CHAP. LXXVI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO GHENT, AND IS MAGNIFICENTLY ENTERTAINED BY THE TOWN.—THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS TO SUMMON THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TO ATTEND THE TRIAL OF THE DUKE D'ALENÇON.
The most excellent and potent prince the duke of Burgundy made his public entry into Ghent on Sunday after Easter, the 23d day of April, in the year 1458, about four or five o'clock in the afternoon. It was grandly conducted, and in the following order.
First, the churchmen led a procession out of the town, after paying each their devotions in their respective churches. Then the bailiff and sheriffs, with some of the burghers on horseback, clothed in black, went out to meet their lord, and received him with the greatest humility,—the other sheriffs remaining at the gate of the town. At each place they paid him every reverence by kneeling on the ground, offering him at the same time their persons and effects. Then the deans of the guilds came forth in handsome array, each with a torch in his hand, and a deputation from the different trades, amounting to upwards of two hundred, clad in sky-coloured mantles, and as many in white mantles, sweeping the ground. Without the gate, and on both sides of the street on the other side of the river, were figures representing the prophets: the one that looked toward the duke displayed a roll, on which was written in large letters, Ecce nomen Domini venit de longinquo, Isaiah xxx. The other figure pointed to the trumpets over the gate, and on his roll was written, Canite turba pariter omnes, &c. Near to the gate was a sort of orchard or garden, in which was a young girl about ten years old, with her hair hanging down, and simply dressed in a damask mantle: on the duke's approach, she flung herself on her knees, and displayed a roll with uplifted hands, on which was written, Inveni quem diligit anima mea, Cantic. iii. The portal and inside of the gate were hung with black, grey, and crimson cloths: on the cloth over the portal at the barrier, the following was written in letters of gold, Venit nobis pacificus Dominus, utere servitio nostro sicut placuerit tibi, Judic. iii. On the cloth over the great gateway were the arms of the duke, emblazoned with helmet and crest. The streets, from the gate to the palace of the duke, were hung on each side with cloths of the before-mentioned colours, namely, black, grey, and crimson. On the black was written, in letters of silver, Venit nobis pacificus Dominus: on the grey, Utere servitio nostro,—and on the crimson, Sicut placuerit tibi. Above these cloths were five or six hundred torches, including those in the front of the houses, so that, comprehending all that were illuminated in the streets and in the boats on the river, there were from fifteen to sixteen thousand torches.
Near the gate of entrance, and within the city, was a pageant representing the prodigal son after he had been forgiven by his father; and on a roll over it was written, Pater peccavi in cœlum et coram te, Luc. xv. Not far distant was the figure of a prophet holding a roll, on which was written, Lex clementiæ in lingua ejus, Proverb. xxxi. A little farther was a scaffold, on which was acted a representation of the emperor Caius in the midst of twelve senators,—and before him stood Marcus Tullius, who harangued the emperor on his clemency, in liberating many prisoners on his capture of Rome, beginning, Diuturni silentii, &c. In this oration is the following expression, among others, Nulla de virtutibus tuis major clementia est. These words were written on the folds of the robes of the figure.
The next pageant represented a black lion holding in his paw the banner of the arms of the duke: before him was a white lioness humbly couched on the ground, and between them lay three young lion cubs half dead; but on the roaring of the lion, they recovered strength, life, and activity. There was a roll over them, with these words, Quasi leo rugiens, et formidabunt filii ejus, Hosea xi. Further on was another prophet, displaying a roll with these words written thereon, Ecce venit desideratus cunctis gentibus et replebitur gloria ejus domus Domini, Haggai ii.
Near to this last pageant was a representation of David's indignation against Nabal, which was appeased by Nabal's wife,—and over it was written, Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel quoniam te misit, Sam. xx.
The second gate was hung with black and grey cloth, on which were the arms of the duke properly emblazoned, with the arms of all the knights-companions of the Golden Fleece. A scaffold was erected close to this gate, having in the center a fountain, and surrounded by a representation of the triumphant state of the church, with the figure of a shepherd having recovered his lost sheep: he displayed a roll, which had written on it, Congratulamini mihi quia inveni ovem quam perdideram, Luc. xv.
Near the bridge was the figure of Pompey, governor of Rome, after having made the king of Armenia prisoner for his rebellions against the Romans; but, seeing his great submission and humility, he had restored him to liberty, which showed that he thought he gained as much glory by pardoning as by conquest. Over him was written, Æque pulchrum est vincere reges, &c. Valerius, v. c. There was the representation of another prophet near the bridge, pointing with one hand to the water, and holding a roll in the other, whereon was written, Respice Domine in servos tuos, Psalm. lxxxix.
In the river were the figures of six apostles, among whom was St John, who addressed St Peter in writing, Dominus est, Matt. xiv. St Peter, seeing our Lord walking to him on the water, and fearing to be drowned, said also in the roll which he extended, Domine salvum me fac, Matt. xiv. Our Saviour held out to him a roll, whereon was written, Modice fidei quare dubitasti? Matt. xiv. On this same river was a very large boat full of burning torches, and adjoining it another figure as a prophet, with a roll in his hand, pointing also to a large figure: it was written on the roll, Exultabunt omnia ligna silvarum a facie Domini quoniam venit, Psalm. xv.
Facing this last prophet was a large platform, on which was erected a fortress with two small towers, on the battlements of which were suspended shields, having emblazoned on them the arms of all the countries under the dependance of the duke of Burgundy. At the gate of this castle was the personage of a giant, called Mars, and surnamed the Victorious, having a lion by his side. In front of this castle was a wood, in which were dragons, wolves, foxes, and all sorts of wild beasts, that attempted to enter the gate and gain the castle, but were always repulsed. In the center of the gate was a man who represented the three conditions of men in the states of the duke, and was dressed, as to his head, like a priest: his right side was clothed with a long robe of cloth of silk for the gentry, and the left side was attired as the labourers in the field: there was written above him, Diligam te Domine fortitudo mea. Et nisi custodieris civitatem frustra vigilat qui custodit eam, Psalm. xxv. On each side were the figures of king Solomon and the queen of Sheba, over whom was written, Major est gloria tua quam rumor quem audivi, Reg. l. c. x.
On another part of the platform was a representation of Gideon after he had obtained the victory, and the Israelites humbly addressing him with these words, Dominare nostri tu, hic est filius tuus et filii tui quia liberasti nos, Judic. viii. Not far off was an elephant bearing a castle, in which were two men and four children who sang melodiously a new song, the words of which were as follows.
'Long live the valiant Burgundy!
With heart and voice we loudly cry.
Henceforth no other lord we own;
But place our trust in him alone.
Long live the valiant Burgundy!
Who now from sorrow sets us free;
Whilst on his entrance thus we cry,
Long live the valiant Burgundy!'
This entry was more grand and magnificent than ever prince made before; for by the side of the duke on horseback, with his hood thrown on his shoulder, was the bastard d'Armagnac, marshal to the lord dauphin,—and he was preceded by the ushers at arms, his first master of the horse bearing his sword. Immediately before him, his kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, clothed in their tabards of arms, were in great numbers; and before these heralds were from twelve to fourteen clarions and trumpets, who followed the count d'Estampes and sir Thibault de Neufchâtel lord de Blancmont, marshal of Burgundy. These were preceded by the lords and gentlemen of the dauphin, the two sons of the lord de Croy, and the two sons of the marshal of Burgundy. Before them rode the lord Adolphus of Cleves, the lord bastard of Burgundy and sir Philip Pol, all richly dressed, themselves and their heralds: they were preceded by the great lords of the court,—and before them other lords and gentlemen, two and two, without varlet or page: before these gentlemen were the principal burghers and gentlemen of the town in great numbers, dressed in black.
Immediately after the duke were fifty archers of his body-guard on foot, dressed in their jackets, each having a hunting spear in his hand: behind the duke were fifteen pages and numbers of gentlemen. The horses that were at this entry were estimated at more than two hundred, without including those of the pages, varlets and other attendants, which were already in the town. In short, it was the most triumphant entry that ever lord made into a town for these five hundred years past.
The illuminations were continued on the following night; and the townsmen acted many mysteries in the town-house, expressive of the praise of their lord, and of their own ill conduct. They did the same on the Tuesday evening, but without illuminations,—for it was said that the duke had desired they might not be longer continued. One of the burghers had covered the outside of his house with gold and silver, and had placed a great number of torches and lanthorns before it. In like manner did many others in the different streets ornament their houses with rich hangings and splendid illuminations, at a great expense, during the two days the feast lasted.
On the Tuesday, the municipal officers, and principal burghers, waited on the duke at his palace, to thank him humbly for having come to his good town of Ghent, and to make offer of their lives and fortunes, for which he expressed his obligations. Then, on their knees, they supplicated him that he would be pleased to sup with them, in the manner of a banquet, at the town on the following Sunday, the last day of April, which he granted.
It was rumoured that this banquet would be free to all comers, like an open court, and that it would cost more than ten thousand crowns of gold. On the morrow, the managers of the feast dispatched purveyors nine leagues round Ghent, to collect every delicacy they could lay hands on, so that a small chicken was sold for two patars[239].
Toward the end of April, the king of France sent ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy, to signify to him that he intended to give judgement on the duke of Alençon on the 10th of the ensuing month of June, in the town of Montargis, and to summon him to attend at the above place and time with the peers of France, of whom he was one, and dean of the said peers, and also to consider on other matters touching the welfare of the realm.
The duke instantly replied to these ambassadors,—'Although my lord the king, by the treaty of Arras, has no right to command me in any thing, and notwithstanding I am personally exempted from my dependance on him, nevertheless, I will, if it please God, be personally present at the time and place he has fixed on, to give sentence on the duke of Alençon, and respecting the matters touching the welfare of the kingdom of France.'
When the ambassadors, on receiving this answer, were departed, the duke sent Golden Fleece, the king at arms of his order, to king Charles, to deliver a certain message he charged him with. He then had it proclaimed in all his great towns, that all who had been accustomed to bear arms, and by their fiefs and oaths were bounden to serve him, should prepare themselves to be in readiness to accompany him, the first day of June, on his journey to the king of France at Montargis, whither he had been by him summoned to attend; and it was his intention, if it pleased God, to appear there with the greatest possible force he could raise.
On the other hand, the king of France had ordered the arriere ban of his realm to hold themselves in readiness the first of June,—which made many suppose that a renewal of war was about to take place; and it was currently reported in France that these preparations were made to oppose the English, who were intending to invade France.
During this interval, those of Utrecht rebelled against their bishop, which caused the duke of Burgundy, his father, to send sir Anthony his bastard to Holland, with eight score lances, and from seven to eight hundred archers. But the rebels, hearing of this, made up their quarrel, and returned to their obedience to the bishop as before; and this armament marched back to the duke of Burgundy.