Stow (1615) 890-1
Description of the Merchant Tailors' entertainment published in John Stow's Annals, continued by E. Howes
(1615).
[p. 890]
Prince Henry
made free of the Marchant-taylers
Thursday thesixteenth of July, his Maiestie, and
Prince Henry
being accompanied and attended with very many of the Nobillitie, and other
honorable personages, came in priuate manner to Marchanttayllors-Hall to Dynner, (the
Queene beeing also expected) where they were
very royally and ioyfully feasted and entertayned, with great and pleasant varietie
of
Musique, of voices and instruments, and ingenious speeches, being the feast day of
the
Marchant-tayllors for the election of their Master and Wardens. Against the comming
of
the King
, the Lord Maior gaue his attendance there, and at the Hall
gate presented his maiestie with the sword, who presently gaue it him againe, who
bare
it before the King into the vpper large dining Roome, aunciently called
the Kings chamber: and a while after the Lord Maior with
license returned to his owne house wi th his owne sword
borne before him, after hee was past the Hall gates, and in the same manner he
[p. 891]
returned after Dinner, and attended vntill the King
departed.
Whilest the King
sate at Dinner, the Maister, the Wardens, with diuers Aldermen, and the Recorder of
London
, all of them being free of that Societie, came vnto the King
, and in the behalfe of the whole companie humbly thanked his Maiestie, that thus
it pleased him to grace their Fraternitie with his
Royall presence: and therewithall the Maister presented him with a purse of golde,
and
the Clarke of the Hall shewed him a Role, wherein was registred
the names of seauen Kinges, one Queene,
seauen-teene Princes & Dukes, two Dutchesses, one Archbyshoppe, one and thirtie
Earles, fiue Countesses, one Viscount, foureteene Byshoppes, sixtie and sixe Barons,
two
Ladies, seauen Abbots, seauen Priors, and one subprior, omitting a great number of
Knights, Esquiers, &c. who hadde beene free of that companie, which his Maiestie
very gratiously accepted, and sayed that he himselfe was free of another Companie:
yet
he would so much grace the company of
Marchantaylors, that
the Prince
his eldest Sonne should bee free thereof, and that hee would see and bee a
witnesse, when the Garland should be put on his head. Then they all descended into
the
great Hall, where
the prince
dyned, and in like manner when they hadde saluted him with heartie and cheerefull
welcome: Then the Maister presented him also with a purse of golde, and the Clarke
of the Companie deliuered his Highnesse the like Role,
which hee also as gratiously accepted, and sayd, not onely himselfe woulde bee free
of
the Marchantaylors, but therewithall commaunded one of his Gentlemen, and the Clearke
to
goe to all the Lords there present and require all of them that loued him, and were
not
free of other companies to be free of his Companie: whereupon all those Lordes , whose
names are recorded in my Abridgement, with humble thankes to his HIGHNES, accepted
the freedome.
The King
during this and the Election of the new Maister and Wardens stoode in a newe
Window made for that purpose, and with a gratious Kingly aspect behelde all their
Ceremonies: and beeing descended into the Hall to depart, his Maiestie and
the Prince
were there againe presented with like Musique of voyces and instruments, and
speeches, as at their first entrance.
This Musicke consisted of twelue Lutes equally
deuided and placed by sixe and sixe in a Window on eyther side the Hall: And in the
Ayre
betweene them was a gallant shippe triumphant, wherein was three menne like Saylers,
being eminent for voyce and skill who in their seuerall songes were assisted and
seconded by the cunning Lutanists. There was also in the Hall, the Musique of the
Cittie, and in the vpper Chamber the children of his Maiesties Chappell soong grace
at the Kings Table: and also whilest the
KING
sate at Dinner, Iohn Bull Doctor of Musique, one of the Organists of
his Maiesties Chappell Royall, and free of the Marchantaylors being in a Cittizens
Gowne, Cappe, and Hoode, played most excellent melodie vppon a small payre of Organes,
placed there for that purpose onely. Concerning the bountie of this Feast and plentie
of
all thinges as well for pleasant, princely entertaynements of the King
,
the Prince
, the Nobilitie, and the rest, where were very many braue Courtiers and other
Gallants, as was most rare and excellent.
The kindnesse and bountie of the Company of Marchantaylors.
The Companie of Marchantaylors also after that gaue verie kinde respect with full
and honorable reward vnto euery manne according to their highest measure of desert,
that
did them any seruice or kindnesse eyther by voyce or Instruments, making of Speeches,
or
setting of Songs, or otherwise.
Bibliography
Nichols (1828), 2.140-2