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

3 production units.

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

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.

• anglais

• latin

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.

• anglais