He bears a staff of gold tipped with black, having the king's arms enamelled on one end, and his own at the other, and takes his place with the Lord Great Chamberlain, or the Constable, next be fore the sword.
At a coronation, the Earl Marshal has the ordering of the Abbey of Westmin ster, and sees the regalities and robes of King Edward the Confessor to be in a readiness where the solemnity is held.
He appoints the building of the throne whereon the King or Queen is to be crowned, and gives orders to the gentle men-ushers, for the covering and furnish ing thereof with hangings, chairs, carpets, cushions, &c.
At such time the Earl Marshal is one of those that does all the nearest offices to the King's person, as to help to lead him, and to support his Majesty in his chair, putting his hand, with others of the nobi Jay, to set the crown on his head, doing his homage first, and then presenting the nobility in their several degrees, being all vested in their robes of estate, wear ing their coronets when they do their ho mage.
At the creation of any great estate, as Duke, Marquis, or Earl, the Earl Mar shal has the furniture of the said estate, or a composition for it, as also by ancient custom he has had the like of archbishops, bishops, and abbots, at their consecra tions.
At the funeral obsequies of kings, queens, and princes, the Earl Marshal is a chief commissioner, appointed with the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Great Cham berlain, and others of the Lords of the King's Council, to give orders to the wardrobe, for the distribution of black for mourners, for the furnishing the hearse with velvets, palls of cloth of gold, escutcheons, banners, and hatchments, giving charge to the officers of arms to give their attendance, and to see all things royally and princely performed.
Assisted by the king and heralds, he marshals and orders the prodlamation and coronation of our kings, their marriages, christenings, funerals, cavalcades, royal interviews, feasts, &c.: and also when war or peace is proclaimed ; so that he keeps a court of chivalry in the common hall of the college of heralds, where they sit as his council and assistants, in their rich coats of his Majesty's arms, being all the King's servants in ordinary and besides these, there are six proctors, who are to plead all causes relating to coats of arms, that are tried before the Earl Marshal, or his deputy, in the college of heralds.
The manner of admitting officers into the College of Arms is as follows : At their first entry, they are commend ed to the sovereign by a bill signed by the Earl Marshal's hand ; which done, the signs the same, and so it passes the privy seal and broad seal ; and that once obtained, they are to be sworn and created by the Earl Marshal, or his de puty.
Of the _Kings of .qrms. 1. Garter prin cipal King of Arms of Englishmen, and chief officer of arms of the most noble order of the Garter. 2. Clarencieux King of Arms. 3. Norroy King of Arms.
Garter. This officer was constituted by King Henry V. with the advice and con. sent of the Knights of the Garter, for the service of the said most noble society, and from thence Wok his name; and his Majesty, for the greater dignity of the order, being pleased to annex thereto the office of principal King of Meng, from hence he is honoured with two distinct titles, Garter, and principal King of Arms.
The duty of his office, in relation to the Garter, is, in general, to perform whate ver the sovereign, prelate,,,or chancellor of the said order, shall enjoin him relat ing .thereto ; such as carrying the rod and sceptre at every feast of St. George, when the Sovereign is present, to notify the election of such Knights as are newly elected, to call upon them to be installed at Windsor, to attend the solemnity at their installation, to cause their arms to be put over their seats in the chapel there, to marshal the funeral rites and ceremonies of those knights, to carry the Garter to foreign kings and princes, that are chosen to be knights of that most no. ble order, to take cognizance of the arms of the nobility, and to make supporters to those created to any new degree of peerage ; for which he has allowed him a salary and fees, both from the Sove reign and the knights.