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There are staves and badges dating from 1583, silver seals of the 13^th and 14^th centuries, four silver mace of 1680 presented by Lord Chandos, Chief Steward. These are Royal Mace, being permitted by Royal Warrant of King James l in 1619. In times past notable personages would have a bodyguard of four or so retainers or men at arms, each armed with a mace. The mace was a close contact weapon and effective against all but plate armour. From Tudor times the mace became the symbol of authority of the state and gradually maces became more ornamental in style and adapted for ceremonial use. Maces were later used for carrying summonses and important messages, and the Mayor’s Mace Bearers used them as symbols of their authority. Queen Elizabeth l, in her Charter to the City, permitted the Mayor to be preceded by Royal Maces. The present maces bear the cypher of King Charles ll. The maces are borne by the four liveried Mace Bearers in civic processions, preceding the Mayor and other civic dignitaries.

The State Sword of 1677 is 52 inches (132 cm) long with a cross guard of 12 inches (30.5cm) and a blade of 37 inches (94 cm). It was presented to the City by Mr. P. Foley. It has symbols of law and justice on the pommel and the scabbard is decorated with Tudor Roses. The sword is born before the Mayor on all civic occasions by the Sword Bearer and represents the authority of the State. The sword is placed above the Mayor’s Chair during City Council meetings as a symbol of justice. The sword is purely ceremonial and, as far as is known, has no military associations, unlike the Mourning Sword.

The King’s Steel or Mourning Sword is believed to have been presented by Henry Vlll around 1528 and is only carried in the event of the death of the reigning Monarch or a Mayor during his year of office. The sword has connections with the Battle of Mortimers Cross in 1461. The victorious Yorkists chased and captured many of the defeated Lancastrians including Owen Tudor. He was unfortunate enough to be beheaded in the City where High Town stands today. It is believed that Henry Vlll, one of his descendants, presented the sword upon a visit to the City

The badge of office is a tradition dating back to the age of chivalry when literacy was at a low level, and officers of state and Local Government were more readily identifiable by their ‘Badges of Office and Rank’. Today the badge is symbolic, and is supported by a chain of office, another myth which has been handed down through time to the present day.The Mayor’s chain and badge was presented in 1876 and among its 24 medallions it has representations of Queen Elizabeth l, the Arms of the See of Hereford, the Arms of the Dean & Chapter, an apple, a hop, mistletoe, pear blossom, wheat, acorn, a bull’s head, Wye salmon and the Old House.