Note 1221 — Chapter VI · THE LAST YEARS OF HENRY II. 1183–1189.

According to R. Diceto (Stubbs), vol. ii. p. 55, the conference began on August 16 and lasted three days. The Gesta Hen. as above, p. 47, place it after September 1, but this is impossible. Will. Armor., Gesta Phil. Aug. (Duchesne, Hist. Franc. Scriptt., vol. v.), p. 74, and Philipp., l. iii. (ibid.) pp. 123, 124, tells the story of the tree in a very odd shape. He says the English were sitting comfortably under its shade, while the French were broiling in the sun, and the French grew so envious of the more agreeable situation of their foes that they made a dash at them, put them to flight, and then cut down the tree, which Henry had caused to be carefully enclosed, as a sort of symbol of his ownership in the soil. R. Diceto, however, says that the ground on which the tree stood was French.