In the year 1570, on the 23. of January, the Queen's Majesty, attended with her nobility, came from her house at the Strand called Somerset house, and entered the City by Temple Bar, through Fleet Street, Cheap, and so by the north side of the Bourse through Threadneedle Street, to Sir Thomas Gresham's in Bishopsgate Street, where she dined. After dinner her Majesty returning through Cornhill, entered the Bourse on the south side, and after that she had viewed every part thereof above the ground, especially the pawn, which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest wares in the City: she caused the same Bourse by an herald and a trumpet, to be proclaimed the Royal Exchange, and so to be called from thenceforth, and not otherwise.
A LORD MAYOR'S SHOW (1575).
It is supposed that the annual pageant connected with the election of the Mayor had its origin in an old custom that the newly-elected officer should be presented to the King or his justiciar; we have, however, little information concerning the earlier processions, and they are hardly noticed by chroniclers until the fifteenth century. It appears that the practice of proceeding to Westminster on horseback was started in 1415, but an infirm Mayor in 1453 introduced the custom of making the progress by barge on the river; this lasted until the middle of the seventeenth century, but there was, in addition, always the ride on horseback from the Guildhall to the point of embarkation. The fashion for pageantry and display, which was so prominent a feature of Henry VIII.'s reign, influenced this annual function, which tended to become more and more elaborate.
Source.—William Smith's Brief Description of London (1575).
The day of St. Simon and Jude, he (the Mayor) entered into his estate and office; and the next day following he goeth by water to Westminster in most triumphlike manner. His barge being garnished with the arms of the city; and near the said barge goeth a ship boat of the Queen's Majesty, being trimmed up, and rigged like a ship of war, with divers pieces of ordinance, standards, pennons, and targets of the proper arms of the said Mayor, the arms of the City, 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 garnished with the arms of their company. And so passing along the Thames, landeth at Westminster, where he taketh his oath in the Exchequer, before the judge there (which is one of the chief judges of England), which done, he returneth by water as aforesaid, and landeth at Powles wharf, where he and the rest of the Aldermen take their horses, and in great pomp pass through the great street of the City, called 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 xx or xxx poor men marching two and two together in blue gowns, with red sleeves and caps, with every one bearing a pike and a target, whereon is painted the arms of all them that have been Mayor 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, 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 in a company, having banners of the Mayor's company. Then certain wyfflers in velvet coats and chains, with white staves aforesaid. Then the bachelors two and two together, 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 livery) 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 his 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 is according to the greatness of the company whereof they are. After them follow Sheriffs' 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 scabard, 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 elect in a long gown of scarlet, and on his left shoulder a hood of black velvet, and a rich collar of gold of 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 together (amongst whom is the Recorder) all in scarlet gowns; and those that have been Mayors, have chains of gold, the other have black velvet tippets. The two Sheriffs come last of all, in their black and 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 1000 persons, all at the charge of the Mayor and the two Sheriffs. This feast costeth £400, whereof the Mayor payeth £200 and each of the Sheriffs £100. Immediately after dinner, they go to the church of St. Paul, 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.
LONDON AND THE ARMADA (1587).
The threatened invasion by the "Grand Fleet" of Philip of Spain was the occasion of a splendid manifestation of loyalty throughout the kingdom. The royal fleet contained only thirty-four ships, but every seaport made its contribution, and every man between the ages of eighteen and sixty was enrolled for defence, in the event of the successful landing of the enemy. The instructions conveyed in the Queen's letter to the citizens of London are an indication of the friendly relations between the City and the Sovereign, and serve also to show the wealth and power which London possessed at the time.
Source.—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 272.
Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well.