892

HERALDRY.

gaged in Ihe crusades; lie certainly must also have becomeacquainted with the office and its utility; as the office hadthen been long established in Germany and France ,from one of which countries, it is most probable, it wasfirst introduced into England: hence it has been inferredthat he did not primarily introduce them into England.Henry Fitzempress must have been well acquainted withtheir establishment and importance in the empire when heascended the English throne; his subsequent intercoursewith the courts of France and Germany must have occa-sioned heralds to have frequently passed between thosecourts and that of England.

From other collateral circumstances, it is believed, thatthey were first introduced here in the beginning of the reignof the first Edward. It is also, on all hands stated, that itis probable the English heralds were first chosen from theveterans, like those of Germany , as being the best qualifiedto execute that office, their functions being the same. Ed-mondson says, the primary duty of English heralds, at thetime of their establishment, quadrated exactly with that ofthe heralds of foreign princes, in carrying and deliveringall messages of importance to allies, enemies, and rebels;in giving solemn defiance, and denunciations of war; insummoning cities, castles, &c. to surrender; in making pro-positions of peace, truce, and accommodation; and offeringmercy and pardon to rebellious subjects and insurgents.At the time of signing leagues, truces, and treaties of peace,they attended, and sometimes were joined in it; honourswhich they occasionally enjoyed, until the reign of Henry VII .By this admission of heralds to a share in public negotia-tions, they acquired importance; they had easy access to thesovereign; became respectable and confidential; and theywere placed in such a state, as secured to them ample allow-ances in fees, rewards, &c.; besides several especial privi-leges and immunities, among which w'as an exemption fromall taxes, aids, and assessments, &c. From the time of theirintroduction into this kingdom, they were subordinateministers to the Constable and Earl Marshal of England, andas such executed the orders, and assisted in the managementand conduct of several branches of duty within the depart-ments of these two great officers. Hence they regulatedarmorial bearings, and also the order of ceremonials onmarriages, christenings, burials, or other great and publicoccasions. Our kings anciently created heralds with theirown hands; they also christened them, by pouring wineupon their heads from a golden cup, or chalice; invested