A Chronicle of the Coronations of the Queens Regnand of England

"The Queen's coronation," says Strype, "was now all the care, which was resolved to be very splendid and glorious, being to be performed on the 1st of October, 1553; against which day her Majesty having to pass through London, it was the citizens' province, according to old custom, to adorn the city^c." On Thursday, September 28th^d, Mary removed from St. James's to Whitehall^e, where she went on board her barge "accomjumied with the Lady Elizabeth, her sister^f," and other ladies, and proceeded by water to the Tower, attended by "the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and all the companies in their barges, with streamers, and trumpets, and waits, shawmes and regals^g, together with great volley shots of guns, until her Grace came into the Tower, and some time after^h."

Note c. Eccles. Memor. vol. iii. p. 34.

Note d. Stowe says the 27th, but that must be a mistake.

Note e. Strype.

Note f. Stowe.

Note g. Shawmes, or shalms, and regals, were musical instruments; the shawm a sort of clarionet, the regal a portable organ.

Note h. Strype.

On Saturday, the 30th of September, about three o'clock in the afternoon^k, Queen Mary set forth from the Tower to return by land to Westminster. Before her rode about five hundred gentlemen, nobles, and ambassadors^l, and according to the MS before mentioned, in the following order —

The order in proceeding from the tower unto the Queen's Highness's palace at Westminster.

First, the Queen's Messengers.

The Strangers and Embassadors' suite.

The Trumpets.

The Gentlemen Ushers.

The Chaplains of no dignities.

The Gentlemen and Esquires extraordinary.

The Esquires of the body.

Pursuivants at Arms on either side.

The Chaplains of dignities.

The Bachelor Knights.

Then Knights bearing Offices.

The Knights of the Bath^m.

Then Heralds on either side.

Then Bannerets.

The Knights of the Garter, being no lords.

The two Chief Judges, with the Master of the Rolls.

The two Principal Secretaries [Sir William Petre, and — Burroughs, Esq.].

Then Knights being of the Council.

The Treasurer [Sir T. Cheney], and Comptroller of the Household [Sir Robert Rochester].

Then all Lords and Barons in order after their estate.

Then Bishops.

Then Earls' Sons and Heirs.

Then the two Rings of Arms Clarencieulz and Norroy.

After them Ambassadors coupled with estates according to their degrees, — vix..

The Ambassadors of the Hanse [Towns] with Mr. Chaloner.

The Ambassadors of Cleyes, with Mr. North.

The Ambassadors of Venice, with Mr. Baker.

The Ambassador of Pole [Poland], with Mr. Browne.

The Ambassador of France, with Lord Paget.

The Resident of the Emperor, with Lord Clynton.

Mons. Raynart (Renard)^ with Lord Cobham.

Mons. Trelouze, with Lord Hereford.

Mons. Courrier, with the Lord Privy Seal.

The Chief Sewer [the Earl of Sussex], with the Queen*8 hat and cloak aside of the two Squires of Honour, with robes of Estate rolled and borne baldrick-wise about their waist, with caps of Estate, representing the Duke of Normandy and the Duke of Guienne.

The Lord Chancellor, Gardiner, Bishop of Wnchester, and the Lord High Treasurer of England, William Marquis of Winchester.

Note k. NoaiUes, Ambassades, p. 196.

Note l. Ibid.

Note m. At the coronation of Anne Boleyn, we find the Knights of the Bath wore "violet gowns with hoods purfled with miniver, like doctors."

Then the Mayor of London [Thomas White, "in a gown of crimson velvet, bearing the golden sceptre." — Stowe] on the left hand of Garter, and a Gentleman Usher on his right hand.

Then Sergeants at Arms on both sides from the Sword forward.

The sword borne by the Earl of Arundel, Lord Steward of the Household [and Constable of England for the time being], on his right hand the Earl of Oxford, Lord Great Chamberlain; on his left hand the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal.

Then the Queen's Majesty richly apparelled with mantle and kirtle of cloth of gold, furred with minever, and powdered ermines, having upon her head a circlet of gold set with rich stones and pearls, in her Grace's litter richly garnished with white cloth of gold with two trappers of white damask with cushions, and all things thereunto appertaining, according to the precedentsⁿ.

Then her Grace's footmen in their rich coats, about her Grace on both sides.

Then the canopy of rich cloth of gold, furnished according to the precedents, borne by the Knights, with certain other knights appointed for assistants to them.

Note n. This exactly agrees with Strype's account, in correction of Stowe, who describes her Majesty as "sitting in a chariot of cloth of tissue drawn with six horses, all trapped with the like cloth of tissue," and "attired in a gown of purple velvet furred with powdered ermine, having on her head a caul of cloth of tinsel, beset with pearl and stone; and above the same, upon her bead, a round circlet of gold, beset so richly with precious stone that the value thereof was inestimable, the same caul and circlet being so massy and ponderous that she was fain to bear up her head with her hand." Monsieur de Noailles, who was absolutely in the procession, differs from both these authorities in his account, as well of the vehicle as of the costume. "Afterwards," says his excellency, "followed a litter covered with a canopy of gold, the which litter was borne by two mules, covered also with gold, and high upon it was seated her Majesty, dressed in a long mantle of cloth of silver, with a head dress of silk." — Ambass. t. ii. Litter and chariot were commutable terms before the introduction of coaches, but I am unable to reconcile the six horses of Stowe with the two mules of the Ambassador. In the list of articles ordered for this procession, the "kirtle and mantle with a trayne" are to be of white cloth of gold — the kirtle furred with miniver pure, and the mantle with ermine powdered, and they are to be worn by the Queen "in her horse litter."

Then the first Chariot richly covered^o, and the horses richly trapped, containing the two greatest Ladies of Honour, yiz. the Lady Elizabeth's Grace [afterwards Queen of England], and the Lady Anne of Cleves [the fortunate relict of Henry VIII. The MS says apparelled in crimson velvet, but Monsieur Noailles tells us they.were both attired in cloth of silver dresses à-la-française, that is to say, gowns opening in front showing a rich kirtle, or petticoat, and having very large sleeves, such being the French fashion at that time].

Then the Master of the Horse [Sir Edward Hastings], leading a spare courser, trapped with a rich trapper. [Noailles says he was attired in cloth of gold, and led her Majesty's horse, followed by two white hackneys, trapped with gold.]

Then four ladies of Estate, apparelled in crimson velvet, and their horses trapped with the same, viz. the Duchess of Norfolk, the Marchioness of Exeter, the Marchioness of Winchester, and the Countess of Arundel.

Then the second Chariot, richly covered with cloth of gold, the horses trapped with the same, containing four Ladies of Honour, apparelled with crimson velvet, viz. The old Countess of Oxford, the Countess of Oxford, the Countess of Shrewsbury, and the Countess of Derby.

Then the third Chariot richly covered, and the horses richly trapped as before, with six ladies apparelled with crimson velvet in the same, viz. — Lady Stourton, Lady Lumley, Lady Wentworth, Lady Rich, Lady Paget, and Lady Mordaunt.

Then five ladies, in crimson velvet, riding, their horses trapped with the same, viz: — Countess of Southampton, Countess of Bedford, Countess of Pembroke, Lady Fitzwaiter, and Lady Burgany.

Then ten Ladies clothed in crimson velvet, and their horses trapped with the same, viz.—- Lady Fortescue, Lady Petre, Lady Walgrave, Lady Bruges, Lady Man« sel. Lady Kemp, Mrs. Clarencieulx, Mrs. Finch, Mrs. Jemingham, and Mrs. Sturey.

Then nine other gentlewomen and maids in crimson satin, their horses trapped with the same, and then the Queen's Chamberers in crimson damask, viz., Mrs. Dormer, Mrs. Barkeley, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Bacon, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Basset, Mrs. Sydney, Mrs. Baynehani (the mother of the maids), Jaoe Russel, Elisabeth Lugbure. Barbara Eyre, and Elizabeth Scarloke^p.

Note o. With crimson velvet, according to the order, which was to provide "three chariots, one of crimson velvet, the other two of eloth of gold, and the horse harness covered with cloth of gold." MS College of Arms, W. Y.

Note p. Noailles sajs the Ladies were mostly attired in robes à-la-française richly furred and worn over petticoats, or kirtles, the most part of silver and the rest gold.

In the list of articles ordered for the procession included "saddles, and harness for ladies and gentlewomen, covered with cloth of gold, the harness furred with ermines powdered," and "liveries for their gownes (the Queen's Ladies) crimson velvet bordered with cloth of gold, and some bordered with tawny velvet."— MS Office of Arms, W. Y.

The cross in Cheap was new washed and burnished; and there was a third pageant at the city's cost at the little conduit in Cheap, next to St Paul's, where the Aldermen stood. Here the Queen was addressed by the Recorder, and then the Chamberlain presented to her a purse of cloth of gold with a thousand marks of gold in it. At the school in St. Paul's Church Yard, one Master Hajwood sat in a pageant under a vine, and delivered an oration in Latin and in English. Then was there one Peter, a Dutchman, who stood on the weather-cock of St. Paul's (remember, gentle reader, St Paul's had a steeple then and not a dome), holding a streamer in his hand five yards long, and waving thereof stood for sometime on one foot shaking the other, and then kneeled on his knees, to the great marvel of all people. He had two scaffolds under him, one above the cross having torches and streamers set on it, and another over the ball of the cross likewbe set with streamers and torches, which could not bum, the wind was so great. The said Peter, we are informed, had £16 13s 4d granted him by the city for his cost, and pains, and all his stuff^s. Against the Dean of Paul's gate there was another pageant, where the choristers of St. Paul's played upon viols and sang. Ludgate was newly repaired, painted, and adorned with rich hangings, and minstrels playing and singing there. The last pageant was at the conduit in Fleet Street, and then passing through Temple Bar, which was newly painted and hung with tapestry, her Majesty at length reached Whitehall, where she took her leave of the Lord Mayor, giving him great thanks for his pains and the city for their cost^t.

Note s. A similar exhibition took place dnriog the progress of Edward VI. A foreigner descended from the battlements of St. Pauls, upon a rope made fast to an anchor at the dean's gate, and returning up again "played certain misteries on the said rope," to the great delight apparently of the young monarch and his lieges. Does the individual who has lately been flying from the top of Dover Cliffs intend performing this ancient ceremony at the approaching coronation of her Majesty?

Note t. Stowe.

On Sanday, October Ist, at a conyenient hour in the morning, the Queen took her barge and landed at the old palace of Westminster at the privy stairs; when all the estates gave their attendance, and from thence brought her into the Parliament chamber, which was richly hung, and after that to the privy chamber appointed for her Highness, where she apparelled herself and reposed with her ladies till order was taken for her coming to church. Blue cloth was laid from the marble porch [chair] in the Hall to the pulpit in Westminster Abbey, and railed on either side. The pulpit was covered with red say or worsted, and the stage royal from the choir to the high altar covered with cloth of gold and furnished with cushions of the same^u. About 11 o'clock the procession to the Abbey commenced^v. The Bishop of Winchester and ten other bishops, all with mitres on their heads and crosses in their hands, with other prelates and her Majesty's chapel, also in copes of cloth of gold, singing, and preceded by three crossw, accompanied her to the Abbey chnrch in the following order: —

Note u. Strype, Eccles. Mem. This is almost verbatim from the MS. Formula, which runs, — "and when the Queen is come from the Tower of London to her palace at Westminster, and hath there reposed that night, the next day, at conyenient hour, her Grace taketh her barge and landeth at the Parliament Chamber gate, where all the estates giveth their attendance and bringeth her to the office of Augmentation, where her Grace is to repose with her ladies till order be given for her going to church."

Then the large cloth to be laid from the marble chair in the Hall to the pulpit in Westminster church, and the pulpit to be covered with red worsted. The stage royal from the quire to the high altar to be garnished with cloth of gold and cushions to the same."

Note v. Stowe, Annals.

Note w. Strype.

The order of proceeding from Westminster Hall to the Church.

First, all Gentlemen two and two.

Then Knights two and two.

The Aldermen of London.

The French and Latin Secretaries.

The Queen's Privy Council, being no Lords.

The Knights of the Garter, being no Barons.

The Lord Chief Baron and Master of the Rolls.

The two Chief Justices.

The Sergeant Porter alone.

Then the three Crosses.

The Choir of Westminster in their best copes.

Then the Sub-dean of the Queen's Chapel, and the Quire of the same, in like manner.

Then all Bishops in Pontificalibus.

The two principal Secretaries.

Treasurer and Comptroller of the Queen's Household.

Then all Barons in their robes^x.

Then Earls^y.

Two Kings of Arms, Clarencieulz and Norroy.

St, Edward's spurs, borne by the Earl of Pembroke.

Sdnt Edward's staff, borne by the Earl of Bath.

The three naked swords, borne by three noblemen; viz., two of them representing Justice, one for the Spirituality, another for the Temporality, and the other, in the middest — called Curtana— representing Mercy.

Curtana, in the middest, borne by the Earl of Derby.

The sword on the right hand, borne by the Earl of Westmoreland.

The sword on the left hand, borne by the Earl of Cumberland.

Then Garter in the Queen's Coat [of Arms], and the Mayor of London with his mace.

The Earl of Oxford, Lord Great Chamberlain, alone.

The sword in the scabbard [or of state], borne by the Earl of Devonshire.

Then the crown, borne by the Duke of Norfolk.

On the right hand thereof the ball of gold with the cross, borne by the Marquis of Winchester.

And on the left hand the sceptre, borne by the Earl of Arundel.

Then the Queen's royal Majesty in her parliament robes of crimson velvet, under a rich canopy of baldekin [doth of gold, so called from Baldeck, the place of its original manufacture], with leuks of gold, and foar ttayet and four bells of silver, borne by the Barons of the Cinq Portes^x1.

Note x. A notice is inserted here of an order to the nobility not to put on their coronets or caps of estate until the crown was placed upon her Majesty's head, but from that time to wear them throughout the ceremony. The Viscounts and Barons at this period had only caps of estate. Coronets were first granted to Viscounts by James I, and to Barons by Charles II.

Note y. Neither Dukes nor Marquises are mentioned in this part of the procession, as the only Duke (Norfolk) carried the crown, and the only Marquis present (Winchester) bore the ball and cross. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are also omitted, both being in disgrace.

Note x1. Gardiner's place is not indicated in the procession, but he is here spoken of as having met her, made his obeisance, and cast incense and holy water, after which it would seem he repaired immediately to the Abbey, and received her at the entrance.— Vide Strype.

Her Highness was assisted by the Bishop of Durham on her right hand, and the Earl of Shrewsbury on her left.

The Queen's train was borne by the Duchess of Norfolk, assisted by Sir John Gage, the Queen's Chamberlain.

The Princess Elizabeth and the Lady Anne of Cleves, according to Noailles, followed next; but they are not mentioned in the MS. Then all the Peeresses after their degrees in robes of crimson velvet, with long mantles over them, furred with ermiue, the Baronesses wearing mantles of scarlet cloth, trimmed with ermine; and lastly, her Majesty's Ladies in great numbers all dressed in scarlet.

Then the Pensioners and Men at Arms,

The Captain of the Guard.

The Guard.

And finally, all other Noblemen's Servants after their degrees and the estates of their lords, following the train.

"And thus the Queen's Majesty, between x and xi of the clock, was conducted by two noblemen to her throne to King Edward's chair as is aforesaid; wherein, after her Grace had reposed a little time, she was removed by the said lords into the four parts of the mount into the sight of the people, beside whom the Bishop of Winchester, standing, declared to the people in the aforesaid parties the Queen's Majesty's free election, with these words following:—

"Sirs, here present is Mary, rightful and undoubted inheritrix by the laws of God and man to the crown and royal dignity of this realm of England, France, and Ireland, whereupon you shall understand that this day is appointed by all the Peers of this land for the consecration, inunction, and coronation of the said most excellent Princess Mary; will you serve at this time, and give your wills and assent to the same consecration, inunction, and coronation?" whereunto the people answered all in one voice, "Yea, yea, yea. God save Queen Mary."

And then her Grace was brought unto the said throne again, and immediately removed into a rich chair by the gentlemen ushers before the high altar, upon which altar her Grace offered her pall of baudekin and xxs., verifying the words of Scripture, whereas it is written, "Thou shalt not appear void before the Lord God."

Then a little after her Grace returned to her chair, a cushion of velvet was laid before the altar, upon the which her Grace lay prostrate whilst certain oraisons were said over her. [Here the sermon was preached by the Bishop of Chichester, "who was esteemed," says Strype, "the floridest preacher." The subject being, according to Nosdlles, the obedience due to kings.]

After that the Bishop of Winchester declared certain oaths unto her Grace to be by her Grace kept, which oaths, her Highness being led to the high altar, promised and swore upon the Sacrament lying upon the altar, in the presence of all the people, to observe and keep.

Then her Grace lying prostrate before the high altar, the said Bishop of Winchester kneeling, began "Veni, Creator Spiritus," and said certain other oraisons over her Grace; the quire and the organ sung and played the same.

Then two Bishops began the Litany.

And that done, and certain other oraisons ended, the Queen was conducted to her chair, where, after her Grace had somewhat rested, then was led unto her traverse on the left hand of the high altar, and there her Grace was unarrayed and unclothed by the Ladies of her Privy Chamber.

Then her Grace was newly apparelled in crimson velvet, viz., a robe containing a mantle with a train, a kirtle, furred with wombs of miniver, a surcoat, a riband of Venice gold, the mantle of crimson velvet powdered with ermines, with buttons and tassels of silk of gold for the same, in which robes she received her oyntments, and also the imperial crown^z.

Note z. There seems to be some little confusion here. The Queen came "in her Parliament robes of crimson velvet," and the robes here described appear to be nearly if not quite the same. Noailles says, she retired to a private chamber, and having taken off her mantle, returned in a corset of purple velvet, and after being anointed, was clad in a robe of white taffeta, and a mantle of purple velvet, furred with ermine, without a band, "sans rabbat."

Then the Bishop of Winchester kneeled down before her Grace and made his homage for him and all the Bishops.

"I, &c.f shall be faithful and true, and faith and truth bear unto you, our sovereign lady and queen, and to your heirs kings and queens of England, France, and Ireland; and I shall, do, and truly acknowledge the service of the lands which I claim to hold of you as in the right of your church, as God shall help me and all saints."

And then kissed every one the Queen's left cheek.

Then kneeled down the greatest temporal prince, the Duke of Norfolk to make his homage, viz.—

"I, &c., become your liege man of life and limb, and of all earthly worship and faith, and all truly shall bear unto you to live and die with you against all manner of folk; so God help me, and all hallows." And lifter kissed the Queen's left cheek.

Then followed all the rest of the nobility, as Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons, to make their homages.

But because the time would not serve for every of them to declare their homage particularly, they kneeled down altogether.

The Marquis of Winchester declared his homage, and after kissed the Queen's left cheek.

The Earl of Arundel declared his homage for all the Earls, and after every of them kissed the Queen's left cheek.

The Viscount Hereford declared his homage, and did in like case as before. The Lord Burgaveny declared his homage for him and all the Lords, and after every of them kissed the Queen's left cheek, and every of them held both their hands together, in manner of lamenting, as the rest did before, the Queen's highness holding their hands the time they kissed her left cheek as aforesaid, and after that they held up their hands, and ascended (assented?) to that same homage, with a loud voice altogether cried, "God save Queen Mary."

The Earl of Shrewsbury assisted the Queen all this time to hold the sceptre.

And during the space of the said homage doing, the Lord Chancellor having first done, departed into the four parts of the said mount, and declared a goodly large and ample pardon for all manner of ofiences except certain persons and conditions contained in the same not worthy to be pardoned. This done, the office of the mass began by the Bishop of Winchester, and at the time of the Gospel, the book was brought by a Bishop to the Queen, who kissed the same.

Then at the time of the offering, her Grace was brought down to make her offering, viz.— an oble^a of bread laid upon the paten [or cover] of King Edward's chalice.

A cruet of wine, and a pound of gold.

Then, bowing her head, the Bishop of Winchester said a prayer over her.

Then her Grace was conveyed again to her siege royal, and there sat till "Agnus Dei."

Then the Pax was brought to her to kiss by a Bishop.

Then the Queen was conducted down to the said altar, and the Bishop of Winchester took the crown from her head and set it on the said altar.

Note a. The old French word is oblée, from the Latin oblata. In France, cakes or wafers made in iron moulds are still called oubliés.

And then returning with reverence, did so in like manner in two places of the said hall, viz. in the midest and at the nether end, and after returned to dinner to the stage prepared for them at the upper end of the hall.

Then after the dinner, the Queen's Majesty having dined, wafers and ipocrasse was brought.

Then the table was taken up, and the turnape drawn.

Then water was brought for the Queen's Highness.

And after her Grace had washed.

Then after the sumape was withdrawn, the Queen's Majesty arose, and stood in the midst of the hauU place, with the Lady Elizabeth her Grace, and the Lady Anne of Cleves, and all the nobility of this realm, and ladies about her, according to their degrees and estates^f.

Then the Mayor of London brought a goodly standing cup of gold to the Queen's Majesty, and after her Highnets had drunk so, gave the Mayor the cup.

Note f. At the end of the Banquet Noailles says, the Queen called to her the foreign Ambassadors, and after conversing with them graciously for a short time, and thanking them for their pains, gave them leave to retire.

From these accounts it would appear that the ceremonies differed in no particular respect from those observed at the coronation of Edward VI: but none of the robes with which her Majesty was invested previously to her receiving the crown, &c., appear to have been those of Edward the Confessor. For the ceremony of the unction, we are told she presented herself in a simple corset of purple velvet; and instead of the colobium sindonis¹, the stole, the dalmatica², and the supertunic, we only hear of her being clad in a robe of white taflfety, and a mantle of purple velvet, furred with ermineⁱ. But although in conseqnence of the Romish ritual having been retained at the coronation of Edward VI Mary made no alteration in the ceremony of her inauguration, she appears not only to have avoided being crowned in the same chair as her Protestant brother^j, but to have revolted from the notion of being anointed with the same chrism that had been consecrated on the previous occasion by the ministers of the reformed religion.

Note 1. In medieval and coronation contexts, the colobium sindonis is the long white linen under-garment put on the monarch during the coronation rite symbolizing purity and humility; a parallel to baptismal clothing.

Note 2. The dalmatica was a rich, gold-coloured, long tunic with wide sleeves. In later coronations it was sometimes called the supertunica, made of cloth of gold.

Note i. Nothing is said of the royal sandals. In the MSS a pair of sabatons, or slippers of crimson cloth of gold, are mentioned instead of them.

Note j. She had one hlessed and sent her by the Pope; vide page 60 of this work. St. Edward's chair is repeatedly named in the MS, but we find it was placed on the mount or throne, and that she was crowned in another "rich chair" before the altar.

Griffet tells us, on the authority of the Spanish Ambassador's despatches, that on this account she applied to the Emperor for the holy unguent, and he sent it to her secretly from Bruxelles^k. Griffet, upon the same authority, tells another much more interesting anecdote respecting Mary's coronation. "The Princess Elizabeth carried in this ceremony the crown which they were to place on the head of the Queen. Elizabeth said in a low voice to Monsieur de Noailles that this crown was very heavy, and that she was weary of carrying it. The ambassador replied to her that she must have patience, and that shortly (bientôt) the crown would seem lighter to her being placed upon her head, which was overheard by the Emperor's Ambassadors, who were not far off. They did not fail to inform their master of this in the despatch which they wrote him, rendering an account of this ceremony; but Monsieur de Noailles makes no mention of this particular circumstance in the letters which he wrote to the King concerning the coronation of Mary, at which he assisted." He certainly does not; and for the best possible reason — it never took place. Sir J. Mackintosh and Mr. Sharon Turner both doubt it; firstly, because of that very silence of Monsieur de Noailles, in his private despatches, who was not likely to omit so important a conversation; and secondly, because he was less likely to have committed such an imprudence as to have made the reply attributed to him within ear-shot of the Emperor's ambassadors. But there is a still stronger reason for believing this story to have been "a weak invention of the enemy," furnished by the humble work now before my readers. It will be seen by reference to the procession, that Princess Elizabeth did not carry the crown at all; and that even if she had, her relative situation to the Ambassadors throughout the ceremony rendered it impossible for any such whispering to have taken place.

Note k. Nouveaux Eclaircissements sur I'Histoire de Marie Reine D'Angleterre, 12mo, Amsterdam et Paris, 1766, p. 59.