"I have never seen Zorzi," said he, "but I know him well; as for Loredano, I like him much; he has been at this court before, some time ago." He gave them a reception on the 12th of August, at Etampes, "not in a palace," says one of the senate's private correspondents, "but at the Fountain inn.

You will tell me that so great a king ought not to put up at an inn; but I shall answer you that in this district of Etampes the best houses are as yet the inns.

There is certainly a royal castle, in the which lives the queen, the wife of the deceased king; nevertheless his Majesty was pleased to give audience in this hostelry, all covered expressly with cloth of Alexandrine velvet, with lilies of gold at the spot where the king was placed.

As soon as the speech was ended, his Majesty rose up and gave quite a brotherly welcome to the brilliant ambassadors.

The king has a very good countenance, a smiling countenance; he is forty years of age, and appears very active in make.
To-day, Monday, August 13, the ambassadors were received at a private audience." [Illustration: Louis XII----310] A treaty concluded on the 9th of February, 1499, and published as signed at Blois no earlier than the 15th of April following, was the result of this negotiation.