LYON COURT (obsolete spelling of lion ; so called front the lion on the royal shield). An in ferior court of Scotland, having jurisdiction in questions regarding coat armor and precedency, and also in certain matters connected with the execution of the law. lt is presided over by the Lyon king-of-arms or Lord Lyon. Attached to the Lyon Court aro a certain number of her alds (q.v.) and pursuivants (q.v.) appointed by him, whose principal duty is now the execu tion of royal proclamations in Edinburgh, though the heralds were, in old times, to some extent associated with the Lord Lyon in the exercise of his jurisdiction. Lyon appoints the messen gers-at-arms (1)Ilicers who execute the process of the Court of Session) ; superintends them in the execution of their dully; and in the exercise of his judicial function, takes cognizance of com plaints against them, and fines, suspends. or de prives them for malversation. The jurisdiction of the Lyon Court is defined by two acts of the Scottish Parliament, 1592, c. 127. and 167'). c. 21, and further regulated by :to Viet.. c. 17. •fhe
Scotch acts authorize the Lord Lyon to inspect the ensigns armorial of all noblemen and gentle men of Scotland, and oblige all persons who, by royal concession or otherwise, had previously a right to arms, to nmtriculate or register them in the Lyon's books. Ile is empowered to inquire into the relationship of younger branches of families having right to arms, and to "assign suitable differences to them, without which the arms cannot lawfully be borne." The later act establishes the now existing register of the Lyon Court as the "true and unrepeatable rule of all arms and bearings in Scotland," and authorizes the Lord Lyon to "give arms to virtuous and well-deserving persons," not hitherto entitled to bear them.
The register of genealogies is a. department of the Lyon office unconnected with heraldry, where evidence is taken of the pedigree of appli cants, irrespectively of noble or humble lineage, and recorded for preservation.