CHARLES I. RELIC

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 150, 21 December 1929, Page 27

CHARLES I. RELIC

A particularly interesting addition has just been made to the collection of relics of Charles I. iv the London Museum, Lancaster House. It consists of two extraordinarily well-preserved pieces of black silk brocade froia tho mantle Charles wore when he, was on his way to execution in Whitehall on 30th January, 1643. Until recently this relic was iv the possession of a German princess, a direct descendant of tho consort of Princo Frederick Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe, who acquired it while she was at the Court of George I. Dr. B. E. Mortimer Wheoler, keeper of tho London Museum, has now received it from Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Makower, who have given many other Stuart relics to the museum. Attached to the brocade ia a faded note in the handwriting of Prince Frederick Chnstian's consort, who died in 1743. ihe note states in German:—"These are two pieces of tho mantle of Charles i , , England, wi'ieh he gave to his valet Mr. Herbert, as he passed through the middle great window of the Banqueting Tall o f Whitehall to tho scaffold where his head was cut off He took it off himself and gave it to this Herbert, who was his favourite. I have received it from his daughter, Mrs. Stuart, who kept it as a relic."