containing 1,000 marks. The gift, however, does not appear to
have been so graciously received as it might have been, for a London
alderman records that the donors, for all their liberality, "hadde but
lytylle thanke."(810)

(M429)

The two brothers had not met since the death of Henry V. After prolonged
negotiations, a _modus vivendi_ between the parties was arrived at, and
Gloucester and the bishop were induced to shake hands. Beaufort left
England soon afterwards with the Duke of Bedford, on the plea of making a
pilgrimage, and did not return until September, 1428, by which time he had
been made a cardinal and appointed papal legate in England.
Notwithstanding his legatine authority being unacknowledged by Gloucester
and others, the citizens received him on his return "worthily and
loyally," riding out to meet him and escorting him into London.(811)

(M430)

Gloucester had always been a favourite with the Londoners, until his
conduct to his Flemish wife, whom he left behind on the continent to fight
her own battles as best as she could, and the undisguised attention he
paid to Eleanor Cobham, a lady in his wife's suite, whom he eventually
married, estranged their favour. In August, 1424, the Common Council had
voted the duke a gift of 500 marks; and two years later--viz., in April,
1426--the citizens raised a sum, variously stated to have been L1,000 and
1,000 marks, for the benefit of his duchess.(812) The female portion of
the community were specially incensed against the duke, and a number of
women went the length of presenting themselves before parliament in 1427,
with a letter complaining of his behaviour towards his wife. In March of
the next year (1428) the citizens themselves followed suit, and drew the
attention of parliament, through the mouth of John Symond, their Recorder,
to the wretched straits to which the duchess had been reduced, as
witnessed her own letters. They begged parliament to consider the best
means for recovering for her the lands of Hainault, Holland and Zeeland,
which had always been places of sure refuge for the English merchant, and
the rulers of which had ever been friendly to the king of England. The
citizens finally avowed themselves ready to take upon themselves their
share in any undertaking the lords and commons of the realm might decide
upon.(813)

(M431)

In the meantime matters had not gone well with the English in France. In
July, 1427, the Earl of Salisbury came over