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The Lesser Regalia: Tower

THE SWORDS There are five swords now kept in the Tower. The largest of these is the Sword of State-a two-handed sword, the length of the blade of which is about thirty-two inches, and the breadth thereof about two inches. The quillion of the sword is formed by an arrangement lengthwise of the lion and the unicorn in gilt metal, with a double rose between them. The grip of the sword and the pommel are also of gilt metal, the former has on it in raised work designs of the portcullis, fleur-de-lys and harp, whilst on the latter are a thistle, orb and other emblems. The upper end of the scabbard has a metal sheathing, gilt, in the form of a portcullis, whilst the lower end has a shoe of gilt metal with designs of portcullis and the lion crest of England upon a crown, and finishes with an orb and cross. The scabbard itself is covered with crimson velvet encircled with gilded metal plates bearing designs in high relief. Of these the centre plate bears the full royal coat of arms of England, with supporters, whilst the other plates bear the Tudor badges of the portcullis, the double Tudor rose, and the thistle of Scotland, the harp of Ireland, and the fleurs-de-lys of France. ،، Swords are found upon the Great Seals of all our English sovereigns from the time of Edward the Confessor, usually on the reverses, but they have no particular form, and simply mean that the King is a soldier and the head of the army. In token of which the sovereign is girded with the sword after being anointed. In Westminster Abbey with the coronation chair is kept a large twohanded sword, said to have belonged to Edward I. It is a state sword of great size, and the form of the handle is evidently the original of three of the other swords which are now kept in the Tower. At the coronation of George III., the Earl Marshal forgot the Sword of State, so that one had to be borrowed from the Lord Mayor to replace it, for being only an emblem any sword suffices. The King very naturally reproved Lord Effingham, the Deputy Earl Marshal for this neglect, and he in his confusion replied: "It is true, sir; but I have taken care that the next coronation shall be regulated in the exactest manner possible." There are three other swords besides this state sword which are of considerable interest. One of these is called Curtana," another the "Sword of Justice to the Spirituality," and the third the "Sword of Justice to the Temporality," and these are all now of the same pattern. They were figured by Sir Edward Walker, but the handles then given are different from those that now exist. The most curious of these is "Curtana," or the "Sword of Mercy," which is also known as the sword of Edward the Confessor. It was formerly the privilege of the Earls of Chester to carry this sword before the King, but the earldom of Chester being merged into that of the Prince of Wales another peer is selected by the King for this privilege. The Swords Spiritual and Temporal are also carried by peers selected by His Majesty, and at the last coronation were carried by two Field- Marshals, Earl Roberts and Viscount Kitchener. The point of the sword "Curtana" is blunt, cut off square, though in Sir Edward Walker's account it is shown as jagged. This blunted point is supposed to be typical of the quality of mercy. The handles of the three swords are of a simple pattern, all gilded; the pommels being thick octagonal plates with circular centres. The scabbards are covered with crimson velvet ornamented with a running scroll in gold braid. The length of "Curtana" is about thirty-two inches, and the breadth of the blade is two inches. The other two swords are four inches longer, and the breadth of their blades is a little less, and they are both pointed in the usual manner. THE JEWELLED SWORD OF STATE The Jewelled Sword of State is considered to be the most beautiful and valuable sword in the world. It was made for George IV., costing £6,000, and presents a mass of jewels of all colours set in dull gold. At the coronation this sword is borne by the Keeper of the Jewel House as one of the military emblems, and is Plate XI THE KING'S ORB THE LESSER REGALIA offered by the King in homage to the Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury receives the sword and places it on the Altar, which ceremony being accomplishe the King redeems it on payment of one hundred shillings. The hilt and quillion are a masS of diamonds interspersed with coloured precious stones set so thickly that the gold setting is scarcely visible. On the extreme top of the hilt is a large diamond with four large rubies arranged equidistantly below. Then come two more rows of large emeralds and diamonds. The hilt itself bears a device of oak leaves and acorns in emeralds and diamonds. The quillions, thick set with small diamonds, have at their extremities lions' heads also in diamonds. In the centre of the quillion is a very large and remarkably beautiful emerald valued at £2,500. The scabbard is of dull gold. At the upper end it is ornamented with a sapphire, a ruby, two diamonds, and a yellow sapphire arranged in the form of a cross and enclosed in laurel sprays set with brilliants. The main part of the scabbard has the badges of the rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, and the shamrock for Ireland, worked in rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. These three devices are thrice repeated down the length of the scabbard. Each badge is separated from those above and below by crossed golden sprays of laurel and palm.