Then next following in order, came the quéenes retinue, as lords, knights, esquiers,The quéenes traine and the sumptuous|nesse of the same. and gentlemen in their degrées, well mounted, and richlie apparelled in tissue, cloth of gold, of siluer, tinsels, and veluets imbrodered, fresh and goodlie to behold. The quéene then by name Katharine, sitting in hir litter borne by two white palfries, the litter couered and richlie appareled, and the palfries trapped in white cloth of gold; hir person apparelled in white satin imbrodered, hir haire hanging downe to hir backe of very great length, beautifull and goodlie to hehold, & on hir head a coronall set with manie rich orient stones. Next af|ter, six honorable personages on white palfries all ap|parelled in cloth of gold, and then a chariot couered, and the ladies therein all apparelled in cloth of gold. And another sort of ladies, and then another chariot, then the ladies next the chariot, and so in order, euerie one after their degrées in cloth of gold, cloth of siluer, tinsels, and veluet, with imbroderies. Euerie couple|ment of the said chariots, and the draught harnesses were powdered with ermins mixt with cloth of gold: & so with much ioy & honour they came to Westmin|ster, where was high preparation made, aswell for the said coronation, as also for the solemne feasts and iusts therevpon to be had and doone

The morrow following being sundaie,The coronati|on of king Henrie and quéene Ka|tharine. and also Midsummer daie, this noble prince with his quéene at time conuenient, vnder their canopies borne by the barons of the fiue ports, went from the said pa|lace to Westminster abbaie vpon cloth, called vul|garlie cloth of raie; the which cloth was cut and spoi|led by the rude and common people, immediatlie af|ter their repaire into the abbaie; where, according to the sacred obseruance & ancient custome, his grace with the quéene were annointed and crowned by the archbishop of Canturburie, with other prelats of the realme there present, and the nobilitie, with a great multitude of commons of the same. It was deman|ded of the people, whether they would receiue, obeie, and take the same most noble prince for their king? Who with great reuerence, loue, and desire, said and cried; Yea yea.Homage doone to the king at his coronatiõ both of the lords spiritu|all & tempo|rall. After the which solemnitie and coro|nation finished, the lords spirituall and temporall did to him homage, and returned to Westminster hall with the quéenes grace, euerie one vnder their cano|pies; where, by the lord Marshall & his tipped staues was made roome, and euerie lord, and other noble men, according to their tenures, before claimed and viewed, séene and allowed by the lords, and other of his graces councell, entred into such roome and office that daie, to execute their seruices accordinglie.

The kings estate on the right hand, & the queenes on the left hand, the cupboord of nine stages, their no|ble personages being set: first, at the bringing of the first course, the trumpets sounded. And in came the duke of Buckingham, mounted vpon a great cour|ser, richlie trapped and imbrodered, and the lord stew|ard in likewise on an horsse trapped in cloth of gold, EEBO page image 802 riding before the seruice, which was sumptuous, with manie subtilties, strange deuises, with seuerall po|ses, and manie deintie dishes. At the kings feet vn|der the table were certeine gentlemen; and in like|wise with the queene, who there continued, during that long and roiall feast. What should I speake or write of the sumptuous, fine, and delicate meats pre|pared for this high and honorable coronation, proui|ded for aswell in the parties beyond the seas, as in manie and sundrie places within this realme, where God so aboundantlie hath sent such plentie and foi|son? Or of the honorable order of the seruices, the cleane handeling and breaking of meats, the orde|ring of the dishes, with the plentifull abundance? So that none of anie estate being there did lacke, nor no honorable or worshipfull person went vnfeasted.