The 31st of March, being Thursday, his Majestie with great
solemnitie and pompe was proclaimed King of England, Scotland, Fraunce, and
Ireland, at the Market Crosse of Edenbrugh, in presence of the whole Officers
of Estate of the Realm, and many of the Nobilitie of Scotland, and sundry
Knights and Gentlemen of England.
James departed Edinburgh on the 5th of April. His
party was large and would grow as he progressed toward London. Besides the
height of the Scottish nobility
there were in his Highnes' traine many numbers of gallant and
well appointed English Knights and Gentlemen, who attended his Majestie that
day
He first entered Berwick Castle which had, until then, been
the sturdy forward post to defend the northern frontier from Scottish raiders
and armies.
He next arrived at Newcastle, on the 9th,
where the mayor presented him with “the sword and keyes” to the city, “with
humble dutie and submission”.
James was understandably cautious. He was a Scottish king
and there was no example yet as to how
to successfully make such a transition. Already he had knighted many Englishmen
as he progressed. They would presumably prove steady allies. In Newcastle and
elsewhere he ratified “all their customes and priviledges that they were
possessed of, and had a long time held” in order that the cities of the realm
would rest easier in the confidence that the transition would leave them fully
intact.
In London, the Privy Council had scheduled the funeral of
Queen Elizabeth for the 28th of the month. Especially wise for a monarch, James would proceed slowly
surely for a number of reasons, but, most particularly, in order to arrive
after the funeral. His new kingdom had one more task to accomplish before it would
be fully ready to welcome a new ruler. He would need to be associated only with
good news and celebration. The cities along his route would be especially proud
to have celebrated a personal visit. They would have the high honor of
providing him hospitality even before the city of London.
John Chamberlaine to Robert Dudley, April, 12, 1603.
All things continue in the same quiet course. Only here was
a proclamation to retain the Council, and all other officers, in their old
places; and to restrain the concourse of idle and unnecessary passers into
Scotland; the number whereof grew to be a great burden to the country, and
brought all things out of order. The Lord Henry Howard was sent thither to
possess the King's ear, and countermine the Lord Cobham. Your old friend Tobie
Matthew was sent with a letter from Mr. Bacon, but I doubt whether the message
or messenger were greatly welcome. The King uses all very graciously, and hath
made Sir Robert Carey of his Bed-chamber, and Groom of the Stole. John Davis is
sworn his man; and Neville restored (as he writes himself) to all his titles
and fortunes.
The 10th of this month the Earl of Southampton and Sir Henry
Neville were delivered out of the Tower by warrant from the King. These
bountiful beginnings raise all men's spirits, and put them in great hopes,
insomuch that not only Protestants, but Papists and Puritans, and the very
Poets, with their idle pamphlets, promise themselves great part in his favour;
so that to justify and please all, hic labor, hoc opus est; and would be
more than a man's work. The last that were sent were Sir Henry Neville and Sir
Harry Lennard with five thousand pounds in gold and one silver, saving your
cousin Montpesson, that carried him six geldings and a coach with four horses;
and other officers that are daily sent away to provide and execute their
charge. Here have come divers from the King; as, Roger Aston, Foulis, Hamilton,
and now last, one Bruce, whom they call "Lord Abbot of Kinloss", and is
thought shall be incorporated with our Council.
We have no certainty where the King is, they that come last
say he appointed to be at Berwick the 7th of this month; and think he is now on
the way to York; where he will make no long stay, but comes to Worksop, a house
of the Earl of Shrewsbury's; so to Beauvoir Castle; thence to Burley; thence to
Oliver Cromwell's by Huntingdon; to Sir Thomas Sadleir's in Hertfordshire; to
Hertford Castle; to Theobalds; to the Charter-house, or Howard House; and so to
the Tower till his Coronation. I cannot hear that the Queen or any of the
Princes come with him ; only they talk of the Duke of Lenox, two Marquisses,
the Earl of Mar, whose brother, Sir Thomas Erskine, they say, is made Captain
of the Guard; and two hundred other Nobles and Gentles. Though you had no
greater business, yet, methinks, you might make an errand to see these sights,
for here will be arches and pageants great plenty.
The queen’s funeral is appointed the 28th of this present,
with as much solemnity as hath been used to any former prince, and that by the
king’s own directions. It shall be kept at Westminster, and the Lady Arabella
[Stuart] is to be chief mourner, accompanied with two marquises, sixteen
countesses, and thirty barristers, with all their train, besides the greatest
part of the nobility, all the council and officers of the household.
Sources:
The Progresses, Processions, and Magnificent Festivities, of
King James the First…, Volume 1 (1828).
The Court and Times of James I, Containing a Series of
Historical ..., Volume 1 (1848)
Also at Virtual Grub Street:
- Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: The host is notified. March 15, 2021. “We learn from one Matthew Stokys, a beddle for the University, who kept a running record relating to matters of the progress,…”
- Sir Henry Bedingfeld’s Notes Regarding Princess Elizabeth in The Tower. February 7, 2021. “Itm, hir grace to have lib'tee to walke in the Gardeyn when so ever she doth comaunde, forenoone and afternoone,…”
- Gossip as History: The Murder of Amy Robsart. February 17, 2020. "The first sudden death Leicester was rumored to have caused was that of his wife, Amy Robsart, in 1560. In that year, it was still not clear whether the Queen would marry. But certainly not her beloved Leicester if he were married."
- Gossip as History: Anne Boleyn, Part 1. November 8, 2019. “This is more than just gossip, I submit. It is a vital part of the historical record.”
- Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
- Check out the Letters Index: Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford for many letters
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