Night candles. Footnote 2: Bonbons. In the “_chambre de parade_” there stood a very large _dressoir_, ornamented with superb pieces of gold and silver. It was the custom for both lords and ladies to receive their acquaintances informally in the “_chambre de parade_,” while the inner room was reserved for their intimate friends. On the occasion of a birth, these two rooms were as superbly furnished as the house could afford. The richest cloths and tapestries were brought out, and the _dressoir_ was adorned with articles of gold and silver that were only placed on view on important occasions. When Mary of Burgundy was born, the same authority informs us that Isabella of Bourbon’s room was very richly furnished; and in honour of Mary of Burgundy, the daughter and heir of Charles the Bold, there were five shelves upon the _dressoir_, a privilege reserved for queens only. The _drageoir_ was a very important article. It contained the various “_épices de chambre_,” generally called _dragée_, and meaning all kinds of sugar plums and _confitures_, conserves, sugared rose leaves (_sucré rosat_), etc. A writer in the sixteenth century mentions “Curious _dragées_ of all colours, some in the shape of beasts, others fashioned like men, women and birds.” Sometimes the bonbons were taken with the fingers, as may be seen in one of the fine set of tapestries in the Cluny Museum, representing _The Lady and the Unicorn_. An attendant kneeling presents the _drageoir_ to the lady, who is standing with a pet bird on her left arm, and she is about to dip the fingers of her right hand into the _drageoir_ to get something to delight the bird. The _drageoir_ was generally handed to the guests after dinner, and made its appearance at all ceremonial feasts. Froissart, describing the reception to the English knights sent by the King of England in 1390 to negotiate peace in France, says they were entertained at the Louvre, and “when they had dined they retired to the King’s chamber, and there they were served with wine and sweetmeats in large _drageoirs_ of silver and gold.” It was always handed with solemnity, and subject to strict etiquette. The Constable of France had the honour of presenting the _drageoir_ to the King. At the Duke of Burgundy’s Court, according to Olivier de la Marche, the steward handed the _drageoir_ to the first chamberlain, who handed it to the most important personage present, who then presented it to the prince or duke. When the latter had helped himself, the honoured guest returned it to the chamberlain, who gave it to the steward. Aliénor also informs us: “When one of the princes had served Monsieur and Madame (the Duke and Duchess of Burgundy) with sweetmeats, one of the most important personages, for example, the first chamberlain, or Madame’s _chevalier d’honneur_, took the _drageoir_ and served the Duke’s nephews and nieces; and after they had been served it was handed to everybody.”