Lady Cowper's Diaries October 1714

Public Domain

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20th October 1714

I went thither [to the coronation] with Lady Bristol who had still a greater mind to be a Lady of the Bedchamber than I had.  She told me I was to be one, but durst not then tell me that she had had it from the Princess her self.  When we came from the Hall into the Abbey (for we saw every part of the ceremony) the Peeresses Places were so full, that we & several other Ladys went to the Bishops benches at the side of the Altar.

I sat next the Pulpit Stairs on the back bench, & several Lady [sic] coming by me to go nearer the altar at last my Lady Northampton came pulling my Lady Nottingham by the hand, which last took my place from me & I was forc’d to mount to Pulpit Stairs.  I thought this rude but did not think their [sic] had been any design in it, tho’ we had both been talked on for being governess to the young Princesses & she it seems had really solicited for it, & I believe apprehended I had done so too notwithstanding I had never thought of it.  However her ill breeding got me the best place in the Abbey, for I saw all the Ceremony which few besides did, & I own I never was so affected with joy in all my life, it brought tears several times into my eyes; & I hope I shall never forget the blessing of seeing our Holy Religion thus preserved, as well as our Libertys & Propertys.

My Lady Nottingham when the Litany was to be sung broke from behind the rest of the company where she was plac’d, & kneel’d down before them all (tho’ none of the rest did) facing the king, & repeating the Litany.  Every body star’d at her & I could read in their countenances that they thought she overdid her highchurch part.

But to return to my place the Lords that were over against me seeing me thus mounted, said to my Lord that they hop’d I would preach, to which my Lord laughing answer’d that he believ’d I had zeal enough for it, but that he did not know that I could preach, to which my Lord Nottingham answer’d, no my Lord, indeed you must pardon me she can, & has preach’d for these four last years such doctrines, as had she being [been] prosecuted in any Court for them Your Lordship your self could not defend.  This he said with such an air that my Lord spoke of it to me; that join’d to what my Lady Nottingham had done that day & some other little passages that had happen’d, open’d my eyes & show’d me how that family malign’d me, & help’d to persuade me that it was impossible that the Princess could think of me.

I think there were some incidents at the Coronation worth remembering.  My Lord Bolingbroke for the first time saw the King.  He had attempted it before without success.  The King seeing a face he did not know ask’d his name when he did him homage, & he [Bolingbroke] hearing it as he went down the steps from the Throne turn’d round & bow’d 3 times down to the very ground…

One may easily conclude this was not a day of real joy to the Jacobites.  However they were all there, looking as chearfull as they could, but very peevish with every body that spoke to them.  My Lady Dorchester stood underneath me, & when the Archbishop went round the throne demanding the consent of the People, she turn’d about to me, & said does the old fool think that any body here will say no to his question, when here are so many drawn swords.  However there was no remedy but Patience & so every body either was pledg’d or pretended to be so.  A scaffold fell & several people kill’d.