how the royal nuptials were celebrated in
winchester cathedral.
saint james’s day had been appointed for the marriage, that saint being the patron of spain. brighter or more beautiful morning never rose on winchester than on this auspicious day. magnificent preparations had been made for the event. two triumphal arches spanned the high-street, and all the houses were hung with cloths of gold and silver, velvet and arras, while minstrels were everywhere engaged. the pinnacles of the graceful cross, which belongs to the time of henry vi., and still adorns the city, were hung with garlands of flowers, and the statue of saint lawrence, placed under its exquisite canopied niche, was garnished with beads, chains, and other articles of goldsmith’s work. the conduits ran with white and red wines. all the poor were publicly feasted; and at night great bon-fires were lighted on the adjacent hills.
the city was fuller of strangers than it had ever been known. not only were the hostels crowded to overflowing, but the religious houses and colleges were thronged with guests. at an early hour of the day thousands of persons, who had travelled all night, began to arrive from various quarters—from southampton, from bishop’s waltham, from alresford, from stockbridge, from romsey, and even from salisbury—in short, from every place within a circuit of 137twenty miles. these new comers found scant accommodation, but booths were erected on saint giles’s hill, and on saint mary magdalene’s hill, as during fair-time, to which they resorted.
loud reports of ordnance were continually heard from the batteries of the castle, and the bells of all the churches pealed joyfully. as the hour appointed for the ceremony approached, a grand procession began to enter the cathedral. first came the mayor and aldermen of winchester, in scarlet gowns, followed by the officers of the city, apparelled in velvet and silk, carrying long staves. then, after a short pause, came thirty gentlemen belonging to the spanish ambassadors, clad in doublets of yellow velvet striped with red. these were followed by simon renard and don juan de figueroa, both sumptuously apparelled. then came a numerous body of sergeants and officers of arms, and after them gentlemen, esquires, and knights, all richly attired, and ranged according to their degrees. on reaching the steps leading to the choir, all these passed into the north transept, which, ere long, was completely filled. then came another long train of gentlemen and esquires belonging to various noblemen, all in rich liveries of divers colours, and making a splendid show. then came the duke of norfolk, the earls of arundel, sussex, huntingdon, shrewsbury, pembroke, and derby, in their robes of estate of crimson velvet furred with ermine, and powdered according to their degrees. all such as were knights of the garter wore the collar and the lesser badge of the order. these were followed by the lords of the council in robes of scarlet. after them came the choir of the cathedral, solemnly singing as they passed along; then the clergy, in their copes and gowns; then came the incense-bearers, with great silver thuribles, censing the way. then followed the bishops of london, durham, ely, lincoln, chichester, and other prelates, in copes and mitres. after them came two priests, each bearing a large silver cross, followed by another priest with a crosier. next came gardiner himself, in his full pontificals.
before proceeding, let us cast an eye around the interior of the cathedral, and note the extraordinary splendour of its decorations. the mighty pillars lining each side of the 138broad nave were covered to the height of twelve feet with crimson velvet, entwined with golden wreaths, while the intercolumniations were filled up with arras and rich hangings. every pillar was further decked with flags and pennons. the aisles and transepts were likewise adorned with hangings, and the lady chapel, wherein the marriage ceremony was about to be solemnised, was hung with cloth of gold. along the nave, as far as the choir, was stretched a cloth of ray, with rails on either side. over the high altar was reared an immense silver cross, and the altar itself glittered with silver and gems. from an early hour in the morning, all portions of the cathedral allotted to the public were thronged to excess. some thousands were present on the occasion. the precincts of the sacred pile were equally crowded, and the wide area in front of the grand western portal presented a dense mass of human beings.
at ten o’clock the royal bridegroom left the deanery, attended by the whole of his grandees, whose gorgeous habiliments glittered with priceless jewels. cloth of ray had been laid down from the deanery to the great western entrance of the cathedral, and on this philip and his nobles walked. their path was further protected by rails, outside of which archers and halberdiers were stationed.
philip’s bridal attire was magnificent, and attracted universal admiration. his doublet and hose were of white satin, richly embroidered with gold, and over all he wore a gorgeous mantle of cloth of gold, presented to him by the queen, and thickly covered with pearls and precious stones. his white velvet cap was studded with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. over his shoulders he wore the collar of the garter, while the lesser badge of the order encircled his knee. splendid, however, as was his attire, it hardly outshone the habiliments of his grandees, all of whom wore the collar of the golden fleece, or the insignia of some other order.
as philip entered the cathedral with his train, trumpets were loudly sounded, and the martial bruit continued as he advanced along the nave. midway he was met by the earl of arundel and other nobles, and ceremoniously conducted to a traverse, prepared for him in the south transept, where he awaited the queen’s arrival.
139this was not long delayed. a peal of artillery, accompanied by reiterated shouts, announced that her majesty had reached the precincts of the cathedral. already, indeed, the foremost of her immediate attendants were passing through the grand portal. first came garter king at arms in his gorgeous tabard, followed by the other heralds, and attended by a band of trumpeters, with their silver clarions at their lips. then came the grand chamberlain, sir john gage, his lofty figure seen to great advantage in a scarlet robe open before, and edged with ermine. sir john gage had the collar of the garter round his neck, and carried his wand of office in his hand. he was accompanied by the vice-chamberlain, sir henry jerningham, likewise in his robes of office, and bearing a white wand. then followed a long train of pages attired in liveries of white and blue satin, which had a charming effect. then followed the three gigantic yeomen of the guard, in scarlet, with the royal badge embroidered at the front and back of their doublets.
fresh acclamations from without, continued by the crowd within the cathedral, proclaimed the entrance of the queen. mary walked beneath a canopy of cloth of gold, the gilt staves of which were borne by four knights, chosen for the purpose from their goodly presence, attired in crimson satin, with points of blue and red on their sleeves.
the queen was arrayed in a gown of white cloth of tissue, the stomacher of which was encrusted with diamonds and precious stones, and her mantle of crimson velvet, bordered with ermine, and embroidered with gold, was borne by six noble dames, all magnificently attired. her hair was unbound, as was then the custom of brides—and a beautiful custom it was—and on her head she wore a coif, encircled with gold, and studded with orient pearls and gems. mary marched with a firm step along the nave, and really presented a very majestic appearance. she was followed by a long train of ladies, whose sweeping velvet mantles, furred and embroidered, were borne by pages in rich liveries.
as the queen advanced along the body of the cathedral, philip, who had been apprised of her coming, and, indeed, could not be unaware of it from the braying of trumpets and shouting, came from the traverse with his retinue, and met her just as she reached the steps of the choir. saluting her 140with a warm demonstration of affection that savoured little of ceremony, he took her hand, and they ascended the steps together, sir john gage and the vice-chamberlain preceding them.
at this moment gardiner and the other prelates came forth from the choir, and while the royal pair were standing there with the bishop of winchester, in full view of the immense assemblage, don juan de figueroa, attended by simon renard, came towards them, and, bending the knee to philip, presented a scroll to him.
“what means this, your excellency?” demanded the prince, with a well-feigned look of astonishment.
“it means, your highness,” replied figueroa, as he arose, “that your august sire, the emperor, deeming it beneath the dignity of so high and mighty a sovereign as the queen of england to wed with one of rank inferior to her own, has by this act resigned to your highness the crown of naples and sicily, with the duchy of milan, and divers other seats and signories. from this moment, sire, you are king of naples, and as such her majesty’s equal.”
“a right noble and gracious act, and worthy of my great father!” exclaimed philip. “does not your majesty think so?”
“nobly done, indeed, sire!” cried mary. “i joy that you are king of naples, but you could not be dearer to me than as prince of spain.”
“the emperor’s great and generous act must be made known to the entire assemblage,” said gardiner.
“be that task mine,” rejoined simon renard.
whereupon silence being called by sound of trumpet, the spanish ambassador advanced towards the edge of the steps, and in a loud voice, distinctly heard by the thousands congregated within the nave, announced what the emperor had done for his son.
tremendous acclamations followed, and the roof resounded with cries of “long live the emperor! long live the king of naples!”
no sooner had simon renard retired than garter king at arms advanced with a couple of trumpeters, and proclaimed the styles and titles of the two sovereigns in the following formula:—
141“philip and mary, by the grace of god, king and queen of england, france, naples, jerusalem, and ireland; defenders of the faith; princes of spain and sicily; archdukes of austria; dukes of milan, burgundy, and brabant; counts of hagsburg, flanders, and tyrol.”
this proclamation being made, the trumpets were sounded, and the acclamations of the assemblage were renewed.
preceded by gardiner and the other prelates, ceremoniously marshalled by the grand chamberlain and vice-chamberlain, and attended by the principal nobles, english and spanish, forming an assemblage of unrivalled splendour, the royal pair—now equals in dignity—marched hand in hand to the beautiful lady chapel built by bishop godfrey de lucy, where the marriage was solemnised by gardiner, assisted by the other prelates, the royal bride being given away in the name of the realm by the marquis of winchester and the earls of pembroke and derby.
in all respects the ceremony was admirably performed. the prelates gathered round the richly-decked altar, the royal couple kneeling before it on velvet faldstools, the grand assemblage of english and spanish nobles grouped around, the proud dames of both nations filling the galleries on either side of the chapel—all constituted a superb picture.
the solemnity ended, the royal couple returned to the choir, where a cloth of estate had been prepared for them, beneath which they sat while te deum was solemnly sung. here the picture was even grander than that exhibited in the lady chapel, because it comprehended so much more of the cathedral. fortunately, it could be seen by the vast crowd in the nave.
all being concluded, the royal couple quitted the sacred edifice, walking hand in hand beneath the canopy. before them marched the earls of pembroke and derby, each bearing a sword of state.
in this manner, amid the thunder of artillery, the sounding of trumpets, and the shouts of the crowd, they returned to wolvesey castle, where a grand banquet was given, followed by a state ball.
