The whole body, which consisted of
about 2000 men, had between every divi-
sion a certain number of musicians, who
were answered in their proper places by
the like number of drums, with standards
and ensigns, in the same manner as veteran
troops.  This nocturnal march was light-
ed by 940 cressets, which were large lan-
thorns fixed at the end of poles, and carried
over mens shoulders; two hundred of
which were at the city expence, five hun-
dred at that of the companies, and two
hundred and forty were found by the city
constables.

The march began at the conduit in
Cheapside, and passed through that street,
Cornhill, and Leadenhall street to Aldgate,
whence it returned by Fenchurch street,
Gracechurch street, Cornhill, and Cheap-
side, to the conduit.

During this march, the houses on each
side the streets were decorated with greens
and flowers wrought into garlands, and
intermixed with a great number of lamps.
Stow.

This splendid procession constantly re-
peated twice a year, is not only a proof
of the fondness for shew which then pre-

The same year, Sir William Fitz-Wil-
liam, Alderman of Bread street ward, was
disfranchised for refusing to serve the office
of Sheriff.  Fabian's Chronicle.

And in 1512, the Sheriffs of London
and Middlesex were first impowered to
impannel juries for the city courts, each
juror so impannelled to be a citizen worth
an hundred marks.

As the history of the city of London
must necessarily include that of the man-
ners of the inhabitants, we have given some
instances of their fondness for pompous
and splendid processions, and it may here-
after be necessary to add others, to enable
the reader to form an idea of the differ-
ence between the past times and the
present.  I shall here mention amuse-
ments of a different kind, graced with
the presence of a sovereign Prince, and
which cannot fail of entertaining the
reader.

It was usual, on the first of May, for all
the citizens who were able, to divert them-
selves in the woods and meadows with
May-games, diversions not confined to
the lower class, but equally the entertain-