Many of them still live on and although in most cases the power the holder once wielded has long since fallen into abeyance the titles, dress and sometimes bizarre rituals associated with them have retained their magical hold over us as keepers of an ancient tradition. Some of these appointments and ceremonies reveal pre-Christian superstitions or the evidence of ruthless invasion by foreign conquerors. Some illustrate the painful effects of civil and religious strife, while others show how monarchs held their power and maintained the integrity of an expanding kingdom. From the Queen s Herb Strewer to the Grand Carver of England, from the Boy Bishop of Hereford to the Archdruid of Anglesea, the present holders of each title are portrayed resplendent in their uniforms of office, while a lively text reveals the fascinating origins and evolution of their posts.