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The MANNER of the PROCLAIMING OF King WILLIAM, and Queen MARY, At WHITE-HALL, and in the City of LONDON, Feb. 13 1688/9.
ABout half an hour past Ten in the Morning, the Lords and Commons came from Westminster to White-hall, in their Coaches, and alighting at the Gate, went up into the Banquetting-house, where they presented the Prince and Princess of Orange with an Instrument in Writing, for Declaring their Highnesses King and Queen of England, France and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging; desiring them to ac∣cept the Crown pursuant to the said Declaration, which their Highnesses accepting accordingly, the said Lords and Com∣mons came down again to White-hall-gate, preceded by the Speakers of their respective Houses, each attended with a Sergeant at Arms; where they found the Heralds of Arms, the Sergeants at Arms, the Trumpets, and other Officers, all in readiness, being assembled by Orders from the Duke of Norfolk, Earl-Marshal of England. And Sir Thomas St. George Knight Garter, Principal King of Arms, having received a Proclamation, and an Order from the Lords House to the Kings Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms, for Publishing or Proclaiming the same forthwith: The persons concern'd, dispo∣sed themselves in order before the Court-gate, for making the said Proclamation; And the Trumpets having sounded a Call three several times, the last of which was answer'd by a great Shout of the Vast Multitudes of People there assem∣bled; the Noise ceasing, the said Garter, King of Arms, read the said Proclamation by short Sentences or Periods, which was thereupon proclaim'd aloud by Robert Devenish, Esq York Herald, being the Senior Herald, in these words:
Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, in his great Mercy to this Kingdom, &c.
Which being ended, and the Trumpets sounding a Flourish, was answer'd by several repeated Shouts of the People.
And Directions being given to proclaim the same within Temple-Bar, in Cheap-side, and at the Royal-Exchange, the Pro∣ceeding marched in this manner:
First, the several Beadles of the Liberties of Westminster; Next, the Constables of the said Liberties, all on foot, with the High-Constable on horse-back; After them, the Head Bailiff of Westminster, and his Men, all with white Staves, to clear the way, on horse-back; Then the Knight-Marshals Men, also on horse-back; Next to these a Class of Trumpets, Nine in all, viz. 2, 2, 2, and 3 followed by the Sergeant-Trumpeter, carrying his Mace on his shoulder, all likewise on horse-back; Then a Pursuivant of Arms single; Then a Pursuivant and a Sergeant at Arms; Another Pursuivant and a Sergeant at Arms; Then four Heralds of Arms, one after another, each with a Sergeant at Arms on his left hand, the Heralds and Pursuivants being all in their Rich Coats of the Royal Arms, and the Sergeants at Arms, each carrying his Mace on his shoulder, and all on horse-back; Then Garter King of Arms in his rich Coat of Arms, carrying the Proclamation, accom∣panied by Sir Tho. Duppa, Kt. Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod, in his Crimson Mantle of the Order of the Garter, and his Black Rod of Office, likewise on horse-back.
The•••• immediately preceded the Marquess of Halifax, who executed the Place of Speaker in the House of Lords, in his Coach, attended by Sir Rog•••• Harsnet, eldest Serjeant at Arms, with his Mace. Then follow'd Henry Powle Esq Speaker of the House of Commons, in his Coach, attended by John Topham Esq Serjeant at Arms to the said House, with his Mace. After the two Speakers of the Houses, followed the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, and Primier Duke of England, in his Coach, with his Marshals Staff in his hand. And next to him all the Peers in order in their Coaches, And last of all the Members of the House of Commons in their Coaches. In this Order they proceeded towards Temple-bar; and being come as far as the Maypole in the Strand, two of the Officers of Arms with a Sergeant at Arms, and Two Trumpets went before to Temple-bar, and the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, being by this time arrived there, and having ordered the Gates to be shut, the Herald at Arms knocked thereat, whereupon the Sheriffs being on Horseback, came to the Gate, and the said Herald acquainting them, That he came by Order of the Lords Spiritual and Tem∣poral assembled at Westminster, to demand Entrance into that Famous City, for the Proclaiming of William and Mary, King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging; and therefore required their speedy Answer. The said Sheriffs ordered the Gates to be opened. Whereupon leaving the Head-Bayliff, Consta∣bles, and Beadles of Westminster without the Barr, the rest of the Proceeding entred, where they found the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and Sheriffs, all in their Formalities and on Horseback, except the Lord Mayor who was in his Coach, attended by the Sword-bearer, and other of his Officers, who joyfully receiving them, they made a stand between the two Temple-Gates, and Proclaimed their Majesties a second time. From whence they marched towards Cheap-side, a Class of the City-Trumpets, and the Lord Mayor's Livery-men leading the way, and the said Aldermen, and Lord Mayor falling into the Proceeding: And near Wood-street end (the place where, Cheap-side-Cross formerly stood) they made another stand, and Proclaimed their Majesties a third time. And arriving at the Royal Exchange about Two of the Clock, they Proclaimed them a fourth time; and at each Proclamation the vast multitudes of Spectators who thronged the Streets, Balconies and Windows, filled the Air with loud and repeated shouts and expressions of Joy. Within Temple-bar, and all along Fleetstreet, the Orange Regiment of the City Militia, lined both sides of the way, as did the Green Regi∣ment within Ludgate and St. Paul's Church-yard; the Blew Regiment in Cheap-side, and the White in Cornhil.