The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
History
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.
Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
Europe -- Description and travel; Saxony (Germany) -- Court and courtiers
The King and Queen going out of the Church caus’d Gold and Silver Medals
to the value of ten thousand Crowns to be scatter’d among the People,
which had on one side their Effigies with these words, _FREDERICUS ET
SOPHIA-CHARLOTTA, REX ET REGINA_; and on the reverse a Crown with these
words, _PRIMA MEÆ GENTIS_.
The Ceremonies at the Royal Feast which follow’d, were not much short of
those at the Coronation. It was kept in the great Hall of the Palace, to
which the King and Queen repair’d almost with the same Train, and in the
same order as they had observ’d going to Church.
When they were seated at Table, their Majesties return’d their Sceptres
and Globes into the hands of the Lords who had the Honour of carrying them
before. These Lords then plac’d themselves at each side of the Table, and
remain’d there during the whole Feast. The Prince Royal, the two Margraves
and the Duchess of _Courland_ the King’s Sister, were the only Persons
that had the honour of dining with their Majesties. Of all the Ceremonies
that were observ’d there, the two following are what I have no where seen
but in _Germany_. As soon as the King and Queen had taken their Seats at
Table, the two Grand Marshals went out of the Hall into the Courtyard of
the Palace, and from thence rode on horseback to the great Stables
attended by Kettle-drums, Trumpets, and a great many Officers of the
King’s Kitchen. There they found a whole Ox roasting on a Spit and stuff’d
with all sorts of Wild-fowl, of which they cut off a piece and carry’d it
in a Gold Dish to their Majesties Table.
After this, the Great Cup-Bearer went with the like Train to the same
Stables, where there were two Fountains of Wine running from the Beaks of
two Eagles. Of this he fill’d a gold Goblet, and went and presented it to
the King. His Majesty having taken it and return’d it to him, he presented
it afterwards to the Queen, who return’d it to him in like manner; and
then he carry’d it to the great Beaufet, which was set up at the other end
of the Room over-against the King’s Table. As often as the King or Queen
drank, nine Cannon were fired; six when the Prince Royal drank, and three
whenever the Margraves and the Duchess of _Courland_ drank.
This Repast held a very long time, yet none of the Courtiers sate down to
Table till their Majesties were retir’d to their Apartments. About nine
o’clock at Night all the Bells in the City were rung, and the Noise of the
Cannon added to that of the Kettle-drums and Trumpets, serv’d as a signal
for the Bonfires that were lighted in all the Cross-streets. The Burghers
illuminated the Fronts of their Houses. Some of the most substantial had
also erected Triumphal Arches before their Houses, with Emblems and
Devices; others let Wine run for the Populace, and in short there was no
Burgher but strove to signalize their Joy some way or other.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account