King James I. and his queen arrived in Scotland on Old May-day, 1590, it
being then according to the old style the first day of May, in order to
be at the queen’s coronation. The entry and coronation were conducted
with great ceremony; the pageant on the latter occasion is an example of
splendid dramatic effect, which in this country no longer prevails on
such occasions. According to the account printed at London, in black
letter, A. D. 1590, these are the particulars:--
“The King arrived at Lyeth the first day of May, anno 1590, with the
Queene his wife and his traine in thirteene shippes, accompanied with
_Peter Munck_, Admirall of Denmarke, one of the Regentes of the King,
_Steven Brave_, a Danish Lorde, and sundry other the Lordes of the same
countrey, where at theyr arrivall they were welcommed by the Duke of
_Lenox_, the Earle _Bothwell_, and sundry other the Scottish Nobility.
At their landing, one M. James Elpheston, a Senator of the Colledge of
Justice, with a Latine oration welcommed them into the countrey, which
done, the King went on to the church of Lyeth, where they had a sermon
preached by Maister _Patrick Gallowey_, in English, importing a
thanksgiving for their safe arrivall, and so they departed to their
lodging, where they expected the comming in of the rest of the nobility,
together with such preparation as was to bee provided in Edinborough and
the Abbey of the Holy Rood House.
“This performed, and the nobility joyning to the township of
Edinborough, they receaved the King and Queene from the town of Lyeth,
the King riding before, and the Queene behind him in her chariot, with
her maides of honor on ech side of her Majesties one. Her chariot was
drawne with eight horses, capparisoned in velvet, imbrodred with silver
and gold, very rich, her highnesse maister of her householde, and other
Danish ladies on the one side, and the Lorde _Hamilton_ on the other,
together with the rest of the nobility, and after her chariot followed
the Lorde Chancelours wife, the Lady _Bothwell_, and other the ladies,
with the burgesses of the towne and others round about her, as of
Edinborough, of Lyeth, of Fishrow, of Middleborow, of Preston, of
Dalkith, &c. all the inhabitants being in armour, and giving a volle of
shotte to the King and Queene in their passage, in joy of their safe
arrivall. In this manner they passed to the Abbey of Holy Roode House,
where they remained until the seaventeenth of May, upon which day the
Queene was crowned in the said Abbey Church, after the sermon was ended
by Maister _Robert Bruce_ and M. _David Linsey_, with great triumphes.
The coronation ended, she was conveide to her chamber, being led by the
Lord Chancelour, on the one side and the Embassador of Englande on the
other, sixe ladies bearing uppe her traine, having going before her
twelve heraultes in their coates of armes, and sundrye trumpets still
sounding. The Earle of Angus bare the sworde of honor, the L. Hamilton
the scepter, and the Duke of Lenox the crowne. Thus was that day spent
in joy and mirth. Uppon Tuesday the nineteenth of May, her Majesty made
her entry into Edinborough in her chariot, with the Lordes and Nobility
giving their attendance, among the which ther were sixe and thirty Danes
on horsebacke with foote clothes, every of them being accompanied with
some Scottish Lorde or Knight, and all the ladies following the chariot.
At her comming to the South side of the yardes of the Canogit, along the
parke wall, being in sight of the Castle, they gave her thence a great
volle of shotte, with their banners and auncientes displaied upon the
walles. Thence shee came to the West port, under the which her highnesse
staied, and had an oration to welcome her to the towne, uttered in
Latine by one maister _John Russell_, who was thereto appointed by the
towneshippe, whose sonne also being placed uppon the toppe of the
portehead, and was let downe by a devise made in a globe, which being
come somewhat over her Majesties heade, opened at the toppe into foure
quarters, where the childe appearing in the resemblance of an angell
delivered her the keyes of the towne in silver, which done, the quarters
closed, and the globe was taken uppe agayne, so as the childe was no
more seene there. Shee had also a canapie of purple velvet, embrodered
with gold, carried over her by sixe ancient townes-men. There were also
three score young men of the towne lyke Moores, and clothed in cloth of
silver, with chaines about their neckes, and bracelets about their
armes, set with diamonds and other precious stones, verie gorgeous to
the eie, who went before the chariot betwixt the horsemen and it, everie
one with a white staffe in his hande to keepe off the throng of people,
where also rid the Provost and Baileefes of the towne with foote clothes
to keepe the people in good order, with most of the inhabitants in their
best araie to doe the like. In this order her Grace passed on the Bow
street, where was erected a table, whereupon stood a globe of the whole
worlde, with a boy sitting therby, who represented the person of a King,
and made her an oration, which done, she went up the Bowe, wher were
cast forth a number of banketing dishes as they came by, and comming to
the butter trone, there were placed nine maidens bravely arraied in
cloth of silver and gold, representing the nine Muses, who sung verie
sweete musicke, where a brave youth played upon the organs, which
accorded excellentlie with the singing of their psalmes, whereat her
Majestie staied awhile, and thence passed downe through the high gate of
Edinborough, which was all decked with tapistry from the top to the
bottom: at her Graces comming to the Tolboth, there stood on high the
four vertues, as first, Justice with the ballance in one hand, and the
sword of justice in the other; then Temperance, having in the one hand a
cup of wine, and in the other hand a cup of water; Prudence, holding in
her hand a serpent and a dove, declaring that men ought to bee as wise
as the serpent to prevent mischief, but as simple as a dove eyther in
wrath or malice. The last is Fortitude, who held a broken piller in her
hand, representing the strength of a kingdome.
“Thus shee passed on to the crosse, uppon the toppe whereof shee had a
psalm sung in verie good musicke before her comming to the churche,
whiche done, her Majestie came forth of her chariot, and was conveied
unto S. Giles Church, where she heard a sermon preached by M. _Robert
Bruce_. That ended, with praiers for her highnesse, shee was conveied
againe to her chariot. Against her comming forth, there stood upon the
top of the crosse a table covered, whereupon stood cups of gold and
silver full of wine, with the goddess of Corne and Wine sitting thereat,
and the corne on heapes by her, who in Latine cried that there should be
plentie thereof in her time, and on the side of the crosse sate the God
_Bacchus_ upon a punchion of wine, drinking and casting it by cups full
upon the people, besides other of the townsmen that cast apples and nuts
among them, and the crosse itself ranne claret wine upon the caulsway
for the royaltie of that daie. Thence her Grace rode downe the gate to
the sault trone, whereupon sate all the Kings heretofore of Scotland,
one of them lying along at their feete, as if he had bene sick, whom
certain souldiers seemed to awake at her Majesties comming; whereupon he
arose and made her an oration in Latine. Which ended, she passed down to
the neather bow, which was beautified with the marage of a King and his
Queene, with all their nobilitie about them, among whom at her highness
presence there arose a youth who applied the same to the marriage of
the King and herselfe, and so blessed that marriage. Which done, there
was let downe unto her from the top of the porte in a silke string a box
covered with purple velvet, whereupon was embrodered an A. for _Anna_
(her Majesties name) set with diamonds and precious stones, esteemed at
twentie thousand crownes, which the townshippe gave for a present to her
highness; and then, after singing of some psalmes with very good
musicke, her Grace departed to the Abbey for that night.”
* * * * *
1778. William Pitt, the great earl of Chatham, died in the House of
Lords, aged 70 years.
1782. Richard Wilson, the eminent English landscape painter, died,
neglected, at the age of 68 years; for in his lifetime his labours were
unappreciated. He was accustomed to say, that posterity would do him
justice; and now his pictures produce astonishing sums.
* * * * *