Hennage lane, Duke’s Place.
Henrietta street, 1. Cavendish square. 2. Covent Garden.
Henry street, Old street.
Hepper’s wharf, near Puddle dock, Thames street.†
Hepworth’s alley, Dancing Bridge.†
Heralds Office, or the College of Arms, is situated upon St. Bennet’s hill, near Doctors Commons, at the south west end of St. Paul’s cathedral. This office was destroyed by the dreadful conflagration in 1666, and rebuilt about three years after. It is a square, inclosed by regular brick buildings, which are extremely neat without expensive decorations. The floors are raised above the level of the ground, and there is an ascent to them by flights of plain steps. The principal front is in the lower story ornamented with rustic, upon which are placed four Ionic pilasters, that support an angular pediment. The sides which are conformable to this have arched pediments, that are also supported by Ionic pilasters. On the inside is a large room for keeping the court of honour; a library; with houses and apartments for the King’s Heralds and Pursuivants.
This corporation consists of thirteen members, viz. three Kings at arms, six Heralds at arms, and four Pursuivants at arms; who are nominated by the Earl Marshal of England, as ministers subordinate to him in the execution of their offices, and hold their places by patent, during their good behaviour. They are all the King’s servants in ordinary, and therefore in the vacancy of the office of Earl Marshal, have been sworn into their offices by the Lord Chamberlain. Their meetings are termed chapters, which they hold the first Thursday in every month, or oftener, if necessary, wherein all matters are determined by a majority of voices of the Kings and Heralds, each King having two voices.
The Kings are Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy. Garter was instituted by King Henry V. in the year 1417, for the service of the most noble order of the Garter: and for the dignity of that order, he was made Sovereign, within the office of arms, over all the other officers subject to the crown of England, by the name of Garter King of Arms of England. By the constitution of his office he must be a native of England, and a gentleman bearing arms. To him belongs the correction of arms, and all ensigns of arms usurped or borne unjustly; and the power of granting arms to deserving persons, and supporters to the nobility and Knights of the Bath. It is likewise his office to go next before the sword in solemn processions, none interposing, except the Marshal; to administer the oath to all the officers of arms; to have a habit like the register of the order; with Baron’s service in the court, and lodgings in Windsor Castle; he bears his white rod with a banner of the ensigns of the order thereon before the Sovereign; when any Lord enters the parliament chamber, it is his post to assign him his place, according to his dignity and degree; to carry the ensigns of the order to foreign Princes, and to do, or procure to be done, what the Sovereign shall enjoin relating to the order; for the execution of which he has a salary of 100l. a year payable at the Exchequer, and 100l. more out of the revenue of the order; besides his fees.
The others are called Provincial Kings, and their provinces together, comprise the whole kingdom of England; that of Clarenceux comprehending all to the south of the river Trent; and that of Norroy, all to the north of that river: but tho’ these provincials have existed time immemorial, they were not constituted to these offices by the titles of Clarenceux and Norroy before Edward III.
Clarenceux is thus named from the Duke of Clarence, the third son of King Edward III. It is his duty, according to his commission, to visit his province, to survey the arms of all persons, &c. and to register their descents, marriages, &c. to marshal the funerals of all persons in his province not under the direction of Garter; and in his province to grant arms, with the consent of the Earl Marshal. Before the institution of Garter he was the principal officer of arms, and in the vacancy of Garter he executes his office. Besides his fees, he has a salary from the Exchequer of 40l. a year.