At the Council of Constance, in 1417, the ambassadors from England were
not allowed to rank or take any place as the ambassadors of a nation.
The point being argued and conceded, that they were tributaries only to
the Germans, "they claimed their rank from Henry being monarch of
Ireland only, and it was accordingly granted."--_O'Halloran_.

[Illustration: SIR TARQUIN.]




SIR TARQUIN.

"Within this ancient British land,
In Lancashire I understand,
Near Manchester there lived a knight of fame,
Of a prodigious strength and might,
Who vanquished many a worthy knight;
A giant great, and Tarquin was his name."

_Ballad of Sir Tarquin_.


As it is our intention to arrange these traditions in chronological
order, we begin with the earliest upon record, the overthrow of the
giant Tarquin, near Manchester, by Sir Lancelot of the Lake, who was
supposed to bear rule over the western part of Lancashire.

An old ballad commemorates the achievement; and many other relics of