Charles of Burgundy did not hasten to greet his unbidden guest.  He would rather have heard that his brother-in-law were dead, but he bade Groothuse show him every courtesy and supply him with necessaries and five hundred crowns a month for luxuries.  After a time, and perhaps informed by weather prophets that the Lancastrian wind blowing over in England was but a fickle breeze, he consented to forget his hereditary sympathies.

“The same day that the duke received news of the king’s arrival in Holland, I was come from Calais to Boulogne (where the duke then lay) ignorant of the event and of the king’s flight.[28] The duke was first advised that he was dead, which did not trouble him much for he loved the Lancaster line far better than that of York.  Besides he had with him the Dukes of Exeter and of Somerset and divers others of King Henry’s faction, by which means he thought himself assured of peace with the line of Lancaster.  But he feared the Earl of Warwick, neither knew he how to content him that was to come to him, I mean King Edward, whose sister he had married and who was also brother-in-arms, for the king wore the Golden Fleece and the duke the Garter.

“Straightway then the duke sent me back to Calais accompanied by a gentleman or two of this new faction of Henry, and gave me instructions how to deal with this new world, urging me to go because it was important for him to be well served in the matter.[29] I went as far as Tournehem, a castle near to Guisnes, and then dared not proceed because I found people fleeing for fear of the English who were devastating the country....  Never before had I needed a safe-conduct for the English are very honourable.  All this seemed very strange to me for I had never seen these mutations in the world.”

Commines was uncertain as to what he had better do and wanted instructions.  “The duke sent me a ring from his finger, bidding me go forward with the promise that if I were taken prisoner he would redeem me.”  New surprises met the envoy at Calais.  None of the well-known faces were to be seen.  “Further, upon the gate of my lodgings and the very door of my chamber were a hundred white crosses and rhymes signifying that the King of France and Earl of Warwick were one—­all of which seemed strange to me.”  Well received was Commines and entertained at dinner.  It was told at table how within a quarter of an hour after the arrival of news from England every man wore this livery (the ragged staff of Warwick), so speedy and sudden was the change.  “This is the first time that I ever knew how little stable are these mundane affairs.”