Page:The Queens of England.djvu/215

 KATHERINE OF VALOIS. I8l After the surrender of Meaux, "Katherine, Queen of Eng- land, arrived at Harfleur in grand state, attended by ladies without number, and escorted by a large fleet filled with men-at-arms and archers, under the command of the Duke of Bedford, brother to the king. On landing, she went to Rouen, and thence to Vincennes to meet the king. Queen Katherine traveled in royal state, always accompanied by the Duke of Bedford and the men-at-arms. King Henry de- parted from Meaux with his friends to meet her, and she was received. by them as if she had been an angel from heaven. Great rejoicings were made by the King and Queen of France for the happy arrival of their son-in-law and daughter, and on the thirtieth -day of May, Whitsun-eve, the Kings of France and of England, accompanied by their queens, left Vincennes, and entered Paris with much pomp. The King and Queen of France were lodged at the Hotel St. Pol and the King of Eng- land at the Louvre. In each of these places the two kings solemnly celebrated the feast of Pentecost, which fell on the day after their arrival. • "On this day the King and Queen of England were seated at table, gorgeously appareled, having crowns on their heads. The English princes, dukes, knights, and prelates were par- takers of the feast, each seated according to his rank, and the tables were covered with the rarest viands and choicest wines. The king and queen this day held a grand court, which was attended by all the English in Paris ; and the Parisians went to the Castle of the Louvre to see the king and queen at table, crowned with their most precious diamonds ; but as no meat or drink was offered to the populace, they went away much discontented ; for in former times, when the kings of France kept open court, meat and drink were distributed plentifully to all comers by the king's servants. King Charles had indeed been as liberal and courteous as his predecessors, but he was now seated in his Hotel of St. Pol at table with his queen, deserted by the grandees and others of his subjects. The government and power of his kingdom were now transferred into the hands of his son-in-law, King Henry ; and he had so little share, that he was managed as the King of England pleased, and no attention was paid him, which created much sorrow in the hearts of all loyal French- men, and not without cause."*
 * Monstrelet, ch. cclxi.