[1] [2] [3] The lord ambassador at his arriuall at the place was right honorablie receiued, he was banketted by diuerse, and that verie sumptuouslie:The lord am|bassadors li|beralitie. which by him was not left vnrequ [...]ted to the vttermost, and rather with the better. For his liberalitie vnto the French [page 1225] was verie large, but his reward at the kings hands was onelie a chaine waieng a thousand French crownes. At that present there was a great dearth & scarsitie of vittels in France. The riuer of Saine that runneth through Paris was not passable with vessels,The riuer of Saine not passable with vessels. by reason of the great frosts: and thereby not onelie all kind of vittels, but also haie and wood hard to come by, and not to be had but at excessiue prices, the countrie thereabouts hauing before béene sore harried and spoiled by the ciuill tumults. By reason whereof, not onlie the lord of Buckhurst for the space he remained there, but also sir Henrie Norrice (now lord Norrice) and maister Francis Walsingham hir maiesties ambassadors, ligiers successiuelie, were driuen to an increase in expenses, paieng for e|uerie thing they bought an higher price than ordina|rilie had béene accustomed.