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 Aldermen of London.

Masters in Chancery.
Serjeants at Law.

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.
Barons, four abreast.
Bishops, four abreast.

Two Pursuivants at Arms.

Viscountesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand.
Viscounts, four abreast.
Two Heralds.

Marchionesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand.
Marquisses, four abreast.
Two Heralds.

Duchesses, four abreast, the youngest on the left hand.
Dukes, four abreast.

Norroy King at Arms.
Lord Privy Seal.
First Lord of the Treasury.
Lord High Chancellor.

Clarencieux King at Arms. Lord President of the Council. Archbishop of York. Archbishop of Canterbury.

Serjeants at Arms.

Gentleman Usher.

Garter King at Arms.

Lord High Steward, with his white staff.
THE SOVEREIGN,

His Train borne by six Eldest Sons of Peers.
Master of the Robes.

Captain of the Horse in Waiting.
Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.

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 at arms. 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.
Children of the Choir of Westminster, two abreast.
Children of the Chapel Royal.

Choir of Westminster.
Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.

Confessor and Subdean.

Pursuivants at Arms, two abreast.

Heralds at Arms.

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.
A Prebendary, bearing the Sceptre with the Dove.
A Prebendary, bearing the Sceptre with the Cross.
A Prebendary, bearing St. Edward's Staff.

And, if there be a Queen Consort,

A Prebendary, bearing the Queen's Crown.
A Prebendary, bearing the Sceptre with the Cross.
A Prebendary, bearing the Ivory Rod.

After which,

A Prebendary, bearing the Bible.
A Prebendary, bearing the Chalice.
A Prebendary, bearing the Paten.

The remaining Prebendaries, two and two, the seniors first.

In their progress up the Hall they make three

obeisances; at the last the choirs and officers at arms divide to the right and left, and the dean, advancing, delivers the crown to the lord high constable, and he to the lord high chamberlain, by whom it is laid on the table before the sovereign. The other regalia are delivered by the prebendaries to the dean, and are then presented in the same manner as the crown; after which the dean and prebendaries retire to the places reserved for them at the lower end of the Hall.

Garter king at arms summons the several noblemen appointed to carry the regalia during the procession, the first of whom, advancing to the table, receives St. Edward's staff from the lord chamberlain, and so with the other Regalia, in the reverse order of the procession, until St. Edward's crown is delivered last to the lord high steward, who carries it during the procession, his wand and coronet being borne by two gentlemen. The queen's regalia are then similarly distributed; after which the chalice, paten, and Bible are delivered to bishops.

In ancient times, when the lord chancellor was usually an ecclesiastic, he, if he had attained episcopal dignity, was entitled to bear the holy vessels to the altar. In some of the ceremonials, a rich box of relics, covered over with cloth of gold, was borne instead of the Bible.

Lastly, the bishops of Durham and Bath are summoned to support the sovereign; and, if there be a queen-consort, two other bishops (usually the bishops of London and Winchester,) are summoned to support her.