With such pleasant talk they rode on together into the city of Lyons, where
the streets were full of people, and many ladies were looking out of the
windows to see the coming of this noble prince and his gay company. That
night the Duke gave a banquet in his own lodging, where the King's
minstrels and singers entertained the guests, then there were games and
pastimes, ending with the usual wine and spices being handed round, and at
last each one retired to his own chamber until the dawn of day.

The next morning the Duke rose early and set forth to seek the King, whom
he found on the point of going to Mass. The King greeted him at once most
warmly and embraced him, saying, "My cousin, my good friend, you are indeed
welcome, and if you had not come to me I should have had to visit you in
your own country...." Then, after more polite talk, they rode together on
their mules to the convent, and devoutly heard Mass, after which the King
entertained the Duke of Savoy, Monsieur de Ligny, and other nobles to
dinner with him, and they had much merry talk about dogs and falcons, arms
and love-affairs. Presently de Ligny said to the King: "Sire, I give you my
word that my lord of Savoy wishes to give you a page who rides his chestnut
better than any boy I ever saw, and he cannot be more than fourteen,
although his horsemanship is as good as that of a man of thirty. If it
pleases you to go and hear vespers at Ainay you will have your pastime in
the fields there afterwards." "By my faith," cried the King, "I do wish
it!" and he heard the whole story of this wonderful boy from the Duke of
Savoy.

When young Bayard heard that the King was to see him he was as much
delighted as if he had won the city of Lyons; and he went in haste to the
head groom of the Duke of Savoy and prayed him to get his horse ready for
him, offering his short dagger as a present. But this the man refused and