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The Manner of their Majesties Return to

Westminster-Hall.

The ceremony of their Majesties coronation being thus performed, the King rises having the crown on his head, and both the scepters in his hands; and being attended by the great officers and the Lords who carry the four swords, and the other Lords who carry St. Edward's staff, the spurs and orb, having again received them from off the high altar, and bearing them before his Majesty, the King descends from the theatre, and passes through the door on the south-side of the high altar, into St. Edward's chapel, and comes before the altar, at the head of St. Edward's shrine or tomb, where the regalia before-mentioned, viz. the staff, spurs, and orb, are delivered to the Dean of Westminster, who lays them on the said altar, the organs playing all the while.

The Queen also, descending from the theatre at the same time with the King, passes by the high altar, through the door on the north-side thereof, into St. Edward's chapel, having her crown on her head, and her scepter and ivory rod in her hands (attended as before), and repairs also to the altar in the said chapel.

Then the King delivers the two scepters to the Archbishop, who lays them upon the altar; and his Majesty taking off his crown, delivers it also to the Archbishop, who places it upon the said altar.

The Queen also delivers her two scepters to the Archbishop; and taking off her crown, delivers it likewise to him; all which he places upon the altar.

This done, the King withdraws into his traverse, at the west-end of the said chapel, where he sits down in his chair, and is disrobed, by the Lord Great Chamberlain, of the robes called St. Edward's, which are delivered to the Dean of Westminster, who lays them upon the altar before-mentioned.

The Queen likewise retires to her traverse on the left-hand of the King's, and there reposes herself until the King is revested. The King is then arrayed, by the Lord Great Chamberlain, in his royal robes of purple velvet, furred with ermine. And the King and Queen coming before St. Edward's altar, the Archbishop (being still revested as before) puts two other imperial crowns upon their Majesties heads, with caps of purple velvet, viz. the crown of state upon the King's head, and an exceeding rich crown upon the Queen's, which their Majesties continue to wear all the rest of the day.

The Archbishop also puts into the King's right-hand the scepter with the cross, and into his left-hand the orb or globe with the cross; and into the Queen's right-hand the scepter with the cross, and into her left-hand the ivory rod with the dove: which done, the Archbishop and Bishops divest themselves of their copes, and leave them there, proceeding in their rochets, or usual habit.

While the King and Queen are in St. Edward's chapel, the officers of arms call in order such only as are to return to Westminster Hall (for the Prebendaries of Westminster and the choirs are not to go back in the proceeding to the Hall) and draw them down, out of the choir, into the body of the church.

Then the Queen, having her crown on her head, and the scepter and ivory rod in her hands, and being supported and attended, and her train borne as before, proceeds from St. Edward's chapel over the theatre, by the north side of her throne, and so through the choir, in the same manner as she came to the church (saving that the Lords, who bore her regalia thither, go not now immediately before her, but repair to their respective places in the proceeding, according to their several degrees), and is again received under her canopy by the Barons of the Cinque Ports, who attend, without the door of the choir, for that purpose.

The King likewise, having the four swords, and the scepter with the dove borne before him, with his crown on his head, and in his hands the scepter with the cross, and the orb, a noble Lord supporting his right arm, proceeds out of St. Edward's chapel, assisted and attended, and his train borne, as before, and passes over the theatre by the south side of his throne, and so through the choir, in the same manner as he came to the church [saving that the Lords, who, in the former procession, carried any of the regalia, which are now left behind in St. Edward's chapel (as the spurs and staff), or which his Majesty does now bear himself (as the orb, and sceptre with the cross), go now in their respective places in the proceeding, according to their several degrees], and is received in like manner under his canopy by the Barons of the Cinque Ports at the choir door.

Thus this most glorious and splendid assembly, proceeds down the body of the church, though the great west door, and so returns to Westminster Hall, by the same way it came; the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitain wearing their caps of estate, the Peers and Peeresses their coronets, the Bishops their caps, and the Kings of Arms their coronets.

All the way from the church to the hall, the drums beat, the trumpets sound, and the vast multitude of beholders fill the air with loud acclamations and shouts, and prayers for their Majesties long life and prosperity.

While the office of coronation is performing in the church, the table whereat their Majesties are to dine in Westminster Hall, is covered by the Serjeant and Gentlemen of the Ewry: then the

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Officers of the Pantry set the King's salt of state and cadinet on the table, and another cadinet for the Queen.

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We shall not trouble our readers with the usual bills of fare on this great occasion, because they vary according to the season; only observing, that there are usually tables on each side of the hall, besides that of their Majesties; the first on the west side of the hall is for the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitain, the four Great Officers, the Dukes, Dutchesses, and others of the principal nobility.- -The 2d of the same side for Earls and others of the principal nobility.- -The 3d for the Barons and Baronesses.

The first table on the east side of the hall is for the Archbishops, Bishops, Barons of the Cinque Ports, Judges, the King's Ancient Serjeant, Attorney and Solicitor General.The 2d for the King's Serjeants at Law, Masters in Chancery, six Clerks, Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London. And the 3d for the Kings of Arms, Heralds, and Pursuivants.- -On all these seven tables, no less than 1445 dishes of the most delicious and rich viands have been usually served up.

The noble and illustrious personages who make up this grand assembly, being seated with great ceremony at their respective tables, as above, and dinner being ready, his Majesty, with his crown on his head, and the scepter with the cross, and the orb in his hands, attended and supported, and his train borne as before, preceded by the Lord Great Chamberlain, and the swords being also borne before him, comes out of the Court of Wards, where he had reposed himself till dinner was ready, and seats himself in his chair of state, at the table.

Immediately after, the Queen with her crown on her head, and the sceptre and ivory rod in her hands, preceded by the ViceChamberlain and Lord Chamberlain, and her train borne as before, and followed by the Ladies of the Bedchamber, and her Majesties women, comes forth from her retirement through the Court of Wards, and seats herself also in her chair of state at the table, on the left-hand of the King.

Then the first course of hot meat is served up to their Majesty's table in the manner following.

The Lords of the Sewer go to the dresser of the kitchen, and the Master of the Horse, who officiates that day as Serjeant of the silver-scullery, calls for a dish of meat, wipes the bottom of the dish, and also the cover within and without, takes essay of it, and covers it; and then it is conveyed to their Majesties table with the following ceremony:

First, two Clerks Comptrollers, in velvet gowns trimmed very rich with black silk and gold lace buttons, and black velvet caps in their hands, raised in the head.

Two Clerks of the green-cloth, in the same habit as before.
The Masters of the Household. The Cofferer.

Six Serjeants at Arms, with their maces on their shoulders, two a-breast.

Three great officers, in their robes of estate, and their coronets on their heads, mounted on fine horses, richly trapped, viz.

The Earl Mar

shal, with the

Marshal's staff

of gold, en-
amelled at the
ends with black,

The Lord
High
Steward
with his

white
staff.

The Lord High
Constable,
with the
Constable's
staff.

Six Serjeants at Arms more, with their maces on their shoulders, two a-breast.

The Comptroller of his Majesty's Houshold; the Treasurer of his Majesty's Houshold; the assistant to the Queen's Sewer; her Majesty's Sewer; the assistant to the King's Sewer; his Majesty's. Sewer.

Then 32 dishes of hot meat, brought up by the Knights of the Bath bareheaded; after which, there is brought a supply of several dishes more of hot meat by private gentlemen. Then follows the mess of pottage, or guel, called Dillegrout, prepared by the King's master-cook, and brought up to the table by the Lord of the Maner of Addington in Surrey.

Two Clerks of the kitchen in black figured satten gowns, and black velvet caps in their hands.

Dinner being placed on the table by the King and Queen's carvers, with the help of the Earls Sewers, and their assistants, the Lord Great Chamberlain, preceded by the Usher of the Black Rod, assisted by the Cupbearer, and followed by the assistants before-mentioned, brings up the great bason and ewer for his Majesty to wash: whereupon the King rises, and having delivered the scepter with the cross to the Lord appointed for that purpose, and the orb to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Cupbearer pours out the water upon the King's hands; and the Lord of the Manor of Heydon in Essex (having accompanied the Cupbearer from the cupboard) holds the towel to the King.

The like ceremony is used with regard to her Majesty's washing. After which the Dean of his Majesty's Chapel Royal, says grace; and their Majesties sit down to dinner, as do likewise the Peers and Peeresses, at the tables mentioned before.

On the King's right-hand stand the noblemen who carry the four swords, holding them naked and erected all dinner-time; and nearer the King stand the Lords who hold the orb and scepter; and on his Majesty's left-hand, the Lord Great Chamberlain.

On the Queen's left-hand stand her Lord Chamberlain and ViceChamberlain, who bear her sceptre and ivory rod, delivered over to them by the Bishops of London and Winchester, a little before.

Also the Lord of the Manor of Wimondley in Hertfordshire, being assisted by the Cupbearer and his assistants, goes to the cupboard, and brings his Majesty the first cup of drink in a silver bowl gilt, which he presents to the King on his knee; and his Majesty having

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drank thereof, returns the cup to him, which he receives for his fee.

Before the second course is brought in, the King's Champion, who enjoys that office as being Lord of the Manor of Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire, enters the Hall completely armed, in one of his Majesty's white armour, mounted on a goodly white horse, richly caparisoned in manner following:

Two trumpets, with the Champion's arms on their banners the Serjeant Trumpet, with his mace on his shoulder; two Serjeants at Arms, with their maces on their shoulders; the Champion's two Esquires, richly habited, one on the right-hand, with the Champion's lance carried upright; the other on the left-hand, with his target, and the Champion's arms depicted thereon; the Herald of Arm with a paper in his hand, containing the words of the challenge.

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The Earl Marshal in his robes and coronet, on horseback, with he Marshal's staff in his hand; the Champion on horseback, with gantlet in his right-hand, his helmet on his head, adorned with great plume of feathers, white, blue, and red; the Lord HighConstable in his robes and coronet, and collar of the order, on horseback, with the Constable's staff.

Four Pages richly apparelled, attendants on the Champion.

The passage to their Majesty's table being cleared by the Knight Marshal, the Herald at Arms with a loud voice, proclaims the Champion's challenge at the lower end of the Hall, in the words following: i

If any Person, of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay, Our Sovereign Lord King [GEORGE IV.] King of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. Son and next Heir to our Sovereign Lord King GEORGE III. the last King deceased, to be Right Heir to the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, or that he ought not to enjoy the same; Here is his Champion, who saith that he Lieth, and is a false Traitor, being ready in Person to combat with him; and in this Quarrel will adventure his Life against him, on what Day soever shall be appointed.

And then the Champion throws down his gaunlet; which having lain some small time, the Herald takes up, and re-delivers it to the Champion.

Then they advance in the same order to the middle of the Hall, where the said Herald makes proclamation as before; and lastly, to the foot of the steps, makes proclamation a third time; at the end whereof the Champion throws down his gauntlet; which, after some time, being taken up, and redelivered to him by the Herald, he makes a low obeisance to his Majesty whereupon the cupbearer, assisted as before, brings to the King a gilt bowl of wine, with a cover; his Majesty drinks to the Champion, and sends him the said bowl by the cupbearer, accompanied as before, which the Champion (having put on his gauntlet) receives, and retiring a

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