with great splendour ; and in the presence of the King and Queen of France, Mary, the Queen Dowager of France, the King of Navarre, the King and Quern of the Romans, the Archduke of Austria, the King of Sicily, Margaret, the Queen Dowager of England, and the most numerous and brilliant assembly of princes and nobles that had ever before graced the nuptials of a mighty monarch. The marriage feasts were the most gorgeous and sumptuous that had ever been witnessed. The brilliant display of plate, the variety and richness of the dishes, and the excellency of the many rare and choice wines, are dwelt upon with enthusiasm by a French chronicler who was present, and who, after lavishing praises on the appointments aiidgorgeous pageants, continues, "Mine eyes never beheld such prowess, such masculine beauty, as that displayed by the royal tiltcrs at the tournaments held on the occasion -, the play of lances was wonderful, sometimes fearful, to look upon." But withal, the bride and bridegroom were the stars that shone forth most brilliantly out of this dazzling constellation, of royal and noble personages. Edward was pronounced the handsomest man in Europe, and Isabella, from her exquisite beauty, was named the Fair. This gay festivity was brought to a close on the sixth of February, and on the following day, Edward and his bride, accompanied by two of Isabella's uncles, the Duke of Brabant, and a numerous train of foreign nobles, whom Edward had invited to witness his coronation, voyaged to Dover in safety. At Dover, the royal party were met by Gaveston, and most of the English barons and their ladies ; when, to the astonishment and disgust of all present, the moment the King saw Gaveston, he deserted the Queen, and neglecting the others, rushed into the arms of his favourite, called him his dearest brother, and kissed and caressed him with all the tenderness of a lover to one of the gentler sex. After remaining two days at Dover, the King and Queen, with their train, proceededto Eltham, whence, after a short stay, to admit of the completion of the preparations for their coronation, they journeyed to Westminster, where, on the twenty-fifth of February, being Quinquagesima Sunday, Edward and Isabella were solemnly crowned and anointed by the Bishop of Winchester,* who obtained from the King a solemn pledge at the altar, to protect the liberties and duly execute the laws of the land. " Sire," demanded the officiating prelate, ina loud, clear voice, "will you grant, and keep, and confirm by your oath, to the people of England, the laws and customs granted to them by the Kings of Engkind, your predecessors, and especially the laws, the customs, and the franchises granted to the clergy and to the people by the glorious King, St. Edward, your predecessor?" "I will, and promise it," answered the King. "Sire," continued the bishop, "will you keep to God and holy church, and clergy and people, peace and harmony in God, according to your power ?" " I will keep them," replied theKing. "Sire," repeated the Bishop, "will you cause to be observed in all your judgments right and justice, wdth discretion in mercy and in truth, to the best of your power ?" " I will," answered the King, " And now, sire," said the Bishop, putting the last question, " will you promise to hold and maintain the laws and the customs which the commonalty of your kingdom shall have enacted, and will you defend and strengthen them to the utmost of your power ? " " I promise it," replied the King.f At the altar, Edward made two offerings ; first, a pound of gold, in the form of a king holding a ring in his band, and afterwards eight ounces of gold, wrought into an effigy of a pilgrim putting forth his hand to receive the * The Archbishop of Canterbury was out of the country. t This is the first perfect copy of a coronation oath in the English history ; and it ia worthy of remark, that it was not so much Magna Charta as the laws of the Saxon King, Edward the Confessor, that the monarch swore to observe.