turned to the king in France; the duchefs to Arras. Duke Albert and his duchefs went to Qnefnoy in Hainault; and the duchefs of Bra-bant to her own country. Carpenters and ma-ions, and all forts of workmen, were instantly fent to prepare hôtels in the city of Cambray, and purveyors were alfo ordered thither to lay in vast quantities of provifion ; it was pro-claimed, that every store was to be delivered into the city the week before the octave of Easter. When the king of France heard of this, he faid that he would be prefejit at the marriages of his coufins ; and commanded his. mâitres d'hôtels to lay in there fuch provifion as was be-fitting him, ' The palace of the bishop had been retained for the duke of Burgundy, and was already preparing for him; but it was necefiary to give it up to the king, and workmen were fet to embellish it in a royal manner, as it appears at this day : for never was there a feast in the me-mory of man,, nor for thefe last two hundred years, that had fuch grand preparations made for it. The nobility, in order to appear with the most pomp and magnificence, were no more fparing of their money than if it had rained gold on them ; and each endeavoured to out-shine the otheç. . . ', , • Intelligence of thefe marriages was carried to England, and how the dukes of Burgundy and Albert intended uniting their children together. The duke of Lancaster (who had nourished the hope that William of Hainault /svould choofe hi* 375 '