Also (less correctly) King-at-Arms. [See ARM sb.2 14.]
The title of the three chief heralds of the College of Arms, viz. Garter, the principal King of Arms, and Clarenceux and Norroy, provincial Kings of Arms, the former of whom has jurisdiction south of the Trent, and the other north of that river. Besides these there are the Lyon King of Arms of Scotland, and the Ulster King of Arms of Ireland; also Bath King of Arms (see BATH sb.1 19). The appellation is given also to similar officers in other countries.
1449–50. Will of W. Bruges, in Sir H. Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta (1826), I. 266. William Bruges, Garter Kyng of Armes, at London, Feb. 26, 1449. My body to be brought and buryed in the Church of Saynt George within Staunford, [etc.].
1464. Rolls Parlt., V. 530/2. John Smert, otherwise called Garter King of Armes.
1530. Palsgr., 236/1. Kyng of armes, roy de armes.
1565. in Gross, Gild Merch. (1890), II. 55. I Clarenciux, King of Armes of the Sowth est and West parts.
a. 1614. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 58. William Stewart, sumtyme Lioun King of Armes.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3804/1. Then the Deputy Garter King of Arms with his Coronet.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson’s Fun., 33. Garter, Principal King of Arms,… with his Sceptre.
1874. N. & Q., 5th Ser. I. 146. The Crown of a Herald King of Arms.
β. a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 244. Causing Gartier, principal kyng at armes, to make a publique Proclamacion. Ibid., 245. They sent Lyon Kyng at Armes to the duke of Glocester.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 35. 224. The King …. dispatches Garter King at Arms with a Letter of Defiance.
1808. Scott, Marm., IV. viii. note. It was often an office imposed upon the Lion King-at-arms, to receive foreign ambassadors.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 37. We find, from a household-book of Edward I, that … Herthelm, king-at-arms of the ‘King of Almaine,’ receives a present.
