The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-02-08
STRIFE STIRRED
BY CORONATION
British Peers COntesilng For
Ancient Ceremonial Privileges,
COURT OF CLuMS CROWDED.


Out Before King George Is Crowned.
Usher OF White Rod and Glove
Bearer Subjected to Scrutiny.
Should King George Of England de-
eide to adopt ancient customs Mt his
coming coronation there will he some
quaint and medieval ceremonies on
that occasion nolleman Of the
manor Of Hey dun. IN Essex. Is entitled
to the honor 81 hputinn Il towel for the
king when D.. En,nIg, II " shes for the
banquet l .u' hd.,,Pr 81 tn. manor of
AddingtOn, Va Surrey H. rd r.rd with
the duty ~ SERVING Il .n."-. ut gprout
or dillPgruul to m ~.v"rt!,n before
the imniptii IT, fornm!l;.ps Il the ban
quet are began
The chief butter 81 r~r.ud. past
of no mean lonvI III :, ~ Il the title
has. according IT, Il Vrt established
claim. the righ; To- call MON the lord
mayor and Twelve ciil;e - London
for such aid as Is ne rSS:lry uu the
great day.
Composition Is Great.
There were two distinguished claim.
ants for the post of chief butler at the
One was the Duke of Norfolk and the
other Lord Mowbray and Stourton. In
presenting their claims to the Office
these men quoted the records of pre-
vious coronations for several centuries
and produced musty court documents
of great antiquity, which were submit
ted in proof of the righteousness of
their contentious. The Duke of Nor
folk Is the premier duke of England
and the most prominent Roman Catho.
lie. He is also very wealthy.
The court of claims. which has to do
with the settlement of procedure at
the coronation function. is now in ses-
sion Ii is guided in its decisions by
established precedent. The court dates
back to the reign of Richard H.. 1871.
when John Gaunt. duke of Lancaster.
the lord high steward. kept his court
in Whitehall. beginning with the cor
onation of Henry WILL. commissioners
were appointed TO decide the questions.
and these commissioners were later
succeeded by the court of claims. The
only record of the court is the corona
ton rolls. on which the claims are set
down in some detail.
At the coronation of King Edward
there were three claimants for the hon.
or of carrying the great spurs. The
court refused to allow the claims of
any of the three, leaving 1t open for
the present court to restore the right
to claimant. Carrying the spurs
meant more in the days when English
kings were fighters than it does now.
The king has plenty of spurs, but they
are without the glamour which comes
with victories in the field.
Many Rival Claimants.
Most of the claims of right were al
lowed subject to the kings approval,
but in some cases there were rival
claimants. For instance. both the
Duke of Newcastle and the Earl of
Shrewsbury claimed the right of sup
plying the glove for the kings right
hand and supporting his majesty's
right arm while he is holding the scep-
ter. and the first named claim was al
lowed
Three claims were made to the office
Of hereditary standard bearer of Scot
land. the petitioners being the Earl of
Lauderdale. Henry Scrymgeour We'd
derburn and the Rev. r. @. Wedder-
burn. Mr.. Wedderburn's claim was al
lowed. and he was commanded to at
tend the coronation and did so. The
Earl of Lauderdale. however. chal-
lenged the decision by bringing an &C.
ton against the successful petitioner
in the court of session, Scotland. He
succeeded there, but on appeal to the
house of lords the question was decid-
ed against him.
Another interesting claim was that
Of the Walker trustees to exercise the
office of usher of the white rod. which
was bequeathed by Sir Patrick Walker,
a former holder, and held by trustees
incorporated by act of parliament.
They were allowed to be present by
deputy TO be approved by his majesty.
A partial revival of an ancient priv
ilege was seen in the decision by which
the barons of the Cirque Ports were
allowed to carry a canopy over the
king should his majesty be pleased TO
have canopy.
~ n