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.