When all things were redie, the quéene vnder hir canopie came to the hall, and washed and sat downe in the middest of the table vnder the cloth of estate. On the right side of the chaire stood the countesse of Oxford widow,The maner of sitting at the table. and on the left side stood the countesse of Worcester all the dinner season, which diuerse times in the dinner time did hold a fine cloth before the quéenes face when she list to spet or doo otherwise at hir pleasure. At the tables end sat the archbishop of Canturburie on the right hand of the quéene, and in the middest betwéene the archbishop and the coun|tesse of Oxford stood the earle of Oxford with a white staffe all dinner time, and at the quéenes féet vnder the table sat two gentlewomen all dinner time. When all these things were thus ordered, in came the duke of Suffolke and the lord William How|ard on horssebacke,The bringing in of the first course. and the sargeants of armes be|fore them, and after them the sewer, and then the knights of the bath bringing in the first course which was eightéene dishes, besides subtilties and ships made of wax maruellous gorgious to behold, all which time of seruice the trumpets standing in the window at the nether end of the hall plaied melo|diouslie.

When hir grace was serued of two dishes, then the archbishops seruice was set downe, whose sew|er came equall with the third dish of the quéenes ser|uice on his left hand. After that the quéene and the archbishop was serued, the barons of the ports be|gan the table on the right hand next the wall, next them at the table sat the masters and clearks of the Chancerie,How the seue|rall tables were furni|shed. and beneath them at the table other doc|tors and gentlemen. The table next the wall on EEBO page image 934 the left hand by the cupbord, was begun by the maior and aldermen, the chamberleine and the councell of the citie of London, and beneath them sat substanti|all merchants, and so downeward other worshipfull persons. At the table on the right hand in the middest of the hall sat the lord chancellor, and other temporall lords on the right side of the table in their circots: and on the left side of the same table sat bishops and abbats in their parlement robes: beneath them sat the iudges, sargeants, & the kings councell, beneath them the knights of the bath. At the table on the left hand, in the middle part, sat dutchesses, marquesses, countesses, baronesses, in their robes, and other la|dies in circots, and gentlewomen in gownes. All which ladies and gentlewomen sat on the lest side of the table along, and none on the right side.

When all were thus set, they were incontinent serued, and so quicklie that it was maruell: for the seruitors gaue such good attendance, that meat or drinke nor any thing else néeded not to be called for, which in so great a multitude was maruell. As tou|ching the fare, there could be deuised no more costlier dishes nor subtilties.The maior of Londons seruice. The maior of London was ser|ued with thrée and thirtie dishes at two courses, and so were all his brethren, and such as sat at his table. The quéene had at hir second course foure and twen|tie dishes, and thirtie at the third course: & betwéene the two last courses, the kings of armes cried lar|ges, in thrée parts of the hall: and after stood in their place, which was in the bekins at the kings bench. And on the right hand out of the cloister of S. Ste|phans, was made a little closet, in which the king with diuerse ambassadors stood to behold the seruice. The duke of Suffolke and the lord William rode often times about the hall,The duke of Suffolke and Norffolke rode about the hall. chering the lords, ladies, and the maior and his brethren. After they all had di|ned, they had wafers and ipocras, and then they wa|shed, and were commanded to rise, and to stand still in their places, before the table or on the formes till the queene had washed.