_Court of_ WARDMOTE, is thus denominated from the words Ward and Mote, that is, the Ward-court. It is constituted for transacting the business of the ward, for which purpose the Lord Mayor annually issues a precept to the several Aldermen, to hold a court of wardmote on St. Thomas’s day.
WARDROBE, or the King’s great wardrobe, in Scotland-yard. This office in ancient times was usually kept near Puddle-wharf, Great Carter lane, in an house built by Sir John Beauchamp, son to Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and afterwards sold to King Edward III.
The master of this office is an officer of great antiquity and dignity. High privileges and immunities were conferred on him by Henry VI. which were confirmed by his successors, and King James I. not only enlarged them, but ordained that this office should be a corporation, or body politic, for ever.
This office provides robes for the coronations, marriages, and funerals of the Royal Family; furnishes the court with hangings, cloths of state, carpets, beds, and other necessaries; furnishes houses for Embassadors at their first arrival; cloths of state, and other furniture for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and all his Majesty’s Embassadors abroad; provides all robes for foreign Knights of the garter, robes for the Knights of the garter at home, with robes and all other furniture for the officers of the garter; coats for kings, heralds, and pursuivants at arms; robes for the Lords of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, _&c._ livery for the Lord Chamberlain, Grooms of his Majesty’s privy-chamber, officers of his Majesty’s robes; for the two Chief Justices, for all the Barons of the Exchequer, and several officers in those courts; all liveries for his Majesty’s servants, as yeomen of the guard, and wardens of the Tower, trumpeters, kettle-drummers, drummers and fifes; the messengers, and all belonging to the stables, as coachmen, footmen, littermen, postillions and grooms, _&c._ all the King’s coaches, chariots, harnesses, saddles, bits, bridles, _&c._ the King’s watermen, game-keepers, _&c._ as also furniture for the royal yachts, and all rich embroidered tilts, and other furniture for the barges. _Chamberlain’s present state._