Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/177

 10 s. VIIL AUG. 24, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

143

choose annually whom they would to be their Mayor, subject to the proviso that he should be presented to the King, or, in the King's absence, to his Justiciar, and sworn to be faithful to the Crown.

The like grant was made by charter of

Henry VIII. on June 24th, 1509, when the " Mayor of London, having the mace on the left hand, was in immediate proximity to the Earl of Essex, the Great Chamberlain, and the Earl Marshal." In fact, a place was assigned to the Lord Mayor at every

Henry III., dated Feb. 18th, 1226/7; whilst Coronation until that of George IV. in-

by a later charter of the same king, dated elusive. For some reason or other he was

12th of June, 1253, it was provided, in the omitted from the last two Coronations,

event of the King being absent from West- " But," contended the Recorder,

minster, that the Mayor elect should be the omission of the Lord Mayor on those two

presented to the Barons of the Exchequer, occasions did not curtail a right which had been

and by them be admitted (only), " but so, exercised, without other intermission, for certainly

,s,. 4.-L- _-,*. n'nrr.ir.r, r.f +Vif> more than 400 years probably a far longer time,

nevertheless, that at the next coming ot the, T , Mavor "

. i i _ _ 1X7. , T /l \ he "OKI Majrpl

early, sented

King or his heirs to Westminster or London, the commons O f England, in times long before the he should be again presented to the King or existence of a Speaker of the House of Commons. his heirs and admitted as Mavor." For The Lords Spiritual and Temporal wore fully repre- the last 150 years the practice has been to sented, but for centuries there was no other j appeal- inform the Lord Chancellor of the election h^ior the people at large than that of the Lord

of a new Lord Mayor. i J The Lord Chancellor, in giving judgment,

The City in the King s hand is also gaid th&t

the subject of notes :, the Court WQuld report to Hjg Majesty that it had

" Under the Plantagenets the City was often- been established before them that the Lord Mayor times, and for little or no justifiable cause, taken had by usage a right, subject to His Majesty's ' into the King's hand,' which meant that the City pleasure, to be present at the Coronation in the was to be governed by nominees of the King instead capacity mentioned in the petition." of by ); a Mayor and Sheriffs of the City's own At the gervice in t h e Abbey on the 9th of choice." August, 1902, when the King's procession

In 1239 this happened because the City was formed, the Lord Mayor, carrying the refused to admit to office a nominee of the Crystal Sceptre, took his place on the left of King for the Shrievalty, and the City Deputy Garter King of Arms (Garter being remained without a Mayor until the 13th of t 00 unwell to attend), and immediately in the following January. In 1243, 1244, 1247, front of the Lord Great Chamberlain, in 1249, and 1257 the same thing occurred for exact conformity with ancient usage, and short periods : but the longest time that the so proceeded from the west door of the City ever remained in the King's hand was Abbey into the choir.

thirteen years, viz., from 1285 to 1298. The Report also furnishes an account of During this time it was governed by a the ceremony on the occasion of the Corona- Custos or Warden and two Bailiffs, appointed tion luncheon on Saturday, the 25th of by the King, in the place of a Mayor and October :

Sheriffs elected by the citizens. "The Lord Mayor, wearing the scarlet and

A full description of the Crystal Sceptre ermine Coronation robe, and riding a black charger, is given from Jewitt and St. John Hope's left the Mansion House at 11 o'clock A.M., accom- < S Corporation Plate and Insignia of Office,' Uni^ ii. 94-6. Of its age or history nothing is tation of Aldermen and Common

known, and it is possible that th;"^ I C ouncilmen in carriages proceeded to Temple date from Saxon times. It is used only on ^^ ^ ^ fa and ^^J

such occasions as a coronation, when it is digmounted> ftnd were re eived) ^ th the carried by the Lord ^ayor, a^ at the memb ers of the deputation, by three

annual election of the chef magistrate oi p artne rs in Messrs. Child's Bank-

^g^leTL^M^ofbV^ ^b^ Mr. Hilton Price M, J. Hall, and Mr. F. W.

<ia,yu w.y Fane. Shortly before the arrival of

in - ,- nt mi King, the Lord Mayor went and stood at

In reference to the proceedings of The | ^ ^ ity boundary; and surren dered the

sword to the King, who returned it

" with a few gracious words. The Lord Mayor with obeisance retired, and, mounting his horse, took his place in the procession immediately in

lam.

Court of Claims " with respect to the presence of the Lord Mayor at the Corona- tion, an extract is given from the Times report of the 15th of January, 1902. The Recorder quoted from various charters,

frent of the King's personal escort, carrying the-

and mentioned among others the case of j sword erect before His Majesty."