Bannatyne Club > Papers relative to the Regalia of Scotland

OF Tim REGALIA OF SCOTLAND. 23
The Sword of State lias an earlier date than the Sceptre. This heautiful speci-
men of early art was presented to King James IV. by the warlike Pope Julius II. in
the year 1507. It was accompanied by a consecrated hat ; and both, as we are made
acquainted by Lesly,* were delivered with gi-eat solemnity in the Chiuxh of Holy-
rood by the Papal Legate and the Abbot of Dunferniline.f This article of the Re-
<ralia is not interesting to the antiquary alone ; the beautiful and fanciful style of the
sculpture upon the liandle, and tlie filigree work with which the sheath is covered,
carry back the admirer of the aits to the period when they revived in their splendour.
The various devices which are interwoven with the chasing represent the Papal Tiara
and the Keys of St Peter, — ornaments appropriate to the See of Rome ; and the fo-
liage of oak-leaves and acoms, the personal device of Pope Julius, with which they
are intermingled, forms a most beautiful example of the style of ornament commonly
termed grotesqxw, which is thus described by Benvenuto Cellini.
" In Italy there is a variety of tastes, and we cut foliages in many diflFerent forms ;
the Lombards make the most beautiful wreaths, representing ivy leaves, and others of
the same sort, with agreeable twinings highly pleasing to the eye. The Romans and
Tuscans have a much better notion in tliis respect, for they represent acanthus leaves,
with all their festoons and flowers, winding m a variety of fonns, and amongst these
leaves they insert bu-ds and animals of several sorts, with great ingenuity and elegance
in the arrangement. They in part likewise have recomse to wild flowers, such as
those called lyon's mouths, accompanied with other fine inventions of imagination,
which are termed grotesque by the ignorant.":j:
Having thus given some account of the external appearance of these Regalia, and
of the date to which each article may be ascribed, it remains to notice the use which
• De Rebus Gestis Scotorum, Edit. 1578, p. 330.
+ In confirmation of this, the following curious notices of payments to the Embassador of this Pon-
tiff occur in the account of James Abbot of Dunfennlingf, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.
1507. — Item, the xj day of Aprile, to the Papis Embassat, quhilk brocht the Sn'ord and Hat, j m.
(1000) franch crownis. ... . . . . . -rij c. lib.
Item, to him ane gret gilt coivp, with the caise, brocht hame be the Bischope of Ross of the new
copburd.
Item, to him twa stopes, with ther caises, brocht hame be IVIaister James Merchanestoim.
Item, to ane man quhilk convoyit and gj-dit the Embassat to London. . . . v li. xij s.
Item, to the Papis Embassatis ser^•and that sang to the King. .... vij li.
Item, to ane Scottis man that com with the said Embassat. . ... Ivj s.
J Life of Ben. Cellini, London, 1771, Vol. I. p. 110.