On the last day of September, 1399, Henry Duke of Lancaster held a parliament at Westminster, at which were assembled the clergy, nobility, and deputies from different towns, according to their extent or wealth. In this parliament the Duke challenged the Crown of England, and claimed it as his own, for three reasons: first, by conquest; secondly, from being _the right heir to it_; and, thirdly, from the free resignation of it to him by King Richard. The parliament, being unanimous in his favour, was then dissolved; and the coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on the 13th of October. The procession consisted of between eight and nine hundred horsemen, &c. &c.; and fountains of red and white wine were constantly playing along Cheapside and in the neighbourhood of the Abbey. The whole of the ceremony is described in a minute and interesting manner by Froissart.[12] The illumination is one of the most rich and carefully executed in the volume, and forms a most interesting illustration of the ceremonial pageantry of the period. [Illustration: The interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Earl of Derby, at Paris.] PLATE XXV. THE MEETING OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY WITH THE EARL OF DERBY AT PARIS. The Earl of Derby was still in banishment, on account of his quarrel with the Earl Marshal, when the citizens of London determined, in consequence of many grievances, to attempt the removal of King Richard from the throne; and sent the Archbishop of Canterbury as their ambassador to the Earl, who was residing at Paris, proposing to him to return to England, and assume the government of the country. Froissart states, that, when the Earl of Derby heard the proposition from the Archbishop, he did not immediately reply, “but, leaning on a window that looked into the gardens, mused a while, having various thoughts in his mind.” He at length turned, and replied somewhat evasively, in a speech which our chronicler gives at full length. The Archbishop then recommended calling a council of his most intimate friends, which advice was adopted; and the council being unanimously in favour of accepting the proposals of the citizens of London, it was determined that he should immediately leave France by way of Brittany, under pretence of a visit to the Duke, who was his uncle by marriage. “To shorten the matter,” says Froissart, “the Earl managed his affairs with much discretion, and took leave of the King and all the Lords who were then at court; and, on his departure, made very handsome presents to the King’s officers, as he was bounden to do, and to the heralds and minstrels resident in Paris, who attended the farewell supper he gave at the Hotel de Clisson, to such of the French Knights as chose to partake of it.”