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FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ. Queens of England. Vol.1.

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FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ.
Queens of England. Vol.1.
page 351



site side of the field, on the part of the defenders, Sir Charles Brandon, habited as a poor hermit, who, unheralded by trumpet or minstrel, requested Katherine to permit him to tilt in her honour; the boon was no sooner granted, than, flinging off his lowly weeds, he exposed to view a complete set of armour ; and galloping to the tilt end of the field, was instantly surrounded by his supporters. During this interval, Henry Guilford appeared, clad in gold and silver tissue, but completely enveloped in a pageant resembling a castle, its glittering walls chequered with mystic rhymes, invoking blessings on the royal pair; behind him came his men, all dressed in the same livery, of silver tissue, who, having made obeisance to the Queen, passed to the field. Then followed the Marquis of Dorset and his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Boleyn, both habited as pilgrims from St. Jago's shrine, with a train of sable-suited attendants. The procession was closed by several lords in armour, mounted on steeds superbly ornamented." Amidst this martial pomp appeared pageants of most ludicrous and fantastic incongruity. Arrows were encased in crimson damask, and amongst other goodly shows was a silver greyhound bearing Katherine's device — a tree of pomegranates. At length, the trumpets sounded to the charge, and in an instant the play of lances began. As usual, the royal party prevailed, and to the King was awarded the first prize. The tournay ended, Henry and his consort, after attending vespers, repaired to "Westminster, where the noble company partook of a sumptuous supper ; and when the cloth was cleared, a spectacle was prepared, of which the lower orders were allowed to participate : first, an interlude was performed by the children of the royal chapel, then, after the King had conferred knighthood on the Irish chief, O'Neal, the minstrels played, and the lords and. the King, observing how interested the spectators were, stole away to prepare for them a still higher gratification. Presently, attention was arrested by a flourish of trumpets ; a ponderous machine, completely enve loped in cloth of arras, was wheeled into the Hall, and, whilst curiosity became intense at the sight, a cavalier issued from the pageant, and represented to the Queen that, in a certain garden of pleasure, there was a golden bower, wherein were lords and ladies, much desirous to show pastime to the Queen and ladies, if they might be permitted to do so. Permission being granted, the cloth was removed, and discovered a beautiful garden, in which were trees of hawthorn, eglantine, and rosiers, vines and gilliflowers, all wrought of gold. In an arbour appeared six ladies, all dressed in silver and satin, on whose heads were bonnets, open at the four quarters, and outfrised. with flat gold of damask. The veillets were of roses wreathed un Dutch crape, so that the gold showed through the crape. In this garden, also, was the King, robed in purple satin, embroidered with letters of gold, composing his assumed name of Cœur Loyal. With him were five nobles, also attired in purple satin, and with their assumed names embroidered all over their dresses, in golden letters. The gentlemen having joined the ladies, they danced together, whilst the pageant of gold was removed to the extremity of the Hall, for the purpose of receiving them when the ballet should be ended. But the rude people, as Hall calls them, ran to the pageant, and, either from curiosity or cupidity, stripped it of all its ornaments. Nor did the work of destruction end here, for as soon as the dance was concluded, the crowd rushed forward, and seizing the King and the other noble i ierformers, tore the golden ornaments rom their clothing, and robbed the ladies of their j'ewels. In the scramble, the King was stripped to his waistcoat and drawers, and Sir Thomas Knevet, who resisted the mob, was robbed of every article of clothing, and left naked and crest-fallen, to repent of his rashness. At last, the guards cleared the Hall, and the King, laughing heartily at the turn matters had taken, told his courtiers they must deem their losses as largess to the commonalty ; and turning to the Queen, led her to her chamber. At this spoliation, Hall assures ns that


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