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Concordia Winter 2022

In 1882 the Taylorian Magazine announced in its notes that the juxtaposition of the Lord Mayor’s Show and the anniversary of Sir Thomas White’s birthday would be the occasion of a two-day holiday, much to the delight one can imagine of the school population in Charterhouse Square. The announcement reflected the strength of a relationship that dates back many centuries, and which was again celebrated on November 12th when the school was part of the procession for Alderman Nicholas Lyons – a Merchant Taylor – who was installed as the 694th Mayor of London. Merchant Taylors’ and the Lord Mayor’s Show

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Sixes and Sevens “Lat nat this wrechched wo thyn herte gnawe, But manly set the world on sexe and seuene.” Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde (1374) The Merchant Taylors’ Company is one of the “Twelve Great Livery Companies” of the City of London, so it is no surprise that it should be so closely linked to the position of Mayor, which was founded in 1189. In a charter of 1215, King John gave away the right to appoint the Mayor to the City itself and in 1354 the title Lord Mayor was instituted. Since 1435, the Lord Mayor has been chosen from amongst the aldermen of the City of London and in 2006 the title was changed to the Lord Mayor of the City of London to avoid confusion with the elected mayor, currently Sadiq Khan. For many Merchant Taylors’, the Lord Mayor’s intervention in the disagreement over precedence with the Skinners’ Company is the most memorable link between the Company and the Office. There are 110 livery companies in the City of London, and their precedence — or rankings — was a long-standing point of contention between the Merchant Taylors’ and Skinners’. They were squabbling over who would be ranked sixth, while the other would be left behind in seventh. Both companies received their first royal charters in 1327, and perhaps their coincidental beginnings gave both a sense of entitlement to seniority. It mattered not just from a ceremonial point of view but also in terms of appointments to key offices in the City. Things came to a rather nasty head in 1484 during the Lord Mayor’s river procession. The Livery Companies were supposed to travel behind the mayor in order of their rankings. Unfortunately, the Taylors’ and Skinners’ had not agreed who should be sixth and seventh, so they raced each other down the Thames,

with each trying to overtake the other. Things culminated in a brawl, which got so violent, it left apprentices from both companies dead. The dispute is said to have been resolved by the Mayor of the day, Robert Billesden, who decreed that every year the Master and Wardens of each Company should entertain the Master and Wardens of the other Company at dinner, and that the Companies should take precedence in alternate years between sixth and seventh. There remain many theories about the origins of the phrase “at sixes and sevens” but this has not stopped both Companies claiming the Billesden decision to be the origin. Those lucky enough to possess a tie emblazoned with 6s and 7s will defend the story to their grave. Current Head Master, Simon Everson, epitomises this spirit of cooperation, he has been a Head Master of both a Skinners’ and now a Merchant Taylors’ School.

Upper Renter Warden Nick Hunter Jones dons the 6s & 7s tie