Commentary on the Splendor of the Arch-Offices in the Coronations of Charles VII, Maria Amalia, and Francis

Electors and legates were again accompanied to their chamber, and when the tables were laden with magnificent food, they led him to the banquet with the carriers of the imperial insignia preceding him. The master of the court took the crown from the Caesar and entrusted it to the table, which was to be for him while he dined on the right side, covered with a red velvet cloth. The Brandenburg legate, Baron von Schwerin, provided water and a towel for washing hands. Both Electors and Ingelheim approached in such an order that the Elector of Cologne stood to the right of the Elector of Mainz, and the Trier legate stood to the left, before the Emperor's table. Thus they led the prayers, the Elector of Mainz saying "Benedicite" Bless us, to which the Elector of Cologne and Ingelheim responded. Then the same three took from Count Stadion the silver staff from which the imperial seals hung. The Elector of Mainz unfastened these and placed them on the table before the Caesar. The Caesar immediately returned them, and the Elector of Mainz hung them around his own neck, in which finery he sat at the table and remained so adorned after the banquet, all the way to the Caesar's palace and then to his own mansion. After a few days, Count Königsfeld, Vice-Chancellor of the Empire, received that staff as a gift, as the Aurea Bulla Golden Bull ordains; furthermore, the marshal Pappenheim received the small measure with the ruler, the first Brandenburg legate received the basin and cruet, and the steward received the platter with its lid, all of these instruments being made of silver. The Caesar's table stood elevated on four steps under an excellent canopy. On both sides, behind the Caesar in this seating, were seen the master of the court and the first court marshal with their batons, the master of the horse, and the commanders of the guards and attendants with Prince Mansfeld. The Hereditary Prince and the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt brought the food to the Emperor (which the Counts of the Empire 16) Those about to place the food on the table and who were near the Caesar saluted with the triple grace of Spanish elegance, just as the supreme prefect of silver utensils, Maximilian Count von Toerring, having set down the platter, assigned a place for the food, then taking them away, ensured they were carried off by young noble imperial pages. carried, led by Marshal Pappenheim with his greater baton), cut it, while the master of the court supplied the drink and varied the courses during the meal.