IV.—A cocoa-nut cup, or hanap, of sixteenth-century date, with silver-gilt bands and mountings, and 8½ inches high 18 V.—(_a_) The “Estridge,” or ostrich, carved in wood, about 4 feet high, which was used in the Lord Mayor’s pageant of 1629, and now preserved at the Hall; it has a horseshoe in its beak 26 (_b_) A bronze token representing the fourteen almshouses erected under Sir Robert Geffery’s trust, in the Kingsland Road, 1713-1714 26 VI.—The hearse-cloth, or Ironmongers’ funeral pall, of crimson velvet and cloth-of-gold tissue, the gift of John Gyva, 1515, 6 feet 5 inches long by 22 inches wide; the centre of each side represents “The Blessed Virgin Mary in Glory”—Plate I. 34 VII.—(_a_, _b_, _c_) Ditto, Plate II.—The Three Saints 42 VIII.—Ditto, Plate III.—Monstrance at each end 50 IX.—(_a_) The Devil gives St. Dunstan a morning call 60 (_b_) St. Dunstan compels the “Evil One” to sign a treaty of peace 60 X.—St. Dunstan gives a practical reminder of the power of the horseshoe 65 XI.—(_a_) The “Evil One” on his rounds sees the effect of the treaty 69 (_b_) The horseshoe puts to flight the Devil and pursues the “Evil One” and all his evil companions 69 [Illustration: THE OLD CHURCH OF ALLHALLOWS STAINING, MARK LANE, LONDON, 1807. (See page 45.) THE CHURCH OF ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST, OLD STREET, MIDDLESEX, 1807. (See page 57.)] A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IRONMONGERS’ COMPANY. CHAPTER I. THE OLD CITY, ITS CITIZENS AND GUILDS. In the history of the ancient Livery Companies of London we read the history and progress of not only the City but the Empire. During the many centuries of their existence the Guilds have performed a work for which they deserve the praise and continued support of not only every citizen, but every man who to-day enjoys the freedom of local self-government. There have been kings and prime ministers who, in their tyrannical measures, have forgotten the interests of the people and their trades in their desire to gain unlawful ends, but in every case for hundreds of years the citizens and the Guilds of London have stood forward to fight the great battles for freedom, and the continued and present existence of the Corporation of the ancient City, and the good work they do to-day, prove, if we carefully read their history, that to them we are more deeply indebted than “reformers” choose to acknowledge.