A.I). |-_'3,j.J BAMSIIJIKNT OF Num.I.-,. Dartford accompanied by the king with a large train of earls ami bannis. The king hail also procured l'or the lady, in honour of her as empress, a number of horses remarkable hr tle-ir various colours and of gentle paces, which bore their riders with a delightful gentleness, without annoying them bv the motion of their feet ; the trappings and saddles too, gilt and carved, were of such a variety, and the bridles and reins so elaborately worked in gold, that they set oft' the rider as well as the horse. They proceeded through the city of Rochester and arrived at the abbey of Feversham, and starting from thence they went to Canterbury to perform their devotions to the archbishop and martyr, Thomas ; after fulfilling their religious duties, they proceeded to the port of Sandwich to the number of about three thousand knights. From that port the empress and the archbishop of Cologne, with the noblemen and ladies appointed as her suite, embarked on the I 1th of May, and put to sea under full sail ; it was not however without weeping that the brother and sister, the king and empress parted. Of the arrival of I fir empress" at Cologne. After a voyage of three dnvs and nights they entered the mouth of the river Rhine, and after a run of a day and night up that river, they arrived at Antwerp, a city under the imperial jurisdiction. On their landing at this place they were met by all immense host of armed nobles, who had been sent by the emperor to act as a guard to the empress, to keep vigilant watch round her person day and night ; for it was reported that some of the emperor's enemies, who were in alliance with the French king, were planning to carry oil' the empress, and prevent the marriage. They were also met by all the priests and clergy of the adjacent districts in solemn procession, ringing bells and singing songs of joy, and with them came all the best masters in every sort of music with their instruments, who accompanied the empress with all kinds of nuptial rejoicings during her journey of five days to Cologne. When her approach became known at that place there went out to meet her, with flowers, palm branches, and in festive dresses, about ten thousand of the citizens, mounted on Spanish horses, wdio put them to full speed and engaged in jousting with one another. Accompanied by these rejoicing crowds the empress proceeded through the principal streets of the city, which had been decorated in all kinds of ways against her arrival : and. on learning that every one, and especially the noble ladies of the city, who sat in the balconies, were desirous of seeing her lace she took her cap and hood from her head, li r all to get a sight of her, for doing which every one praised her, and aller they hail gazed at her gave her great commendations for her beauty as well as her humility. She then took up her abode outside the walls of the city on account of the noise therein, and there awaited the emperor's instructions.