His mortal foes to oppress and bear them down;
And bid him to increase as Christ’s champion.
All mischiefs from him to abridge,
With grace of God, at the entry of this Bridge.”
Lord Mayor’s Pageants.
In 1547, when the boy-king Edward passed through the City, among the figures presented to him were two representing Valentine and Orson.
In 1554, when Philip came to London, there was a great pageant to receive him with the Queen. At the drawbridge of the Tower there were placed the two giants, Corineus and Gogmagog, holding between them a scroll inscribed with Latin verses.
In January 1559, when Queen Elizabeth rode through the City she was received with a pageant of great splendour. At Temple Bar the last show was that of the two City Giants, Corineus and Gogmagog, who had between them a recapitulation of the whole pageant. Here the singing children made a “noise,” while one of them, attired like a poet, bade the Queen farewell in the name of the City.
The giants seem to have been omitted from the Royal pageants and processions of the seventeenth century.
In 1605 the Lord Mayor’s Pageant was adorned by the presence of the giants.