Peace was somehow or other preserved; and the countess of Hainault came, with a noble attendance, through the Vermandois, Noyon and Compiegne to Senlis: the deputies from Flanders followed her, handsomely escorted; and last came the duke of Brabant, with the chief ministers of the duke of Burgundy, namely, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, master Thierry du Roy, and some others.
The council of the king of France requested them to proceed to Paris, for the purpose of more conveniently discussing the subject, which was complied with by all except the countess of Hainault, who had been forbidden by her lord and husband to go farther than Senlis, where she had been very honourably received by the dukes of Acquitaine and Berry, who had come from Paris to meet her. She was visited by other princes of the blood, and even by the duchess of Bourbon, who with the consent of her duke, had come from Clermont to entertain her, and remained in her company until she quitted Senlis.
FOOTNOTES:
[19] Q. if not Liannes, a village in Picardy.
[CHAP. XVIII.]
AMBASSADORS ARRIVE AT PARIS FROM ENGLAND.—THE KING OF FRANCE HOLDS A GRAND FESTIVAL.—THE PEACE IS EVERY WHERE PRESERVED.
At this period, there came to Paris the earl of Dorset, uncle to the king of England, the lord Guy, admiral of England, the bishops of Durham and Norwich, and others, amounting, in the whole, to six hundred horse, as ambassadors to treat of a marriage between the king of France's daughter and the king of England[20]. They were lodged on their arrival at the Temple, and they carried themselves so magnificently, as well at home as when they rode abroad, that the French, and particularly the Parisians, were very much astonished.
On the 10th day of February, the king of France gave at Paris a very grand festival of eating, drinking, tilting and dancing, at which the english ambassadors were present. The king tilted with the duke d'Alençon, whom he had lately raised to that dignity. The duke of Brabant tilted in great cordiality with the duke of Orleans; and during this festival, which lasted three days, the princes of the blood conducted themselves kindly and honourably toward each other. The queen of France, the duchess of Acquitaine, and many other noble ladies and damsels, assisted at the feast.
On the 24th day of February, after many conferences with the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, as well at Paris as at Senlis, and with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy, the peace was finally concluded, and proclaimed with sound of trumpet through Paris, according to royal letters of the following tenor: