Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-07-28
QUEEN MARY'S MARRIAGE.

The following description Of The maria re
Of Mary, Queen of Scots, 20 the French
Prince FrancIs, is extracted from Bells His
tory of this celebrated woman:
The marriage for which SO many prepare
tions had thus been made was selemni2ed
in the church OF Notge Dame, the ceremon,
being performed by the Cardinal Of Bourbon
Archbishop Of Rouen-Upon this occasion
the festivities were graced by The presence o.
,all the most llustrous pelsonagesof the court
OF France; aud when Francis, taking the
ring from his finger presented it to the arch
bishop who, p'onouncIug the benediction
placed il on the young queens finger, the
vaulted roof the cathedral rung with con
CALCULATIONS, aud the multitude without rent
the air with joyful shouts The spectacle
was altogether one Of the most imposing
which, even IN that age OF spectacles, had
been seen in Paris. The procession, upon
leaving the church, proceeded to the palace
OF the archbishop, where a magnificent col
lauon was prepared ,-Iargesse as it moved
along being proclaimed among the people, in
the name Of the King and Queen of Scots.
IN the afternoon, the royal party returned TO
the palace of the Tourneies- Catherine de
Medices and Mary sitting together in the same
paianquin, and a cardinal walking on each
side. Henry and Francis followed on horse,
back, with long line Of princes and prin-
sesses in their Train The chronicler of these
nuptIals is unable to conceal his rapture,
when he describes the manner in which the
palace had been prepared torthclrrecepton
lis whole appearance he tells US, was hight
and beautiful as EIysium." During supper,
which was served upon marble table in the
great hail, the kings band of cone hundred
gentlemen" poured forth delicious strains of
music. The members of parliament attend
ed in their robes; and the princes OF the
blood performed the duty of servtors-the
Duke OF Guise acting as master of the cere-
monies. The banquet being concluded, a
series 0! the most magnificent masks and
mummerles prepared for the occasion, was
introduced. IL the pageant, twelve artificial
horses of admirable mechanism, covered with
cloth of gold and ridden by the young heirs
of noble houses, attracted deserved atten
ton. They were succeeded by six galieys,
which sailed into the hall, each rich as Cleo
patra's barge, and bearing on its deck two
seats, the one filed by a young cavalier, who
as he advanced, carried off from among the
spectators. and gently placed in the vacant
nament concluded these rejoicings.
During the whole Of these solemntics, eve
ny eve was fixed on the youthful Mary; and
inspired by those feelings which beauty sci
dom calls to excite, every heart offered up
prayers for her future welfare and happiness.
She was now at that age when feminine love
Illness is perhaps most attractive. Ii is not TO
be supposed, indeed, that in her sixteenth
year, her charms had ripened into that full
blown maturity which they afterwards attain
ed; bat they were, on this account only the
more fascinating. Scyue have conjectured
that Mary's beauty has been extolled far be-
yond It's read merits: and il cannot be denied
that many vague aud erroneous notions exist
regarding it. But that her countenance pos
sessed 10 pre-cminent degree the something
which constitutes beauty is sufficiently aues
ted by the unanimous declaration Of all I
temporary writers 1t is only, however, by
carefully gathering together hints scattered
here and there, that any accurate idea can
he formed OF the hncaments OF "A colntendncc
which mas so long ceased to exist, unless liz
the fancy OF the enthusiast Generally speak
ing, Mary's features were more Grecian than
Roman, though without the insipidity thai
would have attached to them, had they been
exactly regular. Her nose exceeded littl,
the C3ecian proportion IN length. Her hdu
was sery nearly of the same colour as Jane.
F's-dark yellow or auburn, and. Ike hi,
clustered IN luxmant ringets Her eyes,
which some writers, nisled ty The thausanc
biInderng portraits OF her scattered even
where conceive to have been grey, or blu
or hazel.--were OF a chesnut colour -darke.
D.. p