Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-01
STRIFE is STIRRED
British Peers Contesting Over
Ancient Privileges at Com
ing Coronation.
CROWD COURT OF CLAIMS
Hereditary Squabbles Over Honorary
Positions. Are Being Threshed
Out.

Should King George OF England de-
eide to adopt ancient customs at his
coming coronation there will be some
quaint and medieval ceremonies on
that occasion A nobleman OF the
manor Of Heydon. in Essex, is entitled
TO the honor of bearing towel for the
king when the monarch washes for the
banquet. The holder of tie manor Of
Addington. in Surrey, IS charged with
the duty Of serving r mess of gerout
or dillegrout to the sovereign before
the immediate to<maIities Of the ban
gust are begun
The chief t>dtler of England, a post
Of no mean honor in spite of the title,
has. according to a well esta bIished
claim, TIE right TO call upon the lord
mayor and twelve citizens of London
for zach aid as Is necessary on the
great day
Ghere were two distinguished claim
cnts for the post of chief butler at the
coronation Of King Edward In 1902
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-
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 L. the premier duke of England
and the most prominent Roman Catho-
lie he 10 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 1t is guided In its decisions by
established precedent. The court dates
hack to the reign of Richard IL, 1877,
when John Gaunt, duke of Lancaster,
the lord high steward, kept his court
in Whitehall. Beginning with the cor
onadon Of Henry VIII, 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 II open for
the present court to restore the right
TO a 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 Wed
derburn and the Rev. r. c. Wedder-
burn Mr.. wedderburn's claim was al
lowed and he was comma nded 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 wss that
Of the Walker trustees TO exercise the
Office OF usher Of the white rod, which
was bequeathed by Sir Patrick Walker.
q 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 10 carry a canopy over the
king should his majesty be pleased to
have a canopy.