previously existed, for there were a _Norroy_ and a _Surroy_[255] (q. d. 'northern king' and 'southern king,') as early as the reign of Edward III; although their duties were not so well defined nor their authority so great as both became after the incorporation of the college. Over both these, as principal of the establishment, was appointed _Garter_, king of arms, an office instituted by King Henry V, and so called from his official connexion with the order of knighthood bearing that designation. Next in point of dignity to the provincial kings, stood several _heralds_ bearing peculiar titles, and the third rank was composed of pursuivants, or students, who could not be admitted into the superior offices until they had passed some years of probationary study and practice in the duties of their vocation. These three degrees, it is scarcely necessary to state, still exist in the corporation. From a very early period Garter exercised, and still continues to exercise, a concurrent jurisdiction with the two Provincial Kings of Arms in the grant of Armorial Ensigns, but he had many exclusive privileges; as the right of ordering all funerals of peers of the realm, the two archbishops, the bishop of Winchester, and knights of the Garter; he only could grant arms to these individuals; he was consequently a person of no inconsiderable importance. The duties of the officers of arms at this period consisted in attending all ceremonials incident to the king and the nobility, such as coronations, creations, the displaying of banners on the field of battle or in the lists, public festivities and processions, the solemnization of baptisms, marriages, and funerals, the enthronization of prelates, proclamations, and royal journeys or progresses. The importance of the presence of heralds at royal funerals of a somewhat later date, is shown in the two following extracts:[256] "And incontinent all the heraudes did off their cote-armour, and did hange them upon the rayles of the herse, _cryinge lamentably_ in French, 'The noble king Henry the seaveneth is dead;' and as soon as they had so done, everie heraude putt on his cote-armure againe, and cried with a loude voyce, 'Vive le noble Henry le viijth.'" At the interment of Prince Arthur, 1502: "At every Kurie elyeson an officer of arms with a high voyce said for Prince Arthure's soule and all Christian soules, Pater-noster.... His officer of arms, _sore weeping_, toke off his coate of armes, and cast it along over the cheaste right lamentablie."[257]