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explaining Scripture in a fublime, elevated Manner. They were fo fond of thefe Myftic Interpretations, that Origen, tho' a Stickler that Way himfelf, was obliged to reproach Hcracleon with his abufing Scripture by that Means. See Prophecy, Allegory, &c.
HERACLIDES, in Antiquity, the Defcendants of Her- cules ; whom the Greeks called 'u & x.&, Heracles.
The Heraciides were expell'd from 'Peloponnefiis, by Eurijlbeus King of Mycen£, after the Death of Hercules.
The Return of the Heraciides into •Peloponnefiis, is a celebrated Epocha in the antient Chronology ; tho' the Time when it happen'd is differently affign'd, by reafon Authors miflake the divers Attempts which they made to return, tor the Return it felf. The firft Attempt was 20 Years before the taking of Troy : The fecond, was 100 Years later, or 80 Years after the taking of Troy. This laft is fuppofed to have fucceeded ; at leaft, according to Te- tavius, who mentions only thefe two. Rat. Temp. P. 1. I,. I. C. 12. and Z>otlr. Temp. L. IX. and C. 30.
Scaliger diftinguifh.es three Attempts ; and fixes the firft, 50 Years later than Tetavius, viz. ;o Years after the taking of Troy. He fays nothing of the fecond, which was unfortunate like the firft 5 but places the third in the fame Year with Tetavius. — ■ This Return occafion'd a World of Changes and Revolutions in the Affairs of Greece ■ fcarce a State, or People, but were turn'd upfide down thereby. See Epocha.
The Return of the Heraciides is the Epocha of the Beginning of profane Hiftory : All the Time that preceded it, is reputed fabulous. Accordingly, Ephorus, Cumanus, Callifthenes, and Thcopompus, only begin their Hiflories from hence. See Historical.
HERALD, an Officer of Arms, antiently in great Re- pute, and poffefs'd of feveral confiderable Functions, Rights and Privileges. See Arms and Armoury.
Their principal Employment was to compofe, or make out Coats of Arms, Genealogies, and Titles of Nobility. They were the Superintendants of military Exploits, and the Confervators of the Honours of War. They had a Right to take away the Arms of fuch as for Cowardice, Treafon, SSc. defcrv'd to be degraded. They had a Commiffion to examine, and correct the Vices and Diforders of the Nobles, and to exclude them from Jufts, Tournaments, &c. To them belong'd the correcting of all Ufurpations, and Abufcs relating to Crowns, Coronets, Calks, Crefts, Sup- porters, iSc They took Cognizance of all Differences among the Nobles, with Refpect to their Bearings, the Antiquity of their Families, Precedencies, &c. They went into the Countries to fearch into the Grounds and Pretenfions of Nobility; and had a Right to open all Libraries, and to command all the antient Charters and Inltruments in the Archives to be fhown them. They had Admiffion into all foreign Courts 5 where they were commiflion'd to pro- claim War, and Peace ; and their Perfons were held facred as thofe of Embalfadors.
To them it belong'd to make Publication of Jufts and Tournaments ; to call the People to them 5 to fignify the Cartels ; to mark the Ground, Lift, or Place of Duel ■ to fee- fair play obferv'd ; and to divide the Sun between the two Parties. In the Army, they advertifed the Cavaliers, and Captains, of the Day of Battle, and affifted therein, before the Standard, retiring, after the firft Onfet, to fome Place of Eminence, there to obferve who behaved beft, and to give a faithful Report thereof to the King. They num- bet'd the Dead, relicv'd the Enfigns, redemanded Prifoners, fummon'd Places to furrender, and in Capitulations walk'd before the Governour of the Place, to fecure and warrant his Pcrfon. They were the principal Arbitrators of the Diftribution of the Spoils of the vanquifh'd, and of mili- tary Rewards. They publifh'd Victories ; and gave No- tifications thereof to foreign Courts. They convened the Eftates of the Kingdom, affifted at Royal Marriages, and frequently made the firft Demand ; officiated at folemn Feafts, &c.
The Origin of Heralds is very antient. — Stentor is re- prefented by Homer as Herald of the Greeks, who had a Voice louder than fifty Men together. The Greeks call'd them xnfuxjx, and «etn , o®uA*;wf ; and the Romans, Feciales. See Feciales.
The Romans had a College of Heralds, appointed to decide whether a War were juft or unjuft; and to prevent its coming to open Hoftilities, till all Means had been attempted for deciding the Difference in a pacific Wa,y. See College.
Heralds, or Heralds at Arms, have formerly been de- nominated 2)ukes at Arms, becaufe properly belonging to Dukes ; as Kings at Arms, to Kings. See King at Arms.
In England, we have fix Heralds, viz. 1°. Richmond, 2°. Lancaster, 3°. Chefier, 4°. Windfor, 5°. Somerfet, 6". Tork. Their Office is to wait at Court, to attend public Solemnities, proclaim War and Peace ; look to the Regu-
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lation of the Bearings of Arms, fearch Pedigrees, &c.
They were formerly created and chriften'd by' the King, who flowly pouring a gold Cup of Wine on their Head, gave them their Herald's Name : Now 'tis done by the Earl Marftial. — They could not arrive at the Dignity of Herald, without having been feven Years Pourfuivant : Nor could they quit the Function of Herald, but to be made King at Arms. See Poursuivant, £5c.
The modern Heralds, i. e. thofe we properly call He- ralds, have loft a good deal of the Diftinclion and Offices of the antient ones. What relates to the making out Arms, the rectifying of Abufes therein, %$c. is chiefly committed to the Kings at Arms.
And in the Army, Drums and Trumpets have fuc- ceeded to the Function of Heralds ; being fent by the Generals on the fame Errands ; and on that Account enjoying the fame Rights and Privileges. Their Perfons are under the Protection of the Law of Nations, when they bear the Marks of their Office publickly, i. e. the Trum- peter his Trumpet, and the Drummer his Drum ; in the fame Manner as the Herald his Coat.
The fix Heralds, with the three Kings at Arms, and the four Pourfivants, are a College, or Corporation ; erected into fuch by Charter of Richard HI. who granted them divers Privileges, as to be free from Subfidies, Tolls, and all troublefome Offices. See College of Arms.
Clarencieux, and Norroy King at Arms, are alfo call'd ^Provincial Heralds. See Clarencieux, (Sc.
The Word Herald, according to du Cange, comes from the two German Words, Here, Army ; and belt, or held. Servant ; becaufe chiefly ferving in the Army : Others, will have the two Words fignify Champion of the Army, in Allufion to their Office of denouncing War, proclaiming Peace, (Si. — 2Ju Cange adds, that they were call'd Cla- rigarii as well as Heralds.
Sorel derives the Word from the Latin Herns, Mafter ; q. d. one coming from his Mafter. Others from Herhaut, q. d. High-lord ; others from Herold, which is the fame with Tiominus Veteranus : And others, laftly, from heer- boud, q. d. faithful to his Lord, or the Army.
HERALDRY, the Art of Armoury, and Blazoning ; or the Knowledge of what relates to the Bearing of Arms, and the Laws and Regulation thereof. See Arms, Armoury, Blazon, G?c.
Heraldry likewife comprehends what relates to the Mar- fllaliing of folemn Cavalcades, Proceffions, and other Cere- monies at Coronations, Inftallments, Creations of Peers, Funerals, Nuptials, (Sc. See Herald.
HERB, a Name common to all Plants whofe Stalks, or Stems, die away every Year, after their Seed is be- come ripe. See Plant.
There are fome Herbs whofe Root peri foes with the Stem : And others, where the Root furvives the Stem by feveral Years. See Root and Stem.
Of the former, thofe which come to Maturity the firft Year, and after they have caft their Seed, die away; are call'd Annuals : Such are Wheat, Rye, &c. See Annuals.
Thofe which only bear Flowers and Fruit the fecond Year, or even the third Year, and then perifh ; are called Sifannuals : Such are the Garden Angelica, and fome others.
Herbs whofe Root docs not perifh after they have fhed their Seed, are call'd Terennials ; fuch are Mint, Fennel, &c. See Perennial.
Of the.'e, fome keep their Leaves all the Year round, and are call'd Evcr-greens ; as the Afarabaca, yello'i Violet, Sic. See Ever-green.
The reft lofe their Leaves, and continue bare, part of the Year ; as Fern, Colts-foot, &c.
Herbs are alfo diftinguifhed into Kitchin, or Sallet- Herbs, and Medicinal Herbs.
Sallet-HERBS,") <■. JSallet.
Tot-UnKTss, S~ ace \Pot-Herb.
The Word Herb is form'd of the Latin Herba ; which fome derive from Arvum, Field : Others derive it from the Greek, fs!ish, pafcere, to feed ; of v'-t$h, 'Pabulum. Of the Greek 'F'erbe, the Latins form'd Ferba ; and of Ferba, Hcrba, after the Manner of the Spaniards, who always change the / at the Beginning of a Word into h. See F and Hi
HERBAGE, a collective Name, comprehending all Kinds of Herbs. See Herb.
The antient Hermits liv'd altogether of Herbage. See Hermit.
What makes the principal Difference in the Goodncfs of Butters and Cheefes, is the Difference of Herbage. See Butter, &c.
Herbage, in Law, fignifies the Pafture, or Fruits of the Earth, provided by Nature for the Bite or Mouth of Cattle. See Pasture, (S>c.
The
