William Walworth
Encyclopedia
Sir William Walworth was twice Lord Mayor of London
(1374–75 and 1380–81). He is best known for killing Wat Tyler
.
His family came from Durham
. He was apprenticed to John Lovekyn, a member of the Fishmongers Guild
, and succeeded his master as alderman
of Bridge Ward in 1368, becoming sheriff in 1370 and lord mayor in 1374.
He is said to have suppressed usury
in the city during his term of office as mayor. His name frequently figures as advancing loans to Richard II
. He supported the king's uncle John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
in the city, where there was a strong opposition to John.
William Walworth worked for a time in the Customs House under Geoffrey Chaucer
. In John Gardner's book "The Life and Times of Chaucer" Walworth is described as one of a number of important merchants, all friends of Alice Perrers
, who used their influence with the king (Edward III). In his book Gardner says that according to complaints in the House of Commons, this group conspired to keep food prices up, lent money to the king at inflated interest, and through personal and financial influence persuaded the king to issue edicts profitable to themselves.
His most famous exploit was his encounter with Wat Tyler
during the English peasants' revolt of 1381, in his second term of office as Lord Mayor. In June of that year, when Tyler and his followers entered south London, Walworth defended London Bridge
against them. He was with Richard II when he met the insurgents at Smithfield
, and killed the rebel leader with his baselard
. The circumstances of the killing -- including whether Walworth planned the attack or struck on the spur of the moment -- have always been unclear. There is a theory that when Tyler's peasants attacked The Clink
, they also damaged and destroyed many brothels, some of which Walworth was leasing from the Bishop of Winchester, causing him a loss in revenue. The brothels that were burned were known at the time as the "Stews of Southwark."
Walworth raised the city bodyguard in the king's defence, for which service he was rewarded by knighthood and a pension
. He subsequently served on two commissions to restore the peace in the county
of Kent
.
He died in 1385, and was buried in the church of St. Michael, Crooked Lane
, of which he was a considerable benefactor. Sir William Walworth was the most distinguished member of the Fishmongers Guild, and he invariably figured in the pageants prepared by them when one of their members attained the mayoralty. He became a favorite hero in popular tales, and appeared in Richard Johnson's
Nine Worthies of London
in 1592.
William Walworth is commemorated with a statue on Holborn Viaduct, near the boundary of the City of London.
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
(1374–75 and 1380–81). He is best known for killing Wat Tyler
Wat Tyler
Walter "Wat" Tyler was a leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381.-Early life:Knowledge of Tyler's early life is very limited, and derives mostly through the records of his enemies. Historians believe he was born in Essex, but are not sure why he crossed the Thames Estuary to Kent...
.
His family came from Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. He was apprenticed to John Lovekyn, a member of the Fishmongers Guild
Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London, being a guild of the sellers of fish and seafood in the City...
, and succeeded his master as alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Bridge Ward in 1368, becoming sheriff in 1370 and lord mayor in 1374.
He is said to have suppressed usury
Usury
Usury Originally, when the charging of interest was still banned by Christian churches, usury simply meant the charging of interest at any rate . In countries where the charging of interest became acceptable, the term came to be used for interest above the rate allowed by law...
in the city during his term of office as mayor. His name frequently figures as advancing loans to Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
. He supported the king's uncle John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster , KG was a member of the House of Plantagenet, the third surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault...
in the city, where there was a strong opposition to John.
William Walworth worked for a time in the Customs House under Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
. In John Gardner's book "The Life and Times of Chaucer" Walworth is described as one of a number of important merchants, all friends of Alice Perrers
Alice Perrers
Alice Perrers was a royal mistress whose lover and patron was King Edward III of England. She acquired significant land holdings. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Edward's consort, Philippa of Hainault.-Life and Family:...
, who used their influence with the king (Edward III). In his book Gardner says that according to complaints in the House of Commons, this group conspired to keep food prices up, lent money to the king at inflated interest, and through personal and financial influence persuaded the king to issue edicts profitable to themselves.
His most famous exploit was his encounter with Wat Tyler
Wat Tyler
Walter "Wat" Tyler was a leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381.-Early life:Knowledge of Tyler's early life is very limited, and derives mostly through the records of his enemies. Historians believe he was born in Essex, but are not sure why he crossed the Thames Estuary to Kent...
during the English peasants' revolt of 1381, in his second term of office as Lord Mayor. In June of that year, when Tyler and his followers entered south London, Walworth defended London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
against them. He was with Richard II when he met the insurgents at Smithfield
Smithfield, London
Smithfield is an area of the City of London, in the ward of Farringdon Without. It is located in the north-west part of the City, and is mostly known for its centuries-old meat market, today the last surviving historical wholesale market in Central London...
, and killed the rebel leader with his baselard
Baselard
The baselard is a historical type of dagger or short sword of the Late Middle Ages.In modern use by antiquarians, the term baselard is mostly reserved for a type of 14th...
. The circumstances of the killing -- including whether Walworth planned the attack or struck on the spur of the moment -- have always been unclear. There is a theory that when Tyler's peasants attacked The Clink
The Clink
The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark, England which functioned from the 12th century until 1780 either deriving its name from, or bestowing it on, the local manor, the Clink Liberty . The manor and prison were owned by the Bishop of Winchester and situated next to his residence at...
, they also damaged and destroyed many brothels, some of which Walworth was leasing from the Bishop of Winchester, causing him a loss in revenue. The brothels that were burned were known at the time as the "Stews of Southwark."
Walworth raised the city bodyguard in the king's defence, for which service he was rewarded by knighthood and a pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
. He subsequently served on two commissions to restore the peace in the county
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
He died in 1385, and was buried in the church of St. Michael, Crooked Lane
St. Michael, Crooked Lane
Coordinates: St Michael, Crooked Lane was an “antient” parish church situated on the east side of Miles' Lane, Great Eastcheap in Candlewick Ward in the City of London. It was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London by Sir Christopher Wren and demolished in 1831.-History:The church was in existence...
, of which he was a considerable benefactor. Sir William Walworth was the most distinguished member of the Fishmongers Guild, and he invariably figured in the pageants prepared by them when one of their members attained the mayoralty. He became a favorite hero in popular tales, and appeared in Richard Johnson's
Richard Johnson (16th century)
Richard Johnson was an English romance writer. He was baptized in London on May 4, 1573. His most famous work is The Famous Historie of the Seaven Champions of Christendom . The success of this book was so great that the author added a second and a third part in 1608 and 1616...
Nine Worthies of London
Nine Worthies of London
Nine Worthies of London is a book by Richard Johnson, the English romance writer, written in 1592. Borrowing the theme from the Nine Worthies of Antiquity, the book, subtitled Explaining the Honourable Excise of Armes, the Vertues of the Valiant, and the Memorable Attempts of Magnanimous Minds;...
in 1592.
William Walworth is commemorated with a statue on Holborn Viaduct, near the boundary of the City of London.