After all the offerings had been made, a pulpit was set directly before the high altar, and the Bishop of Winchester, mounting it, commenced a sermon, taking this text from the Revelations: “In diebus illis, audivi vocem de cœlo, dicentem mihi, Scribe, Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur. A modo jam dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant à laboribus suis. Opera enim illorum sequuntur illos.”
A fervid and fluent preacher, Gardiner deeply moved his auditors by his discourse, which was as remarkable for learning as for eloquence. At the close of the sermon the mass proceeded, and as the words “Verbum caro factum est” were pronounced, Lord Windsor offered the standard of the Lion; Lord Talbot the standard of the embroidered banner; and the rest of the standards and banners were offered in their turn.
After this, the Dean of Windsor and the canons took the palls which had been placed at the feet of the king’s effigy, and conveyed them to the revestry. The image itself was next removed by the three gigantic warders, and carried to the same place.
The solemn moment had now arrived. Gardiner and the other officiating prelates descended from the high altar to the catafalque, and the Archbishop of Canterbury took up a station a little behind them with his crosses. The whole choir burst forth with the “Circumdederunt me,” the bishops meanwhile continuing to cense the corpse.
Ere the solemn strains had ceased, the mouth of the vault opened, and the coffin slowly descended into the sepulchre.
Thus vanished from the sight of men all that was left of a great monarch.
Amid the profound silence that ensued, Gardiner advanced to the mouth of the vault. He was followed by all the chief officers of the household—namely, the lord great master, the lord chamberlain of the household, the treasurer, comptroller, gentleman porter, and the four gentlemen ushers. These personages carried their staves and rods, and ranged themselves around the aperture.
Earth being brought to the bishop, he cast it into the sepulchre, and when he had pronounced the words “Pulvis pulveri, cinis cineri,” Lord Saint John broke his staff over his head, exclaiming dolefully, as he threw the pieces into the vault, “Farewell to the greatest of kings!”
The Earl of Arundel next broke his staff, crying out with a lamentable voice, “Farewell to the wisest and justest prince in Christendom, who had ever England’s honor at heart!”
Sir John Gage next shivered his staff, exclaiming in accents of unaffected grief, “Farewell to the best of masters, albeit the sternest!”
Like sorrowful exclamations were uttered by William Knevet, the gentleman porter, and the gentlemen ushers, as they broke their rods.
There was something inexpressibly affecting in the destruction of these symbols of office, and the casting the fragments into the pit. Profound silence prevailed during the ceremony, but at its close a universal sigh broke from the assemblage.
At this moment, Sir Thomas Seymour, who was standing in a part of the choir commanding the queen’s closet, looked up. Catherine had covered her face with her handkerchief, and was evidently weeping.
De profundis was then solemnly chanted, amidst which the chasm was closed.
At the conclusion of the hymn, Garter, attended by Clarencieux, Carlisle, and Norroy, advanced to the centre of the choir, and with a loud voice proclaimed, “Almighty God, of His infinite goodness, give good life and long to the most high and mighty prince, our sovereign lord, Edward VI., by the grace of God King of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and in earth, under God, of the Church of England and Ireland, the Supreme Head and Sovereign, of the most noble Order of the Garter.”
This proclamation made, he shouted lustily, “Vive le noble roi Edouard!” All the assemblage joined in the shout, which was thrice repeated.
Then the trumpeters stationed in the rood-loft blew a loud and courageous blast, which resounded through the pile.
So ended the obsequies of the right high and puissant king Henry VIII.
THUS FAR THE FIRST BOOK
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Book II
The Lord High Admiral of England
Chapter I
HOW EDWARD PASSED HIS TIME WHILE LEFT TO HIMSELF WITHIN THE TOWER