THE ST. GEORGE'S SPURS 



OR 



THE KING'S CORONATION SPURS 



JHESE spurs, known as the St. George's spurs, which 

 form part of the regalia and are preserved with the 

 rest of the Crown jewels in the Tower, are only used 

 at the Coronation of the Sovereign, and are extremely interesting. 

 The following is the account given of them by Mr. Cyril 

 Davenport, F.S.A., in his English Regalia, published in 1897: — 

 "In the list of the regalia made for Charles II., and drawn 

 out in 1685, in preparation for the coronation of James II., 

 mention is made of a pair of golden spurs. They are figured 

 in Sir Edward Walker's account of the coronation of James II., 

 and appear to be the same now as they were then, with the 

 exception of the straps and buckles. They were most probably 

 made by Sir Robert Vyner, and are of the kind known as 

 ' prick ' spurs, as they do not end in a rowel, but in a sharp 

 point projecting from a conventional flower. They are of solid 

 gold, richly chased in flowing patterns, and have straps of 

 crimson velvet embroidered in gold. They are known as 

 St. George's spurs, and are, of course, the emblem of knight- 

 hood and chivalry, and with the sword help to mark the 

 military character of the sovereign. At the coronation the 

 spurs are presented to the sovereign, and immediately deposited 

 on the altar, being afterwards redeemed by the payment of 

 some handsome fee. This procedure, indeed, takes place with 



