10th September 1533 – On this day in
history Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Queen Anne Boleyn second wife of King
Henry VIII, was Christened at the church of Observant Friars at Greenwich.
Little Elizabeth was born three days previously on
the 7th of September at approximately three o’clock in the
afternoon. Both her mother and father had hoped that she would be born a boy,
the son and heir that King Henry VIII so desperately longed for. Unfortunately
Elizabeth was a girl and despite initial disappointment Henry was determined to
give Elizabeth a grand Christening.
The procession for the Christening walked on a
carpet of green rushes and past hangings of arrars from the Great Hall in Greenwich
to the Church of Observant Friars. Elizabeth was wrapped in purple velvet and a
train which was furred with ermine. She was carried by the Dowager Duchess of
Norfolk and flanked by the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk. Anne Boleyn’s uncle the
Duke of Norfolk was the Earl Marshal for the event and Anne’s father carried
Elizabeth’s train while her brother was one of four men who carried a canopy of
Elizabeth. Accompanying them were many nobles who carried basins for the
Godparents to wash their hands, a candle which would be given to Elizabeth,
salt which was to exorcise the baby and cloth which would be put over Elizabeth’s
head.
Inside the church a large octagonal stage had been
constructed which was three steps high. At the centre of the stage stood a
magnificent silver font which had been brought from Canterbury to Greenwich for
the occasion. Around the octagonal stage were rails hung with red cloth and
over the stage fine cloth was laid. Over the stage hung a square canopy which
was made of crimson satin and fringed with gold. The font itself was lined with
white cloth and filled with warm water. Next to the stage was an enclosure with
a brazier which would keep Elizabeth warm when she was undressed for the
christening.
Once the procession arrived at the church Elizabeth
was christened. Her godparents were the Duchess of Norfolk, the Marchioness of
Dorset, the Marquess of Exeter and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. As customary
Henry VIII nor Anne Boleyn attended the Christening.
After the Christening Elizabeth was taken back to
her mother accompanied by over five hundred lit touches. In London to celebrate
Elizabeth’s Christening bonfires were to be lit accompanied with free wine! It
appears that Henry was determined to go all out for the child whose mother he had
turned a country upside down to marry. If only Henry knew what an incredible
ruler and Queen his daughter would make.
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