25 November 1487-Coronation of Elizabeth of York

On 25th November 1487 Elizabeth of York (age 21) was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney (age 36), Edward Stafford 2nd Earl Wiltshire (age 17), Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby (age 34), Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney, Richard Woodville 3rd Earl Rivers (age 34), William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 36) and Thomas Fitzalan 10th or 17th Earl of Arundel (age 37), who carried the Rod and Dove, attended as did Cecily York Viscountess Welles (age 18).

Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. On the Morne, the Day of the Coronation [25th November 1487], she was apparelde in a Kirtill and a Mantell of Purple Velvett furred with Ermyns, with a Lace afor the Mantell. On her Hair, a Serkelett of Golde richely garnysshede with Perle and precious Stonys. And fo apparelled, my Lady Cecill (age 18) bering her Trayne, the remevede furthe of Westminster Hall, and ther stode under a Cloth of Aftate unto the Tyme the Proceffion was orderde, from the whiche Place to the Pulpit in Westminster Chirche she wentt upon new Ray Clothe¹. Al the Day from thens forth, the Bande of the v Ports [Cinque Ports] bare the Canapie according to ther Privileges. And the Order of the Proceffion was as eufueth.

Furst, Esquiers proceded, and Knyghts folowed them. After theym went the new made Knyghts wele besene in dyvers Silks, every Man as hym best likede after his Degre. After theym the Barons, and other Estats in Order as they wer, the Heraldes on every Side the Proceffion, and Sergeannts of Armes to make Rome. Then folowed Abbotts, and next theym Bisshops in Pontificalibus, to the Nomber of xv [15] Bishops, besyde Abbotts, wherof the Bisshop of bare Seint Edwards Chales, the Bishop of Norwiche bare the Patent, byfor whiche Prelats went the Monks of Westminster al in Albes, and the Kings Chapell folowing theym. Next to the Quene went al the other Bishops, except the Bisshop of Wynchester, and the Bishop of Ely, whiche went on ether Hande the Quene under the Canapie to fufteyne her Grace. Then went th Archebisshop of Yorke (age 64). After him was Garter King of Armes; the Maire of London next byfor the Counstable and Marshall as befor rehersede. Next unto theym th Erle of Aronndell (age 70) bering the Virge of Iverye, with a Dove in the Tope. After hym the Duc of Suffolke (age 45) bering the Septre. Then th Erle of Oxinforde (age 45) Great Chamberlayn, in his Parliament Roobees, having in his Hand the Staff of his Office. Then the Duc of Bedforde (age 56) bar hedede in his Roobees of Aftate bering a riche Corowne of Golde. Then folowed the Quene apparelde as is afor rehersede; and next her my Lady Cecill, whiche bar her Trayne. Next her folowd the Duchesse of Bedeforde (age 29), and another Duchesse and Comtesse apparelled in Mantells and Sircoots of Scarlet, furred and powderde, the Duchesses having on ther Heds Coronatts of Golde richely garnysshed with Perle and precious Stones, and the Comtesse on her Hed Serkeletts of Golde in like wife garnysshed, as dooth apper in the Bok of Picture therof made. But the more Pitie ther was so Hoge a People inordynatly presing to cut the Ray Cloth, that the Quenes Grace gede upon, so that in the Prefence certeyne Persones wer slayne, and the Order of the Ladies folowing the Quene was broken and diftrobled.

The Quenes Grace thus comyng forth, when she came to the Entre of the West Dore of the Chirche of Westminster, ther was saide by the. this Orifon, Omnipotens fempiterne Deus, &c. That doon she procedede thorowgh the Quer unto the Pulpit, wherin was a Sege Royall² dressed with Cloth of Golde, and Cusshins accordingly. Th Archebisshop of Canterbury (age 67) ther being present, and revested as apperteyneth to the Celebration of the Maffe, receyved the Quene comyng from her Royall Sege with the Lordes bering her Crowne, Septer, and Rodde, and the Bisshops fusteynyng her as is abovesaide. The Grecis byfor the High Auter wer honorably dressed and arrayed with Carpetts and Cufshions of Aftate, wherupon the Quene lay prostrate afor the Archebisshop, whiles he seide over her this Orifon, Deus qui folus habes, &c. That doon she aros and kneled, and my Lady .... toke her Kerchef from her Hede, and th Archebysshop opend her Brest, and anoynted her ij [2] Tymes. Furst, in the former Parte of her Hede, and fecondly, in her Breste afor, sayng thies Wordes, In nomine Patris & Filii, &c. profit tibi hec unctio, with this Orison, Omnipotens Sempiterne Deus. That doon the said Lady closed her Breft, and folowingly the saide Archebisshop blessed her Ring, seing this Orifon, Creator, and cast holy Water upon it. Then he put this same Ring on the iiij [4] Finger of the Quenes right Hande, saing theyes Words, Accipe annulum, and then he faid, Dominus vobifcum, with this Collect, Deus cujus, &c. Then after the said Archebisshop had blessed the Quenes Corone, seing, Oremus Deus tuorum, he sett the Crowne uppon her Hede, wherupon was a Coyff put by my seid Lady for the Conservation of the holy Uncion, whiche is afterwarde to be delyverede unto the saide Archebisshop, feing theys Words, Officium noftrum, &c. Then he delyverede unto the Quene a Septer in her right Hande, and a Rodde in her left Hande, faing this Orifon, Omnipotens Domine. The Quene thus corowned, was lede by the abovefaide Bisshops up into the Sege of her Estate, al the Ladies folowing her. Whiles the Offratory was in playing at Organs, she was ledde corowned, from her Sege Roiall by the faide ij [2] Bisshops unto the High Auter, her Septer and Rodde of Golde borne byfor her as is aforsaide. Then th Archebisshop turned his Face to the Quer warde, and after this the Quene was, as byfor, brought up ageyn to her Sege Royall of Aftate, wher the fatt stille, until Agnus Dei was begone, and after Per omnia fecula feculorum, he turned hym to the Quene, blessing her with this Orifon, Omnipotens Deus carismate, &c. wherunto the Quene answerde, Amen. In the Tyme of finging of Agnus Dei, the Pax was brought to the Qwene by the Bishop of Worcester, whiche brought, when the Quene had kissed it, she descendid and came to the High Auter, and had a Towell holden byfor her by ij [2] Bisshops. And ther the lowly inclynyng herself to the Grounde, feide her Confiteor, the Prelats feing Misereatur, and th'Archebisshop the Abfolution, and then the Quene fumwhat areyfyng her: self, receyved the Blessed Sacrament. Thies Things reverently accomplishede, the Quene retourned to her Sette Roiall, and ther abode til the Masse was ended. The Maffe doon, her Grace, accompanyed with Prelats and Nobles, descended from her Sege Roiall of Aftate, and went to the High Auter, and then the faide Archebisshop arrayde in Pontificalibus, as he saide Masse, with all the Mynifters of the Auter byfore hym, went byfor the Auter of the Shryne of Seint Edwarde the King, and after hym folowed al other Prelats and Lordes. Then the Quenes Grace commyng byfor the faide Auter of the Shryne, the said Archebisshop toke the Crowne from her Hede, and fett upon the fame Auter.

Note 1. In the Tudor period a 'ray cloth' (sometimes rey, raie, ray, or reye, ray-cloth or rays cloth) is a woollen textile characterized by weft-faced coloured stripes or bands, used especially for floor coverings, procession carpets, and sometimes garments. The word “ray” comes from Old French raie meaning 'stripe' or 'line'.

Note 2. 'Sege Royall' i.e. Royal seat, throne.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 25th November 1487. This yeare the Queene was crowned.^f

Note f. At Westminster on the 25th November, 1487.