THE CORONATION

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXV, 21 June 1902, Page 1257

THE CORONATION

ENGLAND'S KINGS 9 QUEENS. AN HISTORICAL RETROSPECT, Striking Features of the Ceremony from Earliest Days,

Tn the age of the Plantagenets and Tudors, and under the Stuarts. until the coronation of James 11., it- was customary for kings to reside in the Tower of London for some time previous to the coronation. On the Saturday before the coronation the sovereign went from Westminster to the Tower of London, attended by great numbers of the nobility and eivic dignitaries, and by those squires who were to be knighted, and who watched their arms that night. Each squire had a chamber allotted him, and a bath in which he bathed. The ensuing day after mass the sovereign created them knights. After their investiture they were permitted to sit down : n the King’s presence, but during the whole time of dinner they were not allowed to partake of any part of the entertainment. The queens in their own right, Mary and Elizabeth, though they girded the swords on the knights with their own hands, did not give the accolade or blow, which is the determinate action that impresses the character of knighthood. At both coronations Henry, Earl of Arundel, performed this office. A copy of his appointment is to be found in Rymer. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. After William had taken the coronation oath, to protect the church, prohibit oppression and execute judgment in mercy, Aldred put the question, “Will ye have this prince to be your king?” The people answered with loud shouts, and the noise gave so much alarm to the Norman garrison in the city that the soldiers, believing the English to have revolted, .without waiting to make any investigation, immediately set the next houses on fire, which, spreading and giving 3 general alarm, most of the congregation rushed out of the church, the English hastening to stop the fire and the Normans to plunder. The Bishops, clergy and monks, who remained within the church, were in such confusion that they were scarce able to go through the office of crowning the King. William himself, who saw the tumult, and could not conjecture its cause, sat- trembling at the foot of the altar, and, though no great mischief was done by the fire, it laid the foundation of a long and inveterate enmity between the English and the Normans. WILLIAM 11., RUFUS. William 11. laid claim io the crown by virtue of a form of election, the nobles believing that he would be less inclined to control their usurped privileges than his elder brother. Robert. He was crowned at Westminster September 27, 1087, by Lafranc, Archbishop -of Canterbury, and the Archbishop of York. Besides swearing to observe justice, equity and mercy in all his conduct, and to maintain the peace, liberties and privileges ’of the church, he promised that he would follow the Archbishop's counsels in his administrations. HENRY I. ’ The coronation of Henry I. was performed in a hurried manner on the fourth day after the death of Rufus. In every respect the forms of his coronation were the same as those «f the Saxon Kings,

STEPHEN. The coronation of Stephen after he had sworn allegiance to the Empress Matilda was viewed with much anxiety in an age when it was supposed that the punishment of perjury was immediate and visible. The ceremony was performed by William, Archbishop of Canterbury, and it is said That a dreadful storm arose which threw all the parties into such confusion that the consecrated water fell on the ground, the kiss of peace after the sacrament, was omitted, and even the final benediction forgotten. HENRY 11. Henry was crowned at Westminster on the Sunday before Christmas Day, A.D. 1154, by Theobold, Archbishop of Canterbury. Although his hereditary right was unquestionable, he was formally elected by the clergy and people. It is said that Henry was crowned again with his Queen, A.D. 1159, but this report arose from his having worn the crown during the ceremony. RICHARD I. Duke Richard, having made all neces. pary preparations for his coronation, came to London, where he assembled the Archbishops of Canterbury, Rouen, and Tours, who had given him.ab-o ution in Normandy for waging war against his father after he had taken the cross as a crusader. First, the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbotts and clergy, wearing their square caps, and preceded by the cross and holy water bearers and deacons burning incense, went- to the door of the royal bedchamber and led the Duke in solemn procession to the great altar of the church of 'Westminster. When they reached the altar Richard swore, in the presence of the clergy and people, on the holy Gospel and the sacred relies, that he would observe • peace, honour and respect all the days of his life to God, holy church and its ordinances. His attendants then stripped him to his trousers and phirt, the latter of which was left open between the shoulders on account of the anointing. Baldwin. Archbishop of Canterbury, who wore rich buskins of cloth of gold, then anointed the King in three places, on the head, between the shoulders, and on the right arm. A consecrated linen coif and a cap of estate were then placed upon his head, and he was vested with the royal robes, the lamatic and the tunic. The Archbishop then delivered hint a sword to restrain the enemies of the church. Two earls then buckled on his spurs, and invested him with the pall of state; after which Baldvdn conjured him in the name cf God forbade him to take the crown unless he were firmly'resolved in his heart and soul to observe all the promises to which he had sworn. JOHN. John ascended the throne, to the prejudice of the hereditary rights of his nephew, Arthur, by virtue of a form of election. The Archbishops, Bishops. Earls, Bishops and others, the estates of the realm, being assembled in the church of Westminster, May 27, 1199, Hubert. Archbishop of Canterbury, addressed them in these memorable words:—

“Hear all men! It is well known to your wisdom that no man hath any

right of succession to this crown unless he be elected for his own merits by the unanimous consent of the kingdom, with invocation of the Holy Ghost, after the manner and similitude ot Saul, whom God set over his chosen people, though he was neither the son of a King nor sprung of a royal lino; and in like manner after him David, the son of Jesse; the former because he was brave and suited to the royal dignity, the latter because he was humble and pious. So that he who surpasses all within the realm in fitness for royalty should preside over all in dignity and power. But if one of the family of the deceased sovereign should excel others, his election should be the more readily and cheerfully conceded. Wherefore, as our late sovereign, Richard, died without issue of his body, and his brother, Earl John, now present, is wise, brave and manifestly noble, we, having respect both to h’s merits and his royal blood, unanimously and with one aeeord elect him to be eur sovereign.’ This was the most decisive form of election since the Conquest. HENRY 111. After the death of John, London being in possession of the French Prince Louis, an assembly of the principal authorities was convened at Winchester under the presidency of Gualo, the papal legate. They unanimously resolved that the young King should be crowned on the 28th day of October, A.D. 1216. The ceremony was performed in the cathedral of Winchester. The Papal Legate compelled Henry to do homage to the holy Roman chureh and Pope Innocent for his kingdom of England and Ireland; he also made him Swear that he would pay an annual tribute of one thousand marks to the papal see. The ceremony of coronation was repeated by Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. Early in the year 1236 Henry married the Lady Eleanor, daughter of the Earl of Provence, whose beauty is celebrated by all the chroniclers. EDWARD I. . On the 15th of August, 1274. Edward I. and his Queen, Eleanor, were crowned at Westminster by the Archbishop of Canterbury, aided by other prelates. Holinshed adds some remarkable particulars of this coronation: “At this coronation were present Alexander king of Scots, and John earle of Bretaine. with their wives that were sisters to King Edward. The king of Scots did homaga unto King Edward for the realme of Scotland, in like manner as other the kings of Scotland before him had doone to other kings of England, aneestoures to this King Edward. At the solemnitie of this coronation there were let go at libertie (catch them that catch might) five hundred great horses by the king of Scots, the carles of Cornewall, Glocester, Pembroke. Warren and others, as they were alighted from their backs.” EDWARD 11. Edward 11. and his Queen were crowned at Westminster on the 24th of February. Holinshed informs us:—> “There was such presse and throng at the coronation that a knight, called Sir John Bakewell, was thrust or crowded to death.” The Bishops were incommoded and forced to hurry through the

•ervie* t* a slovenly ■s—lrr, ud yet it was not coadnded bnfcrs 3 in the afternoon. EDWARD 111. ’ 1 On the deposition of Edward 11. his eon. Prince Edward, was brought to a general assembly of tbs nobleg and clergy in the abbey chureh at Westminster, on the 20th Jennary, 1327, a»<l Walter Reynold exhorted all present to choose the young Prince as their sovereign. All assented, but the Prince himself declared that he would not accept the crown until ft had been voluntarily resigned by his father. A remarkable coronation medal was struck on this occasion; on one side the young Prince waa represented crowned, laying his soeptre on a heap of hearts, with the motto. “Populo dat jura volenti” (He gives laws to a willing people) ; and on the other was a hand held out to save a falling crown, with the motto, “Non rapit, sed recipit" (He seizes not, but receives”), a RICHARD 111. The coronation of this king was more magnificent than any of the preceding. The procession of the King from the Tower of London is thus described by Holinshed: "The citie was adorned in all sorts most richlie. The water conduits ran with wine for the space of three hours together. In the upper end of Cheapo was a certain castell, made with foure towers; out of which castell. on two sides of it, ran forth wine abundantly. In the towers were placed four beautiful virgins, in stature and age like to the king, apparelled in white vesture. In every tower one, the which blew in the king’s face, at his approaching near to them, leaves of gold; and as he approached also they threw on him and his horse counterfeit florins of gold. When he was come before the castell they took cups of gold, and filling them with trine at the spouts of the castell, presented the same to the king and his nobles. On the top of the castell, betwixt the four towers, stood a golden angell, holding a crown in his hands, which was so contrived that when the king came he bowed down and offered to him the erowne. In the midst of the king’s pallace was a marble pillar, raised hollow upon steps, on the top whereof was a great gilt eagle placed under whose feet in the chapiter of the pillar divers kinds of wine came gushing forth at foure several places all the daie long; neither was anie forbidden to receive the same, were he never so poor or ablest." HENRY IV. ’I Henry IV. was crowned by Archbishop Fitzalan on the I3th of October, 1399, and on this occasion the ampulla was first employed. After Henry had gone to the Tower he created forty-six Knights of the Bath, among whom were three of his own sons. The procession from the Tower to Westminster was unusually splendid, no less than six thousand horses having been employed for the occasion. Froissart gives the following account of Henry IV.’s procession: “The duke of Lancaster left the Tower this Sunday after dinner on his return to Westminster. He was bare-headed and had round his neck the order of the king of France. The prince of Wales, six dukes, six earls, eighteen barons, accompanied him, and there were of knights and other nobility from eight to nine hundred horse in the procession. He passed through the streets of London, which were all handsomely decorated with tapestries and other rich hangings; there were nine fountains in Cheapside and other streets he passed through that ran perpetually with white and red wines. The whole cavalcade amounted to six thousand horse, that escorted the duke from the Tower to Westminster.” HENRY V. ’ Henry V. was crowned on the 9th of April, 1413. Katherine of France, the Queen of Henry V., was crowned on the 24th of February, 1420. The account which Holinshed gives of the magnificence displayed upon this occasion is far too characteristic of the age to be omitted: “After the great solemnization of the foresaid coronation in the chureh of St. Peter’s, at Westminster, was etidedj the queene was conveied into the great Hall of Westminster, and there/set to dinner. Upon whose right hand sat, at the end of the table, the Archbishop

Vt Canterbury and Hearts ftuThamed tike Rich, cardinal! of Winchester. Upon the left hand of the queene sat the king of 8eot» in his estate, who wap served with covered masse, as were the foreaaid bishops, hut yet after them. Upon the left hand, next to the cupboard, sat the raalor and his brethren. the aidermen of London. The bishops begun the table, against the barons of tie Cinque Porta; and the ladles against the maior. These, with others, ordered the service, and, for the first course, brawns in mustard, eels in burneur, pike in herbage, fuiment with ballon, lamprie powdered, trout, codling, plaice fried, martine fried, crabs, leech lumbard flourished tartes, and a device called a pelican, sitting on hir nest with hlr birds and an image of St. Katherine holding a booke and disputing with doctors. “The second course was. gcllie coloured with columbine flowers, white po'age or creame of almonds, breame of the nea, conger,’ cheuen, barbill, and roch, fresh salmon, haliba, gurnard, rochet broilee, smelts fried, crevis, or lobster, leech-damaske, with the king’s poesle flourished thereon. “The third course was. dates in compost, creame motle, carpe deore, turbut, tench perch with goion, fresh turgion with welks, porperous rested, crevesse de eau doure, branis, eels rested with lamprie, a leech, called the white leech, flourished with hawthorne leaves end red hawes; a marchpane garnished with diverse figures of angels. - ' HENRY VI. Henry VI. was crowned at. Westminster, November 6. 1429, being then only In the ninth year of his age. The coronation feast was celebrated at Westminster with great splendour. In the first course, Fabian tells us, there were, among other royal viands. “Bore hedes in castellys of gold and enarmed.” “Custard myall, with a lyoparj of gold syttyng therein, and holding a fionre da lyee.” The pageant for this course was “A sotyltie of Seynt Bdwarde and Beynt Lowys armed, and upon eyther his cote armoure, holdyng atwene them a figure lyke unto Kynge Henry, standynge also in his cote armonre, and a scripture passynge from them both, saying, ‘Beholde II perfyght kynges under one cote or armour.' ” EDWARD IV. The monarch had his title confirmed by the forms of a popular election. Immediately after his victory over Henry VI. he eame to London and returned thanks to God at St. Paul’s Church. He was then conducted in solemn procession to Westminster and placed on the King's Bench, in the Hall, which was filled with people. It was then demanded of the Commons whether they would accept this Prince to be tbeir sovereign, to which all assented. He was crowned by Archbishop Bouchier, June 29, 1461. EDWARD V. Preparations were made for the coronation of Edward V.. but the Barons and Commons refused to accept any of the late King’s sons as their sovereign, and tendered the crown to Richard, Duke of Gloucester. RICHARD 111. Richard 111. and his Queen, Anne, daughter to the Earl of Warwick, were crowned on the Sth of July, 1483, “with the selfe same provisions,” says Grafton, “that was appointed for the coronation of his nephew.” The King and Queen received the sacrament from the hands of the Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury, and one host, or consecrated wafer, was divided between them. HENRY VII. Henry VII. was crowned October 80, 1485, and his Queen, Elizabeth, October 30, 1487. The latter was remarkable for the procession by water from the palace of Greenwich to the Tower, instead of from Westminster, as was usual. The Queen was escorted by the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and the heads of the different companies in their state barges, richly ornamented with silken pennons and streamers, and also with the banners of the different trades, on which their arms were embroidered in geld. One of these barges, called the bachelors* barge, contained an

extraordinary pageant, an enormous red dragon, which spouted streams of fire into the Thames. When the Queen rode through the city on the following day choirs of children dressed as angels were stationed in different places, who sang hymns and songs as she passed by. HENRY VIII. Henry VITI. was extremely fond of pageantry, and he was particularly anxious about the ceremonials of his coronation. The Londoners seconded his aeslres, and when, after having created twenty-four Knights of the Bath, he rode through London from the Tower, June 22, 1509, the streets were hung with tapestry and cloths of arras, and a great part of the south side of Cheap and part of Cornhill were hung with cloth of gold. The several companies and civic dignitaries lined the streets, and Hall tells us: “The goldsmiths’ stalls unto the end of the Old Change, being replenished with virgins in white, with "branches of white wax; the priestes and clearkes in rich copes, with crosses and censers of silver, censing his grace and the queene also as they passed. The queens Katherine was sitting in hir litter, borne by two white palfries, the litter covered and richlie apparelled, and the palfries trapped in white cloth of gold; hir person apparelled in white satin iinbroidered, hir hair hanging downe to hir backe, beautifull and goodlie to behold, and on her head a coronall set with manie rich orient stones.” The coronation was celebrated with brilliant “justs and turneies,” which the King and Queen witnessed from “a faire house covered with tapestrie.” EDWARD VI. Edward VI. was crowned February 20, 1546. “He rode through London into Westminster," says Holinshed, “with as great roialtie as might be, the streets being hung, and pageants in divers places erected, to testifie the goo 1 willes of the citizens. . . . As he passed on the south part of Paule’s Churchyard an Argosine came from the battlements of Paule’s church upon a cable, being made fast to an anchor by the. deane’s gate lieing his breast, aiding himselfe neither with hand nor foot, and after ascended to the mlddest of the cable, where be tumbled and plaied many prettie foies, whereat t.he king and the nobles had good pastime.” At this coronation, when the three swords for the three kingdoms were brought to be carried before him the King observed that there was yet one missing. “That,” said he, “is the sword of the spirit, and ought in all right to govern us, who use these for the people’s safety, by God’s appointment. Without that sword we are nothing; we can do nothing. From that we are what we are this day. . . . . we receive whatsoever it is that we at this present do assumeUnder that we ought to live, to fight, to govern the people, and to perform all our affairs. From that alone we obtain all power, virtue, grace, salvation, and whatsoever we have of divine strength.” MARY. Mary, the first female sovereign of this realm, was crowned on the Ist of October, 1553, by Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury being then prisoners in the Tower. On the last day of September she went in state from the Tower to Westminster in an open chariot, drawn by six horses, covered with cloth of tissue. In a second chariot came the Princess Elizabeth and the Lady Anne of Cleves; the ladies in waiting rode upon horses covered with trappings of crimson velvet and satin. Three pageants were erected inFenchurch-street by the Genoese Easterling and Florentine merchants. Among the city pageants the most remarkable was that of St. Paul’a Cathedral, thus described by Holinshed: “There was one Peter, a Dutchman, that stood on the weathercock of Paule’s steeple, holding a streamer in his hand of five yards long, and waiving thereof, stood sometimes on the one foot and shooke the other, and then kneeled on his knees, to the great marvel! of all peo-

pie. He had made two scaffolds under him, one about the croaae, havtorches and streamers set on it, and another over the ball of the cross, likewise set with streamers and torches, which could not burn, the wind was so great. The said Peter hnd sixteen pounds, thirteen shillings, four pense for his oostes, and paines, and all his stuffe.” The conduits ran with wine, and when the civic authorities received the Queen at Cheaps the chamberlain presented her with a purse of tissue containing a thousand marks in goldELIZABETH. Speed’s account of the procession of Queen Elizabeth contains some particulars too remarkable to be omitted. “All things in readiness, upon the fourteenth of January, with great triumphes and suptuous shewes, shee passed thorow London, towards Westminster, to receive her imperial! crowne; but before shee entered her chariot In the Tower, acknowledging that the seat was God’s into which shee was to enter, and shee his viceregent uo wield the English sceptre; in that royall assembly, with eyes and hands elevated to heaven, upon her knees, she prayed for his assistance, as Solomon did for wisdome when he tooke the like charge; with a thankful remembrance unto God for his continued preservation, which had brought her thorow great dangers unto that present dignitie.” She was crowned the sth of January, 1555, by Oglethorpe, Bishop of Carlisle, the see of Canterbury being vacant by the death of Cardinal Pole. Holinshed says that she composed the following prayer as she went to her coronation: “O Lord Almightie and Everlasting God, I give thee most heartie, thanks that thou hast beene so merciful into me, as to spare me to behold this joifull daie. And I acknowledge that thou has delt as wonderfullie and as mercilefullie with me as thou didst with thy true and faithful servant Daniell, thy prophet, whome thou deliveredest out of the den from the crueltie of the greedy and roaring lions. Even so was I overwhelmed, and only by thee delivered. To thee, therefore, onelie be thanks, honor and praise forever. Amen.” JAMES I. The ceremonial for the coronation of James I. was prepared under the superintendence of that monarch, and displayed many marks of pedantry and extravagant notions of the royal prerogative, which form so large a portion of his character. He created two Earls, ten Barons, sixty-two Knights of the Bath, and conferred the honour of knighthood on about 400 gentlemen. CHARLES I. The coronation of Charles I. was delayed until" the sth of February, 1626, in consequence of the plague which then reigned in London. The principal novelty was the introduction of the following clause in one of his prayers: “Let him obtain favour for Thy people, like Aaron in the tabernacle, Elisha in the waters, Zacharias in the temple. Give him Peter’s key of discipline and Paul’s doctrine.” In the year 1632 Charles I. went to be crowned King of Scotland at Edinburgh. He was received with great splendour, and several pageants were prepared to honour his reception. The most singular was a triumphal arch, under which a mountain was raised in the form of a theatre, upon which sat a nymph, representing the genius of the city of Edinburgh. “Shee was attired in a sea greene velvet mantle; her sleeves and under roabe of blew tissue, with blew buskins on her feete; about her necke shee wore a chaine of diamonds; the dressing of her head represented a castle with turrets; her locks dangled upon her shoulders.” She was attended by Religion, “all in white taffeta, with a blew mantle seeded with starres, and a crown of stones on her head, to shew from whence she is,” leaning upon a shield, and trampling beneath her feet Superstition, represented as a blind old woman, covered with rags. On the left hand stood Justice, in “a red damaske mantle,” trampling upon Oppression, represented as “a per-

son of flsres aspects, In armea, but broken all and scattered." CHARLES 11. Charles 11., having been Invited to Scotland by the Presbyterians, was crowned at Scone, January 1, 1551. On thia occasion a most extraordinary aermon was preached by “Master Robert Dowgtaa, minister at Edinburgh, moderator of the General Assembly, from 2 Kings xi. verses 12-17.” The preacher delivered a fierce philippic against the young King’s father and mother, the latter of whom he compared to the wicked Athaliah. When the ceremony was concluded, "the minister spoke to him a word of exhortation”—that is to say, a long oration, scarcely less offensive than the sermon. JAMES 11. James* coronation, April 23, 1685, was celebrated with so much splendour that it rendered him flor a considerable time popular in London. The most remarkable anecdote connected with the solemnity is that, on the King’s return from the Abbey, the crown tottered upon his bead, and would have fallen qff had not the Hon. Henry Sidney supported It, saying, “This is not the first time our family have supported the crown.” WILLIAM AND MARY. For the first time in England both the King and Queen were crowned as sovereigns. The ceremonial was very stately and cold; it took place on the 11th of April, 1689, the Bishop of London officiating instead of the Archbishop of Canterbury (Sancroft), who scrupled to place the erown upon the head of sovereigns who claimed it by a parliamentary and not by hereditary descent, and what he called divine right. ANNE. Anne was crowned April 23, 1702; her husband, Prince George of Denmark, was present, but took no prominent part in the ceremony. The Queen gave the kiss of peace to ths Archbishop and the other prelates; but when the temporal peers did their homake they only seemingly kissed Her Majesty’s left cheek. As Parliament was sitting galleries were provided Cor members of the House of Commons, both in the Hall and the Abbey, and a sumptuous dinner was prepared for them in the Exechequer Chamber. GEORGE I. George I. was crowned at Westminster, October 20, 1714, with the usual solemnities. The King did not understand English, and few of those around him could speak German, so that the ceremonies had to be explained to His Majesty In such Latin as those near him could command; this gave rise to the popular jest that much bad language had passed between the King and his Ministers on the day of the coronation. GEORGE 11. George 11. and Queen Caroline were crowned on October 11, 1727, with the usual solemnities, but nothing occurred to give any variety or interest to the scene. GEORGE 111. George IU. and Queen Charlotte v ere crowned the 22nd of September, 1761. In the “Gentleman’s Magazine" for 1764 (page 28) is an extract from a letter addressed to the Duke of Devonshire, which contains the following singular anecdote:—“The Young Preterder himself was in Westminster Hall during the coronation, and in town two or three days before and afier it, under the name of Mr Brown. A gentleman told me so who saw him there, and Who whispered In his ear, ‘Your Royal Highness is the last of all mortals fvhom I should expect to see here.’ ‘lt was curiosity that led me,’ said the other; ‘but, I assure you.’ added he, ‘that the person who is the cause of all the pomp and magnificence is the man I envy the leastl*"

When "the champion cast down his gauntlet for the last time, a white glove fell from one of the spectators, who was in an elevated situation. On its being handed to the champion be demanded, “Who was his fair foe?" The glove was said to have been thrown by the Young Chevalier, who was present in female attire.

GEORGE IV. The coronation of George IV, which took place on July It, 1821, waa lhe most splendid ever celebrated in England. A special Act of Parliament waa passed to enable the Duke of Norfolk, who waa a Roman Catholic, to ptrform the funetloaa of earl marshal ou the day of the coronation. He alao, as premier peer of England, returned thanks for the sovereign when the King’s health was toasted by the peers.

During the coronation feast the King acknowledged the different services performed according to ancient usage very graciously, save only when the cup of wine was presented by the Cord Mayor and citizens of London. His Majesty treated tnese gentlemen with marked coolness, and did not acknowledge their service by any salutation. The account of this coronation given by Sir Walter Scott is so graphic and lively that we think it will gratify our readers to insert an abridgment of it. “The effect of the scene in the Abbey was beyond measure magnificent. The altar surrounded by the fathers of the Church—-the King encircled by the nobility of the land and the councillors of his throne, and by warriors, wearing the honoured marks of distinction bought by many a glorious danger—add to this the rich spectacle of the aisles crowded with waving plumage and coronets, and caps of honour, and the sun, which brightened and saddened as if on purpose, now beaming in full lustre on the rich and varied assemblage, and now darting a solitary ray, which catched, as it passed, the glittering folds of a banner, or the edge of a gdoup of battle-axes or partisans, and then rested full on some fair form ‘the cynosure of neighbouring eyes,’ whose circlet of diamonds glistened under its influence. Imagine all this, ana then tell me if I have made my journey of four hundred miles to little purpose.

“The box assigned to the foreign embassadors presented a most brilliant effect, and was perfectly in a. blaze with diamonds. When the sunshine lighted on Prince Esterhazy, in particular, he glimmered like a galaxy. An honest Persian was also a remarkable figure, from the dogged and impenetrable gravity with which he looked on the whole scene, without ever moving a limb or muscle during the space of four hours. Like Sir Wilful Wltwoud, I cannot find that your Persian is orthodox, for if he scorned everything else there was a Mohammedan paradise extended on his light hand along the seats which were occupied by the peeresses and their daughters, which the prophet himself might have looked on with emotion.” But, in truth, the only interesting spectacle connected with this feast was the challenge of the champion, which is now not only unmeaning but illegal; for it is directly contrary to the statute abolishing wager of battle in all cases whatsoever. WILLIAM IV, The arrangements for the coronation of William IV. and Queen Adelaide were a compromise between economy and parade. The procession from the Hall to the Abbey and the coronation feast in the Hall were omitted. The popular enthusiasm was greater, however, than on any former occasion. The new entrance to St. James’ Park was opened for the first time, and in the evening the metropolis was universally illuminated. The very lanes and alleys tenanted by the poor classes were lighted to testify the loyal affection of even the humblest for “the sailor King," VICTORIA. In the coronation of our late beloved Queen we have a deeper and more personal interest. The following extract from a letter written by an eyewitness gives probably a more sympathetic account than many longer end more detailed narratives of the affair- The letter was written the day after the ceremony by Lady M. to a parried daughter in India. . . . Well, it is all over; and by the time that this letter reaches you and dear George, it will all be for-

gotten. Her Majesty looked beautiful and so dignified and gracious—but let me begin at. the beginning.

Your father and I were in our separate seats at eight o’clock in the morning; sneh a rush, my dear, over breakfast! And Lady M , whom 1 found myself next, told me that she had been in her place since a quarter-past seven, and had not by any means found herself among the first people present- I cannot say I envied her; our own journey to the Abbey from St. James' Square was sufficiently disagreeable. The streets were packed, so that John had to keep the horses at a walking pace all the time; and before we were free of the carriage a cold, alight shower tell; about ten minutes was the time it lasted, but, honestly, the cloud* looked so black that I felt sure that the poor Queen would make her journey to and fro in the midst of a genuine London drizzle.

My fears were falsified, I am glad to say. I suppose you and George want to hear the whole story from the beginning, what I did not see as well as what I did see. So far as the outside businesses were concerned, you must, my dears, therefore, take some of my tale as hearsay. As nearly as possible to ten o’clock, the head of the procession moved from Buckingham Palace. When the Queen stepped into her carriage a salute was fired from the guns ranged in the enclosure, and the bands struck up the National Anthem. My dear, we could hear the guns and the. music, and the cheering, where we sat. Lady M——, who had been fidgeting dreadfully for the last hour, murmured “ thank goodness ” —and I was not sorry, though I must say the constant passing- of ushers and soldiers along the aisles made the waiting anything but monotonous. Reggie, who had a splendid place outside the Marble Arch, told its afterwards that the .cumbrous State-coach emerged from under the gate at the very motnent that the new Royal Standard was being hoisted on the arch. The Queen eould be seen perfectly—so he .says l —in the midst of all the glass and gilded cornices. She looked happy and kind, but just a leetle bit frightened; certainly the look of fear had quite worn off when we saw her- Really, as far as I can make out from the newspaper accounts, the only novel features of the procession were the equipages of the foreign ambassadors extraordinary, which were all new for the occasion, and very superb; the Jagers, in their splendid uniform, being even more conspicuous than their ambassadorial masters, and coming in for a good deal more applause. The most striking and elegant coach was that of Marshal Sonlt. It appears that ht has Si-ought over the frame of the carriage used on occasions of State by the last great, Prince of the House of Conde, the father of the Due de Bourbon. For my part, I was quite content to see the whitehaired old veteran without his trappings; and I clapped more for him when he came stumbling up the aisle than I did for any other actor in the great ceremony, except, of course, Her Majesty. Your old friend [Lord] Albemarle had charge of the procession; and it may just interest you to know that it passed from the Palace up Constitution Hill, along Piccadilly, St. James'-street, Pall Mall, Cockspur - street, ' Charing Cross, Whitehall and Parliament-street, to the west door of Westminster Abbey.

My dear, it took them an hour and a-half to cover these few yards, wild cheering all the way- And while we are waiting for our beloved Queen, I may as well describe the interior of the Abbey. Susie M , who was at both the last Coronations, told me that the decorations were in much better taste, and in a more splendid style, than on either of the other occasions. On each side of the nave, that part of the building which reaches from the, western door to the organ screen, galleries were erected for the accommodation of spectators, the fronts covered with the most delightful crimson cloth, fringed with gold. About a thousand persons were packed in these, including your dear parent, who enjoyed, however, the best possible view of the purple platform raised a few inches from the stone floor. That crimson and purple

carpeted platform was one stage. The other and more important was ..Aider the central tower of the Abbey, in ♦he interior of the choir. Thia laet platform, which waa raised five steps from the ground, waa covered with eloth of gold, and on it the chair of homage, superbly gilt, was placed, facing ths altar. Further on. within the rhsnarl and near the altar, was St. Edward's ehair. Bat to get back to the dear Httle Queen.

She reached the western entrance of the Abbey at half-past eleven, and was received there by the great officers of State, the noblemen bearing the Regalia, and the bishops carrying the Patina, the Chalice, and the Bible. I caught the outlines of the group, and that was all. We had to wait another half-hour while Her Majesty was in her robing chamber; and then —oh, my dear children, it was glorious!—the great procession began. Believe me, I had no eyes for the bigwigs, Bishops, Ministers, Princes, Princesses, Regalia, Ministers or anything of that kind. I had to keep ready for the Queen —the Queen! She came at last, looking, oh, so tiny, and yet every inch a Queen as she moved slowly up the aisle. She had on a royal robe of crimson velvet, furred with ermine, and bordered with gold lace. On her head there was a circlet of gold, and she was wearing the collars of her orders. The dear child—she is nothing else than the sweetest and most, candid of children looked extremely well, and had a very animated expression of countenance. As she advanced slowly towards the centre of the choir we all cheered and clapped our hands like wild things; though I must say the effect of the anthem was rather spoilt in that way. The Queen moved towards a chair placed midway between the chair of homage, which I have told you about, and the altar. I think I have also described this carpeted space where the Queen was first seated. Did I not mention it as the "stage” earlier in my letter? Here the little Queen knelt down on a faldstool set for her before her chair, and used some private prayers. After that she took her seat in the chair, and the ceremonial proceeded. I must miss out a good deal, otherwise this packet will need the entire space of the hold to carry it. Besides, if you will remember, George in his last letter said that I was only to tell you about the actual crowning. And, Indeed, dear children, my head is still too much in a whirl at the. present moment to remember a great deal of anything else. Directly the sermon was over the Queen went up to the altar for the anointing,” which was quite the most diverting part of the ceremony. Her Majesty sat in King Edward’s chair, and at once four Knights of the Garter —Buccleuch was one, T could not see the others —held a most beautiful canopy, all worked in gold, over her head. The Dean of Westminster took the ampulla from the altar and poured some of the oil it contained into the anointing spoon. He looked so funny, almost like a. chemist compounding a formula., so that reallv T nearly burst out laughing. The Queen bore it. very well when the Archbishop anointed her head and hands, marking them in the form of a cross, and saying something which neither I nor tnv two neighbours could hear. The Coronation came almost immediately afterwards, and we poor peeresses brightened up again, though it must be confessed that we were getting a little tired. It was the summit of the whole business

and the most simple, too. The Dean took the crown from the altar, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishops of York and Armagh, and several more of them, advanced towards the Queen —the poor little pale Queen, for she was visibly falling under the length of it all—and the Archbishop taking the crows from the Dean reverently placed ft on the Queen’s head. You should have heard the wild cry of "God save the Queen!” that rase to the roof of the Abbey the second that act of crowning was completed. I saw three of the judges wildly waving their handkerchiefs. At that moment, too, all of us put on our coronets; the Bishops put on their caps, and the Kings of Arms their crowns; the trumpets sounding and the drums beating, aud the Tower and Park guns (as we both heard and learnt later on) firing by signal. It made me feel very tearful later on to see the Royal uncles doing homage to their little niece, and indeed the little girl herself did not look as though she half liked it. The poor old Duke of Sussex seemed more than ever feeble, and when he touched the crown on her head and kissed her left cheek I was not the only person to observe how kind and affectionate her bearing was to him. The audience cheered at the pretty sight; and we were all very enthusiastic when the Duke of Wellington performed his homage, though you won’t * expect to hear that your mother joined in the cheers for Lord Melbourne. No doubt to keep us quiet, while this homage was going on, Surrey came and threw Coronation medals in silver about, the choir and lower galleries. Susie M gave me hers, so I can send you one each. It was about a quarter to 4 o’clock when the Royal procession passed through the nave, in the same order as before, at the conclusion of the whole ceremony in the Abbey. The return of the procession, though the line was much broken, presented certainly a more striking appearance, because all of them had their coronets on. and the Queen, of course, wore her crown. But, indeed and indeed, T felt quite a mother's pity for her. she looked so very tired and less well than usual. I suppose the weight of the crown had something to do with It. All of us are agreed that it is a most unbecoming head-dress. Lord Grey has jnst been in. and he bears me out in what I say. I asked him if I could send a little description of the great event from him to his little Janie. He said, however, that he really saw nothing but the ceremony in the Abbey, and that was exactly the same as at the Coronation of the late King, at which you were present. But he agrees with Susie M— — that the attendance in the Abbey was, particularly of peers, more numerous and more brilliant. He also disliked the top-heavy crown on the dainty little head, though it really was a most magnificent ornament. The mass of brilliants were relieved here and there by a large coloured stone, and the purple velvet cap showed off the glittering mass to perfection. The story goes that the first home sound that welcomed the Queen back to the Palace waa her dog barking, and she cried but gleefully—“ Oh. he wants his bath. I must, go and give it him." Poor little Queen! 1 hope she will have a long reign and be very happy. Yet one cannot, but. he a little frightened. It is always Fate that dashes our hopes after such a tremendous ceremony.