Tower of London When Richard II was crowned in 1377, he led a procession from the Tower to Westminster Abbey. This tradition began in at least the early 14th century and lasted until 1660. During the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 the Tower of London was besieged with the King inside. When Richard rode out to meet with Wat Tyler, the rebel leader, a crowd broke into the castle without meeting resistance and looted the Jewel House. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, took refuge in St John's Chapel, hoping the mob would respect the sanctuary. However, he was taken away and beheaded on
John Gayer (Lord Mayor of London) John Gayer (Lord Mayor of London) John Gayer or Gayre (died 20 July 1649) was an English merchant who was Lord Mayor of London in 1646. He was born in Plymouth, eldest son of John Gayer senior, a merchsnt, and Margaret Trelawney. Both his parents were Cornish by birth: the Gayer family came originally from Liskeard. Gayer moved to London, and at one stage of his career spent some years in Syria, where a strange event later led him to institute the Lion Sermon. He became a city of London merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.