"By the oath which you have taken this day, I exhort and admonish you to use these swords to the glory of God and defence of the Gospel, to the maintenance of your sovereign's right and honour, and to the upholding of justice and equity, to your power. So help you God." When all had received the admonition, they redeemed their swords by paying each an angel of gold, and then returned in procession to the hall. At the door of the chapel stood the king's principal cook, wearing a white apron, and holding a large chopping-knife in his hand; before him was a little table covered with a linen cloth, and as each knight passed by he thus addressed them, "Gentlemen, You know what a great oath you have taken, which is, to defend the Gospel, succour the widows and fatherless, right the wronged, &c., which if you perform and keep it, will be to your great honour, but, if you break it, I must hack off your spurs from your heels, as unworthy of this dignity, which will be a great dishonour to you; which God forbid." When the knights reached the hall an officer at arms proclaimed that their attendance would be required at Tower-hill on the following Monday, to join the royal procession. On the following day (Saturday) six earls and six barons were created, and invested by the king with the mantles, swords, and coronets appropriated to their respective dignities. On Monday morning, at seven o'clock, the king came by water to the Tower, and, after having refreshed him-self, gave orders for the formation of the procession. Before ten all the peers and knights, in their robes of state, mounted their richly caparisoned horses, and the king also went on horseback, declining to use his coach. His majesty had twenty-four footmen, the duke of York twenty, every duke twelve, every marquis ten, every earl eight, every viscount six, and every baron four; besides, each of them had a gentleman of his horse, and pages in proportion, going on foot, all in extraordinary rich liveries. The order of the procession differed very little from that usual at coronations, which we shall have to describe hereafter. Tower-hill was guarded by the militia of the Tower Hamlets; and the streets of the city were lined at the right by the several companies, with their liveries and banners, and at the left by the trained bands. The windows and houses were decorated with carpets and rich hangings, the conduits ran with wine, and four triumphal arches were erected in different parts of the city. The first arch was erected near the end of Limestreet, and represented the triumph of monarchy over rebellion; the second was a naval arch, it stood near the Exchange, and represented "old father Thames" presenting an address to his majesty; the third was in Cheapside, it was built as a Temple of Concord, and three persons stood in it, to represent Concord, Love, and Truth; at this arch stood all the aldermen, with their recorder at their head, who made a speech, congratulating his majesty, and presented him with a purse containing a thousand pounds of gold. In St. Paul's churchyard, one of the children of Christ's Hospital made a congratulatory speech, and solicited his majesty's indulgence and favour. The fourth triumphal arch, representing Plenty, was erected in Fleet-street, near White Friars; and Temple Bar was decorated with a rich balcony, in which sat the duchess of York and a great number of peeresses. Outside Temple Bar the king was met by the high bailiff and high constable of Westminster, who fell into the procession, and accompanied the king to Whitehall, which he reached about three o'clock in the afternoon. We have described this pageant fully, because it was the most gorgeous and interesting connected with an English coronation, and because it is not likely to be again repeated. 85 CHAPTER VII. PREPARATIONS FOR THE PROCESSION. EARLY in the morning of the day appointed for the coronation, the lord great chamberlain of England repairs to the sovereign's palace, and there delivers the shirt prepared for the unction, that is, having openings tied with ribands, and an underdress of crimson satin. A king is robed by the lord high chamberlain and the chamberlain of the household, a queen by the ladies of the bedchamber. The sovereign then proceeds privately to Westminster Hall, where the peers also begin to assemble, about eight o'clock. The peers and bishops robe themselves in the House of Lords; the other persons who take a share in the procession now assemble, and are marshalled in the lobbies, but they formerly met in the Court of Requests, on the site of which the present House of Commons is erected, and are conducted into the Hall in the following order, by the officers at arms: The Six Clerks in Chancery, in two ranks; four in the first and two in the second. The Sovereign's Chaplains having dignities, four abreast. The Solicitor-General. The Attorney-General. One of the Sovereign's Ancient Serjeants. Two Esquires of the Body. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, four abreast. Barons of the Exchequer and Justices of both Benches. Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Chief Justice of Common Pleas. Master of the Rolls. Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Privy Councillors who are not Peers, two abreast. When these have been arranged on each side of the Hall, the peers and peeresses, who have been previously marshalled in the Court of Requests, are conducted into the Hall in this order: Two Pursuivants at Arms. Baronesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand. Two Pursuivants at Arms. Viscountesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand. Marchionesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand. Duchesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand. Norroy King at Arms. Clarencieux King at Arms. Lord President of the Council. Archbishop of York. Archbishop of Canterbury. Lord Privy Seal. Serjeants at Arms. Gentleman Usher. at arms. Garter King at Arms. Lord High Steward, with his white staff. His Train borne by six Eldest Sons of Peers. Captain of the Horse in Waiting. Two Grooms of the Bedchamber. As they enter the Hall they divide to the right and left, and are marshalled to their places by the officers If there be a queen-consort, she enters the Hall through a private door leading from the Court of Wards, attended by her lord chamberlain and ladies in waiting; she then repairs to her chair of state under the canopy, and remains standing until the king is seated. The ancient royal seat, called "The King's Bench," is fitted up for the sovereign's reception, and a large table is placed before it, covered with a rich carpet. The sovereign, attended by the two archbishops, the great officers of state, Garter king at arms, and the usher of the black rod, ascends the steps leading to the chair of state, and takes his (or her) seat. The master of the jewel house then brings up the four swords which are to be used in the ceremony, and delivers them reverently to the lord high constable, and he to the lord high chamberlain, who draws them successively out of their scabbards, which are returned to the officers of the jewel house. The lord chamberlain then, making a low obeisance, lays each on the table before the sovereign. The golden spurs are then delivered with the same formality. Whilst these arrangements are made in the Hall, the dean and prebendaries of Westminster have assembled in their church, and robed themselves in surplices and rich copes. When the appointed time is come they marshal themselves to bring the Regalia, which were anciently kept in the Abbey, over to the Hall. The following is the order of their procession: Serjeant of the Vestry, with his gilt virge. Choir of Westminster. Confessor and Subdean. Pursuivants at Arms, two abreast. Norroy King at Arms. Clarencieux King at Arms. The Dean, carrying St. Edward's Crown on a cushion of cloth of gold. A Prebendary, bearing the Orb with the Cross. And, if there be a Queen Consort, A Prebendary, bearing the Queen's Crown. After which, A Prebendary, bearing the Bible. The remaining Prebendaries, two and two, the seniors first. In their progress up the Hall they make three |