PENSIONER, in general, denotes a person who receives a pension, yearly salary, or allowance. Hence,
The Band of Gentlemen PENSIONERS, the noblest sort of guard to the king's person, consists of 40 gentlemen, who receive a yearly pension of 100l.
This honourable band was first instituted by King Henry VIII. and their office is to attend the king's person, with their battle-axes, to and from his chapel royal, and to receive him in the presence chamber, or coming out of his privy lodgings; they are also to attend at all great solemnities, as coronations, St George's feast, public audiences of ambassadors, at the sovereign's going to parliament, &c.
They are each obliged to keep three double horses and a servant, and so are properly a troop of horse. They wait half at a time quarterly; but on Christmas-day, Easter-day, Whit-sunday, &c. and on extraordinary occasions, they are all obliged to give their attendance. They have likewise the honour to carry up the sovereign's dinner on the coronation-day and St George's feast; at which times the king or queen usually confer the honour of knighthood on two such gentlemen of the band as their captain presents.
Their arms are gilt battle-axes; and their weapons, on horseback, in time of war, are cuirassiers arms, with sword and pistols. Their standard in time of war is, argent, a cross gules. Their captain is always a noble-
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man, who has under him a lieutenant, a standard-bearer, a clerk of the check, secretary, paymaster, and harpinger.