<P> A serjeant - at - arms, or sergeant - at - arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings . The word "serjeant" is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant". Historically, serjeants - at - arms were armed men retained by English lords and monarchs, and the ceremonial maces with which they are associated were in origin a type of weapon . ("Sergeant" is a modern UK and North American variant spelling). </P> <P> The term "sergeant" can be given two main definitions; the first being a military rank and the other a governmental role . Whereas technically the two roles were not mutually exclusive, they were very different in roles and duties . The soldier sergeant was a man of what would now be thought of as the' middle class', fulfilling a slightly junior role to the knight in the medieval hierarchy . Sergeants could fight either as heavy to light cavalry, or as well - trained professional infantry, either spearmen or crossbowmen . Most notable medieval mercenaries fell into the' sergeant' class, such as Flemish crossbowmen and spearmen, who were seen as reliable quality troops . The sergeant class were deemed to be' worth half of a knight' in military value . The office originated in medieval England to serve the sovereign in a police role, much like a bailiff in more recent times . Indeed, the sergeants - at - arms constitute the oldest royal bodyguard in England, dating from the time of King Richard I (around 1189) as a formed body . The title "sergeant - at - arms" appears during the crusades during the reign of King Philip II of France in 1192 . </P>

What is the role of a sergeant at arms