King Henry VIII. the year after his accession to the throne, came in the habit of one of the yeomen of the guard, to see the march of the city watch; it being an ancient custom for the watch, who were then a body of military forces, to make a pompous march on the vigils of St. John Baptist, and St. Peter and Paul. His Majesty was a spectator on St. John’s eve, and was so highly delighted with the sight, that he returned on the eve of St. Peter, accompanied by his royal consort, and the principal nobility, and staid in Mercer’s Hall, Cheapside, to see the procession repeated. The march was begun by the city music, followed by the Lord Mayor’s officers, in party-coloured liveries; then the swordbearer, on horseback, in beautiful armour, preceded the Lord Mayor, mounted on a stately horse adorned with rich trappings, attended by a giant and two pages on horseback, three pageants, morrice dancers and footmen; next came the Sheriffs, preceded by their officers, and attended by their giants, pages, pageants, and morrice dancers. Then marched a great body of demi-lancers in bright armour, on stately horses: next followed a body of carabineers in white fustian coats, with the city arms on their backs and breasts: then marched a body of archers with their bows bent, and shafts of arrows by their sides; followed by a party of pikemen with their corslets and helmets; after whom marched a body of halberdiers in their corslets and helmets; and the march was closed by a great party of billmen, with helmets and aprons of mail. The whole body, which consisted of about 2000 men, had between every division a certain number of musicians, who were answered in their proper places by the like number of drums, with standards and ensigns, in the same manner as veteran troops. This nocturnal march was lighted by 940 cressets, which were large lanthorns fixed at the end of poles, and carried over mens shoulders; two hundred of which were at the city expence, five hundred at that of the companies, and two hundred and forty were found by the city constables. The march began at the conduit in Cheapside, and passed through that street, Cornhill, and Leadenhall street to Aldgate; whence it returned by Fenchurch street, Gracechurch street, Cornhill, and Cheapside, to the conduit. During this march, the houses on each side the streets were decorated with greens and flowers wrought into garlands, and intermixed with a great number of lamps. _Stow._ This splendid procession constantly repeated twice a year, is not only a proof of the fondness for shew which then prevailed, but lets us see that the city was then watched by men completely armed; a body of troops of a peculiar kind, raised and maintained by the city. The same year, Sir William Fitz-William, Alderman of Bread street ward, was disfranchised for refusing to serve the office of Sheriff. _Fabian’s Chronicle._