A war being resolved upon against Spain, the following order was sent to the Heralds' College:

"GEORGE R.

"Our will and pleasure is, that you attend the proclamation of our decla"ration of war against Spain, that is to be made on Tuesday the 23d instant, "in the usual places, and with the solemnities customary on the like occasion, "and for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Kensington, "the 19th day of October, 1739, in the 13th year of our reign.

"To our trusty and well beloved

"servants, the kings, heralds, "and pursuivants at arms."

"By his Majesty's command,

"HOLLES NEWCASTLE."

On the 23d of that month the officers of arms, with the serjeants at arms and trumpeters, mounted their horses in the Stable Yard, St. James', and proceeding thence to the Palace Gate, Garter, principal king at arms, read his Majesty's declaration of war, and Norroy king at arms proclaimed it aloud; which ended, a procession commenced to Charing-Cross. A party of horse-guards, or grenadiers, to clear the way; beadles of Westminster, bare headed, with staves, two and two; constables of Westminster in the same manner; high constable of Westminster with his staff; the officers of the high bailiff of Westminster on horseback, with white wands; clerk of the high bailiff of Westminster; high bailiff of Westminster, and on his right hand the deputy steward; Knight Marshal's men; Knight Marshal; drums, drum-major; trumpeters; serjeant trumpeter in his collar, bearing his mace; pursuivants, Bluemantle, Rouge-dragon, Portcullis; Richmond and Windsor heralds; York herald between two serjeants at arms; Norroy king at arms between two serjeants at arms; Garter king at arms between two serjeants at arms; a party or troop of horse guards, commanded by Colonel Burton. At Charing-Cross the declaration was read by Norroy, and proclaimed aloud by Somerset herald. Having proceeded in this manner to Temple-Bar, the officers of Westminster retired, and within the gate those of the city attended. The Lord-mayor, Aldermen, Deputy Recorder, and Sheriffs, in scarlet. Blue-mantle pursuivant having presented to his Lordship the Earl Marshal's warrant, the city procession followed the troops commanded by Colonel Burton. At the end of Chancery-Lane, Somerset Bbb 2

herald

GEORGE II. herald read the declaration, and York herald proclaimed it aloud. At the end of Wood-Street, where the Cross of Cheap formerly stood, York herald read the declaration, and Windsor proclaimed it aloud. Lastly, at the Royal Exchange, Windsor herald read the declaration, and Richmond herald proclaimed it aloud. The spectators were incredibly numerous. They received the declaration and proclamation with every demonstration of satisfaction. The same ceremonial was renewed March 31, 1744, in proclaiming war against France. Proclaiming the peace February 1, 1749, varied nothing but in the words.

At the solemn trial of the three rebel Lords, the Earls of Cromarty and Kilmarnock, and Lord Balmerino, at Westminster-Hall in July 1746, Garter king at arms with the heralds attended. Garter with the gentleman usher of the Black Rod delivered the staff to the Lord High Steward. The Scotch heralds in the preceding months had been called upon to assist in a ceremony that was too illiberal for an established government. The fourteen colours taken from the partizans of the exiled Prince of the Stuart house, at the battle of Culloden, were carried in procession from the castle of Edinburgh, under a detachment of Colonel Lee's regiment, and publicly burnt at the City-cross by the common hangman, by the command of his Royal Highness, William, Duke of Cumberland. The Prince's own standard was carried by the executioner, each of the others by chimney sweepers. The former was first committed to the flames, with three flourishes of the trumpets, amidst repeated acclamations of a vast concourse of people. The same was done with each of the other colours separately; "the heralds always proclaiming the names of the "rebel traitors to whom they belonged."

After the battle of Dettengen, fought in 1743, his Majesty revived the Order of Knights Bannerets, the last of whom had been Sir John Smith, created a banneret for his heroic bravery by Charles I. at the battle of Edgehill, or Kineton, in Warwickshire, the first in the fatal civil war. The form of creating them is, the candidate presents his flag or banner to the Sovereign or his general, who cutting off the skirt or tail of it makes it square, when it is returned, whence they are sometimes called Knights of the Square Banner. They precede all Knights, not of the Garter or Bath, of England, and even Baronets, being reputed next to the nobility after those preceding orders. They are like them allowed supporters. It was an

hereditary

hereditary honor in France, but never in this kingdom. The King, as GEORGE II. was customary anciently, knighted those he conferred the honor upon under the royal standard displayed in the field. It was given to his Royal Highness, William, Duke of Cumberland, the Duke of Marlborough, the Earls of Stair, Dunmore, Crawford, Rothes, and Albemarle, Lieutenant-generals Honeywood, Hawley, Cope, Ligonier, and Campbell, Major-general Bland, Brigadier-generals Onslow, Pulteney, and Huske, and the trooper in Sir Robert Rich's regiment, who retook the standard from the French which they had seized. He regained it, by riding into their squadron of horse, and cutting down all who opposed his passage. The brave dragoon was Thomas Brown. There is an engraved portrait of this gallant man, who so highly distinguished himself, and was so conspicuously honored by his Sovereign.

In this reign we have an instance, that the long neglected power of the court of chivalry was attempted to be restored; but it was without effect. I shall give it in the exact words of Mr. Seymour, in his History

of London.

"On the 3d of March, 1732, a Court of Honor, a High Court of Chivalry, was opened in the Painted Chamber, Westminster, in the following manner: about twelve o'clock the Right Honorable the Earl "of Effingham came into court, preceded by the proctors, doctors of the "civil law, and officers of the court in their gowns, pursuivants and "heralds of arms in their tabards and collars, and Garter and Norroy "king of arms, and followed by the Lords after mentioned, who assisted "him upon this occason, viz. the Dukes of Ancaster and Manchester, "the Earls of Strafford, Warwick, and Pomfret, the Lords Herbert, Haversham, Foley, Onslow, Howard, and others. The court being set, "and proclamation made, the Duke of Norfolk's patent, constituting "him hereditary Earl Marshal of England, his Grace's nomination of the "Earl of Effingham, his Deputy, and his Majesty's approbation of him, "were severally read by the registrar, and then the oaths of allegiance, "abjuration, and oath of office, were administered to his Lordship. The patents of the several officers of the court were then read, and petitions of persons to be admitted proctors, who were sworn accordingly, viz. "Dr. Henchman, the King's advocate; Mr. Mark Holman, registrar; "Mr. Sandford Nevil, the Earl Marshal's proctor, and Mr. Greenley, Mr.

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GEORGE II. "Mr. Rawson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Farrant, Mr. Cook, Mr Shelton, proctors "of the Courts of Arches, to be proctors of the said court. The King's "advocate then exhibited a complaint against one Mrs. Radburne, relict "of one Mr. Radburne, merchant, for using divers ensigns of honor, not belonging to his condition, at the funeral of her said husband; and likewise certain arms, both at the said funeral of her said husband, and "likewise since upon her coach, not being entitled thereto in her own, or "her husband's right, contrary to the law of arms: whereupon his Lordship "was pleased to grant a process, and then adjourned the court to the hall "in the College of Arms, on the 30th of the same month.

"Pursuant to which adjournment a court was held at the College, by "the Right Honorable the Earl of Effingham, assisted by the worshipful "Dr. Isham, attended by the kings and pursuivants at arms, dressed in "their respective coats and collars; when one Mr. John Phillips was "admitted a proctor of the said court, and sworn in accordingly.

"After which the court was pleased to admit the exhibited articles against Mr. Baynton, executor of Mr. Ladbrook, deceased, for using arms, and other distinctions of honor, not belonging to his family. "When the articles were admitted, two witnesses were produced, who "were sworn, and a time appointed for their examination.

Then the court proceeded against Sir John Blunt, Bart., and an "attachment was ordered against him for not appearing; but Dr. Andrews

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speaking for him, and saying he had his proxy, produced it, when "Mr. Philips appeared as proctor for him, and the attachment did not go out, but he ordered to appear next court. Dr. Andrews spoke mighty well on this occasion, saying, that Mr. Ladbrook's executors "could not be to blame, for they only gave the same arms at the funeral as they found in Mr. Ladbrook's custody, and which he always bore "in his life time unmolested; and that, as visitations had been dis"continued so long, there was no certainty in arms; and that several persons who had a right, might, in length of time have lost their grants, or "not regarded them, but yet if they were so lost, that loss might be repaired for money, &c. and took notice, that arms were granted not long since to a coffee-man on his paying for them. Then one of the office "answered, that seemed to be levelled at him, for granting them; but he "did it not alone, but with the consent and approbation of his brethren.

"He

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« He said, that it was every where talked, that the court was held only to get GEORGE II. #6 money; and he hoped that such persons that should be degraded might "be debarred from ever having arms granted them. Upon which Dr. "Andrews replied, that was the way to bring more money in, for people fearing degradation might purchase arms. Then were also witnesses produced to prove the articles lately exhibited against Mrs. Radburne, widow, who were sworn, and a time appointed for their examination, "and then the court, which was the last that has been held on these "affairs, adjourned."

This whole business was imprudently began, and unskilfully conducted. The lawyers who were consulted laughed at it. Mr. Ladbrook, afterward Sir Robert Ladbrook, Knt., against whose father's executors a suit was commenced, sent into Warwickshire, and obtained leave of the rector of Solihull in that county to take off the brass plate from his grandfather's grave-stone, upon which was the arms that the son had borne. The grandfather was rector of that rich parish. After the trial was finished it was sent down and replaced, where I have often seen it. These particulars I had from my late respected friend, the Rev. Dr. Yates, rector of Solihull, a place I well knew, having resided in, and had small preferments in the neighbourhood.

The College at Arms, in the year 1737, petitioned for a new charter, but they were unsuccessful in their application, though all the members signed it but two, and no one opposed it but Mr. Pomfret, Rouge-croix.

It is to be remarked, that except the public funeral of Mary II, none of our Sovereigns ever had any other than private interments since James I, until his Majesty George II. The heralds, however, always attended at the burials of the Monarchs, their Queens, and the Princes and Princesses of the blood royal. At the death of George II, though the nation was in the height of an expensive war, yet the Privy Council judged it proper to bury a beloved triumphant Sovereign in a manner suitable to the rank he held in Europe. I shall particularly specify the order in which the heraldic body were placed. Bath king at arms preceded the Knights of the Bath, not Peers or Privy Councellors. Two Pursuivants went before the Barons of Ireland; one before the Viscounts of that kingdom; one Herald before the Irish Earls; one Herald before an English Marquis: one Herald before the English Dukes; and one Herald before such Dukes.

who.