KING CHARLES OF FRANCE SENDS THE PRINCESS CATHERINE, HIS DAUGHTER, TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, CONFORMABLY TO THE TREATY OF MARRIAGE AGREED ON WITH THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS HIS SON.
IN the month of June, of this year, king Charles of France sent from his palace the lady Catherine, his daughter, to the duke of Burgundy, having consented to her marriage with his son the count de Charolois. She was grandly and honourably accompanied by the archbishops of Rheims and of Narbonne, the counts de Vendôme, de Tonnerre, and de Dunois, the young son of the duke of Bourbon, called the lord de Beaujeu, the lord de Dampierre, and other noble personages, knights and esquires, together with an escort of about three hundred horsemen. She was attended by the lady of Rochefort, and several noble dames and damsels.
On their arrival at Cambray, they tarried in that city three days, and were grandly feasted by the clergy, the magistrates and inhabitants. The counts de Nevers and d'Estampes, the chancellor of Burgundy and numbers of the nobility, were at Cambray ready to receive her, together with the countess of Namur, the lady of Crevecœur, the lady of Hautbourdin, and many other ladies of birth. Very great honours and attentions were shown by each of the parties respectively. The young princess, who was but ten years old, was carried on a rich and highly ornamented litter,—and in all the towns through which she passed, of France as well as Burgundy, the greatest honours were shown her. At the gates of the great towns, ten or twelve of the principal gentlemen were commonly in waiting to receive her, and kept their hands on the litter until she descended from it at the hôtel prepared for her.
On leaving Cambray, she arrived, after some days travelling, at Saint Omer, where the duke of Burgundy was holding his court. On her approach, he advanced out of the town grandly attended by his knights, and paid her every respect when they met, as did all who had accompanied him. He then led her into the town of St Omer where the marriage was fully confirmed.
Very great feasts took place in consequence, with tournaments, balls, music, and every other amusement. The lord de Crequy was tenant of the lists, on the part of the duke of Burgundy, against all comers.
They remained a considerable time at St Omer, on account of a conference that was about to be holden by ambassadors from the kings of France and of England, between Gravelines and Calais, of which I shall shortly make mention.