s in this order: Venetians, Florentines--at the head of
the latter marched Thomas Portinari, banker and councillor of
the duke at the same time that he was chief of their nation and
therefore dressed in their garb; Spaniards; Genoese--these latter
showed a mystery, a beautiful girl on horseback guarded by
St. George from the dragon.--Then came the Osterlings, 108 on
horseback, followed by six pages, all clad in violet.

"Gay, too, was Bruges and the streets were all decorated with
cloth of gold and silk and tapestries. As to the theatrical
representations I can remember at least ten. There were Adam and
Eve, Cleopatra married to King Alexander, and various others.

"The reception at the palace was very formal. The dowager duchess
herself received her daughter-in-law from the litter and escorted
her by the hand to her chamber, and for the present we will leave
the ladies and the knighthood and turn to the arrangement of the
hotel.

"In regard to the service, Mme. the new duchess was served
_d'eschancon et d'escuyer tranchant et de pannetier_. All English,
all knights and gentlemen of great houses, and the chief steward
cried 'Knights to table,' and then they went to the buffet to get
the food, and around the buffet marched all the relations of
Monseigneur, all the knights of the Order and of great houses. And
for that day Mme. the duchess the mother declined to be served _a
couvert_ but left the honour to her daughter-in-law as was right.

"After dinner the ladies retired to their rooms for a little rest
and there were some changes of dress. Then they all mounted their
chariots and hackneys and issued forth on the streets in great
triumph and wonderful were the jousts of the Tree of Gold. Several
days of festivity followed when the usual pantomimes and shows were
in evidence.

"Tuesday, the tenth and last day of the fete, the grand _salle_ was
arranged in the same state as on the wedding day itself, except the
grand buffet which stood in the middle of the hall. This banquet,
too, was a grand affair and concluded the festivities.

On the morrow, Wednesday, July 15th, Monseigneur departed for
Holland on a pressing piece of business, and he took leave of the
Duchess of Norfolk and the other lords and ladies of quality and
gave them gifts each according to his rank. Thus e