There were some interesting ways to set-up lanyards discussed in some previous Puzzlers... can't seem to find the link to the Puzzler archives, though.
A come-along is pretty dandy for this application, just judiciously apply a rolling-hitch, midshipman's hitch, or prussik to the shroud well above deck to give you a place to attach the hook. When setting-up, treat the deadeyes and lanyards to a thick application of what-sluch-you-have; Vaseline, tallow, Crisco, with a touch of linseed oil... a gooey mess now, but eases the movement of the lanyards very considerably, and preserves in the long run.
A note of caution: traditional rigging, properly set-up, typicaly shows far less tension than modern rigs. Depending on your exact application, "tight, but not tensioned" might be just perfect; don't overdo it.
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