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Rouge-dragon

ROUGE-DRAGON.

Will. 111-JOHN HARE, Gent.-See Richmond.

May 27, 1704.-DUDLEY DOWNS, Gent.-See next reign.

Portcullis,

Heralds Extraordinary

Mowbray.

Suffolk.

Carlisle.

PORT CULLIS..

Will. 111-JOHN HESKETH, Gent.-See Lancaster: 1713.-THOMAS WIGHTWICK, Gent.-See next reign.

HERALDS EXTRAORDINARY.

MOWBRAY.

RICHARD FRYTH, Esq.-See Lancaster.

SUFFOLK.

ROBERT DALE, Esq.-See next reign.

CARLISLE.

June 26, 1703.-JOHN VANBURGH, Esq.-See Clarenceux

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PURSUIVANTS EXTRAORDINARY.

BLANCH-LIO N.

ROBERT DALE, Esq.-See Suffolk,

ROUGE-ROSE.

THOMAS COOTE, Esq.-See next reign,

It is very singular, that in a reign of so many years there should have been so few vacancies. This probably was the reason why there were so many officers extraordinary.*

*The "New State of England," in 1703, gives these proctors, employed in the Earl Marshal's Court: Everard Exton, Bachelor of Laws; John Hill; Samuel Wiseman; Keate Waller; Edward Shaw; Edward Cooke; and Thomas Willymot. John Curry was Marshal of the Court. In the "Present State of England," in 1710, were added these proctors: Messrs. Sayer, Boheme, Jones, and Alexander.

Y y 2

ANN.

Pursuivants Extraordinary.

Blanch-lion

Rouge-rose

GEORGE I.

Acceded August 1, 1714.-Died June 10, 1727.

GEORGE I.

In this reign we have less of ceremonial than in any since the incorporation of the heralds. The Sovereign was crowned with the usual solemnities, the heralds attended, except Garter, the office was executed by a deputy, Mr. Anstis' claim not having been recognized. The royal family consisted only of the Sovereign and the Prince of Wales, at least they were all who were in the kingdom during his Majesty's reign. There was a Queen-consort, the beautiful, accomplished, virtuous, unfortunate SophiaDorothy; but she remained a solitary prisoner in the Castle of Ahlen, where she died, November 4, 1726. Though her innocence was openly allowed by the King, yet rejecting legal honors she disdained to appear again in the world. There was no princely marriage, nor any other royal ceremonial, not even a funeral, from the accession of George I. to George II. The former, dying upon the Continent, was buried at Hanover with his illustrious ancestors.

We have, however, what now rarely happens, a funeral attended by all the members of the College of Arms. The great Duke of Marlborough, to whom the Protestant succession is so much obliged, the first general in Europe, and one of the most consummate statesmen England ever had. He deserved every honor whilst living, every respect when dead. His Majesty therefore most wisely decreed him a public funeral, such as I believe no British subject ever had. As a Prince of the Empire some points of honor were peculiarly due, that his rank, high as it was, his English titles could

not

not claim. The great bodies of military attending added greatly to the GEORGE I solemnity. The procession went from Marlborough House, near St. James', where his Grace died, and where the body lay in state. The funeral was August 9, 1722. The procession began at half past twelve o'clock, passing from Marlborough House along the road through St. James' Park and the Upper Park to Hide Park Corner, thence through Piccadilly, down St. James' Street, through Pall-Mall, and by Charing-Cross through King Street to Westminster-Abbey. After the different corps, came on foot the porter of the Herald's College, in a cloth gown, bearing a black staff. Rouge-croix preceded the guidon on a lance, carried by Major Keightley, supported by two officers in their military mourning. Rouge-dragon, the banner of Woodstock on a lance, carried by Colonel Purcell, supported by two officers in their military mourning. Blue-mantle before his Grace's banner, as Prince of the Empire, on a lance carried by Lieutenant-Colonel Pelt, supported in the same manner. Portcullis, before the banner of the Order of St. George, on a lance borne by Colonel Pendlebury, supported as before. Chester preceded the great banner of the Duke's arms, on a lance carried by Colonel Hopkey, supported as the others. Somerset car

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* At Marlborough House, the first room was hung with baize, the second with cloth, where was a chain of state at the upper end, with a majesty escotcheon over it. The third was hung with velvet floored with baize, having, at the upper end, an ascent of three steps, where stood a bed of state of black velvet, properly adorned with black plumes at the corners of the tester; at the head of the bed a majesty escotcheon. The coffin was covered with crimson velvet, over which was a fine holland sheet, and upon that a black velvet pall, upon which was laid a complete suit of armour gilt, with a general's truncheon on the right hand; the great Collar of the Order of the Garter about the neck, with the George appendant, and the Garter on the left leg; a rich sword, in a crimson velvet scabbard, buckled to the side by a velvet belt of the same colour; on one side of the head lay a cap of maintenance as a Prince of the Germanic Empire; on the other a Ducal Coronet. The head rested on a crimson velvet cushion fringed with gold, and tassels of the same; the feet rested on a lion couchant, holding a banner of his Grace's crest. Round the body several ensigns were displayed, with several escotcheons also disposed in the columns of the bed, or canopy. All the three rooms were also adorned with a great number of escotcheons of various kinds, having badges or cognizances with cyphers interspersed. Silver sconces, and large silver candlesticks, with great wax tapers, were properly disposed to cast a suitable light throughout the apartment. Two other large rooms, hung with black, and adorned and furnished in the same manner, were appointed for the reception of such of the nobility or others who were invited to attend the funeral.

GEORGE I. ried the spurs and gauntlets; Lancaster the helm and crest; Windsor the sword and target; Norroy the surcoat of arms. Garter followed the open chariot in which lay the body between the horse of state, led by Captain Read, his Grace's Master of Horse, and the coach in which was the Duke of Montagu as chief mourner. He bore in his right-hand a rod of his office as director of the funeral. When the body was carried to the west door of the Abbey, only those who bore the standard, guidon, and banners with their supporters, the heralds, his Grace's secretary, two chaplains, and his four white staff officers, and those, carrying the bannerols, entered the church. Then the prebends in their rich copes, and the choir in their surplices, placed themselves after the great banner, and before the heralds who carried the trophies. Garter was constantly near the body; and, after the burial service was ended, having proclaimed the deceased's titles, the officers of the late Duke breaking their staves, delivered the pieces to Garter, who threw them in upon the coffin. The whole procession of this truly-magnificent funeral would fill several pages. No more is mentioned of it than what relates to the heralds, attendants. Though the Duke was a Prince of the Empire, yet there was no herald belonging to him as such, nor had he ever any. None of the officers at arms extraordinary attended. Clarenceux was not there, probably from. indisposition, or some other accidental cause.*

I have seen but two other circumstances which related particularly to the College of Arms in this reign; one was the improperly splendid burial of Francis Tyssen, Esq., the particulars of which and its consequences I copy from Mr. Lyson, who has took it from Mr. Newcome's MSS. This gentleman was buried within the communion rails in the high chancel of Hackney church, November 11, 1716. "He was carried to Goldsmith's' Hall, and shewn there, lying in state two days, November 10 and 11th, "the time of his interment. The hall hung with black from top to bot "tom, twenty-five feet high, and two or three rooms more with sconces, many of them silver, filled with wax candles; 300 dozen of scutcheons. "The

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* John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, died June 16, 1722, in his 73d year. At the death of Sarah his widow and relict, his body was taken from Westminster Abbey, and conveyed with her's to the chapel of Blenheim, where is erected a monument to perpetuate their memories.

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