magnificent shows and gorgeous ceremonies, flit before our eyes when we
visit the halls of the companies.

[Illustration: MODEL OF BARGE FORMERLY USED BY THE CLOTHWORKERS' COMPANY
IN CIVIC PROCESSION.]

[Illustration: STAPLES INN HALL.

_From a drawing by T. H. Shepherd in 1830._]

There was a grand procession in 1686, when Sir John Peake, mercer, was
Lord Mayor. The master, wardens, and assistants, dressed in their gowns
faced with foins and their hoods, marched first, followed by the
livery in their gowns faced with satin, and the company's almsmen, each
one bearing a banner. Then came the gentlemen ushers in velvet coats,
each wearing a chain of gold, followed by the bachelors invested in
gowns and scarlet satin hoods, banner-bearers, trumpeters, drummers, the
city marshals, and many others, while the gentlemen of the Artillery
Company, led by Sir John Moore, brought up the rear. From the hall of
the Grocers' Company, which was the usual rendezvous on account of its
convenient situation or its size, they marched to the Guildhall, the
lord mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen riding on horseback. Thence they went
to Three-cranes Wharf and took barge to Westminster. On their return the
pageants met them at St. Paul's Churchyard. These were most gorgeous.
The first consisted of a rock of coral with sea-weeds, with Neptune at
the summit mounted on a dolphin which bore a throne of mother-of-pearl,
tritons, mermaids, and other marine creatures being in attendance. But
the most magnificent of all was the maiden chariot, a virgin's head
being the arms of the company. Strype tells us that

"... when any one of this company is chosen mayor, or makes
one of the triumph of the day wherein he goes to Westminster to
be sworn, a most beautiful virgin is carried through the
streets in a chariot, with all the glory and majesty possible,
with her hair all dishevelled about her shoulders, to represent
the maidenhead which the company give for their arms. And this
lady is plentifully gratified for her pains, besides the gift
of all the rich attire she wears."

The chariot in which she rode was

"... an imperial triumphal car of Roman form, elegantly adorned
with variety of paintings, commixed with richest metals,
beautified and embellished with several embellishments of gold
and silver, illustrated with divers inestimable and
various-coloured jewels of dazzling splendour