Treason by Meredith Whitford

Author:Meredith Whitford [Whitford, Meredith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 15th Century, Fiction, Historical, Medieval, War & Military
ISBN: 9781922204974
Google: lFwmnwEACAAJ
Amazon: 1922204978
Publisher: Vivid Publishing
Published: 2013-10-14T23:00:00+00:00

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We did not have to wait for long. Mid-August the French and English ambassadors met near Amiens, and the French offer was indeed attractive. Seventy-five thousand crowns to begin with and fifty thousand per annum – the Dauphin to marry Edward’s daughter Bess – seven years’ truce with lucrative trade agreements – each King bound to support the other against domestic rebellion. Not a bad day’s work in the marketplace. Of course the offer was immediately accepted.

Richard’s only comment was, ‘Wait until Charles hears.’

He heard at once, and the news brought him straight to Edward for a right royal tantrum. Edward said, All very well, but where was Charles when Edward led his army into France, where was all the promised support? To which Charles had no answer, which didn’t sweeten his temper. With a few barbed references to Henry the Fifth he flounced away.

And now all was amity and goodwill. Celebrations. Louis threw Amiens open to our army and laid on food and drink for all. A bridge was built across the Somme at Pecquigny, on which the agreement would be signed. And behold the King of England striding forth, glorious in cloth of gold lined with red satin, a diamond fleur-de-lis in his velvet cap. And behold the King of France shuffling forth, clad in a ragbag of garments he could have filched from his kennel-man. Beside him was his poor secretary Philippe de Commynes, identically dressed so as to confuse assassins. On a piece of the True Cross these two ill-matched monarchs signed the treaty.

Louis was generous, it was pensions all round for the English who had supported the peace. I remember Lord Hastings got two thousand crowns a year. De Bretaylle, who had been heard to say in disgust that Edward had won nine victories only to face this disgraceful defeat, was given dinner and invited to join Louis’s service. The offer was refused, but he was given a placatory present of a thousand crowns and Louis’s promise of favour for his brother – oh and by the way, would he work to see that the peace held?

What Doctor Morton got out of the deal, I have no idea.

Richard attended none of these junketings, and we were packing for home when an invitation came from Louis. Would His Grace of Gloucester delight His Majesty of France by coming to dinner? Impossible to refuse, and Richard came back well fed, thoughtful, and the proud possessor of some excellent horses and silver plate. Louis had sent the kindest compliments to Anne, remembering la pauvre petite from five years before, and they had discussed music and ordnance; a choice of subjects which tells you a good deal about both men.

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