Kings At Arms - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: kings at armsKings-at-Arms
Kings-at-Arms. The principal herald of England was of old designated king of the heralds, a title which seems to have been exchanged for king-at-arms about the reign of Henry IV. The kings-at-arms at present existing in England are three: Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, besides Bath, who is not a member of the college. Scotland is placed under an officer called Lyon King-at-Arms, and Ireland is the province of one named Ulster. See HERALD....
Herald
Herald [fr. here, Sax., an army, and heald, a champion; herault, heraut, Fr.; herald, Ger.; araldo, Ital.; because it was part of his office to charge or challenge unto battle or combat], an officer who registers genealogies, adjusts ensigns armorial, regulates funerals, and carries messages between princes, and proclaims war and peace. Heralds were anciently called Dukes at Arms, probably from the Latin ducere ad arma; because the conducting of affairs concerning peace and war devolved upon them, their office being to carry messages to the enemy, and to proclaim war and peace. Hence the persons of heralds were deemed sacred by the law of nations, and were received and protected by belligerent powers, as flags of truce are in the present day. The three chief heralds are called Kings of Arms; of whom (1) Garter is the principal, instituted by Henry V. His office is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their solemnities, and to marshal the funerals of the nobility. (2) Clarencieux King...
Norroy
The most northern of the English Kings at arms See King at arms under King...
Norroy
Norroy [fr. nord and roy, Fr.], the title of the third of the three kings-at-arms, or provincial heralds. See HERALDS....
Clarenceux
See King at arms...
Monasticon anglicanum
Monasticon anglicanum. A monumental work by Sir Wm. Dugdale, Kt., Garter Principal King-at-Arms, originally published in Latin. It contains a history of the abbeys and other monasteries, hospitals, friaries and cathedral and collegiate churches with their dependencies in England and Wales, and also of all such Scotch, Irish and French monasteries as were connected with religious houses in England. The best modern edition is that published in 1817-1830, under the editorship of Messrs. Caley, Ellis and Bandinel....
Messengers-at-arms
Messengers-at-arms are the king's officers who execute all writs passing from the Court of Session. It actions emanating from the Supreme Court in Scotland personal service on a defender can only be effected by a messenger-at-arms....
Poursuivant
Poursuivant, a king's messenger; those employed in martial causes were called Poursuivants-at-Arms.There are, at present, in the Heralds' Office four poursuivants, distinguished by the names following:-(1) Rouge Croix.--Instituted at an uncertain period, but generally considered to be the most ancient. The title was doubtless derived from the cross of St. George.(2) Blue Mantle..--An office instituted by Edward III. or Henry V., and named either in allusion to the colour of the arms of France or to that of the robes of the Order of the Garter.(3) Rouge Dragon.--This poursuivancy was founded by Henry VII. on the day before his coronation, the name being derived from the ensign of his ancestor, Cadwaladyr. He also assumed a red dragon as the dexter supporter of his arms.(4) Portcullis.--This office was instituted by the same monarch, from one of whose badges the title was derived. See HERALD. As to the office of Paurguivant of the Great seal, ss. 37 & 38, Vict. C. 81....
Sergeant
Formerly in England an officer nearly answering to the more modern bailiff of the hundred also an officer whose duty was to attend on the king and on the lord high steward in court to arrest traitors and other offenders He is now called sergeant at arms and two of these officers by allowance of the sovereign attend on the houses of Parliament one for each house to execute their commands and another attends the Court Chancery...
Champion of the King (or Queen)
Champion of the King (or Queen), an ancient officer, whose duty (hereditary in the family of Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire) it was to ride armed cap-a-pie into Westminster Hall at the coronation, while the king was at dinner, and by the proclamation of a herald, make a challenge, 'that if any man shall deny the King's title to the crown, he is there ready to defend it in single combat.' The king drank to hi, and sent him a gilt cup covered, full of wine, which the champion drank, retaining the cup for his fee. The ceremony, long discontinued, was revived at the coronation of George IV., but not afterwards....
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