nounced the style of the defunct as before-mentioned; which ended, the dean of Chester began his sermon, and after the sermon the vicar began the commemoration; and after the epistle and gospel, the offering was commenced in manner following:

First, Henry, now Earl of Derby, being principal mourner, did offer at the altar for the defunct, a piece of gold, having before him Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, king of arms; and Lancaster herald of arms; and on each side of Garter a gentleman usher, and esquire, to bear the chief mourner's train.

And after him did proceed the other eight mourners, two and two, according to their degree; and in like order he, with the other mourners, repaired to their places, where he remaining a small time, went to offer for himself, having Clarencieux and Lancaster herald only before him; and thus having offered, stayed between the vicar and Lancaster herald of arms, to receive the achievements of his father, offered up by the other eight mourners in manner and form following:

First, the Lord Stourton and Sir Rowland Stanley offered up the coat of arms, having before them Clarencieux, king of arms.

Secondly, Sir Peter Leigh, Knt. and Thomas Butler, Esq. offered the sword, bearing the pommel forward, having before them Norroy, king of arms.

Thirdly, John Ratcliffe and Alexander Barlow, Esqrs. offered the target of his arms, and before them went Clarencieux.

Fourthly, Alexander Rigby and William Stopford, Esqrs. offered the helmet and crest, having before them Norroy, king of arms.

Which ended, the principal mourner repaired to his seat, and on each side of him a gentleman usher, and his train borne by an esquire, and before him Clarencieux, king of arms, where he remained until the offering was ended.

viz.

Then offered the other eight mourners for themselves,

The Lord Stourton and Sir Rowland Stanley, having before them Clarencieux, king of arms.

Then Sir Peter Leigh, Knt. and Thomas Butler, Esq. and before them Norroy, king of arms.

Then John Ratcliffe and Alexander Barlow, Esqrs. having before them Clarencieux, king of arms.

Then Alexander Rigby and William Stopford, Esqrs. having before them blue mantle pursuivant of arms.

Thus when the principal mourner and the eight mourners assistants had offered, and were placed again as aforesaid, then offered the four esquires, assistants to the defunct, having before them Lancaster herald of arms.

Then the standard offered by the esquire that bore it and before him blue mantle pursuivant of arms.

Then the great banner offered by the esquire that bore it, and before him blue mantle pursuivant of arms.

Which standard and banners being offered by them as aforesaid, they put off their hoods, and took their places amongst the rest of the mourners, being gentlemen.

Then offered the steward, treasurer, and comptroller, with their white staves in their hands, and Lancaster herald of arms before them.

Then offered all the other knights, esquires, and gentlemen, wearing black, proceeding in order two and two, according to their degrees.

Then offered the yeomen ushers, and after them the defunct's yeomen two and two.

And thus the offering ended. The hundred poor men were placed to proceed homeward on foot, and after them the knights, esquires, and gentlemen, on horseback; then Garter, principal king of arms, the principal mourner, with the other eight mourners, two and two; then the yeomen on foot, two and two.

The Burial.

After whose departure presently the body was by the eight gentlemen, and four yeomen aforesaid, carried to the grave; and before it, Clarencieux and Norroy, king of arms, and Lancaster herald of arms; and above the body, the four assistants and the six esquires bearing the ban

nerets.

After the body went the steward, treasurer, and comptroller, with two gentlemen ushers, and two yeomen ushers; who, when the body was buried, kneeling on their knees, with weeping and tears broke their white staves and rods over their heads, and threw the shivers into the grave. That done, the six esquires delivered up the six bannerets, which were presented with the rest of the achievements, orderly placed over, and about him; and so the said officers departed to Latham hall, where they received their offices and staves again of their new earl, now their lord and master.

Having now brought this great and honourable earl to his last home, the grave, let us, not bury him there in total oblivion, but with Sir William Dugdale, Mr. Cambden, Mr. Hollingshead, and especially Mr. Stow, lament his death, and not quite forget the memory of so eminent and noble a servant to his prince and country, but endeavour to transmit to posterity, for their example and imitation, his most renowned, steady, and faithful behaviour and conduct, under two kings and two queens, as well in peace as in war.

It appears from all our historians, that he lived in the greatest splendour and magnificence, without any dependance on the court. His greatness supported his goodness, and his goodness endeared his greatness. His height was looked upon with a double aspect: by himself, as an advantage of beneficence; and by others, of reverence. His great birth raised him above private respect, but his great soul never above public service.

He was kind to his tenants, liberal to his servants, generous to his friends, and hospitable to strangers. He was famous for housekeeping, and his extensive charity ; insomuch that Queen Elizabeth would jestingly say, that he and my Lord of Bedford made all beggars by their liberality.

His house was orderly and regular; a college of discipline, instruction, and accomplishment, rather than a palace for entertainment, his and his lady's servants being so many young gentlemen and ladies, trained up to govern themselves by their example, who they knew understood themselves perfectly.

His provisions were natural, and provided of his own stock; rather plentiful than various, solid than dainty; that cost him less, and contented more. His table was constant and even, where all were welcome, and none invited. His hall was commonly full, his gates always; the one with the honest gentry and yeomen, who were his retainers in love and observance, bringing good stomachs to his table, and resolved hearts for his service; the other with the aged, decrepid, and industrious poor, whose cravings were prevented with doles and expectation; the first being provided with meat, the second with money, and the third with labour.

In the northern insurrection against her majesty Queen Elizabeth, he offered to raise ten thousand men at his own charge, for the suppressing thereof; but his appearance in the field was sufficient, the holding up of his hand being as effectual as the displaying of a banner. In a word, Mr. Cambden observes, that hospitality lieth buried in this earl's grave, (1572 the time of his death,) from whence. may the divine power raise it and all mankind to everlasting bliss, when there will be no poor to be relieved, nor bounty wanted to relieve.

He had two hundred and twenty servants in a chequeroll for forty-two years. Twice a day sixty aged and decrepid poor were fed with meat; and on every Good

:

Friday, for thirty-five years, he fed two thousand seven hundred persons with meat, drink, and money. Every gentleman in his service had a man and horse to attend him and his allowance for the expence of his house only, was four thousand pounds a year, besides the produce of his two large parks, and very great demesnes; insomuch, that his house was styled the northern court. Neither was he munificent upon other men's charge; for once a month he looked into his income, and once a week into his disbursements, that none should wrong him, nor be wronged by him. The Earl of Derby, he would say, "should keep his own house and that frugality, justice, and good management, might as well consist with greatness, as length with breadth."

Therefore it was observed of him and the second Duke of Norfolk, that, when they were dead, not a tradesman could demand the payment of a groat that they owed him, nor a neighbour the restitution of a penny that they had wronged him of.

It is a maxim that the grass groweth not where the grand signior's horse treads, nor do the people thrive where the noblemen inhabit: but here every tenant was a gentleman, and every gentleman my lord's companion; such his civility towards the one, and his kind usage of the other.

Noblemen in those days esteemed the love of their neighbour more than their riches, and the service and fealty of their tenants more than their money. He would commonly say, Let the underwood grow: the tenants are the support of a family; and the commonalty are the strength of the kingdom. Improve thriftily, but force not violently, either your bounds or rents, above your forefathers. Two things he abominated; depopulating enclosures, and avaricious and unworthy enhancement of rents.

But now the landlord hath the sweat of the tenant's brow in his coffers; then he had the best blood in his veins at his command. The grand word with this noble peer