AN ACCOUNT OF THE Solemn Funeral AND INTERMENT OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The COUNTESS of ARRAN, As it was lately sent in a Letter or Narrative from DUBLIN.  
Bearing Date, Aug. 12. 1688.  
In the SAVOY. Printed by Tho. Newcombe, 1668.   

DUBLIN; August 21. 1668.  
THough we have not much News stirring here, the Vigilance of Our Governor, so generally beloved, and Our own Inclinations disposing us to Quietness and Peace, yet we grow every day more and more sensible of the Loss of the most excellent and incomparable young Lady the Countess of Arran; a Loss so General, as that it hath not only drowned that Noble Family (which had the Honour of Her Relation) in Mourning and Tears, but all who had the happiness to know her, in a very General Lamentation: And, truly, as it hath pleased God to take her to himself, so there hath not been wanting any Evidences of Honour to her Memory: And really her Funeral hath been performed with much Grandeur and Magnificence, suitable to the high Extraction and Relation of the Deceased Lady; so that I take it to be a piece of Justice to give you as particular an Account thereof as my own Observation could reach.  
The Body, after Embalming, was removed from Chapel Izod, where for some days it lay in Blacks, to a fair new House in Dammas-Street in Dublin, built by the late Lord Chancellor Eustace, which was thus fitted for its Reception.  
The Passage from the Great Gate, the large Common-Hall, and all other Rooms below Stairs, and the great Stair-case, were adorned with Blacks and Scutcheons; above Stairs there were five fair Rooms hung with Scutcheons and Black-cloath from top to bottom, the largest whereof (being the Antechamer to the State) was spread with a Foot-cloth of Black-Bayes of about six foot wide, leading directly from the Entrance into the State; on the right-hand of the State a large Passage-Roome hung with fine Black cloth, adorned with Scutcheons, and Back Stairs hung with Black and Scutcheons for Persons to go away to prevent Disorder, where so great Resort of Company came.  
The Room wherein the State lay, was hung with me Black Cloth, the very Roof and Floor all of Black.  
Over the Head of the Body there was erected a Noble Canopy, Cushions, Footstool, and Chair of State of Black Velvet, the Canopy adorned with several Scutcheons, and a Majesty Scutcheon within it over the Chair, with Supporters, in form of a Lozenge. The ground was raised upon which the Corpse lay, upon the head whereof on a Velvet Cushion was placed a Coronet, upon the Body a Rich Pall of Velvet adorned with Scutcheons upon each side the Body; and on the ascent were placed three Banner-Rolls, and at the Feet the Great Banner and Pennon, within them ten black Stands with Silver Candlesticks, and Virgin-wax Tapers. These all had a Rail without covered with Black to keep off the Crowd; at each Banner-Roll stood constantly a Gentlewoman attendant, and further off several Ladies of Quality paid their Respects; The whole Room, which was fair and high was enlightened with a noble fair silver Branch, and several carved Scenes of the same mettle with wax Tapers, and in all the other Rooms stood a great number of Gentlemen in deep mourning, who in a decent respectful silence gave reception to those that came to view that solemnity, which was visited by all of Quality, besides multitudes of people which daily resorted thither.  
After a months thus lying in State, upon the 17th of August instant, the Body proceeded towards the City of Kilkenny, after this form, to the best of my observation.  
First, two Servants conductors with black Staves on Horseback; then above sixty Servants all in black, ranked in order according to their Quality: after these an Ensign of Honour; then the Gentry and Nobility related, in deep mourning: after them, followed the great Banner, born by an Earl's Son a Relation; then the Steward and controller with their Staves; then the Chaplains; then one of the Officers of Arms, with the Cushion and Coronet, on his left hand the Countess' Gentleman Ʋsher.  
After these followed the principal Officer of Arms alone; then the Body carried in a Hearse of black Velvet, richly adorned with Shields, Scutcheons, Pencils and Plumes, drawn by six Horses covered with black, and adorned with Scutcheons, the Hearse surrounded with the Banners, carried by six persons, the meanest whereof was a Knight: upon the Hearse there did attend eight Coaches in mourning; after them near eighty Coaches, whereof the greater part had six Horses apiece.  
These by the diligence of the Officers, without any disorder or confusion, did decently pass through the City towards Kilkenny, the Gentlemen of the Country in large Bodies, meeting it upon the Road, most of them being in Mourning. The want of Accommodation upon the way for so great a Train, and of Houses fit for the Reception of that noble personages Body, forced them to pitch up several Tents, in one of the largest whereof hung Scutcheons and black; the Hearse was lodged, attended by Gentlemen in Mourning, wherein there were several Apartments for the Gentlewomen in Mourning, guarded by some of the Royal Regiment designed for that service without.  
Upon Wednesday the 19th. instant, the day appointed for the solemn interment, the Corpse was lodged as before in a fair large field, within two miles of Kilkenny, where at the hour appointed there was a very noble appearance of persons of Quality, and of Gentry from many remote parts of this Kingdom. These being formally drawn into order by the chief Officer of Arms, did afford a very solemn, though a sad prospect.  
The chief Mourner was the Countess of Ossory, who with the rest of the Ladies in their Coaches to the number of ten mourning Coaches, and about 50 more most of six Horses apiece followed the Hearse, all the men being on Horseback before, whereof there were about five hundred in black. There were present one Archbishop, one Marquis, twelve Earls and Viscounts, four Bishops, six Barons, besides Nobleman's younger sons, Baronet's, Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen, a great number, all in mourning.  
When they came within the precinct of St. Kennies Church, all alighted without confusion, as before, the chief Mourner being supported by the Marquis of Antrim and the Lord John Butler, a Gentleman going bare before on the left hand of the Officer of Arms, and the Pall was supported by those who were Brothers, or Brothers in Law to my Lord Lieutenant.  
When they came to consecrated Ground, they were met by the Bishop of Ossory, with many of the Clergy of his Diocese, together with the Dean of Christchurch, and his whole Choir, which waited upon the Hearse from Dublin, for the more solemn performance of Divine Service, and from the great West-gate, began their Anthem. The Church we found hung with Scutcheons and black, and at the East end was erected a sumptuous Hearse of Velvit, richly adorned with Shields, Scutcheons, and other glorious devices which pass my Heraldry to express.  
The Office of Interment was performed by the Bishop, and the Body of that sweet Lady reposed in a fair Valut wherein the Ancestors of the noble house of Ormond did rest; and though the malice of the late Rebellion did utterly deface and pull down as rich a Monument as this Kingdom, or perhaps most others could parallel, yet we despair not of another in a little time, since there is so rich a Treasure committed to the custody of that Vault; and since there are such alive, whom God long preserve, who leave undone nothing which befits the memory of that noble Lady or themselves.  
After the divine Service and Anthems (which were very solemnly and skilfully performed) and the office of Interment past, the Officer at Arms, repeated the Style and Titles of the Lady's descent, which concluded the Ceremony at Church.  
From the Church most of all those persons of Quality did repair to the Castle of Kilkenny, a seat very oble, Excellently furnished, where Lodgings were provided for the most considerable; there they found a spacious Hall hung with large rich Tapestry; and in it, besides many other Elsewhere, four large Tables covered, and within a little time furnished with 3t large silver Dishes at each Table thrice over, the last Course whereof was an Exquisite Banquet; of all which Noble Treat, though I am no competent judge, yet some present of Quality and experience protest, that in all their Travels they never saw greater plenty, variety and order, all this being managed without any noise or confusion.   
FINIS.