The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-12
GROWING OF WALES.


When the time comes for a, new king
of England the College of Arms will
proclaim him, just as they have pro-
claimed every monarch for hundreds of
years past. Times change and dynas-
ties. We are less like the Englishmen
of Edward I than we are like the modern
Japs. We talk a different tongue, we
eat different foods, we wear different
clothes, we think different thoughts.
Nothing is the same except the columns
on Stonehenge and the College of Arms.
The college abides, varying by not so
much as a. detail of procedure or a but
ton or uniform. What is, is good and
cannot be improved. Therefore the
business of proclamation will be the
same in the twentieth century as it was
in the fifteenth.
When the time unhappily comes for a
new king to reign the privy council
will meet and declare the throne to
have devOlved on the Prince of Wales.
Orders will at once be given to the earl
marshal and the officers of the College
of Arms to proclaim him. The first
proclamation will be made in the court
yard of st. James palace, where the
guard is changed. Garter King, the
chief officer of the college, will make
the proclamation in solemn form, with
the earl marshal, the kings, the heralds
and the pursuiVantS in full uniform and
mounted hard by. At this proclamation
the monarch is present, sitting at the
window where all his predecessors
have sat.
That is the chiefest Of the proclama-
lions; but the news has to be carried
far and wide to the distant cities, the
rank of the proclaiming officer descend
ing as the business proceeds The sec
ond prOnOuncement is made at Charing
Cross, and the third at the corner of
Chancery lane. At this proclamation
there will be a modification of the an
Client form, owing to the disappearance
of Temple Bar. Within the city of Lon
don the lord mayor and sheriffs pre-
serve their ancient sovereignty, and al
low no ruler within their gates except
after permission has been asked and
granted. The old form was for the
junior pursuivant to rap at the gate
and show his warrant for proclamation.
Then the lord mayor ordered the gates
to be opened, and Joined in the stately
procession. The ceremony Will doubt
less remain, barring the knock at the
| gate, which does not exist. In the pro-
| vinces the proclamations are made by
| the local mayors.
Being proclaimed and crowned, the
king has to offer to fight for his throne.
In the olden times, when king reigned
| by the power Of his right arm, this was
a necessary formalIty, and because it
was necessary once it is done still. But
I the king no longer does his own fight
| ing. He has a champion, the heredi-
| tary champion of England. whose bust
| ness is it to do battle with all corners
! for the crown. The champion Is always
/ a member of the Dymoke family. When
| the king is crowned this champion
rides into Westminster hall, mounted
| and in full armor, just as the champion
was 500 years ago. He is accompanied
/ by the earl marshal and the lord great
/ chamberlain, also on horseback. The
| hall is crowded with ticketed sight
| seers A proclamation is read by one
/ of the heralds challenging anybody who
| disputes the right of the sovereign to
| combat in an open space. The champion
throws down his gauntlet as a guaran-
| tee of good faith and then the hearts
of all the ladies fiutter in anticipation
of a fight. But it Is all disappointing
| sham. If some enterprising person
/ were to take up the challenge and the
gauntlet he would probably be run in
/ by the police for creating disturbance.
| The herald takes up the glove and
/ hands it back to the champion, and then
/ the king is firmly seated on his throne.