"GOD SAVE THE KING."

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 15 November 1913, Page 12

"GOD SAVE THE KING."

The following translation from thei diary of Madame de Crequy throws light upon the origin of the British! .National Anthem:—"There is every reason to believe that the tune of 'God Save the King' was composed in the! time of James I. by Dr. John Bull, but it was not used by him for a na-i tional hymn. One Anthony Yourigj or-: ganist of All Hallow's, Barking, adapted it to a 'God Save the King, when; the Prince of Orange was hovering over; the coast, but ot was not so used untilthe time of George 11. A letter fronv Victor to Garrick/ October, 1715, men- i tions that it was sung at both theatres; rnghtly amid great applause. It is w \ singular coincidence thr.b Young's daughter was married to Arne, who; composed 'Rule Britannia.' Mrs Arne received a pension of £30 per year. In 1789 Mrs Henslowe, who was a x granddaughter of Mrs Arne, received £IQG from the Government as the accumulated amount of a yearly pension of £30 per year awarded to Mrs Arne as the eldest descendant of A. Young, the composer of 'God Save the King.' 'God Save the King' is almost a literal translation of a cantique sung l.y the demoijselle de S. Cyr, when Lonh XIV. at- | tended morning prayer at that chapel.. The words were by M. de Brion, and the music by the famous Lully. Grand Dieu, sauve le Eoi! Grand Dieu, venge le Hoi! Vive le Roi! Que toujours glorieux, Louis victorieux! Voye ses ennemies, Toujours sommis. Grand Dieu, eairve le Roi! Grand Dieu, venge le Roil Vive le Roi! It appears to have been translated and adapted to the House of Hanover by Handel..