Two days after, the Lord Mayor, in a gown of crimson velvet, and a rich collar of SS, attended by the Sheriffs and two domestics in red and white damask, went to receive the Queen at the Tower of London, whence the Sheriffs returned to see that every thing was in order. The streets were just before new gravelled from the Tower to Temple Bar, and railed in on each side; within the rails near Grasschurch, stood a body of Anseatic merchants, and next to them the several corporations of the city in their formalities, reaching to the Aldermens station at the upper end of Cheapside. On the opposite side were placed the city constables dressed in silk and velvet, with staffs in their hands, to prevent the breaking in of the mob, or any other disturbance. On this occasion, Gracechurch street and Cornhill were hung with crimson and scarlet cloth, and the sides of the houses of a place then called Goldsmith’s row, in Cheapside, were adorned with gold brocades, velvet and rich tapestry.
The procession began from the Tower with twelve of the French Ambassador’s domestics in blue velvet, the trappings of their horses being blue sarsnet, interspersed with white crosses; after whom marched those of the equestrian order, two and two, followed by the Judges in their robes, two and two; then came the Knights of the Bath in violet gowns, purfled with menever. Next came the Abbots, Barons, Bishops, Earls and Marquises, in their robes, two and two. Then the Lord Chancellor, followed by the Venetian Ambassador and the Archbishop of York: next the French Ambassador and the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by two gentlemen representing the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitain; after whom rode the Lord Mayor of London with his mace, and Garter in his coat of arms; then the Duke of Suffolk, Lord High Steward, followed by the Deputy Marshal of England, and all the other officers of state in their robes, carrying the symbols of their several offices: then others of the nobility in crimson velvet, and all the Queen’s officers in scarlet, followed by her Chancellor uncovered, who immediately preceded his mistress.
The Queen was dressed in silver brocade, with a mantle of the same furred with ermine; her hair was dishevelled, and she wore a chaplet upon her head set with jewels of inestimable value. She sat in a litter covered with silver tissue, and carried by two beautiful pads cloathed in white damask, and led by her footmen. Over the litter was carried a canopy of cloth of gold, with a silver bell at each corner, supported by sixteen Knights alternately, by four at a time.
After her Majesty came her Chamberlain, followed by her Master of Horse, leading a beautiful pad, with a side-saddle and trappings of silver tissue. Next came seven ladies in crimson velvet, faced with gold brocade, mounted on beautiful horses with gold trappings. Then followed two chariots covered with cloth of gold, in the first of which were the Duchess of Norfolk and the Marchioness of Dorset, and in the second four ladies in crimson velvet; then followed seven ladies dressed in the same manner, on horseback, with magnificent trappings, followed by another chariot all in white, with six ladies in crimson velvet; this was followed by another all in red, with eight ladies in the same dress with the former: next came thirty gentlewomen, attendants to the Ladies of honour; they were on horseback, dressed in silks and velvet; and the cavalcade was closed by the horse guards.
This pompous procession being arrived in Fenchurch street, the Queen stopped at a beautiful pageant, crouded with children in mercantile habits; who congratulated her Majesty upon the joyful occasion of her happy arrival in the city.
Thence she proceeded to Grace church corner, where was erected a very magnificent pageant, at the expence of the company of Anseatic Merchants, in which was represented Mount Parnassus, with the fountain of Helicon, of white marble, out of which arose four springs about four feet high, centering at the top in a small globe, from which issued plenty of Rhenish wine till night. On the Mount sat Apollo, at his feet was Calliope, and beneath were the rest of the Muses, surrounding the Mount, and playing upon a variety of musical instruments, at whose feet were inscribed several epigrams suitable to the occasion, in letters of gold.
Her Majesty then proceeded to Leadenhall, where stood a pageant, representing a hill encompassed with red and white roses; and above it was a golden stump, upon which a white falcon, descending from above, perched, and was quickly followed by an angel, who put a crown of gold upon his head. A little lower on the hilloc sat St. Anne, surrounded by her progeny, one of whom made an oration, in which was a wish that her Majesty might prove extremely prolific.
The procession then advanced to the conduit in Cornhill; where the Graces sat enthroned, with a fountain before them incessantly discharging wine; and underneath, a Poet, who described the qualities peculiar to each of these amiable deities, and presented the Queen with their several gifts.
The cavalcade thence proceeded to a great conduit that stood opposite to Mercers Hall in Cheapside, and, upon that occasion, was painted with a variety of emblems, and during the solemnity and remaining part of the day, ran with different sorts of wine, for the entertainment of the populace.
At the end of Wood street, the standard there was finely embellished with royal portraitures and a number of flags, on which were painted coats of arms and trophies, and above was a concert of vocal and instrumental music.