HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 201 



England, as well somewhat obnoxious to him for his 

 favours and benefits, as busied in his particular 

 troubles at home. There was also a fair and specious 

 occasion offered him to hide his ambition, and to 

 justify his warring upon Britain ; for that the duke 

 had received and succoured Lewis, duke of Orleans, 

 and other of the French nobility, which had taken 

 arms against their king. Wherefore King Charles, 

 being resolved upon that war, knew well he could 

 not receive any opposition so potent, as if King Henry 

 should, either upon policy of state in preventing the 

 growing greatness of France, or upon gratitude unto 

 the duke of Britain for his former favours in the 

 time of his distress, espouse that quarrel, and declare 

 himself in aid of the duke. Therefore he no sooner 

 heard that King Henry was settled by his victory, 

 but forthwith he sent ambassadors unto him to pray 

 his assistance, or at least that he would stand neu 

 tral. Which ambassadors found the king at Lei 

 cester, and delivered their ambassage to this effect : 

 they first imparted unto the king the success that 

 their master had had a little before against Maximi 

 lian, in recovery of certain towns from him ; which 

 was done in a kind of privacy, and inwardness 

 towards the king ; as if the French king did not 

 esteem him for an outward or formal confederate, 

 but as one that had part in his affections and for 

 tunes, and with whom he took pleasure to commu 

 nicate his business. After this compliment, and 

 some gratulation for the king s victory, they fell to 

 their errand; declaring to the king, that their 



