To the Officers of oure grete Wardrobe for the tyme being and to any of them
The Court Officers.... The Chappell ...
Warraunte for the Chapell Lyueryes against the coronacion, f. 23.
The Bushop of Norwiche, Deane of the Chapell.
Emery Tuckfelde, preste.
Nicholas Archebolde, preste.
William Walker, preste.
Roberte Chamberlain, preste.
William Gravesend, preste.
John Angell, preste.
William Hechons.
Thomas Byrde.
Richarde Bowre.
Robert Perye.
William Barbour.
Robert Richmonte.
Thomas Wayte.
Thomas Tallis.
Nicholas Melawe.
Thomas Wright.
John Bendbowe.
Robert Stone.
John Shepherdes.
William Mauperly.
George Edwardes.
Robert Marecocke.
William Hinnes.
Rice Aleworth.
Thomas Palfreman.
Roger Centon.
Lucas Caustell.
Richarde Farrante.
Edwarde Addams.
Mr. John Singer, gospeller preste.
Robert Bassock, Serjeante of the Vestrey.
Thomas Causton.
Richard Luen.
John Denman.
Walter Thirlbye.
Morres Tedder.
Hugh Williams.
xii Children of the Chappell.
It may be noted that there are only thirty-one instead of thirty-two. It is possible that one has been accidentally omitted, probably John Lucam, yeoman; or some one may have refused even then to take the oath of allegiance. Several other names appear in other lists. Every one of these, in his day, must have been of some note.
The Chapel Royal was the haven of the best musical talent of the day. Every music lover knows of Shepherd, Tallis, Farrant; and Marbeck’s service was harmonized by these in conjunction with some of the minor names above. Thomas Byrde was the father of William Byrde, the pupil and associate of Tallis. Thomas Palfreyman was a well-known writer on moral philosophy, as well as a musician.
We have no clue to the names of the twenty-three performers selected from these, either for their fitness, or as a special mark of honour. Richard Bowyer was the Master of the Children then, William Hunnis and Richard Farrant were Masters of the Children afterwards, so these three would probably have definite histrionic powers. Of their appearance we know little. We only know of one of them, William Hunnis, that he was a very handsome young man, as this is stated in the examinations of the prisoners at the Tower in 1556.
As to the day and hour of the performance, there is no definite information. John Stow mentions that during her progress from the Tower to Westminster on Saturday 30th September
At Fanchurch was a costly pageant made by the Genouwayes, at Grace Church Corner there was another pageant made by the Easterlings. At the upper end of Grace Street there was another pageant very high, made by the Florentines.... One other pageant at the little conduit in Cheape next to Paul’s, made by the Cittie, where the Aldermen stood ... and in Paul’s Churchyard, against the school, one Master Haywood sate in a pageant under a Vine, and made unto her an oration in Latin and English.
It may be remembered that it was after she reached Westminster in the afternoon that she signed the warrant for the dresses. After the Coronation services in the Abbey on Sunday, which are of course well known, came the Coronation feast, the details of which are not so well known, and are worth recording. “She was conveyed in goodly order unto Westmynster Hall to dinner” (Cotton MS., App. xxviii, 24). In MS. 34, 320, f. 97, Brit. Mus., we find the