XI.

Letter of Edward III.

to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster ordering Delivery to the Scots of the "Stone of Destiny

One of the provisions of the Treaty of Northampton (1328) contemplated the restoration of the coronation stone of the Kings of Scots to Scone; and the letter here printed orders the Abbot and convent of Westminster to deliver up the stone in accordance with the treaty. It is perhaps unnecessary to add that the order was never complied with. The transcript was made from a late copy in the Rawlinson collection in the Bodleian Library.

[Bodl. Rawl. MS. D. 809, fo. 394.]

As Abbe et Covent de Westmostre.

par le Roy.

Edward par la grace de Dieu Roi D'engleterre Seigneur D'irlaunde et Duc Daquitaine A noz cheres en Dieu Abbe et Covent de Westmostre Saluz. Por ce que nadgaires acordez feut par nous et nostre conseil a notre drenier Parlement tenuz a Northampton, que la piere sur quele les Rois Descoce soleient seer au temps de leur Coronement, et la quele est en votre garde, soit envoiee en Escoce. Et avoms mandez as Viscountes de notre Cite de Loundres, qils rescevient de vous la dite piere par endentere, et qils la facent carier a la Reine Dengleterre notre treschere dame et miere. Vous mandoms que quele hure que les ditz Viscountes veignent par devers vous por cele cause leur facez liuerer la dite piere en la forme avantdite; et ce en nulle manere ne cessez. Done souz notre prive Seal a Bordesleie le primier jour de Iuyl l'an de notre regne Secound.

TRANSLATION.

To the Abbot and Convent of Westminster.

By the King.

Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to our dearly beloved in God the Abbot and Convent of Westminster, greeting.

Whereas lately it was granted by us and our council at our late Parliament held at Northampton that the stone whereon the Kings of Scotland are wont to sit at the time of their coronation, and which is in your keeping, be sent to Scotland, and whereas we have commanded the sheriffs of our City of London to receive from you the said stone by indenture, and have it carried to the Queen of England, our very dear lady and mother,

We command that at the time that the said sheriffs come to you for this cause you have delivered the said stone in the foresaid manner, and of this you are not to fail. Given under our privy seal at Bordesley the first day of July, in the second year of our reign.

XII.

Inventory of Regalia in 1356.

In this inventory of the regalia made November 28, 1356, by William de Edington, Bishop of Winchester, late Treasurer, it is easy to identify most of the items. The two rochets of white silk are probably two colobia sindonis: and the two tunicles mentioned at the beginning are probably the tunicle and dalmatic which the King wore at the coronation. The four crowns may be the crowns of St. Edward and St. Edith, with the Imperial crowns for the King and Queen, worn when they leave the church. The mention of the stole in this inventory is the earliest notice of such a vestment in the inventories of the regalia, as it is not mentioned among the vestments of Henry III.

[Public Record Office, Exchequer Accounts, 383.]

Item en une huche deinz mesme la Tresorie.1

*

28

Item la graunte Courone le Roi qestoit nadgaires engage parties de Flaundre nient preise

2

es

Item une autre Corone nient preise deinz quele corone sont .iiii. manicles dor garniz des eymeraudes et alts perles apalle la seconde corone 2

Item la tierz Corone nient preise

Item la quarte Corone nient preise

Item en la Tresorie deinz la halte Tours de Londres

Premierement les vestementz de Samyt rouge pour la coronment du Roi. cest assavoir

deux tunicles, une mantel oue orfraitz dor pouderez des eymeraudes et alts perles

Item une Stole de Samyt rouge garnyz des eymeraudes et perles oue deux pendantz dor garnez de perr'

Item deux chaunceons de samyt rouge garniz dor

Item un Cappe de samyt rouge ouerte dor oue quatre plates dor

Item deux rochettes de soye blanque et alts petites remembrances

touchantz la coronment

Item deux pairs desporons pour lencoronment du Roi

Item deux ceptres endorrez oue les sommetz de merlotz

Item un ceptre court† oue la summet de merlott

Item deux Ceptres courtes dor oue deux croisez en les summetz

Item un Espe appelle courtane

Item deux alts espiez lun oue lescauberk dargent eymeĦ et lautre oue lescauberk de samyt rouge frette dor.

TRANSLATION.

Item in a box in the same treasury [in the cloister of the Abbey of Westminster.]

Item the great crown of the king which was lately pledged in the parts of Flanders worth nothing.

Item another crown worth nothing [on which crown are four circlets of gold garnished with emeralds and pearls, called the second crown.] Item the third crown worth nothing.

Item the fourth crown worth nothing.

Item in the treasury at the high tower of London.

First, the vestments of red samite for the coronation of the king, that

is to say:

Two tunicles, a mantle with orphreys of gold, powered with emeralds and other pearls.

Item a stole of red samite garnished with emeralds and pearls with two pendants of gold garnished with stones.

Item two buskins of red samite garnished with gold.

Item a cope of red samite worked with gold with four plates of gold.
Item two rochets of white silk and other little remembrances touch-

ing the coronation.

Item two paires of spurs for the coronation of the king.

Item two sceptres gilt with doves on the top.

Item two short sceptres of gold with two crosses on the top.

Item a sword called Curtana.

Item two other swords; the one with the scabbard of silver enamelled; and the other with a scabbard of red samite fretted with gold.