Page:Hutton, William Holden - Hampton Court (1897).djvu/84

38 looking out of the windows into Thames, returned again, and showed him that it seemed they were noblemen and strangers arrived at his bridge, coming as ambassadors from some foreign prince. With that quoth the Cardinal, 'I shall desire you, because you can speak French, to take the pains to go into the hall there to receive them, according to their estates, and to conduct them into this chamber, where they shall see us, and all these noble personages being merry at our banquet, desiring them to sit down with us, and to take part of our fare.' Then went they incontinent down into the hall, whereas they received them with twenty new torches, and conveyed them up into the chamber, with such a number of drums and fifes as I have seldom seen together at one place and time. At their arrival into the chamber, two and two together, they went directly before the Cardinal where he sat, and saluted him very reverently; to whom the Lord Chamberlain for them said: 'Sir, forasmuch as they be strangers, and cannot speak English, they have desired me to declare unto you that they, having understanding of this your triumphant banquet, where was assembled such a number of excellent fair dames, could do no less, under the supportation of your Grace, but to repair hither to view as well their incomparable beauty, as for to accompany them at mumchance, and then after to dance with them, and to have of their acquaintance. And, sir, furthermore they require of your Grace licence to accomplish the said cause of their coming.'