When Lord FitzAlan was sworn in, I, as the senior acting Lord Justice, had to take an important part in the ceremonial. His Majesty’s most honourable Privy Council were seated at the table in the Council chamber, Dublin Castle, all wearing their top hats. I, as senior Lord Justice, with my hat on, was seated in the high chair that does duty as a throne. Then the door to the right opens, and the Ulster King of Arms, in his magnificent tabard, appears. Behind him comes a stranger in civilian dress, with his head uncovered. To him nobody pays any attention, but what is this? He hands me a parchment, to which is attached the Great Seal. Our Excellencies, suspicious of this document, hand it to the clerk of the Council to read. Even then we are not convinced; we still remain seated with our hats on. Then the uncovered stranger produces a letter, purporting to come from His Majesty. Still suspicious, our Excellencies hand it down to the Senior Privy Councillor (Mr. Justice Gibson) to read. The letter authorizes and commands us to deliver the sword of state to his Lordship. I then proceed to hand him the sword and to invest him with the insignia of the most illustrious Order of St. Patrick.
Then our downfall from our high estate takes place. His Excellency steps up into the high chair, and puts on his hat. The Privy Councillors and I humbly take off our hats in salute to the Lord-Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland.
— John Ross (1924) The Years of my Pilgrimage: Random Reminiscences (London: Edward Arnold) pp. 292–293
