Such being the chief particulars respecting these enormous carvings, the terror of the children, the wonder of the ’prentices, and the talk of the multitude, in former days, I close the subject, satisfied with having authenticated their origin. Trifling as this affair may seem, I pursued the inquiry for upwards of sixteen years; and though much of the time I spent in the search might have been better employed, I can assure those who are unacquainted with the nature of such investigations, that I had much pleasure in the pursuit, and when I had achieved my purpose I felt more highly gratified, than I think I should had I attained to the dignity of being “proud London’s proud lord mayor.”
There are other memoranda respecting the giants and lord mayors’ shows in my volume on “Ancient Mysteries,” from whence the present particulars are extracted.
*
[443] Hatton’s New View of London, 1708, 8vo. p. 607.
[444] See the “Narrative,” by R. Lowman, 1685, folio, half sheet, 1685.
“——————— a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A trainband captain——.”—Cowper.
[446] Harl. MSS. 1368.
[447] Ibid. 2125.