Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477Putnam, Ruth
History
Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477
Putnam, Ruth
Burgundy (France) -- History; Charles, Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477; Switzerland -- History -- 1032-1499
"All this was direct infringement of the treaties lately made
between Monseigneur the king and myself. Therefore, we wrote at
once to Monsgr. the king begging him not to favour or aid the said
Clarence and Warwick in his land of Normandy or elsewhere in his
realm, nor to permit them to sell or distribute the property of
our subjects, and to show his will by publishing such prohibitions
throughout Normandy and elsewhere where need is.
"Also we wrote to the court of parliament at Paris, and to the
council of my said seigneur at Rouen. The answer was that the king
meant to keep the treaty between him and us and had ordered his
subjects in Normandy not to retain the property belonging to our
subjects ... but we have since learned that, notwithstanding,
this same property has been distributed and ransoms have been
negotiated in the sight and knowledge of the Admiral of France and
his officers.
"Moreover, it is perfectly evident that by means of the aid
furnished by the king to the said Clarence and Warwick, the latter
are enabled to continue the war on our subjects and not on the
English, it being understood that they who were banished from
England are not strong enough to return by the force of arms but
must do so by friendship and favour.... On account of the above
and other depredations, we shall attack the said Warwick and
Clarence on the sea as pirates, and all who aid them as is needful
for the protection of our lands and subjects.
"Written at Middelburg in Zealand, June 20, 1470."[13]
"Tell Monsieur de Warwick that the king will assist him to recover
England either with the help of Queen Margaret or by whatever
other means he may propose.... Only let him communicate his
desires in this respect as speedily as possible and the king will
lay aside all other affairs for the purpose of accomplishing it,"
wrote the complaisant King of France in his directions to the
confidential messenger sent to discuss matters with the English
earl.[14]
But that was not his language towards his cousin of Burgundy, whom he
assured that there should be no infringement of their treaty, and that
it was greatly to his royal displeasure that Flemish property
captured at sea in defiance of that treaty should be sold in French
market-places. There is a hot correspondence,[15] that is, it is hot
on the side of Charles, while Louis's phrases are smoothly surprised
at there being any cause for dissatisfaction. The circumstances shall
be investigated, his cousin satisfied, etc. One letter from the duke
to two of Louis's council is emphatic in its expressions of doubt as
to the good faith of these royal statements:
"ARCHBISHOP AND YOU ADMIRAL:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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