In 1475 Edward IV launched a campaign against France. A large army had been raised in England. The Treaty of London (1474) had agreed on an alliance for the venture with Burgundy and the Bretons. Edward’s men sailed to Calais, then advanced into France. The campaign was short. Neither the Bretons nor Burgundians joined the English in advancing into France. The French, despite having a larger force than Edward, were willing to agree to terms. The Treaty of Picquigny ended the campaign, in England and King Edward IVs favour.
Edward IVs justification for an invasion of France
King Edward had stated on several occasions that he wished to reclaim his ‘rightful’ crown in France. Prior to the readeption, a grant had been awarded by Parliament for such a campaign, which was duly spent on other things. By the mid-1470s Edward’s position was much more stable. England had strengthened her alliance with Burgundy and the Duchy of Brittany had been brought into the fold. A three-pronged assault could be launched which the French would struggle to combat. Edward had other motives. The French would almost certainly sue for peace in such a situation and this presented opportunities to take advantage of the situation. England needed money and Edward wanted to find suitable husbands for his daughters.
Source Material: Invasion of France, 1475
Both could be achieved by a show of arms against the French. He more than achieved his financial goal, as outlined in this contemporary account:
“Edward IV had never been very enthusiastic about this expedition. For even whilst he was still at Dover before boarding ship for the crossing he had begun negotiations with us. Two reasons made him cross to this side; first, all his kingdom wanted an expedition such as they had been used to in time gone by and the Duke of Burgundy had put pressure on them to do it; secondly, he did it in order to reserve for himself a good fat portion of the money which he had raised in England for this crossing… He returned very quickly and much of the money which he had raised in England for the payment of his troops was left to him. So he achieved most of his objectives… he had another desire; to accomplish the marriage of [Dauphin] Charles [later VIII]… and his daughter…”
The Great Chronicle of London adds:
…the king rode with great honour through the city towards the seaside, and from thence sailed to Calais, and from thence passed into the bounds of France where, upon a river, the two kings met on a pavilion or a stage made of boards and timber upon the water , so craftily and cunningly wrought that each prince rode from the banks and the stage was made a partition. The kings being accompanied by certain of their barons, and both with their hosts standing ready armed and apparelled for war a certain distance from the banks of the river… concluded a peace [on Aug 29th]… The fame of this peace and accord was that the French King yearly, during the peace, deliver to King Edward’s assignees within his town of Calais £10,000 in gold crowns
Great Chronicle of London
A later account, by Polydor Virgil, describes the campaign and Treaty of Piqueny:
[Edward IV] having assembled an army of 20,000 men, passed over the seas to Calais, to whom Duke Charles repaired forthwith, and, putting him in expectation of victory, earnestly exhorted him to apply this war with all vigour, whereby he might and should recover his right from the French. But when King Louis understood that Kind Edward was already arrived with an army, he hastily augmented his forces and more danger he saw hung off his neck, so with much more celerity determined to make headway against them…
…the two kings met [at Piqueny] on the bridge over the river Somme, had a long talk together, and finally concluded that King Louis should pay presently unto King Edward, for his expenses in the preparation of this war, 55000 crown and yearly afterwards 50000Polydor Virgil
