the salute, will be pleased merely to raise
the brim of your hat."

They moved off, in procession, towards a door at the far side of the
room. The Usher of the Black Rod walked in front; then Blue Mantle,
carrying the cushion; then the King-at-Arms; and after him came
Gwynplaine, wearing his hat. The rest, kings-at-arms, heralds, and
pursuivants, remained in the circular room. Gwynplaine, preceded by the
Usher of the Black Rod, and escorted by the King-at-Arms, passed from
room to room, in a direction which it would now be impossible to trace,
the old Houses of Parliament having been pulled down. Amongst others, he
crossed that Gothic state chamber in which took place the last meeting
of James II. and Monmouth, and whose walls witnessed the useless
debasement of the cowardly nephew at the feet of his vindictive uncle.
On the walls of this chamber hung, in chronological order, nine
fell-length portraits of former peers, with their dates--Lord
Nansladron, 1305; Lord Baliol, 1306; Lord Benestede, 1314; Lord
Cantilupe, 1356; Lord Montbegon, 1357; Lord Tibotot, 1373; Lord Zouch of
Codnor, 1615; Lord Bella-Aqua, with no date; Lord Harren and Surrey,
Count of Blois, also without date.

It being now dark, lamps were burning at intervals in the galleries.
Brass chandeliers, with wax candles, illuminated the rooms, lighting
them like the side aisles of a church. None but officials were present.
In one room, which the procession crossed, stood, with heads
respectfully lowered, the four clerks of the signet, and the Clerk of
the Council. In another room stood the distinguished Knight Banneret,
Philip Sydenham of Brympton in Somersetshire. The Knight Banneret is a
title conferred in time of war, under the unfurled royal standard. In
another room was the senior baronet of England, Sir Edmund Bacon of
Suffolk, heir of Sir Nicholas Bacon, styled, _Primus baronetorum
Anglicae_. Behind Sir Edmund was an armour-bearer with an arquebus, and
an esquire carrying the arms of Ulster, the baronets being the
hereditary defenders of the province of Ulster in Ireland. In another
room was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his four accountants, and
the two deputies of the Lord Chamberlain, _appointed to cleave the
tallies_.[21]

At the entrance of a corridor covered with matting, which was the
communication between the Lower and the Upper House, Gwynplaine was
saluted by Sir Thomas Mansell of Margam, Comptroller of the Queen's
Household and