formed by Sir Ralph Bigland that, notwithstanding its being stated in an heraldic work printed in 1780,* that supporters were granted to the Ironmongers' Company by Hervy Clarenceux, and afterwards approved and confirmed by Henry St. George in 1634, no docket or entry of the same appeared in their books. The onus probandi therefore rests with the Company, and the only evidence on this point which has yet come to light, is an initial letter in the Register or book of accounts for the year 1572, in which the Company's arms, with two lizards for supporters, are sketched in pen-and-ink by the clerk or scribe of that period. There is also on the first leaf of a small book, containing the rules and ordinances of the yeomanry, and written between the time of Elizabeth and Charles the First, another trick of these arms in their proper tinctures, with supporters as before described. These circumstances, however, being unsupported by any entry in the College of Arms, do not, according to the rules laid down by that learned society, constitute a right to the use of supporters.

The present motto of the company, GOD IS OUR STRENGTH, is of comparatively modern adoption; anciently, and for a considerable period, they used the words "ASSHER DURE,' which may be interpreted in modern orthography, acier dur, apparently in allusion to the three gads of steel which form the principal charges of the arms.

1483. The guild or fraternity of Ironmongers, of whose origin, as before remarked, we have no certain date, was first incorporated in the third year of Edward the Fourth; the charter of incorporation is in Latin, in the following words:

* Edmondson's Heraldry.

Tolvardus

dei gra Rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibnie omnib3 ad quos psentes fre puenint sal

Sciatis qd de gratia ñra spali concessim et licentiam dedim p nob et heredib3 ñris dilcis et fidelib3 legeis ñris omib3 libis hõib3 Mistere siue artis de Iremongers civitatis ñre London' et suburb eiusdem qd ipi sint in re et nõie vnum corpus et vna comunitas ppetua corporata de vno magro et duob3 custodib; siue gardianis ac comunitate eiusdem mistere siue artis ac Ricardum Flemmyng aldermannu in magistrum et Nichm Marchall et Robtum Toke in custodes siue Gardianos eiusdem mistere siue artis ordinam et pficim p psentes. Et qd ipi magis et custodes siue gardiani ac cõitas et successores sui heant

successionem ppetuam. Et qd ipi et successores sui imppm nuncupen? appellen? et vocen? p nomen magri et custodum siue gardianoz et cõitatis mistere siue artis de Iremongers London' et p nomen illud impfitare possint et implitari ac respondere et responderi in quibuscumq, curiis p et in omib3 et singulis materiis sectis querelis acconib3 demandis et causis quibuscuq. Et qd heant

sigillum cõe p reb3 et negotiis suis deseruitur. Et qd ipi magis? et custodes siue gardiani et cõitas et successores sui de tempore in tempus face possint ordinare et stabilire p sano regimine et gubnacõe liboz hoïm artis siue mistere pdce ac cõitatis pdce ordinacões puisiones et statuta quociens eis videbil fore opportunů. Et qd ipi et successores sui congregacões licitas et honestas ac statuta et ordinacões alias P vtilitate eiusdem mistere siue artis aut cõitatis eiusdem ac aliis licitis causis quociens eis placuit face valeant licite et impune absq, molestacõe seu inquietacione ñri vel heredum ñroz. Et qd ipi magis? et custodes siue gardiani ac cõitas et successores sui annuatim imppm iuxta ordinacões inde p ipos fiend vel sepius si casus exigit de seipis elige possint et face unu magistrum et duos custodes siue gardianos eiusdem mistere siue artis ad comitatem pdčam regenð guðnand et superuidend. Et qd ijdem magis? et custodes siue gardiani ac cõitas et successores sui imppm sint psone habiles et capaces in lege ad pquirend recipiend ħend et possidend sibi et successorib; suis imppm in feodo et ppetuitate Pras et teñ redditus et alias possessiones quascunq, ad valorem decem marcaz per annū vltra reprisas ħend eis et successorib3 suis imppm statuto de Pris et teñ ad manū mortuam non ponenđ edito aut aliquo statuto actu vel ordinacõe incontrarium fčo vel faciend non obstant. In cuius rei testimoniū has tras ñras fieri fecim patentes. Teste me ipo apud Westmonasterium vicesimo die Martii anno regni ñri tercio.

РЕКНАМ.

P bře de privato sigillo et de data pdĉa auctoritate parliamenti et p viginti libris soluť in hanapio.

EDWARD by the grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland. To all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. Know ye that we of our special grace have granted and given licence for us and our heirs, to our well beloved and faithful liegemen, all the freemen of the mystery and art of Ironmongers of our city of London and suburbs thereof, that they be in effect and name one body and one commonalty corporate for evermore, of one master and two keepers or wardens, and the commonalty of the same mystery or art, and by these pre

sents do ordain and make Richard Flemming, alderman, as master, and Nicholas Marchall and Robert Toke as keepers or guardians of the same mystery or art, and that the same master and keepers or wardens and commonalty, and their successors, shall have perpetual succession, and that they and their successors for evermore shall be publicly known, named, and called by the name of the master and keepers or wardens and commonalty of the mystery or art of Ironmongers of London; and by that name implead and be impleaded, answer or be answered, in whatsoever court, for and in all and singular matters, suits, complaints, actions, demands, and causes whatsoever. And that they have a common seal to serve for all their matters and things. And that the same masters and keepers or wardens and commonalty, and their successors from time to time, may make, ordain, and establish ordinances, provisions, and statutes, for the wholesome rule and governance of the freemen of the art or mystery aforesaid, and commonalty aforesaid, as often as to them shall seem meet; and that they and their successors may make lawful and honest congregations and statutes and other ordinances for the profit of the same mystery or art, and commonalty of the same, and for other lawful causes, lawfully and with impunity, without blame, molestation or inquietude of us or our heirs. And that the same master and keepers or wardens and commonalty, and their successors, annually for evermore, according to the ordinance for that purpose to be made, or oftener if the case shall require, may from among themselves elect and make a master and two keepers or wardens, of the same mystery or art, to rule, govern, and supervise the aforesaid commonalty. And that the same master and keepers or wardens and commonalty, and their successors for evermore, be able persons and capable in law to purchase, re

D

ceive, have, and possess, to them and their successors for ever in fee and perpetuity, lands and tenements, rents, and other possessions whatsoever, to the value of ten marks per annum, beyond reprises, to them and their successors for ever, notwithstanding the statute of not putting lands and tenements to mortmain, or any other statute, act, or ordinance made, or to be made, to the contrary. In witness of the which thing, we have caused these our letters to be made patent.-Witness myself, at Westminster, the twentieth day of March, in the third year of our reign.

PEKHAM.

By Writ of Privy Seal, and of the date aforesaid, by authority of Parliament, and for twenty pounds paid in the hanaper.

The original of the Seal which is represented in the margin is in silver, and supposed to be about the date of the Charter. It was customary to fill up the blank spaces in ancient seals with animals and other devices; and the figures here introduced at the sides, which bear some resemblance to lizards, evidently supplied the idea of the supporters afterwards adopted by the Company.

The wise policy pursued by Edward the Third, in enabling the merchants and manufacturers of his time to amass wealth by the silent operations of trade, has obtained for that monarch the merited appellation of the father of English commerce; but it is to Edward the Fourth that more conspicuously belongs the denomination of the merchant king; for, "improving the theories of his