The Mace-Bearer Magazine - Guild of Mace-Bearers

MACES, MACES AND MORE MACES
Continuing our look at different Maces
ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA
In size and shape the Sovereign’s Mace
broadly follows the style and shape of
the Royal Maces made for the Sergeants
at Arms in the reign of our Founder, King
Charles II. At 52” in length and weighing
24 pounds it was designed by Lt Col
Charles Webb and Aubrey Bowden,
crafted by master silversmith Norman
Bassant and gifted to The Royal Hospital
by Ronald Gerard OBE.
The head (Bowl) has a distinctive theme
of oak leaves and acorns, which are
strongly associated with The Royal
Hospital (Charles II escaped capture by
Parliamentarian forces after the battle of
Worcester in 1651 by hiding in an oak
tree), and supports the large St.
Edward’s Crown. Within the Crown is a
disc bearing the Royal Coat of Arms.
A scroll bearing a Latin dedication is wrapped around
the shaft beneath the brackets. The main shaft is in
two sections, each with Latin inscriptions. The bulbous
ornaments (knops) bear four silver devices, including
the Royal Cyphers of Her Majesty and King Charles II,
The Royal Hospital badge, acorns and cuirasses. The
lower finial repeats the upper section of the Mace and
its base is shaped like the cascabel end of a cannon.
INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MACE
DEDICATION - Spiral below Head, under Brackets:
MILITIBUS FIDELIBUS GRATO ANIMO DEDIT REGINA
‘Presented to her faithful soldiers by their grateful
Sovereign’
20
UPPER INSCRIPTION - between top
and centre Knops:
HANC VIRGAM REGIAM PROTESTATIS
REGIAE INSIGNE DEDIT REGINA
ELIZABETHA SECUNDA QUA
CELEBRARETUR REGNI SUI LUSTRUM
DECIMUM ET OFFICIUM MILITARE
CORONAE PRAESTITUM AB EMERITIS
QUI USQUE AB ANNO MDCXCII IN
HOSPITIO REGALE CHELSEIENSI
HABITAVERUNT ANNO DOMINI MMII
‘This Sovereign’s Mace, symbol of Royal
authority, was presented by Queen
Elizabeth the Second to commemorate
her Golden Jubilee and in recognition of
military service to the Crown by the In
Pensioners who, since 1692, have
resided at The Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The year of our Lord 2002.’
LOWER INSCRIPTION - between centre and lower
Knops:
IN SUBSIDIUM ET LEVAMEN EMERITORUM SENIO
BELLOQUE FRACTORUM CONDIDIT CAROLUS
SECUNDUS AUXIT JACOBUS SECUNDUS PERFECERE
GULIELMUS ET MARIA REX ET REGINA ANNO DOMINI
MDCXCII
For the succour and relief of veterans broken by age
and war. Founded by Charles the Second, enlarged by
James the Second Completed by William and Mary,
King and Queen, in the year of our Lord 1692.
(This was in effect the “Mission Statement and Royal
Patronage” of the Royal Hospital on opening, and
which remains to this day the core objective of its
activities)
John Rochester, RQMS (C), Compliance Manager & Curator, Royal Hospital, Chelsea