Society learns about role of the Messenger at Arms

The speaker at the Arran Historical Society June meeting was Roddy Macpherson an Officer of Law and Antiquity and Lyon Macer at the Court of the Lord Lyon, writes Hugh Brown.

Mr Macpherson came to talk to the society about the work of the Messenger at Arms at the court of the Lord Lyon. The more usual name for the bearer of this office in Scotland is the Sheriff’s Officer, more often associated with warrant sales for people who had fallen into debt. However, the society learned that the job covered a much greater range of tasks than this.

Messengers at Arms are appointed by the Lyon King of Armes and they are a junior rank of the court of the Lord Lyon. To achieve this position there are a number of examinations that must be undertaken.

The position of Messenger at Arms was instigated by James the 6th of Scotland in 1587 and Mr Macpherson pointed out that the day of the meeting was held, June 19, was, in fact, 451 years since the birth of James.

In 2006 there was an attempt to abolish this ancient title under the Bankrupt and Diligence Act of 2007, with a more modern and universally understood name, proposed by Allan Wilson MSP for Cunninghame North.

However, when he lost the seat by 48 votes in May 2007 the motion was dropped. Spoilt and damp voting papers coming from Arran, Mr Macpherson suggested, may have therefore saved the ancient title.

We were informed that at present under European Legislation the Messengers at Arms can serve legal documents throughout Europe which he informed us gave a helpful and practical way for ordinary citizens to get access to justice across borders but this could in future be affected by Brexit.

Mr Macpherson explained that the arms carried by the Messenger at Arms are not military but are the Royal Arms. One of the tasks of the Lord Lyon is to make public announcements from the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh. The last time this was done was on May 4 when the new parliament was announced after the General Election.

He spoke about the history of his badge of office and the mace carried by the Messenger at Arms, a short stick like a wand, which he had with him.

He recounted that once when serving a writ on a Glasgow worthy and showing him his mace as his badge of office the fellow was heard to exclaim: ‘Oh look it’s Sooty’.

He finished his talk by introducing members to some of the strange language when approving designs for Heraldic Coats of Arms.

Strange words like ‘fimbriated’, which is a heraldic term which means to put a narrow border around a design on a coat of arms.

This was an interesting and amusing talk which certainly gave society members a whole new slant on the work of the Messenger at Arms.