrong may in some sort excuse him But his being ever in quarrells into which hee enter'd and continued as his passion not his reason directed him presents his spirit daring but turbulent and his valour rash and inconsiderate and takes away all pardon from his so many errors The two great blemishes upon his memory are his crueltie at Granson in Lorrain where in cold blood hee caused all the inhabitants to be kil'd the towne being yeelded to his discretion And his perfidiousnesse to the Count Saint Paul whom notwithstanding a safe conduct hee delivered up to execution into the hands of King Lewys The good men who ascribe punishment to the justice of heaven observe that after these two crimes his fortune left him and with dishonour death overtooke him when he least expected it Having at that time in his imaginations so many and so vaste designes that scarce the age and fortune of man had length and power enough to accomplish them all The death of this Prince having begot so much businesse in his life diversly affected all the neighbour countries Generally according to the custome in private families every state entertain'd it with such a passion as the advantage or disadvantage appear'd by it to themselves Some few out of love to his person hope of marriage with his daughter or compassion of humane accidents griev'd at the report But most exprest their sorrow for the libertie King Lewys had attain'd by it no man living now of power and will to oppose him should hee attempt injury and offer violence to his weaker neighbours For King Edward was so infatuated by his Arts that hee never startled at this great accident nor looked how nearely it might concerne his owne safetie So that notwithstanding hee were daily certified of new undertakings by King Lewys he rested quiet and gave free reines to his injurious ambition Who soone as he understood of the death of Duke Charles and perceived how open his countries lay to an invader Pretended the Dutchy of Burgundy for want of heires male devolved backe to the Crowne of France and by the armes of the Duke of Lorrain without further dispute tooke it in In the meane time himselfe seizing upon all Picardie which for many yeares had remain'd in possession of Dukes Philip and Charles And that he might have yet more occasion of quarrell with an unsetled Lady unable to withstand his opposition he summond the Princesse Mary Dutches of Burgundy to come in person into France to doe homage for the Countie of Flanders and her other estates held in chiefe of that Crowne But she knowing how unsafe it was to yeeld her person up to a Prince who made his advantage of every opportunitie delaid the homage and stood upon her guard as strongly as in so disorder'd a Countrey was possible For though shee were Lady of many opulent and mightie Provinces able if not to offend yet to defend themselves against the world yet were the people stubborne and prone to rebellion and who by the weakenesse of some of their Princes heretofore had purchast to themselfe too large immunities And indeed scarce any towne but had or pretended to have such prerogatives as debased all authoritie of government Which upon every change in state they revived and endeavor'd if possible to redeeme themselves from subjection And this hope more then ever now possest them considering the unexperience both of the youth and sex of her that ruled so that by apparence of their churlish carriage to the Dutchesse and small preparations against King Lewys who every day surpriz'd some place or other they rather desir'd to be exposed a prey to an insolent and cruell enemy then indure the milde government of their lawfull Princesse Shee therefore sent Embassadours to implore ayd of King Edward and declare to him the urgencie of her present necessities Who showed that their Princesse the greatest inheretrix of the world borne to a large and rich territory was at the present in a condition beneath the poorest subject that enjoyd but libertie Being detain'd captive by the hands which made restraint farre more unsupportable of her owne insolent rebells Her delivery concern'd the King of England in generall as a Prince and in particular as a neighbour and an alley Her tumultuous subjects who had dared to attempt and act this treason tooke courage from the French Kings declared enmitie An injurious proceeding in a Prince against a neighbour which justly provokes all Christendome to unite in her defence and punish so barbarous a proceeding in him That the ancient league observ'd with so much Religion betweene England and the Low Countries particularly did require his Majesties present ayd and a consideration of what might happen perhaps in his owne posteritie in the same nature did invite him to doe favours as his might challenge to receive them hereafter That even in the pollitique discretion of government it was conceiv'd that nearely it concernd the state of England to provide against so dangerous an addition of dominion to the French Considering King Lewys had already most injuriously wrested away not onely Peronne Mountdidier Tournay and all the rest of Picardie sold heretofore to Duke Phillip But seizd even upon Burgundy the inheritance of their Princess And what expresseth the inhumanitie of the tyrants and the hated malice of his intentions sommons her at this present to do homage personally for Flanders and her other territories Which sommons if shee obeyes she certainly betrayes her selfe into an everlasting captivitie or to a necessitie to surrender a large part of her inheritance for redemption And if shee refuseth shee indangers her whole estate to the surprize of a mercilesse enemy who never wanted the pretence of justice to justifie spoile and rapine They farther urged how their Princesse was not onely in her person restrain'd by her owne subjects but had not so much as apparence of any army in the field to oppose the invader The Souldier being absolutely destroyd in the former unfortunate
of Armes and never so forward to any quarrell as against the French from whom they ever reaped victory and treasure And concerning money the strength of an Army the Exchequer was full enough without any burdensome imposition to beginne the warre It was therefore questionlesse a surfet brought this great Prince so suddainly to his end For who observes well the scope of his pleasure findes it to have beene placed much in wantonnesse and riot the two mightie destroyers of nature And commonly those excesses with which wee solace life we ruine it Hee dyed upon the ninth of April 1483. at his Palace of Westminster and was interred at Windsor Sixtus the fourth being Pope Fredericke the third Emperour Fardinand and Isobella King and Queene of Arragon and Castile Iohn the second King of Portugall Iames the third of Scotland and Lewys the eleventh of France Betweene whom and King Edward as there was much intercourse in businesse so was there great concurrence in fortune Both began and ended their raignes in the same yeares both were held in jealousie by the precedent Kings Edward by King Henry Lewys by his father Charles the seventh both had titles disputable to the Crowne The house of Lancaster usurpiug against Edward the house of England clayming against Lewys Both were perplext with civill warre and both successefull Lewys infested by an insolent Nobilitie Edward by a Saint-like Competitor Lewys victorious by act Edward by courage Both were rebeld against by their owne brothers Lewes by Charles Duke of Berry Edward by George Duke of Clarence And both tooke a severe revenge Lewys freeing himselfe from so bosome an enemie by poysoning Charles Edward by drowning Clarence Both ended this life with apparence of much zeale Edward religiously Lewys something superstiously Both left their sonnes yet children to inherit who dyed issulesse and left the Crowne to their greatest enemies Edward the fift to his Vncle Richard Duke of Glocester Charles the eight to his kinsman Lewys Duke of Orleans But who lookes upon the lives of these two Princes on the other side may as in a table which presents severall faces perceive as great disparitie But I am onely to give you the picture of King Edward without flattery or detraction which is rare in history considering authors fashion for the most part Idaeas in their mindes and according to them not to the truth of action forme a Pince which though happily iâ— winne applause to the writer is a high abuse to the reader BUt this King was if we compare his with the lives of Princes in generall worthy to be â—â—â—berd among the best And whom though not an extraordinary vertue yet a singular fortune made conspicuous He was borne at Roane in Normandy his father at that time Regent in France The â—o satall division betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster with him in a manner having both their birth and growth For as he the faction of his family gatherd strength His education was according to to the best provision for his honour and safetie in armes A strict and religious discipline in all probabilitie likely to have softned him too much to mercy and a love of quiet He had a great extent of wit which certainly bee owed to nature That age bettering men little by learning which howsoever he had wanted leisure to have receiv'd The Trumpet sounding still too loud in his eare to have admitted the sober counsailes of Philosophy And his wit lay not in the slights of cunning and deceit but in a sharpe apprehensition yet not too much whetted by suspition In counsaile he was judicious with little difficultie dispatching much His understanding open to cleare doubts not darke and cloudie and apt to create new His wisedome look'd still directly upon truth which appeares by the manage of his affaires both in peace and warre In neither of which as farre as concernd the pollitique part he committed any maine errour T is true he was over-reacht in peace by King Lewys abused concerning the marriage of his daughter In warre by the Earle of Warwicke when upon confidence of a finall accord he was surpriz'd But both these misfortunes I impute to want of faith in his enemies not of iudgement in him Though to speake impartially his too great presumption on the oath of a dissembling Prince and want of circumspection a reconciliation being but in treatie cannot scape without reprehension His nature certainly was both noble and honest which if rectified by the strait rule of vertue had rendred him sit for example whereas he is onely now for observation For prosperitie raisd him but to a complacencie in his fortune not to a disdaine of others losses or a pride of his owne acquisitions And when he had most securitie in his Kingdome and consequently most allurements to tyrannie then showed he himselfe most familiar and indulgent An admirable temperance in a Prince who so well knew his owne strength and whom the love of riot necessitated to a love of treasure which commonly is supplyed by oppression of the Subject The heavie fine upon Sr. Thomas Cooke and displacing the chiefe justice blemisheth him with violence and a vorice But that severitie and the other when hee began to looke into the Poenall Lawes were but short tempests or rather small overcastings during the glorious calme of his government And what soever injurie the subject endured was not imputed to the King But to Tipâ—oft Earle of Worcester and some under informers Or else to the Queene and her necessitous kindred The world either judiciously or else favourably diverting all envie from his memory Great judgement in leading his armies and courage in fighting personally speakes him both a daring Souldier and an expert Commander And the many battailes hee fought in all which he triumpht delivers him as much to be â—â—mired for his militarie discipline as his happy successe Fortune not deserving to have all his mightie victories ascribed to her gift Valour and good conduct share at the least with her in the fate of warre But as in armes he appeares most glorious to posteritie so likewise most unhappy For all those bloody conquests hee obtaind were against his owne nation And the greatest adversaries he over came neere in consanguinitie to him so that he may more properly be sayd to have let himselfe blood then his enemies or rather for preservation of his owne body to have cut off his principall and most necessary limmes For beside those many Princes of the house of Sommerset Buckingham Excester Oxford Devonshire Northumberland Westmerland Shrewsbury and finally the tree it selfe and the onely branch Henry the sixt and his Sonne Prince Edward He slew even the Earle of Warwicke and the Marquesse Mountague Two brothers who having lost their father in his quarrell hazarded their lives and those mightie possessions and honours which peaceably they might have enjoyed onely to advance his title But this was rather his fate then his fault and into this Sea
valiant Percie Who disdaining to reprive his life beyond his honour or to shew the least weakenesse beneath his name or Spirit fought it out with his 〈◊〉 till overpâ—est with number he and his were all cut to peeces Encourag'd with his successe Mountague attempts without expectation of any farther succour or direction to finish the presenâ— warâ—e and immediately marches to a plaine neere the River Dowell in Hexam-shire where King Henries Armie lay encampt The Campe he suddenly assaults in the night and had taken it without any losse had not the enemie beyond reason gathered themselves into some order and valiantly oppos'd But no courage could withstand the Fortune and spirit of Mountague for the Queenes Campe at length was lost and in it taken the Duke of Sommerset the Lords Hungerford Rosse Moulins and Hussie with Wentworth and Finderne Knights Sommerset on the place lost his head the rest sent to Newcastle to suffer there the same punishment But King Henry and the Queene escap'd at the first on set whose Tragoedy drew not yet nere the last Act. King Edward whose Fortune fought for him even in his absence encounter'd the newes of this victory in his march toward Durisme so that finding the presence of his person and Armie needlesse he return'd toward Yorke Giving command to Warwicke to take in all the Forts and Castles which yet in the North held out On the way he was certified of the apprehension of King Henries person who was surprized as he endeavord by shifting from place to place to have recovered Scotland With the joy of which report King Edward returnd to London whether as yet hee never came but glorious in the accession of some new Triumph The sonne of Sir Edward Talbot of Lanca-shire apprehended King Henry as he sate at dinner at Waddington Hall and forgetting all respect due to so great a Prince like a common malefactor with his legges tyed under the horse belly guarded him up toward London By the way the Earle of Warwick met him who adding indignities to his affliction with the generall reproaches of the people the acclamations they give to the unfortunate led him prisoner to the Tower The onely companions of his present calamity were Doctor Manning Deane of Windsore and Doctor Bedle both of so divine a calling as shewed no misfortune could seperate him from his Pietie The miserable Queene seeing the desolation of her greatnesse her husband imprison'd all her great partakers fled or slaughter'd made againe her retreate into France and with her sonne whose preservation flatter'd her with some hope that one day he might rebuild the now ruin'd house of Lancaster fled to her fathers Court. A most wretched Sanctuary to her feares where she had onely leisure by long sufferance to prepare her minde for future misery But this her dejection rais'd Edward up to an unsuspicious Soveraigntie so that now he began to set strong the disjoynted body of his Kingdome And knowing liberalitie the onely ligament that ties affection to a Prince he resolv'd by attaindor of his enemies to enable himselfe to reward the services of his friends And though hee pretended the gate of mercie ever to stand open to the submission of the Lancastrians yet few or none accepted the favour either distrustfull of his reallitie or feeding their hopes with imagination that the tide of Fortune would not still flow with so impetuous a torrent But King Edward disdaining a faction so contemptible in their ruine should disdaine his clemencie proceeded to punishment The Earledome of Pembrooke an honour heretofore enjoy'd by Jasper Teuther halfe brother to Henry the sixth he bestowed on Sir William Herbert a Knight of Wales both for descent and power most eminent and to whose ayde a great part of the present felicitie was owing To the Lord Mountague whose person and service he equally lov'd he gave the opulent possessions belonging to the family of the Percies But the most open hand cannot satisfie the expectation of great deservers who set so high a price upon their merits that they leave their Princes no power of reward The greatest benefit being received in the degree of a debt not a gift And certainely Mountague and his brother Warwicke had by too much merit even disobleig'd the King what honour soever they were in future to have being so little able to cancell the obligation it could scarce defray the interest And in that way was this title and inheritance accepted which gave the King occasion to distaste whom otherwise he would with passion have embrac'd Whereupon reflecting on the danger of adding power to them who wanted onely will to doe mischiefe and knowing how easily innovation might be resolv'd on when nothing but the conscience was to be perswaded he began seriously to wish the mightinesse of that family hee owed the crowne to in some degree lessend Yet that hee might no way appeare unthankefull to so great deserts he thought fit to weaken their strength and yet to adde to the spender of their title Whereupon he willingly admitted the friends of Percie to interced for restitution both of honor and revenue and soone granted it Rewarding Mountague with the more specious stile of Marquesse But this state-tricke was by the brothers easily understood and accepted with the same brow they would have entertaind an injurie Which the King dissembled and to build his estimation high in the ayre of popular applause endeavord by all the Arts of humble greatnesse to endeare himselfe into the opinion of the multitude His presence was easie to any mans love or curiositie his aspect cleere and smiling his language free and familiar And to the Ladies who have also their share in the motion of states he applyed a generall courtship which used by a Prince and of so amiable a personage made them usually the Idolls of others Idolaters of him Among his Nobility he was so supple in gesture and liberall in affability that he appeard King not in his assumption of state but in their application of duty This to winne outward applause while to settle an inward sence of his wisdome he looked into abuses of Officers and reformed them Neither was there any oppression or mistake in government but what he releiv'd or corrected And that it might appeare how zealously â—ee sought due administration of justice he in person sate three dayes together on his Bench at Westminster Hall which though it little advanced the uncorcupted execution of the lawes yet it serv'd happily for example and created what hee then most courted opinion Thus he grew upon his people at home while abroade the neighbouring states began to decline the danger of his future enmitie who ever measure the power of Princes by that sway and affection they have among their subjects Charles Earle of Charolois a widdower but without heire male heire to a large and opulent territory the seventeene Provinces with the Duchie and County of Burgundie and the greatest part of Picardie being subject
he assumed in receiving the forementioned sums of money Willing that hee should husband his actions of least worth to the greatest advantage of credit with his people While hee on the contrary in all businesses never heeded what judgement opinion gave and so his ends were effected cared not by what sordid or humble meanes Whereupon presently after the departure of the English notwithstanding the many injuries received from the Duke of Burgundy he came to treatie and suddenly to agreement with him In many points unexpectedly yeelding onely that hee might revenge himselfe upon the Count St. Paul for him hee accounted the Conjurer who by his dissembling charmes had raisd those so many and so tumultuous spirits against the Crowne of France And till hee were destroyed King Lewys conceiv'd it impossible to remaine safe from civill or forraigne warre It was therefore agreed betweene these two Princes that what places had beene wrested away in the former troubles should be immediatly restored and which of the two could first surprize the Count St. Paul should within eight dayes put him to death or deliver him up to the discretion of the other By which agreement the wretched Lord found how inevitable was his ruine And considering the vanitie of any hope that might perswade to defend himselfe against so potent enemies he enterd into discourse with his owne feares to which he might make his addresses with more probabilitie of safetie And knowing the immoveable resolutions of King Lewys and how impossible it was to deceive a Prince so cunning in the Art he resolv'd to make tryall of the Duke Who disdainefully receiv'd the first offers of his service but in the end overcome by importunitie hee granted him safe conduct Relying on which he poasted to him but soone found his ruine by the want of that faith which himselfe had never observ'd For the Duke notwithstanding the safe conduct gave command hee should be imprison'd and not long after deliver'd him up to the French King Who caus'd processe to bee made against him certaine Letters written to King Edward and by him deliver'd to King Lewys being the chiefe articles of accusation by which hee was condemn'd and for which not long after he lost his head Hee imbraced death with much resolution onely somewhat astonisht to meet it upon a Scaffold the manner not the thing it selfe amazing him But the officiousnesse of the King in delivery of those papers to the condemnation of his wives Vncle and a confederate was certainly trecherous and ignoble and makes his memory sound harsh in the eare of any worthy minde And indeede he was on the sudden become so passionate a debtor on a reconcild enemy and so passionate an enemy of his late friends That when he understood of the treatie of peace at Vervins betweene the French King and the Duke hee sent over Sir Thomas Montgomery with instructions if possible to breake it off Who urged that the Duke should not bee admitted to treate of himselfe but onely as mention'd in the King his Masters peace that if the Duke refused to treate in that manner and the King any way suspected his owne strength his Master would the next Summer crosse the Seas and joyne his forces with him Conditionally that halfe the wages of his Army might bee defraid by the French for whose service the warre was to be undertaken and that he might be allowed fiftie thousand crownes annually in respect his losse would amount to the value by reason the English Woolls at Callice could during that time have no vent into the Netherlands To such an over officious friendship did his new malice to Burgundie and the counsaile of King Lewys his great pensioners incline him that hee voluntarily offer'd without respect of glory or hope of profit to fight like a journeyman for a Prince whose growth in power could not bee but most unsafe even to him and dangerous to his kingdome This embassie King Lewys receiv'd with apparence of much content congratulating the felicitie of his owne arts that had brought the King to so obsequious a respect but he no way desired to see him any more in France especially not to pay for his presence whose absence hee had lately bought so deerely Hee therefore return'd many thankes for the offer'd favour but withall shewed how much too late it came in regard the truce was already concluded betweene him and the Duke from which being now sworne to it he could recede neither in honour nor religion But that the world might understand how scrupulous he had beene in preservation of the King of Englands reputation the present truce varyed not in one point from that sworne at Picguinie except onely that the Duke was admitted to article for himselfe apart which indeed was the maine thing the King endeavoured to have prevented since by articling apart the Duke showed his independance and that the English by their armes had no way advanced his businesse But that this answer might indanger no misinterpretation he liberally presented the Embassador and sent over with him the two hostages the Lord Howard and Sir John Chiney For King Lewys continued still in much caution to offend the King least perhaps he and the Duke of Burgundy though now asunder might like a limbe broken and set againe knit the faster Hee was therefore diligent to increase every day new discontents betweene them and to preserve the English in their amity firme upon any termes knowing the Duke by no pollicy ever to be reduced to a perfect friendship And so farre had his cunning and pensions prevailed that nothing was more in the vote of the English then to preserve King Lewys safe in his estate at home and noble in reputation with us But among all the ties which kept the King surest to him the hope of marrying the Dolphin with his Daughter and this way at least to settle the Crowne of France in his Posterity most prevailed Of the reality of which article the French permitted not the smallest occasion to be given for suspicion This intention of entering into warre with the Duke of Burgundy being crost the unquiet Nature of some Princes ever affecting to beget trouble to themselves that the King might feele no perfect rest receives the former jealousie concerning the Earle of Richmond But why the reducing him into this powre should so much perplex the state is beyond reach unlesse it were a divination of future accidents which instructed the Kings feares to expect danger from him who neither in the point of justice nor strength was for the present considerable For if we looke upon his faction at home the civill warres had ruin'd them so low that no person of authority had any relation to him except the Lord Stanley who being Father in law to him might perhaps wish his fortunes well but bore a most faithfull mind to the King in whose especiall favour he continued to the last And if we consider him as his neerenesse in blood