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The Three Maces

A mace was originally a heavy club used as an offensive weapon, but in later times it became a staff of office symbolising authority, with the head often elaborately worked in precious metal or bejewelled.

The very handsome Great Mace, carried at the head of the procession by the Sergeant-At-Mace, is silver gilt similar to several others which Charles II ordered to be made and presented to various Corporations which had suffered and lost their regalia during the Civil Wars between his Royal father and the Parliament. From the pattern of the shaft there can be little doubt that the Mace is of an earlier date than 1678. It was probably made during the Commonwealth period and converted into a Royal Mace at the Restoration.

The two smaller Maces used in the procession appear to date back to Tudor times. One is a small antique silver Mace with a cup shaded head and a slender stem. On one side of the head is the Tudor Rose crowned, and on the other side a Fleur-de-lis crowned, both repoussé and gilt. On the circular top of the head are the Arms of James I, somewhat defaced. The other small Mace is of silver parcel gilt about the same size as the first but with a much stouter stem. On either side of the head is a star rudely engraved. The cresting or coronet at the top is composed of Fleur-de-lis and Lozenges alternately within which, on a raised boss, are the Arms of King Charles II.

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