beneath them at the table sat the Vouchers of the Chancery, and upon the
left hand next to the cupboard sat Sir Richard Whittington (now the
third time Lord Mayor) and his brethren the Aldermen of London. The rest
of the Bishops began the table over against the Baron of the Cinque
Ports, and the ladies and chief noble-women the table against the Lord
Mayor and the Aldermen, at which two tables of the Bishops the Bishop of
London and the Bishop of Durham sat highest at the one and the Countess
of Stafford and the Countess of March on the other. And for ordering of
the service divers chief lords were appointed officers as Steward,
Controuler, Surveyor, and the like, which places were supplyed by the
Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, the Lord Fizmur, the Lord
Farneval, the Lord Gray of Wilton, the Lord Feres of Groby, the Lord
Poynings, the Lord Harrington, the Lord Ducy, the Lord Daker, the Lord
Delaware, &c.

I have shewed you onely the ordering of this rich feast, but the cost
and sumptuousness of the fare would ask too long and large a
circumstance to discourse; what I have hitherto done was onely to show
to the world that at those high solemnities inaugurations and
coronations the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Aldermen have
place, and their presence is still required; the City being the King's
Chamber and in an interregnum he the first and prime officer in the
kingdom. But I fear I have dwelt too long on the premises which I hope
none will hold for an unnecessary deviation. I come now to discourse
unto you of Sir Richard Whittington's invitation of the King and Queen
into the City when he bountifully feasted them in his own house at his
own proper charge.

How great and magnificent the Londoners feasts be even amongst
themselves especially at that high and pompous festival at Guild-Hall