The Dukedom of York.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 3

The Dukedom of York.

Dramatic Story of One of Britain's Oldest Titles—Always Held by Royalty.

(By C. A. GORDON.)

The Dukedom of York is one of the oldest titles in the British peerage, dating back to the time of the Plantagenets, more than five centuries ago. It is also one of the most famous, some of its holders making great figures in history, and from it an English Royal House derived its name. Yet, in spite of its antiquity, and the able men who have held it, it cannot be regarded as a fortunate title —rather the contrary. For generations it has never passed from , father to son, but has lapsed with the death of its possessor or has merged in the Crown. Two of the dukes were killed in battle; one was murdered; one beheaded by his subjects; two were amongst the worst of kings; two practically without any history; and one a soldier who was always defeated. It has always been restricted to the Royal Family, being usually conferred on the Sovereign's second son. Though always borne by a younger son, no less than live of its holders have succeeded to the Crown. In all, there have been thirteen dukes. The first was Edmund Plantagenet of In.igley, Earl of Cambridge. He was born in 1341, ° the' fourth son of King Edward 111. and the beautiful Phillipa of Hainault. In 1385 he was created duke by his nephew King Richard 11., in whose reign he played a considerable part. He is said to have been good-natured, brave, comely in feature, gigantic ill stature, and rather addicted to the pleasures of the table. At his death in 1402 he was succeeded by his son, Edward, who had a changeable career. He commanded a section of the army at the battle of Agincourt, where, saying: "Be myn baner slewn will y be, nor y will turn my back or me yelde," he was killed. He left no issue. Richard, Protector of England. After an attainder had been set aside, the dukedom passed in 1425 to the greatest of all who have held the title, Richard, grandson of the first duke. He was Regent in France in 1435; in 1449, Lieutenant of Ireland, where, mirabile dictu, he is said to have won the esteem of the Irish; and Protector of England. After the birth of an heir to King Henry VI. had destroyed his hope of a peaceable succession to the Crown—to which, through his mother, Anne Mortimer, he had genealogically a better right than Henry—the Wars of the Roses began in 1455. In December, 1460, he was at Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Here, had he been cautious, he might have won a great victory, had he not been provoked by the Queen (Margaret of Anjou), who appeared before the castle taunting him with "want of courage in suffering himself to be tamely braved by a woman." Nor would he listen to Sir Davy Hall, who advised standing a siege. He indignantly replied: "Advance my banner in the name of God and Saint George, for surely I will fight with them though I should fight alone." So, with these noble words, he went out to battle and defeat, for in less than half an hour he was slain, and two thousand of his men with him. His head was cut off, and shown to the Queen, who disgraced her sex by receiving it with loud laughter, and ordering it to be placed over one of the gates of York. Duke Richard's son, the Earl of March, now became fourth duke, Boon afterwards won the throne, ascending it as Edward IV. The reign of this king, who is said to have been one of the handsomest men of his day, successfully begun, ended badly. It is sufficient to recall his treatment of the man to whom he largely owed his crown—Warwick, the King-maker; the drowning of the Duke of Clarence in a butt of Malmsey (at least so says the old story), and Jane Shore.

where he was defeated by the French. In 1799 lie was again in the Low Countries, and again defeated. Not dismayed, he wanted the command in the Peninsula, hut it was given to Sir Arthur Wellesley (afterwards Duke of Wellington), and it is said their relations were always rather strained in consequence. In ISO!) came the celebrated scandal. Charges were made against him of permitting Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke to sell commissions in the army, and even church patronage. Though he was exonerated by tlie House of Commons, public opinion was unfavourable, and he resigned his office of commander-in-chief. Net lie had many good points, being known as the soldiers' friend. In 1811 he was reappointed eommander-in-chief, which he retained until his death in 1827. It was in his time (1823) that the British soldier was put into trousers. Revived For Present King. The title was not conferred on any of Queen Victoria's children, but was revived for her grandson, Prince George, in 1592. He became king in 1910. Albeit Frederick Arthur George, thirteenth and present duke, born in 1895, was created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney, on June 4, 1920, and married in 1923 the Lady Illizabeth A. M. Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, and a descendant of the Royal House of Stuart, her ancestor, Sir John Lyon, having married the Lady (for so princesses were styled in those days) Jane, daughter of Robert 11., King of Scots. In token of this alliance, the noble family of Lyon carry part of the Royal Arms of Scotland (the double treasure) in their armorial bearings. The duke is now second in the line of succession to the Crown, and his daughter, the Princess Elisabeth, third. If there be any truth in superstition, the Duke has much to contend against, with an unlucky title, an unlucky number, and an unlucky name—Albert being an unlucky name for Royalty. At leasts so say the mystics. They reason thus: White (which considered mystically is feminine) is a most unlucky colour for the Royal House of England. Witness the White King, beheaded at Whitehall; the White Ship, in which King Henry I.'s heir was lost; and the White Rose of York, and the Stuarts. Albert, being derived from albus (white), is therefore unlucky. And certainly Albert the Prince Consort, Albert Edward the King, and Albert Duke of Clarence were not too fortunate. Luckless bearers of the title include Charles I. and James 11. Although the latter was unlucky as a King, the British Navy owed much to him, as readers of the diary of Samuel Pepys are well aware. Frederick Augustus, son of George 111., who also held the title, was a great military organiser, but incompetent in the field. There was one Duke of York who, though his name does not appear in the official list, was in his day regarded by many as the rightful holder, Cardinal York, as he is usually called, the second son of the " Old Pretender," was named duke at his birth by his throneless father. After the Stuart cause was lost at Culloden, he entered the Church, being made Cardinal Deacon in 1747. On the death of " Bonnie Prince Charlie " he was called King Henry IX. and I. At his demise, in 1807, the male line of the Stuarts failed, and the long and tragic story of the house came to an end. He probably deserved the abuse of which he vas thr- object, to say nothing of the nursery Thyme which keeps aiive the fact that "marched his men to the top of the hill and marched them down again."

A Doubtful Story. The murder of the princes in the Tower in 1483 is a well-known story. The victims were King Edward V. (the only King of England who died uncrowned), and his brother, Eichard, fifth Duke of York. By order of their uncle, King Eichard HI., Sir James Tyrrel caused Miles Forest and John Dighton to smother the princes with the bedclothes as they lay asleep, afterwards secretly burying their bodies. Such is the old story, but some doubt it. fhe title was next conferred in 1491 on Henry Tudor. His story is also well known, for he became Henry VIII., "BZuff King Hal," the Bluebeard of English history, with his six wives. The seventh Duke was Charles Stuart, afterwards the unfortunate King, whose life was ended by the axe at Whitehall in 1649. The eighth Duke was James Stuart, created in 1643. In his youth he was a noted soldier. Turenne said: "If any man in the world was born without fear, it was the Duke of York." At the Restoration in 1660 he was made Lord High Admiral, in which capacity he did good service, both in battle, where "stout Opdam was slain," and as an administrator. But when he became King James 11. and VII., he had an unhappy reign, at last having to flee from the kingdom, ending his days as an exile in France. First Hanover. The first of the Hanoverian dukes was Ernest Augustus, created in 1716, dying in 1728. Next was Edward Augustus, brother of King George 11., made duke in 1760. He was a sailor, and died in 1767. Beyond these facts, historians seem to have little to say about them. But of the eleventh duke, Frederick, historians have recorded much, and scandalmongers more. He was born in 1763, the second and favourite son of King George 111., and created duke in 1784. He commanded the army in Flanders in 1793,