The Washington times., 1901-09-01
THE CORONATION CLAIMS.
Many Quaint Survivals OF the Pic
turesque Past in Britain.
Commercial Instinct Always Strong
mt Crowning of Ruiers-HOw Many
of the Demands ArOse-Sentiment
and Loyalty Not Always Evident.

SOmsnercini Instinct Always StrOnE
| mt Crowning of RuIcrs-Hov Many
of the Demands ArOse-Srn lint m
and Loyalty Not Always Evident
! Though lovers of the picturesque will
| regret that the English Court of Claims
| has been shorn of most OF its duties, IL
! must be remembered that the making OF
| claim is not of itself a symptom of 10y
| atty. At the coronation of James II ma NY
| of the claims were remarkable less for
| sentiment than for commercial instinct.
| Even the Lord Great Chamberlain in 1888
! made this proposition to the Court: That
| he should bring the King his clothes on
| the morning of the coronation and should
accomplish his toilet. For this simple
but highly honorable service his terms
were forty yards of velvet (for a robe),
the Kings bed and bedding (for speci-
fled purpose). and also the furniture of
his chamber where he lay the night be-
fore. with his wearing apparel and night
! gown. His remuneration for serving the
King before and after dinner he fixed at
''the basins and towels and the cup of
assay" But the court, without disput-
ing his title to perform the functions he
desired. regarded his price as extortion-
ate. While allowing him the material
for robe, this semi-judicial body drew
the line at the cup of assay" but grant
ed him G200 in lieu of the nightgown and
other knicknacks.
The Earl of Derby had. 1t appears, ac-
quisitive tastes precisely similar to those
of the Lord Great Chamberlain. But he
got nothing at all. the Court of Claims
laughing him to scorn. The Lord of the
Manor of Lyston, in Essex, purposed
making waters for the King and Queen
and serving them to their Majesties him
self. So admirable did he deem his wa
fers that he asked in exchange for them
all the Instruments OF silver and other
metal used at the table.
A bright idea was that of the Lord of
the Manor of Bardolf, in Addington, Sur
rey. He claimed the right of finding
man to make a mess of grout in the
Kings kitchen. His claim being allowed,
he had no difficulty in finding the man.
In fact. he Immediately hit upon a very
likely person for the purpose. He found
the Kings master cook All this he did
absolutely free of charge.
The master of the Kings great ward
robe claimed to have received from his
deputy a pail of cloth of gold and to car
ry it to the altar for the King to offer.
ed that his deputy, of whose well-being
he seems to have been extremely solici-
tous, should attend near garter king OF
arms neatly dressed In a robe of scarlet
cloth with a gold crown embroidered on
the left sleeve. The Court of Claims
would not hear OF any such suggestions.
and told the master of the Kings great
wordrobe that he could go to law about
the matter il he cared to.
The master of the horse seems to have
been a man of extraordinary versatility.
He felt himself competent to attend the
coronation in the irrelevant position of
sergeant of the silver scullery. For do
ing his duty in a capacity for which a
master of the horse would seem to be OBJ
viously untitled he demanded Ito have
all the silver dishes served on that day
to the Kings table, with the fees thereto
belonging, and to take assay of the Kings
meat at the kitchen dresser bar"
In spite of considerable opposition from
the Duke of Norfolk. the Earl of Derby
and the Earl of Kent. Lord de Grey of
Thyn succeeded in his application to car
ry the Kings spurs. He claimed by right
of descent from very ancient Earl of
Pembroke. And il the carrying of the
golden spurs be part of the coronation
of Edward VII that privilege will proba-
bly, be accorded to Lord Grey de Ruthyn.
At the coronation OF Queen Victoria this
office was performed by Lord Byron as
deputy to the Baroness Grey de Ruthyn.
A curious tenure was that under which
the manor of Hayden, in Essex, was held.
By virtue Of one moiety its lord claimed
to hold the basin and ever to the King
when he washed before dinner and the
towel by virtue of another moiety of the
manor. Though apparently able and will
ing to pay the whole Of his rent, the court
declined to allow him to pay more than
one moiety. 1t accepted his offer to hold
the towel.
The earl marshal of the period was an
ambitious but well-meanfng man. All he
proposed doing was to appease the de-
bates that might arise in the Kings
house on this day; to keep the doors of
the same and of the abbey. and to dis
pose of the places to the mobiles. etc.
He asked no fees for performing his i'm
possible task of peacemaker. Not an ever
nor nightcap did he mention. But his
offer was declined on the very credible |
ground that it was unprecedented
The Lord of the Manor of Ashlee, Nor |
folk, had quite an American fondness for |
royal souvenirs. He expressed a compre- |
hensive wish for ali the disused table |
linen. But, he being unprovided with any
sort of evidence. the Court of Claims |
would have none of him.
The Duke of Norfolk, as Earl of Arun-
del and Lord OF Kenninghau Manor.
claimed to perform by deputy the office of
chief butler of England, and t. 1--we Tor
his fees the best gold cup and cover with
all the vessels and wine remaining under
the bar, and all the pots and cups except
those of gold or silver. in the wine cellar
after dinner.