History of the Company. 85 



"At this Court were appointed to be Whiflcrs at the 

 ..1TT1 -^ 55 Kinq-'s Coronacon, viz., Abell Caine, Daniell 



"Whiflers. ^ ' ' ' . 



Haldenby, Thomas Carter, Michael 

 Helmsley, Edward Hill, Edmund Sheppard, Richard 

 Cervices, and John Burgess (members of the Livery)." 



The precise derivation of the term '' Whifler" has 

 exercised the minds of many v^rlters. It seems 

 tolerably clear, however, that " Whiflers " were so 

 called from their custom of carrying long wands, 

 which they brandished about to clear the way 

 for the pageant, thereby making a whifling noise. 

 The word Is of frequent occurrence in the 

 Company's books, as every year the Company 

 appointed a number of the junior members of the 

 Company to act as Whiflers In the Lord Mayor's 

 procession. Other Companies did the same. 



A plague broke out again in 1630, resembling 



a spotted fever, and was particularly 



'^* ^ ^°' fatal, destrovins^ life within four or five 



rlague. i t 



days. All public assemblies were 

 suppressed by an order of the Lords of the 

 Council, and a precept was Issued by the Lord 

 Mayor to the Companies accordingly. The 

 Company's records refer to it as follows : — 



1630 May 25///. 



" At this Court the Lord Mayor's letter sent vnto the 

 Companie being read whereby it was desired that 

 meetings at o'" Hall be forborne during the tyme of the 

 visitacon It is ordered accordingly that all extraordinary 



