Besides kings and princes, divers noble men in ancient time had also their he ralds and pursuivants, as in the reign of Richard II. anno 1379, the Earl of North umberland sent an herald, named North umberland, to 'that king, for a safe con duct to come and commune with him.
In 1436, the duke of Gloucester sent his herald, named Pembroke, to defy the Duke of Burgundy ; and the Duke of Bed ford had his herald, named Bedford, whom h.e sent to defy Charles VII. of France.
In 1496, the thirteenth of Henry VII. the earl of Surry sent Norroy king of arms to the captain of Ayton-Castle, (which was one of the strongest places between Berwick and Edinburgh) to de liver him the said castle, which he re fused ; and whilst the said Earl lay at Ayton, the King of Scotland sent to him Marchmont, and another herald, with a challenge, either to fight army to army, or person to person.
Heralds have likewise been employed in jousts and tournaments ; and as to shields and arms, we read that King Henry III. in the twenty-eighth of his reign, anno 1244, commanded the keepers of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, that they caused to be brought a fair stone, to be laid upon the body of Gerald Fitz-Mau rice, who was jugtice of Ireland, and died at Canterbury, and also commanded them to set thereon his shield with his arms.
And thus much may suffice to show the antiquity of heralds, and in some measure their use ; next of their college.
Of the College of Heralds. This College is seated upon St. Bennet's Hill, near Doc tor's Commons, and was the ancient house of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, who married Margaret Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII.: and the Duke of Norfolk, having in lieu thereof exchanged lands with the crown, he procured the same to be bestowed by Queen Mary on the King's heralds and pursuivants of arms for ever : to the end that they might re side together, (if they pleased) and as semble and agree together, for the good government of their faculty, and that their records might be there safely preserved, &c.
Since the fire of London, 1666, which consumed the whole house, it is fairly and conveniently rebuilt, with a large room for the keeping the Court of Honour, to gether with a library, and houses and apartments for the officers thereto belong ing.
They were made a college or corpora tion by charter of King Richard III. and by him (being wholly employed and en trusted in regulating all affairs belonging to the noble science of arms) had several privileges granted them ; as to be free from subsidies, tolls, and all manner of offices in the kingdom ; all which privileges were confirmed by King Edward VI. in the
third of his reign ; and for their regular proceedings have a public signet, where with they seal and authorise all business concerted in the office.
Of this collegiate society are (besides the Earl Marshal, who is their head) three kings of arms, six heralds, and four pill'. snivants ; all which we will speak of in their order.
Of the Earl Marshal. This great office, which is hereditary in the noble family of Howard, Dukes of Norfolk, (descended by the mother's side from Thomas de Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham, the first Earl Marshal of England) which office is now held by his Grace Charles Duke of Norfolk ; and by the statute of 31 Henry VIII. has his place next after the Lord Great Chamberlain, and Constable, and before the Lord High Admiral, and Lord Steward of the King's house.
This officer, who is governor of the col lege of heralds, has sometimes been the King's lieutenant general in martial af fairs, and is an Earl by his office, which no other officer in England is.
The Earl Marshal's court was held in the college of heralds, wherein he took cognizance of all matters of war and arms, being commonly guided by the civil law.
Ile determines all questions and differ ences that may arise between the heralds and other persons, concerning pedigrees, honour, arms, crest, supporters, and en signs armorial ; and he, or his deputy, being judge and head of the college, has power of making rules, ordinances, and decrees, for regulating thereof.
As in the college of heralds, the arms of all the families and names in England are (or ought to he) recorded, together with the time when their arms were granted, and upon what occasion ; and as in the said office every man's fame and dignity are preserved ; so his Lordship bath power by special commission, under the great seal of England, of prohibiting the provincial kings (which are Claren cieux and Norroy) to give and grant any new arms without his Lordship's consent ; and when any such are usurped, and un justly borne, he has power to examine and disclaim the same, and to punish the parties that shall falsely assume the arms of another.