HERALDRY. 
would answer the contempt, thereof at their 
peril. 
The said Thomas Earl of Lancaster, also 
ordained, that (for the better observing of 
the aforesaid order) all the Kings of Arms 
should keep their chapters once every 
quarter of the year, at least, and that they 
should make their visitations in their pro- 
vinces, or their marshals for them, every 
seventh year. And he likewise ordained, 
that the heralds, at the interment of every 
gentleman, (where they were called to that 
service) should take the pedigree, with 
diligent examination of old folks, and re- 
cord the same. , 
The heralds, in former times, frequently 
attended their sovereigns in their wars 
abroad ; and in their progress, were often 
dispatched to other princes, with messages 
of war, as defiances, &c. and if they re- 
ceived any violence or affront from those 
princes to whom they were sent, it was 
highly resented by him whom they served. 
In the reign of King Edward III. Henry 
King of Castile sent an herald to the 
Black Prince, to know why he invaded his 
kingdom; and in 1415, King Henry V. of 
England, sending Antelope Pursuivant at 
Arms, from Southampton to the French 
King, to demand restitution of what he had 
detained wrongfully from him ; the said 
King of France sent Montjoy King of Arms, 
from Roan, to assure King Henry he would 
give him battle. 
The Emperor’s herald defied Francis I. 
king of France ; and giving his master all 
his titles, of Castile, Leon, Arragon, Naples, 
&c. in a long roll, King Francis commanded 
his heralds to receive the challenge, and to 
repeat Francis as many times as the other 
had kingdoms and petty titles. 
At the baptism of Madame Isabelle de 
France, to whom King Henry VIII. of Eng- 
land was godfather, the infant's name was 
proclaimed by the king’s and heralds of arms, 
both of France and England, having their 
coats of arms adorned with the arms of both 
kings. 
In the year 1635, a French herald was 
sent from Paris to Flanders, where, by sound 
of trumpet, he denounced and proclaimed 
war against the King of Spain, and all his 
dominions, andfixed up and left the defiance 
in all the towns he passed. 
Besides kings and princes, divers noble- 
men in ancient time had dlso their heralds 
and pursuivants, as in the reign of Richard II. 
anno 1379, the Earl of Northumberland 
sent an herald named Northumberland to 
that king, for a safe conduct to come and 
commune with him. 
In 1436, the Duke of Gloucester sent his 
herald, named Pembroke, to defy the Duke 
of Burgundy ; and the Duke of Bedford 
had his herald, named Bedford, whom he 
sent to defy Charles VII. of France. 
In 1496, the thirteenth of Henry VII. 
the Earl of Surry sent Norroy king of arms, 
to the captain of Hayton-Castle, (which was 
one of the strongest places between Ber- 
wick and Edinburgh) to deliver him the 
said castle, which he refused ; and whilst 
the said Earl lay at Ilayton, the King of 
Scotland sent to him Marchmont, and ano- 
ther herald, with a challenge, either to fight 
army to army, or person to person. 
Heralds have likewise been employed in 
justs and tournaments; and as to shields and 
arms, we read that King Henry III. in the 
twenty-eighth of his reign, anno 1244, com- 
manded the keepers of the Archbishoprick • 
of Canterbury, that they caused to be 
brought a fair stone, to tye laid upon the 
body of Gerald Fitz-Maurice, who was jus- 
tice of Ireland, and died at Canterbury, and 
also commanded them to set thereon his 
shield with his arms. And thus much may 
suffice to show the antiquity of heralds, and 
in some measure their use ; next of their 
college. 
Of the College of Heralds. This college 
is seated upon St. Bennet’s Hill, near Doc- 
tor’s Commons, and was the ancient house 
of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, who 
married Margaret Countess of Richmond, 
mother of Henry VII. ; and the Duke of 
Norfolk, having in lieu thereof exchanged 
lands with the crown, he procured the same 
to be bestowed by Queen Mary on the 
King’s heralds and pursuivants of arms for 
ever; to the end that they might reside to- 
gether, (if they pleased) and assemble and 
agree together, for the good government of 
their faculty, and that their records miglrt 
be there safely preserved, &c. 
Since the fire of London, 1666, which 
consumed the whole house, it is fairly and 
conveniently rebuilt, with a large room for 
the keeping the Court of Honour, together 
with a library and houses and apartments 
for the officers thereto belonging. 
They were made a college or corporation 
by charter of King Richard III. and by 
him (being wholly employed and entrusted 
in regulating all affairs belonging to the 
noble science of arms) had several privi- 
leges granted them, as to be free from sub- 
sidies, tolls, and all manner of offices in the 
