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Part II. difficult they might be, rather than engage in gallantry: she remembered also what monsieur de Cleves had told her, when he gave an account of madam de Tournon. She thought she ought to acknowledge to him the inclination she had for the duke de Nemours, and in that thought she continued a long time; afterwards, she was astonished to have entertained so ridiculous a design, and fell back again into her former perplexity of not knowing what to chuse.

The peace was signed; and the lady Elizabeth, after a great deal of reluctance, resolved to obey the king her father. The duke of Alva was appointed to marry her in the name of the Catholic king, and was very soon expected. The duke of Savoy too, who was to marry the king's sister, and whose nuptials were to be solemnised at the same time, was expected every day. The king thought of nothing but how to grace these marriages with such diversions as might display the politeness and magnificence of his court. Interludes and comedies of the best kind were proposed, but the king thought those entertainments too private, and desired to have somewhat of a more splendid nature: he resolved to make a solemn tournament, to which strangers might be invited, and of which the people might be spectators. The princes and young lords very much approved the king's design, especially the duke of Ferrara, monsieur de Guise, and the duke de Nemours, who surpassed the rest in these sorts of exercises. The king made choice of them to be together with himself the four champions of the tournament.

Proclamation was made throughout the kingdom, that on the 15th of June, in the city of Paris, his most Christian majesty, and the princes Alphonso d'Eté duke of Ferrara, Francis of Loraine duke of Guise, and James of Savoy duke of Nemours, would hold an open tournament against all comers. The first combat to be on horse-back in the lists, with double armour, to break four lances, and one for the ladies; the second combat with swords, one to one, or two to two, as the