Upon Monday, in the afternoon, came to Peterburgh, all the Lords and Ladies and other Assistants appointed; and at the Bishop's Palace was prepared [at Queen Elizabeth's expense] a great supper for them: where all, at one table, supped in the Great Chamber; [it] being hanged with black.
Dean R. Fletcher, in S. Gunton's History, &c., p. 78, Ed. 1686.]
On Tuesday, being the 1st of August, in the morning, about eight of the clock, the Chief Mourner, being [Bridget Russell] the Countess of Bedford [now the Widow of her third husband], was attended upon by all the Lords and Ladies; and brought into the Presence Chamber within the Bishop's Palace: which [Chamber], all over, was hanged with black cloth.
She was, by the Queen's Majesty's Gentlemen Ushers, placed somewhat under a Cloth of Estate [canopy] of purple velvet: where, (having given to the [Gentlemen representing, on this occasion, the] Great Officers, their Staffs of Office (viz. to the Lord Steward; Lord Chamberlain; the Treasurer, and Comptroller [of the Household]), she took her way into the Great Hall.
A Remembrance of the Order, &c. Archæologia, I., 155 [for 355], 1770].
The Mourners came out of the Bishop's Palace; being set in order by the Heralds thus:
First 100 Releevants; poor old women, for the most part widows: in black cloth gowns, with an ell of white holland over their heads; which they had for their labour, and nine shillings apiece in money. These divided themselves in the body of the Church; and stood half on the one side, and half on the other: and there stood during the whole Solemnity.
At the Church door, the Singing Men and Quiristers met the Mourners with a Psalm; and led them the way into the Chancel, continuing singing, with the Organ, until the Sermon began.