Henry VIII & the 16th Century

In the time of Henry VIII the town sergeants were to become known as the four sergeants-at-mace, and were formally elected by the ‘twelve men at the common assembly in the Guildhall,’ and could only be removed by the same power (Boke of Remembrance 1548).

 This title was further confirmed in Speed’s History of Southampton (p61 4n) By the Charter 16 of Charles I, the Mayor was empowered to have “four Sergeants at Mace and all other necessary and proper inferior Officers and Servants”, who were to continue in their respective offices as long as they behaved well. In the seventeenth century these sergeants were generally called “biddels” or beadles.