And on with the Coronation posts !
There's nothing like a good tradition, and nothing quite like "The King's Champion". The reverse of this 1937 "Churchman's Cigarettes" card states:
"For nearly six hundred years the head of the House of Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, has been hereditary King's Champion, appearing at nearly every Coronation down to that of George IV in 1821. The Champion is shown wearing the famous Dymoke armour, preserved at Windsor Castle, and in the act of throwing down his gage. The Manor of Scrivelsby came to the Dymokes from the Marmions, and is held in Grand Sergeantry. This means that the holder must perform some service in return for the Manor, and in this case, appear as the King's Champion at Coronations. The first Dymoke to perform the service was Sir John at the Coronation of Richard II [on 23rd June 1377]."
while a second card in the same "Churchman's Cigarettes" series explains:
"Just before the serving of the second course of the Coronation Banquet, it was customary for the Champion to ride into Westminster Hall, escorted by the Earl Marshall and Lord High Constable, and preceded by a herald; esquires carried his lance and shield. The herald read the challenge immediately on entering the Hall, the Champion flinging down his gage. No one taking this up, it was returned to the Champion by the herald. The challenge was repeated below the steps leading to the King's table. The Champions last appearance was at the crowning of George IV [on 19th July 1821]"
It seems unlikely that we will see "the King's Champion" at the Coronation of Charles III - see HERE for the detailed history. This may be just as well, as the present Dymoke of Scrivelsby is, ahem...a distinguished accountant.
Still, in the world of the 1938 VBCW, there is absolutely no reason why "The King's Champion" should not take the field in support of the justice of Edward VIII's cause - an ideal reason to include a 28mm mediaeval knight in a Royalist Platoon !
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