their first appearance in our
own history.

Camden (somewhat, I fear, too rashly) says, that "their reputation,
honour, and name began in the time of Charlemagne." The first mention of
heralds in England occurs in the reign of Edward III., a reign in which
Chivalry was at its dazzling zenith. Whitlock says, "that some derive
the name of Herald from Hereauld," a Saxon word (old soldier, or old
master), "because anciently they were chosen from veteran soldiers."
Joseph Holland says, "I find that Malcolm, King of Scots, sent a herald
unto William the Conqueror, to treat of a peace, when both armies were in
order of battle." Agard affirms, that "at the conquest there was no
practice of heraldry;" and observes truly, "that the Conqueror used a
monk for his messenger to King Harold."

To this I may add, that monks or priests also fulfil the office of
heralds in the old French and Norman Chronicles. Thus Charles the Simple
sends an archbishop to treat with Rolfganger; Louis the Debonnair sends
to Mormon, chief of the Bretons, "a sage and prudent abbot." But in the
Saxon times, the nuncius (a word still used in heraldic Latin) was in the
regular service both of the King and the great Earls. The Saxon name for
such a messenger was bode, and when employed in hostile negotiations, he
was styled warbode. The messengers between Godwin and the King would
seem, by the general sense of the chronicles, to have been certain thegns
acting as mediators.

NOTE (H)

The Fylgia, or Tutelary Spirit.

This lovely superstition in the Scandinavian belief is the more
remarkable because it does not appear in the creed of the Germanic
Teutons, and is closely allied with the good angel, or guardian genius,
of the Persians. It forms, therefore, one of the arguments that favour
the Asiatic origin of the Norsemen.

The Fylgia (following, or attendant, spirit) was always represented as a
female. Her influence was not uniformly favourable, though such was its
general characteristic. She was capable of revenge if neglected, but had
the devotion of her sex when properly treated. Mr. Grenville Pigott, in
his popular work, entitled "A Manual of Scandinavian Mythology," relates
an interesting legend with respect to one of these supernatural ladies:

A Scandinavian warrior, Halfred Vandraedakald, having embraced
Christianity, and being attacked by a disease which he thought mortal,
was naturally anxious that a spirit who had accompanied h