ELEMENTS OF A RARE HORSE CAPARISON, FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY ENGLISH of velvet-covered leather (extensive wear, perished), retaining eight gilt-brass plaques decorated in an openwork design with the owner's arms within an oval foliate frame, six with his crest framed en suite, numerous gilt brass rectangular bosses, flowers, small foliate panels and buckles, and the brass elements remaining in generally good condition Provenance Sotheby's, 9th February 1970, lot 110. The arms are those of Sir John Parsons (1613-1717) and his son, Humphrey Parsons (circa 1676-1741). Sir John Parsons was from a prosperous London brewing family. He was proprietor of the Red Lion brewery in East Smithfield and his operations included export and naval contracting. He was knighted by James II and became a prominent figure in Civic London, being alderman (from 1689), lord mayor (1703-4), and a member of parliament for Reigate in 1685 and from 1689 almost continuously to his death in 1717. He was a pronounced Tory with Jacobite leanings. His third and only surviving son Humphrey inherited the brewery and followed his father, becoming alderman (1721), sheriff (1722-3), and twice lord mayor of London (1730, 1740), as well as master of the Grocers' Company (1726-31) and president of the Bethlem and the Bridewell hospitals. He was a member of parliament for Harwich (1722-7) and London (from 1727 until his death in 1741). His great personal popularity in London added significantly to his political importance as its member of parliament. Humphrey was a keen horseman and is described as being passionately addicted to the hunt as well as keeping a 'brilliant stable', which is borne out by the sumptuous nature of the present caparison. Humphrey continued his father's success at the Red Lion Brewery and it became one of the four largest breweries in the capital in the second quarter of the eighteenth century. He handled the principle export trade in beer to France, its success no doubt driven largely by his goods being exempted from import duty. This exemption was a privilege bestowed on him by Louis XV, when he came to the king's notice during a hunt in France. Parsons's spirited English courser outstripped the rest, and, in contravention of the usual etiquette, brought him in at the death. In response to the king's enquiries, Parsons was maliciously described to him as 'un chevalier de Malte.' At an interview which followed, Parsons offered his horse, which had attracted the king's admiration, for his majesty's acceptance. The horse was accepted, and the king, who showed him every mark of favour, presented him with his portrait set in diamonds on 16 Feb. 1731. A broadside of 1741 entitled 'A Hymn to Alderman Parsons, our Lord Mayor,' describes him as a churchman, an incorruptible tory, and continues: in France he is respected / The French King does agree / That he should bring his beer / Over there duty free. Humphrey was a frequent visitor to France before this time and became one of the Pretender's most valued correspondents in London, though it is not clear precisely what services he was able to render beyond acting as a conduit for the introduction of Jacobite tracts. He died on 21 March 1741 during his second term as lord mayor, and was buried at Reigate. His popularity is suggested by a number of engravings published around the time of his death.