The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-19
ny IA a1ARoU1sE DE FoNTESoY.

a of Champion OF the King on the
s., occasion Of his CORONATION. they.
stlll retain the hereditary title OF
Champion. and also ia the newly
conferred hereditary right of bearing
the Royal Standard of England at tho
coronation Of King George, the Stand
ara or Scotland being borne by Henry
Scrymseour Wedderburn. who has ca-
tablishcd his claims 10 this hereditary
honor. In tho place OF tho Earl of
Laudcrdnle. At King Edwards coro-
nation. the Standard OF ireland wat
borne by the O'Connor Don. and 1t may
be a~uiudSed 10 his son at the corona
ton next June
This honor OF hereditary bearer Of
the Standard OF England at coronations
was bestowed upon Frank Dymoltc. by
virtue OF an arrangement which he
concluded with King Edward. Frank
rymoke held the lease oi the Manor OF
Scrivelsby by virtue OF one OF those
queer ancient tenurcs, according to the
terms OF which the place was forfeited
to tho crown. If the Lord OF the Manor
and owner OF Scrivclsby, failed to fulfil
his duties Of Champion or England at
me coronation OF the sovereign. kin:,
Edward, by means OF legal process, ana
BY virtue. of an act In Council. relieved
him of this particular obligation, and
substituted In its stead that OF bearing
the Standard OF England on such oc-
casions. The principal reason for this
change was that tho Champion OF Eng
land was required 10 appear, arrnycd
from head TO foot in medieval artnor,
on a charger equally armed. In Nest
minister Hall, during tho coronation
banquet Stopping his horse just before
the high table, and facing the King. he
Was required TO raise his visor. and TO
loudly challenge all comcrs ito deny
the title of the sovereign. and to offer
if necessary TO fight them. with lance,
sword or mace. on the spot.
his steel gauntlet on the noor. y Eol-
den goblet, fun OF wine, WAS then hand
ed to the Champion. which he drained
10 the monaiEh. after which he was
-, SO l1.l ~ a l. 80 "Th n y.vn y. 4 RI IT. 4 " -
| royal presence, CARRYING with him the
golden goblet. which he retained as his
|pcrduisitc. Now the coronation ban
quet in Westminster Hal, has been
abolished. and therefore there is no
suitable opportunity for the Champion.
10 deliver his challenges. Moreover, the
appearance OF a man on lorseback, IN
fnll armor. ana the compelling Of the
charger TO perform tricks. such as back
ing Town a long hall. not merely
Of the theatre, but even Of the circus.
accordingly King Edward decided to
abolish the once and for all
time. and in acknowledgment thereof
Frank Dymokc presented 10 edward
VII. the suit Of armor which had been
used for hundreds of years at ROYAL
coronations, as an interesting reiic. II
Is now preserved. and shown to visi-
tors. at Windsor castle.
The Office Of Champion was first in
stitntcd by William the Connucrnr, who
entrusted 1t to Robert dc Marmion, con-
| ItEllIlS uibDN MN 1T lIlS StI1ca illIit, tIf
Castle OF Tamwortb and the Manor Of
Scrivelsby. decrccinG that the office
Should always pertain to the Lord Of
the Manor Of Scrivelsby. The last Of
the Marmions was Sir Philip OF that
ilk. a statesman who died in the reign
Of Henry III. leaving Two daughters,
the eldest of whom inherited Tam
worth Castle, and became the ances-
trcss of the CireYilleS. whereas the
Younger Inherited the Manor Of Scri-
velsby, and became the ancestress Of
the Dymokes. For some time there
was Il doubt as to the tenure OF the
Royal Championship. but the Court of
Claims decided. at the coronation of
the owner of tho Manor Of Scrivelshy,
and accordingly Sir John Dymoke, the
grandson Of Sir Philip Marimion. was
declared Champion. and the office has
remained in the Dymoke family ever
since.
When Sir Charles Dymoke acted as
Champion at the coronation of James
II, and alighted from his horse to kiss
the Kings hand, he stumbled. in con-
sequence of the great weight of his
armor. measured his full length on the
floor Of Westminster Hall. and was UNI
able 10 rise without assistance.
At the coronation OF George H., when
the Champion Lewis Dymokn threw
down his gauntlet. an unknown man
was said 10 have leapt from the crowd
and seized it. 4. rush was made for
him by the SergcantS at Arms, but the
crowd. largely composed of Jacobitc
sympathtzars. opened n Jane for his
escape, and he Disappeared. many per-
sons protesting. however. to recog-
ni2c in the daring intruder the young
Pretcndcr himself.
Henry Dymokc appeared in n fun
suit of urmor at the coronation Of King
Queen Victoria the ceremony was waiv-
cd, by means of an act of the sovcr-