A ‘Tequila Sunrise’ for the Monaco royal wedding
12 years ago
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Sunday, September 17, 2023
How the Honours of Scotland were Saved
Christian Fletcher rode fiercely along the cliffs of North-East Scotland near Stonehaven, looking behind her occasionally to make sure that she wasn't being followed. She guarded the precious cargo of the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) which she would throw into the sea if there was any danger of Cromwell getting his hands on them. It was 1652, and Cromwell and the New Model Army, furious about Charles II's coronation in Scotland, were anxious to destroy the Honours.
They had surrounded Dunottar Castle, where the Honours were hidden in sacks of wool for months, but Sir George Ogilvie, the lieutenant-governor of the castle refused. During the blockade by Cromwell's army, Elizabeth Doublas, his wife, and Christian Fletcher, the seemingly meek minister's wife formed a plan. They knew that the minister's wife would never be suspected. Helped by Anne Lindsay, who walked out of the castle first with the King's papers sewn into her clothes, and a maid, Christian Fletcher carefully smuggled the Honours out. According to one story by a tutor to the Earl Marischal, she lowered them to the beach below where her maid pretended to gather seaweed. However, she said in 1664 that it took her three trips, and she hid the jewels amongst sacks of goods.
She hid them at the foot of her bed first, but then managed to hide them under the pulpit at Kineff Kirk, where they remained for eight years. They were eventually found, to the country's great delight, in an oak chest at Edinburgh Castle. This was largely due to Sir Walter Scott's campaign to find the valuable jewels.
Fletcher was awarded 2000 marks by the Scottish government for her daring rescue of the jewels.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
What Are The Honours of Scotland?
The huge crowd waiting on Castle Hill cheered loudly as they watched the Royal Standard rise above/Edinburgh Castle. They hugged each other, dancing for joy. The Honours of Scotland, the oldest Crown Jewels in the British Isles, had been found.
After a long struggle, Sir Walter Scott had received a Royal Warrant allowing him to accompany the Scottish Officers of State to search the sealed Crown Room in the castle for the Honours. Few thought that they would actually be stored away there safely. However, it was Scotland's and the great writer's lucky day. The jewels were wrapped carefully in linen in an iron-bound oak chest. It was February 4, 1818, and they had been locked away since the Treaty of Union with England in 1707.
The crest of the royal arms of Scotland shows the red lion of the King of Scotland wearing the crown, and holding the sword and sceptre. These three components make up the regalia of the Honours. When Scottish monarchs were first crowned, they wore gold circlets on their heads. These became fancier, and more detailed over the years. The sword was an 'instrument of sovereignty', and a symbol of power, while the sceptre indicated that the monarch would rule with 'dignity and propriety'.1.
The Crown
The present crown dates from around 1540 when James V instructed Mosman, an Edinburgh goldsmith, to refashion the original crown. It consisted of a circlet of Scottish gold, 22 new gemstones, and precious stones from previous crowns, along with freshwater pearls from Scottish rivers. A velvet and ermine bonnet was added later.
A picture of the previous crown was included in the Book of Hours commissioned for the wedding of James IV and Margaret Tudor (Henry VIII's sister) in 1503.
The Sceptre
Scotland was regarded as 'a special daughter of the Holy See', so it was a recipient of papal gifts. Pope Alexander V gave the sceptre to James IV in 1494.James V also had this remodelled and lengthened in 1536 by the Edinburgh goldsmith Adam Leys. It is a handle attached to a hexagonal rod, engraved with thisles, fleurs-de-lis, and many other images, topped with a finial of rock crystal probably from the Cairngorm Mountains.
Originally made in Italy of silver gilt, it was remodelled and lengthened for James V in 1535 by the Edinburgh goldsmith Adam Leys. 86 cm long, it consists of a handle attached to the bottom of a hexagonal rod, engraved with floral images, fleurs-de-lis and grotesques. Stylised dolphins (a symbol of the early Church) and figures, including one of St Andrew, are at the top of the sceptre.
The Sword of State
The Sword of State was another papal gift to James IV, this time from Pope Julius II. This was beautifully crafted by the Italian Domenico da Sutri, and elegantly decorated with oak trees, which symbolise the risen Christ, and dolphins. The sword's base is etched on both faces with the figures of St Peter and St Paul, along with the Pope's name in inlaid gold lettering.
The sword also features a scabbard, covered in dark red velvet, and an enamelled panel with the arms of the Pope, and a symbol of the papacy. Images of oak leaves, acorns, dolphins and grotesques also adorn the scabbard. The belt is made of silver and gold thread.
The Honours were first used for the coronation in 1543 of Mary, Queen of Scots, just a baby, who reportedly cried all through it. They were also prominent at James VI's coronation in 1567, and Charles I's in 1633. Charles II's coronation in 1651 in Scotland in the middle of the Civil War so angered Oliver Cromwell that the Scots were terrified of his getting hold of the precious Honours, and ordering them sold, or melted down. They were ordered by the Scottish authorities to be hidden, and first taken to the gloomy fortress of Dunottar Castle. This was besieged for 8 months, so the brave local minister's wife and her friend, took them to Kinneff church (perhaps in a lobster pot!) under the floor for nine years.
The Honours of Scotland were put on public display in 1822 when George IV visited Scotland, and they have been used for many state occasions since. The Honours were presented to King Charles III in celebrations on July 5, 2023, but the old sword was deemed too fragile. A new sword, dubbed the 'Elizabeth Sword' was used for the occasion.
1. Burnett, C.J. Tabraham, C.J. (2001). The Honours of Scotland. The Story of the Scottish Crown Jewels. United Kingdom: Historic Scotland, p.22
Friday, July 7, 2023
Saturday, June 3, 2023
Anne Wears St. Edward's Crown
Near contemporary painting of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle, c. 1550
Anne Boleyn's most famous motto was 'the most happy,' and indeed she must have been overjoyed to begin her coronation festivities. After a long and traumatic courtship of seven years, she was finally married to the handsome King Henry VIII, and six months pregnant. Now she was going to be consecrated as Queen in a magnificent ceremony.
On May 29, 1533, a spectacular procession of barges set out to Greenwich to begin the journey to the Tower of London, where Anne would be staying before her coronation. About 50 barques followed the leading one with its green dragon making 'noises'. Then came the Mayor's boat with its silver and gold banners, and escutcheons bearing the arms of the King and Queen. One barge displayed a large model of a white falcon, one of Anne's emblems. People must have been overwhelmed by the splendour, and the cacophony, although Anne was not popular, because many remained sympathetic to poor Queen Catherine, treated horribly by Henry.
Queen Anne set out for the Tower of London in her barge at 3.00 pm. As it approached the Tower, more than a thousand guns were fired in a magnificent salute. Sir Edward Walsingham (the Lieutenant of the Tower) and Sir Kingston met Anne. The King embraced and kissed her lovingly.
Anne rested the next day. The Ceremony of the Knights of the Bath was also held on this day.
Queen Anne's Procession
Dressed in white cloth of gold with a gold coronet on her flowing, long dark hair, Anne looked stunning as she set out to Westminster Abbey the next day on her procession. Borne in a litter by the four Lords of the Cinque Ports, followed by ladies' chariots and ladies of the court wearing gowns of crimson and velvet, riding horses, she was watched by crowds of onlookers. Guilds dressed in their liveries lined up while the Recorder of London made a presentation to the Queen, and the Mayor gave her a purse of 1000 marks of angel nobles.
As Anne travelled along the route lined with its vivid scarlet, crimson and blue cloth, she witnessed several pageants to honour her. She especially liked seeing the 200 children who recited poetry praising her and the King in front of the Cathedral. After Anne ended her journey at Whitehall Palace, she secretly spent the night with Henry at Westminster.
Queen Anne's Coronation
June 1 must have been tremendously exciting for Anne. Her heart beat rapidly as she prepared for her her coronation day. Two dreams were coming true for Anne. She was about to be anointed as Queen, and she thought that she was carrying the King's heir.
Anne set out dressed in purple and ermine. Her procession to the Abbey included monks wearing gold copes, bishops and archbishops in their finest vestments and an array of courtiers. Her maids wore scarlet with Baltic fur. The Duke of Suffolk bore her crown while two earls carried her sceptres.
The soon-to-be consecrated Queen walked along a route lined with blue ray to the high altar with the Duchess of Norfolk carrying her train as the procession filed into the great Abbey. Her moment had come! She sat down briefly; then she prostrated herself before the altar while her friend and spiritual counsellor, Archbishop Cranmer prayed over her. (It must have been hard for Anne to do this when she was six months pregnant!) She sat on St Edward's chair to be anointed and crowned by the Archbishop, who then handed her her scepre and rod of ivory.
Anne was the only female Queen to be crowned with the St Edward's Crown. This showed the importance of the ceremony to Henry. She took the sacrament, and made the offering at the shrine of St Edward the Confessor. The King watched incognito from a special screen behind latticework. Anne must have been exhausted, but she was finally Queen in the eyes of God.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
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