BRITISH PEERS’ ROBES AND CORONETS

These heritages of a glorious feudal past are tenaciously cherished with all their privileges, but needle to say, are worn only upon high ceremonial occasions. There have been some few changes thruout the ages which this condenst book for busy Americans cannot spare space to describe. At the coronation of King Edward an edict informed those immediately concerned that “the robe or mantle of the Peers be of crimson velvet edged with miniver, the cape furred with miniver pure, and powdered with bars or rows of ermine according to their degrees, viz.: Barons—Two rows. Viscounts—Two rows and a half. Earls—Three rows. Marque es—Three rows and a half. Dukes—Four rows.” The said mantles or robes to be worn over the full Court dre , uniforms or regimentals. “Their coronets to be of silver-gilt, the caps of crimson velvet turned up with ermine, with a gold ta el on the top and no jewels or precious stones are to be set or used in the coronets or counterfeit pearls instead of silver balls. “The coronet of a Baron to have on the circle or rim six silver bells at equal distances. “The coronet of a Viscount to have on the circle sixteen silver balls. “The coronet of an Earl to have on the circle four gold strawberry leaves and four silver leaves alternately, the latter a little raised or pointed above the rim. “The coronet of a Duke to have on the circle eight gold strawberry leaves.”