New-York tribune., 1906-06-24

81. olars Crown with which King Haal0of
or Norway was invested on Friday at Tron-
dhjem. in obedience TO the demands both Of the
national constitution and of popular sentiment
in the land OF his adoption. has undergone many
strange vicissitudes since the days, more than
thousand years ago. when IL surmounted the
leonine names Of the earliest Christian rulers Of
Norway II has been lost. stolen and carried OF
among the spoils OF by foreign invaders
" has on several occasions been almost de-
stroved by fire; has been shipwrecked and has
been buried The latter, indeed. is an expert
ace TO which most OF the older crowns of
Europe have at one time or another been sub
sected The burial has usually been for pur-
poses Of concealment, and there are several
notable instances where those who have thus
hidden this most important OF all the emblems
Of sovereignty have died without revealing their
secret which remains 10 this day an unrav-
eIled mystery Many. indeed. are the chapters
Of fascinating romance contained in the history
Of these European crowns, two. ct least OF which
have been buried in America
II IS particularly timely 20 call attention 10
this Just at the very moment when the searches
pursued throughout many years for two Of the
missing crowns OF England seem 20 be on the
eve of A successful issue. one is the crown of
King Edward the Confessor, which was worn
IN turn by King Harold. by William the Con-
oueror, by HIS son, Rufus. by Richard Coeur de
Lion, OF Crusader fame, and by King john
whose principal claim TO a place in history is TO
be found IN the facts that he granted that Magma
Charta which IS the basis Of the English Con
stitution, and that he lost the crown OF Alfred
the Great with the sceptre, the orb. the sword
Of state and ell the other insignia of royalty, in
his disastrous journey from Kings Lynn across
the Wash. on the east coast Of England He
H,r
storm IN the Wash narrowly escaped with his
life and when some days later search was
made no trace Of the missing treasure could
be found It was taken for granted that IT had
been swept out 10 sea by the storm. But this
presumption now appears 10 have been er-
rone0us for the discovery Of superb silver
cup. bearing The name and cipher OF King
John, near Ge5ney Drove End, the border
of the Wash has not only served 10 demonstrate
the faIlacy of this belief, but also 10 indicate
The location Of The missing treasure beneath
the sand, the mud and the stones piled up over
il during the seven hundred years that have
elapsed since its loss. Shafts are now being
sunk on the site. and it is possible that ere
many weeks have passed the crown worn by Ed
ward the Coufessor and by Alfred the Great
VIII be added 20 the other reEala OF King Ed
ward which are preserved IN the Jewel House
Of the Tower Of London.
Americans are at the present moment en-
gagged in pursuing the search for the other miss
ing crown Of England, which was constructed
Tor the coronation Of King Charles II, and which
the notorious Colonel Blood endeavored TO steal
during the reign Of the "Merrie Monarch" but
which was eventually carried of By James
II 10 France. along with other treasures,
when deprived Of his throne and compelled 20
seek refuge at ST. German. The much vaunted
hospitality OF Louis XIV Of France 10 his exiled
brother sovereign was not OF such an altogether
chivalrous and generous character as has been
asserted. James was more a prisoner Of state
than an honored OF welcome guest. He is shown
by letters and memoirs OF that epoch published
in recent years, not only 70 have cruelty resented
the restrictions and the Jack OF liberty 10 which
hc was subjected by lie Grand AIonaroue but q lso
10 have been imbUed with a wholesome distrust
and even dread, Of the thoroughly unscrupulous
Bourbon King. He realized that were Louis 10
Become aware that he had brought with him
some forty cases Of treasure to the tune Of SlO-
out9oa, comprising a vast quantity of jewels and
The Charles II crown. his Gallc majesty would
not only put stop TO the pension grudginglv
paid 10 the eXiled sovereign at S.. Gernain. but
would likewise take immediate steps to possess
himself Of the vaIuables
That King James had this treasure in his ros-
session Is an historical fact That he neither |
olsposea OF IL nor was robbed thereof is eouallv
Wen established But what has become of II fa /
4 matter Of speculation According 10 tradition
o. 'ae countryside around 81. Germain-tradition