and battlements of the castle.

Half an hour brought the cavalcade to Datchet Bridge, at the foot of
which a pavilion was erected for the accommodation of the mayor and
burgesses. And here, having dismounted, they awaited the king's
arrival.

Shortly after this a cloud of dust on the Staines Road seemed to
announce the approach of the royal party, and all rushed forth and held
themselves in readiness to meet it. But the dust appeared to have
been raised by a company of horsemen, headed by Captain Bouchier,
who rode up the next moment. Courteously saluting the mayor,
Bouchier informed him that Mistress Anne Boleyn was close behind,
and that it was the king's pleasure that she should be attended in all
state to the lower gate of the castle, there to await his coming, as he
himself intended to enter it with her. The mayor replied that the
sovereign's behests should be implicitly obeyed, and he thereupon
stationed himself at the farther side of the bridge in expectation of
Anne Boleyn's arrival.

Presently the sound of trumpets smote his ear, and a numerous and
splendid retinue was seen advancing, consisting of nobles, knights,
esquires, and gentlemen, ranged according to their degrees, and all
sumptuously apparelled in cloths of gold and silver, and velvets of
various colours, richly embroidered. Besides these, there were pages
and other attendants in the liveries of their masters, together with
sergeants of the guard and henchmen in their full accoutrements.
Among the nobles were the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk--the king being
desirous of honouring as much as possible her whom he had resolved
to make his queen. The former was clothed in tissue, embroidered with