John Leland's Collectanea Volume 4 Pages 179-184

John Leland's Collectanea Volume 4 Pages 179-184 is in John Leland's Collectanea Volume 4.

Ordinances by Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Derby, as to what Preparation is to be made against the Deliveraunce of a Queen, as also for the Christening of the Child of which she shall be delivered.

[From a Manuscript in the Harleian Library, N° 6079].

Her Highnes Pleasure beinge understoode in what Chamber she will be delivered in, the same must be hanged with riche Clothe of Arras, Sydes, rowsse, Windowes and all, excepte One Windowe, which must be hanged so as she may have Light when it pleasethe her. Then must there be set a Royall Bedde, and the Flore layed all over and over with Carpets, and a Cupboard covered with the same Suyte that the Chamber is hanged withall. Also there must be ordayned a faier Pallet, and all Things appertayninge therunto, and a riche Sparner hanginge over the same. And that Daye that the Queene (in good Tyme) will take her; Chamber, the Chappell where her Highnes will receave and heare Devine Service, must be well and worshipfully arrayed. Also the greate Chamber must be hanged with riche Arrass, with a Clethe and Chaire of Estate, and Quishins thereto belonginge, the Place under and aboute the same beinge well encarped. Where the Queene (comminge from the Chappell with her Lords and Ladyes of Estate) may, either standinge or sittinge, at her Pleasure, receave Spices and Wyne. And the next Chamber betwixt the greate Chamber and the Queenes Chamber to be well and worshipfully hanged; which done, Two of the greatest Estats shall leade her to her Chamber, where they shall take their Leave of her. Then all the Ladyes and Gentilwomen to goe in with her, and none to come into the greate Chamber but Women; and Women to be made all Manner of Officers, as Butlers, Panters, Sewers, &c. and all Manner of Officers shall bringe them all neadfull Thinges unto the greate Chamber Dore, and the Women Officers shall receave it there of them.

The Furniture appertayninge to the Quenes Bedde.

Fyrst ij Paire of Sheets of Reines, every of them 4 Yardes broade, and 5 Yardes longe, 2 Head Sheets of like Reines, 3 Yardes broade, and 4 Yardes longe, 2 longe and 2 square Pillows of Fustian, stuffed with fine Downe, every of them with 2 Beeres of Reines, a Pane of Skarlet furred with Ermyn, and embroudered with Crimson Velute upon Velute, or riche Clothe of Golde; and a Head Sheete of like Clothe of Golde furred with Ermyn, a Kevertoure of fine Lawne of v Breadthes, and 6 Yardes longe, and an Head Sheete of 4 Breadthes, and 5 Yardes longe; a Mattres stuffed with Wolle, a Fetherbed, with a Bolster of Downe, a Sparver of Crimson Sattin embroudered with Crownes of Golde, the Kinge and Queenes Arms, and other Device, lyned with double Tarteron, garnished with Frengs of Silke, blewe Russet, and Golde, with a rounde Bowlle of Golde, or Sylver and gylte, 4 Quishins of Crimson Damaske Clothe of Golde, a rownde Mantell of Crimson Velute plaine furred throwgheout with Ermyn, Backe for the Queene to weare aboute her in her Pallet. The Pallet at the Beddes Feete must be arraied, accordinge as the Bedde is, with Sheets and Panes, &c. excepte the Clothe of Golde of the Panes that longe to the Pallet to be of another Coloure then that of the Bedde. It must be forseene, that suche Estats as shall please the Kinge to appoint to goe to the Christninge, be placed neere to the Place where the Queene is delivered, to the ende, that anon after the Deliveraunce they may geve their readys Attendaunce upon the Childe to the Churche.

How the Churche shall he arraied againste the Christeninge

Note, that the whole Churche where the Childe shall be christened must be hanged with riche Arras or Clothe of Golde in the best Manner, and in like Sorte shall the Auter be arayed also, and well carpetted throughout the whole Chancell under Foote; also there must be longe and large Carpets layde under Foote at the Churche Dore, and the Porche must be hanged and seeled with riche Clothe of Golde of Arras Worke. And on the one Side of the Churche neere unto the Fonte there must be hanged a Traves, with Carpets and Quishins to the same, a faire Panne of Coles well burnte before they come there for Smellinge, and sweete Perfumes to caste therin, Chafrons of Water, with Basons of Silver, and gilte, to washe the Childe, if Neade be; and to every of these Assaye must be made.

Then must the Fonte of Silver that is at Canterbury be sent for, or els a new Fonte made of Purpose, to be kepte in suche Place as shall please the Kinge, to serve to like Use herafter. Or els his Highnes Pleasure wolde be knowne, whether he will have it done in a Fonte of Stone, as it hathe bene sometimes seene: but wherof soever the Fonte be, it must be covered all over the Bottome with softe Raynes laied In divers Folds. And the Fonte must be set of a greate Heighte, that the People may see the Christeninge withoute preasinge to nighe the Fonte; and the same must be hanged all aboute with Clothe of Golde. Over the Fonte there must be hanged a greate and large Canape of Damaske, Satten, or Reynes, the Bordure beneathe Clothe of Golde, or well embroudered; or els a riche See of Golde, with a large and rich Valence, and underneathe the saide Canape there must be reserved a large Space for the Comminge to the Fonte of the Childe, and suche Ladyes and Estats as pleaseth the Kinge shall accompany the same therto. Also there must be ordained viii Peece of Bankelyns of Golde to hange aboute the Fonte. Also there must be provided a little Taper for the Childe to carye in his Hande up to the highe Auter after his Christendome. Note, that the Gossippes must be lodged nighe the Quenes Deliveraunce, that they (accompaignied with the Lordes abovesaide, bothe Spirituali and Temporall, and thother Estats) may be ready to attende upon the yonge Prince or Princesse to the Christeninge.

When the Childe goeth to Churche to be christened, a Dutchesse must beare the Childe, and a Dutchesse must beare the Crisure before it upon her Shoulder, on a Kerchewe of smalle Raines; and if it be a Prince, an Erle shall beare the Trayne of the Mantell, which must be of riche Clothe of Golde, with a longe Traine furred throughout with Ermyn; but if it be a Princesse, then a Countesse shall beare the Traine. There must be borne before it to the Churche 200 Torches, of which 24 shal be borne aboute the Childe with Esquiers; and when they come to Churche they shall all stande aboute the Fonte in Order, and as neare therunto as they may conveniently. Then shall the Sergeante of the Kings or Queenes Pantry be readye at the Churche with a faire Towell of Reynes about his Necke, and a Salte Seller in his Hande, with Salte therein, and that he be ready to take the Assaye of the Salte before it be hallowed, and the Treasorer of Howsholde to goe before him and prefent the Assaye. Also the Sergeant of the Ewery shal be ready in the Churche, with Basonnes covered and uncovered, suche as the Case shall require, for the Byshoppes to washe in, and Iike Basonnes and Ewers for the Gossippes to washe in. Also the Sergeant of the Spicery and the Butler shall geve their Entendance at the Churche with Spice and Wyne, for the Gossippes and other Estats to take when the Prince is christened. When the Prince or Princesse is brought to the utter Porche of the Churche, the Bishoppe shal be there ready to receave it and to doe such Solempnityes as therunto appertaineth. After which Solempnityes done and finished, there must be ready at the Churche Dore a Canape, to be borne over the Childe by 4 Men of Worshippe, eyther Knights, or els Esquiers assigned therunto before. The Prince or Princesse being broughte into the Churche, it shal be forthwith borne into the Traves, where shal be Fire and Water (as aforfaid) ready for the Changinge of the Childe out of the Clothes, and makinge it ready unto Christendome. In the meane time the Gossippes (savinge the Lady Godmother) and all suche Estats as shall please the Kinge, shal be neere therunto, shall place themselves within the Canape of the Fonte; so that when the Baptizor (which must be an Archbishoppe or a Bishoppe) with the Officers of the Churche, doe come therunto, they may be there readye placed, and there must be assigned certaine worshipfull Knights and Esquiers to spreade and holde at large the saide Canape in good and seemely Order. And in the meane tyme, whilest the Childe is makinge ready, the Fonte must be hallowed by the Abbot of Westmefter, or some one in his Steade; whiche done, the Childe shal be brought forthe of the Traves to be christened. As soone as the Christeninge is done, all thaforsaide Torches shal be lighted, and the Childes Taper abovesaide, which the saide Childe shall beare up to the highe Auter in his Hande, and there offer the same, with isuche a Somme of Money as finali please the Kinge to appointe; and then shal it be confirmed in the same Place. All which Solempnityes accomplished, the Childe shal be brought downe from the highe Auter into the Traves againe, where it shal abide while the Gossippes and other Estats do take Spice and Wyne. Then shall the Gossippes geve their Giftes, which must be delivered to Erles, Barons, or Banneretts, which shall beare the same before the Childe to the Queenes Chamber Dore, and there shall delyver them to the Ladyes and Gentilwomen every Gifte before other, and the Gifte of greateft Estats hyndermoste. But herin the King’s Pleasure must be knowne, whether he will have the Gifts caried prively or openly; and the hindermost Gifte aforefaid must be borne by the greatest Estate there present. But yf yt be a Princesse, the Gifts must in like Manner be borne of Ladyes, which shal beare them to the Queene. The Gifts given to the Erles in Manner aforesaid, and all Things accomplished in the Churche with requisite Solempnitye, the Childe shall be borne Home againe in suche Sorte as it was carried to the Churche, savinge that the Torches must be lighted, and a Cloth of Estate borne over it; and the same Waye that it was brought to the Churche shall it be carried Home againe. Note, that the Parliament Chamber must be richely hanged , and seeled with a riche and statelye Bed therin, with Staiers up to the saide Bed, which Stayers must be covered with blewe Worsted, garnished with Rybands, and gilte Nayles; the Bed covered with a goodly Emperiall, the Curteynes and Traves of blewe Tarteron, Carpetis laied with the riche Araye for the Queene to be purified in. The Cupborde and Wyndowes in her Chamber covered with blewe Worsted, Bankers of red Worsted, a Traves of blewe Sarcenett, and another of blewe Tartaron.

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The Childe broughte Home, and the Gifts presented and delivered to the Queene as aforesaide, the Childe must be borne into the Nursery, where it shall be nourished with a Ladye Governesse of the Nowrce [nurse], and the drye Nowrce, and they shall have 3 Chambers, which shal be called the Rockesters, and they shall have their Othes geven them by the Chamberlaine. It must be seene that there be bothe Yeomen and Gromes to wayte upon the Chamber, Sewers, Panters, and all other Officers for the Monthe, and that Othes be ministred to every of them in most straitest Maner. Furthermore it must be seene that the Nowrces Meate and Drinke be assayed duringe the Tyme that she geveth Suck to the Childe, and that a Physicion do oversee her at every Meale, which shall see that she geveth the Childe seasonnable Meate and Drinke.

As touchinge suche Necessaries as belonge unto the Childe. First, he must have a riche Mantell of Clothe of Golde with a longe Traine, furred throughe out with Ermyn, to bear the Prince or Princesse in to the Christeninge, and for other Necessaryes 12 Yardes of Skarlette, 24 Yards of fyne Blankette, and 24 Elles of fyne Reynes, a Elle of Bauldkin of Gold lyned with Buckeram, frenged by the Valence with Silke to hange over the Prynce by his Chimney, a Mantell of Skarlett furred with Mynivere, 2 Palletts of Canvas, 2 Mattredes, 2 Payr of Blanketts, 4 Payr of Sheets, 2 Tappets of red Worsted, 2 Quissins covered with Crymson Damaske, a Quissin of Lether, made like a carvinge Quissin for the Nowrce, a greate Potte of Lether for Water, a greate Chaser, and a Bason of Lattyn, 2 greate Basonnes of Pewter for the Lawndery in the Nowrcery, 8 large Carpetts to cover the Flores of the Chambers, &c. Also a Traves of red double Tartaron, with a Celle to hange in the Chamber. It must; be foreseene, that there be a little Cradell of Tree, of a Yarde and a Quarter longe, and 22 Inches broade, in a Frame faire set forthe by Painters Crafte; the Cradell shall have 4 Pomelles of Silver, and gilte, 2 like Pomells of the same Frame, fyve Buckells of Silver on eyther Side the Cradell without Tongs for the Swathinge Bande, whose Furniture of Beddioge and Lynne is above written; 2 Panes of Skarlet, thone furred with Ermyn, and thother with Grey, and bothe bordured with Clothe of Golde, the one Crimson, and the other Blewe; 2 Head Sheets of like Clothe of Golde, furred accordinge to the Panes, a Sparner of lynnen Clothe for the same Cradell, a Baylle covered with Reynes, 2 Cradell Bandes of Crimson Velute. Also there must be ordained a greate Cradell of Estate, contayninge in Length 5 Foote and an Halfe, and in Breadthe 2 Foote and an Halfe, covered with Crimson Clothe of Golde, having a Case of Tree covered with Buckeram, a fayer riche Sparner of Crimfon Clothe of Golde lyned with red double Tartaron, and garnished with Frenges of Silke and Golde to hange over the same Cradell, and the Cradell must have fyve Stulpes of Silver, and gilte, whereof the Cradell shall have 3, felz. one at the Heade, and 2 at the Feete, and the Cradell Case shall have other 2 like Pemells at the Head. The middelmost Stulpe that standeth at the Heade of the Cradell shal be graven with the Kings Armes, and all thother Stulpes with other Armes, and the Grownde all aboute the Cradell must be well carpetted. And the Cradell must have 8 Buckells of Silver without Tongs on either Side thereof, a Mattresse, 2 Pillowes, with 4 Beeres of Reynes, a Payer of Fustians, a Paine of Skarlette furred with Ermyns, bordured with blewe Velute upon Velute, Clothe of Golde or Tyssue, an Head Sheete of lyke Clothe of Golde furred with Ermyn, a Bayle covered with Reynes for the same Cradell, a Boole of Silver, and gilte for the abovesayde Sparner, 2 Swadel Bands, thone blewe Velute. and thother blewe Clothe of Golde, with all other necessary Furniture therunto appertayning, like as the Prince or Princesse herselfe were lyinge therin.

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