Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-09
BRITISH KINGS PERQUiSlTES.
Curious Ancient Rights George '
Gives Up.

The kings message to parliament,
asking that renewed provision he made
for the civil list announces that Ibis
majesty places unreseryedly lat the
disposal of the house those hereditary
revenues of the crown which were so
placed by his predecessors. The fix
ing of the civil list is almost wholly
commercial transaction In consid-
Grafton of the sum voted by parlia-
ment the King foraSoes many requi-
sites.
The ancient privileges of the crown
will be surrendered during the kings
reign, or rather will be allowed to re-
main in allegiance SO long as the civil
list is sanctioned: but while they are
merged in the national income in &C
cordance with a mutual arrangement
bv which the sovereign receives a
definite amount from the state annu-
ally, it is beyond dispute that the
statute by which the compact is ar
ranged confines the surrender of rights
to the lifetime of the monarch. Hence
if the king preferred the casual and
uncertain process of replenishing the
crown Golfers by means of his royal
rercuistes instead of troubling pariia-
ment. it could constitutionally com
mand the exercise of numerous ancient
customs for the purpose of supplying
his financial needs.
There is, for instance the ancient
right of the king to all gold and silver
mines, not only on his own land. but
also upon any lands belonging to his
subjects within his dominions. AS the
British empire last year produced
about s40O, 100000 in gold and silver.
the exercise of this one ancient right
alone would perhaps suffice.
Another right which a sovereign in
quest of funds might make operative
is that which applies to the approprla-
ton Of waits and strays." Wall. in
strictly legal definition. means "such
stolen goods as are thrown away by
the thief in his flight for fear of be-
| ing apprehended."
These "are due to the king as pun
ishment upon the holder for not him.
self pursuing the felon and taking the
goods away from him. Wherefore If
a person, being robbed. is diligent and
| immediately follows and brings the
thief (which is called fresh suit. or
do prosecute him to conviction. he
| snail nave MS SOObS dSdh' Ai'o =
the person robbed can retake the
goods before they are seized for the
crown if at distance of twenty
wears. the crown shall not have them
The sale of estrays is said to have
been lprofitable perquisite at one
time. "Estrays mean all kinds Of ami
mails except dogs, cats. bears and
wolves. which may be found wander
| ing on the kings highway. Sucn
estrays must be proclaimed In
church and in two market towns close
adjoining the place where they were
found, and then if they have no
claimants they become the property OF
| the king or his grantee at the end OF
a year and day
| Originally the queen consorts OF
England derived their revenue from
certain rents exclusively appropriated
20 them out of demense lands of the
,, crown and the contributors were re-
auired to pay for specific royal needs.
Thus it was the duty of one taxpayer
| to pay for the queens WOOL another
| purchased oil for her lamp, third
bought attire for her head and feet.
and so on through the whole list OF
oueerlly requisites.
| Queen gold was another form OF
tribute to his majesty's consort and
Twas derived from percentage of all