The Handbook to English Heraldry Part 36

CHAPTER XX

PRECEDENCE. GENEALOGIES

"Orders and Degrees Jar not with Liberty, but well consist."

--_Paradise Lost_, Book V.

"The use of Arms was closely connected with the Study of Genealogy."

--DALLAWAY, _Science of Heraldry_ (A.D. 1793).

When JAMES I. succeeded to the Crown of England while he was actually the King regnant of Scotland, and accordingly became Sovereign of the two Realms, he found it necessary to produce a "Union Flag" for the whole of Great Britain, in consequence of the serious disputes for Precedence that arose between the natives of South and North Britain.

Before the time of the peace-loving son of Mary Stuart, a Sovereign of another mould, HENRY VIII., had felt the necessity of framing and establis.h.i.+ng some definite system of Precedence amongst the various degrees, orders, and ranks of his subjects: and, in 1539, a statute to that effect was enacted. Other statutes afterwards were added; and, from time to time, Royal Letters Patent on the same subject have been issued; and thus the Precedence now recognised and in use amongst us has been established.

The General Scale of Precedence follows, but there are Special scales for use in (_a_) Scotland, (_b_) Ireland, (_c_) India, (_d_) Canada, (_e_) Colonies, (_f_) Army and Navy, (_g_) Diplomatic Service.

THE GENERAL ORDER OF PRECEDENCE.

The SOVEREIGN.

The Prince of Wales.

The Younger Sons of the Sovereign.

The Grandsons of the Sovereign.

The Brothers of the Sovereign.

The Uncles of the Sovereign.

The Nephews of the Sovereign.

The Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Lord Chancellor.

The Archbishop of York.

The Premier.

The Lord High Treasurer.

The Lord President of the Council.

The Lord Privy Seal.

The following GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE _precede all Peers of their own Degree_--that is, if Dukes, they precede all other Dukes; if Earls, all other Earls; &c.:--

The Lord Great Chamberlain.

The Lord High Constable.

The Earl Marshal.

The Lord High Admiral.

The Lord Steward of the Royal Household.

The Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household.

The Master of the Horse.

The Peers of each Degree take Precedence in their own Degree, according to their Patents of Creation.

Dukes (_a_) of England, (_b_) of Scotland, (_c_) of Great Britain, (_d_) of Ireland, (_e_) of the United Kingdom and, if created since the Union, of Ireland.

Marquesses (_vide_ Dukes).

Eldest Sons of Dukes.

Earls (_vide_ Dukes).

Eldest Sons of Marquesses.

Younger Sons of Dukes.

Viscounts (_vide_ Dukes).

Eldest Sons of Earls.

Younger Sons of Marquesses.

Bishops of (_a_) London, (_b_) Durham, and (_c_) Winchester.

Bishops, according to Seniority of Consecration.

Barons (_vide_ Dukes).

The Speaker of the House of Commons.

Commissioners of Great Seal.

The (_a_) Treasurer and the (_b_) Comptroller of the Royal Household.

Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.

The Secretaries of State, when not Peers.

Eldest Sons of Viscounts.

Younger Sons of Earls.

Eldest Sons of Barons.

Knights of the Garter, Thistle, and St. Patrick, not being Peers.

Privy Councillors.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Lord Chief Justice.

The Master of the Rolls.

Lord Justices of Appeal and Pres. of Probate Court.

Judges of High Court.

Younger Sons of Viscounts.

Younger Sons of Barons.

Sons of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (Life Peers).

Baronets.

Knights Grand Cross of the Bath.

Knights Grand Commanders of the Star of India.

Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George.

Knights Grand Commanders of Indian Empire.

Knights Grand Cross of Victorian Order.

Knights Commanders of the various Orders (in the same order of progression).

Knights Bachelors.

Commanders of Victorian Order.

County Court Judges.

Serjeants-at-Law.

Masters in Lunacy.

Companions of the various Orders.

Members of Fourth Cla.s.s of Victorian Order.

Companions of Distinguished Service Order.

Eldest Sons of the Younger Sons of Peers.

Eldest Sons of Baronets.

Eldest Sons of Knights.