The duty and office of Norroy, or North Roy, that is North King, is the same on the north of the Trent, as that of Clarenceux on the south.
The Kings of arms were formerly erected by the Sovereign with great solemnity, upon some high festival; but since the ceremonies used at the creation of Peers have been laid aside, the Kings of arms have been created by the Earl Marshal, by virtue of the Sovereign’s warrant: upon this occasion he takes his oath; wine is poured upon his head out of a gilt cup, with a cover; his title is pronounced; and he invested with a tabart of the royal arms, richly embroidered upon velvet; a collar of SS. with two portcullises of silver gilt; a gold chain, with a badge of his office, and the Earl Marshal places on his head the crown of a King of arms, which formerly resembled a ducal coronet; but since the restoration it has been adorned with leaves resembling those of the oak, and circumscribed, according to ancient custom, with the words, Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Garter has also a mantle of crimson sattin, as an officer of the order; with a white rod or scepter with the Sovereign’s arms on the top, which he bears in the presence of the Sovereign; and he is sworn in a chapter of the Garter, the Sovereign investing him with the ensigns of his office.
The Kings of arms are distinguished from each other by their respective badges, which they may wear at all times, either in a gold chain or a ribbon, Garter’s being blue and the Provincials purple.
The six Heralds are Windsor, Chester, Lancaster, York, Richmond, and Somerset, who take place according to seniority in office. They are created with the same ceremonies as the Kings, taking the oath of an Herald, and are inverted with a tabart of the royal arms, embroidered upon sattin, not so rich as the Kings, but better than the Pursuivants, and a silver collar of SS. They are Esquires by creation, and have a salary of 26l. 13s. 4d. per annum, and fees according to their degree.
The Kings and Heralds are sworn upon a sword as well as the book, to shew that they are military, as well as civil officers.
The four Pursuivants, who are, Rougecroix, Bluemantle, Rougedragon, and Portcullis, are also created by the Earl Marshal, when they take their oath of a Pursuivant, and are invested with a tabart of the royal arms upon damask. They have a salary of 20l. a year, with fees according to their degree. It is the duty of the Heralds and Pursuivants, to attend in the public office, one of each class together, by a monthly rotation.
Besides these particular duties of the several classes, it is the general duty both of the Kings, Heralds, and Pursuivants, to attend his Majesty at the house of Peers, and, upon certain high festivals, to the chapel royal; to make proclamations; to marshal the proceedings at all public processions; to attend the installation of the Knights of the Garter, &c.
All these officers have apartments in the college, annexed to their respective offices. They have likewise a public hall, in which is a court for the Earl Marshal, where courts of chivalry are occasionally held, and the officers of arms attend in their tabarts, his Lordship being present. Their public library contains a large and valuable collection of original records of the pedigrees and arms of families, funeral certificates of the nobility and gentry, public ceremonials, and other branches of heraldry and antiquities; and there have been few works published, relating to the history and antiquities of this kingdom, in which the authors have not received some assistance from this library, where attendance is daily given by two officers for the public emolument. Instructions communicated by Stephen Martin Leake, Esq; Garter King of Arms, to Mr. Maitland.
Herbert’s grounds, Bandyleg Walk.†
Herbert’s passage, Beaufort Buildings.†