Processional Roll of a Scottish Armorial Funeral, stated to have been used for the Obsequies of George, 1st Marquess of Huntly, 1636

Abstract

A description of the long and picturesque roll of an early seventeenth-century Scottish funeral procession is presented. According to the backing the procession is that of the funeral of George, 1st Marquis of Huntly, June 1636. A brief history of the life of Huntly is included. However, there is not a single emblem which can be relied on conclusively identifying this roll with the funeral procession of either this or any other Marquis or Earl of Huntly, or indeed with anybody at all, a point which emphasises the historical importance of heraldry, and the unfortunate results of neglecting to depict it with at least a reasonable attempt at accuracy. It is argued that the heraldry is deliberately indefinite, has no reference to any particular person, family or funeral, and that the conventional order of funeral procession for a nobleman in Scotland, at or about the beginning of the seventeenth century is presented.