made an annual tour, sitting in various 

 cities. The occasion was ever gor- 

 geous, for royalty followed it, and the 

 ladies on their palfreys, clothed in gay 

 and costly habits, added much to the 

 brilliant scene. In 1227 one of these 

 travelling Parliaments was held at the 

 beautiful city of Poictiers, and here 

 the " Tribute of Roses " was founded. 

 Queen Blanche of Castile, widow of 

 Louis "the Lion," was regent, and 

 made her entrance into the city in great 

 state, surrounded by her ladies, all of 

 whom were young and beautiful. A 

 famous case was to be tried before the 

 Parliament the next day. Count de la 

 Marche, a young peer, was appointed to 

 report the case. Alas for the cause, he 

 was young and in love with one of the 

 Maids~of-Honour to the Queen. He 

 followed her about all day, but Queen 

 Blanche seems to have been a rigorous 

 chaperon, for he had no opportunity 

 115 



