other, the geometrical plan of the borough of Dunstable, which had four

streets, parallel to the four quarters of the world. The throne was

approached by three steps. It was called the royal chair. On the two

walls, opposite each other, were displayed in successive pictures, on a

huge piece of tapestry given to the Lords by Elizabeth, the adventures

of the Armada, from the time of its leaving Spain until it was wrecked

on the coasts of Great Britain. The great hulls of the ships were

embroidered with threads of gold and silver, which had become blackened

by time. Against this tapestry, cut at intervals by the candelabra

fastened in the wall, were placed, to the right of the throne, three

rows of benches for the bishops, and to the left three rows of benches

for the dukes, marquises, and earls, in tiers, and separated by

gangways. On the three benches of the first section sat the dukes; on

those of the second, the marquises; on those of the third, the earls.

The viscounts' bench was placed across, opposite the throne, and behind,

between the viscounts and the bar, were two benches for the barons.

On the highest bench to the right of the throne sat the two archbishops

of Canterbury and York; on the middle bench three bishops, London,

Durham, and Winchester, and the other bishops on the lowest bench. There

is between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other bishops this

considerable difference, that he is bishop "by divine providence,"

whilst the others are only so "by divine permission." On the right of

the throne was a chair for the Prince of Wales, and on the left, folding

chairs for the royal dukes, and behind the latter, a raised seat for

minor peers, who had not the privilege of voting. Plenty of

fleurs-de-lis everywhere, and the great escutcheon of England over the

809

The Man Who Laughs