Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/424

 360 THE OBSEQUIES. OF QUEEN KATHARINE OF AKRAGON coqise itself was coTcred with a pall of black rich cloth of gold, divided with a cross of white cloth of gold. It has been stated that the original pall nsed at the obsequies of Prince Arthur is still preserved by the Clothiers' Conii^iny at Worcester, but it is, in reality, no otiier than the mortuary cloth of the fraternity, a thing of shreds and patches, highly curious, and of the same period, but not sumptuous enough to have been used at a regal funeral. It has been already mentioned that it was customary on these occasions to introduce the likeness or image of the defunct ; and, in the present instance, there was fixed upon the pall a cast, or puffed image, of a princess, ajipareled in her robes of estate, with a coronal upon her head, with rings, gloves, and jewels upon her hands. Six horses, covered with black velvet, drew the square canopy, which, in like manner, was covered with black velvet, with a cross of white cloth of gold ; and at every end of the chariot, upon the coffers, there knelt a gentleman usher all the way. Four horsemen, in mourning- gowns and hoods, rode four of the horses ; each of the six bad four scutcheons of Prince Arthur's arms, beaten in oil upon tuke with fine gold, and upon every horse's head a cliailVon of her arms. At each corner of the chariot a gentleman carried a banner of the queen's arms ; and four other banners of saints were borne by officers of arms in the king's coats. The chief mourner went on horseback innnediately after the body, an<l behind eiglit ladies on paHreys, trai)ped in black clotli, the ladies riding alone, in their mantles and slops. This method of riding singly was followed in the first pi'ocession, when Katharine went from Southwark to St. Paul's to be married. Another chariot, containing foui- ladies, succeeded, and after it six ladies on horseback, one following the other. Tlie procession was closed by a third chariot, drawn and ajjparelled in every point like the preceding one, and liolding six ladies or gentlewomen. Palls of cloth of gold of lt;inilckyn were! pi-oviil('(l lor the ollerings of the principnl nminncrs : three for a duchess, two for a countess, and one for every baroness. I''iill instiMictioiis were given to Ihe p.-iintei. ;iinongst winch ni;iv he irientiom'il the (ir(h'r of lour h;iiiners of saints, each of ihehi a yaid .iihI t hicc (|iiailrrs S([uare, of double