were summoned, by the Officers of Arms, down into the Hall; and the Proceeding was then drawn out, by placing all the former part of it to the Peeresses behind the tables, the Peers and their Ladies before them; and, in consequence of the extraordinary number of persons, a double row was placed at the lower end of the building. About eleven, His Majesty left his chamber, attended by the Officers in waiting, and preceded by the Great Officers, Garter King of Arms, and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and then seated himself beneath his State, at the upper end of the Hall. The Queen also came in a similar manner to her State, on the King's left hand, conducted by her Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain. When their Majesties were seated, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord High Constable, the Earl Marshal, and Garter, placed themselves on the outer side of the table, before the King; when the Master of the Jewel House brought the Sword of State to the Lord High Constable, who delivered it to the Lord Great Chamberlain, by whom it was laid upon the table. Then Curtana,* or the Sword of Mercy, was also presented, drawn from its scabbard by the Lord Great Chamberlain, and laid naked the West entrance to the Abbey, and afterwards passed through the great Cloister on to the platform which led from the South-door of the Church at Poets' Corner, to the passage going into the House of Lords. * The word Curtana signifies a sword whose point is broken off, and therefore fit to represent the Sword of Mercy. The word is derived from the Latin adjective curtus, mutilated, broken, or imperfect. * on the table before his Majesty. After a similar manner the two Swords of Justice and the gold Spurs, were next presented, and placed by the former. A procession, consisting of the Dean, Prebendaries, and Choristers, of Westminster, then came from the lower end of the Hall, bearing with them the Holy Bible and the following Regalia belonging to the King: Saint Edward's Crown upon a velvet cushion fringed with gold, the Mound or Orb with the Cross, the Sceptre with the Dove, the Sceptre with the Cross, and Saint Edward's Staff. The Dean was received at the top of the Steps by Garter, and being conducted to the table, delivered the Crown to the Lord High Constable, who gave it, as already stated, to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who placed it before the King. The Crown was afterwards followed by the remainder of the Regalia; then that belonging to the Queen was brought, and was, with similar ceremonies, presented to her Majesty. Sandford, in his very accurate and admirable work on the ceremony of crowning King James the Second, has preserved an account of this short procession of the Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster, which, as there are no particulars recorded of that made at the Coronation of King George the Third, is perhaps worthy of being reprinted; it was as follows : * Vide Plate 4, and the annexed account of the Regalia, for a more particular description. The Serjeant of the Vestry with his gilt Verge. Gentlemen of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, two and two. Heralds of Arms, two and two. The Dean of Westminster, bearing St. Edward's Crown, Four Prebendaries of Westminster, the First carrying the Orb with the Cross, Three other Prebendaries bearing the Queen's Regalia, viz. the First the Crown on a Cushion of Cloth of Gold, the Second the Sceptre with the Cross, and the Third the Ivory Rod with the Dove. Remainder of the Prebendaries of Westminster in order, In this proceeding, continues Sandford, they make three obeisances; one at the lower end of the Hall, a second about the middle, (where both the Choirs, opening to the right and left, form a passage, through which the Officers of Arms passing, open likewise to either hand, the Seniors still placing themselves nearest the steps), then the Dean and Prebendaries having come to the foot of the steps, the Officers of Arms and Choirs being now behind, close again, and make their third reverence, and the Dean and Prebendaries only ascending the steps, (preceded by Garter, who waits above for them), come to the table, and make their last obeisance. When the Regalia had been all delivered, those who brought it returned back to their former stations, at the lower end of the Hall; and Garter, by the King's command, summoned the Nobility and Bishops who were deputed to bear it, and to support their Majesties. Then the Lord Great Chamberlain taking up the various Swords, Sceptres, and Diadems, placed them in the hands of those by whom they were to be carried. At the upper end of the Hall, the thirty-two Barons of the Cinque Ports received the King and Queen beneath the Canopies under which they were afterwards to walk; and every part of the Procession being thus disposed, about twelve o'clock it set forward in the following order, along the platform, to the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster (Vide the plate). PROCESSION TO THE CORONATION. The King's Herb-Woman (Honor Battiscombe) followed by her Six Maids, strewing the way with Sweet Herbs, a basket being carried by every two Maids. The Dean's Beadle of Westminster, with his Staff. The High Constable of Westminster, (Henry Jaffray) with his Staff, in a scarlet cloak. in the Royal livery of scarlet laced with gold, having His Majesty's cypher and crown on the back and breast; his fife banner richly fringed and embroidered. Four Drums, habited as the fife, with drum-covers of crimson velvet, and the Royal Arms embroidered upon them. The Drum Major, in a livery of fine scarlet cloth laced with gold, and a crimson scarf fringed with the same. Eight Trumpets, in liveries of crimson velvet, ornamented with gold and silver lace, with silver trumpets, and banners of crimson damask fringed and corded with gold and silver, embroidered with the Royal Arms. A Kettle Drum, in the same livery as the Fife, with drum-covers of crimson velvet, fringed and embroidered as before. Eight Trumpets, habited as before. The Serjeant Trumpeter, (.... Snow,) in gowns of black flowered satin, with black silk loops and tufts upon the sleeves; Samuel Reynardson, Esq. Isaac Whittington, Esq. William Mitford Esq. Christopher Zincke, Esq. The Closet Keeper of the Chapel Royal, (John Hart, Gent.) The King's Chaplains, having dignities, four and four, in their scarlet habits as Doctors, wearing their black silk scarfs, and with square caps in their hands, Sheriffs of London. Sir Robert Kite. Sir William Hart, Knts. Aldermen of London, four and four, in their furred scarlet gowns, those past the chair wearing their gold chains, the Youngest first.. Masters in Chancery, four and four, in their gowns of black figured silk, with black silk loops and tufts, the Youngest first. The King's Solicitor General, (Hon. Charles Yorke,) in a gown of black velvet, with black loops and tufts. [Did not attend.] The King's Attorney General, (Charles Pratt, Esq.) in a gown of black velvet, with black loops and tufts. The King's Ancient Serjeant, in a scarlet gown, as before. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, four and four, the Youngest first. Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches, two and two, in their Judges' robes of scarlet, lined with Minever,* and edged with Ermine, unpowdered or spotted with black; wearing their Serjeants' coifs, and carrying their caps in their hands: the Youngest first, according to the dates of their Judges' Patents. The Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, (Sir Thos. Parker, Knt.) in his Judge's robes and coif, as before, The Master of the Rolls, The Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, (Sir John Willes, Knt.) in his Judge's robes and coif, as before, his [Went as a Peer.] Children of the Choir of Westminster, Serjeant of the Vestry, (William Lovegrove, Esq.). Serjeant Porter, (Walter Harris, Esq.) in a scarlet gown. in a scarlet gown, with his ebony staff. Children of the Chapel Royal, in surplices, with scarlet mantles over them. Choir of Westminster, in surplices. The King's Organ-blower, in a scarlet coat, with a silver gilt badge on his left breast. A Sacbut.t The King's Groom of the Vestry, in a scarlet dress, holding a perfuming-pan, A Double Courtal. Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, in scarlet mantles. A Sacbut. The Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, (Dr. Fifield Allen) in a scarlet gown. Prebendaries of Westminster, in surplices and rich copes. The Dean of Westminster should have walked next, but, as Bishop of Rochester, he carried the Patent The Master of the Jewel-House, (Sir Richard Lyttleton, K. B.) with two of his Carrick. { Officers, both in scarlet. Pursuivants of Scotland, in tabards embroidered with the Royal Arms of Scotland. Dingwal. * Minever, or Meniver, is a fur composed of the skin of the Siberian Grey Squirrel; and is of a brown colour, with white spots. The animal from whence it is taken, is supposed, by Buffon, to be extremely rare. Meniver is derived from the French Menu Vaire. The word + The musical instrument called a Sacbut, is a species of Trumpet, but it is more commonly known by its Italian name, Trombone: it is intended for playing the base, or lower parts, only. The Double Courtal, or Curtail, is also a base instrument, and signifies a short Bassoon. G |