PLATE XIV.

THE KING OF HUNGARY IN COUNCIL WITH HIS LORDS AND THOSE OF FRANCE.

The Sultan Bajazet[5] appears to have indulged an imaginary scheme of universal empire, purposing to leave to each country its own laws and governors, and reserving to himself only his authority as their lord paramount. With this view, in 1396, he threatened the kingdom of Hungary with invasion, in his way to Rome, which he projected to make the seat of his liberal and universal empire; how liberal, may be inferred from his threat, “that his horse should eat his oats on the altar of St. Peter’s.” Sigismond, king of Hungary, applied to Charles VI. of France for assistance, and many knights of France and other countries, with a considerable force, went to Buda under the command of John of Burgundy, then twenty-two years of age, and son of the duke Philip, to attack Bajazet, with the ultimate project of regaining the Holy Land. Soon after the arrival of the French force, there being no sign of the threatened approach of Bajazet, the king of Hungary held a council, in which were present the principal lords of France and the most influential Hungarian nobles[6]; when it was determined to cross the Danube, and march at once into Turkey. This is the council represented in the present illumination. The figures in bronze armour appear to be Hungarians; the other three on the opposite side are doubtless John of Burgundy, Count of Nevers; the Lord de Couci; and Philip of Artois, Count d’Eu. The water in the distance is, no doubt, intended for the Danube, and not the sea, which it better represents. The whole picture is, however, very carefully executed, and the group outside the tent extremely spirited and natural. A subsequent illumination upon the same subject will illustrate the fate of the expedition.

The Dukes of Burgundy & Berri sitting in Council as Regents during the illness of Charles VIᵗʰ of France.