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The Duke of Bedford, also decked in his magnifi- CHAP. cent attire as grand steward of England, and bareheaded, was entrusted with the long-withheld crown, bearing it on a splendid cushion, he walked immediately before the fair heiress of York, who supported by the Bishops of Winchester and Ely, moved under a canopy borne by the barons of the Cinque Ports. The ladies of the court closed the long and glittering line, the duchesses wearing jewelled diadems upon their heads, and those of lesser rank circlets of gold set with gems. The heralds and sergeants-of-arms surrounded the procession on all sides, in the vain endeavour to keep off the crowd, whose cupidity being tempted by the valuable woollen cloth which had been laid down for the queen to walk upon, rushed forwards to seize the prize; the disgraceful attempt was not to be repelled without bloodshed;

certeyne persons," says our Chronicler, "were slain, and the order of the ladies following the queen, broken and distrobled." The Archbishop of Canterbury performed the ceremony, which was witnessed by the king and the Countess of Richmond his mother, from a latticed pavilion erected for the purpose in a convenient spot near the high altar. After the queen had retired to her chamber, the hall was cleared by the Duke of Bedford, the Earl of Derby, and the Earl of Nottingham, mounted upon goodly coursers richly trapped, the housings of the duke's charger being studded with red roses and dragons, bordered with "goldsmith's work," and those of the Earl of Derby's horse so cunningly embroidered with his arms as to call forth the admira

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CHAP. tion of the describer. The first quarter we are told was "a lion gules, having a man's head in a bicokett of silver, the second a lion sable, the trapper was right curiously wrought with the needle, for the manne's visage in the bicokett shewed very well favoured;" the caparisons of the Earl of Nottingham's horse were of cloth of gold, and both his companions wore the ornament, apparently so highly valued in these days, the Duke of Bedford having "a rich chain of gold about his neck," and the Earl of Derby "a marvellous rich chain of gold" folded many times over his shoulders. The retinue of these noblemen armed with staves assisted to keep order, and when the feast was spread and the queen had taken her place, two ladies went under the table and seated themselves at her feet, while two countesses kneeling on either side attended with a handkerchief, which it was their office when directed to hold before her.*

The only guests at the queen's board were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duchess of Bedford, and the Lady Cecill: the other tables in the hall were surrounded by the nobles spiritual and temporal, knights, citizens, law officers, and ecclesiastics, according to their precedence, and the ladies of the court; the latter being seated by themselves on the left side of the building. The kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, and the trumpeters and minstrels were assembled upon raised platforms, and a latticed recess was prepared for the king outside one of the windows, from which he could behold all the ceremonial of the banquet. A burst of music announced

• Leland's Collection, vol. iv.

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the entrance of the first course, which was preceded CHAP. by the serjeants of arms, the comptroller, and treasurer, with the Duke of Bedford, and the Earls of Derby and Nottingham, on horseback. The Lord Fitzwalter, as sewer, in his surcoat with tabard sleeves, served the dishes to the queen, which were all borne by knights. Those which were placed before the archbishop, were, says the narrator, "borne by esquires, or should have been." Amongst the dainties enumerated are 66 carpe in foile," perch dypt in jelly, "a peacock in hakell," and a viand unknown to the present age, garnished with lozenges of gold. After the second course, which was served in the same manner as the first, the kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, made an obeisance to the queen; and garter, in the name of all, returned thanks to his royal mistress in these words: "Right hight and myghty prince, most noble and excellent princesse, most cristen queen, and al our most dred and souvereigne liege ladye, we the officers of armes and servants to al nobles, beseeche Almighty God to thank you for the great and habundaunt largesse whiche your grace hath given us in the honour of your most honourable and right wise coronation, and to send you grace to live in honour and virtue." Afterwards the same officer cried largesse in three several places in the hall, and attended by his brethren, drank at the cupboard where the Earl of Arundel stood as chief butler. *The hall then resounded with minstrelsy, the torches were lighted, and the queen being served with fruit and

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CHAP. wafers, and afterwards by the Lord Mayor with ipocrasse and spices from a gold cup, which he took as his fee, the ceremonial concluded with a grand flourish of trumpets, and Elizabeth departed " with God's blessing," says the historian, "and to the rejoicing of many a true Englishman's heart.”

CHAPTER XV.

Death of Bourchier-Sketch of his Life-Proposals for Foreign Alliances-State of Society in Scotland-Unnalural Conduct of Prince James-Death of the King-Penitence of his Son-Danger of the Duke of Bretagne-Coldness of Henry-Policy of Charles VIII.— Ardour of the English for War-Death of Northumberland—Expedition from the Isle of Wight--Rout of the Bretons-Death of the Duke of Bretagne-Henry's Involvements with Charles VIII.-Slender Aid afforded to Bretagne-Siege of Dixmude-Valour of the English-their terrible Vengeance-Anecdote of an Archer-Rage of the Lord Des Cordes-Truce between France and Bretagne-Ann solicits the Aid of Maximilian-their Betrothment-Perfidy of D'Albret-Project of Charles VIII.-Rough Method of WooingMarriage of the French King-Rage and Despair of MaximilianHenry's secret Determination-Negociation between France and England-Extract from the Will of the Widow of Edward IV.-Preparations for War-Henry's Rapacity-Renewal of the Benevolence-Acts of Parliament-Expedition from England-Siege of Boulogne-Negociations for Peace-Offers of Charles-their Acceptance-Representation of the King's Friends-Disaffection of Maximilian's Subjects-Seizure of Bruges-Reduction of Sluys-Fall of Arras-Recovery of Saint Omer.

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CARDINAL BOURCHIER, Archbishop of Canterbury, CHAP. died in this year. This venerable ecclesiastic had enjoyed the prelacy fifty-two years from the time of his consecration, and had governed the church in England as its primate during thirty-two: he was

1487.