Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15
THE KINGS CHAMPION.


Written for The Gazette.
The blood OF the Briton ia already
beginning to tingle 10 anticipation Of.
and the American ia taking no little
interest in, the coming coronation of
King Edward VII. 1t has been nearly
two generations since the Anglo Saxon
race has had the opportunity of wit.
Messing the pump and pageantry Of a
king making, and it will be none tho
less interesting from the fact that Ed.
ward is jealous Of all that may detraut
one wit from the show and glory of
that occasion.
Despite the fact that be Ia tenac.
iously adhering to precedent of his an
ceators it is rumored that he will ask
Parliament to relieve him Of his
champion. 1t seems strange that
the Gentleman King should thus de-
sire to be rid OF a feature which SO 10.
timately connects modern royalty with
ancient chivalry. Perhaps it is he.
case there is so much differences.
The Kings Champion was first intro.
duoed by the Norman on Christmns
day, 1866. The coronation ceremony
wns in progress in Westminster Hall,
when an alteration arose between the
Saxon aud Norman soldiery. A fight
| bububu anu tub INUFtuhDb, Dbl1npIEu
their king In danger, hrsd the surround.
| ing building to dispense the crowd in
| the immediate vicinity. Lord de Mar.
mion rushed into the hall to the side of
William and challenged anyone who
denied his tWilliam'H title 10 The
| throne u England TO single combat.
| william was so pleased by the con.
spicuous loyalty Of his follower that he
| there made him Hereditary Cham ion
| to the King and gave him the estate Of
Scivelly, in Lincolnshire, on condition
that at each coronation champion
should be forthcoming from among his
descendants, either in person or by
deputy, to defend the soveieign's title,
The Marmion family ohampioned all
the kings OF England till after Edward
i, when the male branch OF that line
became extinct and the prsrogative de.
scended to Sir John Dymohe, who had
married Margaret Marmion.
Samuel Pepys thus describes the cere
mony Of defending the title of Charles
IL:
.'But, above ALL was these ttres
Lords. Northumberland and Sutfolke
and the Duke Of Orn,ond, coming be.
fore the courses on horseback, and stay
ing 80 all dinner lime, and at last
bringing up the Kings Champion, all
In armor, en- horseback, with his
speare and tarRett carried before him.
| And herald proclaims, That il any
dare deny Charles Stuart 10 be lawful
King of England, here was cham.
pion that would hight with him;' and
with these words, the champion filings
down his gnuntlet, and all this he do
three times in his going up towards the
kings table, To which, when he is
come, the king drinks to him, aud
then sends him the cup, which is OF
gold, aud he drinks it off, and then
rides back again with the CUP in his
hand. -
The champion mentioned by Popys
was Sir Edward Dymohe and, IL ia in
teresting to know, direct ancestor Of
Mrs. j. Harry Chesley of CLAY Del.
The ceremony OF defending the title
and the coronation dipner were dis.
pensed with by William ~ and Vic
toria, but 1t ia to be hoped that King
Edward will revive the od-established
custom. as well that the world may he.
hold the greatness of royalty, as to dc.
fend his crown against the Whining
tonian, who, q recent paper informed
us, will contest il. 4.,ln e. N. Il.