College of Arms

Inglese

the English College of Arms was incorporated by King Richard III in 1483. In 1622 the officers, whose number and titles had varied from time to time, were fixed as follows:

• King-at-arms, Garter, Clarenceaux, Norroy
• Heralds, Lancaster, Somerset, Richmond, Windsor, York, Chester
• Pursuivants, Rouge-Croix, Blue-Mantle, Portcullis, Rouge-Dragon

In Scotland the Lyon Office, and in Ireland the Office of Arms occupy the same position as the College of Arms. Each oas one King of Arms, Lord Lyon and Ulster. The English College of Arms has for its head the Earl Marshal of England, an office held by the Duke of Norfolk, and hereditary in his family. Anciently, the Earl Marsgal had the power to compel all persons falsely assuming arms to renounce and remove such arms. For the purpose of recording the true coats-of-arms, visitations were made every few years to the different counties; and the gentry were invited to have their claims verified and recorded. The list then made, technically termed visitations, are preserved at the College, and constitute the highest authority for the use of arms. This power of the Earl Marshal has fallen into disuse; though in Scotland the authority of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, is still invoked to prevent any flagrant and conspicuous breach of his law.
"The present duty of Heralds", according to Boutell, "comprises Grants of Arms; the Tracing and Drawing-up of Genealogies: the Recording Arms and Genealogies in the registers of the Heraldì College; recording the Creation and Succession of Peers and others, with all similar matters, including the Direction of Royal Pageants and Ceremonials"

E003 - Elements of heraldry, di William H. Whitmore - edito a New York nel 1866