LONDON'S Anniversary Festival, Performed On Monday, October the 29th. 1688.
For the Entertainment of the Right Honourable, Sr. John Chapman, Kt. Lord Mayor of the City of London;
Being Their great Year of JUBILEE.
WITH A PANEGYRICK upon the Restoring OF THE CHARTER.
And a Sonnet provided for the Entertainment of the KING.
By M. TAƲBMAN.
Printed and Published by Authority.
London, Printed for J. Fleming, and Sold by the Booksellers, 1688.
To the Right Honourable Sir JOHN CHAPMAN, Kt. Lord Mayor of the CITY of LONDON.
IF the Custom of a Dedication at this Time did not make it necessary, your Eminent Merits do justly lay claim to the discharge of this Duty. And though the present Impending Storm, the Dread of a Foreign Invasion, has Obnubilated the usual Splendor of this Day's Solemnity, such Remarkable Occurrences have happened, this Year, as will render your Name and Memory famous to all Posterity: What is most to be Recorded, is, the Restoring of the Charter of London, which happened in the Year of your Mayoralty, 88. Auspicious 88! England's great [Page] Year of Jubilee, twice Propitious to this Famous City: First, In Restoring our Lives and Estates: Secondly, Our Laws and Freedoms, in the free Exercise of our Antient Establish'd Government. What other Worthies durst not Attempt, you like Jason, bravely Adventur'd for the Prize, and brought the Golden Fleece in Triumph home. In the late threatning Deluge, when the Ark was tost upon the Foaming Billows, you, like the Dove, was sent Abroad, and like the Dove returned with the Olive-Branch of Joy. This unspeakable Mark of Royal Bounty occurring this Year with your Right of Succession to the Praetorial Chair, will Record your Name to future Ages, beyond all the Witless Panegyricks of,
To the Right Honourable Sir John Chapman, Knight, Lord Mayor of the City of London, on the Return of the CHARTER.
LONDON'S Anniversary Festival For the Year, 1688.
ALthough the present Juncture of Affairs, and the Rumour of a Foreign Invasion has Eclips'd the Glory of this Days Triumph; yet since the Mayoralty has fallen in the First of Companies, and in the time of so Eminent a Patriot, I think my self in duty bound, to Publish this short Description, that what it wants in the Pageantry, may be supplied by a Panegyrick, to perpetuate the Occurrences of so remarkable a Jubilee. The Right Worshipful the Company of Mercers, (who have the Honour and Charge of this Day's Entertainment) are the first in Order and Place, having the Priority of all other Companies of London. They were Established to be a Company, and to purchase Lands in the 17th Year of the Reign of Richard the II, 1393. Mercers Hall, famous for the Magnificence of its Structure, is the Seat of their Publick Assemblies; where are likewise several spacious Rooms and Apartments, for their private Courts, Committees, and Consultations. This was formerly an Hospital, Founded by Sir Thomas of Acon; Militia Hospitalis, saith the Record of Edward the III, Founded by Thomas Fitz Theobald, in the Reign of Henry the II. It was purchased by the Mercers, in the Reign of King Henry the VIII, by the Famous Sir Thomas Gresham. The Chappel was Founded by that Eminent Patron and Benefactor, Sir John Allen, who lies there Intomb'd.
This particular Record I thought necessary to make, that the want of a Shew might not Derrogate from the Grandeur of so Antient and Honourable a Society.
[Page 9] Nevertheless, though the Pageantry was Omitted, there wanted nothing that could contribute to make it Great both by Land and Water; nay, rather more Sumptuous in the Magnificence of their Cavalcade, which was in the manner following.
The CAVALCADE.
ABout Eight a Clock in the Morning, (to attend his Lordship in Mercers-Hall) do meet the Right Worshipful the Company of Mercers, and the most eminent Citizens appointed for that purpose.
- I. The Master, Wardens, and Assistants, in their Gowns fac'd with Foyns, with their Hoods.
- II. The Livery in their Gowns, fac'd with Sattin, and their Hoods.
- III. Threescore poor Men, in Gowns and Caps, march in the Front, each of them employed in bearing a Banner.
- IV. Fifty Gentlemen-Ushers in Velvet-Caps follow next, each of them having a Chain of Gold about his Shoulders, and in his right Hand a White Staff.
- V. A splendid Train of Batchelors, invested in Gowns, and Scarlet-Sattin Hoods (which, in this Company, above all others, are most numerous) called, The Rich Batchelors; who often bear the Charge of this Day's Solemnity.
- VI. Another Division of Batchelors.
- VII. Twelve more Gentlemen for bearing Banners and Colours, some in Plush-Coats, and some in Buff, with Scarfs about their Shoulders of the Company's Colours.
- VIII. Thirty-six Trumpets: The Serjeant-Trumpeter, with a Rich Scarf of his Lordships Colours about his Waste, and a Leading-Staff in his Hand.
- IX. Fourteen of his Majesty's Drums: The Drum-Major, with a Crimson Scarf about his Waste, and a Leading-Staff in his Hand: And Three Fifes with Banners.
- X. Divers other Drums and Fifes, with Scarfs of the Colours of the Company.
- [Page 10] XI. The Two City-Marshals on Horseback, and six Servants to attend them, with Scarfs and Colours of the Company.
- XII. The Six Foot-Marshals, with Scarfs and Colours of the same.
- XIII. The Master of Defence, with Scrafs and Colours likewise of the same, having Persons of the same Noble Science to attend him.
- XIV. Divers other Pensioners invested with Red Gowns with Sleeves, and flat white Caps, each of them carrying a Javelin in one Hand, and a Target in his other; wherein is painted the Arms of Rich. II. the first Founder, and Sir Thomas Gresham, the first Benefactor of the Company.
- XV. As an Addition to this Solemnity, and to supply the defect of the Pageants, is added the Artillery Company in the Rear, led up by that Eminent and Worthy Citizen, Sir John Moor.
The Order of their March.
THE Foot Marshals, with an Assistant appointed for that purpose, rank them out two by two, beginning with the Pensioners in Gowns; and in the Front of them placeth the Companies Ensigns, four Drums and one Fife.
In the Rear of these fall in the several other Pensioners in Coats, bearing several Banners and Standards; after them the Arms of the Kight Worshipful the Company of Mercers, which is the Maiden-Head, with this Motto, HONOR DEO; which is also inserted in the other Banners, Standards, and Streamers, appertaining to the Company; whereof this, as the Largest, is attended with six Gentlemen Ushers; and after them follow the Batchelors, who conclude this Division.
In the Rear of those fall six Trumpets; after them two Gentlemen bearing two Banners, the one of the City's, the other of the Companies; after them follow two Gentlemen Ushers, and after them the Foyne Batchelors, who conclude this Division.
In the Rear of them, fall others of the City Trumpets; after them two Gentl [...]m [...]n, bearing the Banners of the City, and the Lord Mayor. After those follow twelve Gentlemen Ushers, Equipped and appointed as before; and after them the Court of Assistants, who puts a period to that Division.
[Page 11] In the Rear of them follow the Sergeant-Trumpet, with sixteen other of the King's Trumpets, and Kettle-Drums; after them three other Gentlemen bearing the King's, the Lord Mayor's, and St. George his Banner, attended by fourteen Pages: And after them the Master and Wardens, who Terminate the first and chiefest Division.
Being Placed in this Order,
They march from the Place of Meeting to Grocers-Hall, till such time as his Lordship, with the Sheriffs, and his Brethren the Aldermen, are mounted.
Which being done, the whole Body march towards Guild-Hall; where the Lord Mayor Elect, with his new Equipage, joyns with the other Companies, marching in great Order and Decency through Kingstreet and Cheapside, down to the Three Crane-Wharf; where the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and their Attendants take Barge; the whole Company of Mercers do likewise Embarque, with the rest of the Companies, as many as have Conveniencies; some of their Barges being at present imployed in his Majesty's Service.
His Lordship, the Aldermen, and the Right Worshipful the Company of Mercers, with such other Companies as have the Conveniencies of their Barges, Landing at Westminster, have a Lane made them from Kings-Bridg, from which they pass through Westminster-Hall; where having taken the Accustomed Oaths before the Lords and Barons of the Exchequer, they Return to their Barges; where a Lane made as before, to the Water-side, they go back by Water; being often Saluted by their Majestles from White-Hall, both going and coming, with several Shots and Salutations from the Pleasure-Boats; who for that purpose are all the way playing upon the River.
His Lordship, with the Companies attending him, Landing at Black-Friars, are welcomed there with three Volleys by the famous Artillery Company, all Adorned in their Martial Ornaments in Buff, and shining Head-Pieces of Massy Silver. From Black Friars they March before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, in the same State, Order, and Decency, as before, through Cheapside to Guild-Hall; where his Lordship is Received by the Ld. Chancellor, Ld. Chamberlain, and Principal Officers of His Majesty's Houshold; The Principal Secretaries, the President, and most Eminent Lords of the Council; all Ambassadors and Ministers of State, both Foreign and Domestick; all the Learned Judges, and Principal Officers both of Court and City, who all Dine that Day in Guild-Hall: His Majesty having Himself promised to Confer that Honour upon his Lordship, if the present Juncture, and his Care for the Publick, do not otherwise Divert him.
This Anniversary Festival, is, for the Magnificence of their Entertainment, the greatest that has been ever seen in any Nation: All the time of Dinner, the Hall Echoing with Huzza's, and Healths to His Majesty, who Returns the same to his Lordship; wishing him Success and Happiness in the Discharge of his Trust, for the Year ensuing.
Dinner being ended, his Majesty is Entertain'd with the following Song.