The James II Cope

The James II Cope:

Current location: St Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham

Inventory Number 499: A cope of silver and blue with the silk base woven with large floral designs and the orphrey created by edging the same fabric with a watered silver braid. The same braid edges the whole cope. The inner edge of the orphrey has a further braid in silver in a rick-rack style, applied over the lower braid.

The hood is attached to the cope body and is of the same fabric with 9 heavily embroidered crests inside floral shapes of raised embroidery in silver metal thread. The hood is edged with a wide silver braid and finished with silver metal thread fringing.

Deposited with Oscott from Brailes, Warwickshire. It is probably, although not confirmed, that this cope came from the private chapel of the Braile’s Manor House for a time.

Link to the coronation of King James II:

Letter 9 July 2002 from Rev Anthony Sims St Philip’s Presbytery Ilmington Shipston-on-Stour [BRAILES] Warwickshire CV36 4LE to ‘Juanita’ at Oscott

‘Brailes Vestments. Mentions ‘Stuart Silver Lace cope’ Belonged to James II, last Catholic King of England. Dates from 1687 when he re-instituted the Order of the thistle. Note on hood the thistle and the other orders of chivalry.’ Exhibited at the Tower of London.

http://archive-uat.catholicherald.co.uk/article/28th-december-1951/5/catholic

Exhibited at Catholic England The Story of the Exhibition. London: Catholic Truth Society (1/-) Catholic England Faith of our Fathers Living still Hierarchy Centenary Congress 1850-1950 p.11

Material:

Silk

Dimensions: Height- 133cm Width:- 272cm

Maker / Artist / Origin:

English

Date:

Late 17^th Century