The ceremonial of inunction being completed, Edward arose, and the archbishop arrayed him in a tabard of tantaron-white, shaped like a dalmatic, placing a gold coif on his head, which was brought by the Earl of Warwick. He was next girt with a sword, the weapon being afterwards laid reverently upon the altar to signify that his power was derived from Heaven. This done, he again sat down, whereupon regal sandals and spurs were placed upon his feet by the lord chamberlain—the latter being immediately afterwards removed, lest they should incommode him.
Saint Edward’s crown was then delivered by the lord protector to Cranmer, and placed by the archbishop on the young king’s brows. At the same time, the sceptre was placed in the king’s left hand, and the orb and cross in his right. After Edward had worn the crown for a moment, it was taken off, and replaced by the crown of France, which was likewise furnished by the Duke of Somerset. A third crown, that of Ireland, was next put on the young king’s head, and this being removed, the crown of England was brought back, and worn by Edward during the remainder of the ceremony.
Trumpets were now blown lustily from the rood-loft; the organ pealed forth its loudest notes; and the whole choir sang Te Deum laudamus.
Then all the lords, spiritual and temporal, beginning with the lord protector, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the lord chancellor, knelt down before the king, one after the other, according to their degrees, and did homage to him, kissing his right foot and his left cheek, and holding their hands between the king’s hands.
Owing to the great number of nobles present, this part of the ceremony occupied considerable time; but when all had rendered homage, they cried with one voice, “God save King Edward!” and the vast assemblage joined heartily in the shout.
High mass was then performed, and at its close Edward, still wearing the crown, and attended by the lord protector and the whole of the nobles, quitted the abbey amid manifestations of the greatest enthusiasm, and returned to the palace of Whitehall.
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Chapter VII
OF THE ROYAL BANQUET IN WESTMINSTER HALL, HOW THE KING’S CHAMPION MADE HIS CHALLENGE THEREAT; AND HOW XIT FOUGHT WITH A WILD MAN
Within the mighty hall built by William Rufus, and renovated and enlarged by Richard II., by whom the marvellous and unequalled Gothic roof was added, preparations had been made on the grandest scale for a banquet to be given by the king to his nobles immediately after the coronation.
This vast chamber—supposed to be the largest in the world unsupported by pillars, and the size of which may be estimated from the fact that six thousand persons have been entertained within at one time—was magnificently decorated for the occasion. The walls were hung with arras to about half their height. Banners depended from the huge chestnut beams of the roof, and the sculptured angels supporting the rafters were furnished with escutcheons of the king’s arms.
Three long tables, each capable of accommodating three hundred guests, were laid within the body of the hall. Upon the dais, at the upper end, was set a table intended for the king and the chief nobles, covered with the fairest napery, and literally blazing with vessels of gold and silver of rarest workmanship and device. Over the royal chair was a canopy of cloth of gold, embroidered with the king’s arms, and at either end of the table stood an open cupboard, nine stages high, filled with glittering salvers, costly ornaments of gold and silver, goblets, and other drinking-vessels.
About half way down the hall, on the left, a platform was erected for the minstrels, and on the opposite side was a similar stage for the carvers.
No sooner was the solemnity within the abbey at an end, than all who bad invitations to the banquet—and they were upwards of a thousand persons—proceeded to Westminster Hall, and were promptly conducted by the marshals and ushers to their places. Not a seat at either of the three long tables was soon left vacant; and what with gentlemen waiters, and yeomen waiters, marshals, ushers, grooms, and serving-men, the body of the hall was quite full.