Englands comfort, and Londons joy.
NOt to delude my Reader with a long Preface to a short and briefe Relation, I will first begin (as neare as true intelligence and eye-sight informed me of this great dayes most magnificent and honourable Triumph and entertainment of our most Gracious Soveraigne, at his returne from Scotland to this Honourable City of London. How some other Kings and Princes, of our own and other nations have been formerly entertained by the Lord Major and Citizens of London, it is (as I have read in our English Histories) set downe by me in short; towards the end of this Discourse.
On thursday the 25. of this instant November, 1641. Mr. Alderman Garret, and his brother in office Mr. Alderman Clarke being both Sheriftes of London, with 72. of their men in Scarlet Liveries, road four miles towards Theobalds to meet his Majesty, with the City Trumpets 14. in number, and they conducted his Majestie in state untill such time as they came where the Lord Major, did attend, and was attended to welcome his Majestie as followeth. About eight of the clock in the morning, the Aldermen, with Mr. Recorder of London, all in Scarlet Gowns, with the City Councell, came all on horse-back to the Lord Majors house in the old Jury, and there they attended his Lordship some little time, till being all ready they road in brave Equipage to Moore-fields (the Lord Major being in a most sumptuous Gowne of Crimson velvet) where 500. of the Companies all in coats of Velvet, every man of them having a Chaine of gold; Also every Horseman had a foot-man to attend him clad in a footmans Jacket and breeches according all trim'd and set out with the colours that belonged to those Companies [Page 3] which they were free of. Also every Company had a horse-man which road severally in the front of each of them, which horse-man did likewise beare the Armes of such a one Company as hee attended, he being in all parts suited Cap ape accordingly.
All these attended his Lordships comming and then they all road in order to the further grounds joyning upon Kingsland, where they met his Majesty, with the Queen, the Prince Charles, the Duke of Yorke, with the Princesses, Prince Palatine, Dukes, Marquesles, Earles, Viscounts, Barons, Lords, Knights, Gentlemen-Pentioners, Ladyes of Honour, together with 20. Scotish Lords and others; with his Majesties Guard, and others of his followers, with the spectators of all degrees, sexes, Ages, and sizes, were innumerable: The bankes hedges, highwayes streets, stalls, and windowes were all embroydered with millions of people, of all sorts and fashions.
[Page 4]When his Majesty came neare to a house of Sir George Whitmores called Balm [...]s, where there was a Tent erected, in which the King lighted and refreshed himselfe, and a learned Speech made by Sir Thomas Gardner the Recorder, which done, his Sacred Majesty without delay of time Knighted the Lord Major and the Recorder; the said Horse-men humbly saluted his Majesty, and in a most commendable and worthy manner brought his Majesty into the City at Moore-gate, where all along by London Wall as far as from thence to Bishopsgate: some of the Companies stood in their Livery, within places
conveniently railed with Timber, their standings being adorned with Flags, Banners, Pendants, and Escouchions, and other hatchments, with blew cloth on the railes untill such time as they came as far as St. Laurence Lane end in Cheape-side, downe which Lane his Majesty turned to the Guild-Hall, where he dined in a most Royall manner, where no cost was spared, and where his Majesties gracious Presence and acceptance was acknowledged by the Lord Major, and the whole City to the best cheare.
The rest of the Companies of London were all placed in their standings from the west end of St. Lawrence Lane through Cheape-side, [Page 5] and up Pleer-street to Temple Barre, adorned and set forth with such accoutrements as was done by the other Companies before.
After his Majesty was passed to the Guild-Hall, the 500. men and horse, with their footmen, they passed up Cheap-side, and there in Pauls Church-yard they did set themselves in their former order; and attended till his Majesty had dined.
Note that the Kings Majesty with the Queen, the Prince, and the rest of the Royall off-spring that were there, did dine at the east-end of the Guild-Hall, in a place called the Hustings Court: The rest of the Lords, Ladies, and others also dined in the Hall.
After dinner, the Lord Major, with his brethren the Aldermen and the 500. Horse conducted his Majesty from the Guild-Hall, with 14. Trumpets with Banners in Scalet Cloaks, Sac-Buts, Cornets, and all
instruments of musick usuall, with bells ringing at 121 parish Churches where there was no failings in expressions of love and loyalty by the people, as appear'd by their shouts and acclamations: As also all the Conduits in the City as his Majesty passed by ran with Claret wine & Sack with drinking of innumerable healths to his Majesty (which healths I hope will not prove sicknesse to any.) In this magnificent manner (the [Page 6] Lord Major, with the rest before mentioned, every one of the 500. footmen that attended the 500. horse-men having a guilded Truncheon in the one hand, and two Torches in the other; they brought his Majesty to his Palace of white Hall, where the Lord Major and the rest most humbly tooke their leaves of his Majesty, who gave them all hearty thanks for their so large demonstrations of their loves and loyalties. This being done, the said 500, horse-men, with foot-men and torches returned back, attending the Lord Major to his house, of whom his Lordship most kindly took his leave, and every man retired to his home.
Entertainments given to Kings in former times by the foresaid City.
SIr Henry Picard, Knight Lord Major of the City of London, did in the yeare of our Lord, 1357. at one time entertaine and feast 4. Kings, (viz.) Edward the third King of England, Iohn King of France, David King of Scotland, and William King of Cyprus; Also Edward the black Prince of Wales, the Prince Daulphin of France with all the Nobility and Gentry of Lords, Knights, Ladies and others, were worthily entertained by the said Lord Major, to their great contentments, and memorable Honour of this famous Citie.
But to come to neerer times, I finde in Master Stowes Chronicle that Queene Elizabeth in Anno 1585. the 27. of her Raigne that she having been on progresse, and comming to her pallace of Saint Iames, was entertained by the Lord Major, his Brethren the Aldermen and Citizens, 200. of the Commoners being in Velvet Coates, with Gold chaines, on horseback, 1000. of the Companies on foot, and 100. more that bare Torches, Sir Wolstan Dixey Knight Skinner, being then Lord Major.
King Iames (of blessed memory, at his returne from Scotland, in the fifteenth yeare of his Raigne, Anno 1517. was met at Hyde Park by the Lord Major (Sir George Bols Knight Lord Major) and the Aldermen, and more then 400. Commoners of the City, with chaines of gold, and Velvet coates, and a present (a purse with five hundred pound presented to his M [...]jesty. The like entertainement his Majesty (King Iames had at his comming to the Cathedrall Church of St. Pauls in London, in the 18. yeare of his Raign 1620 when Sir William Cockain was Lord Major where also al the Companyes stood within places in the way with Banners ann Escouchions, and the streets railed, with Rich presents given.
In the 5. year of the Raigne of our now gracious King Charles, 1629. Sir Iames Cambell Knight (then Lord Major) feasted eleuen Lords, all Knights of the Garter, and each of them fifty men with Chaines of Gold, and Liveries besides many other of the Nobility Gentry and Commoners then there nobly entertained.
Verses Presented to his Majesty.
WHose Royall presence doth now againe revive our once dejected hearts, beeing overwhelmed with sorrow for your Majesties so long absence: Behold, behold most royall Soveraigne, how your loyall subjects, and wel affected people tryumph, making such acclamations of joy, as not only happy of your Majesties returne, but safe returning; their hearts, hands, and countenances speak that which their tongues are not able to expresse. True subjects are joyfull whilst ill-affected Traytors, bullrush like, bow down their heads, as being fearfull to behold so sacred a Majesty, as your royall selfe, whose pious & religious actions are no lesse then quotidian Lectors to be read to all Christian Princes abroad, and a pattern to all your Subjects at home, Pompey is forced to fly, when mighty Caesar once doth come in place, so let all your enemies fly and bee consumed before your sacred person. Welcome, welcome, dread Soveraign, upon which words should my tongue for ever harpe, yet would my heart still confesse that expression were wanting unto my loyall desire: Blessed, and for ever let them be happy, those loyall, and our well affected brethren, the Scots I meane, which gave so good entertainement to so royall a Prince, whose Raigne, your well-affected Subjects here present; do pray to the Heavenly Iehovah, who hither to hath been your Majesties Protector and defender, may be as long as happy, which Conjunction will prove a happy Vnion. So the great God of heaven blesse your sacred Majesty, your royall Consort, and our most hopefull Prince, and the rest of the Royall Progeny with health, peace, and happinesse in this World, and eternall joyes in the next.