The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-06-29
A QUAINT CEREMONY
SEARCHING THE VAULTS UNDER THE
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Guy Fawkes Long Ago Made the
British Beef Eaters Watchful-HOw
What Was Once an Important Duty
Is Nowadays Performed.
elapsed since Guy Fawkes was dis
covered in the vaults Of the houses Of
parliament the yeomen of the guard
have never failed religiously to per
form the ceremony of searching the
cellars on the eve Of the assembly OF
parliament Originally an important
duty, it has now developed into a
quaint and picturesque ceremony. Be-
fore the old houses of parliament were
burned down in 1884 the search was a
reality Now it is Il mere ceremonial,
but one which the public would wish
maintained. Before that time every
nook and every corner of the dark and
noisome vaults had to be carefully
searched.
How different the ceremony Is con-
Quoted at the present day We learn
from Sir Reginald Hennelrs interest
ing book The officials of the lord
great chamberlain, the special detec-
tive police of the house of parliament,
with the commissioner or deputy COM
missioner of police, assemble in the
princes or peers robing room and
await the coming of the yeomen of the
guard, consisting of an exon, the ser
geant jor and ten yeomen. On their
arrival procession is formed headed
by the chief of police in charge. Parti-
sans are laid aside, and each yeoman
Is handed one of the same little oil
lamps which have probably been In
use from time immemorial.
The exon gives the word, the process
sion moves off, and the search COM
mences. Cautiously descending by iron
ladders-for the yeomen are no longer
young-and traversing iron grating
floors, they gradually descend to the
vaults below. The walls are all painted
or colored white, and under the glare
of the modern electric lamps, which
brilliantly illuminate every part of the
vaults, it would be difficult for the
smallest object to remain undiscov-
cred Slowly the party reascends to
the princes chamber, lamps are re-
turned, partisans are shouldered, the
exon reports to the lord great cham
berlain that the search has been we'll
and truly carried out and that the
houses OF parliament can assemble in
safety, the official part of the ceremony
Is over, and the guard is dismissed
from duty.
The men then proceed. according to
ancient custom, to the offices of Messrs.
Bellamy, the old firm of wine mer-
chants. where by special permission
the gallant yeomen drink the kings
health i'll the best port. In 116O the
firm of Bellamy applied to the authori-
ties of the houses of parliament to be
permitted to rent and use as wine Gel
lars one portion of the empty vaults.
This was granted, and the custom was
initiated by the founder Of the firm,
search that the yeomen of the guard
should bring it to an end at the wine
stores. There the announcement was
made, "Alrs WELL" and the guard, be-
ing drawn up, drank the kings or
queens health in Bellamy's old port
God save the king" The wine cellars
have been removed elsewhere, but the
good custom remains.
The yeomen of the guard are most
fascinating institution, the first perma-
nent body guard of England's sover-
eigns and the first permanent corps Of
trained soldiers in our history. Imi
tated perhaps from the Scottish guard
of the French kings, the corps was
formed as far back as the year 1885.
When Henry VII. landed in England
from Normandy he was accompanied
by small guard of English and Welsh
who had shared his exile. They were
with him at Bosworth, and surrounded
by them he received the crown Of Eng
land.
1t was this body Of personal attend
ants that became, in September, 1855,
the yeomen of the guard, ever since the
personal bOdyguard of the sovereigns
Of England. 1t still retains the pic
turesque dress with the original title
of yeomen. which 1t wore under its
first captain, John de We're. earl of Ok
ford. The original duty Of the corps
was to protect the king In battle and
otherwise, and he was accompanied by
his yeomen wherever he went. The
yeomen OF the guard have taken part
in many battle and siege and in most
royal pageantS from the Field of the
Cloth of Gold to the opening of parlia
ment
l,i. fhn frhfY
parliament the beef eaters will be In
close attendance on the state coach.
The office of captain Of the guard Is
political one and changes with the gov
ernment, but the lieutenant, the en-
sign, the clerk of the cheque, or ad-
iutant, and the eXonS are required to
have served III the army or marines
and have seen war service. The yeo-
men must have been noncOmmissioned
officers IN the army or marines Of ap-
proved and distinguished service, and
the appointments, as may be imag lned,
are the most highly priced of any
which are open to old soldiers. The
yeomen of the guard are very fire.
quently COMPOUNDED with the warderS
of the Tower, but they are now a dis |
tinct body. When Henry VIII. relin
qushed the Tower as Il residence he
was not unmindful of the dignity at
taching to it. Twelve ycOmen of the
guard were left behind as Tower ward |
FRS, who then became n separate or
ganization, with slightly different |
dress, but with the same pay and al |
lOwanceS.
The nickname of beef eaters, which |
has been bestowed on the yeomen of
the guard. is of comparatively modern
origin. and it is amusing to recall how
writer's have endeavored to account tc~
tt.-London Globe.