The morning news., 1897-08-28
rhE QUEENS OLDEST SERVANT,
some Fncts About the Domestic Az
ranecments of Royalty.

ranGcments of Royalty.
From the London Daily Telegraph
The oldest servant of the queen has
passed away in the person of Charles MIL
Ter. the clerk controller of the royal
household. who has just died at Windsor
al the patriarchal age OF 92. Born in the
year Trafalgar was fought Mr.. Miller en-
tered the lord stewards department as a
youth very soon after the accession of
George ". He served in various capaci-
ties through the time Of William ", and
was In active work during the thirty years
of her majesty's reign, when he retired on
a pension Long after his retirement Mr..
Miller resided in London, but during the
last fifteen years ne had lived with his two
daughter at Beaumont house, Clarence
road, within the royal borough Until
quite recently he enjoyed excellent
health, and was to be seen regularly tax
ing exercise and enjoying the companion
ship of one or other of his daughters.
He retained his faculties almost to the
last, and, having a retentive memory, de-
lighted in narrating to his young friends
the stirring events of the first half Of
the century In addition to his daugh-
ters, Mr. Miller leaves three sons, the
youngest Of whom holds an appointment
At Windsor castle. The funeral took
place last Saturday, and was conducted
in the strictest privacy
The clerk controller is one OF the lead
ing appointments under the master of the
household As lord steward the Earl Of
Pembroke Is the present political head OF
the department. his colleagues being Nis-
count Curzon. M. p, treasurer, and Lord
Arthur Hill NJ. r., controller. The off-
cials include the gentlemen OF the cellars,
a,-t go Ill HsaI
master cook. first gentleman porter. SER
geant state porter and coroner Of the
verge. The duty OF the clerk controller
Is to supply the queens table whenever
her majesty may be In residence, as well
az to cater for the members and domestics
of the royal household. lie Is held re-
sponsible for the arrangements at state
functions so that during the jubilee fes-
tivities he bad an exceedingly busy time.
The clerk controller derives his authority
from the board of green cloth, 50 called
from the table at which the lord steward
and his officers usually sit. In ancient
times this board took cognizance OF "all
matters Of government and justice with
In the kings court royal" and It's turis-
diction extended over what is called the
verge of the court" or twelve miles
wherever Il might be. II was even ex-
tended 10 progresses" though not ito
"huntings." All offenses were tried at the
SfhslOn OF NFIRf6 anu bii cOmmiiidlS
were made to the marshalsea. To tho
board belonged the sole right OF arresting
within the limits and jurisdiction of the
palace. Offenses were punished with pc
culiar severity.
It IS recorded that "on June "a. l5ii. Sir
Edmund Knevet Of Norfolk was arraign-
ed before the officers OF the Green Goth
for striking one Master Cleer OF Norfolk
within the tennis court Being found
guilty. he had judgment 10 lose his right
hand and to forfeit all his lands and
goods. Whereupon there was called TO do
execution, first, the sergeant-surgeOn
with Che Instruments pertaining 10 his Of
fee. then the sergeant Of the woodward,
with the mallet and the block 10 lay the
hand upon. then the kings master cook,
with a knife 20 cut of the hand: then the
sergeant OF the larder. 10 set the knife
right on the Joint; then the sergeant
carrier, with soaring irons to scar the
veins; then the sergeant Of the poultry
with a cock which cock should have his
head smitten of upon the same block and
with the same knife; then the yeoman OF
the scullery. with a pan Of fire 10 beat
the irons; and then the sergeant Of the
cellar with wine. ale and beer. All things
being prepared. the knight marshal was
commanded TO bring IN his prisoner. 20
whom the chief justice declared his Of
fenae. which the said kneVct confessed
and humbly submitted himself 20 me
kings mercy. only he desired that the
king would spare his right hand and take
his left because. said ne. n my rirht
hand be- spared ! may live 20 do the king
good service. When the king was 80 In
formed he granted the said Knovet 10
lose neither Of hs hands and pe-dOncd
him also OF his lands ana goods
Tho notorious palace court was abol-
lshed In 1879 The following order from
tho original warrant book or the boarI
Will show the nature Of the duties of the
lord steward az certain times.
Board Of Green cloth. June ~. 1881 -
order was this day given that the Maidcs
of Honour should have cherry Tarfs. iu.
stead of G0OseDerry Tnrts. it being OBJ
served that chcwys are al threepence per
pound"
FROM the same book 81 appears that
Horny. Duke Of Kent when lord steward
in tho reign of George m. had uU a.
lowed him and sixteen dishes daily at eaoh
meal. with wine and beer The dishes
have since been done away with. and the
0rd steward a. nav ud a fEod salary
Tine posts laureate uHnd f0 reoolVf fhfir
annual iiefcn ~ canary from fhia 0fira
elDief HHf fho lace WHO took iha uffrr
end af tno present mumenf tne lord HuH
arl rafH tle poole iaurrafr sn annual
lr0nf in lIea of Niuf.