Court Entertainment

Court Entertainment is in Court Positions.

1467 Tournament Bastard of Burgundy

1840 Wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Culture, England, Court Positions, Court Entertainment, Master of the Ceremonies

On 11 Jun 1467 the fighting on horseback took place witnessed by King Edward IV of England (age 25). John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) was Master of the Ceremonies accompanied by John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 42). The day ended with the Bastard's (age 46) horse having being accidentally fatally injured by Lord Scales' (age 11) saddle.

In 1641 Charles Cotterell Master of the Ceremonies (age 25) was appointed Master of the Ceremonies by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 40).

Evelyn's Diary. 17 Sep 1668. I entertained Signor Muccinigo, the Venetian Ambassador, of one of the noblest families of the State, this being the day of making his public entry, setting forth from my house [Map] with several gentlemen of Venice and others in a very glorious train. He staid with me till the Earl of Anglesea (age 54) and Sir Charles Cotterell (age 53) (Master of the Ceremonies) came with the King's (age 38) barge to carry him to the Tower [Map], where the guns were fired at his landing; he then entered his Majesty's (age 38) coach, followed by many others of the nobility. I accompanied him to his house, where there was a most noble supper to all the company, of course. After the extraordinary compliments to me and my wife (age 33), for the civilities he received at my house, I took leave and returned. He is a very accomplished person. He is since Ambassador at Rome.

Evelyn's Diary. 24 Nov 1681. I was at the audience of the Russian Ambassador (age 64) before both their Majesties in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map]. The presents were carried before him, held up by his followers in two ranks before the King's (age 51) State, and consisted of tapestry (one suite of which was doubtlessly brought from France as being of that fabric, the Ambassador having passed through that kingdom as he came out of Spain), a large Persian carpet, furs of sable and ermine, etc.; but nothing was so splendid and exotic as the Ambassador who came soon after the King's (age 51) restoration. This present Ambassador was exceedingly offended that his coach was not permitted to come into the Court, till, being told that no King's Ambassador did, he was pacified, yet requiring an attestation of it under the hand of Sir Charles Cotterell (age 66), the Master of the Ceremonies; being, it seems, afraid he should offend his Master, if he omitted the least punctilio. It was reported he condemned his son to lose his head for shaving off his beard, and putting himself in the French mode at Paris, and that he would have executed it, had not the French King interceded-but qy. of this.

11 Feb 1840. Tuesday. Supplement to the London Gazette.

St James's Palace [Map]. February 10, 1840.

THIS day the Marriage of the QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY (age 20) with Field Marshal His ROYAL HIGHNESS FRANCIS ALBERT AUGUSTUS CHARLES EMANUEL, DUKE OF SAXE, PRINCE OF SAXE COBOURG AND GOTHA, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (age 20), was solemnized at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace.

Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Prince Albert (age 20), attended by his Suite, proceeded from Buckingham-Palace [Map] this day, about half past eleven o'clock, to St. James's-Palace [Map], in the following order:

The first Carriage,.

Conveying General Sir George Anson, G.C.B. (age 43); George Edward Anson, Esq (age 28); and Francis Seymour, Esq (age 26); the Bridegroom's Gentlemen of Honour.

The second Carriage,.

Conveying the Lord Chamberlain of the Household, the Earl of Uxbridge (age 42) (who afterwards returned to Buckingham-Palace [Map], to attend in Her Majesty's Procession), and the Officers of the Suite of His Serene Highness the Reigning Duke of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha, and the Hereditary Prince of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha, viz. Count Kolowrath (age 62), Baron Alvensleben, and Baron De Lowenfels.

The third Carriage,.

Conveying His Royal Highness the Prince Albert (age 20), His Serene Highness the Reigning Duke of Saxe Colourg and Gotha (age 56) (father), and the Hereditary Prince of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha (age 21) (elder brother).

Her Majesty (age 20), attended by Her Royal Household, accompanied by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (age 53), proceeded, at twelve o'clock, from Buckingham-Palace [Map] to St James's Palace [Map], in the following order:

The first Carriage,

Conveying two Gentlemen Ushers, Charles Heneage, Esq (age 33) and the Honourable Heneage Legge (age 51); Yeoman of the Yeomen of the Guard, Charles Hancock, Esq,; and the Groom of the Robes, Captain Francis Seymour (age 51).

The second Carriage,.

Conveying the Equerry in Waiting, Lord Alfred Paget (age 23); two Pages of Honour, Charles T. Wemyss, Esq and Henry William John Byng (age 8), Esq j and the Groom in Waiting, the Honourable George Keppel.

The third Carriage,.

Conveying the Clerk Marshal, Colonel the Honourable H. E. G. Cavendish (age 50); the Vice-Chamberlain, the Earl of Belfast, G. C. H. (age 43); and the Comptroller of the Household, the Right Honourable George Stevens Byng (age 33).

The fourth Carriage,.

Conveying the Woman of the Bedchamber in Waiting, Mrs. Brand (age 60); the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, the Earl of Ilchester (age 52); the Master of the Buck Hounds, Lord Kinaird; and the Treasurer of the Household, the Earl of Surrey (age 48).

The fifth Carriage,.

Conyeying the Maid of Honour in Waiting, the Honourable Caroline Cocks (age 45); the Duchess of Kent's Lady in Waiting, Lady K Howard; the Gold Stick, General Lord Hill, G. C.B., G. C. H.; and the Lord in Waiting, Viscount Torrington (age 27).

The sixth Carriage,.

Conveying the Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting, the Countess of Sandwich (age 27); the Master of the Horse, the Earl of Albemarle, G. C.H. (age 67); the Lord Steward, the Earl of Erroll, K.T. G.C.H. (age 38); and the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Uxbridge (age 42).

The seventh Carriage,.

Conveying Her Most Excellent Majesty the QUEEN (age 20); Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (age 53); and the Duchess of Sutherland, the Mistress of the Robes to Her Majesty (age 33).

The illustrious Personages, and others composing the Procession, then assembled in the Throneroom, and, having been called over by Garter Principal King of Arms, the Processions, moyed in the following order, to the Chapel Royal:

THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDEGROOM.

Drums and Trumpets.

Serjeant Trumpeter.

Master of the Ceremonies, Sir Robert Chester, Knt.

Lancaster Herald, George Frederick Beltz, Esq K.H (age 65), York Herald, Charles George Young, Esq (age 44).

The Bridegroom's Gentlemen of Honour, viz. Francis Seymour, Esq (age 26) Gen. Sir George Anson, G.C B. (age 43) George Edward Anson, Esq (age 28).

Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household, The Earl of Belfast, G.C.H. (age 43), Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household, The Earl of Uxbridge.

Continues ...

THE QUEEN. Wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter.

Her Majesty's Train borne by the following twelve unmarried Ladies, viz.

Lady Adelaide Paget (age 20), Lady Caroline Amelia Gordon-Lennox (age 20), Lady Sarah Frederica Caroline Villiers (age 18), Lady Elizabeth Anne Georgiana Dorothea Howard (age 23), Lady Frances Elizabeth Cowper (age 20), Lady Ida Harriet Augusta Hay (age 18), Lady Elizabeth West (age 21), Lady Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina Stanhope, Lady Mary Augusta Frederica Grimston (age 20), Lady Jane Harriet Bouverie (age 20), Lady Eleanora Caroline Paget (age 12), Lady Mary Charlotte Howard (age 18).

Assisted by the Groom of the Robes, Captain Francis Seymour (age 51).

Master of the Horse, The Earl of Albemarle, G.C.H. (age 67), Mistress of the Robes, The Duchess of Sutherland (age 33).

Ladies of the Bedchamber, The Marchioness of Normanby (age 41), The Duchess of Bedford (age 56), The Countess of Burlington (age 28), The Countess of Sandwich (age 27), The Baroness Portman (age 30), The Dowager Lady Lyttleton (age 52), The Lady Barham (age 25).

Maids of Honour, The Hon. Amelia Murray, The Hon. Harriet Pitt, The Hon. Caroline Cocks, The Hon. Henrietta Anson, The Hon. Matilda Paget, The Hon. Harriet Lister, The Hon. Sarah Mary Cavendish.

Culture, England, Court Positions, Court Entertainment, Master of the Revels

In 1544 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was appointed Master of the Revels and Master of the Tents.

In 1573 Thomas Blagrave was appointed Master of the Revels, Acting, which post he held until 1579.

After 20 May 1576 Robert "The Elder" Peake (age 25) was in the pay of the Master of the Revels.

In Jul 1579 Edmund Tilney (age 43) was appointed Master of the Revels.

On 22 May 1622 John Astley was appointed Master of the Revels but sold his interest to Henry Herbert (age 28) by 1623.

In 1641 Henry Herbert (age 46) was appointed Master of the Revels.

In 1673 Thomas Killigrew (age 60) was appointed Master of the Revels.

Culture, England, Court Positions, Court Entertainment, Master of the Tents

In 1544 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was appointed Master of the Revels and Master of the Tents.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 25 Aug 1559. The xx .. day of August ded at Non-shyche [Map] ser Thomas Carden knyght, devyser of all bankettes [banquets] and bankett-howses [banquet-houses], and the master of reyvelles and serjant of the tenttes.

Note. P. 208. Death and funeral of sir Thomas Cawarden. Knighted by Henry VIII. at the siege of Boulogne in 1544, a gentleman of the king's privy chamber in 1546, and in his latter years master of the revels, tents, and pavilions. His altar-tomb remains in Bletchingley church, but without inscription. (Manning and Bray's Surrey, ii. 300.) Among other documents relating to sir Thomas Cawarden and his office, published in the Loseley Manuscripts, edited by A. J. Kempe, esq. F.S.A. 1835, Svo. are (p. 175) his will dated St. Bartholomew's day 1559, and (p. 179) the charges of his obsequies, amounting to 96l. 15s. 1½d. and the funeral feast to 32l. 16s. 8d. The death of his wife shortly followed, and the charges of her funeral are also stated.