An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London. Richard James Cheeswright

and by succeeding Lord Mayors they were occasionally used as temporary Mansion Houses.

       Religious Observances. The records of the various Companies shew that it was usual with the fraternity to pay very particular attention to religious observances on the occasions of elections, funerals, and obits of deceased members. The obit was the anniversary of the death of an individual, and to observe such a day with prayer, almsgiving, or other commemoration, was "keeping an obit." After the Reformation the Liturgy and sermons took the place of Mass, but these occasions of divine service were not so numerous as under the old system. On public days the Chaplain's duty was to pray for the prosperity of the fraternity. In some Companies a very solemn custom prevailed of calling over the names of the members one by one, and praying for each individually and by name. The Merchant Tailors' books in 1645 record that "The names of the Livery being called over according to ancient custom, after which, in reverent manner, prayer was made by the Chaplain, then some of the ordinances of the Hall being openly read, preparation was made for dinner."

      Besides these occasions of public worship prayers were said in the Common Hall. Herbert gives an extract of the prayer used as follows:—"Good Lord, keep this noble City of London, and defend it from greivous plagues and contagious sickness, that we may often in brotherly and true love assemble and meet together to Thy glory and our mutual comfort; bless this society and brotherhood, and be present ​with us in all our assemblies and councils that we may use them to Thy Glory and the discharge of our duties."

      The plate belonging to the Companies was frequently chased in accordance with their ecclesiastical character, being ornamented with the figure of a saint or some other religious device.

      Pageants. All royal processions into or through the City afforded an opportunity for the Citizens of London and the Liverymen of the various Companies to display their loyalty.

      It is recorded that on the occasion of the marriage of Henry III in 1236, and again on the marriage. of his daughter in 1252, the return of Edward I from his victory over the Scots, 1298; the coronation procession of Henry IV in 1399 (when Froissart states "Cheapside to have had seven fountains with red and white wine"); the entry of Queen Margaret into England in 1466; the entry of Joan, Queen of Henry IV in 1401; on the arrival of Henry V; the coming of the same King from France to London; after the victory of Bosworth, Henry VII; 1485, the Coronation of his Queen, 1487; on the arrival of Princess Katharine from Spain, to marry Prince Arthur 5th of Henry VII; in 1509, when Henry VIII married Katharine (his Brother's Widow); the Coronation of Lady Anne Boleyn in 1533; and many other interesting occasions, it is stated "That the whole Commonalty of the City who seem to have been Liverymen, brought up the rear, clothed in white gowns and scarlet hoods, with divers conuzances embroidered on their 'sleeves.'"

      At the Royal Funerals the attendance of the various Companies was also required.

      The Warden of one of the Chief Livery Companies was allowed to attend the Lord Mayor as Chief Butler at a Coronation.

      In the year 1559 the twelve principal Corporations ​of London sent all the same number of Companies, consisting together of 1,500 men, to be mustered in Greenwich Park before the Queen, 800 whereof were pikemen in high armour, 400 harquebusers in coats of mail and helmets, and 200 halberdiers in German rivets. These troops were attended by twenty-eight whifflers, richly dressed, and led by the twelve principal Wardens of the aforesaid Corporations, well mounted, and dressed in black velvet, with six ensigns in white satin, faced with black sarsnet and rich scarves.

      Their Feasts. The Companies, from their wealth and abundant entertainments, became sources of attraction to those who loved the good things of life.

      The Election Feasts in the Halls were especially grand, and were partaken of by Royalty and by the first nobility. These Feasts took place after the ceremonies, when the newly-elected Master and Wardens were "crowned with garlands on their heads." Then followed the "Loving Cup," as is still the custom; next the Minstrels and Players.

      Various were the delicacies stored above the Salt at the Feasts, including the "Mighty Baron," "Frumentie with Venison," "Brawn Fat," Swan, "Boar," Conger, and Sea Hog.

      The Salt or Salt Cellar was a large piece of plate forming a division between the upper and lower parts of the Table. To be seated above the Salt was a mark of honor, and our ancestors seem often to have placed persons below it in order to mortify them.

      During the Feasts the Halls were "aromatized" with a precious Indian wood.

      Mention has been made of the introduction of females to the Membership of the Companies. They appear also to have enjoyed the festivities at which they were allowed to be present. The Grocer's ordinances in 1348 show that the "brethren" could introduce their fair acquaintance on paying for their admission.

      ​The Clothworkers gave a grand dinner to James I on his inauguration as a Member of that Company, and it is recorded that in the old Hall of the Company the glorious anthem, "God save the King," was first heard; Dr. John Bull having composed it expressly for the ceremony.

      The "Loving Cup" is a great feature in the Feasts of the Companies. It is of Silver or Silver Gilt, and is filled with spiced wine immemorially called " Sack." Immediately after the Dinner and the Grace, the Master and Wardens drink to their visitors "A hearty welcome." The cup is then passed round the table, and each guest, after he has drank, applies his napkin to the mouth of the Cup before he passes it to his neighbour. The more formal practice is for the person who pledges with the loving Cup to stand up and bow to his neighbour, who, also standing, removes the Cover with his right hand and holds it while the other drinks; a custom said to have originated in the precaution to keep the right or "dagger hand" employed that the person who drinks may be assured of no treachery like that practised by Elfrida on the unsuspecting King Edward the Martyr at Corfe Castle, who was slain while drinking. This is also given as the reason for a Cover being placed on the Loving Cup.

      It was when the "Loving Cup" (as is still the custom) had gone round that the Minstrels and Players commenced their part of the Entertainments. The Minstrels, who were of various kinds, included in their entries harpers who played and sang in the intervals of the others sounding their cornets, shalms, flutes, horns, and pipes. The Players were generally ecclesiastics, who were the first actors of the middle ages, and an original license from the Master of the Revels in 1662 authorizes "George Bailey and eight servants to play for one year a play called 'Noah's Flood.'" The sort of dramas then in fashion often ​consisted of single subjects, and made but for one performance.

      Their Government and Officers. The government of the various Companies was by bye-laws or ordinances—the preserving of their trade secrets being a primary one, and continued their leading law so long as they remained actual "Working Companies," whence arose the names of "Mysteries and Crafts," by which they have been so many years designated. The officers generally consisted of the Alderman (subsequently named Master or Warden), Assistants, a Priest or Chaplain, a Clerk, a Beadle, and a Cook—the latter considered a most important officer in those days.

      The Civic authorities exercised an undoubted control over the Companies. The Mayor could fine and imprison the Wardens of Companies at pleasure, and it was common to make presents, or, what in modern times would be called 'give a bribe' to the Mayor, in order to obtain favour during his year of Mayoralty.

      In the 5th of Henry IV, the absolute control the Mayor had acquired over the Companies was remarkably exemplified in some proceedings which took place on a dispute between the Goldsmiths and the Cutlers; when the former having petitioned the King to confirm their right of search, granted by Edward III, and which they extended to the oversight of the Cutlers, the latter in a counter petition denied such right of oversight to reside anywhere but in the four wardens "de artifice de cotellerie." Both these petitions being considered by Parliament, it was directed "that a writ should be sent to the Mayor of London, and that he should be empowered, by authority of Parliament, to summon the folk of both the Goldsmiths and the Cutlers mysteries, who should produce their ancient evidences and usages on both sides before him, and which said Mayor should, if needful, certify the result, without delay, to the King in Council, in order that the King, on deliberation, and with the ​advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal, might act as the case