Herald

an officer at arms, whose duty is to declare war, to proclaim peace, or to be employed in martial me ages. The heralds in England are judges and examiners of that ridiculous jargon called heraldry, or coats of arms; they marshal all solemnities at the coronations, and funerals of their princes, . The origin of heralds is extremely ancient. It is reported that the Greek herald, Stentor, po e ed such a powerful voice that it exceeded the united clamor of fifty men. There are three heralds called kings at arms in England, each bearing a name peculiar to himself, and six heralds. The first king at arms is that of Garter, created by Henry V., that of Clarencieux, created by Edward IV. and that of Norroy, so called from the exercise of his functions north of the river Trent. The heralds extraordinary are those of Windsor and Chester, created by Edward III., those of Somerset by Henry VIII. and those of York and Lancaster, created by the children of Edward III. They are pageants and sinecures.