Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/512

 A Quaint Court.

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A QUAINT COURT. By J. Ferguson Walker. THE trans- atlantic traveler who, after strolling along the Thames embank ment from Westminster towards the city, walks eastward along Queen Victoria street, will see on his left, shortly after passing the "Times" office in Printing House square, a red-brick building that may truly be de scribed as one of the curiosities of London. There is nothing to distinguish it from its neighbors save a small court-yard in front, and probably its existence is unknown to the majority of the thousands who pass its precincts every day. Yet this building, the Heralds' College or College of Arms, contains much of legal and antiquarian in terest. One of the oldest courts in Kurope once sat within its walls, in the Grand Room on the north side of the court-yard. The court of the earl marshal of England, or court ' of chivalry, was held here, and the court-room is still swept and garnished daily, awaiting the time when a cause may yet be entered for trial. It is a quaint, picturesque chamber, decked with the arms of Charles II, the shields of successive earls marshal, the banners borne at the coronation of George IV, and ancient helmets brought from St. George's Chapel. The royal arms are placed above the earl marshal's throne, which is a solid and uncomfortable-looking structure. The present building was erected in 1683 from the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. The former college, which was known as Derby House, and had originally been the town house of the Earls of Derby, was de stroyed by the great fire in 1666, and the new college was built upon the same site. The valuable books and documents had, however, escaped destruction and are still preserved in the college. The office of carl marshal is now heredi

tary, but originally it passed by grant from the crown. The title was formerly lord marshal, but Richard II altered it to earl marshal. At the same time this functionary obtained the right to carry a gold truncheon enamelled with black at the ends, and hav ing the royal arms and those of the earl marshal himself engraved upon it. This is his sign of office. Under a grant made by Charles II, in 1692, to Henry, Lord Howard and his male heirs, the office is now held by the Duke of Norfolk and is hereditary in his family. It may be executed by deputy, and it entitles the holder to a pension of £20 a year payable out of the Hanaper office in chancery. Although the carl marshal's court has become obsolete, the College of Arms is said to do a more flourishing business at the present time than for many years. The college has no longer any compulsory au thority, but many persons arc willing to submit to the decision of the heralds upon questions relating to coats-of-arms, and many applications for grants of arms are received at the college. Such a grant costs seventy-five guineas. A writer of a recent article on the course to be followed in obtaining a grant says that when a man is in doubt as to his right to use arms he consults the college, who some times finds that he is wrong. When a man desires arms for the first time, they ascer tain whether he is in a proper position to bear them. If he is a country magistrate, a colonel of volunteers, or a member of parliament, there is usually no question about that. Then comes the selection of arms, and it usually happens that the applicant is anxious for arms which belong to somebody else. These he cannot have; the college does not