The Washington herald., 1914-07-19
Two DETACHABLE PONTOON SHIPS Upon SHIP QUEER
RENTS Paid
To KING of
ENGLAND

- ONE Of the rents which are Kin1
Georges due from certain OF his
loyal subjects are more honored
in the breach than in the observance"
It would certainly surprise King George
and Queen Mary If the Lord of the
Manor Of Addington, in Surrey, should
suddenly appear and plank down on the
Royal breakfast table the bowl Of por-
ridge which constitutes his yearly rent in
acknowledgment Of his sovereign's over
lordship.
Whether the present owner Of the
FOULS estates in Scotland regularly pays
his rent we cannot say, or whether the
King, as is likely, shuts his eyes to the
omission Of the bucketful of snow which
is his rightful due. AS the estates are
near Ben Nevis, there would certainly
be no difficulty IN obtaining a trainload
OF snow once a year, and probably even
a bucketful in summer; but, as the King
has little use for snow, probably the
rent is never paid.
Quite a different and much more de-
sirable rent is the one which has been
charged to the tenant of Crendon, in
Buckinghamshire, from time immemo-
rial. The rent consists OF a garland Of
roses every June, and, needless to say,
the garland is duly forwarded, and is
thing OF beauty, as it ought to be.
In September every year two faggots
are paid at the law courts by the city
remembrancer as rent for lands held
by the city corporation from His Maj
esty the King. This official not only
has to deliver the two faggots, but has
to see that they are properly received
and accept a duly signed and witnessed
receipt for them, which is filed in the
city's archives.
The authorities Of the Isle of Port
land make a queer sort of collection
every November on behalf OF His Maj
esty. II is called the kings half
penny; but, as a matter of fact, every
cottager on the island pays a farthing,
every cottage with a garden a halfpenny,
and every man with an acre OF land or
more threepence. This is called quit
rent"
When the King lately went across the
Channel to pay his state visit to Paris,
he ought to have been attended across
the briny ocean by the present repre-
sentative of Solomon Attfieid. to whom
King John gave his lands on condition
that, whenever he or any of his success
sors crossed the Channel. the said Solo
mon or his heirs should be in attend
ance to hold up the Kings head when
he was seasick.
His title was the Royal Head-holder
However, as the last monarch to call
for this service was Edward l., and.
especially as his present Majesty is a
sailor, It is very unlikely that the exist
ing Solomon was called upon to perform
his functions. Nevertheless. there is no
doubt that If the King so desired he
could call upon the tenants of the Att
field estates to do the service by which
they hold the tenure of their land.
II the King should pay visit 10
Aylesbury-where the ducks come fr0R
the inhabitants are supposed to sup
ply him with three eels II il is winter,
and with two fat geese if it is summer.
II the King should visit Chichester. by
ancient usage he ought Immediately to
demand a string for his crossbOw: and II
the King should be engaged in war and
riding at the head of his troops, ii would
be incumbent upon the successors to the
Corbet estates, in Shropshire, to provide
him with a fitch of bacon every day.