About the middle of April, the English ambassadors, who had been lately at Provins, returned to the king of France and the duke of Burgundy at Troyes in Champagne,—when a treaty was negotiated so far that a truce was agreed on between the two kings, to last for a certain space of time, in the expectation that more conclusive measures would be adopted; and a day was fixed on for the negotiation to be continued on both sides, near to the town of Meulan.
When this had been settled, the ambassadors went back to their king at Rouen; and within a short time afterward, the king and queen of France, with their daughter, the princess Catherine, and the duke of Burgundy, escorted by a powerful body of men at arms, came to Pontoise. On their arrival, according to the measures that had been agreed on with the said ambassadors, they ordered a large inclosure to be made with planks, within which the conferences were to be carried on: it was also surrounded with a deep ditch, having one side on the bank of the Seine. There were several entrances, well secured by three barriers; and tents and pavilions were pitched within, for the lords to repose themselves in.
They then had proper arrangements made in the adjacent villages for the lodging the attendants and equipages of the ambassadors. At this time the king of England had advanced from Rouen to Mantes.
When the day appointed for the conference was come, notwithstanding the king of France was much indisposed as to his health, the queen, the princess Catherine, the duke of Burgundy and the count de St Pol, with the members of the council, escorted by a thousand combatants, went to the place of conference near to Meulan, and entered the tents that were without the inclosure.
Soon after, the king of England arrived, attended by his brothers, the dukes of Clarence and Glocester, and a thousand men at arms. He entered the tent that had been pitched for him, as the others had done; and when they were about to commence the conference, the queen on the right hand, followed by the lady Catherine, the duke of Burgundy, and the count de St Pol, entered the inclosure. In like manner did the king of England, with his brothers and council, by another opening, and, with a most respectful obeisance, saluted the queen, and then kissed her and the lady Catherine. After this, the duke of Burgundy saluted the king, bending his knee a little and inclining his head; but the king took him by the hand, embraced him, and shewed him great respect.
They then entered the tent appointed for the conference, the king leading the queen, where they staid a very considerable time. Their men at arms were drawn up without the paling; but a sufficient number of guards were within side, to prevent any improper persons, or such as were not especially ordered, from entering it.
After they had remained in conference a long time, they separated, taking most respectful leaves of each other; and one party returned to Pontoise, and the other to Mantes.
On the morrow three weeks, they again met there, and remained together for several days, in the same state, and with the same number of persons, as before, with the exception of the lady Catherine, who had been brought the first time that the king of England might see her, and who was not now present. King Henry was very desirous to marry her, and not without cause, for she was very handsome, of high birth, and of the most engaging manners.
During their meetings, several matters were brought forward, in the hope of concluding a solid peace. It frequently happened that one party was more grandly attended than the other, and at other times less; and although the English and French were quartered close together, there was never the smallest riot or quarrel between them,—and they exchanged provision with each other. This conference, however, ended in nothing, from the demands of the king of England, in regard to the portion of the lady Catherine, being as exorbitant as before.
The dauphin, during the holding of this conference, with the intent of seducing the duke of Burgundy, sent Tanneguy du Châtel to propose a treaty of peace with him, although the duke had before made repeated offers of the same. When the conference was broken off, the inclosure was destroyed, the tents and pavilions pulled down,—and the two parties returned to Pontoise and Mantes.