Printed by A. Taylor, 40, Basinghall Street.
[Illustration: ~Lord Mayor’s Show.~]
---------------------- Behold
How London _did_ pour out her citizens!
The Mayor and all his brethren in best sort!
_Shakspeare._
The procession of the corporation of London to Westminster on the
occasion of the new lord mayor being sworn into office, is familiar to
most residents in the metropolis, and the journals annually record the
modern processions and festivals in the Guildhall, sufficiently to
acquaint those who have not witnessed them with the nature of the
proceedings. It is not purposed then, for the present, to describe what
passes in our own times, but to acquaint the citizens and all who feel
an interest in ancient customs, with something of the splendour
attendant upon the ceremony in old times.
In 1575, “William Smythe, citezen and haberdasher of London,” wrote “A
breffe description of the Royall Citie of London, capitall citie of this
realme of England.” This manuscript which is in existence sets forth as
follows:
“The day of St. Simon and St. Jude, the mayor enters into his state and
office. The next day he goes by water to Westminster in most
triumphant-like manner, his barge being garnished with the arms of the
city; and near it a ship-boat of the queen’s majesty being trimmed up
and rigged like a ship of war, with divers pieces of ordnance,
standards, pennons, and targets of the proper arms of the said mayor, of
his company, and of the merchants’ adventurers, or of the staple, or of
the company of the new trades; next before him goeth the barge of the
livery of his own company, decked with their own proper arms; then the
bachelors’ barge; and so all the companies in London, in order, every
one having their own proper barge, with the arms of their company. And
so passing along the Thames, he landeth at Westminster, where he taketh
his oath in the exchequer before the judge there; which done, he
returneth by water as aforesaid, and landeth at Paul’s wharf, where he,
and the rest of the aldermen take their horses, and in great pomp pass
through Cheapside. And first of all cometh two great standards, one
having the arms of the city, and the other the arms of the mayor’s
company: next them two drums and a flute, then an ensign of the city,
and then about lxx or lxxx poore men marching two and two, in blue
gowns, with red sleeves and caps, every one bearing a pike and a target,
whereon is painted the arms of all them that have been mayors of the
same company that this new mayor is of. Then two banners, one of the
king’s arms, the other of the mayor’s own proper arms. Then a set of
hautboys playing, and after them certain _wyfflers_,[382] in velvet
coats and chains of gold, with white staves in their hands; then the
_Pageant of Triumph_ richly decked, whereupon by certain figures and
writings, some matter touching justice and the office of a magistrate is
represented. Then sixteen trumpeters, eight and eight, having banners of
the mayor’s company. Then certain _wyfflers_ in velvet coats and chains,
with white staves as before. Then the bachelors, two and two, in long
gowns, with crimson hoods on their shoulders of satin; which bachelors
are chosen every year of the same company, that the mayor is of, (but
not of the living) and serve as gentlemen on that and other festival
days, to wait on the mayor, being in number according to the quantity of
the company, sometimes sixty, or one hundred. After them twelve
trumpeters more, with banners of the mayor’s company; then the drum and
flute of the city, and an ensign of the mayor’s company; and after, the
waits of the city in blue gowns, red sleeves and caps, every one having
a silver collar about his neck. Then they of the livery in their long
gowns, every one having his hood on his left shoulder, half-black and
half-red, the number of them according to the greatness of the company
whereof they are. After them follow sheriff’s-officers, and then the
mayor’s officers, with other officers of the city, as the common
serjeant, and the chamberlain; next before the mayor goeth the
sword-bearer, having on his head the cap of honour, and the sword of the
city in his right hand, in a rich scabbard, set with pearl, and on his
left hand goeth the common crier of the city, with his great mace on his
shoulder all gilt. The mayor hath on a long gown of scarlet, and on his
left shoulder a hood of black velvet, and a rich collar of gold or SS.
about his neck, and with him rideth the old mayor also, in his scarlet
gown, hood of velvet, and a chain of gold about his neck. Then all the
aldermen, two and two, (among whom is the recorder,) all in scarlet
gowns; those that have been mayors have chains of gold, the others have
black velvet tippets. The two sheriffs come last of all, in their black
scarlet gowns and chains of gold. In this order they pass along through
the city to the Guildhall, where they dine that day, to the number of
one thousand persons, all at the charge of the mayor and the two
sheriffs. This feast costeth 400_l._, whereof the mayor payeth 200_l._
and each of the sheriffs 100_l._ Immediately after dinner, they go to
St. Paul’s church, every one of the aforesaid poor men bearing staff,
torches, and targets, which torches are lighted when it is late, before
they come from evening prayer.”[383] In more ancient times, the
procession to and from Westminster was by land; until in 1453, sir John
Norman built a sumptuous barge at his own expense, for the purpose of
going by water, whereupon watermen made a song in his praise, beginning,
“_Row thy boat, Norman_.” The twelve companies emulating their chief
have, from that period, graced the Thames on lord mayor’s day.
The first account of this annual exhibition known to have been
published, was written by George Peele, for the inauguration of sir
Wolstone Dixie, knight, on the 29th of October, 1585. On that occasion,
as was customary to the times, there were dramatic representations in
the procession--of an allegorical character. Children were dressed to
personify the city, magnanimity, loyalty, science, the country, and the
river Thames. They also represented a soldier, a sailor, and nymphs,
with appropriate speeches. The show opened with a moor on the back of a
lynx. On sir Thomas Middleton’s mayoralty, in 1613, the solemnity is
described as unparalleled for the cost, art, and magnificence of the
shows, pageants, chariots, morning, noon, and night triumphs. In 1655,
the city pageants, after a discontinuance of about fourteen years, were
revived. Edmund Gayton, the author of the description for that year,
says, that “our metropolis for these planetary pageants, was as famous
and renowned in foreign nations, as for their faith, wealth, and
valour.” In the show of 1659, an European, an Egyptian, and a Persian,
were personated. On lord mayor’s day, 1671, the king, queen, and duke of
York, and most of the nobility being present, there were “sundry shows,
shapes, scenes, speeches and songs, in parts;” and the like, in 1672,
and 1673, when the king again “graced the triumphs.” The king, queen,
duke and duchess of York, prince Rupert, the duke of Monmouth, foreign
ambassadors, the chief nobility, and secretary of state, were at the
celebration of lord mayor’s day, in 1674, when there were “emblematical
figures, artful pieces of architecture, and rural dancing, with pieces
spoken on each pageant.”
The printed description of these processions are usually entitled
“_Triumphs_,” though they are more commonly called “_The London
Pageants_,” all of them are scarce, and some of such extreme rarity, as
to bear a price at the rate of two and three guineas a leaf. The
description of sir Patience Ward’s show, on the 29th of October, 1680,
composed by Thomas Jordan, is an interesting specimen of the setting out
and pageantry of this procession. The lord mayor being of the livery of
the merchant-tailors’ company, at seven o’clock in the morning,
liverymen of the first rank, appointed to conduct the business of the
day, assembled at merchant-tailors’ hall, to meet the masters, wardens,
and assistants, in their gowns, faced with _foyns_, (the skin of the
martin.) In the second rank, others in gowns faced with _budge_,
(lambs’-skin, with the wool dressed outwards,) and livery-hoods. In the
third rank, a number of foyns-bachelors, and forty budge-bachelors, both
attired in scarlet hoods and gowns. Sixty gentlemen-ushers, in velvet
coats and chains of gold, bearing white staves. Thirty more in plush and
buff, bearing colours and banners. Thirty-six of the king’s trumpeters,
with silver trumpets, headed by the serjeant-trumpeter, he wearing two
scarfs, one the lord mayor’s, and the other the company’s colours. The
king’s drum-major, followed by four of the king’s drums and fifes. Seven
other drums and two fifes, wearing vests of buff, with black breeches
and waste scarfs. Two city marshals on horseback, with attendants. The
foot-marshal, with a rich broad shoulder-scarf, to put them in rank and
file, attended by six others. The fence-master, with attendants, bearing
bright broadswords drawn. Poor pensioners, with gowns and caps, bearing
standards and banners. A troop of poor persons, in azure gowns and caps.
One hundred more with javelins and targets, bearing the arms of their
benefactors. Being all assembled, they are by the foot-marshal’s
judgment, arranged into six divisions, ranked out by two and two. _The
first division contains_ the ensigns of the company, followed by the
poor company of pensioners. Four drums and one fife. Pensioners in coats
as before described. Persons of worth, each bearing a standard or
banner. Four trumpets. Two merchant-tailors’ ensigns, bearing their
supporters and crest. Six gentlemen-ushers. The budge-bachelors,
marching in measured order. _Second division._ Six trumpets. Two
gentlemen, bearing the coats of arms of the city, and the
merchant-tailors’ company. Eight gentlemen, wearing gold chains. The
foyns-bachelors. _Third division._ Two gentlemen in velvet coats with
banners. Ten gentlemen-ushers in coats and chains of gold, as before
described. A large body of the livery in their gowns and livery-hoods,
followed by “all lord mayors in the _potential mood_.” In their rear
divers of the city trumpets. Two gentlemen bearing the arms of the city
and the lord mayor. Gentlemen-ushers. The court of assistants. Four
drums. Six trumpets. Three gallants, bearing the banners of the diadem.
The king’s, queen’s, and city’s ensigns, attended by six gentlemen as
pages. The masters and wardens of the merchant-tailors’ company. Thus
formed, they march from merchant-tailors’ hall to the lord mayor’s
house, where his lordship and the aldermen take horse, according to
their degree, and the whole body proceed in state to Guildhall. Being
met at the gate by the old lord mayor, and there attired with the gown,
fur hood, and scarf, and guarded by knights, esquires, and gentlemen,
they all march through King-street down to Three-Crane-wharf, where the
lord mayor and aldermen, discharging some of the attendants, take barge
at the west-end of the wharf; the court of assistants’ livery, and the
best of the gentlemen-ushers taking barge at the east-end. The rest of
the ushers, with the foyns and the budge-bachelors, remain ashore, with
others, to await the return of his lordship, who proceeds with several
city companies by water, and is rowed all along by the Strand to
Westminster, a pleasure boat with great guns aboard saluting him on the
way. At New Palace Stairs they disembark, and making a lane to the hall,
the lord mayor passes along to take the oath and go through the usual
ceremonies. These being completed, he makes a liberal donation to the
poor of Westminster, reembarks with all his retinue, and being rowed
back to Blackfriars Stairs, he lands there under beat of drum and a
salute of three volleys from the artillery company in their martial
ornaments, some in buff, with head-pieces, many being of massy silver.
From Blackfriars they march before the lord mayor and aldermen through
Cheapside to Guildhall. The pensioners and banners who went not to
Westminster, being set in order to march, the foot-marshal in the rear
of the artillery company, leads the way along by the channel up
Ludgate-hill, through Ludgate, into St. Paul’s Churchyard, and so into
Cheapside, where his lordship is entertained by the _first pageant_,
consisting of a large stage with the coat armour of the
merchant-tailors’ company, eminently erected, consisting of a large tent
royal, _gules_, fringed and richly garnished, _or_, lined, faced, and
doubled, _ermine_. This stage is winged or flanked by two other stages,
bearing two excellent figures of lively carved camels, the supporters to
the company’s coat. On the back of one camel, a black native Indian, in
a golden robe, a purple mantle fringed with gold, pearl pendants in his
ears, coronet of gold with feathers, and golden buskins laced with
scarlet ribbon, holds a golden bridle in his left, and a banner of the
company, representing _Treasure_ in his right hand. On the other camel,
a West Indian, in a robe of silver, scarlet mantle, diamonds pendant
from his ears, buskins of silver, laced with purple ribbons, a golden
crown feathered, holds a silver bridle in his left, and a banner of the
lord mayor, representing _Traffic_, in his right hand. On one of the
camel stages four figures sit on pedestals, one at each corner,
representing _Diligence_, _Industry_, _Ingenuity_, and _Success_; on
the other camel-stage, in like manner, _Mediocrity_, _Amity_, _Verity_,
_Variety_, all richly habited in silk or sarcenet, bear splendid emblems
and banners. The royal tent, or imperial pavilion, between these two
stages, is supported on one side by a minister of state representing
_Royalty_, and on the other side by another representing _Loyalty_; each
in rich robes of honor _gules_, wearing on their left arms shields
_azure_, with this motto in gold, _For the king and kingdom_, one
bearing a banner of the king’s, and the other one of the city’s banners.
On a high and eminent seat of throne-like ascension is seated
_Sovereignty_, in royal posture and alone, with black curled hair,
wearing an imperial crown, a robe of purple velvet, lined, faced, and
caped with ermine, a collar of SS with a George pendant; bearing in one
hand a golden globe, in the other a royal sceptre. On a seat beneath,
are _Principality_, _Nobility_, and _Honour_, all richly habited. On the
next seat, gradually descending beneath, are, 1. _Gentility_, shaped
like a scholar and soldier, holding in one hand, clad with a golden
gauntlet, a silver spear, in the other a book; 2. _Integrity_, wearing
an earl’s coronet for the court, a loose robe of scarlet-coloured silk
for the city, underneath a close coat of grass-green plush for the
county; 3. _Commonalty_, as a knight of the shire in parliamentary
robes. On the lowest seat, an _ancient English Hero_, with brown curling
hair, in ancient armour, as worn by chief commanders, the coat of mail
richly gilt, crimson and velvet scarf fringed with gold, a quiver of
arrows in a gold belt on one side, a sword at the other, buskins laced
with silver and gold, a silver helmet with red and white plume, in one
hand a large long bow, and a spear in the other. This personage,
representing _sir John Hawkwood_, a merchant-tailor of martial renown
under Edward III., when he conquered France, as soon as he perceives the
lord mayor prepared, with attention riseth up, and with a martial bow
exhibiteth a speech in verse of thirty-seven lines, in compliment to the
merchant-tailors and the lord mayor. His lordship testifying his
approbation, rideth with all his brethren through the throng of
spectators, till at Milk-street end, he is intercepted by _the second
pageant_, which is a chariot of ovation, or peaceful triumph, adorned
with delightful pieces of curious painting, and drawn by a golden lion
and a lamb. On the lion is mounted a young negro prince, richly habited,
according to the royal mode in India, holding a golden bridle, and in
the other hand St. George’s banner, representing _Power_. On the lamb is
mounted a white beautiful seraphim-like creature, with long bright
flaxen curled hair, and on it a golden coronet of cherubims’ heads and
wings, a carnation sarcenet robe, with a silver mantle and wings of
gold, silver, purple, and scarlet, reining the lamb by a silver bridle
in his left hand, and with his right bearing an angelical staff, charged
with a red cross, representing _Clemency_. In the chariot sitteth seven
persons, 1. _Concordia_, 2. _Unanimia_, 3. _Pacifica_, 4. _Consentania_,
5. _Melodea_, 6. _Benevolentia_, (whose habits, and those of other
characters already and hereafter mentioned, are not described here for
want of room) and 7. “_Harmonia_, a lady of great gravity, with
masculine aspect, wearing a lovely dark brown peruke, curiously curled,
on which is planted a crown imperial; she wears a robe of French green
velvet, pleasantly embroidered with gold, a crimson coloured silk and
silver mantle, and sitting majestically alone in front, upon the
approach and fixation of my lord mayor, improves the opportunity, riseth
up, and delivereth an oration.” This consists of forty-four lines in
verse, wherein she acquaints his lordship that the other characters are
her attributes, recommends unity, because division is the policy of the
pope and the jesuits, expresses her belief that if the lion and the lamb
fall out, she should run to ruin, descants upon magistrate-like virtues,
and in the end tells his lordship,--
You have done all things fair, no action foul;
Your sherevalry gave relish of good rule,
Nor need they doubt your mayoralty, therefore,
Begging your pardon, I shall say no more.
This speech being concluded, his lordship exhibiting a gracious aspect
of favourable acceptation, advanceth further towards Guildhall, but is
civilly obstructed by another scene, and in regard, his lordship is a
merchant, and his company merchant-tailors, the _Third Triumphal Scene,
or Pageant_, is a ship called the _Patience_, with masts and sails,
fully rigged and manned, the _captain_ whereof addresseth to my lord a
speech beginning,--
What cheer, my lord? I am return’d from sea,
To amplifie your day of Jubilee,
In this tried vessel, &c.
His lordship having surveyed the ship, and the trumpets sounding, he
continueth his determined course toward Guildhall, but by the way is
once more obstructed by another scene, called the _Palace of Pleasure_,
which is a triumphal ionic arch of excellent structure, where, in
distinct and perspicuous situations, sitteth nine beautiful and pleasant
ladies, whose names, natures, and ornaments are consentaneous, 1.
_Jollity_, 2. _Delight_, 3. _Fancy_, 4. _Felicity_, 5. _Wit_, 6.
_Invention_, 7. _Tumult_, 8. _Slaughter_, 9. _Gladness_; all of them
properly enrobed and adorned; and to augment their delight, there are
several persons properly habited, playing on sundry loud instruments of
music, one of which, with a voice as loud and as tunable as a treble
hautboy, chanteth out _a Ditty in commendation of the Merchant-tailors’
Trade_, commencing thus,
Of all the professions that ever were nam’d
The Taylers though slighted, is much to be fam’d:
For various invention and antiquity,
No trade with the _Taylers_ compared may be:
For warmth and distinction and fashion he doth
Provide for both sexes with silk, stuff, and cloth:
Then do not disdain him or slight him, or flout him,
Since (if well consider’d) you can’t live without him.
But let all due praises (that can be) be made
To honour and dignifie the _Taylers_ trade.
When Adam and Eve out of Eden were hurl’d,
They were at that time king and queen of the world:
Yet this royal couple were forced to play
The _Taylers_, and put themselves in green array;
For modesty and for necessity’s sake
They had figs for the belly, and leaves for the back
And afterward clothing of sheep-skins they made
Then judge if a _Tayler_ was not the first trade,
The oldest profession; and they are but railers,
Who scoff and deride men that be _Merchant-Taylers_.
This song, containing five more verses, being ended, the foot-marshal
places the assistants, livery, and the companies on both sides of
King’s-street, and the pensioners with their targets hung on the tops of
the javelins; in the rear of them the ensign-bearers; drums and fifes in
front; he then hastens the foins and budge-bachelors, together with the
gentlemen ushers, to Guildhall, where his lordship is again saluted by
the artillerymen with three volleys more, which concludes their duty.
His land attendants pass through the gallery or lane so made into
Guildhall; after which the company repairs to dinner in the hall, and
the several silk-works and triumphs are likewise conveyed into
Blackwell-hall; and the officers aforesaid, and the children that sit in
the pageants, there refresh themselves until his lordship hath dined. At
the dinner in Guildhall, his lordship and the guests being all seated,
the city music begin to touch their instruments with very artful
fingers. Their ears being as well feasted as their palates, and a
concert lesson or two succeeding, “a sober person with a good voice,
grave humour, and audible utterance, proper to the condition of the
times,” sings a song called _The Protestants’ Exhortation_, the burden
whereof is, _Love one another_, and the subject against the catholics.
The song being ended, the musicians play divers new airs, which having
done, three or four “habit themselves according to the humour of the
song,” and one of them chanteth forth The _Plotting Papist’s Litany_, in
ten stanzas, the first of which ends with
Joyntly then wee ’l agree,
To sing a Litany,
And let the burden be,
_Ora pro nobis_.
In the year 1688, the second mayoralty of sir Thomas Pilkington, who
being of the skinners’ company, a pageant in honour of their occupation,
consisted of “a spacious wilderness, haunted and inhabited with all
manner of wild beasts and birds of various shapes and colours, even to
beasts of prey, as wolves, bears, panthers, leopards, sables, and
beavers; likewise dogs, cats, foxes, and rabbits, which tossed up now
and then into a balcony fell oft upon the _company’s_ heads, and by them
tossed again into the crowd, afforded great diversion; melodious harmony
likewise allayed the fury of the wild beasts, who were continually
moving, dancing, curvetting, and tumbling to the music.”
On the alteration of the style, the swearing in of the lord mayor and
the accompanying show, which had been on the 29th of October, was
changed to the 9th of November. The speeches in the pageants were
usually composed by the city poet, an officer of the corporation, with
an annual salary, who provided a printed description for the members of
the corporation before the day. Settle, the last city poet, wrote the
last pamphlet intended to describe a lord mayor’s show; it was for sir
Charles Duncombe’s, in 1708, but the prince of Denmark’s death the day
before, prevented the exhibition. The last lord mayor who rode on
horseback at his mayoralty was sir Gilbert Heathcote in the reign of
queen Anne.
It will be remarked after this perusal, that the modern exhibitions have
no pretension to vie with the grandeur of the old “London triumphs.” In
1760, the court of common council recommended pageants to be exhibited
for the entertainment of their majesties on lord mayor’s day. Such
revivals are inexpedient, yet probably some means might be devised for
improving the appearance of the present procession, without further
expenditure from the city funds, or interfering with the public
appropriation of the allowance for the support of the civic dignity. All
that remains of the lord mayor’s show, to remind the curiously informed
of its ancient character, is in the first part of the procession,
wherein the poor men of the company to which the lord mayor belongs, or
persons hired to represent them, are habited in long gowns and close
caps of the company’s colour, and bear painted shields on their arms,
but without javelins. So many of these head the show, as there are years
in the lord mayor’s age. Their obsolete costume and hobbling walk are
sport for the unsedate, who, from imperfect tradition, year after year,
are accustomed to call them “old bachelors”--tongues less polite call
them “_old fogeys_.” The numerous band of gentlemen-ushers in velvet
coats, wearing chains of gold and bearing white staves, is reduced to
half-a-dozen full-dressed footmen, carrying umbrellas in their hands.
The antiquarian reminiscences occasioned by the throwing of substances
that stone-eaters alone would covet, from the tops of the houses, can
arise no more; and even the giants in Guildhall are elevated upon
octagon stone columns, to watch and ward the great west window, in no
other than a gigantic capacity: their proper situation they were
displaced from some few years ago, owing, it is presumed, to lack of
information in the civic authorities, that figures of giants anciently
belonged to Guildhall, and that their _corporate_ station was at the
Guildhall door. In their present station, they are as much out of place
as a church weathercock would be if it were removed from the steeple,
and put on the sounding board of the pulpit.