The Mace-Bearer Magazine - Guild of Mace-Bearers

MACE-BEARERS OF THE CITY AND THE WARD BEADLES – CONT.
The Beadles are already acting at the earlier date along with the Ward Clerks, whom always seem to have been
appointed. The Beadles were elected at the Folk-Moot (now the Ward Motes and Common Halls) but whether this
was originally an open election by those present or only to choose from those nominated by the Alderman, as today,
is difficult to say. Whatever, the Beadles duties were as follows:
1. To prepare the list of Freemen of the Ward for the Ward Mote and Folk-Moot and summon them to these;
2. To conduct the details of any elections, in regard to the list, held at the Ward Mote with the Ward Clerk.
3. To open/ close and keep order at the Ward Mote
4. To ‘amerce’ non-attendees of the Ward Mote and Folk-Moot and ‘attach’ ie collect the fines for this; the
Beadle’s word in regard to summons being delivered to a freeman and his non-compliance was the only
evidence required.
(see also Prof Wm Stubbs Select Charters ... to 1307; Customs of London in the Reign of John 1205-06 pp 312-
314)
As can be seen the original role of the Beadle was as an Electoral Officer, with the Ward Clerk as Recorder and the
Alderman as Returning Officer.
Duties 1) and 2) are now performed by the Electoral Services section of the Town Clerk’s Department. Duties 3) are
largely ceremonial and are still the preserve of the Beadle. Duties 4) have long ago fallen into disuse.
Apart from the ‘Ward Mote’ the Beadles attend on the Aldermen at the seven great ceremonial occasions of the
Civic Calendar.
The United Guilds Service at St Paul’s
This is the most recent ceremony dating from the period of our nation’s greatest peril during the Second World War;
all of the Livery Companies and their Livery men attend this in mid-March. The address is always given by a senior
Bishop, recently the Cardinal of England.
The Spital Sermon
This is a short Service, held sometime between April and May, in the Guildhall Church of St Lawrence, Jewry for the
Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen only. It was instituted by the boy-king Edward VI in 1543 and marks the
foundation of two ‘hospitals’:- Bridewell and Christ’s Hospital which are in fact schools. The Head Boy or Girl reads
one of the Lessons.
Midsummer ‘Common Hall’ at Guildhall
This is for the Livery to Elect the two Sheriffs, on Mid Summer’s Day, effectively the Lord Mayor’s assistants. The
Sheriffs live in the Old Bailey for their year of office with the senior judges and entertain them and deputise for the
Mayor within the City at social functions.
The Admission of the Sheriffs
This is held in Guildhall on the day before the election of the new Lord Mayor; it is attended only by the Aldermen
and Lord Mayor and current Sheriffs to watch the swearing-in of their replacements who had been elected some
months before
Michaelmas ‘Common Hall’ at Guildhall
On the 29th September the Livery Elect two persons who have served as Sheriff and are Aldermen one of whom is
then chosen by the Aldermen in private, to become Lord Mayor. He is then presented to the assembled Livery in
Guildhall.
The ‘Silent Ceremony’ Guildhall
This is the ceremony of admission of the new Lord Mayor. The symbols of office are withdrawn from the previous
incumbent and presented to the new one. The ceremony is very complicated and is done in complete silence, before
the Aldermen and invited persons. It takes place the day before the Lord Mayor’s Show
The Lord Mayor’s Show
This is officially called the ‘Presentation of the Lord Mayor and Procession to the Royal Courts of Justice’. Although
the general public think this is done for their entertainment, in fact what it is for, since the time of King John when
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