Immediately behind Sir Thomas Boleyn came a sumptuous litter
covered with cloth of gold, drawn by four white palfreys caparisoned in
white damask down to the ground, and each having a page in white and
blue satin at its head. Over the litter was borne a canopy of cloth of
gold supported by four gilt staves, and ornamented at the corners with
silver bells, ringing forth sweet music as it moved along. Each staff
was borne by a knight, of whom sixteen were in attendance to relieve
one another when fatigued.
In this litter sat Anne Boleyn. She wore a surcoat of white tissue, and a
mantle of the same material lined with ermine. Her gown, which,
however, was now concealed by the surcoat, was of cloth of gold
tissue, raised with pearls of silver damask, with a stomacher of purple
gold similarly raised, and large open sleeves lined with chequered
tissue. Around her neck she wore a chain of orient pearls, from which
depended a diamond cross. A black velvet cap, richly embroidered with
pearls and other precious stones, and ornamented with a small white
plume, covered her head; and her small feet were hidden in blue velvet
brodequins, decorated with diamond stars.
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