CORONATION INCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 190, 8 May 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

CORONATION INCIDENTS

When Queen Mary Was Crowned

Some of the coronations of British monarchs have taken place in troublous times, when factions divided the kingdom, and the Throne was the only great symbol of unity, says Queen Marie of Rumania, in the “Sunday Chronicle.” Queen Mary, eldest daughter of Henry VIII, was crowned by a bishop who, with other State prisoners, had just been released from prison. To set free Bishop Gardiner, of Winchester, was her first act after her proclamation. Reports of the time describe her driving through the city of London: — “Tn a chariot of cloth of tissue, she sat in a gowne of purple velvet furred witli powdered ermine. . . . The conduit of Cornehill ran wine and beneath the conduit, a pageant was made at the charge of the citie.” There is also this delightful description which specially takes my fancy: “There was one I’eter, a Dutchman, that stood on the weathercock of Paul’s steeple, holding a streamer in his hands, of five yards long and waving thereof, stood sometimes on one foot and shooke the other, and then kneeled on his knees to the great marvel of all the people. . . . the said Peter had sixteene pounds, thirteene shillings, foure pence given him by the citie for his costs and paine, and for all his stuffe. “The Queen was crowned and there were other ceremonies and solemnities, then used according unto old custome. was not fullie ended till it was nie j foure of the clocke at night that she returned from church before whom was then borne three swords sheathed and one naked. “The great Service doone in Westminster Hall at dinner, by diverse'

noblemen would take long time to write.” Immediately following the service in the church a great banquet was held in Westminster Hall, during the first course of which a champion entered the Hall op horseback, armed from head to foot, with blue feathers in his helmet. He was supported by the High Constable, on his right and the Earl Marshal on his left, both mounted. A herald in front of him read the challenge, the words of which have not materially varied at any period, as follows: “If any person, of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Eord. . . King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, that he ought not to enjoy the same, here is his champion who says that he lieth, and is a false traitor, being ready to combat with him; and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him, on what day soever will be appointed.” The champion then threw down the gauntlet. The challenge was repeated in the centre of the Hall, and a third time before the table, at which the King was seated. The King then drank to the champion out of a silver gilt cup, with cover, which he afterward handed to him as his fee. The banquet was last held and the challenge made, at the Coronation of George IV in 1821. Tiie office of Champion for the King was hereditary in the Dymoke family for several centuries, and when the custom was given up, bhe duty of bearing the Standard of England was assigned to the Dymokes. There is no record of the challenge having ever been accepted.