In 1443 Edmund Beaufort earl of Dorset was created Marquess of Dorset, and invested "per cincturam gladii ac circuli aurei apposicionem.1

In January, 1443-4, John earl of Huntingdon was created Duke of Exeter, and invested by the King "in ducatu illo cingendo sibi gladium ac apposicionem cappe capiti suo."2

The letters patent dated 14th September, 1444, creating Humphrey earl of Buckingham and Stafford Duke of Buckingham, record his investiture "per cincturam gladii et cappe et circuli aurei in capitis sui imposicionem."3 and the investiture by sword, cap, and circlet is also mentioned in the letters patent dated 31st March, 1448, creating Edmund Beaufort marquess of Dorset Duke of Somerset, and in those dated 2nd June, 1448, creating William de la Pole marquess of Suffolk and earl of Pembroke Duke of Suffolk.5

One other departure from ordinary usage may here be noted. In April 1444, Henry Beauchamp earl of Warwick was created premier earl by letters patent of Henry VI., who adds:

Volumus quod utatur circulo aureo super caput ejus ac heredes sui masculi utantur in diebus festivalibus in omnibus locis ubi talia conveniunt uti tam in presencia nostra quam aliorum.6

A year later, in April 1445, Earl Henry was created Duke of Warwick and invested in the usual manner "per cincturam gladii ac cappe et circuli aurei in capitis sui imposicionem."7

Towards the end of the fifteenth century the extension of the cap of estate to marquesses as well as dukes was begun by Edward IV., who on Lady Day, 1470, created Sir John Nevill, lord Montagu, Marquess of Montagu, and, as he states in his letters patent: ipsum Johannem marchionem de Montacu per cincturam gladii insignimus. Ac unam

capam honoris et dignitatis super caput suum ponimus.8

The investiture by girding of a sword and putting on of a cap of honour and dignity is also mentioned in the letters patent dated 18th April, 15 Edward IV., creating Thomas lord Grey Marquess of Dorset.9

The dignity of viscount was first created by Henry VI., who in February 1439-40 made John lord Beaumont Viscount Beaumont. Although the King in his letters patent states

1 Rot. Cart. 21 Hen. VI. n. 46.

3 Rot. Cart. 21-24 Hen. VI. n. 33.

5 Ibid. n. 3.

2 Rot. Cart. 22 Hen. VI. n. 40.
Rot. Cart. 25-26 Hen. VI. n. 9.

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6 Rot. Cart. 22 Henry VI. n. 35. The wearing of coronets by earls seems to have begun at an early date. Selden, in his Titles of Honour (2nd ed., London, 1631, 680), quotes a receipt dated 1319 by William de Lavenham, treasurer of Aymer de Valence earl of Pembroke, of "unam coronam auream dicti comitis." In his will, dated 1375, Richard Fitzalan earl of Arundel bequeaths to Richard his son "ma melieure Coroune, luy chargeant sur ma benison qu'il ne la ouste de ly durant sa vie, et apres son deces il la lessa a son heire per meisme la maineire a demorer perpetualement de heir en heir Seigneurs de Arundell a remembrance de moy et de ma alme." He also leaves to his daughter Joan ma second mellieure Coroune," and to his daughter Alice “ma tierce coroune," under similar conditions." (Reg. Sudbury, f. 926, quoted by Selden, op. cit. 680.) The earl's “melieure coroune” may be that shown on the alabaster effigy (engraved in Stothard's Monumental Effigies) at Arundel of his grandson Thomas earl of Arundel, to whom it was also bequeathed by his father. It has alternate leaves and pearled spikes similar to but richer and better in design than the present earls' coronets. Sir N. H. Nicolas suggests (Test. Vetust. i. 96, n. 2) that the second and third coronets were bequeathed to the daughters because both were countesses, Joan being the wife of Humphrey de Bohun earl of Hereford, and Alice of Thomas Holand earl of Kent.

Edmund Mortimer earl of March and Ulster, by his will dated 1st May, 1380, bequeaths to his daughter Philippa (afterwards wife of John Hastings earl of Pembroke, Richard earl of Arundel, and John lord St. John)

un coronal d'or ove perie et deuz cents grands perles et auxi un sercle ove roses emeraudes et rubies d'alisaundre en les roses. (Nichols, Royal Wills, 134.)

Michael de la Pole earl of Suffolk, by will dated 1st July, 1415, bequeathed to Katharine his wife the coronet which belonged to her father, Hugh de Stafford earl of Stafford, who died in 1386. (Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta, i. 190.)

7 Rot. Cart. 21-24 Hen. VI. n. 24.

Rot. Cart. 15-22. Edward IV. n. 14.

Rot. Cart. 8-11, Edward IV. n. 1.

that "ipsum insigniis vicecomitis de Beaumont realiter investimus," a term used in subsequent patents creating viscounts, there is nothing to show in what such investiture consisted, unless perchance in the putting on of a parliament or other robe, and it did not even include the girding of a sword as was the custom at the creation of earls.

A similar expression is sometimes used in the letters patent creating the higher dignity, as in the case of Edmund Hadham, made Earl of Richmond in November 1452, per accinccionem gladii ceterorumque insignium et ornamentorum in hac parte conveniencium atque harum literarum nostrarum tradicionem sibi presencialiter factam investimus.1

The investiture with the cap continued to be restricted to dukes and marquesses until the reign of Edward VI., who was the first King to extend it to earls. Thus the letters patent dated 16th February, 1546-7, creating John viscount Lysle Earl of Warwick, and Thomas lord Wryothesley Earl of Southampton in each case state that per cincturam gladii insignimus investimus et realiter nobilitamus et unam capam honoris et dignitatis atque circulum aureum super caput suum ponimus.3 The patent creating William earl of Essex Marquess of Northampton on the same date also records his investiture with sword, cap and golden circlet.s

The extension of the wearing of the cap of estate to viscounts appears to have been granted by James I., but when and in what manner is at present uncertain. Vincent, in a manuscript book called Presidents, in the Heralds' College, says (p. 319), without giving his authority, that

under King James a Verge of Pearls on the toppe of the circulet of gold was first added at the creation of Robert Cecill Viscount Cranborne.1

But the letters patent of 8th July, 1604, creating Cecil Viscount Cranbornes do not mention any investiture, either with cap or circlet, nor do later letters, e.g. those creating Robert Karr Viscount Rochester in 1611,6 and Thomas Egerton Viscount Brackley and William lord Knollys of Grays Viscount Wallingford in 1616.7

At the Coronation of Charles I. in 1625-6, in the procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey were "Vicounts in their Creation roabes of velvett with caps and Coronetts in their hands, and on their heads when they came backe." 8

In the second edition of his Titles of Honor, printed in 1631, Selden gives (on p. 766) an engraving of a viscount in his robes, wearing a cap turned up with plain fur and surmounted by a tassel, encircled by a simple coronet with a verge of eleven small balls or pearls ; but Guillim, in the second edition of his Display of Heraldrie, printed in 1632, engraves (on p. 421) an atchievement of a viscount with a plain coronet surmounted by nine pearls. Since in each case the number of pearls represents one more than half the total, in Selden's engraving the total would be twenty-one, and in Guillim's sixteen. The latter is the number actually worn at the present day, and the cap is now turned up with ermine.

2

1 Rot. Cart. 27-39 Henry VI. n. 24.

Among the stuff remaining in the Palace of Westminster in 1553 and delivered to Lady Jane Grey was, inter alia:

A coronet for a duke, set with five roses of diamonds, six small pointed diamonds, one table emerald, six great ballasses, seven blue sapphires, and thirty-eight great pearls, with a cap of crimson velvet, and a roll of powdered armyons about the same. (Historical MSS. Commission, Calendar of MSS. of the Marquess of Salisbury, pt. i. 129.)

3 Rot. Pat. 804, I Edward VI. m. 19[22].

↑ I am indebted for this note to the courtesy of Mr. Everard Green, F.S.A., Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms.

5 Rot. Pat. No. 1642, 2 James I. p. 12, no. 33.

6 Rot. Pat. No. 1938, 9 James I. p. 41, no. 14.

Rot. Pat. No. 2115, 14 James I. p. 26, nos. 7 and 6.

8 State Papers, Domestic, K. Ch. I. xx. 8, printed in The Manner of the Coronation of King Charles the First of England (edited for the Henry Bradshaw Society by Chr. Wordsworth, M.A., London, 1892), Introduction, 1.

9 The caps within the coronets worn by earls, marquises, and dukes are shown by Selden in the same work as turned up with ermine, and surmounted by tassels. The barons are shown bareheaded.

The addition of the tassel, which seems to have made its appearance in Elizabeth's reign, shows that the original meaning of the cap had already been forgotten in the seventeenth century.

Finally, the wearing of the cap of estate was extended to the lowest order of the peerage a few days previous to the coronation of Charles II. in April 1661, when six earls and as many barons were created. According to the interesting account of the ceremony "collected by Sr Edward Walker Knight Garter Principal King of Armes," and published in 18201 the earls were invested in the usual way with the sword and cap of honour and circlet of gold, the two last forming the coronet. The barons " were all ready in their Surcoates at the lower end of the Roome, being also guirt with Swords, & haveing red velvet Capps turned vp with Minever in their hands."

The first of the barons was invested with the mantle only, but before the second went up, "a question ariseing about the wearing of their Capps, (this being the first time. the Barons ever had any such) Garter was sent to know his Maties pleasure about it, who declared that he held it fitt they should weare such Capps, & authorized them to have, & vse them, And before Garter's retorne, the Lord Chamberlaine attended his Matic and received allso his Maties Significacon to the same effert; yet none of them had their Capps putt on by his Matie at that time."2

The privilege was formally confirmed to the barons by letters patent dated 7th August, 1661, the cap and coronet being described as :

quoddam pileum sericum coccineum cum circulo aureo sex Margaritas scilicet in summitate ejusdem equaliter dissitas habente prout in Margine presentium depingitur in Capite cujuslibet coram die Coronationis successorum nostrorum Regum Anglie, etc.3

The figures in the margin represent (1) a plain gold circlet surmounted by six balls, and (2) the same encircling the red silk cap. This has no ermine lining, but is surmounted by a small gold tassel. The caps within the barons' coronets, like those of the other peers, are now turned up with ermine.

From the cumulative evidence of the foregoing documents there can be no doubt as to the identity of the caps worn by peers inside their coronets with the caps of estate wherewith they were anciently invested. There can also be no doubt that the velvet cap turned up with ermine which now forms a lining to the royal crown is the cap of estate which was first introduced by Edward III.

Since the Restoration, and during the gradual period of degradation that has followed that event, the cap of estate seems to have ceased generally to be worn by the peers apart from their coronets, but it has continued to be worn on special occasions by the Sovereign, both within and without the crown, with his parliament robes, and down to and including the coronation of Charles II. it was worn by the representatives of the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitaine during the riding from the Tower to the Palace of Westminster.

The cap of estate is now worn by the Sovereign with his parliament robe, without any crown or circlet, on the day of his coronation, in the procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey Church, and laid aside with it when he disrobes for the anointing. At the end of the coronation service, when the King resumes his parliament robes he again puts on the cap of estate, but now as the cap within the crown which he exchanges for

1A circumstantial account of the preparations for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles the Second, etc. T. Baker, London, 1820.

2 Op. cit. 63.

Rot. Pat. 13 Charles II. pt. 44, m. 17. I am indebted to Mr. Everard Green, F.S.A., Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms, for directing me to this document.

4 Charles II. is recorded to have been vested on this occasion "in his Roabes of Crimosin Velvett furr'd with Ermine, & on his head a Capp of Crimosin Velvett turned vp with Ermines." (Op. cit. 91.)

that wherewith he was crowned. For this reason no "cap of maintenance" is carried by a peer in the procession, since the King already has it on his head. The crown which is placed on the King's head by the Archbishop at his crowning, and that wherewith the Queen Consort is crowned, should therefore be a crown pure and simple, and not the cap of estate surmounted by a crown which seems to have served the purpose during the period of degradation already referred to.

On occasions of state, when the cap is not worn by the Sovereign, either within or without the crown, it is now borne before him on a short wooden staff by a peer.

The shape of the cap has also undergone change. Since the Restoration at any rate, the brim has been turned up all round, thus converting the cap into a velvet hat encircled by a broad roll of ermine.1 The cap worn by the peers and peeresses has further swollen up into the likeness of a velvet bag or bonnet surmounted by a gold bullion tassel.

Although the cap of estate of a peer has now become a mere lining to his coronet, it is evident from such a series of effigies as may be seen in the Abbey Church of Westminster that it is only of comparatively late years that the velvet bag with the gold tassel which now represents the cap has become part and parcel of the coronet. In all the finer monuments the coronet is worn alone, even with the parliament robes, both by peers and peeresses, and certainly with advantage to their personal appearance.

The wearing of the cap and coronet by peeresses has, by courtesy, been allowed for a long period, and Hollinshed records that at the crowning of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1533: Now in the meane season everie duches had put on their bonets a coronall of gold

wrought with flowers, and everie marquesse put on a demie coronall of gold, everie countesse a plaine circlet of gold without flowers and everie King of Armes put on a crown of coper and guilt, all of which were worne till night.3

This custom of the peeresses donning their coronets when the Queen is crowned, like the peers at the crowning of the King, is still observed, but it would certainly conduce to the more seemly carrying out of so interesting a ceremony if the coronets of the peeresses were all divested of the bag and tassel, and made large enough to encircle the head and adorn the wearer. The spectacle of some hundreds of ladies busily engaged at an important point in a solemn religious ceremony in securing on their heads with long pins or strings a coronet, sometimes of diminutive size, encircling an unbecoming crimson velvet bonnet can not from any point of view be described as edifying.

1 It appears of this form in the fifteenth century over the shields of arms on the monument of Humphrey duke of Gloucester at St. Alban's, and on the reverse of the seal of Jasper Tudor duke of Bedford, also surmounting his shield. But the obverse of the Duke of Bedford's seal suggests that the apparently round cap is actually the cap as viewed from the front, for the equestrian figure of the duke has upon his helm a cap of the usual shape.

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2 The cap of estate was sometimes conferred upon ladies by personal investiture by the Sovereign. Thus in the letters patent of Richard II., dated 1397, creating Margaret countess of Norfolk Duchess of Norfolk, the King says: per apposicionem cappe suo capiti investimus." (Rot. Cart. 21 Richard II. n 22.) 3 Hollinshed's Chronicle, p. 933. On the same occasion the barons and viscounts wore their parliament robes of scarlet, and the earls, marquesses, and dukes robes of estate of crimson velvet furred with ermine according to their degrees.

I.

Ordination of Aidan as King by

St. Columba

The following is the earliest known description of a consecration of a King in Great Britain. It occurs in the Life of St. Columba (521-597) written by St. Adamnan, who was Abbot of Iona from 679-704. The description is mainly occupied with miraculous details, which are of little interest; but the use of the term ordinare regem is noticeable, and the fact that St. Columba is reported to have laid his hand upon King Aidan's head, indicates the affinity between the sacring of a King and the ordination of a clergyman, and is further of interest as pointing to imposition of hands as part of the ceremonial of the consecration of a King at the end of the seventh century. The text here given has been copied from a manuscript dating, Mr. G. F. Warner tells me, from the early thirteenth century. It is of English origin, and has been somewhat injured by fire. It has been collated with another manuscript (Brit. Mus. Reg. 8 D. ix. fo. 546) which is of later date, but written in a hand imitative of that of the thirteenth century. It is designated under the symbol B, and has been used also to supply the words missing from the Cotton manuscript. These words have been enclosed in square brackets.

The translation has been taken from Dr. W. Reeves' Life of Saint Columba, written by Adamnan, Edinburgh, 1874, Book iii. chap. vi. p. 81.

[Brit. Mus. Cotton. Tib. D. iii. fo. 2106.

De angelo domini qui ad sanctum columbam in hymba commorantes + 1 insula per uisum apparuit missus ut aidanum in regem ordinaret.

Alio in tempore cum uir predicabilis in imba commoraretur insula: quadam nocte in extasi mentis angelum domini ad se missum uidit. qui in manu uitreum ordinationis regum habebat librum. Quem cum uir uenerandus de manu angeli. accepisset: ab eo iussus legere cepit. Qui cum secundum quod ei in libro erat commendatum aidanum in regem ordinare recusaret?' subito angelus extendens manum sanctum percussit flagello. cuius liuosum in eius latere uestigium omnibus sue diebus permansit uite. Hocque intulit uerbum. pro certo scias inquiens quia ad te a deo missus sum cum uitreo libro. ut iuxta uerba que in eo legisti: aidanum in regnum ordines. Quod si obsecundare huic nolueris iussioni: percutiam te iterato.

Over the e of this word (which is written in red) is a black mark of contraction, which is evidently intended to rectify the false concord.

2 quia magis iogenanum fratrem eius diligeret: add. B.

E.C.

B