gn prince. With that,
quoth the Cardinal, "I shall desire you, because ye can speak French,
to take the pains to go down into the hall to encounter and to
receive them, according to their estates, and to conduct them into
this chamber, where they shall see us, and all these noble personages
sitting merrily at our banquet, desiring them to sit down with us and
to take part of our fare and pastime." Then they went incontinent
down into the hall, where 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 time in any masque.
At their arrival into the chamber, two and two together, they went
directly before the cardinal where he sat, saluting him very
reverently, to whom the Lord Chamberlain for them said: "Sir,
forasmuch as they be strangers, and can speak no English, they have
desired me to declare unto your Grace thus: 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 good grace, but to repair hither to view as well
their incomparable beauty, as for to accompany them to mumchance, and
then after to dance with them, and so to have of them acquaintance.
And, sir, they furthermore require of your Grace licence to
accomplish the cause of their repair." To whom the Cardinal answered,
that he was very well contented they should do so. Then the masquers
went first and saluted all the dames as they sat, and then returned
to the most worthiest.

... Then quoth the Cardinal to my Lord Chamberlain, "I pray you,"
quoth he, "show them that it seemeth me that there should be among
them some noble man, whom I suppose to be much more worthy of honour
to sit and occupy this room and place than I; to whom I would most
gladly, if I knew him, surrender my place according to my duty." Then
spake my Lord Chamberlain, unto them in French, declaring my Lord
Cardinal's mind, and they rounding him again in the ear, my Lord
Chamberlain said to my Lord Cardinal, "Sir, they confess," quoth he,
"that among them there is such a noble personage, whom, if your Grace
can appoint him from the other, he is contented to disclose himself,
and to accept your place most