_Swords worn in Public_ (Vol. ii., p. 218.)--A very respected and old
friend of mine, now deceased, used to relate that he had often seen the
celebrated Wilkes, of political notoriety, walking in the public
streets, dressed in what is usually termed court dress, wearing his
sword. Wilkes died in 1797. In connexion with this subject it may be
interesting to your readers to know that in 1701 it was found necessary
to prohibit footmen wearing swords. An order was issued by the Earl
Marshal in that year, declaring that--
"Whereas many mischiefs and dangerous accidents, tending not
onely to the highest breach of the peace, but also to the
destruction of the lives of his Ma'ties subjects, have happend
and been occasioned by Footmen wearing of Swords, for the
prevention of the like evill accidents and disturbance for the
future, I doe hereby order that no Foot-man attending any of the
Nobilitye or Gentry of his Ma'ties Realms, during such time as
they or any of them shall reside or bee within the Cities of
London or Westm'r, and the Liberties and Precincts of the same,
shall wear any Sword, Hanger, Bagonet, or other such like
offensive weapon, as they will answer the Contempt hereof."
Dated 30th Dec. 1701.