BRITISH LAW COURTS

Evening Star, Issue 18160, 28 December 1922, Page 9

BRITISH LAW COURTS

PAGEANT OF JUDGES. A PICTURESQUE DISPLAY. On the day the English Law Courts reopen after tho Song’ vacation, in' (October of every year, the public has an opportunity of witnessing an imposing procession of His Majesty’s High Court judges, both at Westminster and Templo Bar. It is the only occasion on which tho judges of tho several divisions are to bo seen assembled en masse. Attired in their glowing robes and dignified wigs, they pass in solemn order before tho public gaze, and in tho long processional lino are a number of officials carrying emblems and symbols of tho law. These ornaments are few in number, much fewer than are homo in many processions of organised workmen from tho Embankment to Hydo Park (writes a correspondent in tho ‘Daily Telegraph ’). But they possess a quality comparable only to tho Royal icgaha for grace of form, rich embellishment, and rare historical interest. Insignia in tho sense of being badges of individual position they for tho most part are not, though their general symbolism includes personal power and authority. Apart from the variation in tho color and ornamentation of tho robes worn by tho judges in the different divisions and by tho heads of divisions, there are no distinctive decorations of a personal kind, except the beautiful and famous “S” chain or collar and tho scarlet shoulder knots worn by tho Lord Chief Justice of 'England. .The wigs, which more than anything else create the impression of legal dignity, are identical in form. As to the sword, its uso as an emblem of tho law is limited to very few plaocsi—amongst them tho City of London, that wonderful container of privileges and exceptions. By reason of his office' tho Lord Mayor of London is a judge, and ho has an imposing armory of swords for use on various occasions. But the sword does not appeal 1 in tho Michaelmas procession of judges. EVOLUTION OP THE MACE. Nor are tho glistening mace and! the purso of State, then carried before tho Lord High Chancellor, symbols exclusively of judicial office, for they both have association also with legislation, and accompany tho Lord Chancellor whether ho bo acting as a judgo or bo sitting on the Woolsack as Speaker of tho Upper 'Chamber of Parliament. What a history lias the mace—■springing from a primitive weapon little more than a club, carried by ancient servitors to repel attacks upon their masters; passing, when those days were gone, to more peaceful use as a symbol of authority; and now become the most imposing of (State and civic emblems. lOno notable reversion to its original uso as a weapon of offence was made during this evolution, f<ja was it not with his Lord Mayor's maco that Sir William Walworth struck the rebel Wat Tyler from his horse when he approached 1 Richard 11. with evil intent? To put tho Lord Chancellor's maco to such uso would certainly secure effectiveness, hut would Tecpiiro an uncommonly burly wicld'er, for tho instrument weighs 241 b. Th© Lord Chancellor has two maces, otto being kept.ln reserve in case tho other needs repair. That generally in uso is of tho date, of Charles IT., and has the Royal cypher of the monarch upon it, being therefore tho immediate successor of tho maligned instrument which Cromwell called a “ bauble.” The fact that the other beans tho stamp “ G.R.” is no evidence of modernity, for it dales from the time of William the Third. Both are silver gilt. PURSE ,OP STATE. If it be asked by what subtle process the Purse of State comes to be associated with the judicial office of the Lord Chancellor, the answer is that dt is the time-honored, though now quite imaginary, receptacle for the Great Seal, used' under the authority of the Lord Chancellor in the appointment of judges. There was a time when the “ pestiferous lump of metal,” as Roger North derisively described] the Great Seal, was actually carried in tho purso, but the practice was long ago discontinued for the very sufficient reason that tho implement weighs 171 b, and cannot conveniently be carried for any length of time. Legend has another reason, quaint and humordus, to give for the abandonment of the old practice, to the effect that owing to a careless sej#isj^tress omitting to sew up the bottom of the bag securely, the Great Seal once fell through and damaged tho big too of a Lord) Chancellor who was acting as his own, pursebearer at tho moment. Although, the purse ia now merely au ornamental symbol, it retains its original form of a pouch rather over a foot square. Tho front is embroidered with the Royal Aims in heraldic colors, tho inside is lined with crimson silk, and twisted, silk cords terminating in heavy tassels hang from tho comers. Dignified ■usage docs not spare it the common fate of things exposed to light and dust; it becomes faded and soiled. Consequently a periodical renewal id necessary, and this takes place at the instance of the Lord 1 Chancellor, in consultation with the Treasury. It follows that through tho centuries a great number have fallen into disuse. What has become of them? They are a perquisite of the Lord Chancellor, and have become precious mementoes in eminent legal families. During his long tenure of office Lord Hardwicke acquired about a score, and they were u*erl for the adornment of the crimson velvet drapery of a state bedroom and a slate bed at Mlmpole, the family seat. ■Cfliers have been converted into ebair upholstery, and) one into a fire screen. CHTBP JUSTICE’S COLLAR. A great deal has been said and written about the lord Chief Justice’s collar by learned antiquaries anxious to explain how each alternate link came to be fashioned in tho shape of tho letter "S.” 60 far there has been no agreement. Nobody has been satisfied to accept as art explanation of tho adoption of this particular shape of link that it is perfectly suited to a pliable ornament like a chain. So we have many ventures at a more erudite explanation, none of which is wholly conclusive. In the courts as they existed 1 at Westminster tho chief of each divklsion, King’s Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, had 1 'his own chain. That worn by the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was State property, but those of the King's Bench andl the Exchequer were provided by tho chiefs themselves, and on their retirement or death were either ictained as family heirlooms or sold to the successor in the judicial office. The chain worn by tho illustrious Coke ini the Common Pleas was also worn by Lord Coleridge, tho last chief of that division. The King’s Bench collar worn by Sir Matthew Hale and succeeding great chiefs eventually passed by purchase to Lend Ellenborough, who on his retirement took it with him, thereby withdrawing from the division an ornament of exceptional historic interest. Since that happened! there have been three now collars in tho King’s Bench, Sir Charles Abbott (afterwards Lord: Tenterden), Lord Campbell, and Sir Alexander Cockbuin each having bought a new one. When Cockbum retired in 1860 he entailed! the one he provided upon all succeeding holders of the office, and it is now being worn by Lord Hewart. A curious fate befell Lord Denman’s chain. Campbell, who succeeded Denman, declined 1 to purchase tho chain, so Denman sold it to the corporation of Derby, and it is now the official badge of the mayor of that ancient city. In its present form this famous ornament has the rose nt its base, a portcullis on either side, and for the rest of its length is made up of twentyeight “S” holes and) twenty-seven Garter knots, tho whole containing some 41b of gold. No ornament borne in the judges’ procession Is quainter and more artistic in appearance than the “Silver-Oar” of Admiralty carried) before the President of tho AdknJralhy Court, and' always suspended in front of his desk when he sits to decide AdDniralty causes. This instrument is shaped' like an ancient paddle, and is 2ft 91n long, the blade composing one-third of its length'. On one side the blado is quite plain, but on tho Other is superimposed a heraldic shield bearing tho arms of ITenvy VII.; .the armorial bearings of William, Duke of Clarence, brother of George IV., and afterwards William TV., who was lord' High Ad*miral in 1827; and embossed in high relief th-o anchor andl twisted cable, badge of Admiralty. In these things there Is suggestion of Tudtor origin. But as tho eye travels down the shaft it encounters marks which somewhat disturb that impression, until the very base is reached, when the first theory receives support by the fact that engraved round tho ram Is the name “Jasper Swift, Marshal© of the Admiral©. 9 Jasper Swift was Marshal in the reign of Elizabeth, the last of tho Tudors. THE TIPSTAFF. Two minor emblems require notice. One is the staff of tho Marshal of tho Admiralty Court, which tho Maishal_(MmSelif bears in front of his chief. This” is a rounded shaft of black wood, barely 12tn long, surmounted* by a silver crown, and with a silver badge at the base. That now in use ia of quite modem manufacture, and an exact replica of one used in 1739. when Sir Humphrey Hugh Lindsay was “marshal” of the Court. Though tho second minor emblem is here montionied last, it actually domes first in the .judge’s jaxwesskm, being boma afi the WJ

head. II is ihs inconspicuous srbafE of; tho tipstaff of the High Court, tho modern representative of a very ancient order indeed, who may be referred to as tho constable of the courts, clmvgedl with tho duty of taking Into custody any person committed for contempt, and transferring him or her to prison. Formerly there was a tipstaff in both tho King's Bench and Chancery Divisions, the appointment In tho latter case vesting in the Marshal of Fleet Prison, an officer who disappeared along] with tho famous and disreputable old penitentiary. Now, there is but one tipstaff, and his post is happily almost a sinecure. If records are reliable, the emblem ho carries was at one time lipped with bull's horn. But tho instrument which Mr Daniel Grummer, tho tipstaff described by Dickons in ‘Pickwick Papers,’ who arrested Mr Pickwick and his friend Mr Tupman on -a charge of meditating a duel, was not so ornamented. He, as representing “ law, civil power, and exokative,” produced from the breast pocket of his coat a short truncheon surmounted by a brazen crown, which crown genial Sam Weller described as “very pretty” and “uncommon like _ the real one.” The brazen crown has now given place to one of silver gilt, with a purple plush lining. The staff is about a foot long, made of black polished wood and bound by three silver bands, the centre one hiding a screw, so that the staff can be halved for package whci not in use. The staff you now sco was presented in 1884, the year the Law Courts were fully opened l ,' by tho Earl of Belhorne, Lord Chancellor. lAt one time the staff was a perquisite of tho retiring tipstaff, but now it passes with tho office, and a small pecuniary solatium has taken its place.