Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/423

 AT I'ETERBOKOUGH. 359 usual magnificence, and conjugal attachment to Eleanor, marked the sites where her body rested on its way to inter- ment with those more durable monuments or horses of stone which, at Gcddington, Ilardingstone and Waltham, still remain. It was not unusual to display the image of the deceased in these works, but, as we shall shortly learn, that of Queen Katharine was exhibited in a different manner. It sometimes happened, as at the funeral of King Henry v., and also that of Anne of Bohemia, that several herses were manufactured, but it is very apparent that the number altogether was regulated by that of the resting-places, though there was occasionally no limits set to the number of tapers burnt, or the weiglit of wax consumed, at these ceremonies. Two hundred yeomen carried staff torches, and long torches were given to others who were clad in gowns and hoods. Besides the common wax expended for tapers, white virgin wax was ordered for the times of service, when Dirige was sung at night and mass in the morning. The principal liearse had double barriers, the inner one for the ladies, and the outer for the lords. This was evidently intended for a protection, just as we find Margaret, Countess of Devon, desiring (1391) that she should have no other hearse than plain bars, to keep off the pressure of the people. The same object was further facilitated on this occasion, by there being forms, covered with black cloth, garnished with escutcheons of Queen Katharine's arms, which were to be set round the corpse instead of Imrriers. " A solemn facion " was ordered to be used in conveying the corpse from the chamber to the church, where it was first to remain, at which, besides three bishops (mitres) with the choir, and six knights, who were to bear it, there were to be six barons and other noblemen as assistants ; four knights also to carry a canop3 The chief moiu-ner (Lady Bedingfield), with eight others, accompanied the corpse to the chapel, and attended the Dirige and the masses : at every mass she only offered as she was admonished by the officer of arms, and on the occasion presented palls of cloth of gold of baudekyn. Nightly watch was ordered as long as the ro3al body lay unburied, and during the same period, the prelates were to execute daily service. A chariot conveyed the cor])sc from the chapel, where it first rested, to Peterborough. The