Much public business was transacted during the king's stay at Saint Germain; and a marriage was concluded between the duke of Valois, count of Angoulême, and the princess Claude. They were married in their mourning, in the chapel of the castle, in the presence of the king, the princes of the blood, and many others of high rank, on the 18th of May, in the year 1513.
About this period, and before the king had quitted St Germain en Laye, his ambassadors sent him intelligence of their having concluded a peace with England, on condition of his marrying the princess Mary. King Henry sent ambassadors to Paris, to confirm the marriage between king Louis and his sister, and to ratify the treaty of peace that had been agreed on between the two kingdoms, which was now publicly proclaimed in both realms.
On Monday the 16th of August, in this year, a grand procession was made from the great hall of the palace, with trumpets and clarions, when the herald, called Mont-joye, proclaimed a magnificent tournament to be holden at Paris, by the duke of Valois, Brittany, and count of Angoulême, to which he invited all princes, lords, and gentlemen to assist. It was about this time that the princess Mary was escorted to France by many of the great nobles of England, in company with the lords of France who had gone thither to attend on her. The king left Paris, with his court, and went as far as Abbeville to meet the new queen, where she arrived on the 8th of October, and made her public entry very triumphantly, attended by the duke of Valois and numbers of nobles, as well English as French, all most richly dressed, with large golden chains, especially the English. The queen was most handsomely attired, and seated in a brilliant car: in short, the whole was a beautiful sight. She was preceded by a body of two hundred english archers, gallantly accoutred, with their bows in hand, and quivers full of arrows.
The king, hearing of her coming, mounted his horse, and, attended by his nobles, rode out into the plain, under pretence of hawking, but it was to meet her; and on his approaching her, he kissed her on horseback, paying her many fair compliments, as he knew well how to do. Her reception in Abbeville was most honourable,—and the inhabitants exerted themselves who should surpass the other in testifying their joy at her arrival.
On the morrow, the feast of St Denis, the king of France was married to the princess Mary of England. She was most magnificently dressed, with an immense quantity of diamonds and precious stones. A singular banquet succeeded, with a great variety of all sorts of amusements. Having staid a few days in Abbeville to solace themselves, they set out for Paris; and through the towns of Picardy they passed, the greatest honours were paid them. In every town, the queen gave liberty to the prisoners, by the king's command. On their arrival at St Denis, the ceremony of the queen's coronation took place, which was very splendid, and numerously attended by archbishops, bishops, and nobility.
Monday, the 6th of November, the queen made her triumphant entry into the city of Paris—the clergy, courts of parliament, of exchequer, &c. and all the municipal officers, with crowds of people, having gone out in procession to meet her. She was seated on a rich litter, adorned with precious stones, and escorted by the duke of Valois, the lord of Alençon, the lord of Bourbon, the lord of Vendôme, his brother the lord Francis, Louis de Nevers, with other great lords, as well of England as of France, prelates and churchmen. Her litter was followed by those of the princess Claude, duchess of Valois, madame d'Angoulême, madame de Vendôme, madame de Nevers, and other princesses of both kingdoms. Thus was she conducted to the church of Nôtre Dame, and took the usual oaths: she thence proceeded to the royal palace, where a most splendid banquet was provided. The king and queen lay that night at the royal palace, which served to shorten his days.
OF THE TILTS PERFORMED AT PARIS.—THE DEATH AND INTERMENT OF LOUIS XII. KING OF FRANCE.