Source Book of London History, from the earliest times to 1800
History
Source Book of London History, from the earliest times to 1800
London (England) -- History
It hath also been, and is now grown to a common opinion, that in
reward of this service done, by the said William Walworth against
the rebel, King Richard added to the arms of this City, (which was
argent, a plain cross gules) a sword or dagger, (for so they term
it) whereof I have read no such record, but to the contrary. I find
that in the fourth year of Richard the second in a full assembly
made in the upper chamber of the Guildhall, summoned by this William
Walworth, then Mayor, as well of Aldermen as of the common Council
in every ward, for certain affairs concerning the king, it was there
by common consent agreed and ordained, that the old seal of the
office of the Mayoralty of the city being very small, old,
unsuitable, and uncomely for the honour of the city, should be
broken, and one other new should be had, which the said Mayor
commanded to be made artificially, and honourable for the exercise
of the said office thereafter in place of the other: in which new
Seal, besides the images of Peter, and Paul, which of old were
rudely engraven, there should be under the feet of the said images,
a shield of the arms of the said City perfectly graved, with two
lions supporting the same with two sergeants of arms, on either part
one, and two tabernacles, in which above should stand two Angels,
between whom above the said images of Peter and Paul, shall be set
the glorious virgin: this being done, the old seal of the office was
delivered to Richard Odiham Chamberlain, who brake it, and in place
thereof, was delivered the new seal to the said Mayor to use in his
office of Mayoralty, as occasion should require. This new seal
seemeth to be made before William Walworth was knighted, for he is
not here entitled Sir, as afterwards he was: and certain it is that
the same new seal then made, is now in use and none other in that
office of the Mayoralty, which may suffice to answer the former
fable, without shewing of any evidence sealed with the old seal,
which was the Cross, and sword of Saint Paul, and not the dagger of
William Walworth.
WAT TYLER IN LONDON (1381).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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