Page:Debrett's Illustrated Peerage and Titles of Courtesy.djvu/58

 XX TITLES, ORDERS, AND DEGREES OP PRECEDENCE AND DIGNITY. The coronation ceremonial is more splendid, emblematic, and elaborate in England than in any other country. Instance the anointing with oil, which has been used upwards of one thousand years ; the formal crowning, the several religious ceremonies, beside the insignia of royalty, amongst which are, " a ring, to signify his faithfulness ; a bracelet for good works ; a sword, for vengeance ; purple robes, to attract reverence ; and a diaden, to blazen his glorv," Come of these forms would seem to be of Judaical origin. The derivation of our word king, is, according to Chamberlayne, from the Saxon word Konig. or Cyning, which comes from Can, intimating power, or Ken, knowledge, wherewith every sovereign should be invested. Some of the titles of our Saxon kings were very quaint and pompous. These were discontinued by the Normans, and it was not until Henry IV. adopted the title of "Grace," that prefixes came into use. .These prefixes were successively changed (at the pleasure of the sovereigns themselves) into " Excellent Grace," "High and Mighty Prince," and "Highness," until Henry VIII. adopted those of "Majesty" and "Dread Sovereign," which latter it will be admitted, was in his case completely appropriate. The word " Sire," usually heading letters addressed to a male sovereign, is derived from the Greek, and merely signifies Lord. II. THE HEIR- APPARENT. The Heir- Apparent to the Crown is next below the Sovereign in all honour and dignity not as participating or comparing with the latter, who stands alone and supreme, but as enjoying the largest share of the honour which flows from the Crown. Of course no person can hold this position save the eldest son of the Sovereign, or. if the former be dead, his eldest son, and so on supposing the improbable case of the death and succession of several eldest sons during the life of the Sovereign. This constant preference of the direct line to the closest collateral branch is one of the arrangements which distinguish the European from some of the Asialic orders of succession, and tends greatly to preclude confusion and discord.