Huissier d’Armes

( Fr. ). Tipstaff; an officer formerly so called in France, who was attached to the royal household. They were at first distinguished by the name of sergens d’armes , or sergeants-at-arms. Some were directed to bear the mace before the king during the day, and obtained on that account the appellation of hui iers d’armes ; in later times they were called the hui iers , or tipstaffs of the king’s chamber. Others kept watch in the king’s bed-chamber during the night, and were sworn to expose their lives for the safety of his person, whence they obtained the name of archers de la garde , which term was changed to gardes du corps , or body-guards.