Eton Montem

From the terrace of his castle at Windsor Henry VI., "the scholar King," looked down upon the island village of Eton, and determined that there and at Cambridge he would carry out a scheme that had filled his boyish years. He would found, and perpetually endow, two institutions for the education of "boys." He was only a boy himself when he laid the foundation stone of Eton Hall, December 6th, 1441, his nineteenth birthday; and the founding of King's College, Cambridge, soon followed. For four hundred and fifty years Eton has been what it is to-day, the nursery of English statesmen. Seventy boys, between twelve and fourteen years of age, are admitted, after competitive examination, as "King's Scholars," distinguished by the wearing of black gowns from the nine hundred other boys of the same age, called Oppidans. The "King's Scholars" are eligible to scholarships in King's College, Cambridge. Thus every year since the time of Henry VI. England has sent forth her Etonians armed with well-disciplined minds to battle for her welfare. Chatham, Howe, Wellington, Gray and Shelley are familiar names in a long list of which Eton may well be proud. The celebrated festivity, called Eton Montem (Ad Montem, to the Mount), was attended by royalty until it was discontinued by her Majesty in 1844.

This festival is considered to be a survival of the Monkish ceremonial of the Boy-Bishop, whose procession originally took place on December 6th, the festival of St. Nicholas, the Patron of children. In Salisbury and other Cathedral towns it was the custom to elect a Boy-Bishop from the children belonging to the Cathedral; his mock dignity being retained until Innocent's Day. During the brief period of his Episcopate he performed many of the functions of a Bishop in the Cathedral School; and if he died before the time when this extraordinary mummery ceased, he was buried with all the ceremonies used at the funeral of a Bishop.

The connection which this strange custom had with the Eton Montem is not clearly explained, but authorities agree that the Montem was a survival of the Boy-Bishop festival under another form.

The Eton Montem consisted of a procession of the boys of Eton College in military order, with flags and music, headed by their "Captain," to a small mound, called Salt Hill, the chief object being to collect money or "Salt." According to the phrase of Montem Day, the scholars appointed to collect this money were called "Salt Bearers."

They were arrayed in fancy dresses, sometimes of great splendor, and attended by aids, called "Scouts," also dressed in fancy costume. The value of the salt and money collected often exceeded one thousand pounds, for the festival was attended by the most distinguished families of the kingdom. Tickets were given to such persons as contributed money to secure them from the demands of the "salt bearers." After the expenses of the festival were deducted the balance was given to the senior scholar of the school, who was called the "Captain," to aid in his college expenses. The "Captainship" of Eton College was as great a dignity as the "Boy-Bishop" of Salisbury Cathedral School.