given to ambassadors, ceremonies observed in courts, at the admission of ambassadors, or public ministers, to a hearing.

In England, audience is given to ambassadors in the presence-chamber; to envoys and residents, in a gallery, closet, or in any place where the king happens to be. Upon being admitted, as is the custom of all courts, they make three bows, after which they cover and sit down; but not before the king is covered and sat down, and has given them the sign to put on their hats.

When the king does not care to have them covered, and sit, he himself stands uncovered; which is taken as a slight.

At Constantinople, ministers usually have audience of the prime vizier.

Audience-court, a court belonging to the archbishop of Canterbury, of equal authority with the arches-court, though inferior both in dignity and antiquity. The original of this court was, because the archbishop of Canterbury heard several causes extrajudicially at home in his own palace; in which, before he would finally determine any thing, he usually committed them to be discussed by men learned in the civil and canon laws, whom, thereupon, he called his auditors; and so in time it became the power of the man who is called caufarum negotiorumque audentia Cantuariensis auditor, seu officinalis.

Chamber of Audience. See Chamber.