By W. W. Bavenhill, Esq. 



57 



Thomas Gibbs ; the 3rd a volunteer Company of 60 men out of his Majesties 

 Loyal and much suffering Parish of Weston, commanded by their Loyal Captain, 

 Captain John Shepperd. 



" These standing in order made a \Ane for these persons following (viz) 1st the 

 Maior (Mayor), who declared his high loyalty and expressed himself with much 

 alacrity for the great honour, which he lately received from his Majesty in kissing 

 his Royal hand, and his acquitting him of some aspersions lately cast upon him. 

 He with the Aldermen in Scarlet Gowns ; our Loyal Faithful and Learned Minister 

 Mr. James Masters ; the Common Council and other officers in black gowns, 

 according to order with many other Loyal persons went to our great Church ; 

 and entering in to the Churchyard were received by the foot companies with 

 ' God save the King,' they expressing themselves with 'Life and all' to serve 

 his Majestic The Maior and his Company taking their places in the Church, 

 the Trained bands keeping their stations, Mrs. Maioress, the Aldermen's wives, 

 with many other gentlewomen enter the Churcl^ard, before whom marched about 

 400 Virgins, most in white waistcoats and green petticoats, going 2 and 2, each 

 2 bearing aloft upon their hands gilded crowns, crowns made of flowers, and 

 wreaths of laurel mixed with Tulips, which I think were those Lilies of which 

 our Saviour said, that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 

 These ushered Mrs. Maioress to her seat in the Church, and were ushered them- 

 selves by 2 young champions, with swords drawn, all crying out ' God Save the 

 King,' and continued in the Church till sermon was ended, which was preached 

 by our Learned Mr. Masters, the text taken out of Matthew 22 and v. 21,. 

 ('Render unto Csesar,' &c). The sermon if not put in print, will be much 

 wrong to his Majesty, and all his subjects, wherefore you may do good service, 

 if you will desire His Majesty to command Mr. Masters to put it in print. 



"The Sermon Ended, Master Maior, his company, with the foot soldiers 

 marched to the Conduit,* there being presented out of the Conduit with a health 

 to the King in wine, which they all drank, the loud Musick plaid before them. 

 From thence they went to the Guild Hall, and there drank another health to the 

 King, at which time there were 4 streamers bearing the Kinge's Armes, and 

 the Royal Oak mounted upon the 4 pinacles of the Hall. All this while Mrs. 

 Maioress was not idle ; for she her Company, her Amazons, and their Champions 

 marched to the Conduit, and from thence to the Maiors House, as he himself 

 had led the way with his Train, who gave him a volley of shot, as they had done 

 before when he came out of the Church, this last receiving much honour by the 

 addition of the volunteer troops, of that most Loyal Knight Sir William Bassett. 

 The Maior entered his house, whom Mrs. Maioress followed, with all her Maiden 

 Guards, to all whom was given cake and wine, drinking a health to the King 

 upon their knees, which was begun by Mr. Maior and Mrs. Maioress. After 

 which the Maior and his company marched before the soldiers through all the 

 City, rendering acclamations of joy. In like manner did Mrs. Maioresse with 

 her female Royalists. And thus was the whole day spent, and that with as 

 much alacrity, as I think can scarce be parallel'd. The night being come, some 



• K. Pam., Single Sheets, vol. 20. Dated April 26 th, Mr. Ford's letter, primed in London, 1661. 

 (Mr. Mayor of Bath), John Ford's letters to William Prynne. Conduit in the Market Place. It ran 

 ■with claret. Prynne's nephew, Mr. George Cluh, commanding a troop of mounted volunteers. 



