Hall's Chronicle 1533. The Receiving and Conveying of the Queen through London.

To the intent that the horses should not slide on the Pavement, nor that the people should not be hurted by horses, the high streets where the Queen should passe were all gravelled from the Tower to Temple Bar and railed on the one side, within which rails stood the crafts along in their order from Gracechurch where the merchants of the Steelyard stood till the little conduit in Chepe where the Aldermen stood, and on the other side of the street stood the Constables of the city apparelled in velvet and silk with great staves in their hands to cause the people to keep room and good order. And when the streets were somewhat ordered, the Mayor clothed in a gown of crimson Velvet and a riche collar of Esses with two footmen clad in white and red damask rode to the Tower to give his attendance on the Queen, on whom the Sheriffs with their officers did wait till they came to Tower hill, where they taking their leave rode down the high streets commanding the Constables to see room and good order kept, and so went and stood by the Aldermen in Chepe. And before the Queen and her train should come, Cornhill and Gracious Street were hanged with fine Scarlet, Crimson and other grayned [ie dyed] clothes, and in some place with rich Arras, Tapestry and Carpets, and the most part of the Chepe was hanged with cloth of Tissue, Gold, Velvet and many rich hangings which made a goodly show, and all the windows were replenished with ladies and gentlewomen to behold the Queen and her train as they should pass by. The first of the Queen's company that set forward were twelve Frenchmen which were belonging to the French Ambassador clothed in coats of blue velvet with sleeves of yellow and blue velvet and their horses trapped with close trappers of blue sarcenet powdered with white crosses: after them marched gentlemen, squires, knightes two and two. After them the judges, and after them the Knights of the Bath in violet gowns with hoods purfeled with miniver like doctors, after them Abbots, then Barons, after them bishops, then Earles and Marquesses, then the Lorde Chancellor of England, after him the archbishop of York and the ambassador of Venice, after him the archbishop of Canterbury and the ambassador of France, after rode two squires of honour with robes of estate rolled and worn baudrike wise about their necks with caps of estate representing the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitaine, after them rode the Mayor of London with his Mace and Garter in his coat of arms, which Mayor bore his Mace to Westminster Hall, after them rode the Lord William Howard with the Marshal's Rod deputy to his brother the Duke of Norfolk Marshall of England which was ambassador then in France: and on his right hand rode Charles Duke of Suffolk for that day High Constable of England bearing the verder of silver appertaining to the office of Constableship, and all the Lords for the most part were clothed in crimson velvet, and all the Queen’s servants or officers of arms in scarlet. Next before the Queen rode her Chancellor bareheaded, the Sergeants and Officers of Armes rode on both the sides of the Lords. Then came the Queen in a litter of white cloth of gold not covered nor bayled which was led by two palfreys clad in white damask down to the ground head and all, led by her footmen. She had on a circot of white cloth of tissue and a mantle of the same furred with ermine, her hair hanged down, but on her head she had a coif with a circlet about it full of riche stones. Over her was borne a canopy of cloth of gold with four gilt staves and four silver belles. For bearing of which canopy were appointed sixteen knights, four to bear it one space on foot and other four another space according to their own appointment. Next after the Queen rode the Lord Borough her Chamberlain, next after him William Coffyn Master of the Horses leading a spare horse with a side saddle trapped down clothe of tissue : after him rode seven ladies in crimson velvet turned up with cloth of gold and of tissue and their horses trapped with cloth of gold, after them two chariots covered with red cloth of gold. In the first chariot was two ladies which were old Duchess of Norfolk (age 54) and the old Marchioness of Dorset (age 44). In the second chariot were four ladies all in crimson velvet. After them rode seven ladies in the same suite their horses trappers and all, after them came the third Chariot all white with six ladies in crimson velvet, next after them came the fourth chariot all red with eight ladies also in crimson velvet, after who followed thirty gentlewomen all in velvet and silk in the livery of their ladies on whom they gave their attendance. After them followed the guard in coats of Goldsmith’s work, in which order they rode forth till they came to Fenchurch, where was made a pageant all with children apparelled like merchants which welcomed her to the City with two proper prepositions both in French and English, and from thence she rode to Gracious church corner, where was a costly and a marvellous cunning pageant made by the merchants of the Steelyard, for there was the Mount Parnassus with the fountain of Helicon, which was of white Marble and four streams without pipe did rise an ell high and meet together in a little cup about the fountain, which fountain ran abundantly racked Rhenish wine until night. On the mountain sat Appollo and at his feet sat Calliope, and on every side of the mountain sat four Muses playing on several sweet instruments, and at their feet Epigrammes and Poeses were written in golden letters, in the which every Muse according to her property praised the Queen: so from thence she passed to Leaden Hall where was a goodly pageant with a type and a heavenly roof [?], and under the type was a rote of gold set on a little mountain environed with red roses and white, out of the type came down a Falcon all white and sate upon the rote, and incontinent came down an Angel with great melody and set a close-crown of gold on the Falcon’s head, and in the same pageant sat Saint Ann with all her issue beneath her, and under Mari Cleoph sat her four children, of the which children one made a goodly Oration to the Queen of the fruitfulness of Saint Anne and of her generation, trusting that like fruit should come of her. Then she passed to the conduit in Cornhill where were three graces set in a throne, afore who was the spring of grace continually running wine. Afore the fountain sat a Poet declaring the properties of every grace, and that done every lady by herself according to her property gave to the Queen a several gift of grace. That done she passed by the great conduit in Chepe which was newly painted with armes of devises: out of the which conduit by a goodly fountain set up the one end ran continually wine both white and claret all that afternoon, and so she rode to the Standard which was richly painted with images of Kings and Queens and hanged with banners of arms, and in the top was miraculous sweet harmony both of song and instrument. Then she went forward to the crosse which was newly gilt, until she came where the Aldermen stood, and then Master Baker the Recorder came to her with low reverence making a proper and brief proposition and gave to her in the name of the City a thousand marks in gold in a Purse of gold, which she thankfully accepted with many goodly words, and so rode to the little conduit where was a riche pageant full of melody and song, in which pageant was Pallas, Juno and Venus, and before them stood Mercury which in the name of the three goddesses gave to her a ball of gold divided in three, signifying three gifts the which three Goddesses gave to her, that is to say, wisdom, riches and felicity. As she entered into Paul’s gate there was a pretty pageant in which sat three ladies richly clothed, and in a circle on their head was written Regina Anna prospers procede et regna [May Queen Anne prosper and reign]. The Lady in the middle had a Tablet in the which was written Veni arnica coronaberis [Come, you will be crowned with gold], And under the tablet sat an Angel with a close crown, and the lady sitting on the right hand had a Tablet of silver in which was written Domine directe gressus meos [Lord direct my steps], and the third lady had a Tablet of gold with letters Asure written, confido in domine [I trust in the Lord], and under their feet was written, Anna Reginan ominum Regis de sanguine natum, cum paries populis aurea secla tuis [? Anna Queen of the names of the King born of blood, when you wall the peoples of your golden age]. And these ladies cast down wafers, on the which the two verses were written. From thence she passed to the East end of Paul’s Churchyard against the school, where stood on a scaffold two hundred children well apparelled, which said to her diverse goodly verses of poets translated into English, to the honour of the King and her, which she highly commended. And when she came to Ludgate, the gate was newly garnished with gold and byse. And on the leads of Saint Martin’s Church stood a goodly choir of singing men and children which sang new ballads made in praise of her. After that she was passed Ludgate she preceded toward Fleet Street where the Conduit was newly painted, and all the arms and angels refreshed, and the chime melodiously sounding. Upon the Conduit was made a town with four turrets, and in every turret stood one of the cardinal virtues with their tokens and properties, which had several speeches, promising the Queen never to leave her, but to be aiding and comforting her. And in the midst of the tower closely was such several solemn instruments, that it seemed to be an heavenly noise, and was much regarded and praised: and beside this the said Conduit ran wine Claret and Red all the afternoon. So she with all her company and the Mayor rode forth to Temple Bar, which was newly painted and repaired, where stood also divers singing men and children, until she came to Westminster Hall, which was richly hanged with clothe of Arras and new glazed. And in the midst of the hall she was taken out of her litter, and so led up to the high dais under the clothe of estate, on whose left hand was a cupboard of ten stages marvellous rich and beautiful to behold, and within a little season was brought to the Queen with a solemn service in great standing spice plates, a void of spice and subtleties with Hippocras and other wines, which she sent down to her ladies, and when the ladies, had drunk she gave hearty thanks to the Lordes and Ladies, and to the Mayor and other that had given their attendance on her, and so withdrew herself with a few ladies to the Whitehall and so to her chamber, and there shifted her, and after went into her barge secretly to the King to his Manor of Westminster where she rested that night.