Secretaries of State.

Dukes according to the date of their patent.

Marquises according to the date of their patent.

Dukes' eldest Sons.

Earls according to their patents.

Marquises' eldest Sons.

Dukes' younger Sons.

Viscounts according to their patents.

Earls' eldest Sons.

Marquises' younger Sons.

Bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester; all other Bishops according to their seniority of consecration.

Barons according to their patents.

Speaker of the House of Commons.

Viscounts' eldest Sons.

Earls' younger Sons.

Barons' eldest Sons.

Knights of the Garter, commoners.

Privy Councillors, commoners.

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

Master of the Rolls.

The Vice-Chancellor of England.

Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

Judges and Barons of the degree of the Coif, according to seniority Viscounts' younger Sons.

Barons' younger Sons.

Baronets.

Knights of the Bath.

Knights Commanders of the Bath.

Field and Flag Officers.

Knights Bachelors.

Masters in Chancery.

Doctors graduate.

Serjeants at Law.

Esquires of the King's Body.

Esquires of the Knights of the Bath.

Esquires by creation.

Esquires by office.

Clergymen, Barristers at Law, Officers in the Royal Navy and Army who are Gentlemen by Profession, and Gentlemen ent.i.tled to bear arms.

Citizens.

Burgesses.

The Lords Spiritual of Ireland rank next after the Lords Spiritual of Great Britain; the priority of signing any treaty or public instrument by the members of the government is always taken by rank of place, not by t.i.tle.

The style prefixed to the t.i.tles of the peerage of Great Britain and Ireland are as follows :--

Princes of the Blood, His Royal Highness.

Archbishops, His Grace.

Dukes, The Most n.o.ble His Grace.

Marquesses, the Most Honorable.

Earls, Viscounts, and Barons, The Right Honorable.

Bishops, The Right Reverend.

DICTIONARY OF HERALDIC TERMS.

ABAISSe. A French word, generally used in heraldry instead of the English word abased. When the fess, or any other ordinary properly placed above the fess point of the shield, is brought below it, that ordinary is said to be _abaisse_.

ABATEMENT. Any figure added to coats of arms tending to lower the dignity or station of the bearer. Thus, the baton, denoting illegitimacy, is an abatement: so, also, are the differences in coats of arms showing the degrees of consanguinity.

ADDORSED. Any animals set back to back. See LION.

ALLERION. An eagle displayed, without beak or feet.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Allerion]

Ex. Argent, an allerion gules.

ALTERNATE. Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.

AMETHYST. A precious stone of a violet colour, the name of which was formerly used instead of purpure, to denote the purple tincture when emblazoning the arms of the English n.o.bility.

ANNULET. A small circle borne as a charge in coats of arms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Annulet]

Ex. Azure, an annulet argent. Annulets are added to arms for a difference. See DIFFERENCES, p. 13. [CHAP. III.]

ANCIENT. A small flag or ensign. The bearer of the flag was called by its name. _Iago_ was ancient to the troops commanded by _Oth.e.l.lo_.

"This is Oth.e.l.lo's ancient, as I take it.

The same indeed, a very valiant fellow." SHAKSPEARE.

ARCHBISHOPS. Church dignitaries of the first cla.s.s. There are but two in England--the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.

The former is the first peer of England next to the royal family, and has the t.i.tle of _Grace_ given to him; and likewise _Most Reverend Father in G.o.d_. He is styled Primate of all England, and Metropolitan.

The Archbishop of York has precedence of dukes and great officers of state, except the lord chancellor. He is called _His Grace_ and _Most Reverend Father in G.o.d_; and styled _Primate of England_ and _Metropolitan_.

ARGENT. The French word for silver, of which metal all white fields or charges are supposed to consist.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Argent]