CORONATION CEREMONIES. Ir had been originally intended to have treated in this Section of the present work, not merely of the Coronation Ceremonies generally, but, with reference to the approaching solemnisation of that imposing public act, to have considered more particularly the forms observed, in this country, at the Coronation of a Female Sovereign. This intention having been anticipated by M. Planché, —whose agreeable volume,* while it does credit to the antiquarian character of its author, affords a striking proof that matters of historical research may, by a judicious mode of treatment, be made perfectly welcome to the general reader,-the Editor determined to confine himself to such illustration of the coming Coronation as was to be found in the forms observed on the accession of the last Queen Regnant to the throne of these Realms. This resolve might have been shaken, had he realised his anticipation of discovering, among the manuscripts deposited in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, a Formula of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. But the document, which he had been led to suppose was of the nature referred to, having proved, upon further examination, to be nothing more than a transcript from a manuscript, in the Harleian Library of the British Museum, entitled, "Articles of the Queen's Majesty's Coronation,”+ con * Regal Records; or a Chronicle of the Coronations of the Queens Regnant of England. By J. R. Planché, F.S.A., &c. London, 1838. + Harleian MS., No. 6064. Lambeth MS. No. 1075 b. Though disappointed in the manuscript, the Editor's acknowledgments are not the less due to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the readiness with which he granted his permission for its examination; and to the Rev. S. R. Maitland, the librarian, for his politeness on the sisting only of memoranda of steps to be taken preparatory to that event, did away with the necessity of altering the arrangement he had first determined upon.* "Queens formerly," as we are told, † "proceeded from the Tower to their Coronation, in litters of cloth of gold or white tissue, without cover or baytes, their heir dishevelled about their shoulders, with a circlet of gold on their heads, richly set with precious stones. Their kirtells of cloth of tissue and mantells of the same furred with ermine, and two palfrays clad in white damask, head and all over, down to the ground, or with some other rich coverture suitable in colour to the litter, and they bear the same. Over the Queen was carried a cloth of gold or tissue, with gilt curtains, and sometimes silver bells at the end, by sixteen Knights, disposed four and four, by turns. A palfray of estate with a side-saddle, trapped with cloth of tissue, is led after her by the Master of the Horse. "Queens have had three and at other times four chariots following of them. The first two of red cloth of gold, the third of white, and the fourth of red satin. Every chariot being drawn by six horses longways, and open in all parts except the top. occasion. "Betwixt the Queen's litter and every of these chariots rode six or seven Ladies richly appareled in crimson velvet, &c., and last of all the Ladies' Women all clad in the liverys of their Ladies." The library at Lambeth is now deposited in what was formerly the great hall of the Palace, which has been most beautifully fitted up for the purpose by the munificence of the present Archbishop, and is unquestionably one of the most beautiful objects of its kind in the metropolis. The reader who may be desirous to learn the fullest particulars extant, touching Elizabeth's Coronation, is referred with confidence to M. Planché's volume, to which (with the exception of the details of what takes place in the Abbey, derived from Miss Banks's MS. in British Museum) the Editor is principally indebted for the following information relative to the Coronation of Queen Anne. + Banks's MS. in British Museum-No. 9297 of Addl. MSS. But this was in those days of chivalry whose departure Burke so eloquently lamented. In the following account of the Coronation of Queen Anne, the ceremonies approach very closely those of our own practical and utilitarian time. CORONATION PROCESSION OF QUEEN ANNE. 23rd April, 1702. The Dean's Beadle of Westminster. The High Constable of Westminster, with his staff, in a scarlet cloak. A Fife. Drums four abreast. Drum Major. Trumpets four a abreast. Sergeant Trumpeter. The Six Clerks in Chancery, in gowns of black-flowered satin, with black silk loops and tufts, two abreast. The Closet Keeper of the Chapel Royal. Chaplains having dignities, in scarlet and tippets, with square caps in their hands, four abreast. Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Recorder of London, two abreast, in their scarlet gowns, those having passed the chair wearing their gold chain. Masters in chancery, in rich gowns, two abreast. The Queen's younger Serjeants-at-Law, in scarlet gowns, and their caps in their hands. The Queen's Ancient Sergeants. Esquires of the Body. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches, in Judges' robes of scarlet, with their caps in their hands. Lord Chief Baron, and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, in scarlet robes, with their collars of SS. gilt. Master of the Rolls, in a rich gown. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Children of the Choir of Westminster in surplices. Children of the Chapel in scarlet mantles. Choir of Westminster in surplices. Groom of the Vestry. Organ Blower. Gentlemen of the Queen's Chapel in scarlet mantles. Sub-Dean of the Queen's Chapel in a scarlet gown, turned up with black velvet. Prebendaries of Westminster in surplices and rich copes. Dean of Westminster in a rich cope. The Master of the Jewel House in a scarlet robe. Privy Councillors of England, not Peers, in their usual habits. Baronesses in their robes, two abreast, their coronets in their hands. Bishops. Two Pursuivants of Arms. Viscountesses in their robes, two abreast, their coronets in their hands. Two Heralds of Arms in their rich coats and collars of SS. Two Heralds of Arms. Marchionesses in their robes, two abreast, with their coronets in their hands. Two Heralds of Arms. Duchesses in their robes, two abreast, with their coronets in their hands. Dukes in their robes, in like manner, except those who bear any of the Regalia. The two Provincial Kings of Arms in their rich coats and collars of SS., and medals, with their coronets in their hands. Lord Privy Seal. Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, with the Purse. Lord Archbishop of York. Two Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, Sir James Clarke and Jonathan Andrews, to represent the Dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy, in crimson velvet mantles, lined with miniver, powdered with ermine; each of them his cap in his hand of cloth of gold, furred and powdered with ermine. His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, his train borne by his Master of the Robes. Sergeants at Arms. The Lord Great Chamberlain in his robes, with his coronet and white staff in his hand. The Earl Marshal of England in his robes, with his coronet and Earl Marshal's staff in his hand. The Sword of State the Earl of Oxford. The Lord High in his robes, with his in is hand. Sergeants at Arins. THE CROWN, borne by the Duke of Devonshire, the Lord High Steward. The Bible, by the Lord Bishop THE QUEEN, Captain of her Ma- Ladies of the Bedchamber. The Women of the Bedchamber. The Orb, borne by the Duke of Somerset, Lord President of the Council. The Chalice, by the Lord Bishop of Rochester. Supported by the Bishop of Durham. Captain of the Band Ensign and Lieutenant of the Yeomen of the Guard. Yeomen of the Guard, four abreast. Gentlemen Pensioners. * We may here point out one very remarkable circumstance regarding Queen Anne's procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey, which is not noticed by Mr. Planché-not being mentioned in the Gazette, nor in the Heralds' draft of the procession-in which the Queen is spoken of as walking,' as had been usual with former sovereigns, beneath a canopy borne by sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports. But we find in the London Post, No. 454, of April 22 and 24, 1702, and again in the Postman, No. 960, of April 23 and 25, that Her Majesty was carried in an open chair, under a rich canopy [of yellow velvet, supported by the Barons of the Cinque Ports] from Westminster Hall to the Abbey gate, and returned to the Hall in the same manner. See "Gentleman's Mag." June, 1838, p. 610. |