The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-08-19
Thibodaux StntinsI.
ROYAlTY'S CHAMPION.

Mishaps of this Mailed Defender of the
Crown at Various Coronations.
The recent death Of Mr.. .Dimoke. the
hereditary champion of the crown in
England. has brought out a number of
ludicrous happenings in connection
with the performance of that dignitary
at various coronation ceremonies since
he became merely a dummy relic Of
ancient days. They show how such
survivals. of old Offices and customs,
usually preserved for the sake Of the
fat fees that may be bestowed upon
favored persons. NAV become highly
Absurd instead of impressive. 1t is the
function of the champion at the coro-
nation Of king or queen to ride up
Westminster hall to the throne. clad
in full armor and on an armored
charger, fling his mailed glove
upon the floor, and challenge
to mortal combat anyone who
denies the sovereign's title to the
throne. After pausing for a reply,
which is not expected to come, the
champion backs his steed the whole
length of the hall, in order to avoid the
d~iscourtesy of turning his back on his
king. and proudly rides away.
This backing-out part of the proceed
ing requires considerable practice on
the part of horse and rider. But at the
coronation of George ". months of pa
tent work had had their reward, and
the champions charger could prance
backward for a mile if ne~cessary-in-
deed, would rather go backward than
forward. When the day and the mo-
ment arrived the mailed champion
dashed to Westminster's doors and clat-
tered into the great tagged hall. But,
to his dismay. the horse, all too anxious
to fulfill his part, wheeled round and.
with slow, unfaltering steps, backed
clear up the whole length of the hall
through the lines of mobiles to where
the king sat in %splendor, despite the
hysteric efforts of his unfortunate rider
to turn him. At the throne the cham
pion shrieked out over his shoulder
through his iron collar his tremendous
defiance against all enemies of his SOW
ereign lord, the king. and thus got out
of the hall in the best way his steed
permitted.
At the coronation of George III. a
Jacobite maiden, disguised as a youth,
picked up the gauntlet and accepted
the challenge. The unexpected def
ance took away the doughty cham
pion's breath for awhile, but it was
ruled that her sex, if nothing else.
barred her from ~contending against the
kings right to his crown. At the coro-
nation of James II. the champion fell
from his horse while attempting to
stand in his stirrups to challenge crea-
ton.
At the coronation of William and
Mary, Charles Dymoke, Esq, ancestor
of the champion who died recently.
east his gauntlet on the pavement in
the usual form, and was preparing TO
90 the circus act, when an old woman
who had hobbled into the hall on
erutches ran nimbly out, picked up the
gage, and disappeared with remarka-
bic agility, leaving on the floor a WON
ans glove, in which was a challenge
to meet the owner in Hyde park. The
old woman, generally believed to be a
well-known swordsman in disguise. at
tended in the park, but the champion
did not, and no measures were taken to
treat the joker severely for his levity.