LEGENDS OF THE CORONATION STONE
In Bible stories we have read
Of Jacob whose uncovered head,
Rested once on BETHEL-STONE
While round his head a vision shone.
The stone was then to Egypt carried,
From there to Spain by one who married
Great Pharaoh's daughter who was good—
For Hebrews' rights she always stood.
To Ireland with this same stone
The King Hiberus sailed alone
And placed it on fair Tara Hill,
No doubt the stone would be there still
If Fergus had not come along
With many warriors bold and strong
And bore it to his native land
Of bonnie Scotland there to stand.
Within the Castle Dunstaffrage
And here it stood for many an age
Until as a most sacred stone
'Twas placed within the Church of Scone.
And the good kings of Scotland fair
For years and years were all crowned there
Till Edward Langshanks seized this stone
Of which 'twas said 'twould always groan
If any worthless king or queen
Upon its seat were ever seen.
He brought it to dear England's shore
And willed that it should move no more
And in Westminster it was placed
Within a wooden chair encased.