▪ I. pursuivant, n. (a.)
(ˈpɜːswɪvənt)
Forms: 4–5 purs(eu)aunt, 5–8 purseu-, -sevant, (5 -syaunt, 5–6 -cyvaunt, 6 -ceu-, -ceva(u)nt, -civant, -suiaunt, -siuant, -syvant, 6–7 -suyvant, 6–8 -sueuant, -vant, 7 -suvant, -sivant); 6– pursuivant, (7–8 pour-). Also Sc. 5 pursevand, -sewand, -ant, -sephant, -siwant, -syfant, -cyfant, 5–6 persevand.
[ME. a. OF. por-, pur-, poursivant, etc., mod.F. poursuivant, pr. pple. of porsivre, poursuivre ‘to pursue, follow after’, also used subst., = follower, suitor, pursuivant-at-arms, etc.]
1. Formerly, A junior heraldic officer attendant on the heralds; also one attached to a particular nobleman. Now, an officer of the College of Arms, ranking below a Herald.
In the English College of Arms there are three Kings of Arms, six Heralds, and four Pursuivants, styled respectively: Rouge Croix, Bluemantle, Rouge Dragon, and Portcullis; 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; in the court of the Ulster King of Arms in Ireland there are two Heralds and four Pursuivants: Athlone, and St. Patrick nos. 1, 2, and 3.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1321 Pursevantes and herauldes That crien ryche folkes laudes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 416/2 Purcyvawnte (K. purciwant). 1456 Sir G. Haye Law of Arms (S.T.S.) 278 [He] has first tane sik a beste..to bere in his schelde..or in blasoun apon his heraulde or persevandis brest. c 1480 Henryson Mor. Fab. vi. Father Wer 49 Ane Unicorne..ane bill in breist he bure, Ane Pursephant semelie, I ȝow assure. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 64 It was proclamyd opynly with the kynges shreffe and two harraldes and two pursevanttes and a trumpet. 1572–3 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 190 Johnne Calder, Bute Pursevant. 1583 Rot. Scacc. Reg. Scot. XXI. 560, I Robert Campbell, Carrik pursuevant..charged Maister Patrik Vaus..to content and pay. 1607 Dekker & Webster Sir T. Wyatt D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 85 Send for Heralds, call me Purseuants, Wher's the King at armes? 1766 Entick London IV. 27 The four pursuivants..are also created by the earl-marshal. 1866 Chamb. Encycl. VIII. 24/2 In ancient times, any great nobleman might institute his own pursuivant with his own hands and by his single authority. The Dukes of Norfolk had a pursuivant, called Blanch-lyon, from the white lion in their arms. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 24 May 10/1 He held the office of his Majesty's Unicorn Pursuivant for Scotland. |
b. Also pursuivant at (of) arms.
| 1532–3 Act 24 Hen. VIII, c. 13 Any henche man, heralde, or purcevant at armes. 1658 Phillips s.v., The four Pursuivants at Arms are those that attend the Heralds, and are called Bluemantle, Rougecrosse, Rougedragon, and Percullis. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. iv. xxxii, The pursuivant-at-arms..Before the castle took his stand. 1806 A. Duncan Nelson's Fun. 19 Two Pursuivants at Arms, properly attired. |
† 2. A royal or state messenger with power to execute warrants; a warrant-officer. Obs.
In Scotland, the heraldic pursuivants usually served summonses of treason, thus connecting senses 1 and 2.
| 1503 Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830) 87 A purcevaunt belonging to my lord the Kinges Chambrelain. 1535 Coverdale Jer. li. 31 One purseuaunt shal mete another, yee one poste shal come by another, to bringe the kinge of Babilon tydinges. 1569 Nottingham Rec. IV. 132 A pursyuant that brought the proclamasyon. 1600 Holland Livy xxv. xli. 581 There was a speedie pursuivant or courrier sent throughout the battailons. 1603 Owen Pembrokeshire vi. (1892) 50 These were sent for by lettres by a purcephant to make their repaire to the Counsell of the marches. 1628 tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iv. (1688) 526 Men, taking upon them the Authority and Badges of the Queen's Pursivants, rambled up and down all over England with counterfeit Warrants. 1641 Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 67 To let them still hale us, and worrey us with their band-dogs, and Pursivants. 1648 Gage West Ind. 206, One of the State-Officers, a Pursevant. 1823 Scott Peveril vi, If he falls in with the pursuivant fellow who carries the warrant of the Privy Council. |
† b. transf. and fig. = ‘messenger’. Obs.
| c 1530 tr. Erasm. Serm. Child Jesus (1901) 10 That great purseuaunt, Johan Baptist. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. x. 301 Her feet be Purseuants from Cupid sent, With whose fine steps all loues and ioyes conspire. 1631 Dekker Match Mee v. Wks. 1873 IV. 212 Vnlesse he sent his Purseuant death for her. |
3. A follower; an attendant. Also fig.
| 1513 Douglas æneis ix. x. 133 Ane Butes..That pursevant tofor and squyer had be To Troiane Anchyses, fader of Enee. 1845 Longfellow To a Child xiii, Fear, the pursuivant of Hope. 1854 Card. Wiseman Fabiola ii. vi. 167 Proposed to be captain of a body of armed pursuivants picked out for their savageness and hatred of Christians. 1863 Longfellow Wayside Inn i. Falcon of Ser Federigo 130 The sole pursuivant of this poor knight. 1885–94 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Oct. 17 But sleep, the gracious pursuivant of toil, Came swiftly down. |
† 4. A suitor (for a lady's hand). Obs. rare.
| 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel, Then to this lady and soverayne of this palace, Of pursevantis ther presid in with many a diverse tale. |
† B. adj. Pursuing, prosecuting. Obs. rare.
| a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. (1609) 92 The party pursuiuant giueth good ensignes. |
▪ II. † ˈpursuivant, v. Obs.
Forms: see prec.
[f. prec.]
trans. To send a pursuivant after; to pursue; to summon or arrest by a pursuivant. Also fig. Hence ˈpursuivanting vbl. n.
| 1636 Prynne Unbish. Tim. Ded. (1661) 17 The late suspending,..pursevanting, vexing,..crushing of many learned..Ministers. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. xxviii. 218 Their navie was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest. a 1662 Heylin Laud (1668) 197 Divers of them had been pursevanted for Printing of orthodox Books. 1687 R. L'Estrange Brief Hist. Times i. 84 Pursuivanting, Messengering, Sergeanting, Cooping-up, Squeezing, Rifling, Plundering, and Oppressing. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 199 He was pursevanted up to London..and was committed Prisoner to the Fleet. |