RICHARD III.-DUKE OF LANCASTER.- -HENRY IV. 13

after which the Mayor and his company accompanied him to Westminster.

On the morrow they went again to the palace, to present the King with two gilt basins and two thousand nobles of gold; and the third day after they received a new confirmation of their liberties; but they did not entirely clear themselves until they had further presented a golden tablet of the story of St. Edward, for the shrine of that royal martyr in Westminster abbey, and a tax of ten thousand pounds.

VII. HENRY DUKE OF LANCASTER, 1399.

[Tyrrell's History of England, from MSS. in Lambeth Library.]

At the Duke's approach to London, with his captive Monarch, he was received in great pomp by the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and all the several Companies in their formalities, with the people incessantly crying, "Long live the good Duke of Lancaster, our deliverer!"

VIII. KING HENRY THE FOURTH, 1399.

[Froissart.]

On Sunday the thirteenth of October Henry left the Tower after dinner, on his return to Westminster. He was bareheaded, and had round his neck the order of the King of France. The Prince of Wales, six Dukes, six Earls, and eighteen Barons, accompanied him, and there were, of Knights and other nobility, from eight to nine hundred horse. The King was dressed in a jacket of the German fashion, of cloth of gold, mounted on a white courser, with a blue garter on his leg

"Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed,

Which his aspiring master seem'd to know,

With slow but stately pace kept on his course,

While all tongues cried, 'God save thee, Bolingbroke!""

SHAKSPEARE.

The streets of London were handsomely decorated with tapestries and rich hangings. There were seven fountains in Cheapside, and other streets he passed through, which perpetually ran with white and red wines. He was escorted by prodigious numbers of gentlemen, with their servants in liveries and badges; and the different Companies of London were led by their Wardens, clothed in their proper livery, and with banners of their trades. The whole cavalcade amounted to six thousand horse. The King was crowned the same day at Westminster.

IX. KING HENRY THE FIFTH, 1413.

[Thomas of Elmham.]

On Friday the of April, the King took his journey from Kingston-upon-Thames to his castle called the Tower of London, and was met by a multitude of Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Esquires, and other great men of his kingdom, and likewise by the citizens of London, and an innumerable clergy, in a noble array, and with all possible solemnity.

On the following day he rode in procession through London to his Coronation, preceded by the Knights of the Bath, whom he had then newly created.

X. KING HENRY THE FIFTH, 1415.

[Holinshed; a Latin MS. in the Cottonian Collection, Julius E. iv. translated in Nicolas's History of the Siege of Agincourt; and a metrical account by Lydgate, who was probably the author of the Songs, &c. used on this occasion.]

On the King's return after the glorious field of Agincourt, the Mayor of London and the Aldermen, apparelled in orient grained scarlet, and four hundred commoners clad in beautiful murrey, well mounted and trimly horsed, with rich collars and great chains, met the King at Blackheath; and the clergy of London in solemn procession with rich crosses, sumptuous copes, and massy censers, received him at St. Thomas of Waterings. The King, like a grave and sober personage, and as one who remembered from Whom all victories are sent, seemed little to regard the vain pomp and shows, insomuch that he would not suffer his helmet to be carried with him, whereby the blows and dints upon it might have been seen by the people, or would he suffer any ditties to be made and sung by minstrels of his glorious victory, because he would the praise and thanks should be altogether given to God.

:

At the entrance of London Bridge, on the top of the tower, stood a gigantic figure, bearing in his right hand an axe, and in his left the keys of the city hanging to a staff, as if he had been the porter. By his side stood a female of scarcely less stature, intended for his wife. Around them were a band of trumpets and other wind instruments. The towers were adorned with banners of the royal arms, and in the front of them was inscribed CIVITAS REGIS JUSTICIE (the City of the King of Righteousness).

At the drawbridge on each side was erected a lofty column, like a little tower, built of wood, and covered with linen; one painted like white marble, and the other like green jasper. They were surmounted by figures of the King's beasts,—an antelope, having a shield of the royal arms suspended from his neck, and a sceptre in his right foot; and a lion, bearing in his right claw the royal standard unfurled.

At the foot of the bridge next the city was raised a tower,

formed and painted like the columns before mentioned; and, in the middle of which, under a splendid pavilion, stood a most beautiful image of St. George, armed, excepting his head, which was adorned with a laurel crown, studded with gems and precious stones. Behind him was a crimson tapestry, with his arms (a red cross) glittering on a multitude of shields. On his right hung his triumphal helmet, and on his left a shield of his arms of suitable size. In his right hand he held the hilt of the sword with which he was girt, and in his left a scroll, which, extending along the turrets, contained these words, SOLI DEO HONOR ET Gloria. In a contiguous house were innumerable boys representing the angelic host, arrayed in white, with glittering wings, and their hair set with sprigs of laurel; who, on the King's approach, sang, accompanied by organs, an anthem, supposed to be that beginning "Our King went forth to Normandy;" and whose burthen is "Deo gratias, Anglia, redde pro victoria,”—printed in Percy's Reliques.

The tower of the Conduit on Cornhill was decked with a tent of crimson cloth, and ornamented with the King's arms, and those of Saints George, Edward, and Edmund. Under the pavilion was a company of hoary prophets, in golden coats and mantles, and their heads covered with gold and crimson; who, when the King passed, sent forth a great quantity of sparrows and other small birds, as a sacrifice agreeable to God, some of which alighted on the King's breast, some rested on his shoulders, and some fluttered round about him. And the prophets then sang the psalm, Cantate Domino canticum novum, &c.

The tower of the Conduit at the entrance of Cheap was hung with green, and ornamented with scutcheons. Here sat twelve venerable old men, having the names of the twelve Apostles written on their foreheads, together with the twelve Kings, Martyrs, and Confessors, of the succession of England, who also gave their chaunt at the King's approach, and sent forth upon him round leaves of silver mixed with wafers, and wine out of the pipes of the conduit, imitating Melchisedeck's reception of Abraham, when he returned from his victory over the Four Kings.

The Cross of Cheap was not visible, being concealed by a beautiful castle, constructed of timber, and covered with linen

painted to resemble squared blocks of white marble and green and crimson jasper. The arms of St. George adorned the summit, those of the King and the Emperor were raised on halberds, and the lower turrets had the arms of the royal family and the great peers of the realm. On a stage in front came forth a chorus of virgins with timbrel and dance, as to another David coming from the slaughter of Goliah; their song of congratulation was, "Welcome, Henry the Fifte, King of Englond and of Fraunce." Throughout the building there was also a multitude of boys, representing the heavenly host, who showered down on the King's head small coins resembling gold, and boughs of laurel, and sang, accompanied by organs,

the Te Deum laudamus.

The tower of the conduit at the west end of Cheap was surrounded with pavilions, in each of which was a virgin, who from cups in their hands blew forth golden leaves on the King. The tower was covered with a canopy made to resemble the sky and clouds, the four posts of which were supported by angels, and the summit crowned with an archangel of brilliant gold. Beneath the canopy, on a throne, was a majestic image representing the sun, which glittered above all things, and round it were angels singing, and playing all kinds of musical instru

ments.

This was the last of the pageantry, and, after the King had paid his devotions at St. Paul's, he departed to his palace at Westminster.

XI. KING HENRY THE FIFTH AND QUEEN KATHERINE, 1421.

[Walsingham.]

· The Conqueror of France made another triumphant entry, with his fair trophy Queen Katherine, in the year 1421; but no particulars occur different to what has already appeared. Henry, it is said, ordered thanksgivings and solemn processions to be made for five days in every city and town in his dominions.

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