“Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life to His Divine Mercy, the illustrious Frederick, Prince of Wales,” etc., etc.
The nobility and attendants returned in the same order as they proceeded, at half-an-hour after nine; so that the whole ceremony lasted an hour.
There was the utmost decorum observed, and, what is remarkable, though the populace were extremely noisy before the procession began, there was during the whole a silence that, if possible, added to the solemnity of so awful a sight.
The Guards, who each of them held two lighted flambeaux during the whole time, behaved so well, that we do not hear of any accident happening among the spectators that are remarkable. As soon as the procession began to move, two rockets were fired off in Old Palace Yard, as a signal to the guns in the Park to fire, which was followed by those of the Tower, during which time the great bells of Westminster and St. Paul’s Cathedral tolled, as did those of most of the churches in London.
The soldiers were kept on guard all Saturday night, and on Sunday, at the South Door of the Abbey, and on the scaffolding in Palace Yard. And yesterday the workmen began to take down the scaffolding.
The following inscription was engraved on a silver plate, and affixed to the coffin of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
Depositum.
Illustrissimi Principis Frederici Indovici Principes Walliæ,
Principis Electoralis Hereditarii Brunvici et Lunenbergi,
Ducis Cornubiæ Rothsaye et Edinburgu, Marchionis Insulæ
de Ely, Comitis Cestriæ Carrick et Eltham Voce Comitis
Launceston, Baronis Renfrew et Snowdon, Domini Insularum,
Senechalli Scotiæ, Nobillimini Ordinis Pericelidis Equites,
et a Sanctoribus Conciliis Majistati Regiæ, Academiæ
Dubliencis Cancellarii Filii primogeniti Cessissimi Polentissimi
et Excellentissimi Monarchæ Georgii Secundi, Dei Gratia
Magnii Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Britanniæ Regis
Fidei Defensoris obiit Vicessimod ie Martu Anno. MDCCL.
Eatatis suæ XLV.
So was poor Frederick borne into that Church in which his little son by Anne Vane already lay.
The following rough sketch of the arrangements for the Prince’s funeral was found in the State Paper Office and differs somewhat from the actual ceremony.