CHAP. XCVI.
KING HENRY SENDS LETTERS TO THE HOLLANDERS, TO DRAW THEM TO HIS PARTY.—A COPY OF THESE LETTERS.
In this year, king Henry of England sent letters, sealed with his seal, to the mayor, sheriffs, counsellors, burghers and commonalty of the town of Ziric-zee, to entice them over to his party against the duke of Burgundy, a copy of which follows.
'Henry, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, to our very dear and great friends the burgomasters, sheriffs, counsellors and commonalty of the town of Ziric-zee, health, and perpetual love and affection. Very dear and great friends, how much advantage and profit arises to kingdoms from an uninterrupted alliance and confederation between kingdoms and great lords their prosperity fully evinces, and of which you have had experience. In recalling to mind the very ancient friendship and alliance that has so long subsisted between our predecessors the kings of this realm and the princes who have ruled over Holland, Zealand and Frizeland, we have observed that commerce has flourished and public tranquillity been preserved through means of this friendship, to the overthrow of hatreds, jealousies, and internal divisions.
'Being most heartily desirous that such an alliance and friendship may continue, we shall pursue the steps of our predecessors, as well through affinity of blood as from old attachment to those princes of Zealand, who have worn our order of the Garter in the same manner that emperors and other royal persons, through affection to us, have done.
'Having taken this opportunity of notifying to you that our friendship and love continue the same, and which we shall ever cultivate, preferring old friends to the making of new ones, as being far more honourable as well as profitable,—we frankly inform you, that we understand that, under pretence of a peace, divers novelties and changes have taken place in our kingdom of France, to the great prejudice of us and of our state, by infringing the general peace of the two realms, so loyally and faithfully concluded between our late very dear lords, our father and grandfather, the kings Henry and Charles lately deceased, whose souls may God pardon! and between the greatest nobles of the two kingdoms, as we have in full remembrance.
'From this cause, various rumours are abroad, as if some countries were about to break off their confederations and alliances with us, but for which we know not of any reasons that should induce them so to do. We are anxious, therefore, for our satisfaction, to learn your intentions on this subject, as we make known ours to you,—and most affectionately entreat you to accept of our wish that our former friendship may be preserved, and that you will inform us of your intentions by the bearer of these presents, whom we send purposely to you; or should you be willing to send any envoys to notify to us your inclinations, we shall attend to them with a hearty good will. Very dear and great friends, may the Holy Spirit have you under his protection.
'Given under our privy seal, at our palace of Westminster, the 14th day of December, in the year of Grace 1435, and of our reign the 14th.'
The address on the letter was, 'To our very dear and great friends the burgomasters, sheriffs, counsellors and commonalty of the town of Ziric-zee.'
On the receipt of this letter, the only answer the burgomasters gave the messenger was, that they would consider of it,—and then they sent it to the duke of Burgundy and his council, who were very much displeased at the conduct of the English toward him and his country, in this as well as in other matters.