Sir Gweddry
Posts : 56
Join date : 2009-12-30
 |  Subject: The Law of the Royal Heraldry Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:26 am | |
| B1.C2. - Quote :
- Chapter II : The Royal Heraldry
This Chapter is part of Book I of the constitution of England, the Government.
Article I : Definition
1. The Royal Heraldry in its most general sense is the institution that encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms, the practice of designing, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and the conserving of genealogical records.
Article II : Organisation
1. The Royal Heraldry is composed of the Officers of Arms:
1.1. The King of Arms
The King of Arms is the highest in ranking in the Royal Heraldry and therefore the leader of this Institution, and can only be discharged and appointed by the Sovereign. He has to make sure that the heraldic rules are respected, as well as the rules of Peerage. He has the right to open a case against a common at the Royal Court if the rules aren’t respected, but he can’t trial a Peer, as this right belongs only to the Lord High Steward or the Sovereign.
1.2. The Herald of Arms
The Herald of Arms is a normal member of the Royal Heraldry and can only be appointed and discharged by the King of Arms or the Sovereign. It is his duty to participate in Royal ceremonies, he’s the judge in tournaments, he governs the patterns of nobility, the register of Peers, their coat of arms and families, as well as it is his task to make the coats of arms and seals. It’s also his duty to make sure that the heraldic rules and rules of Peerage are respected and to rapport any offence.
1.3. The Pursuivant of Arms
The Pursuivant of Arms is an apprentice. He can only be appointed or discharged by the King of Arms or the Sovereign. He can only make blazons and seals.
2. In case of absence of the King of Arms the Sovereign will appoint a First Herald to replace him until he returns.
Article III : Heraldic trial
1. In case of an offence against the rules of Heraldry or the Peerage, the concerning person will get an official warning from the Royal Heraldry. In case of a second offence, a case will be opened at the Royal Court.
1.1. This procedure can be ignored by the Sovereign in case of a major offence.
2. An heraldic trial against a Common shall be lead by the King of Arms and judged by the Sovereign.
3. An heraldic trial against a Peer shall be lead by the Lord High Steward (Book I, Chapter I, Article II, point 3.1.) and judged by the Sovereign.
Article IV : The coat of arms
1. A coat of arms can only by carried by a Peer, a Dignitary with ornaments, a Clerk or other persons or groups with a special agreement of the Sovereign.
2. A dignitary or a clerk that isn't member of the Peerage can only carry a personal blazon or a family blazon, or combine those two.
3. A Peer has to carry the Coat of Arms of his title, is there isn't any blazon for his title yet, then he has the right to choose one that isn't correspondent with another already existing blazon. They have the possibility to combine it with a family blazon or a personal Coat of Arms if they already had one before.
4. A Peer’s blazon has to have a crown on it. If a Peer has more than one title, he has to carry the crown of the highest title.
5. The right to carry a mantel behind the blazon goes to dignitaries, more specific to following people:
- Members of the Royal Council
- Members of the Royal Heraldry
- Members of the Royal Chancery
- High Judges & High Prosecutor
- Ladies-in-waiting of the Queen
6. Only High Peers (Earl, Marquess, Duke, Prince) can add supporters to their blazon, but none of those supporters can have a crown, for this is a privilege of Monarchs, as well as supporters carrying a flag.
7. Only a family Coat of Arms that is registered by the Royal Heraldry can be used.
Article V : The noble family
1. A family can only be named noble if it’s registered by the Royal Heraldry.
2. Any family can ask to become a noble family if they have a living noble member.
3. Wills are kept secretly by a Herald or the King of Arms.
* We remind to the fact that only the Sovereign can appoint a noble. | |
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