A MISSING SWORD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVLI, Issue 10, 6 September 1911, Page 44

A MISSING SWORD.

jj V >S a rule ceremonials in which / I Royalty figure are carried out J I with such automatic precision that one ia apt to forget that the timeworn maxim concerning “the best laid schemes” applies just as ninth to the great in the land as to tho humble. It has leaked out this week that a little comedy as well an an impressive ceremony was performed within tho ancient walls of Carnarvon Castle last Thursday. It seems that when the ceremonial was about to commence, and the Prince was due to arrive at the Castle, it was discovered that the Sword of State had been mislaid.

Whether some official had blundered in not sending it on to Wales is not known here. At all events, the Earl Marshal ami his staff were in a state of perplexity, for in a few minutes the King's pro cession was due at the Castle, and the Fword of State was to be borne before him by Karl Beauchamp. The Duke of Norfolk, however, proved himself resourceful, and hit upon the idea of a substitute emblem. For this purpose he borrowed the eivic sword of Chester, which, in accordance with preendent, had been borne before the Mayor in his progress through Carnarvon. The sword, a massive and handsome one, proved a good substitute, and no one was the wiser, and certainly none tho worse, for tho little scheme that was played.

The sword of Chester was presented to the city by Henry VII. in 1506. By tho charter of that monarch the sword Is allowed to be carried before tho Mayor in the presence of the King’s nobles with the point erect. A sword given to the city by King Richard 11. in 1394 disappeared, and the more ancient sword of Hugh Lupus, once at Chester, is in the British Museum.

A second amusing incident of the Royal visit to Wales occurred at Machynlleth Station, Montgomeryshire. In compliance with the Royal consent to accept an official welcome, the county council had had prepared an ornate illuminated address. This was to have been presented to the King at Machynlleth by the chairman of the Council.

The clerk had charge of tho address, which was carefully conveyed with his luggage, but though the -clerk’s wife kept a close watch over it, the luggage m-is-carried on the journey from Carnarvon to Machynlleth. The loss was discovered some hours before the arrival of the royal train, and his Majesty was promptly notified of the incident.

As a result, the chairman at onee improvised an address. Some parchment was secured, enclosed in the most appropriate ease that could be found, and tied around with ribbon. Fortunately the arrangements were that the address should not be read, but merely handed to tho King, and his Majesty received the. improvised blank scroll as graciously as though it had been the real document.