On the 9th day of January, in this year was solemnised in the city of Bruges, in a house that had been expressly prepared for that purpose, the marriage of Philip duke of Burgundy with the lady Isabella, daughter to the king of Portugal. The feast was very grand and magnificent: all the principal streets of the town were hung with rich cloths and the finest tapestry; and there were present at it his two sisters, the duchess of Bedford and duchess of Cleves, the countess of Namur, the countess of Lielse, the countess of Conversan, sir John de Luxembourg, the lady of Beaurevoir, the bishop of Liége, and many other great lords and ladies. These personages displayed the richest dresses, themselves, their attendants and horses being each day clothed in different liveries, more especially the bishop of Liége, John bastard de St Pol, sir John d'Hornes and others. When the duchess landed (for she had been brought by sea by one of her brothers, together with the ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, the principal of whom were the lord de Roubais and master Gilles d'Escornay provost of Harlebecque,) near to Bruges, the burghers in great pomp went out to meet her. They had with them one hundred and sixty-four trumpets which sounded very melodiously. With regard to the various entertainments, which were continued for about eight days, it would take too much time to detail them. Suffice it to say, that there was the greatest profusion of meats and wines, and representations of unicorns and other beasts, from which flowed rose-water, wines, and different liquors, for the entertainment of the guests at this feast. The duke had never made such a display of magnificence at any of his former marriages,--and this was the third. There were tiltings, and various amusements, for many days, between knights and esquires of name and renown; and this feast must have cost the duke immense sums of money. CHAP. LXXIX. ESTIENNE DE VIGNOLLES, SURNAMED LA HIRE, SURPRISES AND TAKES THE TOWN OF LOUVIERS, IN NORMANDY. In these days, Estienne de Vignolles, surnamed La Hire, took the town of Louviers, in Normandy, by surprise, having entered it with scaling ladders. He had with him from five to six hundred men, who found therein such plenty that they were greatly enriched. On their entrance, about thirty townsmen, English and others, were killed. After the capture, the majority of the inhabitants took the oaths of allegiance, to whom La Hire restored their houses and the greater part of their effects: the rest saved themselves as well as they could, leaving their wealth behind them. La Hire and his companions soon made a severe warfare on the districts around, and at times even advanced as far as Rouen. The poor people were much harrassed by them, to the great vexation of the English, for at the time they could not assist them by reason of the more weighty matters they had on hand. CHAP. LXXX.