The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
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ing weight to carry about on ones
head during the long pageants and
ceremonials of the period. Edward I
is reported to have made a joke about
his crown. when he refused to follow
the custom of wearing it on solemn
feastdays. saying that crowns do
rather onerate than honor princes
wonder if his jester put him up to
the joke.
Concerning the workaday crowns
there are a few incidents worthy of
note. Edward III pledged his crown to
the merchants ofsFlanders to defray
his expenses in the French wars; he
was in the habit of thus raising tho
wind" and on one occasion the Bishop
of Treves is stated TO have lent him
$4,000 forms on it. Henry ", too.
pledged a crown of Richard II with
the Abbot of Westminster
In the reign of Henry VI the crown
grew far more like what we now re-
gard as the crown OF England. the
| circuit being arched over by golden
| depressed a their point of intersec-
ton Richard HIS crown on his death
on Bosworth Field was found by Sir
Reginald Bray in a hawthorn-bush,
and being taken by him to Lord STAN
ley he placed it on the head of his
son-in-law. proclaiming him Henry
I VII 1t was this incident which gave
rise TO the proverb. "Cleave to tho
crown though it hang on a bush" At
George Ills coronation, when he was
walking with the crown on his head.
the great diamond in the upper por-
ton broke from its setting and fell,
and the finding of il again caused con-
siderable trouble.
The restoration forms an epoch In
the regalia of England, for, Cromwell
made away with the first English
crown. and with it all the rest of the
regalia, SO that when Charles II came
get an entirely new outfit. and from
all accounts he did himself well, con-
sidering his bill for the same came
to nearly S160,000. The master Of the
'jewel-house had orders to provide inter
ALA two crowns set with precious
stones, one to be called St Edwards
Crown, with which the king was to
the Confessor's crown), and the other
to be put on before the king returned
to Westminster Hall for the banquet;
one Jewel alone in one of the crowns
was valued at $4,000
These crowns underwent consider
able alteration or actual reconstruc-
ton at the coronation Of subsequent
rulers. George Tvs crown was made
in 1921, and was valued At S750.000,
while the expenses on it amounted to
100000 more
Queen Nictoria's crown was made by
the same jewelers., and weighed thirty
nine ounces. 1t contains. among the
other jewels. the famous ruby said to
have been given to Edward Prince of
Wales, son Of Edward III. by Do.
Pedro. King Of CASTLE. and also a sap
phire reported to have come out of
the ring of Edward the Confessor, the
possession Of which was thought to
give the power of blessing cramp
rings, or rings which warded of the
cramp from those who wore them
The religious ceremony Of blessing
these rings on Good Friday was an
important one in the olden time. ana
had a ritual of its own. 1t was prac-
tised by monarchs down to Edward VI.
and the ceremonial ended with the
prayer that the ring might restore
contracted nerves" The jewels in the
Imperial crown are as follows: One
large ruby. one large sapphire, six
teen sapphires. eleven emeralds, two
rubies, 1868 brilliants, 1878 rose dia-
monds, 147 sable diamonds, drop
pearls. 273 pearls.
The crown of England. in contra-l
distinction to the Imperial crown, Is '
for minor State occasions, and has few
jewels The velvet cap turned up with
ermine, which is seen in both these
crowns, was first introduced by Henry
VIII For the coronation of the pres
ent English King and Queen there were
be new crowns made from the old ones
tCopyright. by the Associated Literary Praai