crown of Scotland, is now evident. But it was long suspected to be so; and even Arnot, the historian of Edinburgh, influenced perhaps by certain political prejudices, gives currency to the surmise that the regalia had been secretly removed from the kingdom. "Since the regalia," says that author, "were deposited, no governor of the castle, upon his admission, has made enquiry if they were left secure by his predecessor. No mortal has been known to have seen them. Whether it was, that the government entertained a jealousy that the Scots, in their fickleness or disgust, would repent themselves of the Union, or that they dreaded the regalia might, upon an invasion, fall into the hands of the House of Stuart, it appears probable that the regalia have been privately removed, by a secret order from the court; for it is impossible that any governor of the castle would abstract them without authority. If, after this general surmise, so publicly thrown out, the officers of state and governor of Edinburgh Castle will not make personal enquiry, whether the regalia of Scotland be in the castle, the public will be entitled to conclude, that they are not there, and that they have been carried off by private orders from court.”*

These feelings however, passed away; the memory of the regalia became like that of a tale which had been told, and their dubious existence was altogether forgotten, excepting when the superstitious sentinel looked up with some feelings of awe at the window of the mysterious chamber which had not been opened for a century; or when some national bard apostrophized

"The steep and iron-belted rock,

Where trusted lie the monarchy's last gems,

The sceptre, sword, and crown, that graced the brows,
Since father Fergus, of an hundred kings.

Albania, a Poem.†

In the year 1794, the crown-room was opened by special warrant under the royal sign manual to search for certain records which it was supposed might possibly have been deposited there. The dust of a century was upon the floor; the ashes of the last fire remained still in the chimney; no object was to be seen, excepting the great oak-chest so often mentioned, which the commissioners had no authority to open, their warrant having no relation to the regalia. The crown-room was secured with additional fastenings, and was again left to solitude and silence; the fate of the honours of Scotland remaining thus as uncertain as ever.

At length, in 1817, his royal highness, the Prince Regent, now King GEORGE the FOURTH, influenced by that regard for the history and antiquities of his kingdom which well becomes his high station, and not uninterested, we may presume, in the deve

Arnot's History of Edinburgh, p. 292.

These spirited lines have been adopted as the motto of an Account of the Regalia, to be had at the crown-room.

lopment of the mystery which so long hung over these insignia of royalty, was pleased to issue his warrant to the Scottish officers of state, and other public officers therein named, directing them to open the crown-room and search for the regalia,

1817.

in order that their existence might be ascertained, and Oct. 28, measures taken for their preservation.

Feb. 4,

1818.

In virtue of this new warrant, many of the commissioners being detained by absence from Edinburgh, the gentlemen undernamed assembled in the governor's house, for the purpose of executing the duty intrusted to them, viz. the Lord President of the Court of Session, the Lord Justice-Clerk, the Lord Chief Commissioner of the Jury Court, Major-General John Hope, the Solicitor-General, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Walter Scott, Esq., one of the Principal Clerks of Session, William Clerk, Esq., Principal Clerk to the Jury Court, Henry Jardine, Esq., Deputy King's Remembrancer in the Exchequer, and Thomas Thomson, Esq., Deputy Clerk Register of Scotland.

It was with feelings of no common anxiety that the commissioners, having read their warrant, proceeded to the crown-room; and having found all there in the state in which it had been left in 1794, commanded the King's smith, who was in attendance, to force open the great chest, the keys of which had been sought for in vain. The general persuasion that the regalia had been secretly removed, weighed heavy on the mind of all while the labour proceeded. The chest seemed to return a hollow and empty sound to the strokes of the hammer; and even those whose expectations had been most sanguine, felt at the moment the probability of disappointment, and could not but be sensible, that, should the result of the search confirni these forebodings, it would only serve to show that a national affront and injury had been sustained, for which it might be difficult or rather impossible to obtain any redress. The joy was therefore extreme, when, the ponderous lid of the chest being forced open, at the expense of some time and labour, the regalia were discovered lying at the bottom covered with linen cloths, exactly as they had been left in the year 1707, being about a hundred and ten years since they had been surrendered by William the ninth earl mareshal to the custody of the Earl of Glasgow, Treasurer-Depute of Scotland. The relics were passed from hand to hand, and greeted with the affectionate reverence which emblems so venerable, restored to public view after the slumber of more than a hundred years, were so peculiarly calculated to excite. The discovery was instantly communicated to the public by the display of the royal standard from the castle, and was greeted by the shouts of the soldiers in garrison, and of a multitude of persons assembled on the Castle-hill; indeed the rejoicing was so general and sincere, as plainly to show, that,

however altered in other respects, the people of Scotland had lost nothing of that national enthusi asmwhich formerly had displayed itself in grief for the loss of these emblematic honours, and now was expressed in joy for their recovery.

There was found in the chest with the regalia a silver rod or mace, topped with a globe, apparently deposited there by the Earl of Glasgow, and which proves to be the mace of office peculiar to Appendix, the Treasurer of Scotland. It is mentioned in the discharge granted by the Privy-Council to Sir Patrick Murray,

No. III.

in 1621.

July 8,

In order to gratify a curiosity which has something in it so generous, his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to whom these proceedings were reported, was pleased to commit the charge of the regalia to the officers of state, that they might be exhibited to the public under proper precautions for their preservation. In consequence of the powers intrusted to them, the officers of state named Captain Adam Ferguson, son of the celebrated historian, and long an officer in the Peninsular army, to be the deputy keeper of the regalia. With equal propriety of selection, two yeomen keepers have been chosen, veteran non-commissioned officers of excellent character, who shared the dangers and fate of Waterloo. The room in which the regalia are now exhibited to the curiosity of the public is handsomely fitted up in the form of a tent, and where they are properly protected from the risk of injury. The dress of the attendants, being that of the ancient yeomen of the guards, as represented in a curious picture of the Duke of Albany and Queen Margaret, preserved at Luton, joined to the military medals which the men themselves have gained, has an antique and imposing appearance, well corresponding with the character of the relics of ancient monarchy intrusted to their charge.

Such is the ancient history, and such the present condition of the regalia of Scotland,—a subject so naturally connected with the national antiquities of the kingdom, as to claim an important place in the present work.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

CEREMONY OF JOHN BALIOL'S DEGRADATION.

FROM WINTON'S CHRONICLE.

NOTE FIRST.

"THIS Jhon the Balliol on purpos
He tuk, and browcht hym till Munros;
And in the castell of that town,
That than was famows in renown;

This Jhon the Balliol dyspoyld he

Of all hys robys of ryalté."

The pelure thai tuk off his tabart,

(Twine Tabart he was callyt eftyrwart)
And all othire insyngnys,

That fel to kyngis on ony wys,

Bathe scepter, swerd, crowne, and ryng
Fra this Jhon that he made kyng,
Halyly fra bym tok thai thare,
And made hymn of the kynryk bare.
Than this Jhon tuk a qwhyt wand,
And gave up in-til Edwardis hand
Of this kynryk all the rycht,
That he than bad, or have mycht,
Fra bym and all his ayris thare,
Thareft to claime it nevyr mare."

WYNTOWNIS Cronykil, b. viii., chap. xii., v. 13.

No. II.

RYMER, FŒD. I. 1012. Ed. 1816.

Pardonatio concessa Galfrido de Coigners, qui Coronellam Roberti de Brus cum qua se coronari fecit in Scotia, retinuit et concelavit.

REX Omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis ad quos, &c. Salutem Sciatis quod, A. D. 1307. ad instantiam Margaretæ, Reginæ Angliæ, consortis nostræ carrissimæ, par- An. 35. Edw. I. donavimus Galfrido de Coigners transgressionem quam fecit, postquam quædam coronella aurea, de quâ Robertus de Brus, inimicus el rebellis noster, in terra nostra Scotia, nuper se coronari fecit, ad manus ejusdem Galfridi devenit; Coronellam illam retinendo et concellando, unde idem Galfridus coram nobis et concilio nostro occasionatus extitit et convictus. Nolentos quod dictus Galfridus per nos, vel hæredes nostros, seu ministros nostros quoscumque, inde occasionetur in aliquo seu gravetur. In cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud Karliolum xx die Martii.

Per ipsum Regem nunciante thesaurio.

No. III.

NOTICES RESPECTING THE STATE OF THE REGALIA; EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTERS OF PRIVY COUNCIL.

Apud Edinburgh, quinto Julii, 1621, Sederunt, etc.

Warrant to Sir Patrick Murray for deliverie of his Majesties Honnouris and Silver Plaitt.

ANENT the supplicatioun presentit to the Lordis of Secreit Counsaill be Sr Patrick Murray of Elibank, Knight, makand mentioun, that quair the Kingis Majestie being pleasit to

committ to umquhile Sr Gedeone Murray, fader to the said Sr Patrick, the keeping of his Majesties Honnouris, to witt the Crown, sceptour, and sword, with his Majesties wholl silver plaitt of the kingdome of Scotland, and the maise callit the Thesauraris maise of the saide kingdome. The said umquhile Sr Gedeone, in his tyme, deliverit the said maise to Johnne Earl of Mar, Lord Heich Thesaurair of this kingdome, to whose charge the keeping of the same apperteyned, and the Honnouris and silver plaitt he retenit in his awne keeping. And now it being the good pleasour of God to call the said umquhile Sr Gedeone to his mercie from this mortall liffe, sua that the burdyne and charge of the saidis Honnouris, silver plaitt. and maise lyis upoun the said Sr Patrick, humelie desyring thairfoir the saidis Lordis to tak some ordour quharby the saidis Honnouris and silver plaitt may be tane af his hand, and that he may be fred, exonerit, etc. Thairfoir the saidis Lordis Ordainis the said Sr Patrik To delyver his Majesties saidis Honnouris, to witt, the Crowne, sword, and sceptour, togidder with his Majesties whole silver plaitt, qukairof his said umquhile fader had the charge and keeping, to the said Johne Earle of Marr Lord Heigh Thesaurair of this kingdome, to the effect thay may be put in his Majesties Castell of Edinburgh, and thair to be keepit be the said Lord Thesaurair to his Majesties use, and that the said Sr Patrik delyver the same with the grite aik-kist, quhairin the honnouris are presentlie keepit, upon inventair in presence of Sr Richard Cokburne of Clerkintoun Knight Lord Privie Seill; Sr George Hay of Kinfawnis Knight Clerk of Register; Sr Robert Melvill of Bruntyland Knight, Sr Andro Hamiltoun of Redhous, and Mr. Johne Wemyis of Craigtoun, or ony three of thame. The said Clerk of Register being always one whome the saids Lordis hes nominat and appointit to sie the said inventair to be cleirlie and perfytlie maid, conteining the particular nomber and soirtis of the said silver plaitt, and weyght of the same. Anent the delyverie, of the quhilkes honnouris and silver plaitt, with the aikkyst quhairin the honnouris lyis, now appointit to be delyverit to the said Lord Thesaurair. and anent the delyverie of the maise foirsaid formerlie delyverit into him in manner foirsaid. The extract of this present act with the said Lord Thesaurair his acquittance, etc. salbe unto the said Sr Patrick a sufficient warrant.

Act in favouris of Sir Patrick Murray of Elibank, anent his Majesties
Honnouris and Silver Plaitt.

The quhilk day, in presence of the Lordis of secreit counsaill, compeirit personallie Sr Richard Cokburne of Clerkintoun, Lord Prive Seale; Sr George Hay of Kinfawnis, Clerk of Register; Sr Robert Melvill of Bruntisland; Sr Andro Hamilton of Ridhous; and Mr Johnne Weymis of Craigtoun, and reportit and declairit that they, according to the commissioun and warrant given be the saidis Lordis to thame, Convenit and mett within his Majesties Cunyeehous, within the burgh of Edinburgh, with John Erle of Mar, Lord High Thesaurair of this kingdome, upoun the sevinth day of July instant, quhair Sr Patrik Murray of Elibank, knight, eldest laughfull sone to umquhile Sr Gedeone Murray of Elibank, knight, late Thesaurair Depute of the said kingdome, produceit and exhibeit befoir thame his Majesties honnouris, to witt, his Crowne, sceptour, and swerd, togidder with his Majesties silver plaitt, quhairof the said umquhill Sr Gedeone had the charge and keeping; and that thay sighted the saidis honnouris, and remarkit the same verie narrowlie, and fand that the Crowne had in the neder circle thairof nyne garuittes, foure jasintis, three counterfeite emeraulds, four amatystis, and twentie-twa pearlis. Abone the neder Circle sax small thine triangle diamontis, ten small triangle challoms. filled with blew amalyne in steade of stones, tua small emptie chaloms, haveing no thing in thame bot the blak tent, and tua challoms with tua flatt quhyte stones with the boddum upmost, nixt abone the small challoms nyntene grite and small rag pearle, and within the roise, betuix the flour de Luce, threttie fyve pearle sum les sum more, with ten quhyte stonis in the middis thairof. In the foure quartaris of the bonnett of the Crowne foure pearle sett in foure pecis of garniseene of gold enamaled; and in the croce aboue the Crowne, ane amatist and aught periis. And that the sceptour wes in three peeceis, haveing ane perle in the top, and ane cristell globe benethe, the head quhairof hes been brokin, and mendit with wyre. And that the sword had the plumbett birsit and brokine, with ane voyde lace in evene syde thairof, and the scabart tha rof riven, birsit, and brokine, wanting some peeceis out of it. And they declairit that they causit coufer all the particulars concerning thir Hon'