"This city is distinguished," he says, "by the riches and the number of its clergy.

As I had heard that excellent MSS.

might be found there, I stopped in the place for some time.

But is it not singular that in so considerable a place I had difficulty to procure ink enough to copy two orations of Cicero's, and the little that I could obtain was as yellow as saffron ?" Petrarch was received at most of the places he visited, and more particularly at Cologne, with marks of great respect; and he was agreeably surprised to find that his reputation had acquired him the partiality and acquaintance of several inhabitants.

He was conducted by his new friends to the banks of the Rhine, where the inhabitants were engaged in the performance of a superstitious annual ceremony, which, for its singularity, deserves to be recorded.
"The banks of the river were crowded with a considerable number of women, their persons comely, and their dress elegant.