Lethaby, William Richard: Westminster Abbey and the antiquities of the coronation (London: Duckworth & Co., 1911)

WSST^MI^STS^ MW
from the Carlovingian Kings,* it was a
Byzantine type. Anne Boleyn was
crowned with St. Edward’s crown, but it
was soon removed, as being very heavy,
for one which had been specially made
for her.

SCEPTRE AND ROD
The sceptre and rod received by the
Kings at their Coronation are also adopted
from the Eastern empire. On Byzantine
coins they may be traced back to about
the year a.d. 500, and just before they
appear in the hands of the Emperor
himself similar insignia are represented
as held by a figure of Victory, who in
one hand holds a long staff surmounted
by the Christos monogram or a cross,
and in the other an orb surmounted by a
cross ; a reference to the vision of Con-
stantine of dominion by the Cross. The
* See Crown of Charles le Chauve: Viollet le
Due's “Mobilier” under Couronne. And see
Montfaucon, Plate II. Vol. I. The seal of Dagobert
shows a closed crown with bands on it like arches.
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