Burial for a Dog

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I wrote recently about Clotworthy House in Antrim, Ireland. There was another interesting story regarding Clotworthy Skeffington, 2nd Earl of Massereene. Nowadays he would have been called a loveable rogue. His behaviour was erratic and sometimes blamed on a fall as a boy. As an adult, he had a beloved pet dog which passed away at their Dublin residence. At the Earl's insistence, the dog was to receive all the privileges that would be bestowed on any family member. He was laid in state on the drawing room floor then removed to the Earl's wife's bed as people arrived for the wake. The body was then taken to Antrim for burial. The inhabitants of Antrim were commanded to follow the procession with their pets. The pets were to wear black scarves and attend the burial service. Later, in Bavaria, we would come across a fabulously weathy ruler who went to bizarre lengths to satisfy his whims. And while I don't normally comment on people's names, I'm glad my name isn't 'Clotworthy'. The photo is of a little dog from the same area. He was waiting patiently for his owner to finish his coffee.