but, admit him
instantly. By Our Lady, I will learn from this same herald something farther of
his employers' hopes and projects, than this young French-Scottish man-at-arms
seems desirous to tell me.«
 

                              Chapter Thirty-Third

                                  The Herald.

            Ariel. -- Hark! they roar.
             Prospero. Let them be hunted soundly.
                                                                    The Tempest.
 
There was room made in the assembly, and no small curiosity evinced by those
present to see the herald whom the insurgent Liegeois had ventured to send to so
haughty a Prince as the Duke of Burgundy, while in such high indignation against
them. For it must be remembered, that at this period heralds were only
despatched from sovereign princes to each other upon solemn occasions; and that
the inferior nobility employed pursuivants, a lower rank of officers-at-arms. It
may be also noticed in passing, that Louis XI., a habitual derider of whatever
did not promise real power or substantial advantage, was in especial a professed
contemner of heralds and heraldry, »red, blue, and green, with all their
trumpery,«62 to which the pride of his rival Charles, which was of a very
different kind, attached no small degree of ceremonious importance.
    The herald, who was now introduced into the presence of the monarchs, was
dressed in a tabard, or coat, embroidered with the arms of his master, in which
the boar's head made a distinguished appearance, in blazonry, which, in the
opinion of the skilful, was more showy than accurate. The rest of his dress - a
dress always sufficiently tawdry - was overcharged with lace, embroidery, and
ornament of every kind; and the plume of feathers which he wore was so high, as
if intended to sweep the roof of the hall. In short, the usual gaudy splendour
of the heraldic attire was caricatured and overdone. The Boar's-head was not
only repeated on every part of his dress, but even his bonnet was formed into
that shape, and it was represented with gory tongue and bloody tusks, or in
proper language, langed and dentated gules; and there was something in the man's
appearance which seemed to imply a mixture of boldness and apprehension, like
one who has undertaken a dangerous commission, and is sensible that audacity
alone can carry him through it with safety. Something of the same mixture of
fear and effrontery was visible in the manner in which he paid his respects, and
he showed also a grotesque awkwardness, not usual amongst those who were
accustomed to be received in the presence of princes