THE EARL MARSHAL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 7

THE EARL MARSHAL.

The important position of Earl Marshal is held by the Premier Duke and Earl of England, the Duke of Norfolk. The title dates from the year 1483, though the Eaitdom of Arundel, the title now held by the Duke's son was conferred on one of his ancestors as far back as 1155. The history of this ancient title was for centuries more marked by storm than by sunshine. Extinction, attainder, forfeiture, beheadhig, followed, to an heir, by pardon and restoration, dogged its course for generations- Norfolk, have fought for their King and against him. "Jockey of Norfolk" fell on Bosworth field leading the van of the army of Richard IH., his son, the victor of Flodden, was attainted, and at least two Dukes have died on the scaffold. Peace, however, settled on the house of Norfolk in 1660. The present Duke, the fifteenth of his line, preserves the martial spirit of his nee, and some two years ago, obtaining a commission as captain of Imperial Yeomanry, he resigned his position as Postmaster-General in Lord Salisbury's Government, and went out to fight in South Arrica, where, unfortunately, he met with an accident, and broke hi. leg before he could take an active part in the war.

His Grace is head of the Roman Catholic Laity of England and. President of the Roman Cutaouc Union- In 1887 he was appointed by Queen Victoria Special ±.nvoy to o_E_r guvs and eongrat_i_tic__j to tne _*ope on tnc occasion oi his jub_.ee. in lotto sti Headed a special band of English piigrans, who were present at the State ceieoration at. t»t. i-'eter s, Rome. He took a p;oni_aent part, about the tune of the general election of ioao, in tue Unionist opposition to Mr Gi&ustone's Home Rule measure, thus bringing himstlf into collision with the Irish hierarchy.

The Duke, though he has been a member of the Government, has not despised municipal politics. From 1.92 to 1895 he represented the City ot London on the London County Council. From 1895 till 1897 he was Mayor of Sheffield, and in 1900 he became the first Mayor of Westminster.

As Earl Marshal the Duke has had to supervise every d-etail connected -with tha Coronation, a task of great delicacy and enormous difficulty. As to his part in the actual ceremony, the Earl Marshal is one of those who receive the Sovereign at the west en-trance of the Abbey, and in the procession up the nave h3 conies immediately after the Princes of the Blood Royal, bearing a baton, the symbol of his high office. The Earl Marshal also takes part, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Great Chamberlain, and the 'Lord High Constable, in the important act of the "Recognition" ; that is, the Duke of Norfolk will be one of those who. at the conclusion of the anthem, will present the Sovereign to his people as "the undoubted King of these realms," repeating the same at the south, west, and north sides of the ptatform cm which the"Recognition takes place.