John Norman

John Norman (died 1468) was a 15th-century draper, sheriff, alderman and for a term the Lord Mayor of London. He is known as being the first lord mayor to take a boat to Westminster to pledge his allegiance. Up until that point lord mayors of London had ridden or walked to Westminster in the yearly pageant on Lord Mayor's Day. Such river pageants existed until 1856, and today the lord mayor rides within a state coach during the pageant which is known today as Lord Mayor's Show. John Norman left his name to a song, supposedly created by the watermen who rowed him to Westminster, titled "Row the Boat, Norman".

Draper, sheriff, alderman, mayor of London John Norman was the son of John Norman of Banbury and was a draper by trade Even so, Norman twice represented the City of London in the parliaments of 1449 and was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1453. (Today the parade is known as the Lord Mayor's Show). John Norman is considered to be the first lord mayor to go to Westminster by water. The river procession seems to have been popular amongst the London commoners. Thus six years after Norman's river ride the commonality of London requested to have all further mayors go by barge to Westminster and all medieval mayors of London after Norman went by river to be sworn. River processions continued to be held for mayors until 1856.

According to the 15th century Sheriff of London Robert Fabyan, the watermen made John Norman a song of praise, which began: "Rowe the bote, Norman, Rowe to thy Lemman". A 19th-century music antiquary named Edward F. Rimbault thought that the melody to this song was the same as one published in John Hilton's compilation of rounds: Catch That, Catch Can (1658). The same melody has appeared in several other rounds (such as Turn Again, Whittington and Heave and Ho, Rumbelow) found in various collections. 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). It is thought likely that the melody would have been passed down as a folk song from previous generations. 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.

Heraldry

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