A GREAT EVENT FOR THE WELSH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 125, 19 July 1911, Page 8

A GREAT EVENT FOR THE WELSH.

THEIR VIEW OF THE PRINCE OF WALES’ INVESTITURE.

Welsh loyalty has been profoundly stirred by the historic and opportune revival of the ancient ceremony which makes the King’s eldest son in a very special sense “Prince of Wales.” The historical precedent for holding the ceremony of investiture in Wales, if-slight, rests upon an old and littledoubted tradition, for, although the actual investiture of the first Prince of Wales was held at the Parliament of Lincoln in 1301, .there can be little doubt that this Prince was born in Wales and baptised there by Bishop Anian. It is, too, something more than a philological fancy which connects the motto “Ich dien” “I serve”) on the Prince of Wales’ feathers with the presentation of the first Prince of Wales, to the people of the Principality. The story which connects this motto with the blind King of Bohemia is evidently a romance. The void “dien” is certainly not grammatical German, and the explanation of the motto as “Eich dyn,” the Welsh words in which the King presented “your Prince” to the Welsh people, is much more plausible and obviously more popular in Wales. It is hoped, indeed, that one of the practical fruits of the-July celebrations will bo the substitution of the Welsh for the German words. ■ There is no historical record of she ceremony of the investiture of the first Prince of Wales, but specific precedent is established by the later investitures of the Black Prince, Hcmy V., and the eldest son of James 1., and although the actual cereinonml just followed had not been made public recently, it was not pkely that there would be itry serious departure from what was prescribed for these occasions. Besides, in the form vsed by Edward 111. when he hi vest id the Black Prince, the words “according to ceremonial usage” are used in the Royal proclamation, and impJv that the ceremony of investiture was already established. In th-.s Royal proclamation, or grant, to the Principality, dated May 12, 1343, Edwa-d ill. “sends greetings to the archbishops, earls, barons, justices, ministers, and all his faithful .people,” and it is interesting to note that among the possessions granted to the Prince of Wales by the King was the “lordship, castle, and town of Criccieth,” the residence of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. •Among the witnesses to the grant were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Lichfield, the earl of Warwick, and Thomas Wake, of Lidel. The King, ( in the terms of this document, created “the same Edward” Prince of Wales, and “gave and granted and by our own charter confirmed to him the said Principality,” and invested him with a chaplet on his head, a golden ring on his finger, and a silver rod. In the investiture of Henry Y. the rod was gold. I The Castle of Carnarvon, unrivalled for tho grandeur of its ruins, is an ideal context for such a ceremony. The area enclosed by the walls is about three acres, and in the circuit of tho walls are thirteen embattled towers, some pentagonal, somo xoctagonal. Tho principal entrance is from the town side, but it obviously inconvenient for the approach of the Royal process:ons, which no i mbe entered the castle by the river side, and, passing through tho Chamber, where tho first Prince of Wales was born, moved into the open court-yard. Here, along tho gently-rising ground, tho procession will traverse tho whole open space from west to east, and on the grassy platform at the case oi d, close to Queen Eleanor’s Gate, the ceremony would take place, after which the Prince,, in accordance with the tradition of his first predecessor, was presented to tho people. The local authorities, aided by the generosity of Mr Assheton-Smith, would be enabled to clear the space in front of Queen Eleanor’s Gateway, thus enabling 40,000 people to sec tho presentation of their Prince to the psoplo of Wales. There would bo two processions—that of the Prince, which would come first, and that of the Majesties tho King and Queen. The line of route from Griffith’s Crossing to the Castle, about two miles in length, was guarclod by 10,000 soldiers, and there was an escort of Horse Guards for their Majesties. All the regiments connected with Wales and the Welsh Territorials would send contingents. Tho moment of investiture was announced to the world by the firing of the great guns on the inen-of-war lying outside Carnarvon bar, while the various military bands and the choir of five hundred voices would do sometiiing to keep up tho pretty bardic conceit which describes Wales as “a sea of song.”

The exact details of the ceremonial, interesting as they are historically, are of less import than the actual revival of the investiture at this particular point in the history of Wales. Whether the idea of that revival originated with the King or with. his advisers, wo of course, are unable to say, hut of first importance is its kindly and far-sighted adoption by the King. The Royal visits to Dublin, Edinburgh, and Carnarvon are significant of more than an ordinary Royal function. They are a great tribute to loyal patriotism, and mark an important stage in the recognition of small natoualitics and a very earnest desire on the part of the ruler to bind the people under his sceptre together by a general recognition of their distinctive gifts and histories. !t would he incorrect, indeed, to describe the Carnarvon ceremony as a Royal function, for it is, to bo strictly accurate, a great State and Parliamentary function, and in this category ranks second only to the Coronation itself. Needless to remark that, under these circumstances, the

heart of the people of Wales has been stirred beyond its wont, and the profound interest taken in the approaching investiture goes through every class of society in the country. "Wales has rather erroneously been regarded as the storm centre of sectarian convulsions, but residents in the country know well that these convulsions have only such substance as can be claimed by the ordinary lictions of the platform. The Celt does in truth discuss all the questions that interest him with a fervour that is ail his own, and by consequence the religious questions and differences, which have a reality and importance which they do not possess for his less imaginative neighbour across the border, arouse a passionate enthusiasm. In the special sphere of Welsh life the spectacle of the Church and Nonconformity taking part in harmonious and sacred co-operation at the investiture of their common Prince must, even upon the Welsh, have a very pacifying, and even ameliorating impression. It is taken for granted, and has in fact been confirmed by various public announcements, that at the investiture Welsh Bishops and Nonconformist ministers will take part. The service used on the occasion will be drawn up by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Socially and politically, therefore, such a supreme incident in the history of Wales must of necessity exercise a harmonising influence. All classes are for the-moment drawn together in cordial co-operation, and it woidd be inhuman’ to suppose that when the ceremony is over the influence of that co-operation will entirely disappear. CARNARVON.

Twenty centuries ago there stood near the site of modern Carnarvon a fortress known as “Cacr Seiont.” The Romans came here in A.D. 60 under Ostorius Scapula, hut did net remain long. In 5S Suetonius Paulinas came, and he left a number of soldiers to guard the settlement, but the natives completely overpowered them, and, in order to restore Homan rule, Suetonius was obliged to erect a permanent military station, Sogontium. The station soon became an important centre. It was visited by Antonins in 63, and it is stated to have boon the birth-place of Constantino the Great, while Camden states that the body of Constantins, Constantine’s ■ father, was found hero by Edward I. Constantins, says tradition, sowed three seeds of gold, silver, and brass on the pavement of Segontium, “that no poor person might ever be found there,” but it is to bo feared that the present inhabitants of the town do not fully realise what they owe to his forethought. Segontium was the birthplace also of Princess Helena, who built a church on the; supposed spot, where Chrirt suffered, and it' is from her brother Publicus that the Parish Church of Carnarvon derives its name—“Llan Behlig,” Peblig ! s Church. Extensive excavations wei'o made on the site of tho city of Segontium, in 1815, several buildings being laid '<■ Open on the grounds of Lion belig "Vicarage and Bront Hcndro. Lengths of Roman wall are now to be seen in splendid order bounding the Vicarage garden, and running parrellel to South Road through the garden of Bront Hcndre. During the excavations of 1845 a large quantity of coins, pottery, and inscribed stones was found, together with a Roman sword and a gold talisman measuring four inches by one inch, and covered with characters in Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldee. Dig where they would, the workmen everywhere came across traces of fire and violence. It is calculated that Segohium was capable of accommodating some GO soldiers.

After the Homan evacuation we find that the lloyal Court of North Wales was removed here from Aberffraw in Anglesey, but after two centuries and a half it was again removed to Abcrfi'raw. During this period many charters and Acts passed by the North Walian Government were dated from “Caer Segont,” the name by which the town was then known. It is recorded that the present name, Carnarvon, came into use in the 11th century, when, in consequence of an attempt to restore an old name, “Caer Cystenyn,” the inhabitants became so enraged that they coined the, new name,, “Caor-ar-Fon !) -—the Fortress opposite Anglesey.' M. •! '■