Order of Precedence

Historical Order of Precedence

The Book of Keruynge, printed in 1508 gives the following advice to marshals and ushers regarding precedence:

The Marshall and ussher muste knowe all the estates of the chyrche and the hyghe estate of a kynge with the blode royall.

• The estate of the Pope hath no pere
• The estate of an Emperour is nexte
• The estate of a kynge
• The estate of a cardynall
• The estate of a kynges sone a prynce
• The estate of an archebysshop
• The estate of a duke
• The estate of a bysshop
• The estate of a Marques
• The estate of an erle
• The estate of a vycount
• The estate of a baron
• The estate of an abbot with a myter
• The estate of the chefe Judges and the mayre of London
• The estate of an abbot without a myter
• The estate of a knigh bacheler
• The estate of pryour dene archedeken or knyght
• The estate of the mayster of the rolles
• The estate of other Justyces