112 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



then came the trumpets to blow on each part, the drums 

 beating, and the flutes playing. There were given three 

 onsets in every battle ; the guns discharged on one 

 another, the moris pikes encountered together with great 

 alarm ; each ran to their weapons again, and then they 

 fell together as fast as they could, in imitation of close 

 fight. All this while the Queen, with the rest of the 

 Nobles about her, beheld the skirmishings. . . . After 

 all this, Mr. Chamberlain, and divers of the Commons of 

 the City and the Wiflers, came before her Grace, who 

 thanked them heartily, and all the City : whereupon 

 immediately was given the greatest shout as ever was 

 heard, with hurling up of caps. And the Queen shewed 

 herself very merry. After this was a running at tilt. 

 And lastly, all departed home to London." 



This fete took place on a Sunday, and the time 

 between the muster and the fight was probably mostly 

 spent in refreshment. The account for the supplies of 

 the " Mete and Drynke " for ist day of July and Sunday 

 night supper is preserved. They were far from being 

 starved, as, among other items, 9 geese, 14 capons, 8 

 chickens, 3 quarters and 2 necks of mutton, 4 breasts of 

 veal, beside a sirloin of beef, venison pasties, 8 marrow- 

 bones, fresh sturgeon, 3 gallons of cream, and other 

 delicacies were provided for them. Floral decorations 

 in their honour were not forgotten, and appear in the 

 accounts — " gely flowers and marygolds for iii garlands, 

 7d.; strawynge herbes, 1/4 ; bowes for the chemneys, id.; 

 flowers for the potts in the wyndowys, 6d." 



There is no end to the gay scenes that the Park 

 and even some of the most ancient trees have witnessed. 

 " Goodly banquetting houses " were built of " fir poles 

 decked with birch branches and all manner of flowers 



