On Christmasse day, a dolphin that came foorth of the sea vp the Thames
vnto London-bridge, was espied of the citizens as he plaied in the
water, and being followed & pursued, with much adoo was taken. He was
ten foot long, and a monstrous growne fish, so as the sight of him
was strange to manie that beheld him. He was thought by his comming
so farre into the landward, to foreshew such stormes and tempests as
within a wéeke after did raginglie follow. Ye haue heard how the matter
for a treatie of peace had béene first broched by the French king, by
sending ambassadors to the king of England, to mooue the same. Which
motion being throughlie considered of the estates assembled in this
last parlement, it was decréed, that it should go forward (as before
ye haue heard) and so about Candlemasse, the lord Thomas Persie, sir
Lewes Clifford, and |817| sir Robert Briquet, with diuerse other in
their companie, were sent ouer to the French king, and comming to
Paris, found him lodgd in his house of Loure, where they declared to
him the good affection of the king their maister toward peace. And the
better to bring it to passe, they shewed that king Richards desire was
to haue some place and time appointed for commissioners to méet, with
authoritie to treat and conclude vpon articles, as should be thought
expedient. The French king greatlie honored these ambassadors, in
feasting and banketting them for the space of six daies togither, and
for answer, concluded with them, that he himselfe, with his vncles and
other of his councell, would be at Amiens by the middest of March next
insuing, there to abide the king of Englands comming, and his vncles,
if it should please them thither to come.
[Sidenote: Sir Robert Briquet a Frenchman of king Richard his priuie
chamber. The dukes of Lancaster & Yorke, the earls of Derbie and
Huntington, the lord Thomas Persie, the bishops of Durham and London
were sent ouer, as _Froissard_ saith.
A roiall ambassage.