DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31962#0031
INTRODUCTION.
13
" The coronet does not appear to have been used, under its present form (excepting it is discovered
on the heads of females), by princes, dukes, earls, or knights, till the reign of Edward the Third, and
it is then to be lound indiscriminately on the heads of all these. We may therefore infer that it was
used rather as an than as a particular mark of distinction, as it is to be seen in the monu-
ments on the helmets of simple knights, as well as earls; but it perhaps became so when it disap-
peared on the helmets of the former, and was retained on those of the latter. The coronet, under
the present form, before the introduction of the leaves, was simply a fillet, more or less ornamented,
to confine the hair, and was worn alike by all classes above a certain rank. The coronet, under the
name of garland, is spoken of by Matthew Parish In its nearer approach to the modern coronet, it
became adorned with precious stones. We have good evidence that in this state it was called a circle.
As an ornamented fillet it was probably regarded in the reign of Edward the Third; for Lionel
Duke of Clarence in his will leaves two golden circles, with one of which he says he was created a
Duke, and with the other his brother Edward was created a Prince. Edmund Earl of March leaves
to his daughter Philippa a coronet of geld, with stones, and two hundred great pearls; also a care/e,
with roses, emeralds, and rubies of Alexandria in the roses.
" The chaplet, in the time of Henry the Fourth, appears to have been worn round the helmet as a
defence, being composed of twisted linen, or a fillet of cloth stuffed with somewhat most capable of
resisting the blow of a sword. For a specimen of the latter, we must look to Bohun, in Gloucester
cathedral."
We shall venture to add a few remarks in continuation of Mr. Stothard's.
The chaplet, and the heraldic wreath placed under the crest, are perhaps nearly the same thing;
only that, when the helmet was taken offi the wreath was removed to the basinet. The probable
origin of the heraldic wreath was the twisted turban of the infidels, called by Joinville a twisted towel,
the folds of which he mentions as forming a good defence against the cut of sword or sabre. The
pot-helmet of the effigy of a Crusader in the Temple church, seems to be furnished with a plain
padded fillet. As the military costume advanced in luxurious splendour, this wreath, chaplet, or
circlet, was adorned with rich chasing of goldsmiths' work, precious stones, &c. See a beautiful
example in the details of the monument of Sir Edmund de Thorpe.
The knightly wreath, and its protuberant size, is noted by Chaucer. He says it was as thick as the
arm:
" A wreth of gold arm gret, of huge weight.
Upon his hed set, ful of stones bright.
Of hne rubvs and clere diamants."- The Knight's Tale, 1. 2146.
Froissart relates to us, with his usual interesting circumstantiality, the manner in which Edward
the Third presented a chaplet of pearls to the gallant French knight, Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont:
" When supper was over, and the tables removed, the King remained in the hall among the English
and French knights bareheaded, except a chaplet of fine pearls which was round his head. * # *
When he came to Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, he assumed a cheerful look, and said with a smile,
' Sir Eustace, you are the most valiant knight in Christendom, that I ever saw attack his enemy or
defend himself I never yet found any one in battle who, body to body, had given me so much to do
as you have done this day. I adjudge to you the prize of valour above all the knights of my court,
as what is justly due to you. The King then took off the chaplet, which was very rich and hand-
* Mr. Stothard alludes to the following passage: " Dominus Rex veste deaurata facta de preciosissimo Baldekino,
et coronula aurea quse vulgariter dicitur redimitus, sedens gloriose in solio regio jussit," &c. Matt. Parisiensis.
in vita Henrici III. edit. Watts, p. 736. This is the part where Henry the Third causes a portion of the blood of
Christ, sent to him by the Patriarch and Bishops of Palestine, to be deposited with great ceremony in the abbey church
of Westminster, and girds William de Valence, his uterine brother, on the same occasion, with the sword of knighthood.
E
13
" The coronet does not appear to have been used, under its present form (excepting it is discovered
on the heads of females), by princes, dukes, earls, or knights, till the reign of Edward the Third, and
it is then to be lound indiscriminately on the heads of all these. We may therefore infer that it was
used rather as an than as a particular mark of distinction, as it is to be seen in the monu-
ments on the helmets of simple knights, as well as earls; but it perhaps became so when it disap-
peared on the helmets of the former, and was retained on those of the latter. The coronet, under
the present form, before the introduction of the leaves, was simply a fillet, more or less ornamented,
to confine the hair, and was worn alike by all classes above a certain rank. The coronet, under the
name of garland, is spoken of by Matthew Parish In its nearer approach to the modern coronet, it
became adorned with precious stones. We have good evidence that in this state it was called a circle.
As an ornamented fillet it was probably regarded in the reign of Edward the Third; for Lionel
Duke of Clarence in his will leaves two golden circles, with one of which he says he was created a
Duke, and with the other his brother Edward was created a Prince. Edmund Earl of March leaves
to his daughter Philippa a coronet of geld, with stones, and two hundred great pearls; also a care/e,
with roses, emeralds, and rubies of Alexandria in the roses.
" The chaplet, in the time of Henry the Fourth, appears to have been worn round the helmet as a
defence, being composed of twisted linen, or a fillet of cloth stuffed with somewhat most capable of
resisting the blow of a sword. For a specimen of the latter, we must look to Bohun, in Gloucester
cathedral."
We shall venture to add a few remarks in continuation of Mr. Stothard's.
The chaplet, and the heraldic wreath placed under the crest, are perhaps nearly the same thing;
only that, when the helmet was taken offi the wreath was removed to the basinet. The probable
origin of the heraldic wreath was the twisted turban of the infidels, called by Joinville a twisted towel,
the folds of which he mentions as forming a good defence against the cut of sword or sabre. The
pot-helmet of the effigy of a Crusader in the Temple church, seems to be furnished with a plain
padded fillet. As the military costume advanced in luxurious splendour, this wreath, chaplet, or
circlet, was adorned with rich chasing of goldsmiths' work, precious stones, &c. See a beautiful
example in the details of the monument of Sir Edmund de Thorpe.
The knightly wreath, and its protuberant size, is noted by Chaucer. He says it was as thick as the
arm:
" A wreth of gold arm gret, of huge weight.
Upon his hed set, ful of stones bright.
Of hne rubvs and clere diamants."- The Knight's Tale, 1. 2146.
Froissart relates to us, with his usual interesting circumstantiality, the manner in which Edward
the Third presented a chaplet of pearls to the gallant French knight, Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont:
" When supper was over, and the tables removed, the King remained in the hall among the English
and French knights bareheaded, except a chaplet of fine pearls which was round his head. * # *
When he came to Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, he assumed a cheerful look, and said with a smile,
' Sir Eustace, you are the most valiant knight in Christendom, that I ever saw attack his enemy or
defend himself I never yet found any one in battle who, body to body, had given me so much to do
as you have done this day. I adjudge to you the prize of valour above all the knights of my court,
as what is justly due to you. The King then took off the chaplet, which was very rich and hand-
* Mr. Stothard alludes to the following passage: " Dominus Rex veste deaurata facta de preciosissimo Baldekino,
et coronula aurea quse vulgariter dicitur redimitus, sedens gloriose in solio regio jussit," &c. Matt. Parisiensis.
in vita Henrici III. edit. Watts, p. 736. This is the part where Henry the Third causes a portion of the blood of
Christ, sent to him by the Patriarch and Bishops of Palestine, to be deposited with great ceremony in the abbey church
of Westminster, and girds William de Valence, his uterine brother, on the same occasion, with the sword of knighthood.
E