HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 207 



his consent, and to know the Duke s mind likewise ; 

 well foreseeing that the Duke of Orleans, by whom 

 the Duke of Britain was wholly led, taking himself 

 to be upon terms irreconcileable with him 4 would 

 admit of no treaty of peace. Whereby he should in 

 one, both generally abroad veil over his ambition, 

 and win the reputation of just and moderate pro 

 ceedings ; and should withal endear himself in the 

 affections of the king of England, as one that had 

 committed all to his will ; nay, and which was yet 

 more fine, make faith in him, that although he went 

 on with the war, yet it should be but with the 

 sword in his hand, to bend the stiffness of the other 

 party to accept of peace ; and so the king should 

 take no umbrage of his arming and prosecution ; 

 but the treaty to be kept on foot to the very last 

 instant, till he were master of the field. 



Which grounds being by the French king wisely 

 laid, all things fell out as he expected. For when 

 the English ambassador came to the court of Britain, 

 the duke was then scarcely perfect in his memory, 

 and all things were directed by the Duke of Orleans, 

 who gave audience to the chaplain Urswick, and 

 upon his ambassage delivered, made answer in 

 somewhat high terms : that the Duke of Britain 

 having been an host, and a kind of parent or foster- 

 father to the king, in his tenderness of age and 

 weakness of fortune, did look for at this time from 

 King Henry, the renowned king of England, rather 

 brave troops for his succours, than a vain treaty of 

 peace. And if the king could forget the good offices 



