WILL certify you of our news in the parts of
Calais.

First, the 11th day of October [1532], which was Friday; in the morning at five o'clock, the King's Grace took his ship called the Swallow: and so came to Calais by ten o'clock.

And there he was received with procession, and with the Mayor and the Lord Deputy, and all the spears [knights] and the soldiers in array; with a great peal of guns: and lay in Calais till the Sunday se'nnight after [the 20th of October].

And on the 16th day of October, my lord of NORFOLK, accompanied with my lord of DERBY and a great number of gentlemen besides, met with the Great Master of France six miles from Calais at the "English Pale:" the said. Great Master having two great lords in his company of their order, and a hundred gentlemen attending upon them. And there my lord of NORFOLK and the Great Master devised the place where the two kings should meet which was at Sandingfield. And that so done; they went both to Calais with their companies.

:

And the said Great Master, with divers other strangers, dined that day with the King: and after dinner, my lord of NORFOLK brought them forth of their way a mile or two; and so departed for that time.

And on the Monday, the 21st day of October, the King of England took his way to meet with the French King at the place before appointed, with seven score [gentlemen] all in velvet coats afore him, lords and knights; and forty of his guard, and others to the number, as we think, of six hundred horse, and as well horsed as ever was seen.

And the King, our Master, met with the French King at Sandingfield, within the English Pale three miles. There the French King tarried for our Master the space of an hour or two: the French King being accompained with the King of NAVARRE, the Cardinal DE LORRAINE, the Duke DE VENDOME; with divers others noblemen well and richly appointed, being of like number as our King was of, that is to say, six hundred persons.

There was the lovingest meeting that ever was seen; for the one embraced the other five or six times on horseback; and so did the lords on either party each to other: and so did ride hand in hand with great love the space of a mile.

At the meeting of these two noble Kings, there were [English] sakers and sakrets cast off: and at divers flights [of shot], two kites were beaten down, which were soaring in the air, with such like pastime, which greatly pleased all the nobles of both parties. And then they did light off their horses, and drank each to other. The French King drank first to our King: and when they had drunk they embraced each other again with great love; and so rode towards Boulogne, our King on the right hand.

And when they came within a mile of Boulogne, there met with the Kings, the Dauphin, being accompanied with his two brethren the Duke D'ORLEANS and the Duke D'ANGOULÊME; very goodly children: and attending on them, four Cardinals; with a thousand horse, very well beseen.

And when they came near the town, the French King caused our Master to tarry, while the gunshot was shot; which was heard twenty English miles from Boulogne: and so entered the town.

Where stood the Captain with the soldiers in good order. And above them stood a hundred Switzers of the French King's Guard, in their doublets and their hose of yellow velvet cut, goodly persons; and above them, stood two hundred more of the French King's Guard, Scots and Frenchmen, in coats of yellow, blue, and crimson velvet, bearing halberts in their hands; and above them stood two hundred gentlemen, being in their gowns well and richly beseen, every man having a battle axe in his hand, and their captains standing by them.

And so they tarried in Boulogne; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all day.

The Tuesday, being the second day of this their being there, the French King gave our King rich apparel wrought with needle work purled [fringed] with gold; in the which like apparel both the Kings went to our Lady's Church at Boulogne. At that time, our King obtained release and liberty from the French King, for all prisoners at that time prisoners in Boulogne. And in like wise, did the French King in Calais of our King and Master at his being there;

and obtained grace for all banished men that would make suit for their pardon. And to esteem the rich traverses [low curtains] that were in our Lady's Church in Boulogne, and in our Lady's Church in Calais likewise, for both the Kings; the rich ordinances and provision for the same: it is too much to write!

And as for the great cheer that was there, no man can express it. For the King's Grace was there entertained all at the French King's cost and charges. And every day noblemen of France desired our nobles and gentlemen home to their lodgings: where they found their houses richly hanged [with tapestry], great cupboards of plate, sumptuous fare, with singing and playing of all kinds of music. And also there was sent unto our lodgings great fare with all manner of wines for our servants; and our horses' meat was paid for and all at their charges.

And every day the French king had at dinner and supper with him certain noblemen of England: and the King's Grace had in like wise certain of their nobles at dinner and supper; during the time of their being at Boulogne. And this continued with as great cheer and familiarity as might be. And as concerning ladies and gentlewomen, there were none. And on the Friday following, the Kings came towards Calais. And the Dauphin, with the Cardinals and all their gentlemen, brought the Kings unto the place where they first met them; and then departed. The French King had great carriage [baggage]; for there came more than three: hundred mules laden with stuff.

And so coming towards Calais, the Duke of RICHMOND, accompanied with Bishops, and many other noblemen that were not with the King at Boulogne; and all the King's. Guard, which were with all others marvellously well horsed and trimmed; they stood in a place appointed, in array and good order in the way, two miles out of Calais where the French King should come: who saluted the French King with great honour, in like manner as the King our Master was saluted at Boulogne, with amicable and goodly salutations. as ever were seen. They were saluted with great melody; what with guns, and all other instruments [!]: and the order of the town, it was a heavenly sight for the time!

First at Newnam Bridge, 400 shot; at the Block House,

30 shot; at Risbank Tower [in Calais harbour] 300 shot; within the town of Calais 2,000 shot, great and small; besides the ships. It was all numbered at 3,000 shot.

And

at Boulogne, by estimation, it passed not 200 shot; but they were great pieces [cannon].

Also for the order of the town there was set all serving men on the one side, in tawny coats; and soldiers on the other side, all in coats of red and blue, with halberts in their hands.

And so the Kings came riding in the midst and so the French King went to Staple Hall; which is a princely house. And upon Saturday, both the Kings rode to our Lady's Church to mass; and in the afternoon both their councils sat together.

And upon Sunday, both the Kings heard mass in their lodgings. And at afternoon, the King of England rode to Staple Hall to the French King; and there was both bearbaiting and bull-baiting till night.

And at night, the French King supped with our King, and there was great banqueting.

After supper, there came in a Masque, my Lady Marquess of PEMBROKE [i.e., ANNE BOLEYN], my Lady MARY [BOLEYN], my lady DERBY, my lady FITZ-WALTER, my lady ROCHFORD, my lady L'ISLE, and my lady WALLOP, gorgeously apparelled, with visors on their faces: and so came and took the French King, and other lords of France, by the hand; and danced a dance or two.

After that, the King took off their visors; and then they danced with gentlemen of France an hour after: and then they departed to their lodgings.

As for the apparel of the French lords, my tongue cannot express it, and especially the French King's apparel passeth my pen to write; for he had a doublet set over all with stones and rich diamonds, which was valued by discreet men at a £100,000 [= £800,000 in the present day]. They far passed our lords and knights in apparel and richesse.

They had great cheer in Calais, and loving also; and all at our King's costs and charges.

Also the same day that the Kings came from Boulogne, the French King made the Duke of NORFOLK, and the Duke of SUFFOLK, of the Order of Saint Michael. And upon Monday, which was the 29th day of October, at Calais; our King

made the Great Maister of France and the Admiral of France, Knights of the Garter.

And that day, there was a great wrestling between Englishmen and Frenchmen, before both the Kings. The French King had none but priests that wrestled, which were big men and strong (they were brethren); but they had most falls.

As concerning the abundance and liberal multitude of gifts that were so lovingly and cordially given on both parties (to the great honour of both the Kings) my pen or capacity cannot express it: as well among the great lords as with the lowest yeoman that bare any office in either King's house; and specially the King's gifts, on both parties, always rewarded the one like unto the other.

And all other gifts were nothing but rich plate, and gold coin-silver was of no estimation-besides raiments, horses, geldings, falcons, bears, dogs for the game: with many other, which were too much to write.

And upon the 29th day of October, the French King departed from Calais to Paris ward: and our King brought him as far as Morgyson, which is from Calais, seven miles; and so came to Calais again.

And he purposeth, GÖD willing, to be at Canterbury the 8th day of November, and so home. Whom GOD, of His goodness, ever preserve! and send good passage, and safe again into England. Amen.

God save the King.

C Imprinted by Wynkyn de Worde, under the grace and privilege of our most royal and redoubted Prince, King Henry the viijth, for John Gough dwelling at Paul's gate in Cheap [i.e. Cheapside].

Cum privilegio.