CHAP. LXXXVI1L THE RING OP ENGLAND MAKES GREAT FEASTS AND TOURNAMENTS AT LON0ON, THROUGH AFFECTION WOM, THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY. JT has been related in the foregoing parts of this history, how the king of England h ad great wars in many diftant parts and countries, and that he maintained, every where, armies and garrifons at a heavy expenfe : that is tô fay, in Picardy, Nor-mandy, Gafcony, Poitou, Saintonge, Brittany, and in Scotland. You have alfo heard how paffionately he was fmitten with the charms of the noble lady, Catherine countefs of Salifbury ; infomuch that he could not put her out of his mind,, for love re-minded him of her day and night, and reprefented her beauties and lively behaviour in fuch bewitch-ing points of* view, that he could think of nothing elfe, notwithftanding that the earl of Salifbury was one of his moft trufty counfellors, and one who in England had moft loyally ferved him. Out of affe6tion for the faid lady, and his délire to fee her, he ordered a great feaft and tournament to be proclaimed, to be holden in London the mid-dle of Àuguft. Hé fent his proclamation into Flan* ders, Hainault, Brabant and France, promifing paflports to all knightè and fquires, from whatever country they might come, for their arrival and re-turn. He commanded, that all barons, lords, ^nights and fquires, of his own realm, ihould be VOL, IL ' . C there 17