Sir William commanded the Royal Artillery
in the Western District of England from 1881 to 1885, when
he was promoted Major-General. Prior to 1881 he had commanded
the Eastern District for over a year. Sir William has been
a Colonel-Commandant since 1865 and is now full General. On
retiring from the army, after his long and distinguished service,
he settled in Sussex, near Horsham, where he bought the estate
of Woodgaters. He is a J.P. and a District and County Councillor,
and takes a most active interest in the affairs and business
of the county.
Sir William married a daughter of General Barr, and has a
family of two sons and four daughters. It is interesting to
know that Sir William's eldest son bids fair to worthily uphold
the fame attaching to the names of his ancestors. He has served
as an officer in the Miners' Guard Rifles during the present
South African war, and for his services has been awarded a
government inspectorship of mines in the Krugers-dop district.
CHAPTER XX.
THE CHAPMEN'S LOUP.
Chapmen's Incorporation, 1530—Acquire a Right to the Cross—St
Jerome's Day—Ancient Fairs and Markets—Gatherings at the Cross—
Great Processions—Election of Office-Bearers—Annual Sports
at the Cross —A Curious Description of the Sports—The Ancient
Cross—Historical Account—Descriptive Account—Is the Cross
a Tree Fossil?—How the Unicorn lost his Horn and his Paws.
ANCIENT AND ROYAL FRATERNITY OF
CHAPMEN OF THE THREE LOTHIANS,
INCORPORATED
1530.
WEMYSS LORD,
We hereby command your presence at OUR ANCIENT CROSS, on Tuesday,
the 8th of July, at Twelve o'clock, when WE will hold OUR
COURT and Celebrate the Annual Solemnities of the Fraternity.
Thereafter WE with OUR COUNCIL will proceed in STATE to witness
the Sports and Pastimes of the VILLAGERS, and afterwards survey
OUR extensive Estates, accompanied by Lord-Depute Hume, Custodian
of the CROSS and Inspector General of the PRESTONPANS POSSESSIONS.
At Half-past Three o'clock WE will meet OUR Brethren
at Haddington, in the
GREAT HALL
Adjoining the Council Room of OUR Ancient Burgh, which
has been georgously decorated for the occasion, and where
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