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The Royal Mace: Symbol of Loyalty
Granted to the Island in 1663 by a grateful King Charles II, the mace bridges the gap between the turbulence of the Civil War and the present day
DESPITE taking the great-est pride in its individuality, its high level of independence and its separate heritage, Jersey remains loyal to the British Crown.
The warmth of the welcome always afforded to Royal visitors attests to the strength of this loyalty, but it is also a two-way relationship.
Jersey appears to occupy a special place in royal affections and has enjoyed this privilege for many centuries.
That Jersey remained an English possession after the Crown lands in France were lost almost 800 years ago doubtless accounts for part of this mutual fondness.
The bond was, however, reinforced tremendously during the English Civil War.
Jersey remained as a centre of Royalist resistance and became a refuge for the future king when he and the cause of his father, King Charles I, was lost.
In due course, Island loyalty and hospitality were rewarded by the presentation of the Royal Mace. It was given by King Charles II to the Bailiff of Jersey on 28 November 1663 in gratitude for his happy experiences in the Island on two occasions during his year in exile after the Royalists had been overwhelmed by the forces of Parliament.
Our mace is not only one of the great ceremonial maces of the 17th century but also an outstanding piece of craftsmanship.
It consists of 11 pieces made of silver gilt, is almost 4 ft 10 ins long, weighs 237 ounces (14 lb 13 oz) but bears no hallmarks.
Engraved on its foot is a Latin inscription, which translates: 'Not all doth he deem worthy of such a reward. Charles II, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, as a proof of his royal affection towards the Isle of Jersey (in which he has been twice received in safety when he was excluded from the remainder of his dominions), has willed that this Royal Mace should be consecrated to posterity and has ordered that hereafter it shall be carried before the Bailiffs, in perpetual remembrance of their fidelity not only to his august father Charles I but to His Majesty during the fury of the civil wars, when the Island was maintained by the illustrious Philip and George de Carteret, Knights, Bailiffs and Governors of the said Island.'
The mace is carried before the Bailiff at the sittings of the Royal Court and meetings of the Assembly of the States of Jersey. In the court and the States the mace is placed upright in a socket in front of the Bailiff's desk.
So the Royal Mace, in its own right, is an impressive object. However, its real importance goes further. It is a symbol of our ancient links with the Crown, the special status of the Island, and an artefact which bridges the gap between one of the most turbulent and significant eras of British history and the present day.
This article first appeared in the Jersey Evening Post as part of the Pride in Jersey series, marking the Island's 1204-2004 celebrations.
author - Rob Shipley
This article updated: 2003/09/04 11:49:24
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| ......timelines...... |
| In 1852 Victor Hugo, the great French poet, novelist, dramatist and politician fled to Jersey to escape the wrath of Louis Napoleon, joining the other proscrits of the Island's refugee community. |
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