I found the symbolism in Lucifera's entourage interesting: Six "counselors" riding Six animals representative of Six sins. The number six carries many symbolic connotations, especially in Biblical interpretations, including but not limited to the well known mark of the devil (666). However, the fact that Lucifera's primary usher, 'Vanity,' seems to take precedence over the other six traditional "deadly sins" (Idleness, Gluttony, Lechery, Avarice, Envy and Wrath) piqued my interest.

Vanity's role could just be a simple tool used by Spenser to personify the Queen, because Vanity is a much easier target than Gluttony for a figure like Lucifera. Royal figures, like most people with wealth or power, have a reputation for being very conceited. While, it is not completely clear in the reading (or at least not to me) why Vanity took this position within the group, it definitely was meant to grab the reader's attention. Why not Wrath or Lechery? Vanity, would generally seem to be one of the lesser evils by comparison, and would not generally take precedence over the rest unless Spenser was trying to magnify Lucifera's vanity, powerfully portraying her as a superficial, conceited type.

Vanity, be definition is excessive pride in one's character or qualities. Thus, one who is vain would set him/herself away from these other qualities, claiming to be pure of all wrongdoing. Basically, vanity is a Catch-22 in that to be overwhelmingly Vain, one would deny any vanity whatsoever. The other deadly sins, bad as they may be, carry no accompanying denial within the subject's psyche.

Given that potential reasoning for his creation of this scene, I think it's very intriguing that Spenser chose to have the Queen and her personified Vanity dragged to her destination by the other sins: even though she may deny association with them, they choose her final destination and will accompany her the entire way. Even if you believe that Lucifera originally had noble intentions, she was doomed to do more harm than good, due to the misleadings of her closest advisors and her unwillingness to admit having done anything wrong herself.