The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-28

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On the 18th of June, 1868, Lionel,
Duke of Clarence, second son OF Ed
ward Ill, of England. was married
at Milan to the Lady Violante, a
daughter of the princely house OF Vis-
cont, which then ruled Lombardy.
The wedding-banquct of the illus
trious couple was a striking example
of medieval profuseness, as the fol-
lowing particulars will amply show.
The banqueting tables were arrang-
ed in the opencourt before the pal
ace of the Visconti, i'm the Piazza DELI
Arenga. Among theguests admitted
to the private table of the bride and
bl idegroom were the Count de Savoy,
the Bishop of Novara, and the illus
trious poet, F.Petrarch, then in the
zenith of his fame. At another table,
a hundred of the most beautiful ladies
of the court displayed their gorgeous
toilets, studded with pearls and other
precious stones. their extravagant
use Of which is q frequent subject of
censure with the contemporary histo-
rians.
The banquet was composed of Is
different courses, ushercd In with|the
utmost pomp, and accompanied by
appropriate presents fer the married,
pair. The first course was a mark OF
peculiar honor, was served up in du-
plicate to the bridegroom table, and
was composed, among other dishes,
Of two small porklings entirely gid
ed, with fire ntheir mouths; and
small, gilt fish, called porceletti. AS
presents, two of the choicest gfey-
hounds which could be procured,
with their appropriate trappings,
were led around and exhibited to the
company. The second course consist
ed of gilded hares and pike. with
twevle greyhounds and six goshawks
as presents. The third entry was a
large gilt calf in silver dish, and all
infinity of small gilt trout; twelve
sporting dogs of various breeds, with
velvet collars and silken teaches, as
presents. The fourth course-at-
tended bv twelve couple of sporting
dogs, and tweve beautiful falcons,
with bells, hoods, etc, of silver-was
principally of gilt cartridges, quails,
and roast gilded trout. The fifth
course, of gilt garneioft all kinds, and
large gilt carp, was accompanied by
similar present of hawks to the fourth,
only that they were enriched with
hoods co, cred with costly pearls. .
With the sixth entry, the solids of
the feast and the more. cumbrous
presents commenced-beef and ca
pons with garlic sauce, surgeons
whole in water; and twelve steel cui-
raises of exquisite finish, buckled and
studded with silver, for the BRIDE
groom. The seventh course sounds
novel to our cars -capons, game, and
fish served up in lemonade and, as
presents, twelve matchless suits of
Milan armor, twelve tilting-saddles,
and twelve lances. The eighth entry,
pastry, beef, and huge eel pies, with
twelve more suits of war armOr. The
ninth course and its successor were
more moderate, consisting of meat
and fish, jellies, and lampreys; wish
gold cloths, silver basins, and TASKS
filled with Malmsey and Vernaccia
wines, as presents. The eleventh
course of this never-ending banquet
was of kids, accompanied by six
horses, with saddles, lances, targets,
and helmets i'm like number. The
twelfth, hares and other game, with
six large coursers, with saddles and
golden trappings. The thirteenth
service. venison and beef, and full
heraldic trappings and housings.
The fourteenth, fowls, capons,
etc., dressed IN colored sauces with
citron; six light, jousting coursers,
with gilded brides, red velvet cloths,
and halters. The fifteenth, peacock's
tongues, more carp, of which the
Italians and French were particularly
fond, vegetables, and fruit, as pres
ents. a ducal hood, mantle, and lower
robe, covered with pearls, and lined
with ermine. The sixteenth, RABBITS,
peacocks, ducks, ETC., and huge sill
yer basin, containing one large ruby,
one large diamond, q large pearl, and
some other choice specimens OF pre-
cious stones. The seventeenth course
was rural and PASTORAL in comparison,
being cheese, Parmesan, even then
famous among epicures, and other
products of the dairy, with the very
appropriate present of twelve fat
cows. For the eighteenth course
fruits, sweetmeats, and various wiHes
was reserved the most costly pres
ent. Two splendid chargcrs-one
called the Lion, the other tine AbbOt
were presented to the Duke of Clar-
enco by his princeE father-in-law;
and seventy similar stceds for his
principal knights and barons. The
bridegroom's table at this unconscion-
able feast, which must have lasted
many hours, was served by twelve
principal knights of the duchy; pages
of lower rank, but all of gentle blood,
attending on the other tables, and
taking charge of the various presents.