Honours of Scotland

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Honours of Scotland. The Scottish crown jewels, consisting of a sceptre given to James IV (1488–1513) by Pope Alexander VI (1494), a sword from Pope Julius II (1507), and a crown made for James V (1513–42) in 1540. Representing royal authority, following the Union of the crowns (1603) they came strongly to symbolize Scotland's nationhood, because of an absentee monarchy. Buried in Kinneff kirk (1652–60) to avoid Oliver Cromwell's attentions, the Honours were feared lost following the Union (1707). They were found hidden in Edinburgh castle by Sir Walter Scott (1818), and remain there today.

Roland Tanner

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