a sum of money paid annually for services or considerations already past. The yearly payment of each member to the houses of the inns of courts, are likewise termed pensions; and the yearly assembly of the members of the society of Gray's Inn, to consult on the affairs of the house, is also called a pension.

PENSIONER in general, denotes a person who receives a pension, yearly salary, or allowance. Hence,

The band of gentleman-pensioners, the noblest sort of guard to the king's person, consists of so ty gentlemen, who receive a yearly pension of one hundred pounds. 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 told 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, Whitsunday, &c. and on extraordinary occasions, they are all obliged to give their attendance.