LOUIS DE BRUGES AT WINDSOR.
In the autumn of 1472, while Oxford was being secured in the Castle of
Hammes, and Edward was striving to get Pembroke and Richmond into his
power, a guest, whom the king delighted to honor, appeared in England.
This was Louis de Bruges, who had proved so true a friend in the hour
of need; and right glad was Edward of York to welcome the Lord of
Grauthuse to the regal castle which still stands, in the nineteenth
century, a monument of the Plantagenets' pride in peace and prowess in
war.
An account of the visit of the Burgundian nobleman, written at the
time, has fortunately been preserved; and, as has been remarked,
"far more luxurious and more splendid than might be deemed by those
who read but the general histories of that sanguinary time, or the
inventories of furniture in the houses even of the great barons, was
the accommodation which Edward afforded to his guests."
On reaching Windsor, where, by-the-by, Margaret of Anjou was then a
prisoner of state, Louis de Bruges was received by Lord Hastings, who,
as the king's chamberlain, led the noble guest to apartments in the
far side of the quadrangle of the castle, which were richly hung with
arras of cloth of gold. Edward received Louis with every demonstration
of affection, and presented him to his spouse; and Elizabeth Woodville
was, of course, all courtesy to her husband's preserver. After the
ceremony of reception was over, the king signified that Hastings should
conduct the Lord of Grauthuse to his chamber, where supper was ready;
and Louis found that every preparation had been made for entertaining
him luxuriously.
The apartments appropriated to the Burgundian are described as having
been fitted up in a way which must have impressed the eye even of a man
accustomed to the magnificence of Dijon. The walls were hung with white
silk and linen cloth, and the floor covered with rich carpets. The bed
was of down, the sheets were of Rennes cloth, and the counterpane, the
tester, and the ceiler were of cloth of gold and furred with ermine.
In the second chamber was another state bed, and a couch with hangings
like a tent. In the third, covered with white cloth, was a bath, which
in that age was in daily use.
After partaking of supper in the apartments dedicated to his service,
Louis was conducted to the queen's withdrawing room, where he found
Elizabeth and her ladies amusing themselves with different games; some
playing at marteaux with balls like marbles, and others at closheys, or
nine-pins, made of ivory.
Next day, after matins, Edward took his guest to the Chapel of St.
George, where they heard mass most melodiously sung. When mass had been
performed, the king presented his guest with a cup of gold, garnished
with pearl, in the middle of which was a large piece of unicorn's horn,
and on the cover a great sapphire. Then the king led Louis to the
quadrangle of the castle, and there the Prince of Wales, still in his
second year, appeared, to bid the Lord of Grauthuse welcome to England.
Having introduced his heir to the Burgundian lord, Edward conducted his
guest into the little park, where they had much sport. The king made
Louis ride his own horse; and of the animal, which is described as "a
right fair hobby," he graciously made a present to his guest.
That day the king dined at the lodge in Windsor Park; and, the dinner
over, he showed Louis his gardens and vineyard of pleasure. The queen
ordered the evening banquet in her own apartments; and, when supper
was over, the Princess Elizabeth danced with the Duke of Buckingham.
Never did guest receive more flattering attentions than Louis. The king
and courtiers did not take their leave of him for the night till they
had escorted him to his apartments; and soon after, when he had been
in his bath and was preparing to betake himself to repose, there were
sent him by the queen's orders "green ginger, and divers sirups, and
hippocras." Next morning Louis breakfasted with the king, and then,
leaving Windsor, returned to Westminster.
At Westminster new honors awaited the Lord of Grauthuse. On St.
Edward's Day--exactly nineteen years after the birth of the ill-fated
Edward of Lancaster--the king created the Burgundian nobleman Earl of
Winchester, and, with many complimentary phrases, gave him the arms of
the family of De Quency, which had enjoyed that earldom at the time of
the Barons' Wars. After having been granted a more substantial mark of
Edward's gratitude in the shape of a pension, Louis de Bruges took his
leave and returned to his own country.