e of the different
vassals of the crown, many of whom were called upon at the coronation
to perform certain peculiar services. According to the ancient City
records, "these served in order in that most elegant and unheard-of
feast: the Bishop of Chichester, the Chancellor, with the cup of
precious stones, which was one of the ancient regalia of the king,
clothed in his pontificals, preceded the king, who was clad in royal
attire, and wearing the crown. Hugh de Pateshall walked before with
the patine, clothed in a dalmatica; and the Earls of Chester, Lincoln,
and Warren, bearing the swords, preceded him. But the two renowned
knights, Sir Richard Siward and Sir Nicholas de Molis, carried the two
royal sceptres before the king; and the square purple cloth of silk,
which was supported upon four silver lances, with four little bells of
silver gilt, held over the king wherever he walked, was carried by the
barons of the Cinque Ports; four being assigned to each lance, from
the diversity of ports, that one port should not seem to be preferred
before the other. The same in like manner bore a cloth of silk over
the queen, walking behind the king, which said cloths they claimed to
be theirs by right, and obtained them. And William de Beauchamp of
Bedford, who had the office of almoner from times of old, found the
striped cloth or _burel_, which was laid down under the king's feet as
he went from the hall as far as the pulpit of the Church of
Westminster; and that part of the cloth that was _within_ the Church
always fell to the sexton in whatever church the king was crowned; and
all that was _without_ the church was distributed among the poor, by
the hands of William the almoner." The ancient records contain many
other particulars respecting the ceremonies which graced the marriage
feast of Henry and Eleanor of Provence, but enough has been quoted to
show the magnificence of the celebration.

Year by year, as the Christmas festival came round, it was royally
celebrated wherever the Court happened to be, even though the king had
to pledge his plate and jewels with the citizens of London to
replenish his exchequer. But Henry's Royal Christmases did not allay
the growing disaffection of his subjects on account of his showing too
much favour to foreigners; and some of the barons who attended the
Royal Christmas at Westminster in 1241, left in high dudgeon, because
the place of honour at the banquet was occupied by the papal legate,