I 12 



History of the Company. 



ancient custom of the Livery Companies in attend- 

 ing the Lord Mayor in State by water, in a stately 

 procession of canopied barges rowed by liveried 

 oarsmen with gay music, ''drummes and ffifes," and 

 banners and streamers flying, must have furnished a 

 very picturesque spectacle. Every year the Com- 

 pany engaged a barge or '* ffoyste " decorated wuth 

 an awning or '* barge cloth " and a score or two of 

 silk pennants and banneroles ; and the following 

 minute is one of a number of similar records 

 occurring regularly every year : — 



1609. July nth. 



" Xxofer^ Topping was this Quarter Day admytted o"" 

 Waterman to fynde vs a barge to holde xl nrien on the 

 least." 



By the year 1662, however, the Company 

 Company's would appear to have followed the 

 State Barge, example of Other Companies, and to 

 have obtained a barge of their own. 



1662. September 26tlL 



" Ordered y* y*" M^'and Wardens with the advice of Mr. 

 Smith shall take caretop'vide a house for y'' Company's 

 bardge against y*" Lorde Mayor's day next." 



1 68 1. October 6th. 



" Ordered the Comp'^ attend by water on the Lord 

 Mayor's day and that Mr. Frith Master of the Windsor 

 Barge seruc with his said Barge and Two Wherry es and 



^ Christopher. 



