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thereby be shaken off by the states of Britain about this marriage, sent over the lord Morley with a thousand men, unto the lord Daubeney, then deputy of Calais, with secret instructions to aid Maximilian, and to raise the siege of Dix5 mude. The lord Daubeney, giving it out that all was for the strengthening of the English marches, drew out of the garrisons of Calais, Hammes and Guines, to the number of a thousand men more. So that with the fresh succours that

came under the conduct of the lord Morley, they made up 10 to the number of two thousand or better. Which forces joining with some companies of Almains, put themselves into Dixmude, not perceived by the enemies; and passing through the town with some reinforcement, from the forces that were in the town, assailed the enemies' camp negligently 15 guarded, as being out of fear; where there was a bloody fight, in which the English and their partakers obtained the victory, and slew to the number of eight thousand men, with the loss on the English part of a hundred or thereabouts; amongst whom was the lord Morley. They took 20 also their great ordnance, with much rich spoils, which

they carried to Newport; whence the lord Daubeney returned to Calais, leaving the hurt men and some other voluntaries in Newport. But the lord Cordes being at Ypres with a great power of men, thinking to recover the loss and 25 disgrace of the fight at Dixmude, came presently on, and sat down before Newport, and besieged it; and after some days' siege, he resolved to try the fortune of an assault. Which he did one day, and succeeded therein so far, that he had taken the principal tower and fort in that city, and planted 30 upon it the French banner. Whence nevertheless they were presently beaten forth by the English, by the help of some fresh succours of archers, arriving by good fortune, at the instant, in the haven of Newport. Whereupon the lord

Cordes, discouraged, and measuring the new succours, which were small, by the success, which was great, levied his siege. By this means matters grew more exasperate between the two Kings of England and France, for that, in the war of Flanders, the auxiliary forces of French and English were 5 much blooded one against another. Which blood rankled the more, by the vain words of the lord Cordes, that declared himself an open enemy of the English, beyond that that appertained to the present service; making it a common byword of his, “That he could be content to lie in hell seven 10 "years, so he might win Calais from the English."

The King having thus upheld the reputation of Maximilian, advised him now to press on his marriage with Britain to a conclusion. Which Maximilian accordingly did, and so far forth prevailed, both with the young lady 15 and with the principal persons about her, as the marriage was consummated by proxy, with a ceremony at that time in these parts new. For she was not only publicly contracted, but stated, as a bride, and solemnly bedded. This done, Maximilian, whose property was to leave things then when 20 they were almost come to perfection, and to end them by imagination; like ill archers, that draw not their arrows up to the head; thinking now all assured, neglected for a time his further proceeding, and intended his wars. Meanwhile the French King, consulting with his divines, and finding 25 that this pretended consummation was rather an invention of court, than any ways valid by the laws of the church, went more really to work, and by secret instruments and cunning agents, as well matrons about the young lady as counsellors, first sought to remove the point of religion and 30 honour out of the mind of the lady herself, wherein there was a double labour. For Maximilian was not only contracted unto the lady, but Maximilian's daughter was like

wise contracted to King Charles. So as the marriage halted upon both feet, and was not clear on either side. But for the contract with King Charles, the exception lay plain and fair; for that Maximilian's daughter was under years of con5 sent, and so not bound by law, but a power of disagreement left to either part. But for the contract made by Maximilian with the lady herself, they were harder driven: having nothing to allege, but that it was done without the consent of her sovereign lord King Charles, whose ward and client 10 she was, and he to her in place of a father; and therefore it was void and of no force for want of such consent. So that the young lady, wrought upon by these reasons, finely instilled by such as the French King, who spared for no rewards or promises, had made on his side; and allured 15 likewise by the present glory and greatness of King Charles, being also a young King, and a bachelor, and loth to make her country the seat of a long and miserable war; secretly yielded to accept of King Charles. But during this secret treaty with the lady, the better to save it from 20 blasts of opposition and interruption, King Charles resorting to his wonted arts, and thinking to carry the marriage as he had carried the wars, by entertaining the King of England in vain belief, sent a solemn ambassage by Francis lord of Luxemburg, Charles Marignian, and Ro25 bert Gagvien, general of the order of the bons-hommes of the Trinity, to treat a peace and league with the King; accoupling it with an article in the nature of a request, that the French King might with the King's good-will, according unto his right of seigniory and tutelage, dispose 30 of the marriage of the young duchess of Britain, as he should think good; offering by a judicial proceeding to make void the marriage of Maximilian by proxy. Also all this while, the better to amuse the world, he did continue in

his court and custody the daughter of Maximilian, who formerly had been sent unto him, to be bred and educated in France; not dismissing or renvoying her, but contrariwise professing and giving out strongly, that he meant to proceed with that match. And that for the duchess of Britain, he 5 desired only to preserve his right of seigniory, and tò give her in marriage to some such ally as might depend upon him.

When the three commissioners came to the court of England, they delivered their ambassage unto the King, 10 who remitted them to his council; where some days after they had audience, and made their proposition by the prior of the Trinity, who though he were third in place, yet was held the best speaker of them, to this effect.

"My lords, the King our master, the greatest and 15 "mightiest King that reigned in France since Charles the "Great, whose name he beareth, hath nevertheless thought "it no disparagement to his greatness at this time to pro"pound a peace; yea, and to pray a peace with the King of England. For which purpose he hath sent us his com- 20 "missioners, instructed and enabled with full and ample "power to treat and conclude; giving us further in charge, "to open in some other business the secrets of his own "intentions. These be indeed the precious love tokens be"tween great Kings, to communicate one with another the 25 true state of their affairs, and to pass by nice points of "honour, which ought not to give law unto affection. This "I do assure your lordships; it is not possible for you to "imagine the true and cordial love that the King our mas"ter beareth to your sovereign, except you were near him 30 "as we are. He useth his name with so great respect; he "remembereth their first acquaintance at Paris with so great "contentment; nay, he never speaks of him, but that pre

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"sently he falls into discourse of the miseries of great Kings, in that they cannot converse with their equals, but "with servants. This affection to your King's person and "virtues God hath put into the heart of our master, no "doubt for the good of Christendom, and for purposes yet "unknown to us all. For other root it cannot have, since "it was the same to the earl of Richmond, that it is now to "the King of England. This is therefore the first motive "that makes our King to desire peace and league with your 10 "sovereign good affection, and somewhat that he finds in "his own heart. This affection is also armed with reason "of estate. For our King doth in all candour and frankness "of dealing open himself unto you; that having an honour“able; yea, and an holy purpose, to make a voyage and war 15 "in remote parts, he considereth that it will be of no small effect, in point of reputation to his enterprise, if it be "known abroad that he is in good peace with all his neigh"bour Princes, and especially with the King of England, "whom for good causes he esteemeth most.

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20 "But now, my lords, give me leave to use a few words "to remove all scruples and misunderstandings, between "your sovereign and ours, concerning some late actions; "which if they be not cleared, may perhaps hinder this peace; to the end, that for matters past neither King 25 "may conceive unkindness of other, nor think the other

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"conceiveth unkindness of him. The late actions are two; "that of Britain, and that of Flanders. In both which it is "true, that the subjects' swords of both Kings have encoun"tered and stricken, and the ways and inclinations also of 30 "the two Kings, in respect of their confederates and allies, "have severed.

"For that of Britain, the King your sovereign knoweth "best what hath passed. It was a war of necessity on our

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