XV. CHAP. forces, represented the necessity of reducing Sluys, in order to quell the factious spirit of the Flemings, who were upheld by the example and the impunity of Lord Ravenstein: offering to besiege it on the land side, if the King of England would send a fleet to blockade the haven. Henry also petitioned by the merchants, who complained of the injury sustained by commerce from the hostile barks which infested the narrow seas, dispatched Sir Edward Poynings, a valiant commander, with twelve ships well equipped with troops and artillery. The gallant Englishman invested the maritime part of the town, and by his orders the soldiers issuing from their vessels at ebb tide, assaulted a strong castle, which after a stout resistance of twenty days, was reduced to extreme distress, and the destruction of a bridge of boats, which communicated between the town and the beleaguered fortress, obliged Lord Ravenstein to capitulate. The fall of Sluys not only redounded to the honour of the English arms, but produced infinite advantage to Maximilian. The citizens of Bruges, dismayed by the total defeat of their insolent ally, made overtures for peace to the Duke of Saxony and Sir Edward Poynings, consenting to submit to their sovereign, and to assist in defraying the expenses of the war. *Poynings having lost only fifty soldiers and one gentleman of note, a De Vere, in the late brilliant action, joined Henry at Boulogne; and while the English army were lying before this fortress, Maximilian also recovered Arras and St. Omer from the French. The descriptive page of Philip de Comines furnishes a lively Bacon. XV. account of the successful artifices and intrigues by CHAP. which these towns were regained, and the temptation to gratify the reader with the narrative, extracted from the knightly historian's entertaining chronicle, is too strong to be resisted. "In the mean time, while De Cordes and Cardonne were at Bulloin treating with the King of England, the citizens of Arras knowing the garrison within the towne to be but weake, practised to yield it into Maximilian's hands, who sent certain bands thither, the which in great diligence approached neere to the towne. When all thinges were in a readiness, and the gates being so negligently guarded, that the traitors with their counterfeited keyes had opened them, they began a song, whereby they willed the enemies to make haste, who presently repaired to the gates, and were received into the towne. Paul Carquelevant, a Breton, governor in the absence of the bastard of Cardonne, at the enemye's first entrie retired himselfe with his soldiers into the castell; but fearing leest it should be taken by assault, he soone abandoned it greatly to his reproach for if he had held it but till the next day, divers French bands had come thither to his relief. The towne was spoiled, and many slaine; neither were the churches spared, nor the traitors' houses. The author of this treason was a poore smith that dwelled upon the towne wall, and had beene the only man that was suffered to remain in the towne by Lewis the Eleventh, when he transported the townsmen as a colony into France. Carquelevant the governor when the town was surprised, lay fast asleepe, drowned in drinke and good XV. CHAP. cheere, as it is said. The towne was spoiled by the soldiers, because Maximilian was behinde with them for certaine moneths paie. "Saint Omer was also taken at the same time, though some refer it to another time; but whensoever it was taken, this is most certaine, that the negligence of the watch was the losse thereof. For the enimies being led by George Dabecsin, made shew at their first comming before the towne as though they would have scaled it, at which time the French soldiers were ready to withstand them upon the walls, being strong and very defensible both by nature and by arte: whereupon the enimies, under pretence of feare, retired into their campe; yea and further, when the French issued foorthe to skirmish with them, they ever retired, faining the like feare, which dissimulation they used for the space of eight daies, and by this their pollicie caused the French to remit much of their accustomed industry and diligence; which when the Burgundians and Almains perceived, they with great expedition reared ladders against the walls and bulwarks of the towne, which they easily entered, the watch being fast asleepe, and in some places no watch at all. Then brake they open the gates, slew the French soldiers and the citizens, and made themselves masters of the town. "At the same time was Amiens also attempted by the Burgundians in the night, and like to have been surprised by the like negligence of the watch: but Katherine de Lignes (a woman of a manlike courage) awaked the watch out of their dead sleepe, by means whereof the alarme was sounded, and all XV. the towne arose in arms, and part went to defend CHAP. the walls, and the rest issued foorth and skirmished, and put to flight Maximilian's bands, who plainly confessed that the diligence and industry of one woman had wrung the victory out of their hands." CHAP. XVI. CHAPTER XVI. New Scheme of Henry's Enemies-Alleged Escape of the Duke of York-Perkin Warbeck's Reception in Ireland—Policy of Charles VIII.-Favour shewn to the Impostor by Margaret of BurgundyDisaffection in England-Inquiries concerning Perkin's BirthConduct of the Duke of Burgundy-Examination of Tyrrel and Dighton-Arrest of Perkin's Friends-Panic of others—Charge against Sir William Stanley-his Confession-Henry's apparent Clemency-Condemnation and Execution of Stanley-his vast Riches-Supposition concerning Stanley's Fall-Government of Poynings in Ireland-Feud between Poynings and Kildare-Favour extended to Kildare and Desmond-Discontent of the Flemings -Warbeck appears off the Coast of Kent—is compelled to retire— The King visits the Earl of Derby-Sanguinary Execution in Kent— Treaty with Burgundy-Exile of Warbeck-is repulsed in Ireland— his Reception at the Scottish Court—Marriage with Lady Katherine Gordon-he crosses the Border-Imposition of New Taxes-Insurrection in Cornwall-March of the Rebels to Blackheath-Defeat of Audley-Execution of Audley and his Confederates-Decline of Warbeck's Favour in Scotland—he joins the Cornish Rebels-Siege of Exeter-Warbeck's Discomfiture before the Walls-is forced to retreat-flies to Sanctuary-Henry's Courtesy-Henry's Visit to Exeter-Surrender of Warbeck-his Treatment at Westminster—he effects his Escape-is retaken-his Punishment-his Confession-is lodged in the Tower-A new Impostor-Execution of Ralph Wilford-Sentence of the Priest-Attempt of Warbeck in the Tower -Implication of the Earl of Warwick-Warbeck's Trial and Death -Unjust Condemnation of the Earl of Warwick-Death of the last of the Plantagenets-Indignation of the English People-Henry attempts to palliate his Conduct. THE English nation, already displeased by the tame surrender of Bretagne to Charles VIII., were |