Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

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.

[ocr errors]

"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

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]

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.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"He

66

« 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."

[ocr errors]

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.

GEORGE II. who held great offices. Norroy walked after the Archbishop of Canterbury and before the Master of the Horse; Clarenceux between the first and second daily waiters, followed by the Lord Chamberlain of the Household, who preceded the royal corpse. Garter went between the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, which he carried reversed, and a Gentleman Usher; after Garter came the chief mourner. At this, and all funerals of Sovereigns, Queens, and those of any of the royal family, Clarenceux invariably carries, on a cushion, the crown or coronet, and Garter in the prayer of interment proclaims the stile of the illustrious dead.

Garter.

GARTER, PRINCIPAL KING AT ARMS.

Geo. 1.-JOHN ANSTIS, Esq.

Was of a Cornish family, seated at St. Neots, being son of John Anstis of that place, Esq., by Mary, daughter and coheir of George Smith. Garter was born September 28th, (Brooke, Somerset, says, 29th.) 1669, admitted at Exeter College in Oxford in 1685, and three years afterwards entered in the Middle Temple. As a gentleman of good fortune, he became well known in his county. The borough of St. Germain returned him one of their members in the first Parliament called by Queen Ann. Opposing what was called the Whig Interest, he distinguished himself by his voting against the bill for occasional conformity: for which his name appeared amongst the " Tackers" in the prints of that time. He was appointed in 1703 deputy-general to the Auditors of Imprest, but he never executed this office, and one of the principal Commissioners of Prizes. His love of, and great knowledge in the science of arms so strongly recommended him, that April 2, 1714, the Queen gave him a reversionary patent for the place of Garter. Probably this passage in a MS. letter to the Lord Treasurer, dated March 14, 1711-2, relates to his having the grant. He says, "I have a certain information it would "be ended forthwith, if the. Lord Treasurer would honor me by speaking to her Majesty at this time, which, in behalf of the Duke of Norfolk, "I most earnestly desire, and humbly beg your Lordship's assistance "therein. If it be delayed for some days, I shall then be back as far as "the delivery of my petition. I am obliged to attend this morning at "the Exchequer, about the tin affair, and thereby prevented from waiting

66 upon

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »