Meanwhile, the
knights-companions having drawn up on either side of the canopy,
Henry advanced with a slow and stately step towards it, his train borne
by the Earl of Surrey, Sir Thomas Wyat, and other nobles and knights.
As he ascended the canopy, and faced the assemblage, the Duke of
Richmond and the chief officers of the Order drew up a little on his
right. The knights-companions then made their salutation to him, which
he returned by removing his jewelled cap with infinite grace and
dignity, and as soon as he was again covered they put on their caps,
and ranging themselves in order, set forward to Saint George's Chapel.
Quitting the royal lodgings, and passing through the gateway of the
Norman Tower, the procession wound its way along the base of the
Round Tower, the battlements of which bristled with spearmen, as did
the walls on the right, and the summit of the Winchester Tower, and
crossing the middle ward, skirted the tomb-house, then newly erected
by Wolsey, and threading a narrow passage between it and Saint
George's Chapel, entered the north-east door of the latter structure.
Dividing, on their entrance into the chapel, into two lines, the
attendants of the knights-companions flanked either side of the north
aisle; while between them walked the alms-knights, the verger, the
prebends of the college, and the officers-of-arms, who proceeded as far
as the west door of the choir, where they stopped.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82