At the close of 1464 the League of the Public Weal drew fast to a head, and Charles despatched the Chancellor of Burgundy to secure the aid of England.

But the English Council met the advances of the League with coldness.

Edward himself could have seen little save danger to his throne from its triumph.

Count Charles, proud of his connexion with the House of Lancaster through his Portuguese mother, a descendant of John of Gaunt, was known to be hostile to the Yorkist throne.

The foremost of his colleagues, John of Calabria, was a son of Rene of Anjou and a brother of Margaret.