2n'i S. V. 128., Juke 12. '68,] 



NOTj:S AND QUERJEa 



469 



LONDON. SATUBPAY, JUNfl 12. 1868, 



COBPOHATION INSIGNIA. 



Under the above designation we comprehend 

 the mace, sword, and ensigns or symbols of state, 

 attached to municipal corporations, 



The mace stands conspicuous, and is most com- 

 monly in use. Doubtless its origin was public 

 utility : for the mace was originally a war instru- 

 ment, and subsequently became a symbol of 

 honour and authority. 



Kings, judges, ministers, and " worshipful men" 

 of various degrees, and those in authority gene- 

 rally, seem fTbm a very early period to have 

 adopted certain signs of office, alike evidenced in 

 the rough workmanship of Australia and Polyne- 

 sia, in maces of sandal or of iron woods, or in 

 staves of office elaborately carved, as well as in the 

 artistic examples of the skill of the " curious 

 workmen" of our own or mediaeval times. 



The instruments of punishment and the symbols 

 of authority were in most cases combined. Thus 

 the lictors with their fasces preceded the Roman 

 magistrates, as the sergeants- at- mace and sword- 

 bearers heralded the Mayor; while the staff of 

 office of other dignitaries had its type in the 

 sceptre of kings, or in the " Scipio eburneus," 

 which the consuls bore when they sat in state, 

 surmounted by an eagle as the symbol of dignity 

 and power. 



We are unable to determine the precise period 

 when the House of Commons first used a mace ; 

 but the loss of the identical " bauble " which 

 Cromwell so forcibly ejected, and which is com- 

 monly, although erroneously, supposed still to 

 adorn the Presidential table of the iioyal Society, 

 was speedily supplied by a successor. 



The maces borne by town sergeants, "servientes 

 ad clavum," except in size and metal, very closely 

 resemble the war maces of antiquity. 



The maces of corporate towns degenerated 

 somewhat in character, when they represented in 

 their construction another element of civic govern- 

 ment, fellowship and conviviality ; for several of 

 the ancient maces have served as drinking cups : 

 and if the town of Wisbeach was contented in 

 this particular to be represented by a tankard 

 only, other corporations, like the borough of Car- 

 narvon, turned the mace itself into a drinking 

 bowl. The upper portion of maces thus designed, 

 was constructed to screw on, or fit into the lower 

 part, which exhibited an ample space for good ale 

 or mahnsey. On state occasions, such as royal 

 birthdays, the inauguration of the mayor or bailiff, 

 or the promotion of a member of the corporate 

 body to a higher degree, it was handed round to 

 the assembled Court. Filled at first with rich 

 wine, when exhausted the mace descended to a 



lower circle, and, replenished with ale and spices, 

 was drained by the jovial sergeants at mace, and 

 by other officers of the court. 



Such as we have described was the custom at 

 Carnarvon. At Penryn, however, the mayor elect 

 drank to the prosperity of the borough out of an 

 ample silver bowl, previous to going to church, on 

 the first Sunday after his inauguration. This cup, 

 on such occasions, was filled with a mixture of all 

 the various liquors which might be supposed to be 

 in possession of a dignitary of the mayor's estate 

 and position. This relic is of some antiquity, and 

 bears date a.». 1633, and was presented by Lady 

 Jane Killigrew ; it is inscribed : — • 



" From maior to maior to the town of Pennaryn, 

 Where they received me that was in great misery. 

 " Jane Killigrew." 



The insignia at Bridgenorth consisted of two 

 maces of silver-gilt, supported by twisted columns, 

 about two feet long. Each mace is surmounted 

 by a crown, which unscrews ; the mace then be- 

 comes a drinking cup of capacity sufficient for a 

 quart of liquor. Dates, about a.d. 1676. 



The corporation of Dunwich have a small silver 

 mace, shaped like a bolt or arrow. 



Hastings, possessing a monster punch bowl of 

 silver, capable of holding sixteen or seventeen 

 quarts, has no necessity to convert her maces into 

 drinking cups. Being one of the Cinque Ports, 

 the barons, or representatives of this borough in 

 Parliament, bear, in accordance with an ancient 

 privilege, the royal canopy over the heads of the 

 sovereigns at their coronation. On the occasion 

 of the coronation of George II. and Queen Caro- 

 line, they claimed as their perquisites the silver 

 staves which supported the canopy. The same 

 being accorded, they were presented to the cor- 

 poration, who directed them to be wrought into 

 this compendious wassail bowl. Godalming has 

 no mace*, only a characteristic staff, tipped with 

 silver, borne by its warden or chief officer; for we 

 must be understood, in speaking of many of these 

 corporate towns, to allude to a period antecedent 

 to A.D. 1835, the date of the Municipal Corpora- 

 tions' Act. Since that time, although the ancient 

 Insignia of office continue in use in most corpora- 

 tions. In some they have been laid aside. 



The staff at Godalming is dated A.i>. 1568, and 

 Inscribed : " Gardan de Godalmyng," and " Ex 

 dono Thome Coupen, Gen." 



The insignia at Southampton consisted of two 

 large gilt maces, and four smaller ones : the most 

 curious of the latter Is of the date of the reign of 

 Henry VII. It was the custom formerly, when 

 the worshipful the lady mayoress proceeded to 

 church on state occasions, robed in her scarlet 

 gown, to bear one of these maces before her. 



Southampton has also a two-handed sword of 

 state, four feet long and upwards : the guard is 

 iron, gilded, eighteen inches in length, with a 



