Their are on a chevron swivels , (the middle palewise, the other with the line of the chevron) between steel gads . scaly lizards, erect on their hind feet, combatant (i. e. ) each gorged with a plain collar , the collars chained together; a chain, with a ring at the end, pendant between the lizards, of the last. . The same as the crest. . Anciently,

Assher dure

,

God is our strength

.

This company appears to have been a very ancient fraternity, although not regularly incorporated till , when Edward IV. granted the members his letters patent, under the style of

the master, and keepers, or wardens, and commonalty, of the art, or mystery, of the ironmongers of London ;

As early as the year , a complaint was made of the ferones, as they were then called, or dealers in iron, to Elias Russel, mayor, and the aldermen,

for

that the smiths of the wealds, and other merchants, bringing down iron of wheels for carts, to the city of London, they were much shorter than anciently was accustomed, to the great loss and scandal of the trade of ironmongers ;

and of which they afterwards became the general retailers.

Their hall is a stately, modern edifice, standing on the north side of ; and is either the or that has been raised on the same site.

The affairs of this company are conducted by a master and wardens, assisted by a court of the whole livery, who are about in number. Numerous benefactions have been made in trust by various donors, for purposes of beneficence and public good; the entire revenue of the company, amounts to about annually.

In the court books of this company, which have been preserved from the time of queen Mary, are many curious entries respecting supplies for the exigencies of the state; as well as various particulars regarding the providing of men, arms, and ammunition; the purchase of corn for the city; the ceremonies and expences attendant on processional pageants, &c, Among the former, is the following singular precept, directed to the company

by the maior.

Theis are to will, and comaund youe, that forthwth youe prepare in a redynes, the sume of LX£. of the stocke of youre halle (and if youe have not so moche in store, then youe shall borrow the same at ynterest, at th' only costs and lossis of yor hall;) to be lent to the queen's matie for I wholl yeare; not in any wise cawsyng any brother of yor companye to bear any pticular charge or losse, towardes the same, but onlye of the rents and stocke of yor said hall; wch sume of LX£. you shall pay uppon Twysdaye next comyng in the mornyng, at Mr. Stonley's howse in Aldarsgate Strete; and thear you shall receive an aquyttaunce for the same in forme appoynted. Fayle youe not herof as youe will answer for the contrarye at your pyll. Yeoven at the Gwyldhall of London, the XXVII of August, 1575.

In , another precept was received from the mayor, requiring the company to provide

100

able men, apprentices, journeymen, or others free of the city, of agilitie and honest behavr, between the ages of

nineteen

and

forty

,

harque-bussets,

havyng a murryan, a sworde, and a dagger, and a caliver, with sufficient furniture for the same; and

one

halfe pound of powder, besides toche powder:

25

of the number, householders, and free of the company, to musterin their doublets, hose, and jerkins, in

13

days.

In , the company were required to purchase

15

quarters of meal per week,

8

quarters of corn, well ground

to retail it at

3s.

per bushel, and not more, at their peril.

In the year , the queen in council ordered, that the city should furnish last of gunpowder, to be ready for emergencies; in consequence of which this company were enjoined to keep b.

The accounts of the pageantry are too long for extract; in a precept from the mayor, informed the company, that they were assessed . as their proportion of the sum of which had been expended in pageants, when the king passed through the city.

[] Granted, 1435-Supporters, 1560-whole confirmed, 1634.

[] Malcolm's Lond. vol. ii. pp. 41-49.