Heralds
How do you become a Herald?
I don't think there's any set way of becoming a Herald. Certainly not for the College of Arms. Everybody has been appointed a Herald after a different career path. But typically it involves working as a research assistant to one of the Heralds for a number of years, carrying out genealogical or heraldic research, learning all about the vast collection of records that we have and gradually getting to know the profession of being a Herald. Then you would be appointed as a probationer for a period of one or two years, and if that went okay, you might be nominated for appointment by the Earl Marshal. The Earl Marshal makes the nominations and the Sovereign makes the appointment.
Where can I go to learn more?
The first thing would be to go to the public library and look at some books on heraldry. Most good libraries would have a small collection of books on heraldry. There's plenty of information to be had on the internet. Then come to the College of Arms. We are open to the public five days a week. For inquiries, you can just come in without making an appointment and somebody will see them. Or send us an e-mail, write us a letter, or telephone us and we'll do our best to inform you about heraldry and answer your inquiry.
Is there a society of Heraldry?
There are a number of societies relating to or denoted to Heraldry. In England, the principle one would be a society called "The Heraldry Society."
What is the Order of the Garter?
The Order of the Garter is one of the orders of chivalry, one of the orders of knights. The Order was established by Edward III in 1348 as a great foundation to bind his nobles and knights closer to him and to celebrate his own chivalric prowess and gain political advantage. Today, it's the oldest and most distinguished order of knighthood, and it's mainly former Prime Ministers and very distinguished people who are asked to join the Order.
What is Chivalry?
Chivalry was the code of behavior, and ethics in the medieval times that was supposed to determine the behavior of knights and nobles. It was derived in large part from romance literature, so Arthurian and [unintelligible] romance literature, and it was supposed to guide knights and other people with military power in how they behaved towards each other and the sort of ethics that they were supposed to follow.
What is the Court of Chivalry?
In Medieval times, the Court of Chivalry was presided over by the Constable and Marshall, and it had authority over the English army when it was abroad, when it was outside the realm. It grew to have authority over heraldic disputes. Because, of course, lots of knights serving overseas would encounter each other for the first time and realize they were both using the same coat of arms. So it became the forum for hearing arguments between different knights over who should have which coat of arms. It evolved over time and had a very fitful history. In the 17th century the Stuarts used it as a way of regulating behavior and regulating status, and it heard a lot of cases under James and Charles I to do with words provoking to a duel. So people would sue each other in the Court of Chivalry for having misbehaved or calling them a dog or something like that. It then went into a bit of a decline, and in the 18th century it ceased to hear cases at all. By the end of the 19th century, most people assumed it no longer existed. But then it was revived in the 1950s to hear a case between Manchester Corporation and the Manchester Palace of Varieties, which was a dispute over a coat of arms. So it does still exist, and it is the court which enforces the law of arms.
Who is Earl Marshal of England?
The Earl Marshal is the Duke of Norfolk, and he has a responsibility for overseeing the work of the College of Arms. He's one of the great officers of state, with responsibility for only organizing state ceremonials such as coronations, royal funerals, state opening of parliament, and certain other occasions. He also sets the official fees charged by the College of Arms, and no grant of Arms can be made without his warrant.
What is his role with regards to heraldry?
The Earl Marshall's role in heraldry is, firstly, as judge of the Court of the Earl Marshall, the Court of Chivalry. He determines and acts as the judge in his court between disputing parties over coats of arms. Usually, he would appoint a surrogate to act as the judge, in fact, because he's not necessarily legally trained. Secondly, he has to issue a warrant for any grant of a coat of arms to take place. He would direct the Kings of Arms, who are officials at the College of Arms, to make the new grant of arms. Thirdly, he specifies what the fees to be charged are for all of these official activities.