The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-29
HENRY Wits BED.
The BIuT King Retired with u Great
Deal of Ceremony.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
Sixteenth century customs were very
different from our own, and the "Kynges
bedde" was not made until the time for
his majestys retiring. 1t might be $3.50 or
10 o'clock in the evening. for our ances-
tors retired very early when a groom took
a torch and going to the wardrobe Of the
kings bed, brought the officials of that
department with the "kynges" stuff into
the chamber for making the same "bedde."
These officials consisted of a gentleman
usher and four yeomen
The groom or page stood at the foot of
the bed and held the torch while the ward
robe keepers advanced and opened the
''Kynge'S stuff for hys bedde" upon a
''faire sheete" between the page and the
foot of the bed. One of the yoemen then
with dagger searched the straw of the
kings bed, that there be none untrenth
therein" This was to guard against the
secreting OF an assassin OF robber in the
royal apartments.
You are not to suppose however that
the king, like Margery Daw, slept imme-
diately upon the straw. After the yoemen
with his dagger had set his mind at rest
about the assassin, there was cast there
upon ''bedde of downe." This last the
yeomen were directed to "tumble over for
and buffet the bed and lay the bolster
where it Ought to lye." Then they of the
wardrobe delivered over the sheets and
coverlets,, which were laid on by the four
yeomen, each taking a corner of the drap-
cry and laying each article separately
upon the bed.
The "tucking up and turning down"
as well as the placing of the pillows,
were provided for in due course. When
all was done the yeoman made "a crosse"
and kissed 1t where there hands had been.
and with a great deal of ceremony the
curtains of the bed were let down"
linen gentleman usher brought in the
kings sword and placed it at the head of
the bed, and squire was set as keeper
OF the "bedde," with a light to SIT up in
the room until his most Christian mates-
ty should waddle into his bed chamber.
A luncheon was then brought in, consist
ing OF lof of bread, a pot of ale and a
pot of wine, ''for them that 1naketh the
bedde, and emmy man." 1t was partaken
of with great decorum, for the rules were
very strict
A commotion outside announces at last
that the king is approaching; the door is
thrown open. In comes the chamberlain
with his wand Of office in his hand and
followed. by dozen of the royal halber-
diers, who strut like hariequins into the
room. Then comes a groom carrying a
huge candlestick seven feet in hight
with a lighted taper in 1t. Behind him Is
great, bloated figure, with bleared eyes.
puffy, infiamed cheeks, breathing heavily
as If intoxicated, and waddling rather
than walking.
Down fall the haIberdiers, the pages. the
yeomen of the guard and the gentlemen
ushers before that royal parsonage
ry Tudor, King of England, Ireland and
| Wales.
When his yeomen, his squires his gem
tlemen ushers and his groms have arisen
that bloated body is disposed between the
sheets, and as they withdraw we will
draw close the corteyns of the kynge's
''bedde,' and in charity wish his majesty
good night and pleasant dreams