Pensioner

in general, denotes a person who receives a pension, yearly salary, or allowance. Hence, The Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, the noblest sort of guard to the king’s person consists of 40 gentlemen, who receive a yearly pension of 1001. - This honourable band was first instituted by Henry VIII. and their office is to attend the king’s person, with their battle-axes, to and from his chapel-royal, and to receive him in the presence-chamber, or coming out of his privy-lodgings; they ate also to attend at all great solemnities, as coronations, St. George’s feast, public audiences of amba adors, at the sovereign’s going to parliament, . They are each obliged to keep three double horses and a servant, and so are properly a troop of horse. ‘They wait half at a time quarterly; but on Christmas-day, Easter-day, Whit sunday, . and on extraordinary occasions, they are all obliged to give their attendance. They have likewise the honour to carry up the sovereign’s dinner on the coronation-day and St. George’s feast; at which times the king or queen usually confers the honour of knighthood on two such gentlemen of the band as their captain presents. Their arms are gilt battle-axes; and their weapons, on horseback, in time of war, are cuira iers-arms, with sword and pistols. ‘Their standard in time of war is, argent, a cro gules. ‘Their captain is _ always a nobleman, who has under him a lieutenant, a standard4bearer, a clerk of the check, secretary, pay-master, and harbinger.