rare to find a courtier unacquainted with any language but his own. The
ladies studied Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian. The more
elderly among them exercised themselves, some with the needle, some with
caul-work, (probably netting,) divers in spinning silk; some in
continual reading, either of the Holy Scriptures, or of histories either
of their own or foreign countries; divers in writing volumes of their
own, or translating the works of others into Latin or English: whilst
the younger ones, in the meantime, applied to their lutes, citharmes,
pricksong, and all kinds of music. Many of the more ancient, were also
skilful in surgery and distillation of waters, besides sundry artificial
practices pertaining to the ornature and commendation of their bodies.
This,’ adds our author, ‘I will generally say of them all, that, as each
of them are cunning in something whereby they keep themselves occupied
in the court; there is, in manner, none of them, but when they be at
home, can help to supply the ordinary want of the kitchen, with a number
of delicate dishes of their own contriving: wherein the portingal is
their chief counsellor, as some of them are most commonly with the clerk
of the kitchen, &c.’
“‘Every office at court,’ says the same author, (Holinshed,) ‘had a
Bible, or the book of the Acts and Monuments of the Church of England,
or both; besides some histories and chronicles lying therein, for the
exercise of such as come into the same.’”
Mrs. Spencer smiled and said, that the praise bestowed upon the ladies
of Elizabeth’s reign, was no small commendation. Learned, accomplished,
and domestic, they seemed the very acmé of excellence.
The bell now announced company. Susan and Ann quitted the gallery with
reluctance; and not before they had obtained a promise from Mr. Wilmot,
that they should visit it on the following day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAP. V.
----------
“PERHAPS you would have the kindness, Sir,” said Mrs. Spencer, as she
sat at work with her daughters, “to resume the conversation, which was
interrupted this morning, and in which we were much interested. I
observed written, under a painting in the gallery, ‘Funeral of Henry the
Seventh;’ and as it was previous to the reformation, and consequently
attended with some ceremonies fallen into disuse in a Protestant realm,
I have no doubt we should be much interested in the recital.”
Mr. Wilmot waited not for a second request, but began as follows:
“After all things necessary for the interment and funeral pomp of the
late king were sumptuously prepared and done, the corpse of the deceased
was brought out of his privy-chamber, where it had rested three days;
and every day had three dirges, and masses sung by a mitred prelate.
[Illustration:
Page 83.
Page 87.]
“From thence it was conveyed into the hall, where it also remained three
days, and where a similar service was performed: the same ceremony was
observed, for the like space of time, when it was moved into the chapel.
In each of these places was a hearse of wax, garnished with banners,
attended by nine mourners, who daily made their offerings. Every place
where the procession stopped, was hung with black.
“Upon Wednesday, the ninth of May, the corpse was put into a chariot,
covered with black cloth of gold, drawn with five coursers, covered with
black velvet, garnished with cushions of fine gold; and over the corpse
was an image or representation of the late king, apparelled in his rich
robes of state, the crown on his head, and the ball and sceptre in his
hands, laid on cushions of gold. The chariot was ornamented with
banners, scutcheons, and arms, descriptive of the monarch’s titles,
dominions, and genealogies.
“The king’s chaplain, and a number of prelates, led the way, praying.
Then came the king’s servants in black, followed by the chariot,
attended by nine mourners, and lighted by torches, amounting to the
number of six hundred, which were carried on either side. In this order
they proceeded from Richmond to St. George’s Fields. Here they were met
by all the religious men, priests, clerks, &c. within and without the
city, who took the lead. The mayor and his brethren, with many of the
common council, met the corpse at London Bridge, and escorted it through
the city.
“Long torches, placed on each side of the street, with young children
standing on stalls, bearing tapers, lent to this funeral pomp additional
solemnity; illuminating, with their flickering beams, the remains of him
who had paid the debt of mortality, common alike to potentates and
subjects.
“Arrived at St. Paul’s, the body was taken out, and conveyed into the
choir, where it was placed under a hearse of wax, garnished as before;
whilst a solemn dirge was sung, and a sermon preached on the occasion,
by the bishop of Rochester.
“Here it rested for the night, and on the following day was removed
towards Westminster; Sir Edward Howard bearing the king’s banner, on a
courser, trapped in the arms of the deceased monarch. In Westminster was
a curious hearse, composed of nine ‘principals[7], all full of lights,’
which were lighted at the coming of the corpse.
Footnote 7:
Principals, in architecture, are corner-posts, which are fixed into
the ground-plates below, and into the roof.
“Six lords bore the coffin from the chariot, and placed it under the
hearse, the image lying on the cushion, on a large pall of gold. The
hearse was double-railed. Within the first rail sat the mourners; and
within the second partition stood knights, bearing banners of saints;
and without the same stood officers of arms.
“When the mourners were placed in order, garter king-at-arms cried, ‘For
the soul of the noble prince, king Henry the Seventh, lately king of
this realm;’ and immediately the choir began ‘_plecabo_,’ and a dirge
was sung; which being finished, the mourners departed, and, after taking
refreshment, reposed for the night.
“On the next day three masses were solemnly sung by three bishops: at
the last was offered the king’s banner, courser, and coat-of-arms, his
sword, target, and helm. At the conclusion the mourners made their
offerings of rich palls of cloth of gold, and bauderkin, (or cloth of
gold, with figures embroidered in silk:) ‘_Libera me_’ was then sung,
and the body committed to the earth.
“At this part of the ceremony the king’s treasurer, lord steward,
chamberlain, and comptroller of the household, broke their staves and
cast them into the grave; garter king-at-arms exclaiming, with a loud
voice, ‘Vive le roi Henri le huitième, roi d’Angleterre et de France,
sire d’Irlande.’
“The obsequies ended, the party returned to the palace, where a
sumptuous feast was provided for them.”
“What a happiness it is,” said Mrs. Spencer, “that we are no longer
under the burdensome ceremonies of popery—that we are not required to
sing dirges for the dead, nor pay for masses, to deliver their souls
from an ideal purgatory.”
“It is so,” replied Mr. Wilmot. “The ensuing coronation,” he continued,
“of Henry the Eighth and Katherine, was conducted with circumstances of
extraordinary pomp; but it is not my intention to enter into a minute
description of it; and I shall only relate to you a few of the pageants
that were exhibited on the occasion, and which mark the manners of the
age. Amongst others, was a park, artificially constructed, with pales of
white and green, wherein were fallow deer; and, in the park, trees,
bushes, and ferns, very curiously constructed. The deer were hunted in
the presence of the queen and court, and afterwards presented to them.
Another device was a palace, in which was a curious fountain, and over
it a castle, surmounted with a crown imperial, with battlements of roses
and pomegranates, gilded; whilst, under and about the said castle, ran a
vine, the grapes and leaves whereof were gilded with fine gold, with
white and green lozenges strewed about the castle; and, in every
lozenge, either a rose or a pomegranate, and a sheaf or arrows; or else
the letters H. and K. in gold, with certain arches and turrets gilded,
to support the same castle; whilst, from the mouths of certain beasts,
ran white, red, and claret wine.
“Henry the Eighth was remarkably expert at the games then in practice;
such as bearing off the ring, wrestling, casting the bar, &c. Shooting,
singing, dancing, and music, seem likewise frequently to have engaged
him; and it will afford you some idea of the mixture of simplicity and
ostentation of the age, when I tell you, that, in the second year of his
reign, he rose early on _May-day_, to gather hawthorn and green boughs.
Richly dressed himself, and, accompanied by his knights, squires,
yeomen, and guard, arrayed in white satin and sarcenet, with bows and
arrows, he went shooting into the wood; and returned again to court,
every man wearing a green bough in his cap. These rural festivities seem
often to have been repeated, and accompanied with more or less
splendour. Nor could the royal party have had far to ride, ere they
could procure those symbols of the beautiful month they were about to
commemorate. For it was only late in the preceding reign, that the
gardens, which had been continued, time out of mind, without Moorgate,
now called Moorfields, were destroyed, and a plain field made of them,
for archers to shoot in. And a few years after the excursion of the
youthful monarch, which I have just mentioned, the citizens of London,
disliking the enclosures of the common fields about Islington,
Shoreditch, Hoxton, and other places near the city, whereby they could
not be suffered to exercise their bows, nor other popular games, as they
had before been accustomed to, assembled themselves one morning, and
went with spades and shovels into the said fields, and there worked so
diligently, that all the hedges about town were cast down, and the
ditches filled.”
[Illustration:
Page 88.
Page 92.]
“Another _May morning_ was celebrated with far more variety than that
before mentioned. The court lying at Greenwich, the royal party rode out
for an airing. Passing by Shooter’s-hill, they observed a company of
yeomen, amounting to about two hundred, clad in green, with hoods of the
same colour. One of them, calling himself Robin Hood, stepped forwards,
and addressing the king, begged permission to shoot before the
sovereign. The request being of course granted, he whistled, and
instantly the whole band discharged their arrows at once. A second
signal called forth a similar proof of skill. These arrows, it seems,
whistled as they flew, in consequence of some ingenious contrivance in
the head; and the noise was so singular and great, that the illustrious
spectators, and their train, expressed both astonishment and delight.
“Robin Hood then requested the company of the distinguished party into
the green wood, that they might see how outlaws fared. And the horns
were blown, until they came to a wood under Shooter’s-hill, where they
found an arbour, composed of boughs, with a hall, a great and an inner
chamber, very well made, and covered with flowers and sweet herbs. Robin
Hood then addressed the king in these words: ‘Sir, outlaws’ breakfast is
venison, and therefore you must be content with such fare as we use.’
Upon which Henry and his consort seated themselves, and were served with
venison and wine, to their mutual gratification.
“On their return they were met by two ladies, in a rich chariot, drawn
by five horses: a lady was seated on each steed, and they bore on their
heads inscriptions, allegorically representing the peculiar attributes
of the season; whilst lady May and lady Flora, splendidly attired, sat
in the carriage, saluting the king with songs, until he arrived at
Greenwich. A great concourse of people were assembled to view this
celebration of the day, and appear to have entered fully into the
amusement.”
“There is something extremely interesting,” said Mrs. Spencer, “in the
sovereign of a great people thus affording himself and his subjects a
simple and even elegant recreation.”
“Nor was Christmas a season of less festivity,” continued Mr. Wilmot.
“Warlike knights and ‘peerless dames,’ issuing from castles, erected in
the royal halls, with sham fights, music, and dancing, seem to have
constituted a prominent feature of entertainment. One of these pageants,
exhibited at Greenwich, on Twelfth-night, was an artificial garden,
called the garden of ‘Esperance.’ This garden was towered at every
corner, and railed with gilt rails; whilst the banks were adorned with
artificial flowers, composed of silver and gold, with green satin
leaves. In the midst of the garden stood a pillar of antique work of
gold, set with pearls and stones; and on the top of this pillar was an
arch, crowned with gold, in which was placed a bush of white and red
roses, and a bush of pomegranates, both made of silk and gold. Six
knights, with an equal number of ladies, descended from this fanciful
parterre, who, after dancing many dances, stepped up again into it, and
were wheeled out of the room. The whole, as usual, concluded with a
banquet.
“The birth of Henry’s first son, who died in his infancy, was celebrated
with even more than usual gaiety. But it would be fatiguing, both to you
and to me, were I to relate to you the almost endless devices
enumerated; though, as you have probably heard of the ancient _jousts_,
or combats on horseback, which were a favourite diversion with our
forefathers, I shall give you an account of one, in order that you may
be able to form some idea of this species of recreation.
“On this occasion it commenced with a forest, in which were interspersed
rocks, hills, and dales, with a variety of trees and flowers, hawthorn,
fern, and grass, composed of green velvet, damask, satin, and sarcenet,
of a variety of colours. Within the wood were seen six foresters,
attired in green, and by their sides lay a number of spears. In the
middle stood a golden castle, before the gate of which was a gentleman,
gaily dressed, wreathing a garland of roses for the prize. This pageant
appeared to be drawn by a lion and an antelope. The lion was covered
with damask gold, and the antelope wrought all over with silver damask,
his tusks and horns gilt.
“These animals were led by men, attired so as to represent wild men, or,
as they were styled, ‘woodhouses:’ their heads, faces, hands, legs, and
whole body being covered with green flossed silk. On either side of the
lion and unicorn, sat a lady in splendid attire; whilst the beasts were
tied to the car with huge golden chains. When the pageant rested before
the queen, the foresters blew their horns, and the device opening,
disclosed four knights completely armed, bearing magnificent plumes on
their heads, and spears in their hands; the housing of their horses, on
which were embroidered their names, being composed of gold. To combat
with these, a swell of trumpets and drums announced on the field the
entrance of the earl of Essex and the lord Thomas Howard, with their
friends, and a gallant train, well armed; the trappings and bases of
their horses being composed of crimson satin, embroidered with branches
of pomegranates of gold and posies. After the usual display of feats of
address and skill, the jousts, for that day, were closed.
“On the morrow, after dinner, they were re-renewed, with this difference
in their attire, that the noblemen and their hordes wore cloth of gold
and russet tinsel: the knights, cloth of gold and russet velvet: the
gentlemen on foot, russet satin and yellow; and the yeomen, russet
damask and yellow; all of them garnished with scarlet hose and yellow
caps.
“The entrance of the king, under a pavilion of cloth of gold and purple
velvet, sumptuously embroidered, with a superb plume glittering with
spangles of gold, and his three aids or supporters, each under a
pavilion of crimson and purple damask, studded with their sovereign’s
initials in gold, gave an additional splendour to this day’s
entertainments.
“Gentlemen and yeomen, to the number of one hundred and sixty-eight,
attired in their peculiar colours, and twelve children on horseback,
each differing from the other, but all richly dressed, were ranked on
this side of the lists. The opposite party were preceded by Sir Charles
Brandon, habited as a recluse, in a long robe of russet satin, and
unattended by music, bearing a petition to the queen, to licence him to
run in her presence. Assent was, of course, granted; when he was
instantly armed cap-à-piè[8], and, crossing the tilt-yard at full
gallop, was received by a company in russet satin, who awaited him.
Footnote 8:
Cap-à-piè, from head to foot.
“Alone came young Henry Guildford; himself and horse clad in his
squire’s robe of russet cloth of gold, and cloth of silver, closed in a
device or pageant, made like a castle or a turret, wrought of russet
Florence satin sarcenet, set out in gold, with his word or posie. He
also demanded leave of the queen to run; which being granted, he took
his place at the tilt end. A number of his servants, dressed in his
colours, russet, satin, and white, with hose of like colour, then made
their appearance, and followed their master.
[Illustration:
Page 94.
Page 95.]
“The marquis of Dorset, and Sir Thomas Bullen, clothed as pilgrims, from
St. James’s, in tabards of black velvet, with palmers’ hats on their
helmets, and with long Jacob’s staves in their hands, followed. Their
horses’ trappings were of black velvet; and these, together with their
own dresses, were strewed with scallop-shells. Their servants also wore
black satin, with scallop-shells of gold on their breasts.
“They were, soon afterwards, succeeded by lord Henry Buckingham, earl of
Wiltshire, himself and his horse apparelled in cloth of silver,
embroidered with his posy or word, and arrows of gold, in a posy,
called, “La maison de refuge,” made of crimson damask, bordered with
roses and arrows of gold; on the top, a greyhound of silver, bearing a
pomegranate of gold, the branches whereof were so large, that they
overspread the whole pageant. Sir Giles Capell, Sir Rowland, with many
other knights richly armed and accoutred, entered also on this side of
the lists.
“When all was ready, the trumpets sounded a flourish, and the combatants
rushed together. Adroitness and skill in unlacing the antagonist’s
helmet, and in unhorsing him, seem to have formed a prominent part of
these martial exercises, in which the king and his aids were, as usual,
distinguished, and to whom, on this occasion, the prize was adjudged.
“I shall close this account with the description of one more pageant,
running upon wheels, which was introduced at this period, and which, to
use the words of Holinshed, was ‘curiously made, and pleasant to behold,
being solemn and rich; for every post thereof was covered with friezed
gold, wherein were trees of hawthorn, eglantine, roses, vines, and other
pleasant flowers of divers colours, with gilly-flowers, and other herbs,
all made of satin, damask, silver, and gold, according as the natural
trees, herbs, and flowers ought to be.’
“These festivals were soon followed by the death of the young prince,
who expired on the twenty-second of February, at Richmond, and was
buried at Westminster.”
“Nothing,” said Mrs. Spencer, “marks more distinctly the progress of
national taste, than its public amusements. England, at the time you
have been speaking of, was gradually emerging from her rusticity; and
the ludicrous mixture displayed in the pageants exhibited, of refinement
and grossness, prove that the luminous era which was to follow, was but
just dawning upon her. But put up your work, my dears: tea is waiting,
and Mr. Wilmot appears exhausted.”
[Illustration:
Page 97.
Page 110.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAP. VI.
----------
“THIS is a splendid painting, Sir,” said Mrs. Spencer, as she this
morning stopped to admire a picture that hung at the entrance of the
gallery: “from the magnificence attending it, I should suppose it
represented a royal baptism.”
“You are quite right, my dear madam,” answered Mr. Wilmot. “It is the
christening of no less a personage than our illustrious queen Elizabeth;
and, as a singular chain of events befel most of the individuals present
at it, I think I cannot commence this day’s entertainment with a more
interesting relation.
“At one o’clock in the afternoon, the lord mayor, Sir Stephen Peacock,
in a gown of crimson satin, adorned with his chain, and with the
aldermen in scarlet robes, ornamented with their golden collars, took
boat for Greenwich, where they found many lords, knights, and gentlemen
assembled. The whole way from the palace to the Friars, was strewn with
green rushes, and the walls were hung with tapestry, as was the Friars’
church, in which the ceremony was performed.
“A silver font, covered with crimson satin fringed with gold, stood in
the midst of the church; and round it were arranged several gentlemen,
with aprons and towels round their necks. All things being arranged, the
procession set forth. It began with citizens walking two and two; then
gentlemen, ’squires, and chaplains; then the aldermen and the mayor
alone; and, following these, the king’s council and chaplain in copes;
and, lastly, barons, bishops, and earls.
“The gilt basin was carried by Henry, earl of Essex. This nobleman
perished, a few years afterwards, by a fall from his horse. He was alike
distinguished for his magnificence, and the part he bore in tilt and
tourney. Sprung from a royal lineage, being descended from Thomas of
Woodstock, youngest son of Edward the Third, his high connexion must
have rendered him occasionally fearful lest they should involve him in
the same fatal catastrophe with that which the duke of Buckingham had so
lately suffered. But his premature death, whilst it placed him beyond
the reach of caprice, left his title at the disposal of the monarch,
who, much to the mortification of this illustrious family, bestowed it
on his favourite, the low-bred Cromwell.
“The salt was borne by Henry, marquis of Dorset, the father of lady Jane
Grey, who, after receiving the royal pardon for his share in the
criminal enterprize for placing the crown on the head of his ill-fated
and gentle daughter, joined the rebellion of Wyatt, and finally
forfeited his life on the scaffold.
“William Courtnay, marquis of Exeter, followed, bearing the taper of
virgin wax. This nobleman had the misfortune to be very nearly allied to
the English throne, his mother being a daughter of Edward the Fourth. He
was, at this period, highly distinguished by the king’s favour, who had
even declared his intention of making him heir apparent, in preference
to his own sisters, and his daughter Mary. The divorce from Catherine
had, indeed, by proclaiming the latter illegitimate, rendered her
incapable of succeeding to the throne. But, three years afterwards, he
fell a victim to the jealousy of the fickle monarch, on a charge of
corresponding with his proscribed cousin, cardinal Pole; and his honours
and estates were not only forfeited, but his son, though quite a child,
was immured in close custody.
“The chrism, which was very rich, being made of pearl and stone, was
carried by the beautiful lady Mary Howard, daughter of the duke of
Norfolk. She also furnished another illustration of the remark I
commenced with; for she lived not only to witness, but, by the evidence
she gave on his trial, to assist in the unjust condemnation of her
illustrious brother, the earl of Surry, whose talents, and whose
gallantry, still adorn the annals of English history. This lady,
descended from our Saxon monarchs, Henry bestowed upon his base-born
son, created duke of Richmond; an insult, which, in other reigns, the
Howards would have resented as it deserved.