As he grew older people had started calling him ‘Good King René’ and whenever I was invited into his company I greatly enjoyed it, for he was a cultured man, a poet and painter of miniatures and, to my delight, a great enthusiast for chivalry in all its manifestations. He had even written a book on the subject, which on this visit I had been encouraged to borrow, whiling away a few fascinating hours absorbing his detailed instructions on the staging of a tournament; the ceremonial, the weapons and armour and the layout of the lists, even the costumes of the heralds and judges and the prizes to be awarded. Time which I might otherwise have found tedious as I waited for developments in the matter I had really come to Angers to pursue, namely the return of my brother to the throne of England.

I had been there for a week before letters caught up with me, of which the most welcome was from Jane, which told me of her shameful eviction from Lady Anne’s presence with the children, and her precarious journey to Tenby. My relief at knowing they were safe was intense. Lady Margaret had sent thirty crowns to Jane when she learned of her plight and for this she had my gratitude. I hoped they would find a safe home among the folk of Tenby, many of who remained among my greatest supporters.

Lady Margaret’s epistle, the latest of many that had reached me during my sojourn in France, was without preamble, crudely encoded and considerably shorter than Jane’s but in contrast to her last anxious and dejected communication, it left me in no doubt of her renewed determination not only to regain control of her son’s birthright but also to restore the Lancastrian throne.

It is time to strike. E is back in action but R is still in the hands of the widow and I despair of ever reclaiming him while E remains in power. My own people have suffered his deadly wrath following a failed uprising in Lincolnshire, which W secretly backed. Now he too fears for his head and has taken ship to Calais with his entire family, including C. You must summon all your diplomatic skills, because my sources tell me that L is prepared to help W to reinstate H through an alliance with M. To secure L’s help, it is more than ever your task to bring W and M together and force them to collaborate. If you can turn the Wheel of Fortune to achieve this, we can end E’s bloodthirsty regime and restore H to his rightful status. As soon as I hear positive news I will send funds. MR