This Illumination has been selected as exhibiting the mode and ceremonial of a single combat, and though coarsely and somewhat carelessly executed, it portrays, with considerable graphic effect, the arrangements, and positions of the witnesses, judges, and combatants, on such occasions. It is intended to represent the encounter between an English esquire, named Nicholas Clifford, and a French knight, the latter of whom was slain. [Illustration: <f>Jacob Van Arteveld holding his state in Ghent.</f>] PLATE XVIII. JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE HOLDING STATE IN GHENT. Though so frequently occurring in illuminated manuscripts of the fifteenth century, it has so happened that our selection of subjects has not fallen on one containing a portraiture of the Fool or Jester--a prominent figure in the social groups of that period. In the present miniature the artist has attempted to exhibit the great state kept by Jacob van Artevelde, who, after assuming the supreme power in Flanders, surrounded himself with men-at-arms, numerous attendants, not omitting the Jester, it would seem, and such a train of retainers as was usual with the great Lords and Sovereigns of that time. [Illustration: <f>The Queen of Naples visits Pope Clement at Rome.</f>] PLATE XIX. VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF NAPLES TO POPE CLEMENT. Queen Joan of Naples, the daughter of Louis of Sicily, remaining without heirs, having been four times married, determined to fulfil the last request of her father, to the effect that, should she die without offspring, she should surrender Naples, and all her other possessions, to the church. For this purpose she met Clement, Pope of Avignon, at Fondi, which interview is represented in the accompanying Illumination. Pope Clement, as is well known, made over these possessions to the Duke of Anjou, brother to the King of France. [Illustration: <f>Galeas of Milan surprises and imprisons his Uncle.</f>] PLATE XX. GALEAS VISCONTI ARRESTS HIS UNCLE. Galeas Visconti, count of Vertus, imagining that his uncle, Sir Bernabo Visconti, duke of Milan, had some intention of dispossessing him of his Lordships, proved himself the keener politician of the two, by being beforehand with his uncle and arresting him. He the more easily formed a party for this purpose, as Sir Bernabo had cruelly oppressed that part of Lombardy over which he ruled. Sir Galeas fixed upon the opportunity of his uncle’s passing from one castle to another, to waylay him, by three ambuscades, as represented in the Illumination, which it was impossible to escape. The person of Sir Bernabo being thus treacherously secured, he was thrown into prison, where he died shortly after, as it is supposed, by foul means. The cotemporary opinion respecting events of this description may be inferred from the circumstance that Galeas Visconti, becoming thus duke of Milan, was enabled to marry his daughter to the then most powerful prince in Europe, Charles VI., king of France.