Chapter IV: The Royal Sceptres

The Sceptres of Æthelred II.--Canute--Edward the
Confessor--Harold--Henry III.--Henry IV.--Henry VII.--Charles
II.--The Sceptres from James II. to George IV.--Queen
Victoria--Edward VII.--George V.--The King’s Sceptre with the
Dove--The Queen’s Sceptre with the Cross--The Queen’s Sceptre
with the Dove--The Queen’s Ivory Rod--St. Edward’s Staff.

On coins of earlier date than those of Æthelred II. there are no indications of sceptres carried by the kings; but on some of his coins occurs a rod with three pearls at the top (Fig. 25). On some of the coins of Canute this triple head develops into a clearly marked trefoil (Fig. 26). Although he retains the simpler form of the three pearls generally, Edward the Confessor shows sometimes a sceptre with a cross at the top, the prototype of the present sceptre with the cross (Fig. 27); and, on the reverse of his first Great Seal, he bears in his right hand a sceptre with a dove, the prototype of the present sceptre with the dove (Fig. 28). These two forms have subsisted from the time of Edward until to-day. Harold, on some of his coins, bears a sceptre with four pearls at the top (Fig. 29), and further ornamentation on the handle. On some of the coins of William I. a distinct cross-patée is used, and William also uses a form of a triple leaf or flower, which is generally known as a sceptre-fleury; and one or other of these forms is found on coins until the time of John, after whose reign the sceptres seem to have been discontinued on coins until the time of Henry VII. Henry III., on his second Great Seal, bears a sceptre with a dove standing upon a small orb--the first instance of this form (Fig. 30).

On Edward III.’s second Seal “of absence” he is shown holding a curious sceptre, the top of which is in the form of a small shrine or monstrance; and Henry IV., on his second Seal, shows a sceptre in which the top of the sceptre-fleury develops into a clearly marked fleur-de-lys (Fig. 31); while Henry VI., on his Seal “for French affairs,” carries a sceptre bearing at the top a “hand of Justice.” This form is, however, a foreign one, and, probably, was not ever used on a really English sceptre.

On some of Henry VII.’s coins, and on others of a later date, the sceptre-fleury, more or less elaborate, constantly occurs, the only marked departure from this pattern being the ornamental emblematic sceptres found on the reverses of some of our gold coins, from the time of Charles II. until George I., the heads of which are in the forms of cross-patée, harp, thistle, and fleur-de-lys. The last three are, however, evidently only symbolical, and are not likely to have had any real existence. Similar symbolical sceptres have occurred in recent times on some of our newer coinage, and on the reverse of some of our most recent issues occur typical representations of the Sceptre with the Orb and Cross, and the Sceptre with the Dove. It will be noticed that the sceptres now shown in the Tower combine very completely the elements existing in the old forms of the sceptres of England as they are found on coins and Great Seals. The Royal Sceptre with the Cross bears as its chief ornament the cross itself as used by Edward the Confessor, and beneath this the sphere which first shows on the sceptre of Henry III.

The second or Queen’s Sceptre with the Cross has what may be called a double fleur-de-lys, which is in fact an amplification of the sceptre-fleury found on the coins of Canute. The Sceptre with the Dove is a very old form, and is not peculiar to England alone, as it has a religious signification which is common to all Christian countries.

THE KING’S ROYAL SCEPTRE WITH THE CROSS

The King’s Royal Sceptre with the Cross is of gold. It is figured in Sir Edward Walker’s account of the coronation of Charles II.; it is also shown in the same form, namely a fleur-de-lys surmounted by an orb and cross, but more elaborated, in Sandford’s account of the coronation of James II. It is also shown in the account of the coronation of George IV. by Sir George Nayler.

The orb at the top is not specially described by Sir Edward Walker, but Sandford describes it as an amethyst, and in George IV.’s coronation book it is shown blue, which doubtless indicates the same stone. The fleur-de-lys which originally supported this orb was in course of time developed into an elaborate piece of goldsmith’s work (Fig. 32), thickly jewelled with coloured gems and diamonds, with supplementary curves and sprays of enamel work.

In the sceptre as it is now some of the lower parts of the ancient top are still retained in a modified form. From the centre of this ornamental groundwork spring four large and two small enamelled curves, the larger ones jewelled on their outer surfaces, which clasp the great drop-shaped Star of Africa (see p. 56) diamond firmly (Fig. 33). The curves can be opened and the stone removed whenever it is required to be worn as a pendant. Above the diamond the enamelled scrolls and jewels of the old head are still retained with some minor additions.

On this glittering foot rests the great amethyst orb, faceted all over, and having round the centre a jewelled band with an arch of gold, rubies and diamonds. The cross-patée at the top is thickly set with diamonds, a large emerald being in the centre.

The entire length of the sceptre is about three feet, the upper part is wreathed, collars of gems and enamels enclose a smooth portion as a grip, and the end is incrusted with rich sprays of gold and enamels thickly jewelled with coloured stones and diamonds.

The foot widens out into a spherical boss with ornamental incrustations of gold, enamels and precious stones. It is probable that much of the sceptre, excepting the addition of the Star of Africa, is largely of the same design as when it was originally made by Sir Robert Vyner, though it has doubtless been often repaired and the enamels remade as necessary.

This sceptre is placed in the right hand of the sovereign at the coronation.

THE KING’S SCEPTRE WITH THE DOVE

THE ROD OF EQUITY[1]

The Sceptre with the Dove is of gold, and both in Walker’s account of the coronation of Charles II. and Sandford’s of that of James II. (Fig. 34) it is shown as bearing the same general design as that now existing. It is a rod of gold measuring three feet seven inches in length. At the top is a mound, also of gold, with a fillet round the centre, studded with diamonds, and an arch above it ornamented in the same way. From the top of the mound rises a golden cross, on which is sitting a white enamelled dove, with extended wings; the eye, beak, and feet are of gold. A little below the mound is a band studded with diamonds, and beneath this another band, with drooping designs, ornamented with coloured gems and diamonds. In the centre of the sceptre is an ornamental band of enamels and gems, and gold open work with coloured gems, enamels and diamonds. Nearer to the end is another band with large jewels, and at the foot is a boss encircled with a jewelled band and also an enamelled band. The dove is typical of the Holy Ghost, who was considered especially to control the actions of kings, and for this reason a sceptre with the dove has been constantly used by kings from a very remote period. In France it was formerly the custom to let white doves loose in the church after the coronation of the kings.

This sceptre is borne in the left hand of the sovereign at the coronation.

THE QUEEN’S SCEPTRE WITH THE CROSS

The Queen’s Sceptre with the Cross is first figured in Sandford, as it was made for Queen Mary of Modena (Fig. 35); and, with some alterations, that now existing in the Tower agrees with his account.

The sceptre is all of gold ornamented with diamonds. At the top is a double fleur-de-lys, with three leaves bending upwards and three bending downwards, all thickly jewelled with diamonds of fair size. Above this is a mound of gold with a fillet set thickly with diamonds, and an arch over the top of the globe jewelled in the same way. The cross-patée at the top has a large diamond in each of its arms and a large one in the centre. In the middle of the sceptre is a space closely ornamented with sprays formed of open work in gold, with leaves and flowers composed of large and small diamonds. Beyond this is a clear space and an elaborately jewelled boss at the end. It is two feet ten inches in length.

THE QUEEN’S SCEPTRE WITH THE DOVE

The Queen’s Sceptre with the Dove resembles that of the King, but is a little smaller.

The mound at the top is surmounted by a cross on which is a white enamelled dove with outstretched wings. Encircling the mound is a fillet ornamented with coloured gems and diamonds, and leaves enamelled white and red. The arch over the top of the mound is decorated in a similar manner. About the middle of the sceptre is a collar of dark blue enamel ornamented with gems and designs in white enamel. Nearer to the foot is another more elaborate collar with sprays of open work in gold ornamented thickly with gems and enamels. The foot of the sceptre is a boss with ornaments of gold, gems and enamels.

This sceptre is not mentioned in Sandford’s account of the coronation of James II. The Queen on that occasion used only the small ivory sceptre with the dove with closed wings, which is described below.

This small ivory sceptre would very probably not have been considered near enough in design to the King’s to satisfy the desire for equality of ceremony which was so prevalent at the coronations of William and Mary. It is therefore nearly certain that the larger gold sceptre with the dove was made for Mary II., and that it was purposely made very like that of the King. It was mislaid for a time, owing probably to some of the many changes that have at various times taken place in the Tower, but was discovered in 1814 at the back of a shelf in the Jewel House.

THE QUEEN’S IVORY ROD

In the list of the regalia destroyed under the Commonwealth in 1649 an entry will be found of an ivory staff with a dove at the top, and such a staff is now in the Tower. It is stated in the list to have been made for Queen Mary of Modena, consort of James II., and is very likely a copy of the older sceptre. It is made in three pieces with collars of gold over the junctions, and measures altogether three feet one and a half inches in length. The top of the sceptre has a mound and a cross-patée of gold surmounted by a white enamelled dove with closed wings, and with eyes, beak, and feet of gold. The mound at the top of the sceptre, and one also at the other end, have champlevé enamels upon them of identical workmanship with that upon the bracelets which, as we have seen, were the work of Sir Robert Vyner. Doubtless the designs upon this sceptre were copied by the royal goldsmith of James II. to match those made for Charles II. The designs in both these mounds are the double rose, thistle, harp, and fleur-de-lys, separated by a small blue quatrefoil. A similar ornamentation is on the boss at the foot of the sceptre.

The fact that the mound at the foot of this sceptre nearly resembles that at the top both in size and ornamentation reminds us that at one time the stems of the orbs themselves were very long, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to say which is orb and which is sceptre. This peculiarity will be seen on reference to some of the sketches showing the early forms of orbs. (See p. 32.) All the sceptres have large bosses at their lower ends, but in no other instance does it so nearly approach the size of the mound at the top.

ST. EDWARD’S STAFF

KNOWN ALSO AS THE ROD OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY

So many portions of the English regalia are named after Edward the Confessor that he may almost be called the patron saint of the regal emblems. In his honour Henry III. rebuilt Westminster Abbey, and he is godfather not only to the official English crown, but to the sword “Curtana,” (see p. 38) as well as this curious rod of justice and equity. A rod of this kind has been used at all our coronations from the earliest times. In the first known account of the coronation of our Anglo-Saxon kings, that of Æthelred II.,[2] it is said that after the crown and the sceptre had been given to the king a “Virga,” or rod, was presented. The words used on the presentation were in Latin, and signified “Receive this rod of Justice and Equity.” No description of the rod exists, but it was clearly different from the sceptre, the words used being “Receive this sceptre, the emblem of the power of the King.” The king very probably held the sceptre in one hand and the Rod of Justice in the other.

There is every probability that the staff now known as St. Edward’s Staff is the survival of the ancient rod, and it may be a copy of the “long rodd of silver gilt” mentioned in the list of the royal plate and jewels destroyed in 1649 (see p. 7), but the ornamentation now upon it appears to be consistent with the belief that it was designed anew by Sir Robert Vyner. It is supposed to be a staff to guide the footsteps of the king, and in furtherance of this purpose is tipped with a pike of steel four inches and a quarter long.

The entire length of St. Edward’s staff is four feet seven inches and a half, and it may be described as a rod of gold divided at intervals with collars of ornamental leaf patterns. At the top is a mound and cross-patée, and tradition says that formerly a piece of the true cross was enclosed within the mound.

THE KING’S ROYAL SCEPTRE]

THE QUEEN’S SCEPTRE WITH THE DOVE

THE KING’S SCEPTRE WITH THE DOVE]

THE QUEEN’S IVORY ROD

ST. EDWARD’S STAFF]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Though this sceptre is now used at coronations and at them is specifically named the Rod of Equity and Mercy, it is interesting to note that St. Edward’s Staff (see p. 30) appears to have an even older tradition giving it the title of the Rod of Justice and Equity.

[2] Cotton MS. Claudius A 111. p. 9 _Coronatio Æthelredi Regis_. Now in the British Museum.