Collection GB 0074 CLC/262 - SMITH, William (1550-1618)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/262

Title

SMITH, William (1550-1618)

Date(s)

  • 1575-1633 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

William Smith was born in 1550 in Cheshire. He was apprenticed as a haberdasher. His earliest known work, A breffe discription of the royall citie of London, capitall citie of this realme of Englande dates to 1575 and is described in the Dictionary of National Biography as a "vividly written work, revised in 1588, contains a detailed description of the ceremonies surrounding the installation of the Lord Mayor, illustrating Smith's lifelong interest in pageantry, heraldry, and the London livery companies".

Smith moved to Nuremburg in Germany and managed a tavern, while still writing works on English genealogy and heraldry, and Cheshire topography. In 1595 he returned to London and was appointed to the College of Arms, in the position of Rouge Dragon pursuivant. He also began to write plays. Smith died in 1618.

Source of information: David Kathman, 'Smith, William (c.1550-1618)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2006.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/262 1575-1633 Collection 3 production units. Smith , William , 1550-1618 , herald and playwright

William Smith was born in 1550 in Cheshire. He was apprenticed as a haberdasher. His earliest known work, A breffe discription of the royall citie of London, capitall citie of this realme of Englande dates to 1575 and is described in the Dictionary of National Biography as a "vividly written work, revised in 1588, contains a detailed description of the ceremonies surrounding the installation of the Lord Mayor, illustrating Smith's lifelong interest in pageantry, heraldry, and the London livery companies".

Smith moved to Nuremburg in Germany and managed a tavern, while still writing works on English genealogy and heraldry, and Cheshire topography. In 1595 he returned to London and was appointed to the College of Arms, in the position of Rouge Dragon pursuivant. He also began to write plays. Smith died in 1618.

Source of information: David Kathman, 'Smith, William (c.1550-1618)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2006.

Purchased by Guildhall Library in 1914, and catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in the same year. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Treatise on the government and constitution of the City of London, entitled A breffe discription of the royall citie of London, capitall citie of this realme of Englande by William Smythe [Smith], citizen and haberdasher of London, 1575; and The XII Worshipfull Companies, or Misteries of London. With the armes of all them that have bin Lord Maiors of the same, for the space of almost 300 yeares; of every Company particularly. Also most part of the Sheriffs and Aldermen by William Smith, (two versions, 1605 and 1609).

Three volumes.

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

August to October 2010. Smith , William , 1550-1618 , herald and playwright Government Public administration Local government Urban areas Historic cities Social scientists Historians Antiquaries Heraldry Coats of arms Blazonry History Historical research Mayors People People by occupation Personnel Local Government Personnel Aldermen Sheriffs Corporation of London x City of London City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased by Guildhall Library in 1914, and catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in the same year. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Treatise on the government and constitution of the City of London, entitled A breffe discription of the royall citie of London, capitall citie of this realme of Englande by William Smythe [Smith], citizen and haberdasher of London, 1575; and The XII Worshipfull Companies, or Misteries of London. With the armes of all them that have bin Lord Maiors of the same, for the space of almost 300 yeares; of every Company particularly. Also most part of the Sheriffs and Aldermen by William Smith, (two versions, 1605 and 1609).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Three volumes.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area