in order to adjust all differences; but James
said, that he meant to treat of a peace, not to go a begging for it.
Lest the conferences should break off altogether without effect, a truce
was concluded for some months; and James, perceiving that while Perkin
remained in Scotland he himself never should enjoy a solid peace with
Henry, privately desired him to depart the kingdom.

Access was now barred Perkin into the Low Countries, his usual retreat
in all his disappointments. The Flemish merchants, who severely felt the
loss resulting from the interruption of commerce with England, had made
such interest in the archduke's council, that commissioners were sent to
London, in order to treat of an accommodation. The Flemish court agreed,
that all English rebels should be excluded the Low Countries; and in
this prohibition the demesnes of the duchess dowager were expressly
comprehended. When this principal article was agreed to, all the other
terms were easily adjusted. A treaty of commerce was finished, which was
favorable to the Flemings, and to which they long gave the appellation
of "intercursus magnus," the great treaty. And when the English
merchants returned to their usual abode at Antwerp, they were publicly
received, as in procession, with joy and festivity.

Perkin was a Fleming by descent, though born in England; and it might
therefore be doubted whether he were included in the treaty between the
two nations: but as he must dismiss all his English retainers if he took
shelter in the Low Countries, and as he was sure of a cold reception,
if not bad usage, among people who were determined to keep on terms
of friendship with the court of England, he thought fit rather to
hide himself during some time in the wilds and fastnesses of Ireland.
Impatient, however, of a retreat which was both disagreeable and
dangerous, he held consultations with his followers, Herne, Skelton, and
Astley, three broken tradesmen: by their advice he resolved to try the
affections of the Cornish, whose mutinous disposition, notwithstanding
the king's lenity, still subsisted after the suppression of their
rebellion. No sooner did he appear at Bodmin, in Cornwall, than the
populace, to the number of three thousand, flocked to his standard, and
Perkin, elated with this appearance of success, took on him, for the
first time, the appellation of Richard IV., king of England. Not to
suffer the expectations of his followers to languish, he presented