This is the ordinaunce and guyding that perteyneth unto the worshipfull beryyng of ony astate to be done in manner and fourme ensewing.

When that a King annoynted is decessed, aft' his body is fp'ged, it must be washed and clensed by a bishop' for his holy annoyntemt, than the body must be bamed, wrapped in laun, or reynez yf it may be gotyn, than hosyn cherte, & a perer of shone of rede lether, & do on his surcote of cloth, his cap of estate on his hed, and then ley hym on a fair borde cou'ed with cloth of gold, his on hande on his bely & a sep'r in the toder hande, & oon his face a kerchief, & so shewed to his noblez by the space of ii dayez & more yef the weder will it fussre.

On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 29th year of the reign of Elizabeth, the queens majestie of England, there went from Peterborough M…‥Dethick, alias Garter principal king of armes, and five heralds, accompanied with forty horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late queen of Scots, from Fotheringham Castle in Northamptonshire to Peterborough aforesaid, which queen had remained prisoner in England…‥years;

It is a misfortune generally attendant on the earlier periods of History, that they want those original and authentick records, which are necessary to transmitt facts and characters of men in a just and impartial light to posterity.