The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22

! eAC AaoHSS u the GOfSIHOIs Jul NStS
soon returned TO the Tower and placed
in the specially designed room
The evening previous to the coronation
is additionally spent by the sovereign
in preparing himself spiritually for his
''sacring'' with the assistance and CON-
partnership of the Dean OF Westminster
who, by ancient usage. is the Kings in
structor and spiritual comforter on this
| occasion
| The royal robes and the ornaments OF
the regalia are taken to the Abbey over
night and given into the Deans custody
it is the duty of the sacrist TO place the
regalia in readiness upon the altar the
| next morning.
The present ornaments OF the regalia
the instruments used and the copes OF
chapter are all modern, the most ancient
only dating from the Restoration; for the
spoon. though ancient, was not that used
for the amounting Of a King before 1861.
The Kings vestments from 1861 have
always been new for the occasion, and
this was often the case in old days. for
the sovereigns were wont to be buried
in their coronation robes. All the ancient
objects used at coronations were des-
troyed or sold in 1919, by order of the Par
lament and it is somewhat disillusioniz-
ing to read that Queen Editha's crown
supposed TO be of 'massy gold" turned
out to be silver gilt. and "an old connbe
Of horne worth nothing.
On the morning OF his coronation the
King wears white silk shirt, and over
it a close-ftting coat of red sarcenet. -
both made with openings at the breast,
81, zrIo
were anointed, now with only one-at the
breast; these Sits were closed by ribbons
and loops. and Il was part of the Deans
duty TO unfasten and fasten them before
and after the function.
The feet were originally bare; after
ward silk breeches and stockings became
the fashion and buskins of cloth of gold
and sandals of dark leather with red
heels and red straps were put on during
the investiture.
Over all the King will wear the Parlia-
ment robe, and on his head is the velvet
cap, called the the cap of estate and
maintenance; the Queen viii wear a pur-
pie robe and small gold coronet.
The swords are a great feature. and
one Is mentioned in the earliest recension
extant. Since the coronation of Richard
I. they have been borne in front of the
sovereign and all have spiritual signifi-
canoe.
Curtana. the principal one. has very
blunted end. and is known as the swori
of mercy; the other two are pointed-they
are swords of justice-to the spirituality
and to the temporarily. The fourth sword
also carried in the procession and laid
upon the altar till the investiture, is the
sword of state. ST. Edwards staff
which is held by a great noble. is rod
with a pike on the end. and was origin
ally intended for the King to lean on.
it may be likened to a bishops crozier
and served the same purpose.
The sword of the Spirit" Bible. is
said to have been called by Edward l..
but it does not form a definite part of the
procedure till the time of William and
Mary, since when it has been borne on a
cushion in the procession and presented
to the sovereign before the benediction
by the archbishops and bishops.
During the ceremony the Dean has pre-
viously brought the ampulla-the golden
eagle containing the oil-and the ancient
spoon from the altar. He pours the oil
through the eagle beak into the spoon
and presents it TO the archbishop. who
marks the sign of the cross upon each
place anointed.
From the solemn moment the individual
technically becomes the sovereign. and is
therefore Immediately invested with the
priestlike vestments of his kingship.
The ornaments of the regalia follow
after the Garments OF Righteousness
and are all placed upon the sovereign's
person by the archbishop himself; to
the Dean the duty of robing the King be-
longs. The orb is practically the same
as the sceptre with the cross, and the
two did not appear together till the coro-
nation Of Charles H.. although the scep-
tire was often shaped ike an orb with
a long cross on the top.
Tie Dean fetches the orb from the
altar. and the primate places it in the
royal right hand with the words: when
you see this orb set under the cross re-
member that the whole world is subject
to the power and empire of Christ our
Redeemer.'
The most significant OF the ornaments |
is the historic wedding ring of En-
gland. The ring in itself as an ensign Of
'knightly dignity originated in the IA
nous legend Of St. Edward the Confessor, |
and the ring which he drew from his
finger and presented as aims to q ragged |
beggar sitting at his palace gates
The beggar proved to be St John the !
evangelist. who afterwards returned the |
gift 10 the the King by the hands of TWO /
pilgrims. 10 whom the saint appeared /
and revealed his identity in the Holy /
Land.
The ring is mentioned with the sword /
in the recension Of the tenth century. |
generally called that Of Ethelred and that |
the custom Of presenting one 70 the SOW /
ereign at his coronation continued seems 1
likely 10 be the fact that Edward IFS /
offering OF gold at his first o5lauon was
moulded In the shape OF a r1an-7ossibly l
merely an allusion TO the story Of the
sanity beggar stretching out his hand
for the ring.
Richard III bequeathed a ruby ring
for the use OF his SUCCESSORS at their cor
but the ring used seems 70 have
been made anew for each king. Nary
Tudor IS said never TO have put OF her
ring 50 long IS she lived
The stone has been table ruby" ever
since the time OF Richard Il. in q plain
7ttN Nll -+NLs 4alAtA4E-e- t4-1@ u 81 tr-lLIfe /
vas engraved OF set IN jen-els-sapphires
lsualiy-upon it. but since William " /
! sapphire with ruby cross ives substi-
-uted like an episcopal ring
b. an old tradition. the closer the ring
Its the longer HiIl the sovereign relrr
lad the more dearly xii be bei0re5-a
prophecy fGlhned IL The case ~ Queen
Victoria. whose ring was too small for
Ter fourth finger. but was forced on ncv-
.rtheless by the Archbishop. vh3 was
mindful of the legend. causing her much