of office; which we accordingly did, together with the oaths of
allegiance and abjuration; and the same was also administered to Mr.
Tims, (clerk to St. Bartholomews,) as under-sheriff, he kneeling all
the while.

"When this was over, the gold chains were taken off from the former
sheriffs, and put on us; and then the court being dissolved, the Lord
Mayor went home, attended by the former sheriffs, and we returned back
to Drapers' Hall to our dinner, provided for the Court of Aldermen and
Courts of Assistance, at which the senior alderman took the chair as
president, and the rest of the aldermen and gentlemen of Guildhall
took their places at the upper table, whilst we, the sheriffs, sat
at the head of the second table, with the gentlemen of the Courts of
Assistance of our two companies. When dinner was over, and the healths
of the royal family were drunk, the cryer proclaimed the health and
prosperity to the two sheriffs' companies in the following manner;
that is to say, 'Prosperity to the worshipful Company of Drapers, and
prosperity to the worshipful Company of Goldsmiths: to the Goldsmiths
and Drapers, and Drapers and Goldsmiths, prosperity to both:' and this
is so usually done, naming each company first alternately, to prevent
any dispute concerning preference or priority.

"After dinner, we all retired to one table in the inner room, at which
we, though sheriffs, were placed underneath all the aldermen; for
whatever rank an alderman may be in point of seniority, yet during the
year he serves as sheriff, he is to give place, and follow the rest
of his brethren, both at the court, and all processions and
entertainments. About six o'clock, the late sheriffs, having left the
Lord Mayor at his house, attended us to Guildhall, where we were
met by our own and the former under-sheriffs, together with the