nor, whom Warwick had left at Calais, was one Vaucler, a
Gascon, who, seeing the earl return in this miserable condition, refused
him admittance; and would not so much as permit the duchess of Clarence
to land, though, a few days before, she had been delivered on shipboard
of a son, and was at that time extremely disordered by sickness. With
difficulty he would allow a few flagons of wine to be carried to the
ship for the use of the ladies: but as he was a man of sagacity, and
well acquainted with the revolutions to which England was subject, he
secretly apologized to Warwick for this appearance of infidelity, and
represented it as proceeding entirely from zeal for his service. He said
that the fortress was ill supplied with provisions; that he could not
depend on the attachment of the garrison; that the inhabitants,
who lived by the English commerce, would certainly declare for the
established government; that the place was at present unable to resist
the power of England on the one hand, and that of the duke of Burgundy
on the other; and that, by seeming to declare for Edward, he would
acquire the confidence of that prince, and still keep it in his power,
when it should become safe and prudent, to restore Calais to its ancient
master.[*] It is uncertain whether Warwick was satisfied with this
apology, or suspected a double infidelity in Vaucler; but he feigned
to be entirely convinced by him; and having seized some Flemish vessels
which he found lying off Calais, he immediately made sail towards
France.

The king of France, uneasy at the close conjunction between Edward
and the duke of Burgundy, received with the greatest demonstrations of
regard the unfortunate Warwick,[**] with whom he had formerly maintained
a secret correspondence, and whom he hoped still to make his instrument
in overturning the government of England, and reestablishing the house
of Lancaster.

* Comines, liv. iii. chap. 4. Hall, fol. 205.

** Polyd. Virg. p. 519.

No animosity was ever greater than that which had long prevailed between
that house and the earl of Warwick. His father had been executed by
orders from Margaret: he himself had twice reduced Henry to captivity,
had banished the queen, had put to death all their most zealous
partisans either in the field or on the scaffold, and had occasioned
innumerable ills to that unhappy family. For this reason, believing that
such inveterate rancor could never admit of any cordial re