Soon after this the booths were emptied, the bar thrown down, the
Maypole and the butts deserted, and the whole of Bachelors' Acre
cleared of its occupants--except those who were compelled to attend
to the mighty spits turning before the fires--by the loud discharge of
ordnance from the castle gates, accompanied by the ringing of bells,
announcing that the mayor and burgesses of Windsor, together with the
officers of the Order of the Garter, were setting forth to Datchet Bridge
to meet the royal procession.
Those who most promptly obeyed this summons beheld the lower
castle gate, built by the then reigning monarch, open, while from it
issued four trumpeters clad in emblazoned coats, with silken bandrols
depending from their horns, blowing loud fanfares. They were followed
by twelve henchmen, walking four abreast, arrayed in scarlet tunics,
with the royal cypher H.R. worked in gold on the breast, and carrying
gilt poleaxes over their shoulders. Next came a company of archers,
equipped in helm and brigandine, and armed with long pikes, glittering,
as did their steel accoutrements, in the bright sunshine. They were
succeeded by the bailiffs and burgesses of the town, riding three
abreast, and enveloped in gowns of scarlet cloth; after which rode the
mayor of Windsor in a gown of crimson velvet, and attended by two
footmen, in white and red damask, carrying white wands.
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