We missed it. The Lord Mayor’s Show!
Nov 9, being Lord Mayor’s Day, the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the City of London appeared in their greatest state. The Lord Mayor, attended by several of the Livery Companies, took water in their respective barges, landed at Westminster, and proceeded first to the Exchequer, where the new Lord Mayor was sworn, before the Barons. Having been presented to the Judges in the other Courts, the Civic Body returned to dinner at in the following order of Procession. On the landing of the Lord Mayor at Blackfriars Bridge and so to Guildhall, Peace Officers cleared the way.According to ancient custom:The Royal West Regiment of London Militia of which the Lord Mayor is Colonel in field-day order 600 men
Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, in their coaches;
The Banners of the Merchant Taylors Company;
Thirty seven Pensioners in the Livery of the Merchant Taylors Company carrying Spears and Shields, two and two
Three of the Lord Mayor’s Trumpeters on horseback.
Esquire in half armor with a lance; A Knight in a full Suit of Cap-a-Pee Steel Armor, on horseback; Esquire in half armor with a spear.
Ten Liverymen of the City of London, in their Gowns and Hoods;
Three more of the Lord Mayor’s Trumpeters on horseback;
Lance Esquire in half Armour; A Knight in a full Suit of Brass Armour, on horseback; Shield Esquire in half Armour;
The Lady Mayoress in her Coach and six Blood bay Horses;
The Lord Mayor’s Banners
His Lordship’s own Band of 21 Musicians in full Dress
Esquire in half Armour with a Lance; A Knight in full Cap-a-Pee Steel Armour, on horseback; Esquire in half Armour with a Spear;
Four Marshall Men on foot;
Six of the Lord Mayor’s Footmen in State Livery
The Upper City Marshal
The Lord Mayor State Coach and six Horses
The late Lord Mayor’s six Footmen in State Livery
The late Lord Mayor’s Coach and six Horses
The Alderman in their Coaches
The Sheriffs in the State CarriagesWhen the procession arrived at the Obelisk in Fleet Street, it was joined by the Judges, Nobility, Foreigners of Distinction, etc. At about five o’clock the cavalcade arrived in King-street. On entering Guildhall the Lord was greeted with loud and reiterated shouts
of applause.
After that, the Lord Mayor and guests partook of a lavish dinner followed by a ball.
The lord mayor’s show is now, I believe, considered to be the only stated exhibition in the metropolis that remains as a memorial of the great doings in the time of the pageants. It is now, however, but the mere shadow of what it was formerly. According to the accounts written at various periods, from the year 1575, we learn that the show then consisted of a far greater number of persons, banners, and decorations, than at the present time; and also that it was customary for the lord mayor and the nobility to stop three or four times between Blackfriars and Guildhall, to view the pageants, or plays, performed upon stages erected for the purpose.
