THE BATTLE OVER THE KING'S BUTLER

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 27

THE BATTLE OVER THE KING'S BUTLER

When the Garter King of Arms walks in the Coronation procession, the Lord Mayor of London, in his robe, collar, and jewel, and bearing the City mace, will walk on his left, and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod on his right, says a writer in the "Daily Telegraph."

The Lord Mayor, has always taken a prominent part in the ceremony of a crowning, and his right was shared by the citizens. At the coronation of Richard Lionheart, in 1189, the citizens served in butlery, and again, in 1236, when Queen Eleanor was crowned.

In 1236 they brought 360 cups with them, and Andrew, the Mayor,, claimed to act as assistant butler, and to hold the cup of wine until the King was ready for it, when it was handed to the Chief Butler, who gave it to the sovereign.. This claim was not allowed, but the Mayor served the two bishops on the; King's right. • At the Coronation of Richard II in 1377 the Mayor and citizens again made their claims.' The Mayor claimed, "by reason of his office of Mayoralty," to serve the King at dinner and afterwards in his chamber "with a bowl of gold of the said' lord king" arid to receive the bowl as his fee. ■

It was found that this was the right of the Chief Butler; ■ but the King, being well disposed towards the Mayor and citizens, and gratefulfor the help they had so often, rendered to his forefathers—and hoping himself to receive the same—willed -that the citizens should help in the: hall, of the butlery as they desired, and that after the banquetj in his chamber, the Mayor should serve the King with a bowl of gold, and receive the bowl, with the ewer belonging to it, as:a gift from the King. ' At the banquet of Richard 111 it is recorded that "at. the end of dinner

the Mayor of London served the King and Queen with sweet.wine, and had of each of them a cup of gold and a cover of gold." : ,

Very little is known of the Corona-! tion of Edward III; but one-item on record shows that the Mayor received his fee prior to the time of Richard 11. This was Richard Bettoyne, who was assisted by 360 "valets," all in the same livery, and each carrying a silver cup ". as at previous coronations." Bettoyne said that he had received "the accustomed fee, namely a gold cup and cover, with an enamelled gold ewer, but that the Exchequer had ordered the Sheriffs to distrain upon his property to the amount of £B9. 12s 6d in payment for his fee." This seems to have disgusted the Mayor, who said the fee would be gladly paid if the Londoners might be discharged: from the service. This wish, however, was not shared by his successors, who.liked to play their part. In the end the Mayor obtained his full ambition and at the banquet after the crowning of King James II "the Lord Mayor 6f. London, attended by twelve principal citizens, came from the cupboard and presented on his knee a bowl of wine to the King in a gold cup, which he received as his fee, and with his attendants repaired to dinner at the lower end of the Hall." At least from the Coronation of Anne Boleyn the Mayor of Oxford has also assisted the chief butler, and at the crowning of Edward VI he aided him "in his service of ale at the bar."

According to the account of George IV's banquet, the Mayor and eight burgesses of Oxford came' "as. assistants to the Lord Mayor and citizens of London, assisting the Duke of Norfolk in the office of Chief Butler of England." ■When the Mayor of Oxford had presented a bowl of wine to the King he received as his fee three rriaple cups.