The other divisions were preceded by an equal number of cannon. At the rear of the second, the banner of St. George was carried, and the banner of the Prince of Wales. Behind these, "at a convenient distance," the sword-bearer of London, in white damask, "upon a goodly horse, freshly trapped," with the sword of the City, "the scabbard whereof was set full of orient pearl." Here, too, came the splendid cavalcade of Sir William Foreman, the lord mayor, with himself in person,--a blaze of white silk, white satin, gold, crimson, and waving plumes,--the choice company of the City; the retinue being composed, for their especial worth and approved valour, of the attorneys, the barristers, their clerks, and the clerks of the courts of law, with white silk over their armour, and chains, and clasps. The first battalion entered the City at Aldgate, before nine o'clock, and "so passed through the streets in good order, after a warlike fashion, till they came to Westminster." Here, in front of the palace, the king was standing on a platform, "with the nobility." As the troops passed by, they fired volleys of musketry; the heavy guns were manœuvred, and "shot off very terribly;" "and so all three battles, in the order afore rehearsed, one after another, passed through the great Sanctuary at Westminster, and so about the park at St. James's, into a great field before the same place, where the king, standing in his gate-house at Westminster, might both see them that came forward and also them that were passed before. Thence from St. James's fields the whole army passed through Holborn, and so into Cheap, and at Leaden Hall severed and departed: and the last alderman came into Cheap about five of the clock; so that from nine of the clock in the forenoon till five at afternoon this muster was not ended." "To see how full of lords, ladies, and gentlemen," continues the authority, "the windows in every street were, and how the streets of the City were replenished with people, many men would have thought that they that had mustered had rather been strangers than citizens, considering that the streets everywhere were full of people; which was to strangers a great marvel. "Whatsoever was done, and whatsoever pains was taken, all was to the citizens a great gladness; as to them also which with heart and mind would serve their sovereign lord King Henry the Eighth, whose High Majesty, with his noble infant Prince Edward, they daily pray unto God Almighty long to preserve in health, honour, and prosperity."[432] CHAPTER XVI. THE SIX ARTICLES.