LORD MAYOR'S DAY (1689).
The following passage indicates the good-will which existed between the citizens and their new Sovereigns. The Lord Mayor invited their Majesties to witness the festivities, and the King expressed his satisfaction by knighting the sheriffs. Just before this the King had allowed the Grocers' Company to choose him as theirMaster, and when, some days after the pageant described below, some disaffected person expressed his disapproval of these manifestations of cordiality between the King and the City by cutting away the crown and sceptre from the King's picture in the Guildhall, the Lord Mayor offered a reward of £500 for the discovery of the perpetrator. These civilities were preliminary to the complete restoration of all the corporate rights of the citizens, which had been seized by Charles II. The Act of 1690, declaring the franchises, rights, and liberties of the City of London to be fully restored, was the last of the long series of confirmations of these treasured privileges.
This day Sir Thomas Pilkington being continued Lord Mayor for the year ensuing was, according to custom, sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer, at Westminster, whither he went by water, accompanied by the Aldermen and the several companies, in their respective barges, adorned with flags and streamers; passing by Whitehall they paid their obeisance to their Majesties, who were in their apartment by the water-side. The river was covered with boats, and the noise of drums and trumpets, and several sorts of music, with the firing of great guns, and the repeated huzzas of such a multitude of people, afforded a very agreeable entertainment.
And their Majesties, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons assembled in Parliament, having been pleased to accept of an humble invitation from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to dine in the city on this day, about noon their Majesties came, attended by his Royal Highness, all the great officers of the Court, and a numerous train of nobility and gentry in their coaches, the militia of London and Westminster making a lane for them, the balconies all along their passage being richly hung with tapestry, and filled with spectators, and the people in great crowds expressing their joy with loud andcontinued acclamations. Their Majesties were pleased from a balcony prepared for them in Cheapside to see the show; which, for the great numbers of the citizens of the several guilds attending in their formalities, the full appearance of the artillery company, the rich adornment of the pageants, and hieroglyphical representations, and the splendour and good order of the whole proceeding, outdid all that has been heretofore seen in this city upon the like occasions; but that which deserves to be particularly mentioned was the royal city regiment of volunteer horse, which being richly and gallantly accoutred, and led by the Right Honourable the Earl of Monmouth, attended their Majesty's from Whitehall into the city.
The cavalcade being passed by, the King and Queen were conducted by the two Sheriffs to the Guildhall, where their Majesties, both Houses of Parliament, the Privy Councillors, the Judges, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, and other ladies of the chiefest quality, dined at several tables; and the grandeur and magnificence of the entertainment was suitable to so august and extraordinary a presence. Their Majesties were extremely pleased, and as a mark thereof, the King conferred the honour of Knighthood upon Christopher Lithiullier and John Houblon, Esquires, the present Sheriffs, as also upon Edward Clark and Francis Child, two of the Aldermen.
In the evening their Majesties returned to Whitehall with the same state they came. The militia again lined the streets, the city regiments as far as Temple-bar, and the red and blue regiments of Middlesex and Westminster from thence to Whitehall, the soldiers having, at convenient distances, lighted flambeaux in their hands; the houses were all illuminated, the bells ringing, and nothing was omitted through the whole course of this day's solemnity, either by the magistrates or people, that might show their respect or veneration, as well as their dutiful affection and loyalty to their Majesties, and the sense they have of the happiness they enjoy under their most benign and gracious government.