On May 17th, Parliament proclaimed Elizabeth Tudor Elizabeth I, Queen of England, France, and Ireland and plans were begun for her coronation. Elizabeth consulted John Dee, an astrologer, for the most auspicious date for her coronation to ensure a long and successful reign. He chose January 15th. The coronation route was four miles long and occurred the day before the coronation. After leaving the Tower of London, the procession passed through the city, along the Strand, to Westminster. The coronation itself occurred the next day in Westminster Abbey.
The guilds of London performed the pageants that greeted Elizabeth on her procession. The guilds placed the five pageants at strategic stops on the procession route. At two o’clock in the afternoon on January 14th, Elizabeth left the Tower of London to make her way to Westminster for her coronation.
First Pageant
The first pageant, The Uniting of the Two Houses of York and Lancaster, of the procession was on Gracechurch Street. Elizabeth and her attendants passed under an arch and saw a stage with three tiers. On each stage were actors representing Elizabeth’s grandparents - Henry VII and Elizabeth of York - Elizabeth’s parents – Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn – and Elizabeth herself. Since her execution, Anne’s name had scarcely been mentioned in public, but her image drew attention to Elizabeth’s English heritage. On the highest tier was an actor representing Elizabeth.
The pageant showed how the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York signaled the end of the Wars of the Roses by uniting the houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was their successor. Through this image the citizens of London stated their hope that Elizabeth’s reign would maintain this promise of peace.
Second Pageant
Beside the water conduit at Cornhill, was the second pageant, The Seat of Worthy Governance. Three open gates extended from one side of the street to the other. At the top of the center gate, sitting on a chair covered with the Seat of Government, was a child who represented Elizabeth, crowned with the imperial crown.
This pageant expressed the Protestant bias of the people of London. Four virtues supported the Seat of Government while stepping on four vices, thus suppressing them. Again, a child interpreted the pageant. True religion, or Protestantism, would suppress ignorance and superstition, which were, according to the Protestants, characteristics of Catholicism. Rebellion and insolence would not occur if the subjects showed love toward their ruler, as was their duty. A ruler with wisdom and a sense of justice would prevent folly and corruption. Thus, Elizabeth would remain in the Seat of Government as long as she embraced the virtues and suppressed the vices.
Third Pageant
Beside the great conduit in Cheapside at the end of Soper’s Lane were three open gates and the third pageant, The Eight Beatitudes, Expressed in the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Applied to Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth. Eight children represented the eight beatitudes as presented in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Each of these Beatitudes was attributed to Elizabeth.
Fourth Pageant
The fourth pageant, beside the Little Conduit in Cheapside, was the most elaborate of the entertainments. The pageant consisted of a cave in the middle of two mountains. On was barren topped by a dead tree and a boy dressed in black. The tree listed the causes for a decayed commonwealth: no fear of God, civil disagreement, disobedience, blindness of guides, rebellion of subjects, flattering of princes, bribery of magistrates, and unthankfulness. This hill represented England under Mary I. The second mountain was green with a healthy tree and a brightly dressed young boy. Above his head was written the causes for a healthy state: fear of God, obedient subjects, a wise and learned prince, virtue rewarded, vice punished, and love of the commonwealth. The second hill represented the citizens’ hopes for Elizabeth’s reign.
In the center of the two mountains was a cave. Two people emerged from the cave, an old man named Time and his daughter, Truth. The girl carried the New Testament written in English. A young boy explained that Time and Truth could now emerge from hiding because of the promise of the new reign.
Fifth Pageant
The conduit at Fleet Street was the site of the fifth and final pageant of the procession. Sitting on a stage was the Biblical prophetess Deborah, consulting the three estates of Israel for the greater good of the Jews. A child explained that Deborah was an ideal queen for Elizabeth to emulate and, like Deborah, she should consult the estates of England for the good of her citizens.
The people of London gave an impressive performance. The coronation procession was designed to be a test of a sovereign’s popularity and Elizabeth passed the test spectacularly, leaving an indelible mark on the minds of the people of London.
Sources:
Anglo, Sydney. Images of Tudor Kingship. London: Seaby, 1992.
Machyn, Henry. The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, from A. D. 1550 to A. D. 1563. Edited by John Gough Nichols. London: J.B. Nicholas and Son, 1848.
Osborn, James Marshall, ed. The Quenes Maiesties Passage Through the Citie of London to Westminster the Day Before Her Coronacion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960.
Pollard, A.F., ed. “The Passage of Our Most Dread Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, Through the City of London to Westminster the Day Before Her Coronation.” In Tudor Tracts 1532-1588. New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., 1964.
Join the Conversation