Published April 1.1803 by Debrett Recadilly, and T. Egerton Whitehall

Garter,

Tower-hamlets; in which station he afterwards distinguished himself by George III. his exertions during the rebellion in the year 1745. On the revival of the Order of the Bath in 1725, he was one of the Esquires of the Earl of Sussex, Deputy Earl Marshal. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, March 2, 1726-7. In the same year he was created Lancaster herald, in the room of Mr. Hesketh; in 1729 constituted Norroy; in 1741 Clarenceux; and by patent, dated December 19, 1754, appointed Garter. In all his situations in the College Mr. Leake was a constant advocate for the rights and privileges of the office. He obtained, after much solicitation, a letter in 1731, from the Duke of Norfolk to the Earl of Sussex, his Deputy Earl Marshal, requesting him to sign a warrant for Mr. Leake's obtaining a commission of visitation, which letter, however, was not attended with success. In the same year he promoted a prosecution against one Shiets, a painter, who pretended to keep an office of arms in Dean's Court. The Court of Chivalry was opened with great solemnity in the Painted Chamber, on March 3, 1731 2, in relation to which he had taken a principal part. In 1733, he appointed Francis Bassano, of Chester, his deputy, as Norroy, for Chester and North Wales; and about the same time asserted his right, as Norroy, to grant arms in North Wales, which right was claimed by Mr. Longville, who had been constituted Gloucester King at Arms “ partium Walliæ,” annexed to that of Bath King at Arms, at the revival of that Order. He drew up a petition in January 1737-8, which was presented to the King in council, for a new charter, with the sole power of painting arms, &c. which petition was referred to the Attorney and Solicitor General; but they making their report favorable to the painters, it did not succeed. He printed, in 1744, “ Reasons for granting Commissions to the Provincial Kings at Arms “ for visiting their Provinces.” Dr. Cromwell Mortimer having, in 1747, proposed to establish a Registry for Dissenters in the College of Arms, he had many meetings with the heads of the several denominations, and also of the Jews, and drew up articles of agreement, which were approved by all parties: proposals were printed and dispersed, a seal made to affix to certificates, and the registry was opened on February 20, 1747-8; but it did not succeed, owing to a misunderstanding between the ministers and the deputies of the congregations. A bill having been brought in by Mr. Potter, in the session of Parliament in the year 1763, for taking the number

of

George III. of the people with their marriages and births, he solicited a clause in
Garter.

favor of the College, but the bill did not pass. He being fixed upon to
abstract the fair register books belonging to the most noble Order of St.
George, they were delivered to him by Dr. Booth, Dean of Windsor, in
1755, and by Dr. Booth's importunity he continued it from the death of
Queen Ann until then, an undertaking the more necessary, as it had been
wholly omitted from the decease of her Majesty. Garter completed the
whole within that year. This having been translated into Latin, was
transcribed in the Registrar's Office of the Order. As Garter King at
Arms he was appointed, in 1759, a Plenipotentiary, jointly with the
Marquis of Granby, for investing Prince Ferdinand of Brunswic with the
ensigns of the Order of St. George. For the execution of this duty he left
England in September, attended by two of his sons, one an herald, the
other as his secretary. On October 16 following, his Highness received the
habit and insignia at his head quarters of the camp of the allied army at
Kordorf on the Lahne, and in 1764 he was joined in a like commission
with colonel David Græme, as Plenipotentiary for the investiture of his
Serene Higness the Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, Her Majesty's brother,
which ceremony was performed at Nieu Strelitz, on June 4th in that year.
The particulars, in honor of our excellent and justly beloved Queen, are here
given.

6 Strelitz, June 5, 1764. Colonel David Grame, and Stephen-Martin
Leake, Esq. Garter Principal King of Arms, Plenipotentiaries for investing
his Serene Highness the Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz with the habit and
ensigns of the most noble Order of the Garter, arrived here the 29th of May.
The same evening they had an audience of the Duke, and presented their
credentials with the Book of Statutes; and his Serene Highness declaring his
acceptance of the Order, under the usual reservation as a Prince of the Em-
pire, the Plenipotentiaries immediately invested him with the Garter, Rib-
band, and George ; Garter King of Arms pronouncing the usual admonitions
in Latin ; and afterwards delivered the Stars and Ribband.

The 4th of June, the King of Great-Britain's birth-day, being appointed by his Serene Highness for the public investiture, the Plenipoten-, tiaries were conducted to Court in the Duke's coaches, and with the accustomed ceremonies, to the Chamber of Audience, where the ensigns had

been

6

a

been previously laid upon a table. Soon after his Serene Highness came in, George

III. and the Plenipotentiaries taking off his ribband with the George, and his Garter. coat, they put on the surcoat and sword of the Order, Garter taking the Duke's sword as his fee, and wearing it (according to custom) during the rest of the ceremony.

The habit and ensigns were then delivered to the persons appointed to carry them, and a procession was made to the Great-Hall, where two canopies were erected of crimson damask laced with gold, one at the upper end for the Sovereign's State, and the other on the left side for the Duke, with a chair on either side for the two Plenipotentiaries, a table being placed, near the Sovereign's State, to lay the habit and ensigns upon.

The Order of the Procession was as follows:
Officers of the Household to his Serene Highness, two and two.
The Secretary to the Plenipotentiaries, Stephen-Vartin Leake, Jun. Esq.
The Book of Statutes on a velvet cushion, carried by M. de Gentzkow, Great

Gentleman of the Chamber.
The Hood on a velvet cushion, carried by M. de Oertzen, Chamberlain.
The Cap and Feather on a velvet cushion, carried by M. de Plessen, Great Butler.
The Great Collar on a velvet cushion, carried by M. de Bulow,

Great Master of the Horse.
John Martin Leake, Esq. Chester Herald, in his Coat of Arms, carrying (for

Garter) the Mantle of the Order, on a large velvet cushion.
Garter Principal King of Arms, in his Mantle of the Order, carrying in his

hand the Sovereign's Commission.

The First Plenipotentiary.
The Great Marshal, and Marshal of the Household, with their staves.

The DUKE,
Supported by M. de Warbourg, Councellor of the Province, and the

Count de Suerin.
Two Gentlemen of the Chamber, who were appointed by his Serene Highness to bear

his train in the return.

The Deputies of the Province, Coming into the hall (the musick playing) they all made three reverences to the Sovereign's State. Those who carried the ensigns laid them upon the table near the Sovereign's State, the Duke and Plenipotentiaries taking their seats, and all others going to their respective stations. Ggg 2

The

1