London and the Kingdom - Volume II | Page 4

Reginald R. Sharpe
hunting-lodge. On the 19th the mayor
issued his precept to the livery companies to prepare a certain number
of members to accompany the mayor in his attendance upon the king,
who was shortly expected in the city. It was intended that not only the
mayor and aldermen but also the full number of 500 of the "best and

gravest" citizens should wait upon his majesty on horseback, clothed in
coats of velvet with velvet sleeves and adorned with chains of gold, and
each accompanied by "one comlie person, well apparelled in his
doublet and hose," on foot. In a word, the cavalcade was to be
furnished on a more sumptuous scale than had yet been seen within the
memory of man.(6) The Court of Aldermen in the meantime appointed
a committee to consider what suits were "fitt to be made to the Kinges
most excellent Maiestye for ye good of this Cittie and the enlarging of
the libertyes and priviledge of the same."(7)
(M4)
After resting a few days at Theobald's, James set out (7 May) for the
last stage of his journey. At Stamford Hill he was met by the mayor and
aldermen and a deputation from the livery companies. At every
stopping-place on his journey from Scotland he had lavishly bestowed
knighthoods.(8) On the 11th May he entered the Tower of London,
having come from Whitehall by water for fear of the plague which was
ravaging the city.
(M5)
The coronation ceremony was hurried over owing to the presence of the
plague. Only the mayor, the aldermen and twelve of the principal
citizens were permitted to attend, and much labour bestowed on
preparations for the event was consequently lost.(9) The civic
authorities did their utmost to stay the sickness and alleviate distress.
The streets were ordered to be kept better cleansed. Infected houses
were marked with papers bearing the words "Lord have mercy upon
us," and when these were torn down a red painted cross, fourteen
inches in length and breadth, and not so easily effaced, was added.(10)
Persons stricken with the plague were forbidden to leave their houses.
A master who had been inhuman enough to turn out into the street a
domestic servant who had fallen a victim to the prevailing disorder was
ordered by the Court of Aldermen to take her back again into his
house,(11) a circumstance which seems to point to the pest-house or
hospital being already overcrowded. Instructions were given for seeing
that the graves of those who died of the plague were sufficiently

covered with earth, and that the number of mourners attending funerals
should be as far as possible limited. Women whose duty it was to
search the bodies of the dead, as well as all those who were brought
into contact with the sick, were forbidden to go abroad unless they
carried before them a red rod three feet in length in order to give notice
to passers by. It was a common belief that infection was carried about
by stray dogs. To those, therefore, who killed dogs found in the streets
without an owner a reward was given.(12) The sufferings of the
afflicted were alleviated, as far as circumstances permitted, by money
subscribed by the livery companies, which were further called upon to
forego their customary banquets in order to relieve the poor.(13) The
plague was accompanied, as was usually the case, with a scarcity of
corn, and again the assistance of the companies was invoked.(14)
(M6)
By the end of the year (1603) the city was almost free of the plague,
and in the following March (1604) James determined to make his first
public entry into London. A sum of £400 was raised by the livery
companies(15) for furnishing pageants and stands for the occasion, and
steps were taken to remove from the streets everything that might be
offensive to the king's eye or ear. Thursday, the 15th March, was the
day fixed for his entry, and from the preceding Wednesday until the
following Friday no refuse of any kind was to be thrown into the
street.(16) It was further ordered that no church bells should be rung
before seven o'clock in the evening of the eventful day, lest the noise
should prove offensive and hinder his majesty from hearing the
speeches that were to be made.(17) When all was over and the pageants
were about to be taken down, the Court of Aldermen, with the frugal
mind of men of business, ordered the master and wardens of the
Company of Painter Stainers to examine the painters' work bestowed
on them, and report whether, in their opinion, such work had been well
and honestly executed, and what amount of remuneration the workmen
deserved.(18) It is said that the Recorder, Sir Henry Montagu,
welcomed the king on this occasion with
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