HERALDS' COLLEGE, or COL LEGE OF ARMS, a corporation founded by Richard III. in the first year of his reign by a charter dated the 2nd of March, 1483, in which he gives to the principal officers of the corporation a house called Colde Arbor, in the parish of All Hallows the Less, London. In the first year of the reign of Henry VII. this house was seized into the king's hands under the Act of Resumption as the personal property of John Writhe, then garter king at arms. During the reign of that king and of his successor Henry VIII. the heralds made several unsuccessful attempts by petition to ob tain a restoration of it, or the grant of some other building for their general use. King Edward VI., in the third year of his reign, by a charter dated June 4th, confirmed to them all their ancient privi leges and Philip and Mary, by charter of the 18th of July, 1554, re-incorporated them, and granted to them Derby House, then. occupying the site of the present
college on St. Bent's Hill, near St. Paul's Church-yard. The old building was destroyed in the great fire of London, but all the books, papers, &c. were fortu nately saved, and removed to the palace in Westminster, where the heralds held their chapters, &c., until the college was rebuilt. The corporation consists of the three kings at arms—Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy (Bath not being a mem ber) ; six heralds, and four pursuivants. [HERALD.] The arms of the college are argent, a cross, gules between four doves rising azure. Crest, on a ducal coronet, Or a dove rising azure. Supporters, two lions rampant gardant argent, ducally gorged Or. There is a heralds' college in Scotland, composed of Lyon king at arms, six heralds, and six pursuivants.