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HISTORY OF THE

[THE MESSENGER.

THE MESSENGER.

“ To the end that all Summons, Dispensations, Letters, and all otherInstruments, may be safely and expeditiously conveyed to the Companions, theGreat Master is likewise empowered to constitute and appoint a Messengerfor this service, who shall likewise collect the quarterly payments herein aftermentioned, from the Companions, to the Genealogist, King of Arms, Register,Secretary, and Usher of the Order. He shall wear the same Surcoat andBadge with the Esquires of the Order ; and on his breast, hanging to a golden

Chain, one Imperial Crown of gold. He shall also dili-gently execute whatever the Sovereign, or Great Master,shall farther enjoin him, relating to the interests of thisOrder .” 2 The Messenger now collects the Fees due tothe Officers, for doing which he receives a commissionof five per cent.

On the Badge actually worn by the Messenger, thoughnot authorized by the Statutes, the Crown, instead of beingsuspended from the Chain, is placed in an Escutcheon,on an Azure field, surrounded by the Motto, whichEscutcheon is surmounted with an Imperial Crown ; andit has on the reverse, in a field, Azure, a Greyhoundcourant, Argent, between three Imperial Crowns, Or,one and two, surrounded by the Motto. The Messengerdoes not attend Investitures, which may explain why heis the only Officer of the Order who has not a Mantle.

“ All these Officers, at their admission, shall take their Oaths, which shallbe administered unto them by the Great Master, that they shall yieljJ obedienceto the Sovereign, and also to the Great Master of this Most Honourable Orderof the Bath, in such things as appertain to the Order; that they shall notdisclose the secrets of the Order, and that they shall be faithful in the executionsof their several Offices .” 3 It is provided that “ The Genealogist, Bath King ofArms, the Registrar, Secretary, and the Gentleman-Usher of the Scarlet Rod,

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2 Statutes, Art. XVIII. p. 62, antea.

3 Ibid. p. 63, antea.