ment of whatever measures he saw fit to request. There never was for a moment in Henry's mind, a question whether he should return to the invasion of France. The battle of Agincourt made that a foregone conclusion. The nation was not only acquiescent in, but urgent for, another expedition. But when the spring of 1416 came, the state of the national resources, though not feeble, were not such as to warrant the equipment of so extensive an armament as would be necessary at so short an interval. The purpose, therefore, which he had adopted while at Calais, to return at once with a replenished army, was, for the time being, postponed. But the spring did not pass without an event of great interest and importance.

The Emperor Sigismund of Germany, the great aim of whose life was to heal the schism of the Papacy, and to bring the Church under one tiara, made it a part of his scheme to secure for this end the united coöperation of France and England. With this view he undertook a journey from his capital, Frankfort, first to Paris, then to London; that he might, in person, interpose his mediatory offices between the two courts, and bring them to coöperate with his own designs. His visit to the distracted metropolis of France seems to have been attended with much assumption of au thority on his part. He held courts of justice, and conferred knighthood upon whomsoever he pleased. There was no opposition to his making free use of sov ereign prerogative. It was, indeed, an easy matter to induce the wretched Charles to accede to his plan of pacification, and his consent to suspend hostilities was soon gained. Having thus accomplished what he desired at Paris, the Emperor sent heralds to Henry to announce his intention of visiting England. This

news produced a great stir, not only at court, but also throughout the country. It was a rare thing to be hold an Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire on English shores. Every preparation was made that a reception should be extended to Sigismund worthy of his lofty rank. Henry sent him a cordial message, expressing his happiness at the proposed visit. The Imperial guest sailed from Calais to Dover on the 29th of April, just after Easter. Attending him was a retinue of one thousand persons, most of whom were nobles, and some of whom held princely rank in Germany and Italy. Thirty ships composed the fleet which conveyed the Imperial stranger across the Channel. But the English nation were independent of spirit, and impatient at the slightest appearance of an arrogant manner. They had heard of the Emperor's presumptuous conduct at the Louvre, and were by no means disposed that it should be repeated at Westminster. When, therefore, the vessel which contained Sigismund approached the port at Dover, he met with a somewhat unusual reception. The Duke of Gloucester, Constable of Dover, when the ship was about to cast anchor, rode into the water at the head of a number of noblemen with drawn swords, and addressed the Imperial guest with a harangue at once determined and courteous. "If he came as a mediator of peace, they would receive him with all the honors due to the imperial dignity; but if as Emperor he challenged any sovereign power, they must tell him that the English nation was a free people, and their King had dependence on no monarch on earth; and they were resolved, in defence of the liberty of the people, and the rights of their King, to oppose his landing on the shores." The Emperor at once disclaimed any inten

tion of interfering with Henry's sovereignty, and declared that the sole object of his visit was to bring about peace between France and England. He was therefore received on shore with every demonstration of respect.

On his route to the metropolis the most illustrious nobles of England received him in the different towns, and ovations were everywhere extended to him. The civic authorities of London met him at Blackheath, and Henry's welcome, though he manifested the dig nity of an independent monarch, was respectful and cordial. The Primate ordered prayers to be offered up for his good weal. Soon after his arrival he was installed at Windsor as Knight of the Order of the Garter. The Emperor, finding a firm spirit in Henry and his subjects, made no attempts to take upon himself the least authority. He set about his mission at once, with that zealous energy which marked all his actions. Among those who had accompanied him hither was William of Bavaria, Duke of Holland; and soon after his arrival in London, some ambassadors from Paris made their appearance. Frequent councils were held by Henry, Sigismund, William, and the French ambassadors, and the negotiations seemed to be approaching a favorable issue. All the early summer was employed in the conferences. Henry offered to resign his claim to the crown of the Valois, if the treaty of Bretigny were reaffirmed; a treaty which had given the English kings very considerable fiefs in France. The Emperor and the Duke of Holland advised the French envoys to accede to this. But a haughty head thought for France at that moment-the Count of Armagnac. Not only were the propositions of Henry rejected (although the envoys themselves advised

their acceptance), but an act, totally subversive of every hope of peace, was done by the virtual regent of France.

Armagnac was a brave man, and, despite his crimes, a lover of his country. The death of the Dauphin had put it into his power to govern the realm with absolute sway, during the now almost perpetual imbecility of Charles, and the infancy of the new heir. He resolved to restore to France that which Henry had torn from her. He ordered a fleet to sweep the Channel, to hover about the English ports, and to commit depredations wherever they had opportunity. He then invested Harfleur on the land side, and brought his ships in a cordon around the town on the sea. Dorset, who was Captain of Harfleur, sent in distress to Henry for succors. The news at once put an end to all peace conferences. Henry resolved to go in person against the French squadron. Sigismund, however, dissuaded him from it, as being an affair of too little moment in which to expose the royal person to danger. John, Duke of Bedford, was therefore sent in his place. An armament was quickly raised, a fleet prepared, and ere long Bedford was able to anchor a formidable force off the mouth of the Seine.

On the morning of August 14th he bore down upon the besieging squadron. The attack was made with promptness and great intrepidity. The English came close to the French ships, poured over their sides upon their decks, and did their work so quickly and bravely, that their victory was easy. The crafts of the enemy not already captured, made haste to escape up the river, at a safe distance from their assailants. Bedford, after a brief contest, entered Harfleur in triumph. Many ships remained in his hands, and some

prisoners, whilst but few of his own men were killed or wounded.

After this affair the Emperor Sigismund saw no longer any encouragement to seek a peace. He could not take middle ground between the belligerents. Doubtless his determination to declare for Henry was influenced by the superior strength and unity of the English, and by the fact that Henry, as well as he, desired to see the Church once more united under an undisputed pontiff. At all events, the Emperor heartily espoused Henry's side of the quarrel. On the 15th of August a league was signed by Sigismund and Henry, in which the former acknowledged the latter's right to the French crown, and announced his intention to assist him in its acquisition. War was now inevitable. The opportunity in France was ripe. The English nation were fast becoming once more equal to the occasion. The Emperor's approval and coöperation made the issue well-nigh certain. An ally equally, if not more serviceable, was found in the person of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy.

We must glance briefly at the events which had taken place in France subsequent to the battle of Agincourt; we shall then see how Burgundy became the ally of his country's most dreaded enemy.

Burgundy and Armagnac were still contestants for the metropolis. Armagnac had succeeded in lodg ing himself within its walls first, with six thousand Gascons,* and had taken possession of the royal person, and that of the Dauphin. Burgundy, with a mounted force of ten thousand, rode rapidly to the city, but found himself a little too late. He retired to Lagny, where he lay several months collecting troops, and

* Michelet, vol. ii., p. 445.