Elizabethan / Renaissance term

[James A. Landau]

"herald".

The herald was originally the announcer at a jousting tournament.  Since
knights with their helmets on could only be recognized by the insigniae on
their shields, the art of recognzing insigniae was called "heraldry".

It is my impression (possibly from John Keegan _The Face of Battle_) that in
Medieval times heralds (such as the one who appears so prominently in
Shakespeare's _Henry V_) formed a guild.  Hence a non-member of the Heralds'
Guild who did the announcing would have a different title, such as perhaps
"crier", but that is hairsplitting.

The man who stage-managed formal court events probably had the title of
"Chamberlain", and perhaps the chamberlain would choose to do his own
announcing.

      - Jim Landau