Somewhat before this time, the Duchess had also gained unto her a near servant of King Henry’s own, one Stephen Frion, his secretary for the French tongue; an active man, but turbulent and discontented.  This Frion had fled over to Charles, the French King, and put himself into his service, at such time as he began to be in open enmity with the King.  Now King Charles, when he understood of the person and attempts of Perkin, ready of himself to embrace all advantages against the King of England, instigated by Frion, and formerly prepared by the Lady Margaret, forthwith despatched one Lucas and this Frion, in the nature of ambassadors to Perkin, to advertise him of the King’s good inclination to him, and that he was resolved to aid him to recover his right against King Henry, a usurper of England and an enemy of France; and wished him to come over unto him at Paris.

Perkin thought himself in heaven now that he was invited by so great a king in so honorable a manner.  And imparting unto his friends in Ireland, for their encouragement, how fortune called him, and what great hopes he had, sailed presently into France.  When he was come to the court of France, the King received him with great honor; saluted and styled him by the name of the Duke of York; lodged him and accommodated him in great state; and, the better to give him the representation and the countenance of a prince, assigned him a guard for his person, whereof Lord Congresall was captain.  The courtiers likewise, though it be ill mocking with the French, applied themselves to their King’s bent, seeing there was reason of state for it.  At the same time there repaired unto Perkin divers Englishmen of quality—­Sir George Neville, Sir John Taylor, and about one hundred more—­and among the rest this Stephen Frion, of whom we spake, who followed his fortune both then and for a long time after, and was, indeed, his principal counsellor and instrument in all his proceedings.

But all this on the French King’s part was but a trick, the better to bow King Henry to peace.  And therefore, upon the first grain of incense that was sacrificed upon the altar of peace at Boulogne, Perkin was smoked away.  Yet would not the French King deliver him up to King Henry, as he was labored to do, for his honor’s sake, but warned him away and dismissed him.  And Perkin, on his part, was ready to be gone, doubting he might be caught up underhand.  He therefore took his way into Flanders, unto the Duchess of Burgundy, pretending that, having been variously tossed by fortune, he directed his course thither as to a safe harbor, noways taking knowledge that he had ever been there before, but as if that had been his first address.  The Duchess, on the other part, made it as new strange to see him, pretending, at the first, that she was taught and made wise, by the example of Lambert Simnel, how she did admit of any counterfeit stuff, though, even in that, she said she was not fully satisfied.