Pursuivant

These heraldic officers, who are the lowest degree in the College of Arms, were as the name implies followers, marshals or attendants upon the heralds. Pursuivants were formerly created by the nobility, who had, likewise, heralds of arms, with great ceremony, in the following manner. One of the heralds, wearing his lord’s coat, leading the person to be created a pursuivant by the left hand, and holding a cup full of wine and water in his right, came into the presence of the lord of him who was to be created, and of whom the herald asked by what name he would have his pursuivant called. The lord having having so stated, the herald then poured part of the wine and water upon his head, calling him by the name so assigned to him. The herald then took the coat of his lord, and put it over his head athwart, so that part of the coat made for the arms hung before and behind, and the longer part of it on both sides of the arms of the person created, and in which way the pursuivant was always to wear it. This done, an oath of fidelity was administered to the newly created pursuivant, and the ceremony concluded.

The appointment of heralds and pursuivants of arms by the nobility has long been discontinued, and there are now only four pursuivants belonging to the English College of Arms:  Rouge-Croix, Bluemantle, Rouge-Dragon and Portcullis.

The duties of a pursuivant are similar to that of a herald; they assist in all public processions or ceremonies such as royal marriages, funerals, installations, etc. and have certain fees for attendance upon such occasions. They, likewise, receive fees upon creations of peers, baronets and knights; and also donations for attending court upon the principal festivals of Christmas, Easter, Whit-Sunday, All Saints and St George’s Day; and a small salary payable out of the Exchequer.

They wear a tabard of damask silk, embroidered with the royal arms but, unlike the heralds, no collar of SS.

In Scotland, there are six pursuivants attached to the Lyon Court, of which only three of the titles will be in use at any time: Unicorn, Carrick, Bute, Kintyr, Ormond and Dingwall.