New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-14
GROWING THE KINGS OF ARMS

Whereas there * no such thing as any
ceremony i'm connection with the investi-
tlrc Of peers with their coronets. which
they never have any occasion To use or to
wear save at the coronation of the soy
er4ign. the GROWING Of the Kings of Arms
+ a very stately affair. This takes place at
the Royal College Of Heralds, in Queen
Victoria street. London. in the handsome
hall known as the Court Of Chivalry, Of
which the Duke Of Norfolk. as heredi-
tary Earl Marshal. is the presiding officer
i is he who administers 10 the King
Of Arms the oath of Office, which is
sworn. not only on the Gospels. but also
ou rr, sword in token o. The fact that
III, Office is military as well as civil. The
Ear, Marshal then pours wine upon the
head of the knceling King Of Arms. from
silver gilt cup with cover.
his title is proclaimed, and the mon
arch's warrant bestowing it is read by
tn Earl Marshal. and then the King
is invested 10y the attendant Heralds
With Il tabarC of velvet, on which are
embroidered the royal arms. and with a
silver gilt collar or chain Of 5. s, the
rondants of which are two portcullises
OF silver gilt. after which the Earl Mar
shal hands him his wand of Office or
"sceptre." and places on his head inc
crown of King OF Arms. This was
formerly identical with the ducal coro-
nets. Dut since the Restoration gold oak
leaves have been substituted for the
oucai strawberry leaves. Around the
silver gilt. ermine bordered rim are en-
graved the words "Miserere mel Deus
secundum magnam misercordiam tuam,
which have figured on the crowns OF the
KINGS Of Arms ever since the creation Of
the Office by nerry V. in the year 14l1.
Henry V decreed in that year that the
chief of the Kings Of Arms should bear
the title of Garter King of Arms, and
should be not only the principal dig
njtarv OF the order Of the Garter within
the ROYAL College Of Arms, but likewise
chief OF the other Kings Of Arms, Her
aids and Pursuivants. To Garter be-
longs the correction Of arms usurped
or borne unjustly. and the power OF
granting armorlal bearings TO those VINO
have become entitled thereto, by eleVa-
ton Of rank" In former times Garter
and his two provincial Kings, Norrey
and Clarencieux. were intrusted with
the duty Of preventing the unlaWful as
sumption of arms and quarterings. ana
with the punishment Of the culprlts Dy
means Of fines and imprisonment. 1hey
were wont TO make yisitatiOns to the va
nous counties within their Jurisdlctloh'
assisted by the Heral1s. who, six in num-
Der for England, bear the titles OF Wind-
sor, Chester, Lancaster, York, Richmond
and Somerset, and in Scotland are known
as Albany, Rothesay and Ross and IN
Ireland as Athlone, Dublin and Cork.
Many Of the older families of the
United Kingdom retain 10 this day
among their archives documentary evil
dencc OF these heraldic visitations. for
inc purpose Of examination Of their ar
moral bearings in the days Of the Tudor
ana stuart kings and proofs bearing
he stamped signature and seal OF the
hihg OF Arms Of their province Of the
iact mat everything relating to their
escutcheon had been found in apple-pie
efoer and officially correct
To-day penalties for misuse OF royal