SERGEANT at Arms, or Mace, an officer appointed to attend the person of the king; to arrest traitors, and such persons of quality as offend; and to attend the lord high steward, when sitting in judgment on a traitor.
Of these, by statute 13 Rich. II. cap. 6. there are not to be above 30 in the realm. There are now nine at court at L. 100 per annum salary each; they are called the king's sergeants at arms, to distinguish them from others: they are created with great ceremony, the person kneeling before the king, his majesty lays the mace on his right shoulder, and says, Rise xpi. sergeant at arms, and esquire for ever. They have, besides, a patent for the office, which they hold for life.
They have their attendance in the presence-chamber,
where the band of gentlemen-pensioners wait; and, receiving the king at the door, they carry the maces before him to the chapel door, whilst the band of pensioners stand foremost, and make a lane for the king, as they also do when the king goes to the house of lords.
There are four other sergeants at arms, created in the same manner; one, who attends the lord chancellor; a second, the lord treasurer; a third, the speaker of the house of commons; and a fourth, the lord mayor of London on solemn occasions.
They have a considerable share of the fees of honour, and travelling charges allowed them when in waiting, viz. five shillings per day when the court is within ten miles of London, and ten shillings when twenty miles from London. The places are in the lord chamberlain's gift.
There are also sergeants of the mace of an inferior kind, who attend the mayor or other head officer of a corporation.