The GEORGE, which occurs seventeen times in Essex, is another royal sign. In some instances it doubtless represents St. George, our patron saint, disconnected from his dragon; but, more probably, it has usually been set up--at least, of late--in honour of our Hanoverian kings. There is, however, abundant evidence that even as early as the very beginning of the seventeenth century, St. George, the Patron Saint of England, had already appeared on the sign-board without his usual antagonist the Dragon. Thus, “Blague, the merry host of the GEORGE at Waltham,” figures prominently in _The Merry Divel of Edmonton_, published in 1617--a curious play, which Kirkman attributed to Shakespeare. The scene is partly laid in Waltham Forest. Poor Robin, too, in his _Perambulation_ also mentions a GEORGE at Bishops Stortford in 1678. Mr. H. W. King also finds evidence in ancient deeds that the GEORGE at Leigh was an inn as early as 1680, but the house itself is probably somewhat earlier. In 1777 it is described as “now and for some time past known as the sign of the George.” It had ceased to be an inn by 1801, though then and long afterwards described as “a messuage called the George,” the words “known by the sign of” being omitted. It was also a brewery. Mr. King also finds evidence in other ancient deeds of the existence of a GEORGE at Rayleigh in 1623, but whether an inn, shop, or private house, does not appear. The *GEORGE at Epping (perhaps identical with the GEORGE AND DRAGON which now occurs there) is mentioned in the _Chelmsford Chronicle_ in 1764; while the GEORGE at Halstead and the *GEORGE at Witham (perhaps both identical with the well-known houses now existing under the same name at each of those places) are frequently referred to in advertisements in the same paper for 1786, the latter as being then to let. A small stone slab, let into the front of the GEORGE AND DRAGON Inn at Wanstead, bears the following inscription:-- “_Restorat._ 1858. R. C.--In memory of y^{e} Cherrey Pey as cost ½ a Guiney, y^{e} 17th of July, 1752. That day we had good cheer, I hope to so do many a year.--David Jersey.” The GEORGE AND DRAGON also occurs eight times elsewhere in the county, as well as on several beer-house signs. At Chelmsford there is an OLD GEORGE (beer-house). Mr. H. W. King also finds mention in early deeds of a house known as the GEORGE AND TANKARD at Shopland in 1579. It is not stated that it was an inn, but from the sign there can be very little doubt that it was. The appearance of an apparently impaled sign at so early a date is certainly very remarkable. Larwood and Hotten do not notice this device. Various military signs occur at places where there are barracks. For instance, there are at Colchester houses with such signs as the BUGLE HORN, the ARTILLERY-MAN, the RIFLEMAN, the DRAGOON, the *FENCERS (a sign which is at least forty years old, though it is not mentioned by Larwood [Illustration: GRENADIER.]