Coronation Anecdotes Part 10

_In the Lobby between the {The Kings, Heralds, and House of Lords and the { Pursuivants of Arms.

Painted Chamber_

_In Westminster Hall, at the {Sixteen Barons of the lower end, near the great { Cinque Ports.

north door_

_In Westminster Hall, near {The Knight Marshall and the north door_ { his two Officers.

_In Westminster Hall, at the {His Majesty's Band.

lower end_

_Without the north door of {All who are to precede the Westminster Hall_ { Knight Marshal in the { procession.

His Majesty was, during these preliminary arrangements, in his chamber, near the south entrance into Westminster Hall.

The peers were then called over in the House of Lords by deputy Garter; and proceeded to the Hall, where the other persons appointed to walk in the procession had been previously marshalled on the right and left by the officers of arms; leaving an open pa.s.sage in the middle, so that the procession with the regalia might pa.s.s uninterruptedly up the Hall.

His Majesty, preceded by the great officers of state, entered the Hall a few minutes after ten, and took his seat in the chair of state at the table, when a gun was fired. The deputy lord great chamberlain, the lord high constable, and the deputy earl marshal, ascended the steps, and placed themselves at the outer side of the table.

The lord high steward, the great officers, deputy Garter, and black rod, arranged themselves near the chair of state; the royal train-bearers on each side of the throne.

The lord chamberlain, a.s.sisted by officers of the Jewel-office, then brought the sword of state to the lord high constable, who delivered it to the deputy lord great chamberlain, by whom it was laid upon the table; then Curtana, or the sword of mercy, with the two swords of justice, being in like manner presented, were drawn from their scabbards by the deputy lord great chamberlain, and laid on the table before his Majesty; after which the gold spurs were delivered, and also placed on the table. Immediately after, a procession, consisting of the dean and prebendaries of Westminster, in their surplices and rich copes, proceeded up the Hall, from the lower end thereof, in manner following:--

_Procession with, and Delivery of, the Regalia._

Serjeant of the Vestry, in a scarlet mantle.

Children of the King's Chapel, in scarlet mantles, four abreast.

Children of the Choir of Westminster, in surplices, four abreast.

Gentlemen of the King's Chapel, in scarlet mantles, four abreast.

Choir of Westminster, in surplices, four abreast.

Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal.

Two Pursuivants of Arms.

Two Heralds.

The two provincial Kings of Arms.

The Dean of Westminster, carrying St. Edward's Crown on a cus.h.i.+on of cloth of gold.

First Prebendary of Westminster, carrying the Orb.

Second Prebendary, carrying the Sceptre with the Dove.

Third Prebendary, carrying the Sceptre with the Cross.

Fourth Prebendary, carrying St. Edward's Staff.

Fifth Prebendary, carrying the Chalice and Patina.

Sixth Prebendary, carrying the Bible.

In this procession they made their reverences, first at the lower end of the Hall, secondly about the middle, where both the Choirs opening to the right and left a pa.s.sage, through which the officers of arms pa.s.sing opened likewise on each side, the seniors placing themselves nearest towards the steps: then the dean and prebendaries having come to the front of the steps, made their third reverence. This being done, the dean and prebendaries being come to the foot of the steps, deputy Garter preceding them (he having waited their coming there), ascended the steps, and approaching near the table before the King, made their last reverence. The dean then presented the crown to the lord high constable, who delivered it to the deputy lord great chamberlain, and it was by him placed on the table before the King. The rest of the regalia was severally delivered by each prebendary, on his knee, to the dean, by him to the lord high constable, by him to the deputy lord great chamberlain, and by him laid on the table. The regalia being thus delivered, the prebendaries and dean returned to the middle of the hall. His Majesty having commanded deputy Garter to summon the n.o.blemen and bishops who were to bear the regalia, the deputy lord great chamberlain, then taking up the several swords, sceptres, the orb, and crown, placed them in the hands of those by whom they were to be carried.

I. St. Edward's staff, by the Marquess of Salisbury.

II. The spurs, by Lord Calthorpe, as deputy to the Baroness Grey de Ruthyn.

III. The sceptre with the cross, by the Marquess Wellesley.

IV. The pointed sword of temporal justice, by the Earl of Galloway.

V. The pointed sword of spiritual justice, by the Duke of Northumberland.

VI. Curtana, or sword of mercy, by the Duke of Newcastle.

VII. The sword of state, by the Duke of Dorset.

VIII. The sceptre with the dove, by the Duke of Rutland.

IX. The orb, by the Duke of Devons.h.i.+re.

X. St. Edward's crown, by the Marquess of Anglesey, as lord high steward.

XI. The patina, by the Bishop of Gloucester.

XII. The chalice, by the Bishop of Chester.

XIII. The Bible, by the Bishop of Ely.

The two bishops who are to support his Majesty were then summoned by deputy Garter, and, ascending the steps, placed themselves on each side of the king.

PROCESSION TO THE ABBEY.

The second gun was then fired, and the procession moved upon the blue cloth spread on the platform from the throne in Westminster Hall to the great steps in the Abbey church; the following anthem, "O Lord, grant the king a long life," &c. being sung in parts, in succession, with his Majesty's band playing, the sounding of trumpets, and the beating of drums, until the arrival in the Abbey.

Order.

The King's Herb-woman with her six Maids, strewing the way with herbs.

Messenger of the College of Arms, in a scarlet cloak, with the arms of the College embroidered on the left shoulder.

The Dean's Beadle of Westminster, with his staff.

The High Constable of Westminster, with his staff, in a scarlet cloak.

Two Household Fifes with banners of velvet fringed with gold, and five Household Drummers in royal livery, drum-covers of crimson velvet, laced and fringed with gold.

The Drum-Major, in a rich livery, and a crimson scarf fringed with gold.

Eight Trumpets in rich liveries: banners of crimson damask embroidered and fringed with gold, to the silver trumpets.