Books, Modern Era, Tudor Tracts by Pollard, Tudor Tracts Chapter 20

The unique copy of this Tract is preserved in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. As it is however, somewhat confusedly written; its information has been corrected and completed from other contemporary sources.

The following is a truer account of the actual interment:

On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 20th year of the reign of Elizabeth the Queen's Majesty of England, there went from Peterborough Master William Dethick (age 45), alias Garter Principal King of Arms, and five Heralds, accompanied by 40 horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late Queen of Scots, from Fotheringhay Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire (which Queen had remained prisoner in England nineteen years): having for that purpose, brought a royal coach drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet; richly set forth with escutcheons of the Arms of Scotland, and little pennons round about it.

The body (being enclosed in lead; and the same coffined in wood) was brought down, and reverently put into the coach.

At which time, the Heralds put on their Coats of Arms, and bareheaded, with torches' light, brought the same forth of the Castle, about ten of the clock at night: and so conveyed it to Peterborough [eleven] miles distant from Fotheringhay Castle.

Whither being come, about two of the clock on the Monday morning [3 1st July]; the body was received most reverently at the Minster Door of Peterborough, by the Bishop, Dean and Chapter, and [Robert Cooke] Clarenceux King at Arms.

And, in the presence of the Scots which came with the same, it was laid in a Vault prepared for the same, in the Quire of the said Church, on the south side; opposite to the tomb of Queen Katharine [of Arragon], Dowager of Spain, the first wife of King Henry the Eighth.

The occasion why the body was forthwith laid into the Vault, and not borne in the Solemnity; was because it was so extreme[ly] heavy, by reason of the lead, that the Gentlemen could not have endured to have carried it, with leisure, in the solemn proceeding: and besides, [it] was feared that the solder might rip; and, [it] being very hot weather, might be found some annoyance.

A Remembrance of the Order and Manner of the Burial of Mary, Queen of Scots, Printed in Archæologia, I., 155 [for 355], 1770.

The following additional details are given in the Account drawn up by [Doctor Richard Fletcher] the Dean of Peterborogh. See S. Gunton, History of the Cathedral of Peterburgh, p. 78. Ed. 1686.

The body, with the closures, weighed nine hundred weight; which being carried, and attended orderly by the said persons, was committed to the ground in the Vault appointed: and immediately the Vault was covered, saving a small hole left open for the Staffs to [be] broken into.

There were at that time, not any Offices of the Church Service done: the Bishop being ready to have executed therein. But it was by all that were present, as well Scottish as others, thought good and agreed, that it should be done at the day and time of Solemnity.

Her body was brought in a coach, about 100 attending thereon, from Fotheringhay Castle, upon Sunday [30th July], at night [Richard Howland] the Bishop of Peterborough, [Richard Fletcher] the Dean [of Peterborough], the Prebends, and the rest [of the Chapter] met the same at the Bridge; being not far from the town: and so conveyed it to the Bishop's Palace, and from thence upon Tuesday being Lammas Day, [it] was carried to the Church, where she was buried¹ on the south side of the Hearse by torchlight.

Note 1. There is a Memorial entered on the wall of the Cathedral of Peterborough, for one [named Robert Scarlet] who, being Sexton thereof, interred two Queens therein (Katharine Dowager and Mary of Scotland); more than fifty years interceding betwixt their several sepultures. This vivacious Sexton also buried two generations; or the people in that place twice over. Thus having built many houses (so I find graves frequently called domus aternales) for others: some, as it was fitting, performed this last office unto him. [He died on 2nd July 1594, set 98.] Thomas Fuller, Worthies, &c., ii. 293., Ed. 1662.

The Hearse [or Catafalque] was made field-bed wise; the valance of black velvet, with a gold fringe; [and] the top of the imperial covered with baize. About it, were set ten Posies [of the Motto of the Arms of Scotland], In my defence, God me defend! with ten Scutcheons great and little; and, at the top, a double one with a crown imperial thereupon. The Supporters [were] Unicorns, with 100 pennons or little flags. It was impaled with baize; and in it [were] fourteen stools, with black velvet cushions.

Upon the pillars supporting the imperial of the Hearse, the which were all covered with velvet, were fixed Scutcheons: bearing either [the] Red Lion alone; or else parted with the Arms of France, or with the arms of the Lord Lenox.

The Church and Chancel were hanged with baize and Scutcheons, as at other funerals.

[Here must be inserted some additional information]:

Upon Monday, in the afternoon, came to Peterburgh, all the Lords and Ladies and other Assistants appointed; and at the Bishop's Palace was prepared [at Queen Elizabeth's expense] a great supper for them: where all, at one table, supped in the Great Chamber; [it] being hanged with black.

Dean R. Fletcher, in S. Gunton's History, &c., p. 78, Ed. 1686.

On Tuesday, being the 1st of August, in the morning, about eight of the clock, the Chief Mourner, being [Bridget Russell] the Countess of Bedford [now the Widow of her third husband], was attended upon by all the Lords and Ladies; and brought into the Presence Chamber within the Bishop's Palace: which [Chamber], all over, was hanged with black cloth.

She was, by the Queen's Majesty's Gentlemen Ushers, placed somewhat under a Cloth of Estate [canopy] of purple velvet: where, having given to the [Gentlemen representing, on this occasion, the] Great Officers, their Staffs of Office (viz. to the Lord Steward; Lord Chamberlain; the Treasurer, and Comptroller [of the Household]), she took her way into the Great Hall.

The Mourners came out of the Bishop's Palace; being set in order by the Heralds thus:

First 100 Releevants; poor old women, for the most part widows: in black cloth gowns, with an ell of white Holland over their heads; which they had for their labour, and nine shillings apiece in money. These divided themselves in the body of the Church; and stood half on the one side, and half on the other: and there stood during the whole Solemnity.

At the Church door, the Singing Men and Quiristers met the Mourners with a Psalm; and led them the way into the Chancel, continuing singing, with the Organ, until the Sermon began.

Then followed two Yeomen, viz.: the Sheriff [of Northamptonshire]^ Bailiff and the Bailiff of Peterborough; with black staves.

And after them [100 poor men, in] Mourning Coats.

Then Sir George Savile, in a Mourning gown, carrying the great Standard: viz. a Cross on a Field azure; the Streamer, a Unicorn argent in a Field of guiles; a Posy written, In my defence, God me defend!

Then followed Mourning Cloaks, two by two, a great number: whereof the first were the late Queen's Officers.

And after them, Mourning Gowns.

Then followed the Coffin [empty of course], covered with a pall of velvet; six Scutcheons fixed thereon, upon the head whereof stood a Crown of Gold.

Six Gentlemen bare [the supposed] corpse, under a velvet canopy borne by these four Knights:

Sir Thomas Manners, Sir John Hastings, Sir James Harington, Sir Richard Knightley.

Eight Banerols [a Banner, about a yard square, borne at the funerals of great persons] borne by eight Squires; four on either side of the Coffin.

After the [supposed] corpse, came the Head Mourner [Bridget Russell,] the Countess of Bedford; assisted by the two Earls [John Manners,] of Rutland and [Henry Clinton, of] Lincoln: [Lucy,] the Lady St John of Basing bearing her train.

The Head Mourner and the [twelve] Ladies, with the two Earls assistant were placed within the Hearse \or Catafalque\.

The two Knights, with their Banners, were set at the East end of the Hearse, without the pale: and the eight Squires, with their Bannerols, four of a side, in like manner without the pale.

All the rest of the Mourners were carried up by a Herald above the Hearse; and placed of each side, the women next the altar.

The Bishop and the Dean [of Peterborough] stood at the altar, with two gilded basons.

All which being placed and set, and the Church quiet;

[William Wickham,] the Bishop of Lincoln began his Sermon [out of Psalm xxxix. 5-7].*

And in his prayer [when he gave thanks for such as were translated out of this Vale of Misery, he] used these words:

"Let us bless God for the happy dissolution of Mary, late the Scottish Queen and Dowager of France. Of whose life and departure, whatsoever shall be expected, I have nothing to say: for that I was unacquainted with the one; and not present at the other. Of Her Majesty's faith and end, I am not to judge. It is a charitable saying of the Father Luther ' Many [a] one liveth a Papist; and dieth a Protestant/ Only this I have been informed, That she took her death patiently; and recommended herself wholly to Jesus Christ."

The two Earls [were] placed without the pale [of the Hearse], before the Countess.

One of the Kings of Heralds fetched from the Hearse, the Coat Armour; brought it down to the other King of Heralds; and he delivered it to the two Earls. They carried it, obeisance being done to the Countess, to the Bishop [of Peterborough]; and kissed it in delivering of it A third Herald took it of the Bishop; and laid it down on the altar.

The Sword, the Target, the Helmet, Crown, and Crest, in like sort was all done by the two Earls: kissing their hands before them.

Then were the two Banners carried, by one after another, severally by those that brought them; and so set upon the altar, leaning to the wall.

The other eight Bannerols were put into the Hearse as they stood.

Then went the Countess [of Bedford], Master John Manners [acting as Vice Chamberlain,] holding up her train the second time; and offered alone [for herself] to the Bishop.

Then the Ladies and Gentlemen, by two and two, went up and offered.

Then the [four] Officers with White Staffs offered.

And, last of all, came there a Herald to the pulpit; and fetched the Bishop of Lincoln.

And then the most part of the Mourners departed, in the same order they came in: and towards the door of the Chancel, stood the Scottish women, parted on both sides; and as the English Ladies passed, they kissed them all.

Then over the Vault, where the body lay; [Richard Fletcher] the Dean [of Peterborough] read the ordinary words of [the] Burial [Service].

And this being done: the four Officers brake their White Staffs over their heads; and threw them into the Vault

[Dean Fletcher's The Manner of the Solemnity, &c., concludes thus: And so they departed to the Bishop's House: where was a great feast appointed accordingly [at Queen Elizabeth's expense¹].

The concourse of people was of many thousands.

And, after dinner, the Nobles departed away; every one towards his own home.

The Master of the [Queen's] Wardrobe paid to the Church, for breaking of the ground in the Quire, and making the grave, £10; and for Blacks of the Quire and Church, £20.]

Note 1. The total of Queen Elizabeth's expenses for this Funeral amounted to.£321, 145. 6d.