ABSTRACT
One evening in 1699 the king went from the palace to a country estate for dinner, and a European visitor described the occasion as follows:
Between three and four hundred horsemen, mounted upon fine horses, make the first appearance. After these comes the king, attended by a great number of footmen and armed soldiers, who with a loud voice sing forth his praises and play upon the tabor, which makes no unpleasant harmony. Seven or eight hundred young maids and women march together with these soldiers, and carry upon their heads great round baskets of straw, of different colours and finely made. These baskets, which represent all sorts of flowers and the covers whereof are pyramid-wise, are filled with copper dishes tinned over and full of fruit and several meats ready dressed. These dishes are served before the king, and afterwards are distributed amongst those who have the honour to attend upon him. Two or three hundred horsemen follow in the same order as those that went foremost, and close the whole march.1
