The procession began from the Tower with twelve of the French Ambassador’s domestics in blue velvet, the trappings of their horses being blue sarsnet, interspersed with white crosses; after whom marched those of the equestrian order, two and two, followed by the Judges in their robes, two and two; then came the Knights of the Bath in violet gowns, purfled with menever. Next came the Abbots, Barons, Bishops, Earls and Marquises, in their robes, two and two. Then the Lord Chancellor, followed by the Venetian Ambassador and the Archbishop of York: next the French Ambassador and the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by two gentlemen representing the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitain; after whom rode the Lord Mayor of London with his mace, and Garter in his coat of arms; then the Duke of Suffolk, Lord High Steward, followed by the Deputy Marshal of England, and all the other officers of state in their robes, carrying the symbols of their several offices: then others of the nobility in crimson velvet, and all the Queen’s officers in scarlet, followed by her Chancellor uncovered, who immediately preceded his mistress.
The Queen was dressed in silver brocade, with a mantle of the same furred with ermine; her hair was dishevelled, and she wore a chaplet upon her head set with jewels of inestimable value. She sat in a litter covered with silver tissue, and carried by two beautiful pads cloathed in white damask, and led by her footmen. Over the litter was carried a canopy of cloth of gold, with a silver bell at each corner, supported by sixteen Knights alternately, by four at a time.
After her Majesty came her Chamberlain, followed by her Master of Horse, leading a beautiful pad, with a side-saddle and trappings of silver tissue. Next came seven ladies in crimson velvet, faced with gold brocade, mounted on beautiful horses with gold trappings. Then followed two chariots covered with cloth of gold, in the first of which were the Duchess of Norfolk and the Marchioness of Dorset, and in the second four ladies in crimson velvet; then followed seven ladies dressed in the same manner, on horseback, with magnificent trappings, followed by another chariot all in white, with six ladies in crimson velvet; this was followed by another all in red, with eight ladies in the same dress with the former: next came thirty gentlewomen, attendants to the Ladies of honour; they were on horseback, dressed in silks and velvet; and the cavalcade was closed by the horse guards.