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who belongs to the king. That usher, under James II., was the knight of
Duppa. Mr. Baker, who was clerk of the crown, and Mr. Brown, who was
clerk of the Parliament, kotowed to Lord David. The court of England,
which is magnificent, is a model of hospitality. Lord David presided, as
one of the twelve, at banquets and receptions. He had the glory of
standing behind the king on offertory days, when the king give to the
church the golden byzantium; on collar-days, when the king wears the
collar of his order; on communion days, when no one takes the sacrament
excepting the king and the princes. It was he who, on Holy Thursday,
introduced into his Majesty's presence the twelve poor men to whom the
king gives as many silver pence as the years of his age, and as many
shillings as the years of his reign. The duty devolved on him when the
king was ill, to call to the assistance of his Majesty the two grooms of
the almonry, who are priests, and to prevent the approach of doctors
without permission from the council of state. Besides, he was
lieutenant-colonel of the Scotch regiment of Guards, the one which plays
the Scottish march. As such, he made several campaigns, and with glory,
for he was a gallant soldier. He was a brave lord, well-made, handsome,
generous, and majestic in look and in manner. His person was like his
quality. He was tall in stature as well as high in birth.
At one time he stood a chance of being made groom of the stole, which
would have given him the privilege of putting the king's shirt on his
Majesty: but to hold that office it was necessary to be either prince or
peer. Now, to create a peer is a serious thing; it is to create a
peerage, and that makes many people jealous. It is a favour; a favour
which gives the king one friend and a hundred enemies, without taking
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