Evening star., 1937-04-04
Romantic Events Linked
To British COrOnatiOns
Ceremonies Often Used by Kings to I'm
press Subjects and Spread Story
of Their Magnifcence.

likewise graced the occasion WIN an
equal number of mounted nobility.
Abdicated by Richard II.
A dramatic abdication of the throne
from the standpoint of the people, the
church and the peers was that Of
Richard II, who, from a raised dais,
gold-covered, in Westminster Hall, ac-
tually stepped down from this emf
nence after his resignation had been
read out for him. His successor,
Henry w. first OF the Lancastreane
line Of kings, was crowned in West
minister Abbey by the Archbishop Of
Canterbury shortly after this, and
since he owed his right to rule to
Parliament, he Is sometimes referred
to as the first constitutional monarch
of England.
by Shakespeare in the famous speech
he has him make before the Battle
of Agincourt, was not only crowned
King of England, but because Of the
further prowess of his English forces,
with their bows and arrows, against
the great army Of armor-clad French
knights, was enabled to conclude the
peace of Troyes according the English
the crown of France upon the death
of Charles vi, his adversary.
Henry vi, upon the death of his
father, Henry v. was not only pro-
claimed King Of England in West
minister Abbey when he was but a
year old, but, few weeks later, upon
the death of Charles vi, in compliance
with the terms of the treaty which
his father had concluded, also was
proclaimed King of France at the
Notre Dame in Paris.
An ignoble Parliament crowned
Richard III King of England with the
rightful heir, Edward v, from whom
Richard was wrestling the throne,
present at the ceremonies. The chron-
icles Of the court. in referring to the
occasion and those present. mention
the heir apparent as Lord Edward,
eldest son of the late King"
Awaited Doom in Tower.
Millais' portrayal of this unfor-
tunate young prince, imprisoned in
the Tower of London with his even
younger brother while they await the
verdict Of their doom at the hands
of their usurping kinsman is one OF
the most graphic pictorial representa-
tionS Of this cruel chapter in the long
line of England's succession of kings.
Henry VII, this usurper's successor
and the first of the royal Tudor line
to be proclaimed king, was crowned
on the battlefield after the defeat OF
Richard at Bosworth's Field. Either
a circlet was used from Richards
effects or, as tradition would have
it, one utilized which was found
hanging on nearby thorn bush,
where it lodged when its wrongful
Wearer was sent to his end.
Not only was the coronation of
Henry VIII joyously happy affair
after the useful but far from gay
regime of his parent. but his reign
was destined to be the most extraor-
dinary in English history because it
witnessed the crowning of five
queens-Catharine Of Aragon, Anne
Boleyn, Jane Seymour, who succeeded
in OUTLYING him, Catherine Howard
and Catherine Parr Anne OF Cleves,
Henrys fourth wife, was never
crowned queen.
Catharine of Aragon, Henrys first
wife, shared her husbands magnifl-
Gently splendid coronation with all Of
its colorful pageantry. but the crown
Ing OF his other wives took on no
special features except in the case of
Anne Boleyn.
To view the splendid spectacle at
tendant upon the crowning and glori-
fication of this fascinating daughter
of a country squire, whom the Eng
lish were being compelled to accept
in lieu of the deposed Queen. tremen-
dous crowds gathered all along the
way of her triumphal journey to the
Abbey. It's hangings are reported to
have been Of pure gold tissue" and
the descriptions of the time speak of
the new Queen being drawn in
gold-hung litter" wearing the crown
jewels entwined in her hair. Sitting
in her locks" is the expression used
by one of the contemporaries of this
dark-eyed, dark-haired former maid
OF honor, who three years later was
destined to be beheaded by French
executioner especially sent to London
ito behead Queen"
Crowned Sitting Down.
Tho 1f o~L
of Henry VIII by his wife, Jane Sey-
mour, took place when he was only
10 years old. Doubtless because Of
the lads extremely poor health, for
this frail little boy King lived only
until he was 16, he was anointed
seated instead of kneeling, which de-
parture from established custom ap-
pears to have given great offense to
his subjects.
Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII
and Catharine of Aragon, destined
to be known as Bloody Mary" be-
cause of the prosecutions which she
sanctioned in her determination to
restore Roman Catholic worship to
England, was the first of her realms
two Queen regents to be crowned as
unmarried women. This ceremony
for the fourth sovereign of the Tudor
line was performed by the Bishop
OF Winchester because Cranmer, the
Archbishop, was imprisoned In the
Tower of London. Both the Queen
Mother and the Princess Elizabeth
were present at the ceremony, which
was attended by magnificent shows
and pageants, so soon to be in somber
contrast to this Inflated sovereign and
her no-less-fortunate reign, which was
to end with the loss of Calais to the
French after it had been in the pos
session of England for over 200 years.
Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn
and Henry VIII, found the Arch
bishop of Canterbury unwilling to
accord her the coronation privileges,
50 she was crowned Queen by the
Bishop OF Carlisle. She, whose reign
was destined to become one of the
most glorious periods in English his
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