[33] Hangings, with a Crucifix, Candlesticks, a Credence, &c. in the King's Chapel, Whitehall. Temp. James I. and Charles I.] further says, "He [Sir Henry Mildmay] 'There was a fair crucifix in a piece of hangings hung it up behind the Altar, which he thinks was not used before my time.' But that he thinks so is no proof. If this were scandalous to any, must be offensive in regard of the workmanship; or quatenus tale, as it was a crucifix. Not in regard of the work certainly, for that was very exact. And then, if it were because it was a crucifix, why did not the old one offend Sir Henry's conscience as much as the new? For the piece of hangings which hung constantly all the year at the back of the Altar, thirty years together upon my own knowledge, and somewhat above, long before, (as I offered proof by the vestry-men,) and so all the time of Sir Henry's being in court, had a crucifix wrought in it, and yet his conscience never troubled at it."-Archbishop Laud's Answer. Troubles, &c. p. 315. [34] "They [the managers of Laud's prosecution] objected likewise to his furnishing the Altar in his own chapel, and the King's at Whitehall, with basins, candlesticks, tapers, and other silver vessels, not used in his predecessor's time; and to the credentia or side table...... on which the elements were to be placed on a clean linen cloth before they were brought to the Altar to be consecrated; and to the hanging over the Altar a piece of arras with a large crucifix."Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. iii. p. 169. [35] 1641.] "The walls about the Altar or Communion-table were hanged with very rich cloth of gold bawdkin; the septum or rail about the Altar was covered with the like, and the floor within the septum or rail with a fair large turkey carpet. Upon the Altar or Communion-table, the old English Bible, printed in 1541, and the Liturgy or Common Prayer-Book, both with silver and gilt covers, together with a gilt basin, two chalices, one paten, two candlesticks, &c., the whole weighing two thousand two hundred ounces. The doors of the septum were opened and turned back close to the rest of the rail; and a rich carpet of silk and gold was spread from the step where the door stood, before the Altar or Communion table, and thereon two rich long cushions were laid just without the rail for the bride and bridegroom to kneel on." Marriage of William, only son of Frederic Henry, Prince of Orange, and Mary, eldest daughter of King Charles 1. May 2, 1641.-Leland's Collectanea, vol. v. p. 339. [36] Altar Lights, Plate, Fronts, Palls, &c. in Prince Charles' Chapel at Madrid. 1622.] "That a face of the Church of England might appear, and the worship be kept up in the Prince's apartment at Madrid, the King gave the chaplains above mentioned the following instructions: "1. That there be one convenient room appointed for prayer; the said room to be employed during their abode to no other use. "2. That it be decently adorned chapelwise with an altar, fronts, palls, linen-coverings, demy-carpets, four surplices, candlesticks, tapers, chalices, paten, a fine towel for the Prince, other towels for the household, a traverse of waters for the Communion, a bason and flaggon, two copes."-Collier's Eccl. Hist. vol. ii. p. 726, fol. 1714. [37] Hangings, Palls, Plate, &c. in the Chapels of Colleges in Oxford. 1635.] "According to the example of their Lord and Chancellor, the principal Colleges in Oxford beautified their chapels, transposed their tables, fenced them with rails, and furnished them with hangings, palls, plate, and all other necessaries.”—Cyprianus Anglicus, p. 294. [38] Rich Plate presented to the Altar in S. George's Chapel, Windsor, with the Office of its Consecration. 1637.] "And now, at length, (a considerable sum having been collected) the work began to be set on foot, and the workman made choice of was one Christian Van Vianan of Utrect, a man excellently well skilled in chasing of plate......and before the month of June C 1637, he had finished and made ready for the use of the altar nine pieces of plate, the particulars whereof with their weight here follow : Two little candlesticks, chased and gilt, for wax candles Two great candlesticks neat, for tapers.. Two little basons, containing the whole history of CHRIST in chased work.. One great bason 251 15 210 0 1220 17 The value, at 12s. the ounce, came to £742. All this plate was treble gilt, and thereon were the Scripture histories rarely well designed and chased; and especially the great bason, and the covers of two books, hereafter mentioned......At a Chapter held the 2nd of October, in the year aforesaid, the said plate was ordered to be offered the next morning at the altar, and there to be consecrated to GOD and His service for ever, by the Prelate of the Order. And because the whole ceremony was performed with great veneration and all due reverence, his late Majesty being a high promoter of ecclesiastical decency and holy discipline, we think fit to present it here at large. On the 3rd day of the said month of October, being the Feast day (held by prorogation at Windsor Castle) in the time of the second service, at the versicle Let your light so shine before men, &c., Walter, Bishop of Winchester, then Prelate, standing before the middle of the altar, read certain select verses out of the Old Testament, concerning the dedication of Solomon's Temple, and the riches thereof, the first of which was taken from the 35th chapter of Exodus, verse 4; the second being the 21st verse of the same chapter; and the third taken out of the 2nd chapter of S. Matthew's Gospel, verse 11; and afterwards fitted himself for the offering. At which time the Sovereign descended from his throne, as in the manner of offering, and thrice bowed towards the altar, worshipping and adoring GOD in the middle of the choir, and so passed to the degrees of the altar; where, humbly kneeling [he] did present and offer to GOD the beforementioned great bason, devoutly saying, 'Part of Thy bounty to us, O LORD ALMIGHTY, I offer to Thee and to Thy service.' The offering was forthwith received by the Prelate, and set upon the altar; which done, every one of the knights companions present, (after the example of this holy king) in their due ranks and single, did offer his piece of dedicated plate, with the same words, and in like manner. And that their ordinary offerings of gold and silver might not be interrupted or omitted, all the knights companions, at the time of offering the plate, made the same in another bason held by one of the Prebends. Every of these holy vessels being thus offered, and decently placed upon the altar, the Prelate with his hand touched every piece severally, as on GOD's part receiving them; and after made the following prayers of Consecration and Benediction : "O LORD GOD, Heavenly Father, we Thy most humble servants do earnestly entreat Thee that Thou wilt graciously vouchsafe to accept these sacred offerings, by the hands of our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, and the most honourable companions which are here present, dedicated to Thee. Grant, we beseech Thee, and cause, that whatsoever is this day offered unto Thee may be preserved from all profane use, and may for ever abide consecrated to Thy service, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. "Let us bless Thee, our most glorious LORD GOD, for that it hath pleased Thee to put into the heart of our most gracious Lord Charles, and of these Princes, to dedicate these oblations to Thy service. Regard, we beseech Thee, from the highest heavens, and pour out Thy blessings upon the head of his gracious Majesty: bless him in his royal person, in his most gracious Queen Mary, in the most illustrious Prince Charles, and in all the rest of the branches of the royal stock. Bless, we pray Thee, all those whose donations offered to Thee we have here this day received. Let Thy blessing fall down (as the dew of heaven) upon them, and upon their posterities, and upon all things which they have from Thee; and grant that by the holy and devout use of these things which are here offered, the glory of Thy Name may ever be proclaimed, and Thy Majesty may by these our due observances be exalted, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. "These sacred ceremonies being completed, the Sovereign and knights companions marched to the great hall to dinner. But to make some further addition to the glory of this altar, his Majesty that now is [Charles II.], at the time of his installation into this most noble order (being the 22nd of May 1638), offered two large gilt water-pots, chased with histories also, weighing 387 ounces, 10 pennyweight The amounting (at 12s. the ounce) to the sum of £232 10s..............These sacred vessels were afterwards delivered to be kept for the service of the altar. And yet the bounty of this pious Sovereign, King Charles the Martyr, rested not here. He thought the altar was not with all these sufficiently furnished, and therefore finding by an account delivered by the Chancellor in Chapter, the 23rd of May 1628, that there had been collected £137 4s. more...... the said money was by Sir Philip Palmer, then deputy Chancellor, immediately given to the said Christian Van Vianan, for furnishing this additional plate, bespoken by the Sovereign, as aforesaid...... The plate made upon the last advance was two great candlesticks, weighing together 471 ounces: on the foot of the one was excellently chased the histories of CHRIST's preaching on the Mount; and on the other, those of the lost groat and sheep. Two covers for books, both weighing 233 ounces: the one for a Bible contained the histories of Moses and the Tables, David and the Ark on the one side, and on the other CHRIST's preaching on the Mount, the sending of the HOLY GHOST, and S. Paul falling from his horse. other cover was for the Common Prayer, having the Angel of incense on the one side, and the King healing the evil, the manner of our preaching and christening on the other: and two great flagons, whereon were the histories of CHRIST'S Agony and Passion, weighing 268 ounces; all being silver-gilt. And now, if we sum up the number, weight, and value of all the before-mentioned parcels of plate, wrought by the said Van Vianan for the service of the altar, we shall find them to be 17 pieces, weighing 3580 ounces, 7 pennyweights, and amounting (with some other small charges) to the sum of £1564 6s. These last-mentioned parcels were finished against the feast of S. George, held at Windsor the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of October 1639, upon the last day of which feast, at the second service, the knights companions descended from their stalls and offered the same at the altar; and thereupon, after the usual manner and with the accustomed words, were they consecrated by the Prelate of the Order, and the 19th of November following delivered to the custody of the Dean and Canons of Windsor."Ashmole's Institution &c. of the Order of the Garter, pp. 492–496. |