CHAPTER V.

Edward's Government-his Attention to Commerce-Negociations with foreign Powers-Warlike Feeling of the Nation-new Method of raising Money-Edward's Fascination-Anecdote of a rich Widow —Alliance with Burgundy—Preparations against France-Strength of Edward's Army-the King claims the Crown of France-Politic Conduct of Louis-the Herald's Advice-Errors of Burgundy and the Constable-distrust of the former-Indignation of the English Army-their Discomfiture before St. Quentin-Burgundy's Departure-Edward's Courtesy to a Prisoner-Message of the Nobles-Suspicions of Louis-A counterfeit Herald-Interview with Edward's Nobles-The King enters into a Negociation-Morton one of the Commissioners-his Fidelity-Demands of the English-Preliminaries settled-Incredulity of the French Nobles-Anecdote of LouisBurgundy's Anxiety-his Disappointment and Anger-Favours granted by Louis to the English Soldiers-their hospitable Reception -their Excesses-Meeting between Louis and Edward-their Conversation-Edward's generous Defence of the Duke of Bretagne sumptuous Gifts of Louis-Flattery of the Courtiers-Indignation of a Gascon-Anxiety of Louis-Edward's peremptory Refusal to aid the King's Designs on Bretagne-Embarrassment of Louis-Edward's Reception in London-Contempt of his Contemporaries— Murmurs of the People-Rigorous Enforcement of the Law-The Earl of Richmond in Jeopardy-his narrow Escape-obstinate Attachment of the Lancastrian.

EDWARD had now witnessed the downfal of all CHAP. V. his enemies, and securely seated upon the English throne, reigned without a rival: he drew around

1474.

CHAP.V. him a brilliant circle of nobility, chiefly of his own creation, lavishing honours upon the queen's relations and his own peculiar favourites; free from the dread of an overbearing aristocracy whose gigantic power for the present he had crushed; but family dissentions embittered even these peaceful days. It was impossible for the king to satisfy the insatiate rapacity of his brothers; Clarence anxious to retain the whole of the Earl of Warwick's immense estates, had obtained the custody of the co-heiress, whom he was desirous to seclude from the world. Gloucester regardless of his kinsman's interests, in seeking to enrich himself by marriage, directed his attention to the Lady Anne. Bent upon preventing an alliance so prejudicial to his own designs, Clarence obliged his sister-in-law to assume the attire of a menial, and under the homely garb of a cook maid strove to conceal the lady from her adventurous suitor; but Gloucester's avarice, if not his affection, rendered him lynx eyed, and penetrating the disguise he became a successful wooer, carried off his prize, and placed her for effectual security in the sanctuary of St. Martin's-le-Grand.* A violent quarrel between the brothers ensued, and Edward interposing, Clarence unhesitatingly avowed the cause of his opposition, declaring that " Gloucester might marry the lady, his sister-in-law, but they would part no livelihood."† The gold enamoured bridegroom was not to be deterred from the accomplishment of his purpose, he made frequent appeals to the king, and several councils were called to appease the differences + Fenn's Collection, vol. ii. 93.

History of Croyla.

and settle the disputes between these coveteous CHAP.V. relations. By Sir John Paston's account, the friends of both parties were ready to draw their swords in this unhappy quarrel. "The world," he observes, "looks queasy here. For the most part that be about the king have sent hither for their harness,' and then he proceeds to state that the warlike preparations of Clarence had occasioned serious uneasiness to Edward, who was determined to put an end to the feud by force, if gentle means were unavailing.

At length the contending brothers submitted to discuss their respective pretensions in a more amicable manner, and to abide by the decrees of arbitrators appointed for the purpose of deciding this important cause. The lady was still living whose right was superior to that of either of the claimants, the Countess of Warwick; she had brought all the rich possessions of the Beauchamps into her husband's family, as heiress of the great Duke of Warwick, but sharing in Richard Nevill's attainder, her claim was formally set aside.

After frequent deliberations a certain portion of the king-maker's property was awarded to his youngest daughter, Lady Anne, whilst the elder, Isabella, succeeded to all the rest: the decision was ratified by parliament, but however just and equitable, it was far from being satisfactory to the haughty disputants, and a secret hatred grew up in the hearts of men, who though outwardly professing friendship, could never forgive the disappointment of their expectations of personal aggrandizement. A similar circumstance broke the fraternal bond be

CHAP. V. tween John of Ghent and Thomas of Woodstock, and as in the present instance, affection grew so cold that the more fortunate of the two beheld with careless indifference, the disgrace and death of his brother.

Relieved for the present from the evils menaced by this unfortunate quarrel, Edward rushed with avidity into all the pleasures devised by a luxurious court. Attached to field sports he invested the chace with new delights, carrying with him into the wildest depths of the forest a splendid retinue of noble beauties, for whose accommodation silken pavilions were erected upon the green sward, and the banquet prepared for the gallant train of hunters, who with their voluptuous monarch after ranging through the dark woods, made blythe with ringing hoof and horn, quitted their hawks and hounds to end their festal day with wine and minstrelsy, a scene of picturesque and joyous revelry beautifully contrasted with the fields of carnage which the weary pen has been so often tasked to describe.*

The queen, not it appears "easily jealous," looked on with an unjaundiced eye at the royal philanderer's seductive amusements. Content with her elevation and anxious to secure the influence of her family, Elizabeth carefully avoided all subjects of dispute with a self-willed and licentious husband, thus displaying the prudence of the politician rather than the affectionate tenderness of an anxious wife.

The dissipation which engrossed a large portion of Edward's time did not render him inattentive to the welfare of the kingdom, either as it regarded its in

• Comines.

ternal or foreign policy. Anxious for the encourage- CHAP. V. ment and protection of commerce, Edward adjusted all the disputes which had arisen between him and the Hans towns: even in the most insecure and turbulent period of his reign he had studied the interests of society in providing for the security of English merchants out of fifteen statutes which were passed in his third year, thirteen were directed to this praiseworthy object, and he recurred to the same system the moment he was firmly re-established on his throne. The king also confirmed the truce with Scotland, which had been prolonged from the original term to fifty years, kept up his friendly intercourse with Denmark and Portugal, and entered into new treaties with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundy. Thus strengthened abroad and free from all apprehension from domestic enemies, the eyes of the nation anxiously turned upon France. Edward's brilliant military career inspired a hope that the continental possessions, so gloriously won and so disgracefully lost, might be regained by the fortunate arms of a warrior who had fought his blood-stained way to the English crown; and the monarch though sunk in debasing pleasures did not deem it prudent to disappoint the general expectation. The treasury, never in a very flourishing condition, although lately enriched by extensive grants, was very inadequate to the undertaking; " and the king," says Holinshed,† "because he wanted money, and could not well charge hys comons with a newe subsidie, for that he had received the laste yeare great sums of money granted to him by parliament, * Rymer's Fœd. † Vol. ii. p. 1346.