Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PURSUIVANT, n. Also †pursevant.
1. As in Eng., a heraldic officer; in Scot., a member of the Lyon Court of Heralds, whose former duties included the serving of summonses for treason. There were six of these till 1867 when the number was reduced to three, at present Carrick, Unicorn and Kintyre. Also Slains Pursuivant, a heraldic official attached to the High Constable of Scotland, the Earl or Countess of Erroll. "The Earldom of Erroll is one of the few surviving medieval Earldoms to possess their own private officers-of-arms" (Sc. 1970 Burke's Peerage 949).
[From Slains in Aberdeenshire, the seat of the family of Hay of Erroll.]Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institutes I. ii. 191:
The Lyon King of Arms, or King at Arms, . . . attests Genealogies, admits Officers at Arms, viz. Heralds, Pursevants, and Messengers.Sc. 1760 Caled. Mercury (23 Jan.):
The office of Dingwall Pursuivant being vacant, any person who inclines to purchase said office, may apply to Thomas Brodie, Writer to the Signet.Sc. 1902 Westminster Gazette (24 May) 10:
He held the office of his Majesty's Unicorn Pursuivant for Scotland.Sc. 1909 N.E.D.:
In the court of the Lyon King of Arms in Scotland there are three Heralds, and three (down to 1867, six) Pursuivants: Carrick, Unicorn and March (formerly Bute), formerly also Dingwall, Ormond, and Kintyre.Sc. 1974 Buchan Observer (21 May) 8:
Mr Michael Maclagan was, from 1948-70, Slains Pursuivant.
2. An attendant on the Cornet at the riding of the marches ceremony at Dumfries.Dmf. 1964 Dmf. Standard (1 July) 1:
The Pursuivant hands “seisin” of earth, stone and water to Provost Watt — a symbolic act in the march-riding ceremony.
