The King's personal presentation of the Maundy gifts was marked by 2 custom which is 2 comparatively. Tecent feature of the ceremony In that the nosegay of flowers comjmemoraied the Great Plague of 1606 and therefore was not tendered to the Sovereign in the celebrations prior that date, His Majesty, being man, was able 19 be cheerfully exact in making the number of beneficial fes tally with his age. This did not happen when his famous predecessor. Queen Elizabeth was on, the throne. In 1560 when she was 27, the number of women presented to her for favour was only 20. In 1595, when she was 62, a Found three-score were named and only $7 actually underwent the ceremony of the "Pedilavium™ or feet-washing which was performed by the Chief Almoner, [Dr. Teble Matthew, Bishop of Durham afterwards Archbishop. of York). Nevertheless Good Queen Bess was generous as there is on record her order to "Our well-beloved servant [Sir Thomas Gorges, Knight, Gentleman of our Wardrobe of Robes" for [delivery of 140 yards of russet cloth, 60 pairs of single-soled shoes, 303 ells for "linen cloth (for smocks), 26 pieces of "bearing and. trussing sheets" of holland cloth, two pieces Of "presse sheets," 30 ells of diaper, 18 napkins of diaper, 30 ells of canvas and 3 bolts of strong cords "lo truss the said stuff in." In addition to the clothing, the women were given platter of wood containing a whole Ting, halt a salmon, half-a-dozen red herrings and. two loaves of bread, bow! of ash-wood full of white wine and a purse with forty shillings therein." When Queen Elizabeth personally performed the "Pedilavium" the feet of the beneficiaries were first washed by the yeomen of the laundry with warm water and sweet herbs. James TI" was. the last monarch perform the actual foot-washing for William TT delegated it to his Al. /moner as Queen Elizabeth hod done In 1808. It was finally abandoned 1754 sine when the ceremony har been confined to distribution Maundy Pennies. In earlier days great nobles as well as the sovereign performed the rite on their own account as for example, Cardinal Wolsey at Peterborough Abbey in 1530
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.