Part 26 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: MEDAL OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY (FROM BARANTE)]

Meanwhile, the king kept agents in all the Somme towns, insinuating opposition to the duke, and reminding the citizens that they were French at heart. His amba.s.sadors pa.s.sed in and out of the Burgundian court, saying many things in secret besides those they said in public.

Plenty there were that wished for war, remarks the observant Commines.

n.o.bles like St. Pol and others could not maintain the same state in peace as in war, and state they loved. In time of war four hundred lances attended the constable, and he had a large allowance to maintain them from which he reaped many a profitable commission besides the fees of his office and his other emoluments. ”Moreover,”

adds Commines, ”the n.o.bles were accustomed to say among themselves that if there were no battles without, there would be quarrels within the realm.”

The matter of the grants to Charles of France had been settled to his royal brother's liking, not to that of his Burgundian ally. Champagne and Brie, so cheerfully promised at Peronne, were withdrawn and Guienne subst.i.tuted. When Normandy had been exchanged for Champagne and Brie, as it was arranged at Peronne, Charles of Burgundy approved the change as he thought it a.s.sured him an obedient friend as neighbour.[22] The second change, Guienne instead of Champagne and Brie, was quite a different thing.

Guienne bordered the Bay of Biscay far away from Burgundy. Naturally, Charles was not content. Then, too, it looked as though he had lost a useful friend as well as a neighbour, for the new Duke of Guienne was formally reconciled to his brother and took oath that his fraternal devotion to his monarch should never again waver.

Long before Charles was completely convinced that Louis was not going to maintain the humble att.i.tude a.s.sumed at Peronne and Liege, he became very suspicious that intrigues were on foot against him. ”He hastened to Hesdin where he entered into jealousy of his servants”

says Commines. That he was a.s.sured that there were reasons for his apprehensions appears in an epistle circulated as an open letter,[23]

to various cities, wherein he makes a detailed statement of the plots against his life by one Jehan d'Arson and Baldwin, son of Duke Philip.

Sorry return was this from one recognised as b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Burgundy and brought up in the ducal household. Further, one Jehan de Cha.s.sa, Charles's own chamberlain, had taken French leave of the duke's service and made his way to the king in his castle of Amboise, where he had been pleasantly received and promised rich reward when he had ”executed his d.a.m.nable designs against our person.”

Messengers sent by this Cha.s.sa to Baldwin in Charles's court at St.

Omer were arrested as suspicious, and that circ.u.mstance frightened Baldwin and caused him to take to his heels, leaving his retinue, his horses, and his baggage behind. He dreaded lest he might be attainted and convicted of treason, and therefore he took shelter with the king.

”Saved from this conspiracy by the goodness and clemency of G.o.d, we inform you of the events so that you may render thanks by public processions, solemn ma.s.ses, sermons, and prayers, beseeching Him devoutly and from the heart that He will always guard and defend our person, our lands, seigniories, and subjects from such plots.

”May G.o.d protect you, dear subjects. Written in our castle of Hesdin, December 13, 1470.

”CHARLES.

”LE GROS.”

It was not long before Charles had less reason to fear French ”subtleties.” At an a.s.sembly of notables[24] convened at Tours at the end of 1470, Louis dropped the mask of friends.h.i.+p worn uneasily for just two years, and made an open brief of his grievances against the duke.

His case was cited with a luxury of detail more or less authentic. The interview at Peronne was a simple trap conceived by Balue and the Duke of Burgundy. The treaties of 1465 and 1468, both obtained by undue pressure, had not been respected by Charles, etc. The a.s.sembly was obedient to suggestion. It was a packed house.

Even Commines shows that it is not surprising that there was unanimity[25] in the declaration that according to G.o.d and his conscience in all honour and justice the king was released from those treaties, and the way was paved for an invasion into Picardy as soon as possible.

Charles's public accusations of plots against him did not go unanswered. Jehan de Cha.s.sa promptly issued a rejoinder:

”As Charles, soi-disant Duke of Burgundy, has sent to divers places letters signed by himself and his secretary, Jehan le Gros, written at Hesdin, December 13th, falsely charging me with plotting against his life with Baldwin, b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Burgundy, and Jehan d'Arson, I, considering that it is matter touching my honour, feel bound to reply.... By G.o.d and by my soul I declare that these charges against me made by Charles of Burgundy are false and disloyal lies”[26]

Baldwin, too, expressed righteous indignation at the slur on his character, but he remained in the French court as did many others who had formerly served Charles.

Meanwhile, the Earl of Warwick, having left his daughter in the hands of Margaret of Anjou, openly aided by Louis, sailed back to England in September But there had been one further change of base of which the earl was still unconscious. His elder son-in-law had not rejoiced in the Warwick-Lancaster alliance. It brought young Prince Edward to the fore, and bereft the Duke of Clarence--long ready to replace Edward of York--of any immediate prospects. Therefore he was inclined to accept offers of a reconciliation tendered him by King Edward.

Despite his secret change of heart, Clarence sailed with Warwick and joined with him in the proclamations scattered over England, declaring that the exiles were returning to ”set right and justice to their places, and to reduce and redeem for ever the realm from its thraldom.” Never a mention of either Edward IV. or Henry VI. Perhaps it was as convenient to see which way the wind blew and to put in a name accordingly.

On landing, however, ”King Henry VI.” was raised as a cry. In Nottinghams.h.i.+re, where Edward lay, not a word was heard for York.

There was no conflict. Edward felt that Fate had turned against him and off he rode to Lyme with a small following, took s.h.i.+p, and made for Holland. It was stormy, pirates from the Hanseatic towns gave chase, and glad was Edward to take shelter at Alkmaar where De la Groothuse, Governor of Holland, welcomed him in the name of the duke.[27] Edward was quite dest.i.tute. He had nothing with which to pay his fare across the Channel but a gown lined with marten's fur, and as for his train, never so poor a company was seen.

Eleven days later, Warwick was master of all England and official business was transacted in the name of Henry VI., ”limp and helpless on his throne as a sack of wool.” He was a mere shadow and pretence and what was done in his name was done without his will or knowledge.

Charles of Burgundy did not hasten to greet his unbidden guest. He would rather have heard that his brother-in-law were dead, but he bade Groothuse show him every courtesy and supply him with necessaries and five hundred crowns a month for luxuries. After a time, and perhaps informed by weather prophets that the Lancastrian wind blowing over in England was but a fickle breeze, he consented to forget his hereditary sympathies.