THE FIRST DUKE 



cousin, Elizabeth, heiress of Thomas, Viscount 

 Somerset of Cashel. In 1672, five years after he 

 had succeeded to the family honours, further marks 

 of the royal favour were given him. He was 

 appointed Lord President of Wales, and received 

 the Garter the same year. 



It was in the closing years of Charles II.'s reign 

 that he reached the highest point in his successful 

 career. In 1684 he made the splendid progress 

 through Wales recorded in a curious old book 

 written by one Thomas Dingley, who was himself 

 of the Duke's escort. The following quotation 

 from his work may give an idea, at once of the 

 regal state maintained by the Lord President, and 

 of the quaint style of the historian : — 



"Towards the evening (Thursday, July 17th, 

 1684), his Grace the Duke of Beaufort, etc.. Lord 

 President, etc., of Wales, about a mile short of 

 Ludlow was mett by all the Ludlow ofificers of his 

 Presidency, who there waited his Grace's coming, 

 at whose approach the Mace was shoiilder'd, upon 

 which all the Ofificers, with those other belonging 

 to Ludlow Castle and of his Grace's retinue and 

 Family, became uncovered and fell into their places 

 two and two : the inhabitants of Ludlow lineing 

 the road and avenue to the town on both sides." 

 Then follows an imposing list of those who formed 

 the Duke's escort. Among the retinue we find 

 the " Quartermaster for the progress," six pages 

 *' in rich liveries," seven grooms " in his Grace's 



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