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Not far from the College of Doctors Commons, stood the College of Heralds, now Rebuilt.
It was an antient House Built by Thomas Stan∣ley Earl of Derby, who Married the Mother of King Henry the VII. and was bestowed by Queen Mary on the King's Heralds, and Pursuivants at Arms for
ever, to the end that they and their Successors might dwell together (if they so pleased,) and Assemble, Confer and Agree for the good Government of their Faculty, and that their Records might there be safely preserved.
These are to be the Messengers of War and Peace, they are skilful in Descents, Pedigrees, and Coats of Arms. They were made a College or Corporati∣on by Charter of King Richard the III. and by him had several Priviledges granted unto them; as to be free from Subsidies, Tolls, and all troublesom Offices of the Kingdom. Another Charter of Pri∣viledges was granted unto the Society by King Ed∣ward the VI, in the Third year of his Reign.
Of this Collegiate Society are three stiled Kings at Arms, six called Heralds, and four Pursuivants at Arms.
The first and principal among the Kings at Arms, is called Garter, Instituted by King Henry the fifth, whose Office (as was said in the Section wherein the King's Court is treated of) is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their Solemnities, and to Marshal the Solemnities at the Funerals of the higher Nobi∣lity of England, to advertise those that are chosen of their New Election, to call on them to be In∣stal••ed at Windsor, to cause their Arms to be hung up upon their Seats there, to Carry the Garter to Kings and Princes beyond Seas; for which purpose he was want to be joyn'd in Commission with some principal Peer of the Realm, &c.
The next is Clarencieux, so called from the Duke of Clarence, to whom he first belonged: For Lionel, Third Son to Edward the Third, Marrying the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Ʋlster in Ireland, had with her the honour of Clare in Tho∣mond, whereupon he was afterwards Created Duke of Clarence, or the Territory about Clare; which Dukedom Escheating to King Edward the Fourth,
by the Death of his Brother George Duke of Cla∣rence, he made this Herald, who properly belonged to that Duke, a King at Arms, and named him Cla∣rencieux in French, and Clarentius in Latine. His Office is to Marshal and dispose the Funerals of the Lower Nobility, as Baronets, Knights, Esquires and Gentlemen on the South-side of Trent, and there∣fore sometimes called Surroy, or Southroy.
The Third King at Arms is Norroy, or Northroy, whose Office is to do the like on all the North-side of Trent. These two are called Provincial Heralds, England being divided by them into two Pro∣vinces.
These, by Charter, have power to visit Noble∣mens Families, to set down their Pedigrees, to di∣stinguish their Arms, to appoint men their Arms on Ensigns, and with Garter to Direct the Heralds.
The Six Heralds, antiently belonging properly to Dukes, have been called Dukes at Arms, and are thus called and Ranked. 1. Windsor. 2. Richmond, 3. Chester. 4. Somerset. 5. York. 6. Lancaster, who now wait at Court, attend Publick Solemnities, Pro∣claim War and Peace, &c. Of these Heralds there are at present but Four, who are named Rouge-Cross, Rouge-Dragon, Portcullice, and Blew-mantle; from such Badges heretofore worn by them, as it is thought. The Service of the whole College is used in Marshalling and ordering Coronations, Marriages, Christnings, Funerals, Interviews, Feasts of Kings and Princes, Cavalcades, Shews, Justs, Tourna∣ments, Combats before the Constable and Marshal, &c. to take care of the Coats of Arms, of the Ge∣nealogies of the Nobility and Gentry; and whatso∣ever concerns Honour. They all receive yearly Sal∣laries out of the Exchequer, and are to be Gentle∣men at least. The Six Heralds are Exp••esly made Esquires by the King, when they are Created; which is now done by the Earl-Marshal, who hath
a special Commission for every particular Creation, which anciently was performed by the King himself. For the Creating and Crowning Garter King at Arms, there are provided a Sword and Book, whereon to take a Solemn Oath; then a Gilt Crown, a Collar of SS's, a Bowl of Wine, which Bowl is the Fee of the New Created King, also a Coat of Arms of Velvet, richly Embroidered.
He is thus Created. First he kneels down before the Earl-Marshal, and laying his hand on the Book and Sword, another King at Arms reads the Oath; which being taken, and the Book and Sword, the Letters Patents of his Office are read, during which the Earl-Marshal pours the Wine on his head, gi∣ving him the Name of Garter, then puts on him the Coat of Arms and Collar of SS's, and the Crown on his head.
His Oath is, To obey the Supream Head of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and then the No∣ble Knights of that Order, in such things as apper∣tain to his Office; to inquire diligently what Nota∣ble or Noble Acts are performed by every Knight of the Order, and certifie the same to the Register of the Order, that he may Record it, and to give Notice to the King and the Knights of the Order, of the Death of any of that Society: To have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility, to instruct Heralds and Pursuivants in doubts concerning Arms, and to eschew and avoid all persons of ill reputati∣on; to be more ready to excuse then to blame any Noble person, unless called by Authority to Witness against them, &c.
This Officer hath a Double Sallary, that is, twice as much as the other two Kings; he hath Fees at Instalments, yearly Wages given by the Knights of the Garter, and their uppermost Garment when In∣stalled, &c.
The two Provincial Kings at Arms, Clarencieux and Norroy, are Created by Letters Patents, a Book, a Sword, &c. as Garter, and with almost the same Ceremonies.
A Herald at Arms is Created with the like Ce∣remony, but his Coat of Arms is to be Satin, imbroi∣dered richly with Gold, he is brought in by two He∣ralds, as a King at Arms is by two Kings at Arms.
They take a Solemn Oath to be true to the King, to be serviceable to Gentlemen, to keep Secrets of Knights, Esquires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, to assist distressed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, Wi∣dows and Virgins, to avoid Taverns, Dicing, and Whore-Houses, &c. The Pursuivants at Arms are Created likewise by Letters Patents, a Book, a Bowl of Wine, and a Coat of Arms of Damask, and to be brought in as the Heralds before the Earl-Mar∣shal or his Deputy; to Swear Solemnly to be true to the King, to be serviceable to all Christians, to be Secret and Sober, more ready to commend than to blame, to be humble, lowly, &c.
This College felt the fury of the great Fire, but is since very beautifully re-built by the Members, and the bountiful contribution of Honourable Persons. Here are always Officers waiting to satisfie Comers, touching Descents, Pedigrees, Coats of Arms, &c. These Officers are the King's Sworn Servants, of which see the fourth Section of the third Chapter, where we treated of the King's Court.