Notwithstanding this stubborn way of working up the irreconcilable
enmities which caused divisions in the royal family, peace was decided
upon and concluded at Arras, on the 4th of September, 1414, on conditions
as vague as ever, which really put no end to the causes of civil war, but
permitted the king on the one hand and the Duke of Burgundy on the other,
to call themselves and to wear an appearance of being reconciled. A
serious event which happened abroad at that time was heavily felt in
France, reawakened the spirit of nationality, and opened the eyes of all
parties a little to the necessity of suspending their own selfish
disagreements. Henry IV., King of England, died on the 20th of March,
1413. Having been chiefly occupied with the difficulties of his own
government at home, he, without renouncing the war with France, had not
prosecuted it vigorously, and had kept it in suspense or adjournment by a
repetition of truces. Henry V., his son and successor, a young prince of
five and twenty, active, ambitious, able, and popular, gave, from the
very moment of his accession, signs of having bolder views, which were
not long coming to maturity, in respect of his relations with France.
The Duke of Burgundy had undoubtedly anticipated them, for, as soon as he
was cognizant of Henry IV.'s death, he made overtures in London for the
marriage of his daughter Catherine with the new King of England, and he
received at Bruges an English embassy on the subject. When this was
known at Paris, the council of Charles VI. sent to the Duke of Burgundy
Sire de Dampierre and the Bishop of Evreux bearing letters to him from
the king "which forbade him, on pain of forfeiture and treason, to enter
into any treaty with the King of England, either for his daughter's
marriage or for any other cause." But the views of Henry V. soared
higher than a marriage with a daughter of the Duke of Burgundy. It was
to the hand of the King of France's daughter, herself also named
Catherine, that he made pretension, flattering himself that he would find
in this union aid in support of his pretences to the crown of France.