New-York tribune., 1910-12-08
KINGS OLDEST GUARD
Sir Seymour Fortescue Appoint
ed RovaI Serueant-at-Arns.


SIR Seymour Fertescue. who has just been
.-,a,s-.es 20 the lucrative, honorable ami
altogether agreeable office OF Sergean'-a'-
Arms IN Ordinary TO King George. oeie-
~e-e5 hv the latter TO attend the Loro
chancellor. the Lord Keeper Of the Great
Sea- of Great Britain. is perhaps one OF
.ha hest known Of the eauerries or hlhs
Inward 10 whose household he was at
rsched for some twenty years In fac|
there are few Americans possessed OF any
.-so-.4 soo,raintsnce with the late King
x-ho do not know Seymour Fortescue, VINO
--ss knirhted by King George shortly after
rs accession for the services rendered 70
rs predecessor OF the throne
Sevrnor-r Fortescue is captain OF the
-soz-al Navy. was present al the oomoard-
-,er- af Alexandria. WAS with Roiseley IN
=. .-,e,,-oessfuI expedition I'D the Nile.
.-,e--al,e-l Cor the rescue Of General COR
- :. t1bsrro15rn. and was naval aide-de-
--,, - Field Marshal Lord Roberts
.t.,,,e,,o,-- he South African war He is
-, ,,-o-re- az the present Earl of Fortes-
.,5 another brother. the Hon John
-. * ne roval Librarian at Wind
,,.~.ia snd as such in charge Of all
= <.--,il,- archives Of the reigniDg house
:. z--sfs,d which are preserved there.
-ne ro--escre family. which has always
49, renowned for irs good looks, was
founded by Richard le Fort, Norman
Knight -ho was cup bearer TO William the
-onqueror. and who had three horses killed
,-,dsr hin al the battle of Hastings In
.ee5 so great was his valor in that bat
-re and 50 great was his defence OF the
Duke of Normandy il the melee, that he
v-ss +hencefortb known as Richard le Fort
Fscu or Richard the Strong Shield. hls
so-. Sir Adam. known as Sir Adam Fortes-
ne obtained. according 10 Doo-lsday
roag 2 grant from the crown Of Winston.
ir Devonshire, with which county the For
.es-,,as have heen ever since identified.
Si- John Forteecue was Lord Chief Justice
~ England in the reign of King Henry \.
sr6 but for the negligence Of forbear,
namely Sir Hugh Fortescue, the present
Far Or Fortescue would to-day oe Earl
clinton. ar older title. This Sir Hugh was
z-,~7-7oned 20 Parliament in III as co-heir
~ -77e very ancient Baronv of Clinton, at
-7ar time in abeyance. and as fourteenth
lo-5 of the line Fe was subsequently
~raa-ed Lord FortescUe Of Castle Hlll, IN
Davor with remainder 10 his half-brother.
Matthew Fortescue. and still further on
.z r-es+e5 Earl OF Clinton without any
-ar7si7tie- But he neglected TO marry. and
,r-a consequence was that his earidom be
cana extinct, his Barouy Of Fortescue
Going 70 his haIf-brother Matthew, while
lie ancient Barony OF Clinton again went
,--o abevance, and being heritable in the
female Inc Is now held by member of
tho T-efr.sis family. Matthew Fortescue's
s.su was created Earl Of Fortescue, and the
,rAeenr Lord Fortescue is the fourth earl
n his line and one Of seven brothers. Of
whom another persisted as a naval officer
n sea. and stIII another was killed in the
var j. South Africa
---e principal country seat of the Lords
n ForJescUe Is Castle Hill, which has been
IN ne family since the reign OF Henry "
and vas rebuilt IN the early part Of the
reign Of George Il. when the gardens as
rrev now exist were laid out Lord Fortes-
Cse also owns the whole OF Exmoor, and,
frdeed. his estates in Devonshire and So
-14reetshIre are very large and valuable
A. sergeant-at-arms Captain Sir Sey-
-7our Fortescue who Is influential MEM
Der OF the Turf Club will receive e salary
o. $500 a year Formerly the holder Of
this office enjoyed an excellent residence in
The Palace Of Westminster. But as Sir
Sevuou- has apartments allotted TO him for
rife by the late King in St Janles's Palace.
- VIII not lose anything by the absence
e- q residence at Westminster
The serceants-at-arms are the most an
cent kind Of guard OF the Kings Of Eng
and. and were first instituted by Richard
,-gsu--de-Iion. in imitation Of a corps Of
tna same name formed by King Philip Au-
guzrus of France. Their duty originally
was 10 watch round the Kings tent. IN
complete argnor. with mace, bow. arrows
and sword and occasionally 10 arrest tTal-
tors and other offenders about the court,
Tor which their mace OF office was deemed
sufficient authority. They are required 70
ha men Of excellent birth and wear q col
lar OF Office. with which in ancient times
,aev we're invested with a good deal Of
cersrrcuv