John Norman (draper)

John Norman (died 1468) was a 15th-century draper, sheriff, alderman and for a term the Lord Mayor of London.

By the 15th century, during this yearly pageant the mayor would have been joined by members of the city's companies dressed in their liveries and accompanied by minstrels.

[4] The barges that were used in this fashion are the origin of the word "float" which is today used to describe decorated platforms or vehicles that are sometimes towed at parades, carnivals or festivals.

It is not certain which set of lyrics was the original, and whether the melody was written for Norman or Richard Whittington (who was lord mayor three times, first elected in 1397).

In such case according to Mary C. Taylor, it would have been only natural for a new set of lyrics to celebrate John Norman's inauguration, which was fifty-six years after Whittington's first.

[3] John Norman's coat of arms appear illustrated in the portrait (pictured right) painted by Roger Leigh who lived around 1450.

[9] In the mid 19th century, Burke however gave a different blazon which omits the ermine: Or, three bars gules on a chief argent as many fleurs de lis sable.

John Norman, dressed in his aldermanic robes. [ 1 ]
Arms of John Norman as recorded in the Harley Collection . [ 9 ]
Arms of John Norman as blazoned in Burke 's The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales . [ 13 ]