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Monday, March 15, 2021

Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: The host is notified.

In the Progress to Cambridge University, 1564 series:

  • The host is notified
  • Preparations at Greenwich
  • The Host Makes Ready
  • Final Inspections
  • Her Arrival

  • On July 12, 1564, Sir William Cecil, Principal Secretary to Queen Elizabeth I,  and honorable Chancellor[1] to the University of Cambridge, wrote the following letter to Dr. Hawford the University’s Vice-Chancellor:

    MR. VICECHANCELLOR,

    AFTER my very hartye commendations. Althoughe youe may here by rumors of the Quene's Majesties intention to repayre thither in her progresse, and to remayne in that University three days (that is 8, 9, and 10 of August) yet I, consideringe the place I holde to be your chauncelor (though unwordelye) have thought mete to impart the same unto youe; praying you to conferr with suche of the Masters of the coleges ther as you shall think mete, and consider

    What lodginge shal be metest for her Majestie, and

    Next what manner of pleasures in lerninge may be presented to her Majestie, who hath knowledge to understand very well in all common sciences:

    Thirdlye, youe may doe well to confer with the maior of the towne, how the towne for both your jurisdictions may be preserved from contagion of plague.

    As for myself I meane to lodge with my old nurse, in St. Johns College: and so I pray youe informe the master.

    If you should think mete to communicate any thinge with me concerning this matter, I praye youe sende some man of knowledge to me, with home I may conferre. Me desire is that two thinges maye speciallye appeare in that Universitye: order and lerninge. And for order I meane bothe for religion and civill beheaviour. And thus, being pressed with much business, I am hastely forced to ende my scriblinge. At Grenewich the 12 of Julii, 1564.

    Your assured frende,

    WILLIAM CECILL.[2]

    We learn from one Matthew Stokys [Stokes], a beddle[3] for the University, who kept a running record relating to matters of the progress[4], that a letter from Edmund Grindal, Bishop of London, was sent on the 15th.

    And thereupon the said reverend father advertised them, to put themselves in all readiness to pleasure her majestie, and to welcome her with all manner of scholastical exercises, viz. with sermons, both in English & Latin; disputations in all kind of faculties; & playing of comedies & tragedies; orations & verses, both in Latin and Greek, to be made and set up of all students, in the way that her majesty should goe or ride.

    As was the practice in such matters, the Queen would be expected to ride into the town on a fine royal charger (likely saddled and mounted upon arriving at the boundary of the place) and various stations erected along her path at which she would stop to receive orations and fine gifts.

    In the instance of her visit to Cambridge, we have perhaps the finest record of the details surrounding a visit along a royal progress. Records relating to the University were, as the rule, carefully kept and preserved. The day after Cecil’s letter representatives of the University were dispatched to the Court to receive information and instructions.

    1. The next day [after the receipt of Sir William Cecil's letter] were sent from the University both the Proctors [Richard Curtis and Henry Morley] and one Beddell: Who, upon their coming to London, were very gently received & had conference with the said Sir William Cecyl, the bishop of London, and Dr. [Walter] Haddon, master of the requests, & Mr. Dr. [Gabriel Goodman] the dean of Westminſter. And, in conclusion, had put in writing by the said Mr. Secretary all such orders as should be observed, of the university & every member of the same, at the queen's majestie's coming.

    2. [viz.] As well for the standing of all scholars & graduats in their degrees & habits; the receiving her, at the west door of the King's college church, with a canopy born by four doctors; the delivering up of the bedells staffs; the provost of the said college with all his company standing in copes; the ringing of bells; the order of the proctor's oration, which he should make in the name of the university; as for making of the stage in S. Marie's church; the order of disputation; the questions for the same; the sermon ad clerum; the order of the comedies and tragedies; the verses made, to be seen by the best learned in every house; and the said verses to be compiled in one book, to be given to the queen's majestie; as also one other book of the founders and benefactors of every college, & what great learned men & servants to the prince & commonwealth had been brought up in the same.

    3. During this time provision of beer, ale and wine was sent to the King's college, & divers officers of the court repaired to the town, to take up the queen's lodging, & to know when any dyed of the plague; with certain information, that the queen's majestie would be at Cambridge upon Saturday the v. of August. Whereupon the vicechancellor & the maior took order for the well paving of all the towne; & that every inhabitant should provide sufficient sand upon the coming of the queen's majestie.[5]

    Time was of the essence. There was a vast amount to be done. Little of which is ever mentioned in our films, histories or historical novels, where pageantry just happens somehow. The details as to just what was involved, exactly, will be the subject of this series of posts.



    [1] The Chancellorship was largely an honorable position thus intimately connecting the University to the highest levels of the Royal Court. The Vice-Chancellor actually ran matters.

    [2] Annals of Cambridge, II.181.

    [3] Archaic form of Beadle. Usher also tasked with maintaining peace and order.

    [4] Stokes, Matthew. “The triumphs of the muses; or the grand reception & entertainment of Q. Elizabeth at Cambridge, - (6 Eliz.) 1564.” Peck, Francis. Desiderata Curiosa, II.VII.259-275.

    [5] Nichols, John. Progresses, Public Processions, &c. of Queen Elizabeth (1823). I.152-3.


    Also at Virtual Grub Street:

       

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