The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-05
English Monarchs Long Claimed To Be- The
 Sovereigns of France

For more than four centuries and until within comparatively recent times, the rulers of England also claimed sovereignty over France, al- claim into effect. It was by an or 1 der of the privy council issued IA | years ago to-day, Nov 5, 1900, that the official title of the British ruler was changed from George III. by ! the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland. King. Defender of the Faith" to George Ill.,, by the Grace of God, of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland. King Defender of the Faith The latter official title is now borne by George ", with the added title of the change made in 1900, when France was in the throes of revolu- tion and at the beginning Of imper- ialism. George ", would now be in a position of pretender to the throne, of his ally.
 The title of King of France was claimed by Edward ILL, son of Ed ward IT.. and Isabella, daughter of the King of France. The third Ed ward was excluded from the inheri- tanoe of France by the Salfc law. by which females are excluded from in. heritfng the crown. Nevertheless this scion of the Plantagenets claimed the
 
 and all the monarchE of the houses of Lancasters York, Tudor and Stuart. as we'll as the first three Georges of the HanoverIan dynasty Queen Elizabeth was among those who claimed the empty honor, asserting that if she could not be queen she, would be king of France. For 432 years this pretension to the French throne was a part of the official des- ignation of British rulers During her reign Elizabeth made a treaty with France by which Francis IT., and his consort Mary of Scotlal4N agreed to drop the title of King and Queen of England and Ireland, but the English queen continued to style herseh monarch of France.
 Until 1887, when Queen Victoria came to the throne, and thus brought about the separation of England and Hanover by the operation of the Sa- tie of Arch-Treasurer of the Holy Ro- man Empire. The arch treasurer ship of the German empire was an off1ce settled upon the electors of Ha1l-s over, and was held by the first five English kings of theN house of Han over
 Many modern rulers have titles which are as little in accord with facts as was the English claim to the French throne. The King of Spain is the worst offender in this regard, for officially he is ruler of about half the earth. Among other empty honors Alfonso is King of Jerusalen1.s'
 An amusing story is connected with these claims of royalty. During the reign Of Queen Elizabeth, when Eng land and Spain were at war, Eng fish and Spanish commissions were ppointed to discuss terms of peace. One Of the Spanish commissioners suggested that the negotiations be carried on in the French tongue, with which you must be fani1iars' he ad- ded sarcasticallys since your queen is ruler of France as we'll as of Eng hnd.s'
 May gentlemen ' replied pr. Dale, an English missioner. the French is too modern and vulgar tongue for such serious business. Let us rather speak in Hebrew, the language of JerusaleIn. in which you must be as well skilled as we are in Trench, since your royal master is king of Jerusalem, 2.
 Until 1SO0 French was the official language for the foreign correspon- dence of England, but when the Eng fish nonarchs ceased to claim the throne Of France this custom was changed.