The first day of August for the election of the Shiriffes of London.
MY Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, with the Sherifes meete at the Guildehall at viij. of the clocke in the morning, apparelled in their violet gownes lyned, and their scarlet clokes lyned, without their horses.
And when they haue bene together in the counsaile chamber a certain time at their pleasures, my Lord and the Aldermen come out and put on their clokes in the Orphanes court, and then go downe in order to the Hustinges court, & there being set, maister Recorder standeth vp and maketh his obey saunce: first to my Lord, and then to the Commons & declareth vnto them wherfore they are assembled together, shewing vnto thē that it is for the election of one of y• Shiriffes [Page] of London and the shere of Middlesex for the yere next ensuing, and for the confirmation of the other Shirife nominated by my L. Mayor accordyng to hys prerogatiue.
But my Lorde and the Aldermen goe vp to my Lordes courte, and there remayne vntill the Shiriffe be named and chosen, y• dore shutte to them.
Then M. Shiriffes, M. Chamberlein, maister common Sergeant, maister Towneclarke, y• two Secondaries & the counsailers of the citie remayne still in the Hustinges court, to take and receiue the name of him that shall some by their iudgementes, freelye, and wt one consente to be nominated & elected & iustly tried out, not only by voyce, but also by handes to be Sheriffe for the yeare folowing.
That done the Shiriffes, M. Chamberlaine, M. common Sergeant, [Page] M. Towneclarke, the two Secondaries, the Counsailers of the citie, and the Wardens of the head Companies carie vp the reporte to my Lord and the Aldermen of their said election.
Which report receiued, my Lord and the Aldermen come down againe to y• Hustinges courte, and there being set in order & placed, maister Recorder standeth vp as he did before, & maketh rehersall of his name whom they haue nominated and chosen, asking them whether it be their free election, yea, or nay. And they graunt yea yea. Then Maister Recorder geueth them thankes, and so they arise and depart home.
¶ On Barthelmew euen for the fayre in Smithfield.
The Aldermen mete my Lord & the Shiriffes at the Guilde hall chappel at ij. of the clocke after diuer in their violet gownes furred, and their horses, without clokes, [Page] and there heare Euening prayer: which being done, they take their horses and ride to Newgate, and so forth to the gate entryng into the cloth fayre, and there maketh a proclamatiō, and the proclamatiō being made, they ride through the eloth faire and so returne back againe through the churchyard of great S. Bartholmewes to Aldersgate, and so ride home againe to the Lord Mayors house.
¶ On Bartholmew day for wrestling.
So many Aldermen as dyne with my Lord Mayor & the Shirifes be appareled in their scarlet gounes lyned, & after dinner their horses be brought to them where they dine, & those Aldermen which dine with the shirifes, rideth with them to my L. house, to accompany hym to the wrestlyng. Then when the wrestling is done, they [Page] take their horses and ride backe againe through the fayre, and so in at Aldersgate, & so home againe to the sayd Lord Mayors house.
¶ The Sonday after Bartholmew day.
The Aldermen mete my Lord Maior and the shirifes at Paules crosse, at viij. of the clock in y• mornyng, apparaled in their scarlet gounes lyned, without clokes or horses, and there heare the sermon & if there be a wrestlyng or a shoting after dinner, then they come to my lordes place with their said scarlet gounes lined, & their horses as before on Bartholmew day.
¶ For our Lady fayre in Southwarke.
My Lord Mayor and the shiriffes ride to S. Magnus church in their scarlet gounes lined with out their clokes, after dinner at ij. of the clocke, and there the Aldermen [Page] mete my Lord, and after the Euening prayer they ride through ye faire till they come to S. Georges church, and further to Newington bridge (if it be so their pleasures,) and then returne backe againe ouer the Bridge, and there the Aldermen take their leaue of my lord, and depart the next way euery one to his house.
¶ For the swearing of the Shrieffes vpon Michaelmas euen.
What day soeuer it falleth, so many of the Aldermen as be bidden to dinner to either of the shrieues, shall come thither to breakfast, or els to drink at viij. of y• clock in y• mornyng, in their violet gownes furred, wt their clokes brought wt them, without horses. And if the shiriffe be an Alderman, thē they must put on their clokes, and the Shirife likewise his cloke, and so go to the Guilde hall betwene .ij. [Page] of the Gray clokes. And if the shiriffe be no Alderman, thē to come betwene. ij. of the Aldermē without clokes, and the Shirife his liuery gowne and hys hoode. And after whē he is sworne, thē to put on his violet gowne and cloke & his chain theron. And y• Aldermē must bring him home to his place with theyr clokes to diner, and so after diner take their pleasure.
¶ Vpon Michaelmas day for the election of my Lorde Mayor.
All the Aldermen mete my L. & the Shiriffes at viij. of ye clocke in the morning at Guilde hall in their scarlet gownes and theyr clokes furred, and their horses, and after they haue ben a certain time together in the coūsail chamber, they come forth into the Orphanes courte, and put on theyr clokes and so goeth in order to the chappell, there hearing seruice, [Page] and my Lord with certaine Aldermen receiue the cōmunion.
And then after the communion ended, returneth againe into the councell chamber & pause awhile, returne downe into the Hustings court, and there beyng set in order, Maister Recorder ariseth vp and maketh his obeisance first to my Lord, and after to the commōs, and declareth and sheweth vnto them, that as they of old custom know that the cause of their assembly and meeting together is for thelection of the L. Mayor for the yeare ensuing, declaring vnto them diuerse grauntes from king Iohns tyme, for this their electiō from time to time: That done, my lord & the Aldermē go vp into my lordes court and there tarieth (the dore beyng shut vnto them) til the election be brought to them. Then standeth vp M. common Sergegeaunt (the shiriffes standing on [Page] either side of him) and by the shiriffes M. Chamberlain, M. Tounclarke, the two Secondaries, and the counsellers of the Citie in the said Hustings court before y• commons. And he the said Common Sergeant maketh a short rehersall of that that M. Recorder had spokē to them before: saying, there resteth no more for him to say, but to put them in remembraunce in what order and sorte they should vse themselues in their election. That is, how they must nominate and chose two, of the which ij. my Lord and the Aldermen must cō firme one, which two being nominated, elected, and chosen, M. cō mon Sergeant, the shiriffes, with the rest before named, and certain of the head Wardens of the chiefe companies, goeth vp to my Lord and the Aldermen, and there presenteth the names of those two, y• which the Commons hath nominated [Page] in their election. Then the Mayor and the Aldermen procedeth by Scruteny to elect one of those two persons which the said commons had before nominated. Then commeth downe my lord againe to the Husting court, and he of his left hand whome they haue chosen, and so my Lord & the Aldermen sit down againe in order, but he who is chosen fitteth next vnto my L. on his left hand. Then standeth M. Recorder vp, and redeth vnto them the names of such persons whom they had nominated and chosē, of the which my L. and the aldermen hath admitted one, whose name is N. asking thē whether it be their fre electiō yea or nay. And the commons answereth yea, yea. Then the Mayor new elected standeth vpon y• Hustings court & geueth thē thanks, &c. That beyng done, the olde Mayor doth likewise geue them [Page] thankes, &c. Then they aryse vp & put of their clokes, and my Lord Mayor hath the L. elect riding with him to the kings shiriffe to dinner.
¶ For the presenting of my Lorde elect, to my L. Chancelor.
Then after diner my lord elect goeth to my Lord Chancelor if he be at home, at his place, or nere vnto it with v. or vj. of the Aldermē & M. Recorder with him in theyr violet gownes either by fote or by water, as the dweling place of the Chauncelor requireth.
¶ The morrow after Michaelmas daye for the Shriefs going to Westminster.
All the Aldermen must be at the ij. Shrifes houses in y• morning at 8. of y• clock in their violet gowns furred, and theyr horses, without clokes. But my Lord, M. Recorder, & y• ij. shirifes must be in their [Page] scarlet gownes furred, and theyr clokes born to Westminster with them, & so rideth to the Guilde hal, & from thence to y• Vintrie, there taking barge lāding at Westminster bridge, and in the hall putteth on their clokes and so go vp to the Exchequer: and there the ij. new Shirifes be presented and the old sworne to their accompt.
Then they put of their clokes & take barge landing againe at the vintrie, & there taketh horse & my lord rideth to the kings shiriffe to dinner. M. Recorder and the Shiriffes riding next my L. the two shiriffes carying ij. white rods in their handes, and their henche mē going after them.
¶ The order for Symon and Iudes day.
The old L. Mayor shall haue so many of the Aldermen as dineth wt hym, come to his place at viij. of [Page] y• clock in y• morning in their violet gounes furred, with their clokes & horses, & the shiriffes to fetche him to y• hall, & there tarieth in y• Councel chamber, vntil y• new Mayor cōmeth, and the rest of the Aldermen come, with the cōpany of either of the Lordes before thē. And after they haue bene together a certaine space, come out into the Orphanes court, and putteth on their clokes and go to the Husting court, and there being set in order the common cryer maketh proclamation, commaunding euery mā to kepe silence. Then after the proclamation the old lord ariseth vp, and geueth the new L. his place. Then M. Towneclarke geueth him his othe, and when he hath sworne, M. Chamberlain deliuereth vnto him, first the scepter, thē the kayes and the purce, with the seale, then M. Swordbearer the sword. Then they arise and put of [Page] their clokes, and the old L. rideth home with the new L. to his place and there leaueth him and as many of the Aldermen as dine wyth him. And the old Lord with y• rest of the Aldermē rideth to his own place the sword borne before him, and so after dinner the Aldermon depart home at their pleasure.
¶ On the morrow after Symō & Iudes day for my L. goyng to take his oth at Westminster.
All the Aldermen and the Shiriffes commeth to my L. elect at viij. of the clocke in their scarlette gounes furred,A veluet whoode. & their clokes born with them, and their horse, and so rideth to the Guild hall, & the Bachelers and the liuery of my L. company before him.
But the olde Lord rideth from hys owne place to the hall alone hauing no officers to waite vpon him,whoode. but the common hunt as a gē tleman [Page] vsher going before him,Veluet whoddes for both Mayors▪ & the common huntes mā and one yeomā of the watersside with his owne men followyng hym, and so tarieth at the hall.
And after they be come all together, they take their horse and ride to the Vintrie, & there take barge to Westminster bridge.
And after they be landed, the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen putteth on their clokes within y• palace, and go rounde about the hall, and so vp y• Exchequer to be sworne. Then after the oth taken in the Exchequer come downe againe, and goeth first to the kings bench, then to the common place and so put of their clokes, and goeth about y• kings tombe in Westminster abbey & thē taketh barge agayne. And being landed, rideth to the Guildehall to diner and all the companies of this Citie wyth him, and at their comming into y• [Page] hall, the new Lord Mayor wyth two of the auncient Aldermen & the Shiriffes go vp to the Lords table to bid them welcome, and likewise all the other guests, and from thence to the Ladie Mayresse table, and so come out to the gentlewomans table, and so from thence my sayde new Lord Mayor goeth into y• Chamberlaines office where he dineth, & the olde Lord Mayor at their first cōming into the hall goeth vp to the high table in the Hustinges, and there kepeth the state for that feast, thē after dinner, goeth to Poules with all the companies waityng before my Lord.
For going to Poules on all Saintes day, Christmas day, Twelfth day, and Candelmas day.
All the Aldermen and the Shiriffes come to my Lordes place in their scarlet gownes furred,Veluet whoddes for both the olde & new. and their clokes and horses, and from [Page] thence rideth to the Guilde hall, my lordes company and the Bachelers before him, and there heareth Euenyng prayer, and when praier is done, they ride to Poules and there both y• new L. Mayor and the old put on their clokes & goeth vp to the Queere, & there heareth y• Sermon, which done, they goe aboute the churche, and there put of their clokes where they were put on. Then they take their horses agayne and the Aldermen bringeth my Lord home, and then they haue spice breade & hypocras, and so take theyr leaue of my Lord.
For Sonday after Christmas holy dayes
My L. and the Aldermen must be in their violet gounes without their clokes to the ende to heare y• Sermon.
For monday after Twelfth day.
[Page] My lord and the Aldermē mete at the Guilde hall at. viij. of the clock in y• morning in their scarlet gownes furred, and their clokes without horse, to receiue of theyr wards their indētures of y• warmot enquest, & for the swearyng of y• Constables & Skauengers.
For good Friday.
My Lorde and the Aldermen mete at Poules crosse at one of y• clocke to heare the sermon in their pewke gounes and without their cheynes and Typets.
For monday and Tuesday in Easter weke.
All the Aldermē & Shirifes cō meth to my lords place before 8. of y• clocke to breakefast in their scarlet gounes furred,whoode. & their clokes and horses.
And after breakefast take theyr horses and ride to the spittle, and there put on their clokes, and so [Page] sit downe in order to heare the sermon, whiche done rydeth homewarde in order till they come to the Well with two buckets with in bishopsgate, and there so many of the Aldermen as dyneth wyth the shiriffes, taketh their leaue of my lord, & the rest go home wt him.
For Wednisday in Easter weke.
Like as afore on the other ij. daies but that my L. and the Aldermen must be in their violet gounes and sutable clokes.
For low Sonday.
All the aldermen mete my lord & the shirifes at Poules in their scarlet gounes furred, without theyr clokes or horse, to heare the Sermon.
Vppon the monday and tuesday in the Whitson weeke.
The Lord Mayor and Aldermē must meete with my Lord at Poules in their scarlet gownes [Page] without clokes, to hear y• sermon.
For the goyng to Poules the first sonday of euery Terme.
All the aldermen mete my lorde & the shiriffes at Poules in their scarlet gounes furred, or lyned wt out clokes or horse, as the tyme of the yeare requireth whē y• terme beginneth.
For the election of the Knightes and Burgeses of the Parliament.
All the Aldermen mete my L. & the shiriffes at Guilde hall, at ix. of the clocke in their violet gownes and their clokes furred or lined as the tyme of y• yere when they shall be chosen requireth.
And sitteth in the Hustinges court whilest the Commons chose them. The order is, that they muste chose M. Recorder for one of their Knightes, and one graye cloke for the other, and ij. commoners [Page] for the Burgeses, which done they depart.
For the election of Bridge maisters if any of them depart within the yeare.
My lord and the Aldermen sitteth in the Hustinges court while they be chosen in theyr violet gounes without their clokes, and do not remoue vntill the election be done.
The vse of my Lordes cloke.
From Lammas to Whitsontide violet furred, and from Whitsontide to Lammas, scarlet.
For the buriall of Aldermen.
The Aldermen must be in their violet gounes, but those that haue of their frendes blacke gounes.
And if any Aldermā that dieth geueth my lorde a blacke gowne, M. Sword bearer must haue an other or els xl. s. in money, y• pryce therof, & so cary the sword in black before my lord.