The traveller had slept at Perigny, about a league from the capital of Burgundy, so as to make the last stage of his journey thither in leisurely state.  Unpropitious weather on Saturday, January 22d, the appointed day, made postponement of the ducal parade necessary, out of consideration for the precious hangings and costly ecclesiastical robes that were to grace the ceremonies of reception and investiture.  Fortunately, Sunday, January 23d, dawned fair, and heralds rode through the city streets at an early hour, proclaiming the duke’s gracious intention to make his entry on that day.  Immediately, tapestries were spread and every one was alert with the last preparations.

[Illustration:  A FORTIFIED CHURCH IN BURGUNDY — XVth Century]

Lavish was the display of biblical phrases, like that cited, which were planted along the ducal way and on a succession of stagings erected for various exhibits.  On the great city square, the platform was capacious and many actors played out divers roles.  Here stood the scroll-bearing angels on either side of a living representation of Christ.  In the background clustered three separate groups of people representing, respectively, the three Estates.  Above their heads more inscriptions were to be read.[2] “All the nations desire to see the face of Solomon,” “Behold him desired by all races,” “Master, look on us, thy people,” were among the legends.

The stately pageant, in which dignitaries, lay and ecclesiastical, from other parts of the duke’s domains participated, proceeded past all these soothing insinuations that Charles of Burgundy resembled Solomon in more ways than one, to the church of St. Benigne.  Here pledges of mutual fidelity were exchanged between the Burgundians and their ruler.  The Abbe of Citeaux placed the ducal ring solemnly upon Charles’s finger as a symbol, and he was invested with all the prerogatives of his predecessors.

From the church, the train wound its way to the Ste. Chapelle, past more stages decorated with more flowers of scriptural phrase such as “A lion which is strongest among beasts and turneth not away for any,” “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?” “The righteous are as bold as a lion,” etc.

Two days later, the concluding ceremonies of investiture were performed, and followed by a banquet.  Charles was arrayed in royal robes, and his hat was in truth a crown, gorgeous with gold, pearls, and precious stones.  After a repast, prelates, nobles, and civic deputies were convened in a room adjoining the dining-hall, where first they listened to a speech from the chancellor.  When he had finished, the duke himself delivered an harangue wherein he expatiated on the splendours of the ancient kingdom of Burgundy.  Wrongfully usurped by the French kings, it had been belittled into a duchy, a measure much to be regretted by the Burgundians.  Then the speaker broke off abruptly with an ambiguous intimation “that he had in reserve certain things that none might know but himself."[3]