EARL MARSHAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1936, Page 11

EARL MARSHAL

PREPARING FOR CORONATION. At the present moment, and until the Coronation is an accomplished fact, one of the busiest men in England will be the Duke of Norfolk, hereditary Earl Marshal, and Marshal of England; for he is responsible for the organisation .of the ceremony. It is his high duty to preside over endless meetings to consider questions of seating those who will attend, the route of the procession to the church, the order of the procession into the church, the form of the service, the traffic arrangements, and many other details. As his assistants and’, counsellors he has the Officers of Arms, who are, of course, experienced authorities on all matters pertaining to State ceremonial. It is their duty to marshal the processions and to ensure that the correct procedure is followed. One of the most difficult tasks is that of arranging the seating, and this is made harder by the increase, since the last coronation, of the numbers entitled to attend. Al linvitations are issued by the Earl Marshal, and none may enter the Abbey church without a*pass given under his hand and seal. He has also to deal with the quesUon of dress. It is the Earl Marshal who is responsible for all State ceremonies, including funerals and weddings, though not for the weddings of younger princes. These are regarded' as domestic events, and are arranged by the household officers. The office of. Earl Marshal is of immemorial antiquity; he is one of; the few great officers of State who still ( have constant duties to perform. As head of the College of Arms, all matters pertaining to the grant and regulation of coats of arms are settled by his authority. A new peer or knight applies to the Earl Marshal for a grant

have constant duties to perform. As head of the College of Arms, all matters pertaining to the grant and regulation of coats of arms are settled by his authority. A new peer or knight applies to the Earl Marshal for a grant of arms, and it is Issued on his warrant by the Kings of Arms. The great Marshal from whom the subsequent marshals of England descended was William Marshal, who carried the golden sceptre at the Coronation of Richard Lionheart in 1189. Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, a son of Edward I. and an ancestor of the present Earl Marshal, was made hereditary Marshal on February 10, 1316, by King Edward 11. The first Duke of Norfolk was Thomas Mowbray, grandson of Brotherton, and he was also the first to be styled Earl Marshal, the simple title “Marshal of England” having previously been used. Mowbray was created Earl Marshal by a grant dated January 12. 1386. . Mowbray’s descendant, John Howard, was created Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal by King Richard 111., who was also the founder of the College of Arms, although, of course, heralds had existed long before that time. Richard made them a corporate body and gave them a charter. The marshal’s duties included the keeping of order in tlie King’s presence, the guarding of the doors of his hall, and the finding of lodgings for those who came to attend great ceremonies. Ho had, of course, subordinates to assist him in his manifold duties, and

there is an interesting record of one of these of the time of King Henry VIII. It is an order to the effect that the knight marshal “shall give continual attendance upon the Court as well to expel all Boyes, Vabouds and Rascalls out of the Court gates, as well as all others resorting thither (unlawfully) from time to time as occasion shall require.” He had also to expel “all such unthrifty and common women as follow the Court.’’ SAT IN EXCHEQUER COURT. The Marshal was also one of the great officers of State who sat in the Exchequer Court, and it was his duty to administer oaths, to take charge of vouchers, and to keep the prison of the Exchequer. He had a clerk to assist him in the accounting section of his duties. He had also certain military duties which he performed in conjunction with the Constable,. and he kept the roll of those who owned service with the Royal forces. He and the Constable jointly presided over a military Court, and this Ccuit dealt with questions of heraldry. It persisted into the 18th century as the Earl Marshal’s Court, but by that time it dealt with heraldic cases alone.

The Earl Marshal’s throne will exists in the Court room at-the College of Arms, but matters of heraldry arc now dealt with by the Officers of Arms in chambers.

Not the least interesting feature of the Marshalship is its age-old‘associa-tion with the family of the Duke of Norfolk, the head of the peerage. On May 12 next the present Duke will stand beside his King as his ancestors stood beside the Plantagenets, and for the proper ordering of the ceremony his will be the responsibility.