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The Regalia: Westminster

N the time of Edward the Confessor the Regalia, together with the other royal treasures, were kept in Westminster Abbey in a small room in the eastern cloister, which was in fact the "Treasury of England." The Abbot and monks of Westminster, by the authority of the foundation charter of Edward the Confessor, had charge of the regalia and coronation robes; but this responsibility must frequently have been a light one, because in early days our kings were in the habit of carrying their regalia about with them. It may be remembered that in 1415 Henry V. wore his crown at the battle of Agincourt, on which occasion it is said to have saved his life from a blow struck by the Duc D'Alençon, though a part of it was chipped off. Again, Richard III. in 1485 wore the crown at Bosworth Field, on which occasion it was left hidden in a hawthorn bush, where it was found by Sir Reginald Bray. The crown being handy was at once used to crown the Earl of Richmond, who was there and then proclaimed Henry VII. by Lord Stanley. In memory of this, that monarch afterwards used as one of his badges a red-berried hawthorn bush, sometimes a crown being shown in it. Hence an old saying, "Cleave to the crown, though it hang on a bush." Although the proper place of deposit for the royal treasure was at Westminster, yet in times of any special trouble or danger it was sent to the Tower of London for safety. In 1303 the Treasury at Westminster was broken into by a monk, and some articles of value stolen. With this warning, and after much moving backwards and forwards, it was at last considered that at Westminster sufficient care could never be taken of so valuable a collection, and the regalia were finally and permanently removed to the Tower during the reign of Henry VIII. A In Rymer's Fœdera there are numerous lists and inventories of the royal treasure of England, and in the reign of Henry III. for the first time there appears a regularly appointed Keeper of the Regalia. He had precedence next to Privy Councillors, and before the Judges, he wore a scarlet robe like that of a baron at the coronation, but with a crown embroidered on the left shoulder. He dined at the baron's table at Westminster Hall, and had the high privilege of placing the King's crown on his head, and again removing it at the opening of Parliament.