IIER'ALD, the title of an officer in Eng land whose duty it anciently was to declare war, to challenge in battle and combat, to proclaim peace, and to execute martial messages; but who is, at present, to conduct royal processions, the creations of nobility, and the ceremonies of knighthood ; to publish declarations of war, not to the enemy, but at home ; to proclaim peace; to record and blazon armorial bearings; and to regulate abuses in arms. under the authority of the earl marshal, by whom be is created. The heralds were formed into a college by Richard the Third. The three chief heralds are called kings at anus, the principal of which is Garter ; the next is called Clareneieux, and the third Norroy ; these two last are called provincial heralds. Besides these there are six other inferior heralds, viz., York, Lancaster, Somerset, Richmond, Chester, and Windsor; to which, on the accession of king George I. to the crown, a new herald was added, styled Hanover her ald; and another styled Gloucester king at anns.—Heralds, amongst the ancient
Greeks and Romans, were held in great estimation, and looked upon as sacred. Those of Greece carried in their hands a rod of laurel, round which two serpents, without crests, were twisted as emblems of peace.
IlEll'ALDRY, is the art, practice, ot science of recording genealogies, and bla• zoning arms or ensigns armorial ; or it the science of conventional distinctions impressed on shields, banners, and other military accoutrements. It also teaches whatever relates to the marshalling of cavalcades, processions, and other public ceremonies.—Heraldry has been divided into personal and national. The first of these divisions treats of bearings belong big to individuals, either in their own or in hereditary right. The second treats of distinctive emblems adopted by civil communities.