Page:Diary of an embassy from King George of Bohemia to King Louis XI of France in 1464.djvu/42

 it was customary for royal ambassadors to perform their embassy sitting. And before they took their seats two members of the council, coming up to Lord Kostka and Lord Antony, told them from the King, that His Majesty wished us to perform our embassy as briefly as possible and to speak briefly. Then Lord Kostka said, that he would speak briefly, and so they sat down and spoke. First, Lord Albert Kostka spoke in Latin, excusing himself and saying, that he had rather perform the duties of a knight than speak in presence of so mighty and Most Christian King; and thus he spoke long and much, all which I could not write down here word for word. But, briefly, the end and intent of all this speech was this: that the King of Bohemia entreated and prayed the King of France, as the Most Christian King, and one who loved the common good