A silver-gilt mace, surmounted by a crown, the head with cast and applied national emblems (rose, thistle, harp, fleur-de-lis and portcullis), between female terms with foliate arches rising from their shoulders, with the chased cypher WMR over the poorly erased original CR; the cypher on the arms plate is the same. The oak stem, encased in silver gilt, is chased with acanthus foliage and national emblems, with a vase-shaped terminal and a matted ball finial. Ceremonial maces of silver or silver gilt have traditionally been carried by the sovereign's Sergeants-at-Arms or royal bodyguards since the medieval period. The shape ultimately derives from the war-mace or club although it has become increasingly decorative and less functional over time. Thirteen new maces, for each of the Sergeants-at-arms, were created for the coronation of Charles II in 1661, although these have been altered and enhanced in their history. As symbols of royal authority, maces were also created for the Palace of Westminster and these are carried before the Speaker into the chambers of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This example is probably one made c.1670. It was sent to Ireland in 1692 either for use as the Lord Lieutenant's Mace or the Sergeant's Mace, and was returned to England in the twentieth century.