The queen came out from her apartments. She was garbed in a mantle and gown of white silk tissue trimmed lavishly with ermine. Her waist-length ebony hair was loose, and atop her head was a coronet of multicolored stones that sparkled in the bright sunlight of the spring day. Her litter was lined with cloth of white gold. Four knights garbed in scarlet robes, representing the Cinque Ports, had been delegated to carry the cloth-of-gold canopy over the royal litter. The staves holding the canopy were carved and gilded, and each was decorated with a silver bell. Sixteen knights wearing suits of Tudor-green silk decorated with the king’s badge carried the litter, which was led by two white palfreys draped with cloth of silver.
The queen’s procession was led by twelve noble gentlemen from the French ambassador’s retinue clothed in yellow and blue. The Knights of the Bath wore violet. Among the procession were many noblemen, ambassadors, and other gentlemen. There was the lord chancellor, the archbishop of Canterbury, abbots from the important religious houses, scholars, the archbishop of York, and other bishops from other dioceses. The lord mayor of London was decked out in magnificent finery, with his heavy gold chain of office across his chest. This pleased the king when he later saw him. Lord William Howard acted as earl marshall for the duke, who was in France. The lord high constable that day was Mary Tudor’s husband, the Duke of Suffolk.
Preceding the queen was her chancellor, bare-headed. Behind her came her chamberlain and master of horse. Next came a group of ladies in their cloth-of-gold gowns, two gaily decorated chariots carrying the old Duchess of Norfolk and the old Marchioness of Dorset. Two chariots following them transported elderly, but not as distinguished, noblewomen too ancient to ride. The chariots were followed by another larger group of ladies in their cloth-of-gold and velvet gowns, and the queen’s guard in their gold-embroidered coats. Henry had spared no expense to crown this woman he had so desperately sought to make his wife for so long. And despite the short notice given to Londoners, they had done their best to respond in kind to the grand procession.
There were pageants and other entertainments at several places along the royal route. At Fenchurch the queen was greeted by children garbed as merchants, who welcomed her in both English and French. At Gracechurch the queen stopped to enjoy a pageant presented to her by the merchants of the steelyard. It was quite elaborate, and had been designed by the artist Hans Holbein, a favorite of the king. Mount Parnassus had been replicated, along with the fountain of Helicon, which was made of marble. From the fountain four streams of wine shot up to fall into a graceful cup above before pouring over the cup into the fountain below. Atop the mountain beneath an arch topped by an eagle Apollo sat, with the goddess Calliope near him. On the sides of the mountain the Muses were seated, each playing an instrument. Verses written in gold lay at their feet in praise of the new queen. As Anne and her entourage gazed in delight and wonder at Holbein’s creation, the Muse Clio arose and sang.
“Beflower the way, citizens; offer your thanks offerings; burn your incense. Wreath your brows with laurel, and with roses. Sport ye in this day’s honor. Go to meet your lady mistress, poor man and rich man. Anna comes, bright image of chastity, she whom Henry has chosen to his partner. Worthy husband, worthy wife! May heaven bless these nuptials, and make her a fruitful mother of men-children.”
The queen clapped and smiled when the pageant had concluded, and then her procession moved on to Ledenhall, whose pageant contained the queen’s own device, the white falcon wearing a golden crown. Its singers extolled the fruitful vine Saint Anne. There were several more entertainments along the way with wines flowing from various receptacles, and songs and poetry in the queen’s honor.
The procession moved on through the narrow dark streets of London, swept clean of garbage for this auspicious occasion. But all the cleaning in the world could not take away the stink of the city. The ladies all carried pomander balls of oranges stuck around with cloves. And although the streets were crowded and people hung from the open windows of the houses lining the way so that they might see all, there was little cheering, and the faces were somber and unfriendly. Elizabeth only heard two “God save the queens” along the whole way. There were even cries of “Whore!” and “Witch” from some among the spectators. And several times anonymous voices called out, “God save Queen Katherine!” How hurtful it must be for Anne, she thought. But they would sing a different tune when her son was born. They all would!
Close to the abbey Anne was presented with a gold purse containing a thousand gold marks. She made a gracious speech of thanks. And then at last they reached Westminster Hall. The queen was helped from her litter, and entered the building. Refreshments were offered to her, and to all the women in her train. And afterwards the queen slipped quietly from Westminster Hall, returned without fanfare to her barge, and went to meet the king at York Place.
The ladies who were in the queen’s immediate train followed her, but Philippa and Elizabeth had no one to take their horses. They were forced to ride back through the city to London Bridge, cross the river, and then return to Bolton House. When they arrived they found a message from the queen bidding Elizabeth to join her at York Place.
“Oh, bother!” Philippa exclaimed. “I had thought we would have tonight together. Crispin will soon be here, and we haven’t had enough time together.”
Elizabeth stared at the hastily written note in Anne’s hand. The queen had been agitated when she had written it but, knowing Anne, by now was calmed and placated. “I’m taking a bath,” she announced to her sister. “Then I am going to change my clothes. And then I will take the barge to York Place.”
“But the queen—” Philippa began.
Elizabeth raised a hand to silence her elder. “The queen will not know the time that has elapsed, for she will be kept amused by those around her. She is undoubtedly unhappy at the reception given her by the people in the streets. What did she expect?” Elizabeth sighed. “I cannot comfort her if I am dirty and irritable.” Then she left her sister in the great hall of the house and hurried upstairs.
The Earl of Witton arrived with his youngest son, Hugh. “Well, here’s a good thing or not,” he greeted his wife, kissing her. “Tell your mam, Hughie.”
“I am to be the queen’s page,” Hugh St. Clair told his mother. “She saw me with Henry at York Place this afternoon, and asked the king if I was his page. The king said I was to be. Then the queen said to the king that I was a pretty lad, and she wanted me for her own.” Hugh St. Clair, age eight, looked very pleased with himself. “The king told her that on this day whatever she wanted within reason was hers. She gave me this!” He held out a length of silver ribbon. “I will carry it with me always,” he told his mother. “I think the queen very beautiful, Mama. Don’t you?”
“Of course I do, my darling,” Philippa said. She reached out and ruffled his dark hair. “Are you hungry, Hughie? Run to the kitchens and Cook will feed you.”
“I must return to the queen tonight,” the boy told her.
“So must your aunt Elizabeth,” Philippa said. “You will travel with her.” She watched as her son ran off, the silver ribbon now tied to his sleeve.
“She has done it to spite me!” Philippa burst out. “She knows my devotion to Queen Katherine, and would take our son from me!”
“There is no Queen Katherine, little one,” Crispin St. Clair said, enfolding his weeping wife into an embrace. “You are ambitious for our lads, and that is good. One son has served the king for many years. Henry is to come home with us after the coronation festivities. Another son serves in the Duke of Norfolk’s household. Now our youngest will serve Queen Anne. I know you wanted him to take Henry’s place, but the king has said otherwise, and you cannot change it.”
“We are but pieces on a chessboard,” Philippa said despairingly.
The Earl of Witton laughed. “Aye. That is exactly what we are, which is why you and I prefer the woods and fields of Oxfordshire, little one. Their service at the court will gain our lads wives, and perhaps careers in the diplomatic service if they desire it, but no more. Our glory days are over, Philippa. We will be happier accepting it.”
“Do you two never do anything but cuddle?” Elizabeth asked, returning to the hall. “Hello, Crispin!” She kissed her brother-in-law’s cheek.
“The king’s woman has chosen Hughie for one of her pages!” Philippa cried.
“Queen Anne must really be distressed by her reception today,” Elizabeth said. “Well, Philippa, ’tis not the end of the world, and you are eager to advance your sons at court. ’Tis actually quite an honor for Hugh. I’ll be back here after all the festivities tomorrow. You aren’t leaving right away, are you?”
Philippa bit back a sharp retort. As much as she hated admitting it, both her husband and her sister were right. “What about your gown for the coronation?” she asked. “And no, I will not leave immediately.”
“It’s already in the barge. I’m taking the big one, not Mama’s little one. Do you and Crispin mind?” Elizabeth asked them.
“No,” Philippa said. “Hughie is here. You have to take him back with you. That woman wants him immediately.”
“If your son is going to be in the queen’s household, sister, you are going to have to address her in some way that does not bring disgrace upon the St. Clairs,” Elizabeth said with a humorous lilt to her voice.
“I cannot bring myself to call her the queen, or the king’s wife,” Philippa murmured low.
