CHAPTER XIV

Civic customs-Lord Mayor's Show-Former splendour of civic processions — Livery Companies of London-Civic banquets-Loving-cup -Election of Master of Girdlers' CompanySkinners' Company-Vintners' Company-Swanupping and the Dyers' Company-The Salt-cellar of the Innholders' Company-Silver cradleColchester Oyster Feast-Huntingdon and the ox's skull-Preston Guild-York and Mayoress' chain-Freemasons.

THE City of London is still the home of many remarkable old customs, in spite of modern innovations; and the ancient constitution of the City, with all its time-honoured institutions, has not yet fallen a prey to Progressist ideas, nor been absorbed by the London County Council. The old Livery Companies of London are some of the most ancient and honoured of our English institutions; they recall to our minds the past glories of our civic life, and retain some of the old manners and customs of our forefathers, which otherwise must inevitably have been lost.

The Lord Mayor's Show is a familiar

sight to Londoners, the sole survival of the old pageants which delighted our forefathers when England's heart was young. The Lord Mayor still rides in his chariot of state, and a few of the Companies send pageants-cars elaborately decorated, and made to represent the particular craft with which the Company is associated. Masses of fruit and flowers adorn the car of the Fruiterers' Company. A band of neatly-dressed maidens show the skill of the Framework Knitters. But these are only the relics of the grand spectacles that once graced the streets of the City on great occasions, when a king returned from a victorious campaign, or a queen was welcomed by the loyal citizens. Resplendent with gowns and hoods of divers hues, wellmounted and gorgeously horsed, with rich colours and great chains, the civic dignitaries, attended by the Companies, used to march in procession through the streets to attend the services at St. Paul's Cathedral, and then entertained in their festal halls nobles and princes, and the mighty "baron" made the table groan, and frumenty, with venison, brawn, fat swan, boar, conger, sea-hog, and other delicacies, crowned the feast. A description of two of the pageants of the Mercers' Company will serve as examples of the nature of the shows which were formerly in vogue. One pageant was a rock of coral

with seaweeds, with Neptune mounted on a dolphin at the summit on a throne of motherof-pearl, and accompanied by tritons, mermaids, and other marine attendants. Another pageant was a triumphal chariot adorned with a variety of paintings, enriched with gold and silver and rare jewels, and figures bearing the banners of kings and mayors and of the Companies, with the arms of the founder, Richard II. A Virgin (the arms of the Company) sat upon a high throne, dressed in a robe of white satin, decked with gold and gems; her long dishevelled flaxen hair was adorned with pearls and gems, and crowned with a rich coronet of gold and jewels. Her buskins were of gold, laced with scarlet ribbons, and she bore a sceptre and a shield with the arms of the Mercers. Her attendants were Fame blowing her trumpet, Vigilance, Wisdom, and other personified virtues, and the nine Muses, while eight pages of honour walked on foot, and Triumph acted as charioteer. Nine white Flanders horses drew the huge machine, each horse being mounted by some emblematical figure, such as Asia, America, Victory, &c. Grooms and Roman lictors in crimson garb, and twenty savages or << green men," throwing squibs and fireworks, completed the pageant. On the river, too, the scene was equally animated, for there the state barges, echoing with flutes and trumpets,

adorned with streamers and banners, passed along; and one barge, called the Bachelors' Barge, "garnished and apparelled passing all other, wherein was ordeyned a great red dragon spowting flames of fyer into the Thames; and many other gentlemanlie pageants, well and curiously devised, to do Her Highness sport and pleasure therein."

Such were the pageants of ancient days, somewhat different from the less magnificent displays which the utilitarian spirit of the age grudgingly sanctions. It is satisfactory at least that the Lord Mayor's show, the sole relic of the old City "ridings," has not quite passed away; indeed, the last show was more magnificent than usual, and the crowds that assemble to witness the pageants as they pass show that the English people have not yet lost their ancient love of the pleasure which a spectacle affords, and are still amused by the sights and sounds which delighted our forefathers in ancient days.

In the City Companies' Halls, where the great banquets take place, it is the custom to pass round the loving-cup. It is usually a very handsome goblet made of silver. After the dinner and grace, the Master and Wardens drink to their guests a hearty welcome, and as each person drinks, his neighbour on each side stands in order to guard him. The custom originated in the

precaution which was formerly necessary to protect a man from being stabbed while his hands were employed in holding the cup, and to assure him that he was in no fear of treachery, like that practised by Elfrida on King Edward the Martyr at Corfe Castle, who was slain while drinking. The same custom prevails at the Oxford Colleges when the "Gaudies" are being celebrated, and the grace-cup is passed round by the assembled guests.

customs.

The City Companies have many ancient The Master and three Wardens of the Girdlers' Company are each crowned on the day of election. After the usual dinner, the beadle carries round the crowns, which are placed by the clerk of the Company on the heads of the officers, and the Master drinks the health of the Company. A little more ceremony is introduced at the election of the Master of the Skinners' Company. The Master's crown is tried on the heads of various members present, and the verdict of the assembly is pronounced that the crown does not fit; until at length it is placed on the head of the Master-elect, and the members at once declare it to be an excellent fit," and the Master is duly elected. In some companies they have the custom of election by whisper. The renterwarden goes round the room, and each