50 THE 21 OB EL MERCHANT 



In the following year, 1 392, the king, being pacified by a fine, issued a 

 writ, allowing the citizens to elect their Sheriffs as they were anciently 

 accustomed, notwithstanding any commission to the contrary. Sheriffs 

 were accordingly elected that year by the common hall, composed of the 

 Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and very many commoners from all 

 the wards. It was in the next year to this that Whittington was elected 

 Sheriff.'' In 1397, 20th Eichard II., a writ was issued from the king, 

 appointing Hichard Whittington Mayor ' and escheator in place of 

 Adam Baunne "who had gone the waye of all flesh."' "Whittington 

 was elected Mayor the year following, and was again elected to that 

 ofiice October 13th, 1406, 8th Heniy lY. Ten years afterwards, viz., 

 in 1416, "Whittington was elected Member of Parliament for the City 



r His election as Sheriff is entered in the C/Yy Records, September 21st, 

 1393, 17th Richard II. 



s In Wright's edition of Heylin's Help to E>iglisk History, published in 1773, 

 Sir Richard "NMiittington is named as eighty-sixth Lord Maj'or of London in 1397; 

 but this, so far as the title of Lord is concerned, is clearly a mistake, as we find 

 them called simply Mayors for many years after that date. It is very difficult to 

 decide the precise time when the title of Lord was accorded to that dignity. Sup- 

 posing that in other respects "Wright's remark is correct, and supposing also that 

 the office was always an annual one, it would fix the fii^st establishment of the 

 Mayoi'alty in 1311 which, however, is at variance with other authoiities. 



In the Tabkt of Memory, (p. 47) it is said that Whittington was either the first, 

 or one of the first, who was called Lord Mayor : and that the title of Lord was 

 annexed to the office by Richaid II. According to Ilaydu's Dictionary of Bates, 

 the titles of Lord and Right Honorable were granted by Edward III. 

 t City Records, Lib. H. fo. 316. From Sir R. Baker's Chronicle: — 

 17 Richard II., 1394. Richard Whittington, Sheriff. 

 21 Eichard II., 1398. Sir Richard AVhittington, Mayor. 

 8 Henry IV., 1407. Sir Richard "^Tiittington, Mayor. 

 4Henr5-Y., 1417. iJ/cM* Whittington, Sherifl". 

 7 Henry V , 1420. Sir Richard Whittington, Mayor. 

 Robt. Whittington, Shcrifl'. 

 It is difficult to assign a correct date to the time when Whittington received 

 the honor of knighthood. Sir R. Baker seems to fix it at the time of his first 

 Shrievalty in 1394, but we certainly find him described in Rymer's Fadera as 

 simply AiTOiger bo late as 1403 and 140;;. 



• This is probably a mistake for Robert, as it was not usual for one who had 

 served the office of Mayor again to seiTC that of Sheriff. 



