New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-06
Ruined Claimant 70 Peeraoe.

Proving the right TO a British title IN
allegiance Is the most expensive form OF
litigation that know Of. recent exam
pie is that Of Robert Barclay Allardyce, of
Truro. in Cornwall. who has been gazetted
q bankrupt as the result Of his efforts 10
make the Committee of Privileges of the
House Of Lords understand, through his
lawyers. that he is the real Earl of Men
teith. There are ether claimants to the
title and although the committee has not
as yet decided in favor Of any one of them,
the hint has been dropped that X. b. Altar
dyce comes the nearest of the three 10
proving his case One OF the reasons II
the committee for Withholding any de-
cision is that. were the earldom to be
called out OF allegiance, II would Of course
cor sttute a virtual acknowledgment that
the bearer of the honor was the rightful
heir TO the throne of Great Britain. Natu-
rally the point is merely an academic one,
for the so-called act Of settlement (or sue
cessionD Of 1701 gave the crown to the Han
overian house Of Guelph In preference to
less remote kinsfolk Of the Stuart kings.
The first Of these Stuart monarchs was
Robert II Of Scotland. who married girl
OF the name of Elizabeth Mure Of Rowal-
Ian He had no children by hcr after his
marriage, but there were no less than eight
born previous 10 the ceremony.
At no time previous 10 the Reformation
would such a marriage. even with papal
dispensation, have been held by the law
of Scotland 70 legitimize the birth OF on
spring previously born. yet 1t Is from these
illegitimate children Of King Robert III Of
Scotland and of Elizabeth Mure, Of Rowal-
Ian. that all the Stuarts and Guelphs who
have since reigned in Scotland and Great
britain are descended. King Roberts sec
ond marriage, with the widowed Countess
Of Moycey. was free from any kind OF re-
nroacb and David, Earl Of Strathearn and
Menteith, was the lawful issue thereof.
Before dying, King Robert executed a set
,Iemeut entailine the crown Of Scotland on
the sons OF both his wives. according to
priority, ard their heirs male. just as
though they had all been born Of one
mother and that mother his lawful queen
consort According 10 this settlement, the
fourth Earl OF Me1teith should have sue
ceeded to-thc throne OF Scotland on the
death OF james V, instead OF that Mary
Queen of Scots who was beheaded at Foth-
erinray Castle. But this fourth Earl OF
Nenteith was a prisoner In England at the
time ~ Queen Marys accession. which may
account for his making no claim to the
Scotch crown.
The first Lord of Menteith TO put forward
his pretentions to the throne not only
NJ Scotland but also Of England occupied
NJ the time by King James ]. son OF Mary
oueen of Scots was the seventh earl. who
according 10 contemporary historians. was
"the brightest and manifest Scotch peer Of
his day"
The great Sir Francis Bacon, in his ca
oacity Of Lord High Chancellor and Keep
or of the Great Seal Of the United King
odm reported in an official document that
the Earl OF Mentetf's claim TO the
throne was so just In point OF law that
all that was needed 20 set him on the
throne was sharp sword" Bacons sue
cessor on the woolsack made similar
| report to King Charles l. and IL was In
consequence of these warnings that this
monarch prosecuted and finally reduced
the seventh Earl OF Menteith TO ruin AFTER
charging him with high treason Tor pup
licly stating that he. the earl had the
reddest blood in Scotland ana that hins
Charles was "beholden 10 MN lor inc
crown" In addition to Robert barclay
Allardyce--just declared insoi'eh'-'