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.

The second course being serued: in at the hall doore entered a knight,Sir Robert Dimmocke the kings champion. armed at all points, his bases rich tissue embrodered, a great plume and a sumptu|ous of ostrich feathers on his helmet, sitting on a great courser, trapped in tissue, and embrodered with the armes of England, and of France, and an herald of armes before him. And passing through the hall, he presented himselfe with humble reuerence before the kings maiestie, to whome Gartier king of heralds cried and said with a lowd voice; Sir knight from whence come you, and what is your pretense? This knights name was sir Robert Dimmocke, champi|on to the king by tenure of his inheritance, who an|swered the said king of armes in effect after this ma|ner: Sir, the place that I come from is not materi|all, nor the cause of my repaire hither is not concer|ning anie matter of anie place or countrie, but one|lie this: and therewithall commanded his herald to make an O yes.The knights an [...]wer to the king of he|ralds. Then said the knight to the king of armes; Now shall ye heare the cause of my cõming and pretense. Then he commanded his owne herald, by proclamation to saie; If there be anie person, of what estate or degree soeuer he be, that will saie or proue, that king Henrie the eight is not the rightfull inheritor and king of this realme, I sir Robert Dimmocke here his champion, offer my gloue, to fight in his quarell with any person to the vtterance. Which proclamation was made in sundrie places of the hall: and at euerie time his gantlet cast downe, in the maintenance thereof.

The maner of the same knights te|nure.After these seuerall proclamations doone, and of|fers made, the said knight or champion eftsoones re|paired to the kings presence, demanding drinke; to whome the kings grace sent a cup of gold with wine, whereof after this knight had drunke, he demanded the couer of the said cup, which to him also was deli|uered: that doone he departed out of the hall, with the said cup and couer as his owne. The maner of his tenure is this, that at the coronation of the king, he shall go to the armorie, and there take the kings best harnesse saue one, the best and rich bases sauing one, then of the plumes or other things for the garnish|ing of his creast or helme; and so to the stable, there taking the next courser or horsse to the best, with like trappers, & so furnished, to enter (as afore) and his of|fice doone, to haue all these things with the cup of gold and couer to his owne vse. After the departure of the said champion, the king of armes with all the heralds and other officers of armes, made procla|mations in seuerall places of the hall, crieng lar|gesse. Brieflie I passe ouer this high and long solem|nitie of this honorable coronation and feast, more ho|norable than of the great Cesar, whome manie hi|storiographers so highlie set out and magnifie.