130 History of the Company. 



" That the Livery men of the s"^ Company are 70. 



"That the said Company is very ancient and gav Livery 

 in the reyne of Edward the First, and being seized of the 

 inheritance of a large piece of ground between Gutter 

 Lane and Foster Lane in Cheapside they have had 

 their standing on their own ground before their Hall 

 and their other houses belonging to them there on all 

 solemn shows time out of mind till very lately. That 

 in respect the said Company don't claim any prece- 

 dency before other Companys but stand rather below 

 their degree only for the sake of their own ground, and 

 therefore they hope they shall be allowed their ancient 

 stand according to custom without p'judice to their right 

 of p'cedency on any other occasion." 



Hov^es, In his account of the procession of 

 James L from the Tov^er to Westminster, on the 

 occasion of his coronation, thus describes the mode 

 in which these stands were used ; — 



*' The Companies of the Citie martialled according to 

 their degrees were placed the first beginning at the vpper 

 end of Marsh Lane and the last reaching to the Conduict 

 in Fleet Street or thereabout, their seats being double- 

 railed, vpon the vpper part whereof they leaned ; the 

 streamers, ensignes and banners of each particular 

 Company decently fixed." 



On the 24th October, 172 1, the Court ordered — 



"That if any member shall not come to the Hall on 

 Lord Mayor's Day before the Ma"" goes to the stand such 

 person shall forfeit half a crown or not be admitted at 

 the dinner, and notice thereof in writing is ordered to be 

 added to the tickets." 



After the pageant on Lord Mayor's Day was 



