Celebrating St Georges Day in Chester, 1610

Celebrating St Georges Day in Chester, 1610

Upon Sct George’s Day next, being the 23d of Aprill 1610, and the same with more addition, to continew, being for the Kynge’s Crown and Dignitye, and the homage to the Kynge and Prynce, with that noble victor Sct George, to be continued for ever, God save the Kynge

Item : ij men in green evies, set with worke upon their other habet, with black heare and black beard, very awgly to behould, and garlands upon their heads, with great clubbs in their hands, with firr works to scatter around, to maintain way for the rest of the showe

Item : one on horseback with the buckler and head-peece of Sct George, and iij men to guide him, with a drum before him, for the hon. of England

Item : one on horseback called Fame, with a trumpet in his hand, and iij to guide him, and he to make an oration with his habit, in pompe

Item : one called Mercury, to descend from above in a cloud, his winges and all other matters in pompe, and heavenly musicke with him, and after his oration spoken, to ryde on horseback with the musicke before him

Item : j called Chester, with an oration and drums before him, his habit in pompe

Item : j on horseback, with the Kynge’s armes upon a shield in pompe

Item : j on horseback with a bell dedicated to the Kynge, being double gilt, with the kyng’s arms upon, carried upon a septer in pompe, and before him a noise of trumpets in pompe

Item : one on horseback, with the Prynce’s armes upon a shield in pompe

Item : one on horseback, with an oration from the Prynce in pompe

Item : j on horseback, with the bell dedicated to the princes. Armes upon it, in pompe, and to be carried on a septer, and before the bell, a wayte of trumpets

Item : j on horseback, with a cup for Sct George, carried upon a septer in pompe

Item : Sct George himself on horseback, in complete armour, with his flag and buckler in pompe, and before him a noise of drums

Item : one on horseback called Peace, with an oration in pompe

Item : one on horseback called Envy, whom Love will comfort, with an oration in pompe

Item : one on horseback called Love, with an oration in pompe

Item : the Maior and his brethren, at the Pentis of the Cittye, with their best apparel and in scarlet, and all the orations to be made before him, and seene at the High Crosse, as they pass to the Rood Eye, whereby grent shall be runne for by their horses, and for the ij bells upon a double staffe, and the cuppe to be run for by the rynge in the same place by gennt, and with a great mater of shewe by armes and that, and with more than I cal recite, with a banket after in the Pentis to make welcome the gennt : and when all is done, then judge what you have seene, and soe speake your mynd, as you fynde.”

From William Hone, The Every-Day Book, Vol.2, pp.540-541