PRINCES AT CITY FEAST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 197, 19 July 1935, Page 12

PRINCES AT CITY FEAST

VINTNERS’ SWAN BANQUET. OLD-TIME CEREMONIAL. TluT Master, Major-General the Earl of Athlone, and Wardens of the Vintners’ Company entertained four Princes of the House of Windsor, the Prince of Whiles, the Duke of York, the Duko of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent, in their Hall ip Upper Thames Street. London, in May. Prince Arthur of Connaught, who was also to have been one of the guests, of honour, was prevented from attending owing to severe indisposition. The company included the Masters and Prime Wardens of all the 12 chief Guilds, together with the Master Cutler of Sheffield and the Prime Warden of the Dyers’ Company (the thirteenth Guild).

The banquet not only marked Lord Athlone’s year of office ns Master of the Guild, but commemorated the occasion when in 1363 Sir Henry Picard (Lord Mayor'of London in 1356), as Master of the Guild, entertained in the old Hall of the Company—which stood on the same site and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666—five Kings, whose names are recorded in the annals of the Company as Edward 111 of England, David of Scotland, John of France, W'aldcmar 111. of Denmark, and Amadeus VI. of Cyprus. The Vintners commemorate this “Feast of Kings” by five cheers when the toast of “The Company and the Master” is honoured. CEREMONY OF THE CYGNETS. During the dinner the ancient “Ceremony of the Cygnets” was observed in the same manner as at the Feast of

1363, when the Swan Warden, escorted by the officials of the Company, his swan markers, uppers, and banner bearer, presented to the Master, for the delectation of his guests, roast cygnets borne on high, the whole ceremony being accompanied by ancient music played on wood wind instruments. The ceremony arises out of the possession of a game of swans on the River Thames, a privilege shared with the Dyers’ Company since time beyond legal memory. The rest of the birds are the property of the King, Seigneur of tlie Swans. The toast of “H.M. The King, Seigneur of the Swans,” having been duly honoured, the Master proposed the second toast, in the following unique wording:—“H.M. the Queen, H.R.H. the Prince of AVales, Citizen and Fishmonger, H.R.H. the Duke of York, Citizen and Draper, H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, Citizen and Mercer, H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, Citizen and Clothworker, and the other Members of the Royal Family.” This forni is believed to be similar to that which was used in 1410, whon Sir John Lewis, the then Master, entertained in the Company’s Hall four Princes, the sons of King Henry IV. The Prince of Wales replied to the toast.

The Master proposed “Our Guests” and Lord Hewart, the Lord Chief Justice, replied. The Archbishop of Canterbury proposed in time-honoured fashion the toast of “The Vintners’ Company, may it flourish root and branch for ever, with Five; and the Master,” which was followed by “The Vintners’ Song” (date 1702). The company afterwards adjourned to the Court Room, which is to be the oldest apartment in the City of London, having been built in 1486.