Westminster school, in number forty, all in surplices, being placed in a gallery adjoining to the great organ-loft, entertained her majesty with this short prayer or salutation, ViVAT REGINA, [naming her majesty's name ;] which they continued to sing until his majesty entered the choir, whom they entertained in like manner with this prayer or salutation, VIVAT [naming his majesty's name] REX; which they continued to sing until his majesty ascended the theatre.

Then the king, preceded as before, having left the barons of the Cinque Ports, who bore his majesty's canopy, at the entrance into the choir, and the gentlemen pensioners in the choir, ascended the theatre, leaving the rest of the serjeants at arms at the rail aforesaid; and passing by the south side of his throne, to his chair of state set for him on the east side of the theatre, near the foot of his throne, made an humble adoration, and kneeled down at his faldstool, just before his chair, and used some private devotions; the queen doing the like: and then, arising, placed himself in his chair of state; and, being seated, the queen also sat down in her chair of state: the lord chancellor, the lord greatchamberlain, the lord high constable, and earl marshal, with the two bishops who supported his majesty, the dean of Westminster, and the lords who carried the regalia and swords, with garter and the gentleman usher, all standing about his majesty, viz. The bishops on either side, the lords who bore the swords on the right hand, and the lord great chamberlain on the left hand.

The queen's officers, and those who bore her majesty's regalia, with the two supporting bishops, and the lady who bore her majesty's train, with the two ladies assistants, all standing likewise about her majesty, viz. the bishops on either side, her lord chamberlain on the right hand, and her vice-chamberlain on the left; and the ladies, that attended her, behind.

Thus their majesties being seated, and all the nobility and others duly placed, the two provincial kings of arms, with the heralds and pursuivants of arms, repaired to their stations at the four great corner pillars of the theatre.

VOL. I. No. 20.

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THE

THE RECOGNITION.

Then the archbishop of Canterbury, standing near the king on the east side of the theatre, his majesty, attended as before, rose out of his chair, and stood before it, whilst the archbishop, having his face to the east, said as follows:

"SIRS,

"I here present unto you king George, the rightful inheritor of the crown of this realm: Wherefore all ye that are come this day to do your homage, service, and bounden duty, are ye willing to do the same?"

From thence the said archbishop, accompanied with the lord chancellor, the lord great chamberlain, the lord high constable, and the earl marshal, (garter king of arms going before them) proceeded to the south side of the theatre, and repeated the same words; then proceeded to the west, and lastly to the north side of the theatre, in like manner: the king standing all this while by his chair of state, toward the east side of the theatre, and turning his face to the several sides, at such time as the archbishop at every presentation spoke to the people.

The people signified their willingness and joy by loud acclamations, saying,

God save king GEORGE!

At the last recognition the trumpets sounded and drums beat.

After this eremony, a full anthem was sung by the choirs, while their majesties reposed themselves in their chairs of

state.

THE FIRST OBLATION.

The archbishop, in the mean time going to the altar, revested himself with a rich cope, and placed himself at the north side of the altar; as did also the bishops, who bore any part in the office.

The grooms of the removing wardrobe in the interim spread a large carpet from the altar down below the half paces, as far as King Edward's chair: and the gentleman

3

usher

usher of the black rod, and the yeoman of his majesty's wardrobe, assisted by the two grooms before mentioned, spread a rich carpet of cloth of gold over it, and lay cushions of the same for their majesties to kneel on, at the steps of the altar.

Then the king rose from his chair (on the east side of the theatre below his throne) leaving the queen in her's; being supported by the two bishops, and attended (as always) by the dean of Westminster: the great officers and the noblemen who carried the four swords and regalia going before him, put off his cap of estate, and went to the steps of the altar, and there kneeled down upon the cushions.

Here the pall of cloth of gold was delivered to the lord great chamberlain, by the master of the great wardrobe, who, kneeling, presented it to his majesty, and the king offered it.

Then the treasurer of his majesty's household delivered to the lord great chamberlain, an ingot, or wedge of gold, of a pound weight, (viz. ten ounces troy) which the king also offered.

The archbishop, assisted by the dean of Westminster, received them (standing) from his majesty, and laid them reverently on the altar: which done, the king arising made an obeisance towards the altar, and retired to his chair on the south side of the area or sacrarium.

Then the queen, supported as before by the bishops, was brought from her seat, (on the east side of the theatre below her throne) her regalia being borne before her; and, being come to the steps of the altar, kneeled down, and offered a like pall, with the same ceremony as the king did before, and then retired to her chair, set for her likewise on the south side of the area, or on the king's left hand.

After which, their majesties kneeling at their faldstools placed before their chairs, the archbishop made the following prayer:

"O GOD, who dwellest in the high and holy place, with them also who are of an humble spirit; look dowr graciously

upon these thy servants, GEORGE our king, and CHARLOTTE our queen, here prostrate before thee at thy footstool, and mercifully receive these oblations," &c.

Which prayer being ended, the lords, who bore his majesty's regalia, drew near to the steps of the altar, and every one, in order, presented what he carried, viz. the crown, the orb, the sceptre with the dove, the spurs, the scepter with the cross, and St. Edward's staff, unto the archbishop; who being assisted, as before, by the dean of Westminster, laid them decently upon the altar, and the lords who bore them retired to their respective seats.

In like manner, the lords who carried her majesty's rega lia, delivered them severally in manner as before, viz. first the crown, then the scepter with the cross, and lastly, the ivory rod with the dove, and retired to their respective

seats.

Which done, the persons representing the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy, with the great officers, viz. the lord chancellor, the lord treasurer, the lord president of the council, and the lord privy-seal, together with the lord high constable and the earl marshal, repaired to their seats on the south side of the area, behind their majesties chairs, where the lord high steward had immediately before seated himself.

THE LITANY.

Their majesties arising from their chairs, and kneeling again at their faldstools, which were now placed facing the east, the queen's on the left hand of the king's, the archbishop ordered the yeomen of his majesty's vestry to give notice to the bishops of Chester and Chichester to read the Litany; which they accordingly sung,

"O God the father of heaven," &c.

The choirs sung the responses, the Dean of Westminster kneeling on the left hand of the king, a little behind his majesty; after which, viz. at the end of the collect,

"We humbly beseech thee, O father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities."

the

the archbishop, being all this while at the north side of the altar, said these two prayers:

"ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, creator of all things, king of kings and lord of lords, give ear, we beseech thee, unto our humble prayers; and multiply thy blessings upon this thy servant GEORGE, whom in thy name, with lowly devotion, we consecrate our king, &c."

"O GOD, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love, grant unto this thy servant GEORGE, our king, the spirit of wisdom and government,

&c."

After the litany, the yeomen of the vestry carried back the desk and cushions into St. Edward's chapel, where they waited to perform any occasional commands of his grace the archbishop of Canterbury.

THE SERMON.

Then the bishop of Salisbury (nominated to the see of York) ascended the pulpit; and the king and queen, arising, seated themselves again in their chairs, on the south side of the area, where they heard the sermon, the king now putting on again his velvet cap of estate.

During sermon, the two bishops, who supported the king, stood on each side of him: the lords who carried the swords bore them erect, near the king, on his right side; and the lord great chamberlain stood on the king's left hand.

On the east side of the queen stood the two bishops who supported her, and the two great ladies near her chair; her chamberlain on her right hand, and her vice chamberlain on her left.

The archbishop of Canterbury sat in a chair, on the north side of the altar, and the bishops on benches on the north side of the area: and near the archbishop stood Garter king of arms, with several of the king's servants, who attended to do service, as also the serjeant and two yeomen of the vestry before mentioned, in scarlet mantles: on the same side, near the pulpit, stood the lord mayor of London and the master of the jewel-house: and at the angles or corners

of