peacock of Manners, thought
passes quite naturally to the boar's head and peacock, which were
principal items of Christmas fare in the olden time.

In her "Collected Writings," Janetta, Duchess of Rutland, gives an
interesting account of a revival of some of the ancient glories of
Haddon:

"In the winter of 1872 the late Duke entertained the Prince and
Princess of Wales in the banqueting hall at luncheon, when the boar's
head and peacock in pride were carried in, and formed part of the
fare, as in olden days: while once more musicians filled the
minstrels' gallery, great logs blazed in the huge fireplace, and
scarlet hangings were spread over the walls."

[Illustration: AN ANCIENT FIREPLACE.]

On the 20th of February, 1702, King William III. fell from his horse,
breaking his collar-bone and sustaining other serious injuries, which
terminated fatally on Sunday, the 8th of March. He was succeeded by
Queen Anne, who was the second daughter of King James II., and the
last of the Stuart sovereigns.

QUEEN ANNE KEPT A ROYAL CHRISTMAS

at Windsor, in 1703, and entertained the new King of Spain, who
arrived at Spithead on the 26th of December. "The Queen dispatched the
Dukes of Somerset and Marlborough to conduct him to Windsor, and
Prince George met him on the way at Petworth, the seat of the Duke of
Somerset, and conducted him to Windsor on the 29th. The King was
entertained in great state for three days at Windsor, during which
time he was politic enough to ingratiate himself with the Duchess of
Marlborough. When the Duchess presented the basin and napkin after
supper to the Queen for her to wash her hands, the King gallantly took
the napkin and held it himself, and on returning it to the Queen's
great favourite, he presented her with a superb diamond ring. After
three days the King returned to Portsmouth, and on the 4th of January,
1704, he embarked on board the fleet commanded by Sir George Rooke,
for Portugal, accompanied by a body of land forces under the Duke of
Schomberg. The voyage was, however, a most stormy one, and when the
fleet had nearly reached Cape Finisterre, it was compelled to put back
to Spithead, where it remained till the middle of February. His next
attempt was more successful, and he landed in Lisbon amid much popular
demonstration, though the court itself was sunk in sorrow by the death
of the Infanta, whom he went to marry."[75]

At the Christmas festivities the following year (1704) there