all, namely, twenty shillings apiece; and those she also delivered
particularly to each one of the whole company; and “so, taking her
ease upon the cushion of state, and hearing the choir a little while,
her Majesty withdrew herself and the company departed; for it was by
that time the sun-setting.” This account is taken from that of William
Lambarde an Antiquary, who is quoted by John Nichols in his _Progresses
of Queen Elizabeth_ (vol. i.).
[Illustration: “HOW TO FLEE THE HEARON”
From Turberville’s _Booke of Falconrie_, 1575.]
The custom of making New Year’s gifts to the Queen was duly honoured
every year. The list of the gifts for 1562 as presented by Nichols
contains the names of all the noble lords and great ladies in the
kingdom, the Bishops, and the Court: nearly two hundred in number.
These gifts are of all kinds: gold boxes; purses of money; embroidered
sleeves; sugar loaves; ginger; sweetmeats; a smock of silk;
handkerchiefs “garnished with gold, silver, and silk”; carved coffers;
sleeves embroidered with gold; silk hose—two such gifts; fine glass;
gilt cups; tankards, bowls, spoons, and salts; and so on. On the other
hand, the gifts which the Queen had to make constantly to Ambassadors,
to her officers, to the christening and marriage feasts of the people
about the Court, would seem to run away with most of these presents. It
is worthy of note that in all the long list of gifts of 1562 there is
not one single picture or statue.
[Illustration: The Chariott drawne by foure Horses upon which chariot
stood the Coffin covered wth purple velvett and upon that the
representation. The Canapy borne by six Knights.
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FUNERAL
A section from a contemporary MS. scroll in British Museum.]
The following is Hentzner’s account of the Queen’s Court at Greenwich
(Nichols vol. ii.):—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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