A Description of the Ceremonial Proceedings at the Coronation of their Most Illustrious, Serene, and Sacred Majesties; King JAMES II. and his Royal Consort Queen MARY, Who where Crowned at Westminster-Abby, on Thursday the 23th. of April, 1685.

[figure]

UPon the 23th. of April, being St. George's day between 9 or 10 in the morning, the King and Queen took water from the Privy Stairs at White-Hall, and land­ed at the Parliament Stairs, from whence he went up to the Princes Lodgings; where, after he had reposed himself he was arrayed in Royal Robes of Crimson velvet surr'd with Ermine, by which time the Nobility, being come together Robed themselves in the Lords House and Painted Chamber.

The Judges also with those of the long Robe, the Knights of the Bath (then in their Robes of Purpel Sattin lined with [...] Taffaty) and Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, met in the Court of Requests, and being drawn down into West­minster Hall, where this great solemnity (ordered by the Officers at Arms) began. The Nobilty, in their proper habits carrying their Coronets in their hands proceeded accor­ding to their several dignities and degrees, before His Majesty up to his Throne of State, which was rais'd at the West end of the Hall, placing themselves upon each side thereof.

The King being set in a rich Chair under a Glorious Cloth of state, the Master of the Jewel House presented the Sword of State, as also the Sword called Curtana, and two other Swords, to the Lord high Constable who took and delivered them to the Lord high Chamberlain and he laid them upon the Table before the King, and in the like manner the Spurs. Im­mediately after, the Dean and Prebends of Westminster, by whom the Regalia had been brought in Procession from the Abby to Westminster-Hall, being vested in rich Copes, came up from the lower end thereof in manner following.

  • First the Serjeant of the Vestry in a Scarlet Mantle.
  • The Children of the Kings Chappel in Scarlet Mantles.
  • Then the Quire of West­minster in Surplices.
  • The Gentlemen of the Kings Chappel in Scarlet Mantles.
  • The Pursuivants, Heraids and Provincial Kings of Arms.
  • Then the Bishop carrying [...] Edwards Crown.
  • And after him five of the Prebends of that Church.
  • The first carrying the Scep­ter with the Cross.
  • The second the Scepter with the Dove.
  • The third the Orb with the Cross.
  • The fourth King Edwards Staff.
  • The fifth the Chalice and Curtana.

Who passing thus through the Hall, and making their [...] Reverence's in three places, and towards the upper end, [...] Quires and Officers at Arms falling off each side, the can and Prebends ascended the Steps at the top whereof [...]rter Principal King of Arms standing, conducted them [...] the Table placed before the Throne, where they having made their last Reverence, the Dean first presented the Crown, which was by the Lord high Constable, and Lord Great Chamberlain, set upon the Table, who likewise re­ceived from the Prebends the Regalia, which they carried, and said them also by the Crown.

Then the Lord Great Chamberlain presenting the Regalia severally to the King His Majesty [...] of them to the Noble Men which carried them in the Proceeding

  • The Queens Ivory red to the Ear of Dorset
  • The Queens Scepter to the Earl of Rut [...]nd.
  • The Queens Crown to the Duke of Beaufort.
  • Saint Edwards Staff to the Earl of Ailsbury.
  • The Spurs to the Lord de Grey.
  • The Scepter with the Cross to the Earl of Peterborow.
  • The Third Sword to the Earl Pembro [...]
  • The [...] Quires to the Earl [...] bear­ing Curta [...] or the [...] Sword.
  • The Sword of State to the Earl of Oxford.
  • St. Edwards Crown to the Duke of Ormond.
  • The Orb with the Cross, to the Duke of Somerset.
  • The Scepter with the Dove to the Duke of Albemarle.

All things being thus prepared about 11 a Clock the pro­ceeding began, from the Hall into the Palace Yard, through the Gate House along the great Sanctuary to the West end of the Abby, upon Blew Cloath, which was spread upon the ground from the Throne in Westminster Hall, to the great steps in the Church.

The proceeding to the CORONATION was in this following Order.

  • First 4 Drums,
  • 16 Trumpets,
  • 6 Clerks of Chancery,
  • Chaplains, having Dignities
  • Aldermen of London,
  • Master in Chancery,
  • The King's Sergeants at Law
  • The King's Solicitor,
  • The Kings Attorney,
  • The Kings 2 Ancient Serg.
  • Esquires of the Body,
  • Masters of Request,
  • Gentlemen of the Privy Cha.
  • Counsel at Law,
  • Barons of the Exchequer,
  • Judges of both Benches,
  • Lord Chief Baron,
  • Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas.
  • Masters of the Rolls,
  • Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
  • Children of the Chappel.
  • The Choir of Westminster.
  • Gentlemen of the Chappel,
  • Prebends of Westminster,
  • Master of the Jewel-House.
  • Knights Privy-Councillors.
  • 2 Pursivants of Arms.
  • Baronesses in their Order,
  • Barons in their Order,
  • Bishops in their Order,
  • 2 Pursivants of Arms
  • Vice-Countesses in their Order
  • Vicounts in their Order.
  • 2 Heralds of Arms.
  • Countesses in their Order,
  • Earls in their Order,
  • 2 Heralds of Arms.
  • Marchtonesses in their Order.
THE ROYAL TRANSIT.
WHen Time (in Triumph did make way
To JAMES His Coronation Day,
His Queen first (like an Angel) came
Attended with her Anagram
O lesser Lights, which scarce drew Nigh,
For 'cl [...]p [...]ing of her Majesty.
The Day at first which gave her Birth,
Gave likewise vent unto her Worth.
And Time and Fortune both did pley
The Tropick of Hyperbole.
She was so Proper and Compleat,
That (as she walk'd along the Street)
Her Gate made all Beholders Gaze,
And pay a Tribute to her Praise:
She was the Kingdoms comely Bride,
Deck'd with the Church on every side:
So Handsome, that all other Ladies,
(Her Subsequents seem'd but her Shaddows:
Her Beauty with her bright Array
Did antedate the Flowers in May;
Yet all the Splendor of her Face
Was but the Rays of inward Grace,
Tho Via Lactea did unclose
The Scarlet Skie within a Rose.
Then Juno (with her Jealous Eyes)
Look'd through her Spangled Canopies;
And sent her waiting Maid to try
What Goddess strove for Deity,
The Moon Rose from her Watry Bed
With Laces, Rings, and Pendants; clad
In Robes, as she had been to Sway
The Glorious Scepter of the Day;
And tripping (when she chang'd her Gown)
She to the Horizon came down,
And Dazled, peep'd with half her Eye
Out through the Window of her Skie;
Thinking (to borrow to her Night)
The Beams that darted from her Light;
But when she found that every Day
MARIA did her M. pay,
Bright Cynthia did the Triumph Bless,
And prais'd her by Periphrasis:
Exhorting all her neighbour Stars
Not to molest her Reign with Jarrs.
Then (in the twinkling of an Eye)
She fill'd the Orb of Majesty.
And yet the Plenelunium-bless
Made no strange Metamorphosis.
And then the English Peers pass'd by,
(As Beams before His Majesty)
And Admiration thus did Gaze
'Twixt James his Crown and Charles's Bayes;
The Dancing Spheers turn'd round to see
What caus'd such great Solemnity:
And Jove came Thundering through Air,
To see if Archimed was there;
And Orion was put to Chase,
By the Successful Pleiades,
Who kindly came and did commence
A sweet Successful Influence.
I lent mine Ear, and heard them Sing
A Simphonia to the King:
And every Fish from Shrimp to Whales
Danc'd Jiggs, and plaid them with their Tails
Then Sagittarius Bent his Bow
To work the Scorpion's Overthrow;
And Leo with his cruel Paw
Did keep the other Signs in Awe;
But none so welcome to the Eye
As was Latona's Gemini.
The Aspests (with their frowning Faces)
Do borrow Vails from Virgin-Graces,
Which they have set before their Eyes,
To Laugh at Men that's Weather-wise.
The [...] of the Royal Arms,
Did seast beholders with their Charms.
The Harp did Play, the Lyons Dance,
And snuff'd the Garland grew in France;
The Sun his Chariot did prepare,
With Ruf [...]s, Wig and Powder'd Hair;
And (Capering from the Barbers Pole)
Made all Inferiour Lights pay Tole:
At twelve a Clock he clear'd the Skies
To see another Phoebus Rise.
Then James the wonder of the Eye,
(Whose Looks were deck'd with Majesty)
In the Horizon did appear,
With Jo Pa [...]ans, drawing near;
And 'scended up (without a Cloud)
The Crown of Englands Altitude.
  • Marquesses in their Order,
  • 2 Haralds of Arms.
  • Dutchesses in their Order.
  • Dukes in their Order.
  • 2 Provincial King of Arms.
  • The Lord Privy-Seal.
  • The Lord President of the Co.
  • The Lord Treasurer.
  • The Lord Arch-Bishop of Yo.
  • The Lord Keeper.
  • The Lord Arch-Bishop of Ca.
  • Two Persons representing the Dukes of Aquitain and Normandy.
  • The Queens Vice Chamberlain
  • 2 Gentlemen-Ʋshers.
  • The Queens Ivory Rod.
  • The Queens Scepter.
  • The Queens Crown.
The QUEEN
  • Assisted by the Bishop of Lon­don, and Winchester, under a Canopy, born by 16 Barons of the Cinque-Ports.
  • The Queens Train born up by the Young Dutchess of Nor­folk, assisted by Four Earls Daughters,
  • 2 Ladies of the Bed-Cham.
  • 2 Women of the Bed Chamber.
  • St. Edward's Staff.
  • The Spurs.
  • St. Edward's Scepter.
  • The Third Sword.
  • Curtana, or Pointless Sword.
  • Garter, Principal King of Arms.
  • Gentleman-Ʋsher of the Black Rod.
  • The Lord Mayor of London,
  • The Lord Great Chamberlain
  • The Lord High Constable.
  • The Sword of State.
  • The Duke of Norfolk, Lord
  • Earl Marshall of England.
  • St. Edwards Crown.
  • The Orb with the Cross.
  • The Scepter with the Dove.
  • The Chalices.
The KING
  • Assisted by the Bishop of Dur­ham and Bath under the Ca­nopy, born by 16 Barons of the Cinque-Ports.
  • His Majesties Train, born by 4 Earls Eldest Sons, assisted by the Master of the Robes.
  • The Duke of Northumberland
  • Captain of the Horse-guards
  • The Earl of Huntington, Cap­tain of the Band of Gentle­men Pensioners.
  • The Vicount Grandison Cap­tain of the Yeomen.
  • The Lord Churchil, Gentle­men of the Bedchamber.
  • 2 Groomes of the Bedchamber
  • The Captain of the Horse-Guards in waiting.
  • Captain of the Pensioners.
  • The Yeomen of the Guard clo­sing the Proceeding.

Thus their Majesties in their Royal Robes, the King with a Velvet Cap, and the Queen a Circle of Gold on her Head: The Nobility in Robes of Crimson Velvet, with their Cap and Coronets in their Hands; with others who formed the Proceeding in suitable Robes and Habit did walk a Foot on Blue-Cloth, from the Throne in Westmin­ster-Hall, to the Theatre in the Quire, and thence to St. Peter's Church, which when they had entred, and all pre­sent being duly Placed Their Majesties Ascended the Throne and (after their performing their private Devotians at the East end thereof) They seated themselves in their Chairs of State, then followed the Recognition; and after an An­them Their Majesties went to the Altar, and made Their first Oblation; and the Lords who carried the Regalia, presented them at the Altar, to be there laid down. Then the Litany being Sung, (by two Bishops) the Bishop of Ely began the Sermon: which ended, the King took the ac­customed Oath; and Veni Creator being Sung and the King disrobed of his Mantle and Surcoat, was Anointed and Invested with all the Sacred Habits in King Edwards Chair. No sooner was the Crown set on the King's Head, (about three of the Clock in the Afternoon) but immediate­ly the People Shouted, the Great Guns were Discharged, and the Peers did put on their Coronets. The King thus being Crowned, and Invested with the Ring and Scepter, He made His second Oblation; and being again Seated in King Edward's Chair, He Vouchsafed to Kiss the Arch-Bishops; then Te deum being Sung. He Ascended the Throne, where the said Bishops did their Homage and Kissed His Cheek, the Temporal Lords having done the same in like manner touch­ed His Crown, during which time, the Steward of the House­hold threw about the Medals. Then afterwards the Queen being Crowned, in like manner the Ladies did put on their Coronets: And Her Majesty having Received the Scepter and Ivory Rod, was conducted to her Ti [...]ne.

Thus Their Majesties being Inthroned, after an Anthem Sung, the Archbishop ended with the Benediction, and Their Majesties went in State to St. Edwards Chappel where the King being devested of St. Edwards Robes, and arrayed in his Royal Robes of Purple-Velvet, the whole Company (except the Church of Westminster) returned to Westmin­ster-Hall; Their Majesties and all the Nobility wearing Their Coronets on their Heads; and being entred into the Hall, were Conducted to their several Tables to Dinner: The first Course for Their Majesties Table was served up with the usual Ceremony, the Lord High Steward betwixt The Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal Riding in before it, on Horseback; and before the second Course was served up, Sir Charles Dymoke the Kings Champion, in compleat Armour, accompanied with the Lord High Con­stable, and Earl Marshall, all on Horseback, performed the usual Ceremony of the Challenge; after which the Officers of Arms Proclaimed His Majesties Stile in Latin, French and English, after the accustomed Manner. Their Ma­jesties retired to White-Hall, and all the Nobility and others Departed.

Published by Authority.

London, Printed by G. Croom, at the Blue-Ball In Thames-street, over against Baynard's Castle. 1685.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this EEBO-TCP Phase II text, in whole or in part.