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OiF   THE 

:    UNIVERSITY 


PLATE  I. 


THE   ROYAL  ARMS. 


A  COMPLETE  GUIDE 

TO       ;  ;v  i  ■ 

HERALDRY 


BY 


-''Ja^' 


ARTHUR  CHARLES   FOX-DAVIES 

OF  LINCOLN'S  INN,   BARRIsi^ER-AT-LA\i^ 

AUTHOR   OF    "the   ART  OF   HERALDRY"" 
EDITOR    OF    "armorial   FAMILIES,"   ETC.    ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  NINE  PLATES  IN  COLOUR  AND  NEARLY 
800  OTHER  DESIGNS,  MAINLY  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY 

GRAHAM    JOHNSTON 

HERALD    PAINTER   TO   THE   LYON    COURT 


LONDON 

T.    G.   &   E.    G.   JAGK 

16  HENRIE'rTA  STREET,  W.C. 

AND  EDINBURGH 

1909 


f7 


0£/f£fi^i 


CONTENTS 


CHAP.  PAGE 

Introduction .        ix 

^I.    The  Origin  of  Armory i 

'  II.    The  Status  and  the  Meaning  of  a  Coat  of  Arms  in 

Great  Britain         .         .         .         .         .         .         .19 

III.  The  Heralds  and  Officers  of  Arms     .         .         .         .27 

IV.  Heraldic  Brasses  ........       49 

V.   The  Component  Parts  of  an  Achievement  .         .         -57 

VI.   The  Shield .60 

VII.   The  Field  of  a  Shield  and  the  Heraldic  Tinctures       67 

VIII.   The  Rules  of  Blazon 99 

IX.   The  so-called  Ordinaries  and  Sub-Ordinaries    .         .106 
X.    The  Human  Figure  in  Heraldry  .         .         .         -158 

XI.   The  Heraldic- Lion 172 

XII.   Beasts 191 

XIII.  Monsters 218 

XIV.  Birds 233 

XV.    Fish .253 

XVI.    Reptiles 257 

XVII.  Insects   ..........     260 

XVIII.  Trees,   Leaves,  Fruits,  and  Flowers     .         .         .         .262 

XIX.    Inanimate  Objects 281 

XX.  The  Heraldic  Helmet  .         .         .         .         ,         .         *     3^3 

vii 


192522 


viii  CONTENTS 

CHAP.  pj^Gj. 

XXI.  The  Crest 326 

XXII.  Crowns  and  Coronets 350 

XXIII.  Crest  Coronets  and  Chapeaux         .         .        ,         -370 

XXIV.  The  Mantling  or  Lambrequin          ....     383 
XXV.  The  Torse  or  Wreath 402 

XXVI.  Supporters 407 

XXVII.  The  Compartment 441 

XXVIII.  Mottoes 448 

XXIX.  Badges 453 

XXX.  Heraldic  Flags,  Banners,  and  Standards        .         .471 

XXXI.  Marks  of  Cadency 477 

XXXII.  Marks  of  Bastardy 508 

XXXIII.  The  Marshalling  of  Arms       .....     523 

XXXIV.  The  Armorial  Insignia  of  Knighthood  .         .         -561 
XXXV.  The  Armorial  Bearings  of  a  Lady  .         .  .572 

XXXVI.  Official  Heraldic  Insignia 580 

XXXVII.  Augmentations  of  Honour       .....  589 

XXXVIII.  Ecclesiastical   Heraldry          .....  600 

XXXIX.  Arms  of  Dominion  and  Sovereignty        .         .         .607 

XL.  Hatchments      ........  609 

XLI.  The  Union  Jack 611 

XLII.  "  Seize-Quartiers  " 618 

Index         , .     623 


'    ..         Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 
^UFORNVh: 


INTRODUCTION 


Too  frequently  it  is  the  custom  to  regard  the  study  of  the  science 
of  Armory  as  that  of  a  subject  which  has  passed  beyond  the 
limits  of  practical  politics.  Heraldry  has  been  termed  *' the 
shorthand  of  History/'  but  nevertheless  the  study  of  that  shorthand 
has  been  approached  too  often  as  if  it  were  but  the  study  of  a  dead 
language.  The  result  has  been  that  too  much  faith  has  been  placed 
in  the  works  of  older  writers,  whose  dicta  have  been  accepted  as  both 
unquestionably  correct  at  the  date  they  wrote,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
equally  binding  at  the  present  day. 

Since  the  *^  Boke  of  St.  Albans  "  was  written,  into  the  heraldic  portion 
of  which  the  author  managed  to  compress  an  unconscionable  amount 
of  rubbish,  books  and  treatises  on  the  subject  of  Armory  have  issued 
from  the  press  in  a  constant  succession.  A  few  of  them  stand  a  head 
and  shoulders  above  the  remainder.  The  said  remainder  have  already 
sunk  into  oblivion.  Such  a  book  as  ''  Guillim  "  must  of  necessity  rank 
in  the  forefront  of  any  armorial  bibliography  ;  but  any  one  seeking  to 
judge  the  Armory  of  the  present  day  by  the  standards  and  ethics 
adopted  by  that  writer,  would  find  himself  making  mistake  after  mis- 
take, and  led  hopelessly  astray.  There  can  be  very  little  doubt  that  the 
**  Display  of  Heraldry "  is  an  accurate  representation  of  the  laws  of 
Armory  which  governed  the  use  of  Arms  at  the  date  the  book  was 
written  ;  and  it  correctly  puts  forward  the  opinions  which  were  then 
accepted  concerning  the  past  history  of  the  science. 

There  are  two  points,  however,  which  must  be  borne  in  mind. 

The  first  is  that  the  critical  desire  for  accuracy  which  fortunately 
seems  to  have  been  the  keynote  of  research  during  the  nineteenth 
century,  has  produced  students  of  Armory  whose  investigations  into 
facts  have  swept  away  the  fables,  the  myths,  and  the  falsehood  which 
had  collected  around  the  ancient  science,  and  which  in  their  prepos- 
terous assertions  had  earned  for  Armory  a  ridicule,  a  contempt,  and  a 
disbelief  which  the  science  itself,  and  moreover  the  active  practice  of 
the  science,  had  never  at  any  time  warranted  or  deserved.  The  desire 
to  gratify  the  vanity  of  illustrious  patrons  rendered  the  mythical  tradi- 
tions attached  to  Armory  more  difficult  to  explode  than  in  the  cases 
of  those  other  sciences  in  which  no  one  has  a  personal  interest  in  up- 


X  INTRODUCTION 

holding  the  wrong  ;  but  a  study  of  the  scientific  works  of  bygone  days, 
and  the  comparison,  for  example,  of  a  sixteenth  or  seventeenth  century 
medical  book  with  a  similar  work  of  the  present  day,  will  show  that 
all  scientific  knowledge  during  past  centuries  was  a  curious  conglomera- 
tion of  unquestionable  fact,  interwoven  with  and  partly  obscured  by  a 
vast  amount  of  false  information,  which  now  can  either  be  dismissed 
as  utter  rubbish  or  controverted  and  disproved  on  the  score  of  being 
plausible  untruth.  Consequently,  Armory,  no  less  than  medicine,  theo- 
logy, or  jurisprudence,  should  not  be  lightly  esteemed  because  our  pre- 
decessors knew  less  about  the  subject  than  is  known  at  the  present  day, 
or  because  they  believed  implicitly  dogma  and  tradition  which  we  our- 
selves know  to  be  and  accept  as  exploded.  Research  and  investigation 
constantly  goes  on,  and  every  day  adds  to  our  knowledge. 

The  second  point,  which  perhaps  is  the  most  important,  is  the  patent 
fact  that  Heraldry  and  Armory  are  not  a  dead  science,  but  are  an  actual 
living  reality.  Armory  may  be  a  quaint  survival  of  a  time  with  different 
manners  and  customs,  and  different  ideas  from  our  own,  but  the  word 
"  Finis  "  has  not  yet  been  written  to  the  science,  which  is  still  slowly 
developing  and  altering  and  changing  as  it  is  suited  to  the  altered  manners 
and  customs  of  the  present  day.  I  doubt  not  that  this  view  will  be  a 
startling  one  to  many  who  look  upon  Armory  as  indissolubly  associated 
with  parchments  and  writings  already  musty  with  age.  But  so  long 
as  the  Sovereign  has  the  power  to  create  a  new  order  of  Knighthood, 
and  attach  thereto  Heraldic  insignia,  so  long  as  the  Crown  has  the 
power  to  create  a  new  coronet,  or  to  order  a  new  ceremonial,  so  long 
as  new  coats  of  arms  are  being  called  into  being, — for  so  long  is  it 
idle  to  treat  Armory  and  Heraldry  as  a  science  incapable  of  further 
development,  or  as  a  science  which  in  recent  periods  has  not  altered 
in  its  laws. 

The  many  mistaken  ideas  upon  Armory,  however,  are  not  all  due 
to  the  two  considerations  which  have  been  put  forward.  Many  are 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  hand-books  of  Armory  professing  to  detail  the 
laws  of  the  science  have  not  always  been  written  by  those  having  com- 
plete knowledge  of  their  subject.  Some  statement  appears  in  a  text- 
book of  Armory,  it  is  copied  into  book  after  book,  and  accepted  by 
those  who  study  Armory  as  being  correct  ;  whilst  all  the  time  it 
is  absolutely  wrong,  and  has  never  been  accepted  or  acted  upon  by 
the  Officers  of  Arms.  One  instance  will  illustrate  my  meaning.  There 
is  scarcely  a  text-book  of  Armory  which  does  not  lay  down  the  rule, 
that  when  a  crest  issues  from  a  coronet  it  must  not  be  placed  upon  a 
wreath.  Now  there  is  no  rule  whatever  upon  the  subject  ;  and  instances 
are  frequent,  both  in  ancient  and  in  modern  grants,  in  which  coronets 
have  been  granted  to  be  borne  upon  wreaths  ;  and  the  wreath  should 


INTRODUCTION  •  xi 

be  inserted  or  omitted  according  to  the  original  grant  of  the  crest.  Conse- 
quently, the  so-called  rule  must  be  expunged. 

Another  fruitful  source  of  error  is  the  effort  which  has  frequently 
been  made  to  assimilate  the  laws  of  Armory  prevailing  in  the  three 
different  kingdoms  into  one  single  series  of  rules  and  regulations.  Some 
writers  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  attempt  to  assimilate  with  our  own 
the  rules  and  regulations  which  hold  upon  the  Continent.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  many  of  the  laws  of  Arms  in  England  and  Scotland  are  radically 
different ;  and  care  needs  to  be  taken  to  point  out  these  differences. 

The  truest  way  to  ascertain  the  laws  of  Armory  is  by  deduction 
from  known  facts.  Nevertheless,  such  a  practice  may  lead  one  astray, 
for  the  number  of  exceptions  to  any  given  rule  in  Armory  is  always 
great,  and  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  tell  what  is  the  rule,  and  which 
are  the  exceptions.  Moreover,  the  Sovereign,  as  the  fountain  of  honour, 
can  over-ride  any  rule  or  law  of  Arms  ;  and  many  exceptional  cases 
which  have  been  governed  by  specific  grants  have  been  accepted  in  times 
past  as  demonstrating  the  laws  of  Armory,  when  they  have  been  no 
more  than  instances  of  exceptional  favour  on  the  part  of  the  Crown. 

In  England  no  one  is  compelled  to  bear  Arms  unless  he  wishes  ; 
but,  should  he  desire  to  do  so,  the  Inland  Revenue  requires  a  payment 
of  one  or  two  guineas,  according  to  the  method  of  use.  From  this 
voluntary  taxation  the  yearly  revenue  exceeds  ^^70,000.  This  affords 
pretty  clear  evidence  that  Armory  is  still  decidedly  popular,  and  that 
its  use  and  display  are  extensive ;  but  at  the  same  time  it  would  be 
foolish  to  suppose  that  the  estimation  in  which  Armory  is  held,  is  equal 
to,  or  approaches,  the  romantic  value  which  in  former  days  was  attached 
to  the  inheritance  of  Arms.  The  result  of  this  has  been — and  it  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at — that  ancient  examples  are  accepted  and  extolled 
beyond  what  should  be  the  case.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
very  ancient  examples  of  Armory  which  have  come  down  to  us,  may 
be  examples  of  the  handicraft  of  ignorant  individuals  ;  and  it  is  not 
safe  to  accept  unquestioningly  laws  of  Arms  which  are  deduced  from 
Heraldic  handicraft  of  other  days.  Most  of  them  are  correct,  because 
as  a  rule  such  handicraft  was  done  under  supervision  ;  but  there  is 
always  the  risk  that  it  has  not  been  ;  and  this  risk  should  be  borne  in  mind 
when  estimating  the  value  of  any  particular  example  of  Armory  as  proof 
or  contradiction  of  any  particular  Armorial  law.  There  were  "  heraldic 
stationers  "  before  the  present  day. 

A  somewhat  similar  consideration  must  govern  the  estimate  of  the 
Heraldic  art  of  a  former  day.  To  every  action  we  are  told  there  is  a 
reaction  ;  and  the  reaction  of  the  present  day,  admirable  and  commend- 
able as  it  undoubtedly  is,  which  has  taken  the  art  of  Armory  back  to 
the  style  in  vogue  in,_past  centuries,  needs  to  be  kept  within  intelligent 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

bounds.  That  the  freedom  of  design  and  draughtsmanship  of  the  old 
artists  should  be  copied  is  desirable  ;  but  at  the  same  time  there  is  not 
the  slightest  necessity  to  copy,  and  to  deliberately  copy,  the  crudeness 
of  execution  which  undoubtedly  exists  in  much  of  the  older  work.  The 
revulsion  from  what  has  been  aptly  styled  '^the  die-sinker  school  of 
heraldry  "  has  caused  some  artists  to  produce  Heraldic  drawings  which 
(though  doubtless  modelled  upon  ancient  examples)  are  grotesque  to 
the  last  degree,  and  can  be  described  in  no  other  way. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  to  repeat  my  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
the  many  individuals  who  assisted  me  in  the  preparation  of  my  "  Art 
of  Heraldry,"  upon  which  this  present  volume  is  founded,  and  w^hose 
work  I  have  again  made  use  of. 

The  very  copious  index  herein  is  entirely  the  work  of  my  pro- 
fessional clerk,  Mr.  H.  A.  Ken  ward,  for  which  I  offer  him  my  thanks. 
Only  those  who  have  had  actual  experience  know  the  tedious  weariness 
of  compiling  such  an  index. 

A.   C   FOX-DAVIES. 

23  Old  Buildings, 
Lincoln's  Inn,  W.C. 


A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO 
HERALDRY 


CHAPTER   I 
THE    ORIGIN    OF    ARMORY 


RMORY  is  that  science  of  which  the 
rules  and  the  laws  govern  the  use, 
display,  meaning,  and  knowledge 
of  the  pictured  signs  and  emblems 
appertaining  to  shield,  helmet,  or 
banner.  Heraldry  has  a  wider 
meaning,  for  it  comprises  every- 
thing wdthin  the  duties  of  a  herald  ; 
and  whilst  Armory  undoubtedly  is 
Heraldry,  the  regulation  of  cere- 
monials and  matters  of  pedigree, 
which  are  really  also  within  the 
scope  of  Heraldry,  most  decidedly  are  not  Armory. 

Armory "  relates  only  to  the  emblem's  and  devices. 
"  Armoury  "  relates  to  the  weapons  themselves  as  weapons  of  warfare, 
or  to  the  place  used  for  the  storing  of  the  weapons.  But  these 
distinctions  of  spelling  are  modern. 

The  word  ''  Arms,"  like  many  other  words  in  the  English  language, 
has  several  meanings,  and  at  the  present  day  is  used  in  several  senses. 
It  may  mean  the  weapons  themselves  ;  it  may  mean  the  limbs  upon  the 
human  body.  Even  from  the  heraldic  point  of  view  it  may  mean  the 
entire  achievement,  but  usually  it  is  employed  in  reference  to  the  device 
upon  the  shield  only. 

Of  the  exact  origin  of  arms  and  armory  nothing  whatever  is  defi- 
nitely known,  and  it  becomes  difficult  to  point  to  any  particular  period 
as  the  period  covering  the  origin  of  armory,  for  the  very  simple  reason 
that  it  is  much  more  difficult  to  decide  what  is  or  is  not  to  be  admitted 
as  armorial. 


2        :A.  .COMPLIETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Until 'comparatively -recently  heraldic  books  referred  armory  in- 
diffefeptly  lo  •the!  Jribfes/of  Israel,  to  the  Greeks,  to  the  Romans,  to  the 
Assyrians  and  the  SaxonS  V'and  we  are  equally  familiar  with  the  ^^  Lion 
of  Judah  "  and  the  ^'  Eagle  of  the  Caesars."  In  other  directions  we  find 
the  same  sort  of  thing,  for  it  has  ever  been  the  practice  of  semi-civilised 
nations  to  bestow  or  to  assume  the  virtues  and  the  names  of  animals 
and  of  deities  as  symbols  of  honour.  We  scarcely  need  refer  to  the 
totems  of  the  North  American  Indians  for  proof  of  such  a  practice. 
They  have  reduced  the  subject  almost  to  an  exact  science  ;  and  there 
cannot  be  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  it  is  to  this  semi-savage  practice 
that  armory  is  to  be  traced  if  its  origin  is  to  be  followed  out  to  its  logical 
and  most  remote  beginning.  Equally  is  it  certain  that  many  recognised 
heraldic  figures,  and  more  particularly  those  mythical  creatures  of 
which  the  armorial  menagerie  alone  has  now  cognisance,  are  due  to  the 
art  of  civilisations  older  than  our  own,  and  the  legends  of  those  civihsa- 
tions  which  have  called  these  mythical  creatures  into  being. 

The  widest  definition  of  armory  would  have  it  that  any  pictorial 
badge  which  is  used  by  an  individual  or  a  family  with  the  meaning  that 
it  is  a  badge  indicative  of  that  person  or  family,  and  adopted  and  re- 
peatedly used  in  that  sense,  is  heraldic.  If  such  be  your  definition, 
you  may  ransack  the  Scriptures  for  the  arms  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  the 
writings  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  poets  for  the  decorations  of  the  armour 
and  the  persons  of  their  heroes,  mythical  and  actual,  and  you  may  annex 
numberless  <<  heraldic  "  instances  from  the  art  of  Nineveh,  of  Babylon, 
and  of  Egypt.  Your  heraldry  is  of  the  beginning  and  from  the  begin- 
ning. It  is  fact,  but  is  it  heraldry  ?  The  statement  in  the  ^'  Boke  of  St. 
Albans  "  that  Christ  was  a  gentleman  of  coat  armour  is  a  fable,  and  due 
distinction  must  be  had  between  the  fact  and  the  fiction  in  this  as  in 
all  other  similar  cases. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Eve,  in  his  ''  Decorative  Heraldry,"  alludes  to  and  illus- 
trates many  striking  examples  of  figures  of  an  embryonic  type  of  heraldry, 
of  which  the  best  are  one  from  a  Chaldean  bas-relief  4000  B.C.,  the  earliest 
known  device  that  can  in  any  way  be  called  heraldic,  and  another,  a 
device  from  a  Byzantine  silk  of  the  tenth  century.  Mr.  Eve  qertainly 
seems  inclined  to  follow  the  older  heraldic  writers  in  giving  as  wide  an 
interpretation  as  possible  to  the  word  heraldic,  but  it  is  significant  that 
none  of  these  early  instances  which  he  gives  appear  to  have  any  relation 
to  a  shield,  so  that,  even  if  it  be  conceded  that  the  figures  are  heraldic, 
they  certainly  cannot  be  said  to  be  armorial.  But  doubtless  the  inclu- 
sion of  such  instances  is  due  to  an  attempt,  conscious  or  unconscious, 
on  the  part  of  the  writers  who  have  taken  their  stand  on  the  side  of 
great  antiquity  to  so  frame  the  definition  of  armory  that  it  shall  include 
everything  heraldic,  and  due  perhaps  somewhat  to  the  half  unconscious 


THE   ORIGIN    OF   ARMORY  3 

reasoning  that  these  mythical  animals,  and  more  especially  the  peculiarly 
heraldic  positions  they  are  depicted  in,  which  nowadays  we  only  know 
as  part  of  armory,  and  which  exist  nowhere  else  within  our  knowledge 
save  within  the  charmed  circle  of  heraldry,  must  be  evidence  of  the 
great  antiquity  of  that  science  or  art,  call  it  which  you  will.  But  it  is 
a  false  deduction,  due  to  a  confusion  of  premise  and  conclusion.  We 
find  certain  figures  at  the  present  day  purely  heraldic — we  find  those 
figures  fifty  centuries  ago.  It  certainly  seems  a  correct  conclusion  that, 
therefore,  heraldry  must  be  of  that  age.  But  is  not  the  real  conclusion, 
that,  our  heraldic  figures  being  so  old,  it  is  evident  that  the  figures 
originated  long  before  heraldry  was  ever  thought  of,  and  that  instead 
of  these  mythical  figures  having  been  originated  by  the  necessities  of 
heraldry,  and  being  part,  or  even  the  rudimentary  origin  of  heraldry, 
they  had  existed  for  other  reasons  and  purposes — and  that  when  the 
science  of  heraldry  sprang  into  being,  it  found  the  whole  range  of  its  forms 
and  charges  already  existing,  and  that  none  of  these  figures  owe  their 
being  to  heraldry  ?  The  gryphon  is  supposed  to  have  originatedy  as  is 
the  double-headed  eagle,  from  the  dimidiation  of  two  coats  of  arms  re- 
sulting from  imxpalement  by  reason  of  marriage.  Both  these  figures 
were  known  ages  earlier.  Thus  departs  yet  another  of  the  little  fictions 
which  past  writers  on  armory  have  fostered  and  perpetuated.  Whether 
the  ancient  Egyptians  and  Assyrians  knew  they  were  depicting  mythical 
animals,  and  did  it,  intending  them  to  be  symbolical  of  attributes  of 
their  deities,  something  beyond  what  they  were  familiar  with  in  their 
ordinary  life,  we  do  not  know  ;  nor  indeed  have  w^e  any  certain  know- 
ledge that  there  have  never  been  animals  of  which  their  figures  are  but 
imperfect  and  crude  representations. 

But  it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  because  an  Egyptian  artist 
drew  a  certain  figure,  which  figure  is  now  appropriated  to  the  peculiar 
use  of  armory,  that  he  knew  anything  whatever  of  the  laws  of  armory. 
Further,  where  is  this  argument  to  end  ?  There  is  nothing  peculiarly 
heraldic  about  the  lion  passant,  statant,  dormant,  couchant,  or  salient, 
and  though  heraldic  artists  may  for  the  sake  of  artistic  appearance  distort 
the  brute  away  from  his  natural  figure,  the  rampant  is  alone  the  position 
which  exists  not  in  nature  ;  and  if  the  argument  is  to  be  applied  to  the 
bitter  end,  heraldry  must  be  taken  back  to  the  very  earliest  instance 
which  exists  of  any  representation  of  a  lion.  The  proposition  is  absurd. 
The  ancient  artists  drew  their  lions  how  they  liked,  regardless  of  armory 
and  its  laws,  which  did  not  then  exist  ;  and,  from  decorative  reasons, 
they  evolved  a  certain  number  of  methods  of  depicting  the  positions  of 
e.g,  the  lion  and  the  eagle  to  suit  their  decorative  purposes.  When 
heraldry  came  into  existence  it  came  in  as  an  adjunct  of  decoration, 
and  it  necessarily  followed  that  the  whole  of  the  positions  in  which  the 


4         A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

craftsmen  found  the  eagle  or  the  lion  depicted  were  appropriated  with 
the  animals  for  heraldry.  That  this  appropriation  for  the  exclusive 
purposes  of  armory  has  been  silently  acquiesced  in  by  the  decorative 
artists  of  later  days  is  simply  proof  of  the  intense  power  and  authority 
which  accrued  later  to  armory,  and  which  was  in  fact  attached  to  any- 
thing relating  to  privilege  and  prerogative.  To  put  it  baldly,  the 
dominating  authority  of  heraldry  and  its  dogmatic  protection  by  the 
Powers  that  were,  appropriated  certain  figures  to  its  use,  and  then 
defied  any  one  to  use  them  for  more  humble  decorative  purposes  not 
allied  with  armory.  And  it  is  the  trail  of  this  autocratic  appropriation, 
and  from  the  decorative  point  of  view  this  arrogant  appropriation,  which 
can  be  traced  in  the  present  idea  that  a  griffin  or  a  spread  eagle,  for  ex- 
ample, must  be  heraldic.  Consequently  the  argument  as  to  the  antiquity 
of  heraldry  which  is  founded  upon  the  discovery  of  the  heraldic  creature 
in  the  remote  ages  goes  by  the  board.  One  practical  instance  may 
perhaps  more  fully  demonstrate  my  meaning.  There  is  one  figure, 
probably  the  most  beautiful  of  all  of  those  which  we  owe  to  Egypt, 
which  is  now  rapidly  being  absorbed  into  heraldry.  I  refer  to  the 
Sphinx.  This,  whilst  strangely  in  keeping  with  the  remaining  mythical 
heraldic  figures,  for  some  reason  or  other  escaped  the  exclusive  appro- 
priation of  armorial  use  until  within  modern  times.  One  of  the  earliest 
instances  of  its  use  in  recognised  armory  occurs  in  the  grant  to  Sir 
John  Moore,  K.B.,  the  hero  of  Corunna,  ,and  another  will  be  found  in 
the  augmentation  granted  to  Admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B. 
Since  then  it  has  been  used  on  some  number  of  occasions.  It  cer- 
tainly remained,  however,  for  the  late  Garter  King  of  Arms  to  evolve 
from  the  depths  of  his  imagination  a  position  which  no  Egyptian  sphinx 
ever  occupied,  when  he  granted  two  of  them  as  supporters  to  the  late  Sir 
Edward  Malet,  G.C.B.  The  Sphinx  has  also  been  adopted  as  the  badge 
of  one  of  his  Majesty's  regiments,  and  I  have  very  little  doubt  that  now 
Egypt  has  come  under  our  control  the  Sphinx  will  figure  in  some 
number  of  the  grants  of  the  future  to  commemorate  fortunes  made  in 
that  country,  or  lifetimes  spent  in  the  Egyptian  services.  If  this  be  so, 
the  dominating  influence  of  armory  will  doubtless  in  the  course  of 
another  century  have  given  to  the  Sphinx,  as  it  has  to  many  other 
objects,  a  distinctly  heraldic  nature  and  character  in  the  mind  of  the 
^'  man  in  the  street "  to  which  we  nowadays  so  often  refer  the  arbitra- 
ment between  conflicting  opinions.  Perhaps  in  the  even  yet  more 
remote  future,  when  the  world  in  general  accepts  as  a  fact  that  armory 
did  not  exist  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  we  shall  have  some 
interesting  and  enterprising  individual  writing  a  book  to  demonstrate 
that  because  the  Sphinx  existed  in  Egypt  long  before  the  days  of 
Cleopatra,  heraldry  must  of  necessity  be  equally  antique. 


THE   ORIGIN   OF   ARMORY  5 

I  have  no  wish,  however,  to  dismiss  thus  Hghtly  the  subject  of  the 
antiquity  of  heraldry,  because  there  is  one  side  of  the  question  which 
I  have  not  yet  touched  upon,  and  that  is,  the  symboHsm  of  these  ancient 
and  so-called  heraldic  examples.  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  that 
symbolism  forms  an  integral  part  of  armory  ;  in  fact  there  is  no  doubt 
that  armory  itself  as  a  whole  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  kind  of 
symbolism.  I  have  no  sympathy  whatever  with  many  of  the  ideas  con- 
cerning this  symbolism,  which  will  be  found  in  nearly  all  heraldic  books 
before  the  day  of  the  late  J.  R.  Planch^,  Somerset  Herald,  who  fired 
the  train  which  exploded  then  and  for  ever  the  absurd  ideas  of  former 
writers.  That  an  argent  field  meant  purity,  that  a  field  of  gules  meant 
royal  or  even  martial  ancestors,  that  a  saltire  meant  the  capture  of  a 
city,  or  a  lion  rampant  noble  and  enviable  qualities,  I  utterly  deny. 
But  that  nearly  every  coat  of  arms  for  any  one  of  the  name  of  Fletcher 
bears  upon  it  in  some  form  or  another  an  arrow  or  an  arrow-head, 
because  the  origin  of  the  name  comes  from  the  occupation  of  the 
fletcher,  who  was  an  arrow-maker,  is  true  enough.  Symbolism  of  that 
kind  will  be  found  constantly  in  armory,  as  in  the  case  of  the  foxes  and 
foxes'  heads  in  the  various  coats  of  Fox,  the  lions  in  the  coats  of  arms 
of  Lyons,  the  horse  in  the  arms  of  Trotter,  and  the  acorns  in  the  arms 
of  Oakes  ;  in  fact  by  far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  older  coats  of 
arms,  where  they  can  be  traced  to  their  real  origin,  exhibit  some  such 
derivation.  There  is  another  kind  of  symbolism  which  formerly,  and 
still,  favours  the  introduction  of  swords  and  spears  and  bombshells. into 
grants  of  arms  to  military  men,  that  gives  bezants  to  bankers  and  those 
connected  with  money,  and  that  assigns  woolpacks  and  cotton-plants 
to  the  shields  of  textile  merchants ;  but  that  is  a  sane  and  reasonable 
symbolism,  which  the  reputed  symbolism  of  the  earlier  heraldry  books 
was  not. 

It  has  yet  to  be  demonstrated,  however,  though  the  belief  is  very 
generally  credited,  that  all  these  very  ancient  Egyptian  and  Assyrian 
figures  of  a  heraldic  character  had  anything  of  symbolism  about  them. 
But  even  granting  the  whole  symbolism  which  is  claimed  for  them,  we 
get  but  little  further.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  eagle  from  untold 
ages  has  had  an  imperial  symbolism  which  it  still  possesses.  But  that 
symbolism  is  not  necessarily  heraldic,  and  it  is  much  more  probable 
that  heraldry  appropriated  both  the  eagle  and  its  symbolism  ready 
made,  and  together  :  consequently,  if,  as  we  have  shown,  the  existence 
of  the  eagle  is  not  proof  of  the  coeval  existence  of  heraldry,  no  more  is 
the  existence  of  the  symbolical  imperial  eagle.  For  if  we  are  to  regard  all 
symbolism  as  heraldic,  where  are  we  either  to  begin  or  to  end  ?  Church 
vestments  and  ecclesiastical  emblems  are  symbolism  run  riot ;  in  fact 
they  are  little  *else  :  but  by  no  stretch  of  imagination  can  these  be 


6         A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

considered  heraldic  with  the  exception  of  the  few  (for  example  the 
crosier,  the  mitre,  and  the  pallium)  which  heraldry  has  appropriated 
ready  made.  Therefore,  though  heraldry  appropriated  ready  made 
from  other  decorative  art,  and  from  nature  and  handicraft,  the  whole 
of  its  charges,  and  though  it  is  evident  heraldry  also  appropriated  ready 
made  a  great  deal  of  its  symbolism,  neither  the  earlier  existence  of  the 
forms  which  it  appropriated,  nor  the  earlier  existence  of  their  symbolism, 
can  be  said  to  weigh  at  all  as  determining  factors  in  the  consideration 
of  the  age  of  heraldry.  Sloane  Evans  in  his  ^'  Grammar  of  Heraldry  " 
(p.  ix.)  gives  the  following  instances  as  evidence  of  the  greater  antiquity, 
and  they  are  worthy  at  any  rate  of  attention  if  the  matter  is  to  be  im- 
partially considered. 

"  The  antiquity  of  ensigns  and  symbols  may  be  proved  by  reference  to  Holy 
Writ. 

"  I.  *  Take  ye  the  sum  of  all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of  Israel,  after 
their  families,  by  the  house  of  their  fathers,  with  the  number  of  their  names.  .  .  .  And 
they  assembled  all  the  congregation  together  on  the  first  day  of  the  second  month ; 
and  they  declared  their  pedigrees  after  their  families,  by  the  house  of  their  fathers, 
according  to  the  number  of  the  names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward.  .  .  . 
And  the  children  of  Israel  shall  pitch  their  tents,  every  man  by  his  own  camp,  and 
every  man  by  his  own  standard,  throughout  their  hosts'  (Numbers  i.  2,  18,  52). 

"2.  '  Every  man  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  pitch  by  his  own  standard,  with 
the  ensign  of  their  father's  house  '  (Numbers  ii.  2). 

"  3.  '  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  according  to  all  that  the  Lord  commanded 
Moses :  so  they  pitched  by  their  standards,  and  so  they  set  forward,  every  one  after 
their  families,  according  to  the  house  of  their  fathers '  (Numbers  ii.  34)." 

The  Latin  and  Greek  poets  and  historians  afford  numerous  instances 
of  the  use  of  symbolic  ornaments  and  devices.  It  will  be  sufhcient  in 
this  work  to  quote  from  ^schylus  and  Virgil,  as  poets  ;  Herodotus  and 
Tacitus,  as  historians. 

iESCHYLUS. 

{Sepfem  cofitra  Thebas.) 

The  poet  here  introduces  a  dialogue  between  Eteocles,  King  of 
Thebes,  the  women  who  composed  the  chorus,  and  a  herald  (Ktjpv^)^ 
which  latter  is  pointing  out  the  seven  captains  or  chiefs  of  the  army  of 
Adrastus  against  Thebes  ;  distinguishing  one  from  another  by  the  em- 
blematical devices  upon  their  shields. 

I.   Tydeus. 

("  Toiai^v  aDrwv, — vvktos  o^^aA/xos  TrpiTrei." — Lines  380-386.) 

"...  Frowning  he  speaks,  and  shakes 
The  dark  crest  streaming  o'er  his  shaded  helm 
In  triple  wave;  whilst  dreadful  ring  around 
The  brazen  bosses  of  his  shield,  impress'd  , 


THE   ORIGIN    OF   ARMORY 

With  his  proud  argument : — '  A  sable  sky 
Burning  with  stars ;  and  in  the  midst  full  orb'd 
A  silver  moon ; ' — the  eye  of  night  o'er  all, 
Awful  in  beauty,  forms  her  peerless  light." 

2.  Capaneus. 

(«  "Exet  S€  o-^/xa,— nPH2i2  nOAIN."— Lines  428-430.) 

"  On  his  proud  shield  portray'd  :  '  A  naked  man 
Waves  in  his  hand  a  blazing  torch ; '  beneath 
In  golden  letters — '  I  will  fire  the  city.'  " 

3.  Eieoclus. 

("  ''Ecr)(r^/xaTtcrTat, — TrvpyoifiaTiDV," — Lines  461-465.) 

"...  No  mean  device 
Is  sculptured  on  his  shield  :  *  A  man  in  arms. 
His  ladder  fix'd  against  the  enemies'  walls, 
Mounts,  resolute,  to  rend  their  rampires  down ;  * 
And  cries  aloud  (the  letters  plainly  mark'd), 
'  Not  Mars  himself  shall  beat  me  from  the  Tow'rs.' " 

4.  Hippomedon. 

("*0  (rr)fjLaTOvpyo<; — (fio/Sov  fiXkiroiv" — Lines  487-494.) 

"...  On  its  orb,  no  vulgar  artist 
Expressed  this  image  :  '  A  Typhseus  huge, 
Disgorging  from  his  foul  enfounder'd  jaws. 
In  fierce  effusion  wreaths  of  dusky  smoke. 
Signal  of  kindling  flames ;  its  bending  verge 
With  folds  of  twisted  serpents  border'd  round.' 
With  shouts  the  giant  chief  provokes  the  war. 
And  in  the  ravings  of  outrageous  valour 
Glares  terror  from  his  eyes  .  .  ." 

5.  Parthenopczus. 

("  'Ov  [i.-i]V  oLKOfXTracrTOs — tairreixBaL  BeA>;-" — Lines  534-540.) 

"...  Upon  his  clashing  shield. 
Whose  orb  sustains  the  storm  of  war,  he  bears 
The  foul  disgrace  of  Thebes  : — '  A  rav'nous  Sphynx 
Fixed  to  the  plates  :  the  burnish'd  monster  round 
Pours  a  portentous  gleam  :  beneath  her  lies 
A  Theban  mangled  by  her  cruel  fangs  : ' — 
'Gainst  this  let  each  brave  arm  direct  the  spear." 

6.  Amp  hi ar cms. 

("  Toiav^  6  jxdvTLS, — /SXacrTOLveL  fSovXevfiaTa." — Lines  587-591.) 

"  So  spoke  the  prophet ;  and  with  awful  port 
Advanc'd  his  massy  shield,  the  shining  orb 
Bearing  no  impress,  for  his  gen'rous  soul 
Wishes  to  be,  not  to  appear,  the  best ; 
And  from  the  culture  of  his  modest  worth 
Bears  the  rich  fruit  of  great  and  glorious  deeds." 


A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

7.  Polynices. 

(""Exci  Se — ra  ^evprjfxaTa." — I.ines  639-646."^ 

"...  His  well-orb'd  shield  he  holds, 
New  wrought,  and  with  a  double  impress  charg'd : 
A  warrior,  blazing  all  in  golden  arms, 
A  female  form  of  modest  aspect  leads, 
Expressing  justice,  as  th'  inscription  speaks,  • 

'  Yet  once  more  to  his  country,  and  once  more 
To  his  Paternal  Throne  I  will  restore  him ' — 
Such  their  devices  .  .  ." 


VIRGIL. 

I.  ("  Atque  hie  exultans — insigne  decorum." — Lib.  ii.  lines  386-392.) 

"  Choraebus,  with  youthful  hopes  beguil'd, 
^  Swol'n  with  success,  and  of  a  daring  mind, 

This  new  invention  fatally  design'd. 
'  My  friends,'  said  he,  *  since  fortune  shows  the  way, 
^  'Tis  fit  we  should  the  auspicious  guide  obey. 

For  what  has  she  these  Grecian  arms  bestowed, 
But  their  destruction,  and  the  Trojans'  good  ? 
Then  change  we  shields,  and  their  devices  bear : 
Let  fraud  supply  the  want  of  force  in  war. 
They  find  us  arms.' — This  said,  himself  he  dress'd 
In  dead  Androgeos'  spoils,  his  upper  vest. 
His  painted  buckler,  and  his  plumy  crest." 

2.  ("Post  hos  insignem — serpentibus  hydram." — Lib.  vii.  lines  655-^8.) 

"  Next  Aventinus  drives  his  chariot  round 
The  Latian  plains,  with  palms  and  laurels  crown'd. 
Proud  of  his  steeds,  he  smokes  along  the  field ; 
His  father's  hydra  fills  his  ample  shield ; 
A  hundred  serpents  hiss  about  the  brims ; 
The  son  of  Hercules  he  justly  seems. 
By  his  broad  shoulders  and  gigantic  limbs." 

3.  (Sequitur  pulcherrimus  Astur — insigne  paternae." — Lib.  x.  lines  180-188.)  • 

"  Fair  Astur  follows  in  the  wat'ry  field, 
Proud  of  his  manag'd  horse,  and  painted  sjaield. 
Thou  muse,  the  name  of  Cinyras  renew, 
And  brave  Cupavo  follow'd  but  by  few ; 
Whose  helm  confess'd  the  lineage  of  the  man, 
And  bore,  with  wings  display'd,  a  silver  swan?  ^ 

Love  was  the  fault  of  his  fam'd  ancestry. 
Whose  forms  and  fortunes  in  his  Ensigns  fly."  ^ 


THE   ORIGIN   OF   ARMORY  9 

HERODOTUS. 

•'^  I.  C//^,  §171. 

(**  Kai  (TcfiL  Tpi^a  e^evp-qfiara  tykvero — ra  crrjfirji'a  iroieea-dai."^ 

"  And  to  them  is  allowed  the  invention  of  three  things,  which  have  come  into 
use  among  the  Greeks : — For  the  Carians  seem  to  be  the  first  who  put  crests  upon 

their  helmets  and  sculptured  devices  upon  their  shields." 

• 

^^  '  2.  Calliope^  §  74. 

("  '0  BeTcpos  rcov  Xoyiov — €Triorj[iov  ayKvpavJ*) 

"  Those  who  deny  this  statement  assert  that  he  (Sophanes)  bare  on  his  shield, 
as  a  device,  an  anchor." 

TACITUS. 

(T/ig  Anna/s.—lAh.  i.) 

I.  ("Tum  redire  paulatim — in  sedes  referunt." — Cap.  28.) 

"  They  relinquished  the  guard  of  the  gates  ;  and  the  Eagles  and  other  Ensigns, 
which  in  the  beginning  of  the  Tumult  they  had  thrown  together,  were  now  restored 
each  to  its  distinct  station." 

•  Potter  in  his  '*  Antiquities  of  Greece "  (Dunbar's  edition,  Edin- 
burgh, 1824,  vol.  ii.  page  79),  thus  speaks  of  the  ensigns  or  flags 
{(TT]iuL€ia)  used  by  the  Grecians  in  their  military  affairs  :  "  Of  these 
there  were  different  sorts,  several  of  which  were  adorned  with 
images  of  animals,  or  other  things  bearing  peculiar  relations  to  the 
cities  they  belong  to.  The  Athenians,  for  instance,  bore  an  owl  in 
their  ensigns  (Plutarchus  Lysandro),  as  being  sacred  to  Minerva,  the 
protectress  of  their  city  ;  the  Thebans  a  Sphynx  {idem  Pelopidas, 
Corneliijs  Nepos,  Epaminondas),  in  memory  of  the  famous  monster 
overcome  by  Qi^dipus.  The  Persians  paid  divine  honours  to  the 
sun,  and  therefore  represented  him  in  their  ensigns "  (Curtius,  lib. 
3).  Again  (in  page  150),  speaking  of  the  ornaments  and  devices  on 
their  ships,  he  says :  '*  Some  other  things  there  are  in  the  prow  and 
stern  that  deserve  our  notice,  as  those  ornaments  wherewith  the 
extremities  of  the  ship  were  beautified,  commonly  called  aKpovea 
(or  vewv  KopcomSeg),  in  Latin,  Corymbi,  The  form  of  them  sometimes 
ifepresented  helmets,  sometimes  living  creatures,  but  most  frequently 
was  winded  into  a  round  compass,  whence  they  are  so  commonly 
named  Corymbi  arid  Coronce.  To  the  aKpoa-roXia  in  the  prow,  answered 
the  acpyaa-Ta  in  the  stern,  which  were  often  of  an  orbicular  figure,  or 
fashioned  like  wings,  to  which  a  little  shield  called  acnriSeiov,  or  ao-TnSla-Ktjf 
was  frequently  aifixed  ;  sometimes  a  piece  of  wood  was  erected,  whereon 
rrobons  of  divers  colours  were  hung,  and  served  instead  of  a  flag  to 
cj^stinguish  the  ship.     Xi/wV/cof  was  so  called  from  X^i/,  a  Goose,  whose 


io       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

figure  it  resembled,  because  geese  were  looked  on  as  fortunate  omens 
to  mariners,  for  that  they  swim  on  the  top  of  the  waters  and  sink  not. 
Hapacrrjuiov  was  the  flag  whereby  ships  were  distinguished  from  one 
another  ;  it  was  placed  in  the  prow,  just  below  the  arroXog,  being 
sometimes  carved,  and  frequently  painted,  whence  it  is  in  Latin 
termed  pictura,  representing  the  form  of  a  mountain,  a  tree,  a  JJower,  or 
any  other  thing,  wherein  it  was  distinguished  from  what  was  called 
hifela,  or  the  safeguard  of  the  ship,  which  always  represented  some 
one  of  the  gods,  to  whose  care  and  protection  the  ship  was  recom- 
mended ;  for  which  reason  it  was  held  sacred.  Now  and  then  we 
find  the  tutela  taken  for  the  Hapaa-rnxov,  and  perhaps  sometimes  the 
images  of  gods  might  be  represented  on  the  flags  ;  by  some  it  is 
placed  also  in  the  prow,  but  by  most  authors  of  credit  assigned  to  the 
stern.     Thus  Ovid  in  his  Epistle  to  Paris  : — 

*  Accipit  et  pictos  puppis  adunca  Decs.' 

*  The  stern  with  painted  deities  richly  shines.* 

"  The  ship  wherein  Europa  was  conveyed  from  Phoenicia  into  Crete 
had  a  bull  for  its  flag,  and  Jupiter  for  its  tutelary  deity.  The  Boeotian 
ships  had  for  their  tutelar  god  Cadmus,  represented  with  a  dragon  in  his 
hand,  because  he  was  the  founder  of  Thebes,  the  principal  city  of 
Boeotia.  The  name  of  the  ship  was  usually  taken  from  the  flag,  as 
appears  in  the  following  passage  of  Ovid,  where  he  tells  us  his  ship  re- 
ceived its  name  from  the  helmet  painted  upon  it : — 

*  Est  mihi,  sitque,  precor,  flavse  tutela  Minervae, 
Navis  et  k  picta  casside  nomen  habjt.' 

*  Minerva  is  the  goddess  I  adore, 

And  may  she  grant  the  blessings  I  implore ; 
The  ship  its  name  a  painted  helmet  gives.* 

"  Hence  comes  the  frequent  mention  of  ships  called  Pegasi,  ScyllcBy 
Bulls,  Rams,  Tigers,  &c.,  which  the  poets  took  liberty  to  represent  as 
living  creatures  that  transported  their  riders  from  one  country  to 
another ;  nor  was  there  (according  to  some)  any  other  ground  for  those 
known  fictions  of  Pegasus,  the  winged  Bellerophon,  or  the  Ram  which 
is  reported  to  have  carried  Phryxus  to  Colchos." 

To  quote  another  very  learned  author :  '<  The  system  of  hiero- 
glyphics, or  symbols,  was  adopted  into  every  mysterious  institution,  for 
the  purpose  of  concealing  the  most  sublime  secrets  of  religion  from  the 
prying  curiosity  of  the  vulgar  ;  to  whom  nothing  was  exposed  but  the 
beauties  of  their  morality."  (See  Ramsay's  "Travels  of  Cyrus,"  lib.  3.) 
"The  old  Asiatic  style,  so  highly  figurative,  seems,  by  what  we  find  of 


THE   ORIGIN    OF   ARMORY  ii 

its  remains  in  the  prophetic  language  of  the  sacred  writers,  to  have  been 
evidently  fashioned  to  the  mode  of  the  ancient  hieroglyphics  ;  for  as  in 
hieroglyphic  writing  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars  were  used  to  represent 
states  and  empires,  kings,  queens,  and  nobility — their  eclipse  and  ex- 
tinction, temporary  disasters,  or  entire  overthrow — fire  and  flood,  desola- 
tion by  war  and  famine  ;  plants  or  animals,  the  qualities  of  particular 
persons,  &c.  ;  so,  in  like  manner,  the  Holy  Prophets  call  kings  and 
empires  by  the  names  of  the  heavenly  luminaries  ;  their  misfortunes 
and  overthrow  are  represented  by  eclipses  and  extinction  ;  stars  falling 
from  the  firmament  are  employed  to  denote  the  destruction  of  the 
nobility ;  thunder  and  tempestuous  winds,  hostile  invasions  ;  lions, 
bears,  leopards,  goats,  or  high  trees,  leaders  of  armies,  conquerors,  and 
founders  of  empires  ;  royal  dignity  is  described  by  purple,  or  a  crown  ; 
iniquity  by  spotted  garments  ;  a  warrior  by  a  sword  or  bow  ;  a  power- 
ful man,  by  a  gigantic  stature ;  a  judge  by  balance,  weights,  and 
measures — in  a  word,  the  prophetic  style  seems  to  be  a  speaking 
hieroglyphic'  " 

It  seems  to  me,  however,  that  the  whole  of  these  are  no  more  than 
symbolism,  though  they  are  undoubtedly  symbolism  of  a  high  and 
methodical  order,  little  removed  from  our  own  armory.  Personally  I 
do  not  consider  them  to  be  armory,  but  if  the  word  is  to  be  stretched 
to  the  utmost  latitude  to  permit  of  their  inclusion,  one  certain  conclu- 
sion follows.  That  if  the  heraldry  of  that  day  had  an  orderly  existence, 
it  most  certainly  came  absolutely  to  an  end  and  disappeared.  Armory 
as  we  know  it,  the  armory  of  to-day,  which  as  a  system  is  traced  back 
to  the  period  of  the  Crusades,  is  no  mere  continuation  by  adoption. 
It  is  a  distinct  development  and  a  re-development  ab  initio.  Undoubtedly 
there  is  a  period  in  the  early  development  of  European  civilisation  which 
is  destitute  alike  of  armory,  or  of  anything  of  that  nature.  The  civilisa- 
tion of  Europe  is  not  the  civilisation  of  Egypt,  of  Greece,  or  of  Rome, 
nor  a  continuation  thereof,  but  a  new  development,  and  though  each 
of  these  in  its  turn  attained  a  high  degree  of  civilisation  and  may  have 
separately  developed  a  heraldic  symbolism  much  akin  to  armory,  as  a 
natural  consequence  of  its  own  development,  as  the  armory  we  know 
is  a  development  of  its  own  consequent  upon  the  rise  of  our  own 
civilisation,  nevertheless  it  is  unjustifiable  to  attempt  to  establish  con- 
tinuity between  the  ordered  symbolism  of  earlier  but  distinct  civilisations, 
and  our  own  present  system  of  armory.  The  one  and  only  civilisation 
which  has  preserved  its  continuity  is  that  of  the  Jewish  race.  In  spite  of 
persecution  the  Jews  have  preserved  unchanged  the  minutest  details  of 
ritual  law  and  ceremony,  the  causes  of  their  suffering.  Had  heraldry, 
which  is  and  has  always  been  a  matter  of  pride,  formed  a  part  of  their 
distinctive  life  we  should  find  it  still  existing.      Yet  the  fact  remains 


12      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

that  no  trace  of  Jewish  heraldry  can  be  found  until  modern  times. 
Consequently  I  accept  unquestioningly  the  conclusions  of  the  late 
J.  R.  Planche,  Somerset  Herald,  who  unhesitatingly  asserted  that  armory 
did  not  exist  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  basing  his  conclusions  princi- 
pally upon  the  entire  absence  of  armory  from  the  seals  of  that  period, 
and  the  Bayeux  tapestry. 

The  family  tokens  {man)  of  the  Japanese,  however,  fulfil  very  nearly 
all  of  the  essentials  of  armory,  although  considered  heraldically  they 
may  appear  somewhat  peculiar  to  European  eyes.  Though  perhaps 
never  forming  the  entire  decoration  of  a  shield,  they  do  appear  upon 


Fig.  I. — Kiku-non- 
hana-mon.  State 
Mon  of  Japan. 


Fig.  2. — Kiri-nion. 
Mo  n  of  the 
Mikado. 


Fig.  3. — Awoi-mon. 
A/on  of  the  House 
of  Minamoto  To- 
kiigawa. 


Fig.  4. — Mon  of  the 
House  of  Mina- 
moto Ashikava. 


Fig.  5. — Tomoye.  Mon 
of  the  House  of 
Arina. 


weapons  and  armour,  and  are  used  most  lavishly  in  the  decoration  of 
clothing,  rooms,  furniture,  and  in  fact  almost  every  conceivable  object, 
being  employed  for  decorative  purposes  in  precisely  the  same  manners 
and  methods  that  armorial  devices  are  decoratively  made  use  of  in  this 
country.  A  Japanese  of  the  upper  classes  always  has  his  mon  in  three 
places  upon  his  kimono^  usually  at  the  back  just  below  the  collar  and 
on  either  sleeve.  The  Japanese  servants  also  wear  their  service  badge 
in  much  the  same  manner  that  in  olden  days  the  badge  was  worn  by 
the  servants  of  a  nobleman.  The  design  of  the  service  badge  occupies 
the  whole  available  surface  of  the  back,  and  is  reproduced  in  a  miniature 
form  on  each  lappel  of  the  kimono.  Unfortunately,  like  armorial  bear- 
ings in  Europe,  but  to  a  far  greater  extent,  the  Japanese  mon  has  been 
greatly  pirated  and  abused. 


THE   ORIGIN   OF   ARMORY  13 

Fig.  I,  ^*  Kiku-non-hana-mon/'  formed  from  the  conventionalised 
bloom  {hana)  of  the  chrysanthemum,  is  the  mon  of  the  State.  It  is 
formed  of  sixteen  petals  arranged  in  a  circle,  and  connected  on  the  outer 
edge  by  small  curves. 

Fig.  2,  "  Kiri-mon/'  is  the  personal  mon  of  the  Mikado,  formed  of 
the  leaves  and  flower  of  the  Paulowna  tmperialis,  conventionally  treated. 

Fig.  3,  ''  Awoi-mon,"  is  the  mon  of  the  House  of  Minamoto  Toku- 
gawa,  and  is  composed  of  three  sea  leaves  {Asarum).     The  Tokugawa 


Fig.  6,— Double  eagle 
on  a  coin  {drachtna) 
under  the  Ortho- 
gide  of  Kaifa  Na9r 
Edin  Mahmud,  1217. 


Fic.  7. — Device  of  the 
Mameluke  Emir 
Toka  Timur,  Gover- 
nor of  Rahaba,  1350. 


Fig.  8.— Lily  on  the 
Bab-al-Hadid  gate 
at  Damascus. 


Fig.  9. — Device  of 
the  Emir  Arkatay 
(a  band  between 
two  keys). 


Fig.  10. — Device  of 
the  Mameluke  Emir 
Schaikhu. 


Fig.  II.— Device  of  Abu 
Abdallah,  Mohammed 
ibn  Na9r,  King  of 
Granada,  said  to  be 
the  builder  of  the  Al- 
hambra  (1231-1272). 


reigned  over  the  country  as  Shogune  from  1603  until  the  last  revolution 
in  1867,  before  which  time  the  Emperor  (the  Mikado)  was  only  nomi- 
nally the  ruler. 

Fig.  4  shows  the  mon  of  the  House  of  Minamoto  Ashikaya,  which 
from  1336  until  1573  enjoyed  the  Shogunat. 

Fig.  5  shows  the  second  mon  of  the  House  of  Arina,  Toymote, 
which  is  used,  however,  throughout  Japan  as  a  sign  of  luck. 

The  Saracens  and  the  Moors,  to  whom  we  owe  the  origin  of  so 
many  of  our  recognised  heraldic  charges  and  the  derivation  of  some  of 
our  terms  {e.g.  ^'  gules,"  from  the  Persian  gul^  and  "  azure  "  from  the 
Persian  lazurd)  had  evidently  on  their  part  something  more  than  the 
rudiments  of  armory,  as  Figs.  6  to  1 1  will  indicate. 


14       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

One  of  the  best  definitions  of  a  coat  of  arms  that  I  know,  though 
this  is  not  perfect,  requires  the  twofold  qualification  that  the  design 
must  be  hereditary  and  must  be  connected  with  armour.  And  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  the  theory  of  armory  as  we  now  know  it  is  governed 
by  those  two  ideas.  The  shields  and  the  crests,  if  any  decoration  of  a 
helmet  is  to  be  called  a  crest,  of  the  Greeks  and  the  Romans  undoubt- 
edly come  within  the  one  requirement.  Also  were  they  indicative  of 
and  perhaps  intended  to  be  symbolical  of  the  owner.  They  lacked, 
however,  heredity,  and  we  have  no  proof  that  the  badges  we  read  of, 
or  the  decorations  of  shield  and  helmet,  were  continuous  even  during  a 
single  lifetime.  Certainly  as  we  now  understand  the  term  there  must 
be  both  continuity  of  use,  if  the  arms  be  impersonal,  or  heredity  if 
the  arms  be  personal.  Likewise  must  there  be  their  use  as  decorations 
of  the  implements  of  warfare. 

If  we  exact  these  qualifications  as  essential,  armory  as  a  fact  and 
as  a  science  is  a  product  of  later  days,  and  is  the  evolution  from  the 
idea  of  tribal  badges  and  tribal  means  and  methods  of  honour  applied  to 
the  decoration  of  implements  of  warfare.  It  is  the  conjunction  and 
association  of  these  two  distinct  ideas  to  which  is  added  the  no  less 
important  idea  of  heredity.  The  civilisation  of  England  before  the 
Conquest  has  left  us  no  trace  of  any  sort  or  kind  that  the  Saxons,  the 
Danes,  or  the  Celts  either  knew  or  practised  armory.  So  that  if  armory 
as  we  know  it  is  to  be  traced  to  the  period  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  we 
must  look  for  it  as  an  adjunct  of  the  altered  civilisation  and  the  altered 
law  which  Duke  William  brought  into  this  country.  Such  evidence  as 
exists  is  to  the  contrary,  and  there  is  nothing  that  can  be  truly  termed 
armorial  in  that  marvellous  piece  of  cotemporaneous  workmanship 
known  as  the  Bayeux  tapestry. 

Concerning  the  Bayeux  tapestry  and  the  evidence  it  affords,  Wood- 
ward and  Burnett's  *' Treatise  on  Heraldry,"  apparently  following 
Planch^'s  conclusions,  remarks  :  ^^  The  evidence  afforded  by  the  famous 
tapestry  preserved  in  the  public  library  of  Bayeux,  a  series  of  views  in 
sewed  work  representing  the  invasion  and  conquest  of  England  by 
William  the  Norman,  has  been  appealed  to  on  both  sides  of  this  contro- 
versy, and  has  certainly  an  important  bearing  on  the  question  of  the 
antiquity  of  coat-armour.  This  panorama  of  seventy-two  scenes  is  on 
probable  grounds  believed  to  have  been  the  work  of  the  Conqueror's 
Queen  Matilda  and  her  maidens  ;  though  the  French  historian  Thierry 
and  others  ascribe  it  to  the  Empress  Maud,  daughter  of  Henry  III. 
The  latest  authorities  suggest  the  likelihood  of  its  having  been  wrought 
as  a  decoration  for  the  Cathedral  of  Bayeux,  when  rebuilt  by  William's 
uterine  brother  Odo,  Bishop  of  that  See,  in  1077.  'T^^  exact  corre- 
spondence which  has  been  discovered  between  the  length  of  the  tapestry 


THE   ORIGIN    OF   ARMORY  15 

and  the  inner  circumference  of  the  nave  of  the  cathedral  greatly  favours 
this  supposition.  This  remarkable  work  of  art,  as  carefully  drawn  in 
colour  in  1818  by  Mr.  C.  Stothard,  is  reproduced  in  the  sixth  volume 
of  the  Vetusta  Momimenta ;  and  more  recently  an  excellent  copy  of  it 
from  autotype  plates  has  been  published  by  the  Arundel  Society.  Each 
of  its  scenes  is  accompanied  by  a  Latin  description,  the  whole  uniting 
into  a  graphic  history  of  the  event  commemorated.  We  see  Harold 
taking  leave  of  Edward  the  Confessor  ;  riding  to  Bosham  with  his 
hawk  and  hounds  ;  embarking  for  France ;  landing  there  and  being 
captured  by  the  Count  of  Ponthieu  ;  redeemed  by  William  of  Nor- 
mandy, and  in  the  midst  of  his  Court  aiding  him  against  Conan, 
Count  of  Bretagne  ;  swearing  on  the  sacred  relics  to  recognise 
William's  claim  of  succession  to  the  English  throne,  and  then  re- 
embarking  for  England.  On  his  return,  we  have  him  recounting  the 
incidents  of  his  journey  to  Edward  the  Confessor,  to  whose  funeral 
obsequies  we  are  next  introduced.  Then  we  have  Harold  receiving 
the  crown  from  the  English  people,  and  ascending  the  throne  ;  and 
William,  apprised  of  what  had  taken  place,  consulting  with  his  half- 
brother  Odo  about  invading  England.  The  war  preparations  of  the 
Normans,  their  embarkation,  their  landing,  their  march  to  Hastings,  and 
formation  of  a  camp  there,  form  the  subjects  of  successive  scenes  ;  and 
finally  we  have  the  battle  of  Hastings,  with  the  death  of  Harold  and 
the  flight  of  the  English.  In  this  remarkable  piece  of  work  we  have 
figures  of  more  than  six  hundred  persons,  and  seven  hundred  animals, 
besides  thirty-seven  buildings,  and  forty-one  ships  or  boats.  There 
are  of  course  also  numerous  shields  of  warriors,  of  which  some  are 
round,  others  kite-shaped,  and  on  some  of  the  latter  are  rude  figures, 
of  dragons  or  other  imaginary  animals,  as  well  as  crosses  of  different 
forms,  and  spots.  On  one  hand  it  requires  little  imagination  to  find 
the  cross  paUe  and  the  cross  botonnee  of  heraldry  prefigured  on  two 
of  these  shields.  But  there  are  several  fatal  objections  to  regarding 
these  figures  as  incipient  armory,  namely  that  while  the  most  prominent 
persons  of  the  time  are  depicted,  most  of  them  repeatedly,  none  of  these 
is  ever  represented  twice  as  bearing  the  same  device,  nor  is  there  one 
instance  of  any  resemblance  in  the  rude  designs  described  to  the  bear- 
ings actually  used  by  the  descendants  of  the  persons  in  question.  If  a 
personage  so  important  and  so  often  depicted  as  the  Conqueror  had 
borne  arms,  they  could  not  fail  to  have  had  a  place  in  a  nearly  con- 
temporary work,  and  more  especially  if  it  proceeded  from  the  needle 
of  his  wife." 

Lower,  in  his  ^^  Curiosities  of  Heraldry,"  clinches  the  argument 
when  he  writes :  '^  Nothing  but  disappointment  awaits  the  curious 
armorist  who  seeks  in  this  venerable  memorial  the  pale,  the  bend,  and 


1 6       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

other  early  elements  of  arms.  As  these  would  have  been  much  more 
easily  imitated  with  the  needle  than  the  grotesque  figures  before 
alluded  to,  we  may  safely  conclude  that  personal  arms  had  not  yet 
been  introduced/'  The  ^^ Treatise  on  Heraldry"  proceeds:  <^The 
Second  Crusade  took  place  in  1147  ;  and  in  Montfaucon's  plates  of 
the  no  longer  extant  windows  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Denis,  representing 
that  historical  episode,  there  is  not  a  trace  of  an  armorial  ensign  on  any 
of  the  shields.  That  window  was  probably  executed  at  a  date  when 
the  memory  of  that  event  was  fresh  ;  but  in  Montfaucon's  time,  the 
beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  Science  heroique  was  matter  of 
such  moment  in  France  that  it  is  not  to  be  believed  that  the  armorial 
figures  on  the  shields,  had  there  been  any,  would  have  been  left  out." 

Surely,  if  anywhere,  we  might  have  expected  to  have  found  evidence 
of  armory,  if  it  had  then  existed,  in  the  Bayeux  Tapestry.  Neither  do 
the  seals  nor  the  coins  of  the  period  produce  a  shield  of  arms.  Nor 
amongst  the  host  of  records  and  documents  which  have  been  pre- 
served to  us  do  we  find  any  reference  to  armorial  bearings.  The 
intense  value  and  estimation  attached  to  arms  in  the  fourteenth  and 
fifteenth  centuries,  which  has  steadily  though  slowly  declined  since 
that  period,  would  lead  one  to  suppose  that  had  arms  existed  as  we 
know  them  at  an  earlier  period,  we  should  have  found  some  definite 
record  of  them  in  the  older  chronicles.  There  are  no  such  references, 
and  no  coat  of  arms  in  use  at  a  later  date  can  be  relegated  to  the 
Conquest  or  any  anterior  period.  Of  arms,  as  we  know  them,  there  are 
isolated  examples  in  the  early  part  of  the  twelfth  century,  perhaps  also  at 
the  end  of  the  eleventh.  At  the  period  of  the  Third  Crusade  (1189) 
they  were  in  actual  existence  as  hereditary  decorations  of  weapons  of 
warfare. 

Luckily,  for  the  purposes  of  deductive  reasoning,  human  nature 
remains  much  the  same  throughout  the  ages,  and,  dislike  it  as  we 
may,  vanity  now  and  vanity  in  olden  days  was  a  great  lever  in  the 
determination  of  human  actions.  A  noticeable  result  of  civilisation  is 
the  effort  to  suppress  any  sign  of  natural  emotion  ;  and  if  the  human 
race  at  the  present  day  is  not  unmoved  by  a  desire  to  render  its  ap- 
pearance attractive,  we  may  rest  very  certainly  assured  that  in  the 
twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries  this  motive  was  even  more  pronounced, 
and  still  yet  more  pronounced  at  a  more  remote  distance  of  time. 
Given  an  opportunity  of  ornament,  there  you  will  find  ornament  and 
decoration.  The  ancient  Britons,  like  the  Maories  of  to-day,  found 
their  opportunities  restricted  to  their  skins.  The  Maories  tattoo  them- 
selves in  intricate  patterns,  the  ancient  Britons  used  woad,  though 
history  is  silent  as  to  whether  they  were  content  with  flat  colour  or 
gave  their  preference  to  patterns.     It  is  unnecessary  to  trace  the  art  of 


THE   ORIGIN    OF   ARMORY  17 

decoration  through  embroidery  upon  clothes,  but  there  is  no  doubt 
that  as  soon  as  shields  came  into  use  they  were  painted  and  decorated, 
though  I  hesitate  to  follow  practically  the  whole  of  heraldic  writers 
in  the  statement  that  it  was  the  necessity  for  distinction  in  battle  which 
accounted  for  the  decoration  of  shields.  Shields  were  painted  and 
decorated,  and  helmets  were  adorned  with  all  sorts  of  ornament,  long 
before  the  closed  helmet  made  it  impossible  to  recognise  a  man  by  his 
facial  peculiarities  and  distinctions.  We  have  then  this  underlying 
principle  of  vanity,  with  its  concomitant  result  of  personal  decora- 
tion and  adornment.  We  have  the  relics  of  savagery  which  caused  a 
man  to  be  nicknamed  from  some  animal.  The  conjunction  of  the  two 
produces  the  effort  to  apply  the  opportunity  for  decoration  and  the 
vanity  of  the  animal  nickname  to  each  other. 

We  are  fast  approaching  armory.  In  those  days  every  man  fought, 
and  his  weapons  were  the  most  cherished  of  his  personal  possessions. 
The  sword  his  father  fought  with,  the  shield  his  father  carried,  the 
banner  his  father  followed  would  naturally  be  amongst  the  articles  a 
son  would  be  most  eager  to  possess.  Herein  are  the  rudiments  of  the 
idea  of  heredity  in  armory  ;  and  the  science  of  armory  as  we  know  it 
begins  to  slowly  evolve  itself  from  that  point,  for  the  son  would  natu- 
rally take  a  pride  in  upholding  the  fame  which  had  clustered  round  the 
pictured  signs  and  emblems  under  which  his  father  had  warred. 

Another  element  then  appeared  which  exercised  a  vast  influence 
upon  armory.  Europe  rang  from  end  to  end  with  the  call  to  the  Crusades. 
We  may  or  we  may  not  understand  the  fanaticism  which  gripped  the 
whole  of  the  Christian  world  and  sent  it  forth  to  light  the  Saracens. 
That  has  little  to  do  with  it.  The  result  was  the  collection  together 
in  a  comparatively  restricted  space  of  all  that  was  best  and  noblest 
amongst  the  human  race  at  that  time.  And  the  spirit  of  emulation 
caused  nation  to  vie  with  nation,  and  individual  with  individual  in  the 
performance  of  illustrious  feats  of  honour.  War  was  elevated  to  the 
dignity  of  a  sacred  duty,  and  the  implements  of  warfare  rose  in  esti- 
mation. It  is  easy  to  understand  the  glory  therefore  that  attached  to 
arms,  and  the  slow  evolution  which  I  have  been  endeavouring  to  in- 
dicate became  a  concrete  fact,  and  it  is  due  to  the  Crusades  that  the 
origin  of  armory  as  we  now  know  it  was  practically  coeval  through- 
out Europe,  and  also  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  charges  and 
terms  and  rules  of  heraldry  are  identical  in  all  European  countries. 

The  next  dominating  influence  was  the  introduction,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  thirteenth  century,  of  the  closed  helmet.  This  hid  the  face 
of  the  wearer  from  his  followers  and  necessitated  some  means  by 
which  the  latter  could  identify  the  man  under  whom  they  served. 
What  more  natural  than  that  they  should  identify  him  by  the  decora- 

3 


1 8       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

tion  of  his  shield  and  the  ornaments  of  his  helmet,  and  by  the  coat  or 
surcoat  which  he  wore  over  his  coat  of  mail  ? 

This  surcoat  had  afforded  another  opportunity  of  decoration,  and 
it  had  been  decorated  with  the  same  signs  that  the  wearer  had  painted 
on  his  shield,  hence  the  term  <'  coat  of  arms."  This  textile  coat  was 
in  itself  a  product  of  the  Crusades.  The  Crusaders  went  in  their 
metal  armour  from  the  cooler  atmospheres  of  Europe  to  the  in- 
tolerable heat  of  the  East.  The  surcoat  and  the  lambrequin  alike 
protected  the  metal  armour  and  the  metal  helmet  from  the  rays  of  the 
sun  and  the  resulting  discomfort  to  the  wearer,  and  were  also  found 
very  effective  as  a  preventative  of  the  rust  resulting  from  rain  and 
damp  upon  the  metal.  By  the  time  that  the  closed  helmet  had  de- 
veloped the  necessity  of  distinction  and  the  identification  of  a  man 
with  the  pictured  signs  he  wore  or  carried,  the  evolution  of  armory 
into  the  science  we  know  was  practically  complete. 


CHAPTER    II 

THE    STATUS    AND    THE    MEANING    OF    A    COAT    OF 
ARMS    IN    GREAT    BRITAIN 

IT  would  be  foolish  and  misleading  to  assert  that  the  possession  of 
a  coat  of  arms  at  the  present  date  has  anything  approaching  the 
dignity  which  attached  to  it  in  the  days  of  long  ago  ;  but  one  must 
trace  this  through  the  centuries  which  have  passed  in  order  to  form  a 
true  estimate  of  it,  and  also  to  properly  appreciate  a  coat  of  arms  at  the 
present  time.  It  is  necessary  to  go  back  to  the  Norman  Conquest  and 
the  broad  dividing  lines  of  social  life  in  order  to  obtain  a  correct  know- 
ledge. The  Saxons  had  no  armory,  though  they  had  a  very  perfect 
civilisation.  This  civilisation  William  the  Conqueror  upset,  introducing 
in  its  place  the  system  of  feudal  tenure  with  which  he  had  been  familiar 
on  the  Continent.  Briefly,  this  feudal  system  may  be  described  as  the 
partition  of  the  land  amongst  the  barons,  earls,  and  others,  in  return  for 
which,  according  to  the  land  they  held,they  accepted  a  liabiHty  of  military 
service  for  themselves  and  so  many  followers.  These  barons  and  earls 
in  their  turn  sublet  the  land  on  terms  advantageous  to  themselves,  but 
nevertheless  requiring  from  those  to  whom  they  sublet^ the  same  military 
service  which  the  King  had  exacted  from  themselves  proportionate  with 
the  extent  of  the  sublet  lands.  Other  subdivisions  took  place,  but  always 
with  the  same  liability  of  military  service,  until  we  come  to  those  actually 
holding  and  using  the  lands,  enjoying  them  subject  to  the  liability  of 
military  service  attached  to  those  particular  lands.  Every  man  who 
held  land  under  these  conditions — and  it  was  impossible  to  hold  land 
without  them — was  of  the  upper  class.  He  was  nohilis  or  knowfiy  and 
of  a  rank  distinct,  apart,  and  absolutely  separate  from  the  remainder 
of  the  population,  who  were  at  one  time  actually  serfs,  and  for  long 
enough  afterwards,  of  no  higher  social  position  than  they  had  enjoyed 
in  their  period  of  servitude.  This  wide  distinction  between  the  upper 
and  lower  classes,  which  existed  from  one  end  of  Europe  to  the  other, 
was  the  very  root  and  foundation  of  armory.  It  cannot  be  too  greatly 
insisted  upon.  There  were  two  qualitative  terms,  '^  gentle  "  and  '^  simple," 
which  were  applied  to  the  upper  and  lower  classes  respectively.    Though 

now  becoming  archaic  and  obsolete,  the  terms  ^'  gentle  "  and  ^'  simple  " 

19 


20       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

are  still  occasionally  to  be  met  with  used  in  that  original  sense ;  and  the 
two  adjectives  "  gentle  "  and  ''  simple/'  in  the  everyday  meanings  of  the 
words,  are  derived  from,  and  are  a  later  growth  from  the  original  usage 
with  the  meaning  of  the  upper  and  lower  classes  ;  because  the  quaUty 
of  being  gentle  was  supposed  to  exist  in  that  class  of  life  referred  to  as 
gentle,  whilst  the  quality  of  simplicity  was  supposed  to  be  an  attribute 
of  the  lower  class.  The  word  gentle  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word 
gens  {gentilis),  meaning  a  man,  because  those  were  men  who  were  not 
serfs.  Serfs  and  slaves  were  nothing  accounted  of.  The  word  ''  gentle- 
man "  is  a  derivative  of  the  word  gentle,  and  a  gentleman  was  a  member 
of  the  gentle  or  upper  class,  and  gentle  qualities  were  so  termed  because 
they  were  the  qualities  supposed  to  belong  to  the  gentle  class.  A  man 
was  not  a  gentleman,  even  in  those  days,  because  he  happened  to 
possess  personal  qualities  usually  associated  with  the  gentle  class  ;  a 
man  was  a  gentleman  if  he  belonged  to  the  gentle  or  upper  class  and 
not  otherwise,  so  that  ^^  gentleman  "  was  an  identical  term  fbr  one  to 
whom  the  word  nobilis  was  applied,  both  being  names  for  members  of 
the  upper  class.  To  all  intents  and  purposes  at  that  date  there  was  no 
middle  class  at  all.  The  kingdom  was  the  land  ;  and  the  trading  com- 
munity who  dwelt  in  the  towns  were  of  little  account  save  as  milch  kine 
for  the  purposes  of  taxation.  The  social  position  conceded  to  them  by 
the  upper  class  was  little,  if  any,  more  than  was  conceded  to  the  lower 
classes,  whose  life  and  liberties  were  held  very  cheaply.  Briefly  to  sum 
up,  therefore,  there  were  but  the  two  classes  in  existence,  of  which  the 
upper  class  were  those  who  held  the  land,  who  had  military  obligations, 
and  who  were  noble,  or  in  other  words  gentle.  Therefore  all  who  held 
land  were  gentlemen  ;  because  they  held  land  they  had  to  lead  their 
servants  and  followers  into  battle,  and  they  themselves  were  personally 
responsible  for  the  appearance  of  so  many  followers,  when  the  King 
summoned  them  to  war.  Now  we  have  seen  in  the  previous  chapter 
that  arms  became  necessary  to  the  leader  that  his  followers  might 
distinguish  him  in  battle.  Consequently  all  who  held  land  having, 
because  of  that  land,  to  be  responsible  for  followers  in  battle,  found 
it  necessary  to  use  arms.  The  corollary  is  therefore  evident,  that  all 
who  held  lands  of  the  King  were  gentlemen  or  noble,  and  used  arms  ; 
and  as  a  consequence  all  who  possessed  arms  were  gentlemen,  for  they 
would  not  need  or  use  arms,  nor  was  their  armour  of  a  character  upon 
which  they  could  display  arms,  unless  they  were  leaders.  The  leaders, 
we  have  seen,  were  the  land-owning  or  upper  class  ;  therefore  every 
one  who  had  arms  was  a  gentleman,  and  every  gentleman  had  arms. 
But  the  status  of  gentlemen  existed  before  there  were  coats  of  arms, 
and  the  later  inseparable  connection  between  the  two  was  an  evolution. 
The  preposterous  prostitution  of  the  word  gentleman  in  these  latter 


THE   STATUS   OF   A   COAT   OF   ARMS       21 

days  is  due  to  the  almost  universal  attribute  of  human  nature  which 
declines  to  admit  itself  as  of  other  than  gentle  rank  ;  and  in  the  eager 
desire  to  write  itself  gentleman,  it  has  deliberately  accepted  and  or- 
dained a  meaning  to  the  word  which  it  did  not  formerly  possess,  and 
has  attributed  to  it  and  allowed  it  only  such  a  definition  as  would 
enable  almost  anybody  to  be  included  within  its  ranks. 

The  word  gentleman  nowadays  has  become  meaningless  as  a  word 
in  an  ordinary  vocabulary  ;  and  to  use  the  word  with  its  original  and 
true  meaning,  it  is  necessary  to  now  consider  it  as  purely  a  technical 
term.  We  are  so  accustomed  to  employ  the  word  nowadays  in  its  un- 
restricted usage  that  we  are  apt  to  overlook  the  fact  that  such  a  usage 
is  comparatively  modern.  The  following  extract  from  ''The  Right 
to  Bear  Arms  "  will  prove  that  its  real  meaning  was  understood  and 
was  decided  by  law  so  late  as  the  seventeenth  century  to  be  ''  a  man 
entitled  to  bear  arms  "  : — 

*'  The  following  case  in  the  Earl  Marshal's  Court,  which  hung  upon  the  definition 
of  the  word,  conclusively  proves  my  contention  : — 

*'*2i5/  November  1637. — W.  Baker,  gent,  humbly  sheweth  that  having  some 
occasion  of  conference  with  Adam  Spencer  of  Broughton  under  the  Bleane,  co. 
Cant.,  on  or  about  28th  July  last,  the  said  Adam  did  in  most  base  and  opprobrious 
tearmes  abuse  your  petitioner,  calling  him  a  base,  lying  fellow,  &c.  &c.  The  defen- 
dant pleaded  that  Baker  is  noe  Gentleman,  and  soe  not  capable  of  redresse  in  this 
court.  Le  Neve,  Clarenceux,  is  directed  to  examine  the  point  raised,  and  having 
done  so,  declared  as  touching  the  gentry  of  William  Baker,  that  Robert  Cooke, 
Clarenceux  King  of  Arms,  did  make  a  declaration  loth  May  1573,  under  his  hand 
and  scale  of  office,  that  George  Baker  of  London,  sonne  of  J.  Baker  of  the  same 
place,  Sonne  of  Simon  Baker  of  Feversham,  co.  Cant.,  was  a  bearer  of  tokens  of 
honour,  and  did  allow  and  confirm  to  the  said  George  Baker  and  to  his  posterity, 
and  to  the  posterity  of  Christopher  Baker,  these  Arms,  &c.  &c.  And  further,  Le 
Neve  has  received  proof  that  the  petitioner,  William  Baker,  is  the  son  of  William 
Baker  of  Kingsdowne,  co.  Cant.,  who  was  the  brother  of  George  Baker,  and  son  of 
Christopher  aforesaid.'  The  judgment  is  not  stated.  (The  original  Confirmation 
of  Arms  by  Cooke,  loth  May  1573,  may  now  be  seen  in  the  British  Museum. — 
Genealogist  iov  1889,  p.  242.)" 

It  has  been  shown  that  originally  practically  all  who  held  land  bore 
arms.  It  has  also  been  shown  that  armory  was  an  evolution,  and  as  a 
consequence  it  did  not  start,  in  this  country  at  any  rate,  as  a  ready-made 
science  with  all  its  rules  and  laws  completely  known  or  promulgated. 
There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  that,  in  the  earliest  infancy  of  the  science, 
arms  were  assumed  and  chosen  without  the  control  of  the  Crown  ;  and 
one  would  not  be  far  wrong  in  assuming  that,  so  long  as  the  rights 
accruing  from  prior  appropriation  of  other  people  were  respected,  a 
landowner  finding  the  necessity  of  arms  in  battle,  was  originally  at 
liberty  to  assume  what  arms  he  liked. 

That  period,  however,  was  of  but  brief  duration,  for  we  find  as  early 


22       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

as  1390,  from  the  celebrated  Scrope  and  Grosvenor  case,  (i)  that  a  man 
could  have  obtained  at  that  time  a  definite  right  to  his  arms,  (2)  that 
this  right  could  be  enforced  against  another,  and  we  find,  what  is  more 
important,  (3)  that  the  Crown  and  the  Sovereign  had  supreme  control 
and  jurisdiction  over  arms,  and  (4)  that  the  Sovereign  could  and  did 
grant  arms.  From  that  date  down  to  the  present  time  the  Crown,  both 
by  its  own  direct  action  and  by  the  action  of  the  Kings  of  Arms  to  whom 
it  delegates  powers  for  the  purpose,  in  Letters  Patent  under  the  Great 
Seal,  specifically  issued  to  each  separate  King  of  Arms  upon  his  appoint- 
ment, has  continued  to  grant  armorial  bearings.  Some  number  of  early 
grants  of  arms  direct  from  the  Crown  have  been  printed  in  the  Genea- 
logical Magazine^  and  some  of  the  earliest  distinctly  recite  that  the  reci- 
pients are  made  noble  and  created  gentlemen,  and  that  the  arms  are 
given  them  as  the  sign  of  their  nobility.  The  class  of  persons  to  whom 
grants  of  arms  were  made  in  the  earliest  days  of  such  instruments  is 
much  the  same  as  the  class  which  obtain  grants  of  arms  at  the  present 
day,  and  the  successful  trader  or  merchant  is  now  at  liberty,  as  he  was 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  and  earlier,  to  raise  himself  to  the  rank  of 
a  gentleman  by  obtaining  a  grant  of  arms.  A  family  must  make  its 
start  at  some  time  or  other  ;  let  this  start  be  made  honestly,  and  not  by 
the  appropriation  of  the  arms  of  some  other  man. 

The  illegal  assumption  of  arms  began  at  an  early  date  ;  and  in  spite 
of  the  efforts  of  the  Crown,  which  have  been  more  or  less  continuous 
and  repeated,  it  has  been  found  that  the  use  of  <^  other  people's  "  arms 
has  continued.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  a  very  stringent  proclamation 
was  issued  on  the  subject ;  and  in  the  reigns  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her 
successors,  the  Kings  of  Arms  were  commanded  to  make  perambulations 
throughout  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  pulling  down  and  defacing 
improper  arms,  of  recording  arms  properly  borne  by  authority,  and  of 
compelling  those  who  used  arms  without  authority  to  obtain  authority 
for  them  or  discontinue  their  use.  These  perambulations  were  termed 
Visitations.  The  subject  of  Visitations,  and  in  fact  the  whole  subject  of 
the  right  to  bear  arms,  is  dealt  with  at  length  in  the  book  to  which  re- 
ference has  been  already  made,  namely,  <' The  Right  to  Bear  Arms." 

The  glory  of  a  descent  from  a  long  line  of  armigerous  ancestors,  the 
glory  and  the  pride  of  race  inseparably  interwoven  with  the  inheritance 
of  a  name  which  has  been  famous  in  history,  the  fact  that  some  arms 
have  been  designed  to  commemorate  heroic  achievements,  the  fact  that 
the  display  of  a  particular  coat  of  arms  has  been  the  method,  which 
society  has  countenanced,  of  advertising  to  the  world  that  one  is  of  the 
upper  class  or  a  descendant  of  some  ancestor  who  performed  some 
glorious  deed  to  which  the  arms  have  reference,  the  fact  that  arms 
themselves  are  the  very  sign  of  a  particular  descent  or  of  a  particular 


THE   STATUS    OF   A    COAT   OF   ARMS        23 

rank,  have  all  tended  to  cause  a  false  and  fictitious  value  to  be  placed 
upon  all  these  pictured  emblems  which  as  a  whole  they  have  never 
possessed,  and  which  I  believe  they  were  never  intended  to  possess. 
It  is  because  they  were  the  prerogative  and  the  sign  of  aristocracy  that 
they  have  been  coveted  so  greatly,  and  consequently  so  often  assumed 
improperly.  Now  aristocracy  and  social  position  are  largely  a  matter 
of  personal  assertion.  A  man  assumes  and  asserts  for  himself  a  certain 
position,  which  position  is  gradually  and  imperceptibly  but  continuously 
increased  and  elevated  as  its  assertion  is  reiterated.  There  is  no  par- 
ticular moment  in  a  man's  life  at  the  present  time,  the  era  of  the  great 
middle  class,  at  which  he  visibly  steps  from  a  plebeian  to  a  patrician 
standing.  And  when  he  has  fought  and  talked  the  world  into  conced- 
ing him  a  recognised  position  in  the  upper  classes,  he  naturally  tries  to 
obliterate  the  fact  that  he  or  ^'  his  people  "  were  ever  of  any  other  social 
position,  and  he  hesitates  to  perpetually  date  his  elevation  to  the  rank 
of  gentility  by  obtaining  a  grant  of  arms  and  thereby  admitting  that 
before  that  date  he  and  his  people  were  plebeian.  Consequently  he 
waits  until  some  circumstance  compels  an  application  for  a  grant,  and 
the  consequence  is  that  he  thereby  post-dates  his  actual  technical 
gentility  to  a  period  long  subsequent  to  the  recognition  by  Society  of 
his  position  in  the  upper  classes. 

Arms  are  the  sign  of  the  technical  rank  of  gentility.  The  posses- 
sion of  arms  is  a  matter  of  hereditary  privilege,  which  privilege  the 
Crown  is  willing  should  be  obtained  upon  certain  terms  by  any  who 
care  to  possess  it,  who  live  according  to  the  style  and  custom  which  is 
usual  amongst  gentle  people.  And  so  long  as  the  possession  of  arms 
is  a  matter  of  privilege,  even  though  this  privilege  is  no  greater  than  is 
consequent  upon  payment  of  certain  fees  to  the  Crown  and  its  officers  ; 
for  so  long  will  that  privilege  possess  a  certain  prestige  and  value,  though 
this  may  not  be  very  great.  Arms  have  never  possessed  any  greater 
value  than  attaches  to  a  matter  of  privilege  ;  and  (with  singularly  few 
exceptions)  in  every  case,  be  it  of  a  peer  or  baronet,  of  knight  or  of 
simple  gentleman,  this  privilege  has  been  obtained  or  has  been  regularised 
by  the  payment  at  some  time  or  other  of  fees  to  the  Crown  and  its  officers. 
And  the  only  difference  between  arms  granted  and  paid  for  yesterday 
and  arms  granted  and  paid  for  five  hundred  years  ago  is  the  simple 
moral  difference  which  attaches  to  the  dates  at  which  the  payments 
were  made. 

Gentility  is  merely  hereditary  rank,  emanating,  with  all  other  rank, 
from  the  Crown,  the  sole  fountain  of  honour.  It  is  idle  to  make  the  word 
carry  a  host  of  meanings  it  was  never  intended  to.  Arms  being  the 
sign  of  the  technical  rank  of  gentility,  the  use  of  arms  is  the  advertise- 
ment of  one's  claim  to  that  gentility.     Arms  mean  nothing  more.      By 


24      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

coronet,  supporters,  and  helmet  can  be  indicated  one's  place  in  the 
scale  of  precedence  ;  by  adding  arms  for  your  wife  you  assert  that  she 
also  is  of  gentle  rank  ;  your  quarterings  show  the  other  gentle  families 
you  represent  ;  difference  marks  will  show  your  position  in  your  own 
family  (not  a  very  important  matter)  ;  augmentations  indicate  the  deeds 
of  your  ancestors  which  the  Sovereign  thought  worthy  of  being  held  in 
especial  remembrance.  By  the  use  of  a  certain  coat  of  arms,  you  assert 
your  descent  from  the  person  to  whom  those  arms  were  granted,  confirmed,  or 
allowed.  That  is  the  beginning  and  end  of  armory.  Why  seek  to  make 
it  mean  more  ? 

However  heraldry  is  looked  upon,  it  must  be  admitted  that  from  its 
earliest  infancy  armory  possessed  two  essential  qualities.  It  was  the 
definite  sign  of  hereditary  nobility  and  rank,  and  it  was  practically  an 
integral  part  of  warfare  ;  but  also  from  its  earliest  infancy  it  formed 
a  means  of  decoration.  It  would  be  a  rash  statement  to  assert  that 
armory  has  lost  its  actual  military  character  even  now,  but  it  certainly 
possessed  it  undiminished  so  long  as  tournaments  took  place,  for  the 
armory  of  the  tournament  was  of  a  much  higher  standard  than  the 
armory  of  the  battlefield.  Armory  as  an  actual  part  of  warfare  existed 
as  a  means  of  decoration  for  the  implements  of  warfare,  and  as  such  it 
certainly  continues  in  some  slight  degree  to  the  present  day. 

Armory  in  that  bygone  age,  although  it  existed  as  the  symbol  of  the 
lowest  hereditary  rank,  was  worn  and  used  in  warfare,  for  purposes  of 
pageantry,  for  the  indication  of  ownership,  for  decorative  purposes,  for 
the  needs  of  authenticity  in  seals,  and  for  the  purposes  of  memorials 
in  records,  pedigrees,  and  monuments.  All  those  uses  and  purposes  of 
armory  can  be  traced  back  to  a  period  coeval  with  that  to  which  our 
certain  knowledge  of  the  existence  of  armory  runs.  Of  all  those  usages 
and  purposes,  one  only,  that  of  the  use  of  armorial  bearings  in  actual 
battle,  can  be  said  to  have  come  to  an  end,  and  even  that  not  entirely 
so  ;  the  rest  are  still  with  us  in  actual  and  extensive  existence.  I  am 
not  versed  in  the  minutiae  of  army  matters  or  army  history,  but  I  think 
I  am  correct  in  saying  that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  regular  stand- 
ing army  or  a  national  army  until  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  Prior  to 
that  time  the  methods  of  the  feudal  system  supplied  the  wants  of  the 
country.  The  actual  troops  were  in  the  employment,  not  of  the  Crown, 
but  of  the  individual  leaders.  The  Sovereign  called  upon,  and  had  the 
right  to  call  upon,  those  leaders  to  provide  troops  ;  but  as  those  troops 
were  not  in  the  direct  employment  of  the  Crown,  they  wore  the  liveries 
and  heraldic  devices  of  their  leaders.  The  leaders  wore  their  own 
devices,  originally  for  decorative  reasons,  and  later  that  they  might  be 
distinguished  by  their  particular  followers :  hence  the  actual  use  in 
battle  in  former  days  of  private  armorial  bearings.     And  even  yet  the 


THE  STATUS   OP   A   COAT  OF   ARMS       25 

practice  is  not  wholly  extinguished,  for  the  tartans  of  the  Gordon  and 
Cameron  Highlanders  are  a  relic  of  the  usages  of  these  former  days. 
With  the  formation  of  a  standing  army,  and  the  direct  service  of  the 
troops  to  the  Crown,  the  liveries  and  badges  of  those  who  had  formerly 
been  responsible  for  the  troops  gave  way  to  the  liveries  and  badges  of 
the  Crown.  The  uniform  of  the  Beefeaters  is  a  good  example  of  the 
method  in  which  in  the  old  days  a  servant  wore  the  badge  and  livery 
of  his  lord.  The  Beefeaters  wear  the  scarlet  livery  of  the  Sovereign, 
and  wear  the  badge  of  the  Sovereign  still.  Many  people  will  tell  you, 
by  the  way,  that  the  uniform  of  a  Beefeater  is  identical  now  with  what 
it  was  in  the  days  of  Henry  VIII.  It  isn't.  In  accordance  with  the 
strictest  laws  of  armory,  the  badge,  embroidered  on  the  front  and  back 
of  the  tunic,  has  changed,  and  is  now  the  triple  badge — the  rose,  the 
thistle,  and  the  shamrock — of  the  triple  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  Every  soldier  who  wears  a  scarlet  coat,  the  livery  of  his 
Sovereign,  every  regiment  that  carries  its  colours,  every  saddle-cloth 
with  a  Royal  emblem  thereupon,  is  evidence  that  the  use  of  armory  in 
battle  still  exists  in  a  small  degree  to  the  present  day  ;  but  circumstances 
have  altered.  The  troops  no  longer  attack  to  the  cry  of  '^  A  Warwick  ! 
a  Warwick  ! "  they  serve  His  Majesty  the  King  and  wear  his  livery  and 
devices.  They  no  longer  carry  the  banner  of  their  officer,  whose 
servants  and  tenants  they  would  formerly  have  been  ;  the  regiment 
cherishes  instead  the  banner  of  the  armorial  bearings  of  His  Majesty. 
Within  the  last  few  years,  probably  within  the  lifetime  of  all  my  readers, 
there  has  been  striking  evidence  of  the  manner  in  which  circumstances 
alter  everything.  The  Zulu  War  put  an  end  to  the  practice  of  taking 
the  colours  of  a  regiment  into  battle  ;  the  South  African  War  saw  khaki 
substituted  universally  for  the  scarlet  livery  of  His  Majesty  ;  and  to 
have  found  upon  a  South  African  battlefield  the  last  remnant  of  the 
armorial  practices  of  the  days  of  chivalry,  one  would  have  needed,  I 
am  afraid,  to  examine  the  buttons  of  the  troopers.  Still  the  scarlet 
coat  exists  in  the  army  on  parade  :  the  Life  Guards  wear  the  Royal 
Cross  of  St.  George  and  the  Star  of  the  Garter,  the  Scots  Greys  have 
the  Royal  Saltire  of  St.  Andrew,  and  the  Gordon  Highlanders  have  the 
Gordon  crest  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond  and  Gordon  ;  and  there  are 
many  other  similar  instances. 

There  is  yet  another  point.  The  band  of  a  regiment  is  maintained 
by  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  and  at  the  present  day  in  the  Scottish 
regiments  the  pipers  have  attached  to  their  pipes  banners  bearing  the 
various  personal  armorial  bearings  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  So 
that  perhaps  one  is  justified  in  saying  that  the  use  of  armorial  bearings 
in  warfare  has  not  yet  come  to  an  end.  The  other  ancient  usages  of 
armory  exist  now  as  they  existed  in  the  earliest  times.      So  that  it  is 


26       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

foolish  to  contend  that  armory  has  ceased  to  exist,  save  as  an  interest- 
ing survival  of  the  past.  It  is  a  living  reality,  more  widely  in  use  at  the 
present  day  than  ever  before. 

Certainly  the  military  side  of  armory  has  sunk  in  importance  till  it 
is  now  utterly  overshadowed  by  the  decorative,  but  the  fact  that  armory 
still  exists  as  the  sign  and  adjunct  of  hereditary  rank  utterly  forbids  one 
to  assert  that  armory  is  dead,  and  though  this  side  of  armory  is  also 
now  partly  overshadowed  by  its  decorative  use,  armory  must  be 
admitted  to  be  still  alive  whilst  its  laws  can  still  be  altered.  When,  if 
ever,  rank  is  finally  swept  away,  and  when  the  Crown  ceases  to  grant 
arms,  and  people  cease  to  use  them,  then  armory  will  be  dead,  and  can 
be  treated  as  the  study  of  a  dead  science. 


CHAPTER    III 
THE    HERALDS    AND    OFFICERS    OF    ARMS 

THE  Crown  is  the  Fountain  of  Honour,  having  supreme  control 
of  coat-armour.  This  control  in  all  civilised  countries  is  one 
of  the  appanages  of  sovereignty,  but  from  an  early  period  much 
of  the  actual  control  has  been  delegated  to  the  Heralds  and  Kings  of 
Arms.  The  word  Herald  is  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon — here,  an 
aimy,  and  wald,  strength  or  sway — though  it  has  probably  come  to  us 
from  the  German  word  Herold. 

In  the  last  years  of  the  twelfth  century  there  appeared  at  festal 
gatherings  persons  mostly  habited  in  richly  coloured  clothing,  who 
delivered  invitations  to  the  guests,  and,  side  by  side  with  the  stewards, 
superintended  the  festivities.  Many  of  them  were  minstrels,  who, 
after  tournaments  or  battle,  extolled  the  deeds  of  the  victors.  These 
individuals  were  known  in  Germany  as  Garzune, 

Originally  every  powerful  leader  had  his  own  herald,  and  the  dual 
character  of  minstrel  and  messenger  led  the  herald  to  recount  the  deeds 
of  his  master,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  of  his  master's  ancestors. 
In  token  of  their  office  they  wore  the  coats  of  arms  of  the  leaders 
they  served  ;  and  the  original  status  of  a  herald  was  that  of  a  non- 
combatant  messenger.  When  tournaments  came  into  vogue  it  was 
natural  that  some  one  should  examine  the  arms  of  those  taking  part, 
and  from  this  the  duties  of  the  herald  came  to  include  a  know- 
ledge of  coat-armour.  As  the  Sovereign  assumed  or  arrogated  the 
control  of  arms,  the  right  to  grant  arms,  and  the  right  of  judgment  in 
disputes  concerning  arms,  it  was  but  the  natural  result  that  the  per- 
sonal heralds  of  the  Sovereign  should  be  required  to  have  a  knowledge 
of  the  arms  of  his  principal  subjects,  and  should  obtain  something  in 
the  nature  of  a  cognisance  or  control  and  jurisdiction  over  those  arms  ; 
for  doubtless  the  actions  of  the  Sovereign  would  often  depend  upon 
the  knowledge  of  his  heralds. 

The  process  of  development  in  this  country  will  be  more  easily 
understood  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  Marshal  or  Earl  Marshal 
was  in  former  times,  with  the  Lord  High  Constable,  the  first  in  milt' 
tary  rank  under  the  King,  who  usually  led  his  army  in  person,  and  to 

27 


28      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  Marshal  was  deputed  the  ordering  and  arrangement  of  the  various 
bodies  of  troops,  regiments,  bands  of  retainers,  &c.,  which  ordering 
was  at  first  facilitated  and  at  length  entirely  determined  by  the  use  of 
various  pictorial  ensigns,  such  as  standards,  banners,  crests,  cogni- 
sances, and  badges.  The  due  arrangement  and  knowledge  of  these 
various  ensigns  became  first  the  necessary  study  and  then  the  ordinary 
duty  of  these  officers  of  the  Marshal,  and  their  possession  of  such 
knowledge,  which  soon  in  due  course  had  to  be  written  down  and 
tabulated,  secured  to  them  an  important  part  in  mediaeval  life.  The 
result  was  that  at  an  early  period  we  find  them  employed  in  semi- 
diplomatic  missions,  such  as  carrying  on  negotiations  between  contend- 
ing armies  on  the  field,  bearing  declarations  of  war,  challenges  from 
one  sovereign  to  another,  besides  arranging  the  ceremonial  not  only  of 
battles  and  tournaments,  but  also  of  coronations,  Royal  baptisms, 
marriages,  and  funerals. 

From  the  fact  that  neither  King  of  Arms  nor  Herald  is  mentioned 
as  officiating  in  the  celebrated  Scrope  and  Grosvenor  case,  of  which 
very  full  particulars  have  come  down  to  us,  it  is  evident  that  the  con- 
trol of  arms  had  not  passed  either  in  fact  or  in  theory  from  the  Crown 
to  the  officers  of  arms  at  that  date.  Konrad  Griinenberg,  in  his 
Wappencodex  ("Roll  of  Arms"),  the  date  of  which  is  1483,  gives  a 
representation  of  a  helmschau  (literally  helmet-show),  here  reproduced 
(Fig.  12),  which  includes  the  figure  of  a  herald.  Long  before  that 
date,  however,  the  position  of  a  herald  in  England  was  well  defined, 
for  we  find  that  on  January  5,  1420,  the  King  appointed  William 
Bruges  to  be  Garter  King  of  Arms.  It  is  usually  considered  in  Eng- 
land that  it  would  be  found  that  in  Germany  armory  reached  its 
highest  point  of  evolution.  Certainly  German  heraldic  art  is  in  advance 
of  our  own,  and  it  is  curious  to  read  in  the  latest  and  one  of  the  best 
of  German  heraldic  books  that  "  from  the  very  earliest  times  heraldry 
was  carried  to  a  higher  degree  of  perfection  and  thoroughness  in 
England  than  elsewhere,  and  that  it  has  maintained  itself  at  the  same 
level  until  the  present  day.  In  other  countries,  for  the  most  part, 
heralds  no  longer  have  any  existence  but  in  name."  The  initial  figure 
which  appears  at  the  commencement  of  Chapter  I.  represents  John 
Smert,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  and  is  taken  from  the  grant  of  arms 
issued  by  him  to  the  Tallow  Chandlers'  Company  of  London,  which  is 
dated  September  24,  1456. 

Long  before  there  was  any  College  of  Arms,  the  Marshal,  after- 
wards the  Earl  Marshal,  had  been  appointed.  The  Earl  Marshal  is 
now  head  of  the  College  of  Arms,  and  to  him  has  been  delegated  the 
whole  of  the  control  both  of  armory  and  of  the  College,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  that  part  which  the  Crown  has  retained  in  its  own  hands. 


Fig.  12. — Helmschan  or  Helmet-Show.     (From  Konrad  Griinenberg's  Wappencodex  zu  Mimchen.) 

End  of  fifteenth  century. 


OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


THE   HERALDS   AND   OFFICERS   OF   ARMS     29 

After  the  Earl  Marshal  come  the  Kings  of  Arms,  the  Heralds  of  Arms, 
and  the  Pursuivants  of  Arms. 

The  title  of  King  of  Arms,  or,  as  it  was  more  anciently  written. 
King  of  Heralds,  was  no  doubt  originally  given  to  the  chief  or  principal 
officer,  who  presided  over  the  heralds  of  a  kingdom,  or  some  principal 
province,  which  heraldic  writers  formerly  termed  marches;  or  else  the 
title  was  conferred  upon  the  officer  of  arms  attendant  upon  some  par- 
ticular order  of  knighthood.  Garter  King  of  Arms,  who  is  immediately 
attached  to  that  illustrious  order,  is  likewise  Principal  King  of  Arms, 
and  these,  although  separate  and  distinct  offices,  are  and  have  been 
always  united  in  one  person.  Upon  the  revival  and  new  modelling  of 
the  Order  of  the  Bath,  in  the  reign  of  George  the  First,  a  King  of  Arms 
was  created  and  attached  to  it,  by  the  title  of  Bath  King  of  Arms  ;  and 
King  George  III.,  upon  the  institution  of  the  Hanoverian  Guelphic 
Order  of  Knighthood,  annexed  to  that  order  a  King  of  Arms,  by  the 
appellation  of  Hanover.  At  the  time  of  the  creation  of  his  office,  Bath 
King  of  Arms  was  given  Wales  as  his  province,  the  intention  being  that 
he  should  rank  with  the  others,  granting  arms  in  his  own  province,  but 
he  was  not,  nor  was  Hanover,  nor  is  the  King  of  Arms  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Michael  and  St.  George,  a  member  (as  such)  of  the  corporation  of 
the  College  of  Arms.  The  members  of  that  corporation  considered  that 
the  gift  of  the  province  of  Wales,  the  jurisdiction  over  which  they  had 
previously  possessed,  to  Bath  King  was  an  infringement  of  their  char- 
tered privileges.  The  dispute  was  referred  to  the  law  officers  of  the 
Crown,  whose  opinion  was  in  favour  of  the  corporate  body. 

Berry  in  his  Encyclopcedia  Heraldka  further  remarks :  *<  The  Kings  of 
Arms  of  the  provincial  territories  have  the  titles  of  Clarenceux  and 
Norroyy  the  jurisdiction  of  the  former  extending  over  the  south,  east, 
and  west  parts  of  England,  from  the  river  Trent  southwards  ;  and  that 
of  the  latter,  the  remaining  part  of  the  kingdom  northward  of  that 
river.  Kings  of  Arms  have  been  likewise  assigned  other  provinces  over 
different  kingdoms  and  dominions,  and  besides  Ulster  King  of  Arms  for 
Ireland,  and  Lyon  King  of  Arms  for  Scotland,  others  were  nominated 
for  particular  provinces  abroad,  when  united  to  the  Crown  of  England, 
such  as  Aquitainey  AnjoUj  and  Guyenne^  who  were  perhaps  at  their  first 
creation  intended  only  for  the  services  of  the  places  whose  titles  they 
bore,  w^hen  the  same  should  be  entirely  subdued  to  allegiance  to  the 
Crown  of  England,  and  who,  till  that  time,  might  have  had  other 
provinces  allotted  to  them,  either  provisionally  or  temporarily,  within 
the  realm  of  England. 

There  were  also  other  Kings  of  Arms,  denominated  from  the  duke- 
doms or  earldoms  which  our  princes  enjoyed  before  they  came  to  the 
throne,  as  Lancaster^   Gloucester^  Richmond^  and  Leicester^  the  thr^  first 


30      A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

iiaving  marches,  or  provinces,  and  the  latter  a  similar  jurisdiction. 
Windsor,  likewise,  was  a  local  title,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  that 
officer  was  ever  a  King  of  Arms.  Marche  also  assumed  that  appellation, 
from  his  provincial  jurisdiction  over  a  territory  so  called. 

But  although  anciently  there  were  at  different  periods  several 
Kings  of  Arms  in  England,  only  two  provincial  Kings  of  Arms  have, 
for  some  ages,  been  continued  in  office,  viz.  Clarenceux  and  Norroy, 
whose  provinces  or  marches  are,  as  before  observed,  separated  by  the 
river  Trent,  the  ancient  limits  of  the  escheaters,  when  there  are  only 
two  in  the  kingdom,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  wardens  of  the  forests. 

Norroy  is  considered  the  most  ancient  title,  being  the  only  one  in 
England  taken  from  the  local  situation  of  his  province,  unless  Marche 
should  be  derived  from  the  same  cause.  The  title  of  Norroy  was 
anciently  written  Norreys  and  Norreisy  King  of  Arms  of  the  people 
residing  in  the  north  ;  Garter  being  styled  Roy  des  Anglois,  of  the  people, 
and  not  d'Angleterre,  of  the  kingdom,  the  inhabitants  of  the  north  being 
called  Norreys^  as  we  are  informed  by  ancient  historians. 

It  appears  that  there  was  a  King  of  Arms  for  the  parts  or  people  on 
the  north  of  Trent  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  from  which,  as 
Sir  Henry  Spelman  observes,  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  southern, 
eastern,  and  western  parts  had  principal  heralds,  or  Kings  of  Arms,  al- 
though their  titles  at  that  early  age  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 

Norroy  had  not  the  title  of  King  till  after  the  reign  of  Edward  II. 
It  was  appropriated  to  a  King  of  Heralds,  expressly  called  Rex  Norroy^ 
Roy  d'Armes  del  North^  Rex  Armorum  del  Northy  Rex  de  Northy  and  Rex 
Norroy  du  North;  and  the  term  Roy  Norreys  likewise  occurs  in  the  Pell 
Rolls  of  the  22nd  Edward  III.  ;  but  from  that  time  till  the  9th  of 
Richard  II.  no  farther  mention  is  made  of  any  such  officer,  from  which 
it  is  probable  a  different  person  enjoyed  the  office  by  some  other  title 
during  that  interval,  particularly  as  the  office  was  actually  executed  by 
other  Kings  of  Arms,  immediately  after  that  period.  John  Oiharlakey 
Marche  King  of  Arms,  executed  it  in  the  9th  of  Richard  II.,  Richard  del 
Briiggy  Lancaster  King  of  Arms y  ist  Henry  W ,y2i^^  Ashwelly  Boys,  and 
Tindaly  successively  Lancaster  Kings  of  Arms,  until  the  end  of  that 
monarch's  reign. 

Edward  IV.  replaced  this  province  under  a  King  of  Arms,  and  re- 
vived the  dormant  title  of  Norroy,      But  in  the  Statute  of  Resumptions, 

^  "Norreys  and  Surreis,  that  service  aught  the  kyng, 
With  horse  and  harneis  at  Carlele,  made  samning." 

See  Langtoft's  Chronicle  treating  of  the  Wars  of  Edward  I.  against  the  Scots. 

"  Bot  Sir  John  de  Waleis  taken  was,  in  a  pleyne, 
Throgh  Spring  of  Norreis  men  that  were  certeyn." 

Ibid.,  Australes  se  Norensibus  opposuerunt.     M.  Oaris,  under  the  year  1237. 


THE    HERALDS    AND    OFFICERS   OF   ARMS     31 

made  ist  Henry  VII.,  a  clause  was  inserted  that  the  same  should  not 
extend  io  John  Moore^  otherwise  Norroyy  chief  Herald  King  of  Arms  of 
the  north  parts  of  this  realm  of  England,  so  appointed  by  King  Edward 
IV,  by  his  Letters  Patent,  bearing  date  9th  July,  in  the  eighteenth  year 
of  his  reign.      It  has  since  continued  without  interruption. 

Falcon  King  of  Arms  seems  the  next  who  had  the  title  of  King  con- 
ferred upon  him,  and  was  so  named  from  one  of  the  Royal  badges  of 
King  Edward  III.,  and  it  was  afterwards  given  to  a  herald  and  pursui- 
vant, under  princes  who  bore  the  falcon  as  a  badge  or  cognisance,  and 
it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  whether  this  officer  was  considered  a  king, 
herald,  or  pursuivant.  Froissart  in  1395  calls  Faucon  only  a  herald,  and 
in  1364  mentions  this  officer  as  a  King  of  Arms  belonging  to  the  King 
of  England  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  in  the  i8th  Richard  II.  there  was  a 
King  of  Arms  by  that  appellation,  and  so  continued  until  the  reign  of 
Richard  III.,  if  not  later  ;  but  at  what  particular  period  of  time  the 
officer  was  discontinued  cannot  be  correctly  ascertained. 

Windsor  has  been  considered  by  some  writers  to  have  been  the  title 
of  a  King  of  Arms,  from  an  abbreviation  in  some  old  records,  which 
might  be  otherwise  translated.  There  is,  however,  amongst  the  Pro- 
tections in  the  Tower  of  London,  one  granted  in  the  49th  Edward  III. 
to  Stephen  de  IVindesore,  Heraldo  Armorum  rege  dido,  which  seems  to 
favour  the  conjecture,  and  other  records  might  be  quoted  for  and  against 
this  supposition,  which  might  have  arisen  through  mistake  in  the  entries, 
as  they  contradict  one  another. 

Marche  seems  the  next  in  point  of  antiquity  of  creation. ;  but  although 
Sir  Henry  Spelman  says  that  King  Edward  IV.  descended  from  the 
Earls  of  Marche,  promoted  Marche  Herald  to  be  a  King  of  Arms,  giving 
him,  perhaps,  the  marches  for  his  province,  it  is  pretty  clearly  ascer- 
tained that  it  was  of  a  more  early  date,  from  the  express  mention  of 
March  Rex  Heraldorum  and  March  Rex  Heraldus  in  records  of  the  time 
of  Richard  II.,  though  it  may  be  possible  that  it  was  then  only  a  nominal 
title,  and  did  not  become  a  real  one  till  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.,  as 
mentioned  by  Spelman. 

Lancaster  King  of  Arms  was,  as  the  same  author  informs  us,  so  created 
by  Henry  IV.  in  relation  to  his  own  descent  from  the  Lancastrian  family, 
and  the  county  of  Lancaster  assigned  to  him  as  his  province  ;  but 
Edmondson  contends  *'that  that  monarch  superadded  the  title  of  Lancaster 
to  that  of  Norroy,  or  King  of  the  North,  having,  as  it  may  be  reasonably 
conjectured,  given  this  province  north  of  Trent,  within  which  district 
Lancaster  was  situated,  to  him  who  had  been  formerly  his  officer  of 
arms,  by  the  title  of  that  dukedom,  and  who  might,  according  to  custom, 
in  some  instances  of  former  ages,  retain  his  former  title  and  surname 
of  heraldship,  styling  himself  Lancaster  Roy  d'Armes  del  North." 


32       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Leicester  King  of  Arms  was  a  title  similar  to  that  of  Lancaster ^  and 
likewise  a  creation  to  the  same  Sovereign,  Henry  IV.,  who  was  also 
Earl  of  Leicester  before  he  assumed  the  crown,  and  was  given  to  a 
person  who  was  before  that  time  a  herald.  It  appears  that  Henry  Grene 
was  Leicester  Herald^  9th  King  Richard  II.,  and  in  the  13th  of  the  same 
reign  is  called  a  Herald  of  the  Duke  ofGuyen  and  Lancaster y  but  prior  to 
the  coronation  of  Henry  IV.  he  was  certainly  a  King  of  Heralds,  and 
so  styled  in  a  privy  seal  dated  antecedent  to  that  ceremony.  A  similar 
instrument  of  the  tenth  year  of  that  monarch's  reign  also  mentions 
Henry  Greney  otherwise  Leicester  King  of  Arms. 

As  it  is  evident  that,  during  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  Lancaster  King 
of  Arms  has  under  that  title  the  province  of  the  north,  Mr,  Edmondson, 
with  good  reason,  supposes  that  the  southern  province,  or  part  of  that 
which  is  now  under  Clarenceux,  might  at  that  time  be  under  this  Leicester-, 
especially  as  the  title  of  Clarenceux  was  not  in  being  till  after  the  3rd  of 
Henry  V.,  when,  or  soon  after,  the  title  of  Leicester  m\^i  have  become 
extinct  by  the  death  of  that  officer  ;  for  although  Leicester  King  of  Arms 
went  over  into  France  with  Henry  V.  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign, 
yet  he  is  not  mentioned  in  the  constitutions  made  by  the  heralds  at 
Roan  in  the  year  1419-20. 

Clarenceuxj  the  next  King  of  Arms  in  point  of  creation,  is  a  title 
generally  supposed  to  have  been  taken  from  Clarey  in  Suffolk,  the  castle 
at  that  place  being  the  principal  residence  of  the  ancient  Earls  of  Here- 
ford, who  were,  from  thence,  though  very  improperly,  called  Earls  of 
Clarey  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Earls  of  Pembroke  were  often  named 
Earls  of  Strigoil  and  Chepstow;  the  Earl  of  Hampshire,  Earl  of  Winchester  ; 
the  Earl  of  Derby,  Earl  ofTuttebury;  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  Earl  of  Chichester y 
&c.  King  Edward  III.  created  his  third  son  Lionel  Duke  of  Clarence^ 
instead  of  the  monosyllable  Clare  (from  his  marriage  with  the  grand- 
daughter of  the  late  Earl),  but  Lionel  dying  without  issue  male,  Henry 
IV.  created  his  younger  son  Thomas  Duke  of  ClarencCy  who  being  slain 
without  issue  9th  of  Henry  V.,  the  honour  remained  in  the  Crown, 
until  King  Edward  IV.  conferred  it  upon  his  own  brother.  Mr.  Sand- 
ford  tells  us  that  Clarence  is  the  country  about  the  town,  castle,  and 
honour  of  Clarcy  from  which  duchy  the  name  of  Clarenceux  King  of  Arms 
is  derived.  Spelman,  however,  contends  that  it  is  a  mistake  in  attri- 
buting the  institution  of  Clarenceux  to  King  Edward  IV.  after  the  honour 
of  Clarence  devolved  as  an  escheat  to  the  Crown  upon  the  untimely 
death  of  his  brother  George,  as  he  found  William  Horsely  called  by 
this  title  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  and  also  Roger  Lygh,  under  King 
Henry  VI. ;  and  it  is  conjectured  that  the  office  of  Clarenceux  King  of 
Arms  is  not  more  ancient  than  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

Gloucester  Heraldy  frequently  mentioned  by  historians,  was  originally 


THE    HERALDS    AND    OFFICERS    OF   ARMS     33 

the  herald  of  the  great  Humphry,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  of  whom  mention 
is  made  upon  record  in  the  loth  of  Henry  VI.  ;  and  Richard,  brother 
to  Edward  IV.,  who  was  created  Duke  of  Gloucester,  is  said  to  have 
had  a  herald  by  that  title  during  the  reign  of  his  brother,  and  who  was 
attendant  as  such  at  the  funeral  of  that  monarch.  In  a  manuscript  in 
the  Ashmolean  collection,  it  is  stated  that  Richard  Champnay  attended 
as  Gloucester  King  of  Arms  at  the  coronation  of  Richard  III.  upon  the 
7th  July  following  his  usurpation  of  the  crown  ;  but  it  appears  by 
more  authentic  record  that  this  Richard  Champnay  was,  by  the  style 
and  title  of  Herald  of  Arms,  on  the  i8th  September,  in  the  first  year 
of  his  usurpation,  by  patent  created  a  King  of  Arms  and  Principal 
Herald  of  the  parts  of  Wales,  by  the  style  and  title  of  Gloucester,  giving 
him  licence  and  authority  to  execute  all  and  singular  that  by  law  or 
custom  in  former  times  belonged  to  the  office  of  King  of  Arms.  It  is 
supposed  that  the  office  ceased  upon  his  death,  which  in  all  probability 
took  place  before  that  of  the  usurper. 

Richmond  King  of  Arms, — A  herald  called  Richmond  is  frequently 
mentioned,  as  well  belonging  to  the  Crown  as  of  the  nobility.  But  the 
records  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VII.,  who  had  before  his  elevation 
to  the  throne  been  Earl  of  Richmond,  contain  many  entries  of  Richmond 
King  of  Arms;  but  although  somewhat  vague  in  the  description,  suffi- 
ciently bear  out  the  conjecture  that  Henry  VII.,  previous  to  his  corona- 
tion, created  a  new  King  of  Arms  by  the  title  of  Richmond^  although  no 
regular  patent  of  creation  has  ever  been  found. 

Sir  Henry  Spelman  informs  us  that,  in  addition  to  the  two  Kings 
of  Arms  for  the  two  Heraldic  provinces  bounded  north  and  south  by 
the  river  Trent,  there  were  also  two  provincial  kings  for  the  dominions 
of  our  Sovereign  in  France,  styled  Guyenne  and  Agincourt  (omitting 
Aquitaine  and  Anjou,  which  were  certainly  in  being  at  the  same  time),  and 
another  for  Ireland  by  that  name,  altered  by  King  Edward  VI.  into  Ulster, 

Ireland  King  of  Arms  first  occurs  upon  record  6th  Richard  II.,  anno 
1482,  mentioned  by  Froissart,  where  he  is  called  Chandos  le  Roy  d' Ireland. 
A  regular  succession  of  officers,  by  the  title  of  Ireland  King  of  Arms, 
continued  from  that  time  till  the  reign  of  King  Edward  IV.,  but  from 
the  death  of  that  monarch  till  the  creation  of  Ulster  by  Edward  VI.  it  is 
uncertain  whether  the  title  existed,  or  what  became  of  the  office. 

Edward  VI.  altered  the  title  of  Ireland  King  of  Arms  into  that  of 
Ulster,  or  rather  considered  it  as  a  new  institution,  from  the  words  of 
his  journal :  ^<  Feb.  2.  There  was  a  King  of  Arms  made  for  Ireland, 
whose  name  was  Ulster^  and  his  province  was  all  Ireland  ;  and  he  was 
the  fourth  King  of  Arms,  and  the  first  Herald  of  Ireland."  The  patent 
passed  under  the  Great  Seal  of  England. 

Guyenne,  a  part  of  Aquitaine,  in  France,  a  province  belonging  to 

c 


34       A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  British  Crowii;  gave  title  not  only  to  a  King  of  Arms,  but  to  a 
herald  likewise,  and  Sir  Henry  Spelman  dates  its  creation  in  the  time 
of  Edward  I.,  although  it  is  somewhat  doubtful,  and  thought  to  be  in 
the  reign  of  Edward  III.  Guyenne  Herald  appears  upon  record  during 
the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  and  though  Kings  of  Arms  were  frequently  styled 
heralds  in  old  records,  it  is  more  than  probable  both  offices  were  in  exist- 
ence at  the  same  time.  From  the  time  of  Edward  IV.  no  such  officers 
belonging  to  the  Crown  of  England  seem  to  have  been  continued,  and 
it  is  doubtful  whether  they  ever  held  in  constant  succession  from  their 
first  creation. 

Aquitainef  which  included  what  were  afterwards  called  Guyenne, 
Xantoigne,  Gascoigne,  and  some  islands,  gave  title  to  a  King  of  Heralds 
as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  and  it  is  conjectured  to  have  been 
an  officer  belonging  to  the  Black  Prince,  who  had  the  principality  of 
Aquitaine  given  to  him  by  his  father  ;  but  although  this  officer  is  men- 
tioned in  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  and  3rd  of  Henry  V.,  no  record 
occurs  after  the  latter  period. 

Agincourt  was  also  a  title  conferred  upon  a  herald,  in  memory  of 
that  signal  victory  ;  and  lands  were  granted  to  him  for  life,  6th  Henry 
v.,  as  mentioned  by  Sir  Henry  Spelman  ;  but  whether  the  office  was. 
continued,  or  any  particular  province  assigned  to  this  officer,  cannot  be 
ascertained. 

Anjou  King  of  Arms  was  likewise  an  officer  of  King  Henry  VI.,  and 
attendant  upon  John,  Duke  of  Bedford,  when  Regent  of  France,  who 
assumed  the  title  of  Duke  of  Anjou.  But  upon  the  death  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  this  officer  was  promoted  to  Lancaster  King  of  Arms  ;  and 
in  all  probability  the  title  of  Anjou,  as  a  King  of  Heralds,  was  dis- 
continued. 

Volant  also  occurs  upon  record  in  the  28th  Edward  III.,  and  Vaillanty 
le  Roy  Vaillant  Heraudy  and  le  Roy  Vaillandy  are  likewise  mentioned  in  1395. 

Henry  V.  instituted  the  office  of  Garter  King  of  Arms  ;  but  at  what 
particular  period  is  rather  uncertain,  although  Mr.  Anstis  has  clearly 
proved  that  it  must  have  taken  place  after  the  22  nd  May,  and  before 
the  3rd  September,  in  the  year  141 7. 

Stephen  Martin  Leake,  Esq.,  who  filled  the  office,  sums  up  its  duties 
in  the  following  words  :  *^  Garter  was  instituted  by  King  Henry  V.,  A.D. 
141 7,  for  the  service  of  the  Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Garter,  which  was 
made  sovereign  within  the  office  of  arms  over  all  other  officers,  subject 
to  the  Crown  of  England,  by  the  name  of  Garter  King  of  Arms  of  Eng- 
land. In  this  patent  he  is  styled  Principal  King  of  English  Arms,  and 
Principal  Officer  of  Arms  of  the  Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Garter,  and 
has  power  to  execute  the  said  office  by  himself  or  deputy,  being  an 
herald.     By  the  constitution  of  his  office,  he  must  be  a  native  of  Eng- 


THE    HERALDS    AND    OFFICERS    OF   ARMS     35 

land,  and  a  gentleman  bearing  arms.  To  him  belongs  the  correction 
of  arms,  and  all  ensigns  of  honour,  usurped  or  borne  unjustly,  and  also 
to  grant  arms  to  deserving  persons,  and  supporters  to  the  nobility  and 
Knights  of  the  Bath  ;  to  go  next  before  the  sword  in  solemn  proceed- 
ing, none  interposing,  except  the  constable  and  marshal ;  to  administer 
the  oath  to  all  the  officers  of  arms  ;  to  have  a  habit  like  the  registrar 
of  the  order  ;  baron's  service  in  the  court ;  lodgings  in  Windsor  Castle  ; 
to  bear  his  white  rod  with  a  banner  of  the  ensigns  of  the  order  thereon 
before  the  Sovereign  ;  also  when  any  lord  shall  enter  the  Parliament 
chamber,  to  assign  him  his  place,  according  to  his  dignity  and  degree  ; 
to  carry  the  ensign  of  the  order  to  foreign  princes,  and  to  do,  or  pro- 
cure to  be  done,  what  the  Sovereign  shall  enjoin,  relating  to  the  order  ; 
with  other  duties  incident  to  his  office  of  principal  King  of  Arms,  for 
the  execution  whereof  he  hath  a  salary  of  one  hundred  pounds  a  year, 
payable  at  the  Exchequer,  and  an  hundred  pounds  more  out  of  the 
revenue  of  the  order,  besides  fees." 

Bath  King  of  Arms  was  created  nth  George  I.,  in  conformity  with 
the  statutes  established  by  His  Majesty  for  the  government  of  the  Order 
of  the  Bath,  and  in  obedience  to  those  statutes  was  nominated  and 
created  by  the  Great  Master  of  the  Order  denominated  Bath^  and  in 
Latin,  Rex  arntorum  Honoratissimi  Ordinis  Militaris  de  Balneo,  These 
statutes  direct  that  this  officer  shall,  in  all  the  ceremonies  of  the  order, 
be  habited  in  a  white  mantle  lined  with  red,  having  on  the  right  shoulder 
the  badge  of  the  order,  and  under  it  a  surcoat  of  white  silk,  lined  and 
edged  with  red  ;  that  he  shall  wear  on  his  breast,  hanging  to  a  golden 
chain  about  his  neck,  an  escocheon  of  gold,  enamelled  with  the  arms 
of  the  order,  impaling  the  arms  of  the  Sovereign,  crowned  with  the 
Imperial  crown.  That  at  all  coronations  he  shall  precede  the  com- 
panions of  the  order,  and  shall  carry  and  wear  his  crown  as  other 
Kings  of  Arms  are  obliged  to  do.  That  the  chain,  escocheon,  rod, 
and  crown,  shall  be  of  the  like  materials,  value,  and  weight,  with  those 
borne  and  used  by  Garter  Principal  King  of  Arms,  and  of  the  like 
fashion,  the  before  specified  variations  only  excepted  :  and  that  besides 
the  duties  required  of  him  in  the  several  other  articles  of  the  statutes, 
he  shall  diligently  perform  whatever  the  Sovereign  or  Great  Master 
shall  further  command.  On  the  14th  January  1725,  His  Majesty  was 
further  pleased  by  his  Royal  sign-manual,  to  erect,  make,  constitute, 
and  ordain  the  then  Bath  King  of  Arms,  Gloucester  King  of  Arms,  and 
principal  Herald  of  the  parts  of  Wales,  and  to  direct  letters  patent  to 
be  made  out  and  pass  the  Great  Seal,  empowering  him  to  grant  arms 
and  crests  to  persons  residing  within  the  dominions  of  Wales,  either 
jointly  with  Garter,  or  singly  by  himself,  with  the  consent  and  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  Earl  Marshal,  or  his  deputy  for  the  time  being,  and  for 


36       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  future  that  the  office  of  Gloucester  should  be  inseparably  annexed, 
united,  and  perpetually  consolidated  with  the  office  of  Bath  King  of 
Arms,  of  the  Most  Honourable  Military  Order  of  the  Bath,  and  Gloucester 
King  of  Arms,  and  principal  Herald  of  the  parts  of  Wales.  And  also  that 
he,  for  the  dignity  of  the  order,  should  in  all  assemblies  and  at  all 
times  have  and  take  place  and  precedency  above  and  before  all  other 
provincial  Kings  of  Arms  whatsoever." 

This  armorial  jurisdiction,  however,  was  subsequently,  as  has  been 
previously  explained,  annulled. 

Concerning  the  heralds  Berry  remarks  :  *'  In  former  ages,  when 
honour  and  chivalry  were  at  their  height,  these  officers  were  held  in 
great  estimation,  as  appears  by  the  ceremonies  which  attended  their 
creations,  which  was  by  the  Sovereign  himself  or  by  special  commission 
from  him,  and,  according  to  Gerard  Leigh,  was  after  the  following 
manner :  The  King  asked  the  person  to  be  so  created  whether  he  were 
a  gentleman  of  blood  or  of  second  coat-armour  ;  if  he  was  not,  the 
King  gave  him  lands  and  fees,  and  assigned  him  and  his  heirs  proper 
arms.  Then,  as  the  messenger  was  brought  in  by  the  herald  of  the 
province,  so  the  pursuivant  was  brought  in  by  the  eldest  herald,  who, 
at  the  prince's  command,  performed  all  the  ceremonies,  as  turning  the 
coat  of  arms,  setting  the  manacles  thereof  on  the  arms  of  the  pursuivant, 
and  putting  about  his  neck  the  collar  of  SS,  and  when  he  was  named, 
the  prince  himself  took  the  cup  from  the  herald,  which  was  gilt,  and 
poured  the  water  and  wine  upon  the  head  of  the  pursuivant,  creating 
him  by  the  name  of  our  herald,  and  the  King,  when  the  oath  was 
administered,  gave  the  same  cup  to  the  new  herald. 

Upton  sums  up  the  business  of  a  herald  thus  :  That  it  was  their 
office  to  create  under  officers,  to  number  the  people,  to  commence 
treaties  of  matrimony  and  of  peace  between  princes,  to  visit  kingdoms 
and  regions,  and  to  be  present  at  martial  exploits,  &c.,  and  they  were 
to  wear  a  coat  of  their  master's  arms,  wearing  the  same  in  conflicts 
and  tournaments,  in  riding  through  foreign  countries,  and  at  all  great 
entertainments,  coronations  of  kings  and  queens,  and  the  solemnities 
of  princes,  dukes,  and  other  great  lords. 

In  the  time  of  King  Richard  II.  there  belonged  to  the  King  of 
Arms  and  heralds  the  following  fees,  viz. :  at  the  coronation  of  the 
King,  a  bounty  of  ;£ioo  ;  when  the  King  first  displayed  his  banners, 
ICG  marks  ;  when  the  King's  son  was  made  a  knight,  40  marks  ;  when 
the  prince  and  a  duke  first  display  their  banners,  ;£2  0  ;  if  it  be  a 
marquis,  20  marks  ;  if  an  earl,  £10  )  if  a  baron,  5  marks  of  silver 
crowns,  of  15  nobles;  and  if  a  knight  bachelor,  newly  made  a 
banneret,  3  marks,  or  10  nobles  ;  when  the  King  is  married,  the  said 
Kings  of  Arms  and  heralds  to  have  £^0  ;  when  the  Queen  has  a  child 


THE    HERALDS   AND    OFFICERS    OF   ARMS     37 

christened,  a  largess  at  the  Queen's  pleasure,  or  of  the  lords  of  the 
council,  which  was  sometimes  ;£ioo,  and  at  others  loo  marks,  more 
or  less  ;  and  when  she  is  churched,  such  another  largess  ;  when 
princesses,  duchesses,  marchionesses,  countesses,  and  baronesses  have 
a  child  christened,  and  when  they  are  churched,  a  largess  suitable  to 
their  quality  and  pleasure  ;  as  often  as  the  King  wears  his  crown,  or 
holds  Royal  state,  especially  at  the  four  great  festivals  of  Christmas, 
Easter,  Whitsuntide,  and  All  Saints,  to  every  one  of  the  three  Kings  of 
Arms  present  when  the  King  goes  to  the  chapel  to  mass,  a  largess  at 
the  King's  pleasure  ;  when  a  maiden  princess,  or  daughter  of  a  duke, 
marquis,  earl,  or  baron  is  married,  there  belongs  to  the  said  Kings  of 
Arms,  if  present,  the  upper  garment  she  is  married  in  ;  if  there  be  a 
combat  within  lists,  there  belong  to  the  Kings  of  Arms,  if  present,  and 
if  not  to  the  other  heralds  present,  their  pavilions  ;  and  if  one  of  the 
combatants  is  vanquished,  the  Kings  of  Arms  and  heralds  who  are 
present  shall  have  all  the  accoutrements  of  the  person  so  vanquished, 
and  all  other  armour  that  falls  to  the  ground  ;  when  subjects  rebel, 
and  fortify  any  camp  or  place,  and  afterwards  quit  the  same,  and  fly, 
without  a  battle,  there  appertain  to  the  said  Kings  of  Arms  and  heralds 
who  are  present  all  the  carts,  carriages,  and  tools  left  behind  ;  and,  at 
New  Year's  Tide,  all  the  noblemen  and  knights  of  the  court  used  to 
give  the  heralds  New  Year's  gifts.  Besides  the  King's  heralds,  in  former 
times,  divers  noblemen  had  heralds  and  pursuivants,  who  went  with 
their  lords,  with  the  King's  heralds,  when  attending  the  King. 

The  fees  of  the  King's  heralds  and  pursuivants  of  arms  have  since 
varied,  and,  besides  fees  upon  creations  of  peers,  baronets,  and  knights, 
they  have  still  donations  for  attendance  at  court  upon  the  festivals  of 
Christmas,  Easter,  Whitsuntide,  All  Saints,  and  St.  George's  Day  ;  fees 
upon  installation  of  Knights  of  the  Garter  and  Bath,  Royal  marriages, 
funerals,  public  solemnities,  &c.,  with  small  salaries  paid  from  the 
Exchequer  ;  but  their  ancient  fees  from  the  nobility,  upon  certain 
occasions,  have  been  long  discontinued,  and  their  principal  emolument 
arises  from  grants  of  arms,  the  tracing  of  genealogies,  and  recording 
the  same  in  the  Registers  of  the  College  of  Arms." 

The  present  heralds  are  six  in  number,  viz. : — 

Windsor  Heraldy  which  title  was  instituted  38th  of  Edward  III., 
when  that  monarch  was  in  France. 

Chester  Herald^  instituted  in  the  same  reign. 

Richmond  Herald^  instituted  by  King  Edward  IV. 

Somerset  Herald y  instituted  by  King  Henry  VIII.  about  the  time  when 
that  monarch  created  his  son  Henry  Fitzroy  Duke  of  Somerset. 

York  Herald,  instituted  by  King  Edward  III.  in  honour  of  his  son, 
whom  he  created  Duke  of  York. 


38       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Lancaster  Heraldj  also  instituted  by  Edward  III.  when  he  created  his 
son  Duke  of  Lancaster. 

The  heralds  were  first  incorporated  as  a  college  by  Richard  III. 
They  were  styled  the  Corporation  of  Kings,  Heralds,  and  Pursuivants 
of  Arms. 

Concerning  Pursuivants  of  Arms,  Berry  remarks  that  these  officers, 
who  are  the  lowest  in  degree  amongst  officers  of  arms,  "  were,  as  the 
name  implies,  followers,  marshals,  or  messengers  attendant  upon  the 
heralds.  Pursuivants  were  formerly  created  by  the  nobility  (who  had, 
likewise,  heralds  of  arms)  with  great  ceremony  in  the  following  manner. 
One  of  the  heralds,  wearing  his  master's  coat,  leading  the  person  to  be 
created  pursuivant  by  the  left  hand,  and  holding  a  cup  full  of  wine  and 
water  in  his  right,  came  into  the  presence  of  the  lord  and  master  of  him 
who  was  to  be  created,  and  of  whom  the  herald  asked  by  what  name 
he  would  have  his  pursuivant  called,  which  the  lord  having  mentioned, 
the  herald  then  poured  part  of  the  wine  and  water  upon  his  head,  caUing 
him  by  the  name  so  assigned  to  him.  The  herald  then  took  the  coat 
of  his  lord,  and  put  it  over  his  head  athwart,  so  that  part  of  the  coat 
made  for  the  arms  before  and  behind,  and  the  longer  part  of  it  on  both 
sides  of  the  arms  of  the  person  created,  and  in  which  way  the  pur- 
suivant was  always  to  wear  it.  This  done,  an  oath  of  fidelity  was  ad- 
ministered to  the  new-made  pursuivant,  and  the  ceremony  concluded." 

This  curious  method  of  the  wearing  of  the  tabard  by  a  pursuivant 
has  long  since  been  discontinued,  if  indeed  it  was  ever  generally  adopted, 
a  point  on  which  I  have  by  no  means  been  able  to  satisfy  myself. 

The  appointment  of  heralds  and  pursuivants  of  arms  by  the  nobility 
has  long  been  discontinued,  and  there  are  now  only  four  pursuivants 
belonging  to  the  College  of  Arms,  viz.: — 

Rouge-CroiXf  the  first  in  point  of  antiquity  of  creation,  is  so  styled 
from  the  red  cross  of  St.  George,  the  Patron  Saint  of  England. 

Blue-Mantle f  so  called  by  King  Edward  III.,  in  honour  of  the  French 
coat  which  he  assumed,  being  blue. 

Rouge- Dragon y  so  styled  from  the  red  dragon,  one  of  the  supporters 
of  the  Royal  arms  of  King  Henry  VII.  (who  created  this  pursuivant), 
and  also  the  badge  of  Wales,  and 

PortculliSf  also  instituted  by  Henry  VII.,  and  so  named  from  that 
badge,  or  cognisance,  used  by  him. 

The  duties  of  a  pursuivant  are  similar  to  those  of  a  herald  ;  he 
assists  in  all  public  processions,  or  ceremonies,  such  as  Royal  marriages, 
funerals,  installations,  &c.,  and  has  certain  fees  for  attendance  upon 
such  occasions.  Pursuivants  likewise  receive  fees  upon  creations  of 
peers,  baronets,  and  knights,  and  also  donations  for  attending  court 
upon  the  principal  festivals  of  Christmas,    Easter,  Whit-Sunday,   All 


> 


F  a 


O    tJ3 

^^ 

"-    C! 

c  J! 
^  is 


THE    HERALDS    AND    OFFICERS    OF    ARMS     39 

SaiiitS;  and  St.  George's  Day,  and  a  small  salary  payable  out  of  the 
Exchequer.  They  wear  a  tabard  of  damask  silk,  embroidered  with  the 
Royal  arms,  like  the  heralds,  but  no  collar  of  SS. 

Of  the  Heraldic  Executive  in  Scotland,  Lyon  King  of  Arms  (Sir 
James  Balfour  Paul),  in  his  book  **  Heraldry  in  relation  to  Scottish 
History  and  Art,"  writes  :  ^^  At  one  period  the  Lyon  was  solemnly 
crowned  at  his  inauguration,  and  vested  with  his  tabard  and  baton  of 
office."  The  ceremony  was  a  very  elaborate  one,  and  is  fully  described 
by  Sir  James  Balfour  in  a  MS.,  now  in  the  Advocates'  Library.  There 
is  also  an  account  of  the  coronation  of  Sir  Alexander  Durham,  when 
Laurie,  the  minister  of  the  Tron  Kirk,  preached  from  the  text,  ^'  What 
shall  be  done  to  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  honour  ?  "  The 
crown  was  of  gold,  and  exactly  similar  to  the  Imperial  crown  of  Scotland, 
save  that  it  had  no  jewels.  Now  the  Lyon's  crown  is  the  same  as  the 
English  King  of  Arms.  The  crown  is  only  worn  at  Royal  coronations. 
At  that  of  Charles  L  at  Edinburgh  in  1633,  the  Lyon  carried  the  vessel 
containing  the  sacred  oil.  In  addition  to  his  strictly  armorial  appoint- 
ment, the  Lyon  is  also  a  King  of  Arms  of  the  Most  Ancient  and  Most 
Noble  Order  of  the  Thistle. 

Heralds  and  pursuivants  formed  an  important  part  from  very  early 
times  not  only  of  the  Royal  Household,  but  also  of  those  of  the  higher 
nobility,  many  of  whom  had  private  heralds.  Of  these  officers  there 
is  a  very  full  list  given  by  Dr.  Dickson  in  the  preface  to  the  Lord 
Treasurer's  Accounts.  Of  heralds  who  were  or  ultimately  became  part 
of  the  King's  Household  we  meet  with  Rothesay,  Marchmont,  Snowdon, 
Albany,  Ross,  and  Islay  ;  Ireland,  Orkney,  and  Carrick  are  also  men- 
tioned as  heralds,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  first  and  last  were  ever 
more  than  pursuivants.  Of  the  latter  class  of  officers  the  following 
were  in  the  Royal  establishment :  Carrick,  Bute,  Dingwall,  Kintyre, 
Ormonde,  Unicorn  ;  but  we  also  find  Aliszai  or  Alishay,  Dragance, 
Diligens,  Montrose,  Falkland,  Ireland,  Darnaway,  Garioch,  Ettrick, 
Hales,  Lindsay,  Endure,  Douglas,  and  Angus.  Of  the  latter  Garioch 
was  created  by  James  IV.  for  his  brother  John,  Earl  of  Mar  ;  Hailes 
in  1488,  when  Lord  Hailes  was  made  Earl  of  Both  well  ;  while  Lindsay 
and  Endure  were  both  evidently  attached  to  the  Lindsay  family,  as 
were  Douglas  and  Angus  to  the  noblemen  whose  titles  they  bore.  In 
1403  Henry  IV.  of  England  granted  a  pursuivant  under  the  title  of 
Shrewsbury  to  George,  Earl  of  March,  for  services  rendered  at  the 
battle  of  that  name,  but  we  do  not  find  that  the  office  was  continued. 

In  Scotland  heralds  appear  at  an  early  date,  though  none  are  men- 
tioned as  attending  the  coronation  of  Alexander  III.  in  1249;  nor  is 
there  any  account  of  any  such  officers  accompanying  that  sovereign  when 
he  did  homage  to  Edward  I.  at  Westminster  in   1278.      In  the  next 


40       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

century,  however,  armorial  bearings  were  quite  well  known  in  Scotland, 
and  there  is  an  entry  in  the  Exchequer  Rolls  on  loth  October  1337 
of  a  payment  of  ^32,  6s.  Scots  for  the  making  of  seventeen  armorial 
banners,  and  in  1364  there  is  another  to  the  heralds  for  services  at  the 
tournaments  ;  while  William  Petilloch,  herald,  has  a  grant  from  David  II. 
of  three  husbandlands  in  Bonjedward,  and  Allan  Fawside  gets  a  gift 
of  the  forfeited  estate  of  one  Coupland,  a  herald  {temp.  Edward  Baliol)/ 
The  first  mention  of  a  herald,  under  his  official  designation,  which  I 
have  met  with  in  our  records  occurs  in  1365,  when  there  is  a  confirma- 
tion under  the  Great  Seal  by  David  II.  of  a  charter  by  Dugal  M^Dowille 
to  John  Trupour  or  Trumpour  ^^  nunc  dido  Carrie  heraldo."  Sir  James 
Balfour  tells  us  that  the  Lyon  and  his  heralds  attended  the  coronation 
of  Robert  II.  at  Holyrood  on  23rd  May  1371,  but  whether  or  not  this 
is  true — and  I  have  not  been  able  to  verify  it — it  is  certain  that  a 
Lyon  Herald  existed  very  shortly  after  that  date,  as  in  the  Exchequer 
Rolls  mention  is  made  of  the  payment  of  a  certain  sum  to  such  an 
officer  in  1377  ;  in  1379  Froissart  says  that  a  herald  was  sent  by 
Robert  II.  to  London  to  explain  that  the  truce  had  been  infringed 
without  his  will  and  against  his  knowledge,  and  on  8th  April  1381  a 
warrant  was  issued  in  London  for  a  licence  to  ^'  Lion  Heraud  "  of  the 
King  of  Scots,  authorising  him  to  take  away  a  complete  suit  of  armour 
which  he  had  bought  in  that  city.  It  is  not,  however,  till  1388  that 
we  find  Lyon  accorded  the  Royal  style.  In  that  year  a  payment  is 
made  '^  Leoni  regi  heraldorum,"  but  at  the  audit  following  the  battle  of 
Otterburn  he  is  called  defundus,  which  suggests  that  he  had  been  slain 
on  that  well-fought  field.  The  Lyon  appears  in  several  embassies  about 
this  period  both  to  England  and  France,  and  one  Henry  Greve,  designed 
in  the  English  Issue  Rolls  as  '^  King  of  Scottish  Heralds,"  was  at  the 
Tower  of  London  in  1399,  either  at  or  immediately  after  the  coronation 
of  Henry  IV.  From  1391  onwards  there  is  frequent  mention  of  one 
Douglas,  *^  Herald  of  the  King,"  and  in  1421  he  is  styled  ^^  Lyon 
Herald." 

Of  the  German  officers  of  arms  they,  like  the  English,  are  divided 
into  three  classes,  known  as  Wappenkonige,  Heroldcy  and  Persevanten, 
These,  like  our  own  officers,  had  peculiar  titles  ;  for  example  Suchenwirt 
(an  Austrian  ducal  herald),  Lub-den  Frumen  (a  Lichtenstein  pursuivant), 
Jerusalem  (a  herald  of  the  Limmer  Palatinate),  Romreich  (an  Imperial 
herald).  About  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  official  names 
of  the  heralds  fell  into  disuse  ;  they  began  to  make  use  of  their  ancestral 
names  with  the  title  of  Edel  and  Ehrenvest  (noble  and  honourable),  but 
this  did  not  last  long,  and  the  heralds  found  themselves  thrown  back 

*  Robertson's  Index  to  "  Missing  Charters." 


THE    HERALDS   AND    OFFICERS   OF    ARMS     41 

into  the  old  ways,  into  which  the  knightly  accoutrements  had  already 
wandered. 

The  official  dress  of  an  officer  of  arms  as  such  in  Great  Britain  is 
merely  his  tabard  (Figs.  13,  14,  15).  This  garment  in  style  and  shape 
has  remained  unchanged  in  this  country  from  the  earliest  known  period 
of  which  representations  of  officers  of  arms  exist  ;  but  whilst  the  tabard 
itself  has  remained  unaltered  in  its  style,  the  arms  thereupon  have 
constantly  changed,  these  always  being  the  arms  of  the  Sovereign  for 
the  time  being.  The  costume  worn  with  the 
tabard  has  naturally  been  subject  to  manychanges, 
but  it  is  doubtful  if  any  attempt  to  regulate  such 
costume  was  ever  officially  made  prior  to  the 
reign  of  Queen  Victoria.  The  tabard  of  a  pur- 
suivant is  of  damask  silk ;  that  of  a  herald,  of 
satin  ;  and  that  of  a  king  of  arms,  of  velvet. 

The  initial  letter  on  page  i  is  a  portrait 
of  John  Smert,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  and  is 
taken  from  the  grant  of  arms  to  the  Tallow 
Chandlers'  Company,  dated  24th  September 
1456.  He  is  there  represented  as  wearing  be- 
neath his  tabard  black  breeches  and  coat,  and 
a  golden  crown.  But  Fig.  15  is  actually  a 
representation  of  the  first  Garter  King  of  Arms, 
William  Bruges,  appointed  5th  January  1420. 
He  is  represented  as  carrying  a  white  staff,  a 
practice  which  has  been  recently  revived,  white 
wands  being  carried  by  all  the  heralds  at  the 
public  funeral  of  the  Right  Hon.  W.  E.  Glad- 
stone. In  Germany  the  w^ands  of  the  heralds 
were  later  painted  with  the  colours  of  the  escut- 
cheons of  the  Sovereign  to  whom  they  were 
attached.  There  was  until  recently  no  official  hat  for  an  officer  of 
arms  in  England,  and  confirmation  of  this  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact 
that  Dallaway  mentions  a  special  licence  to  Wriothesley  Garter 
giving  him  permission  to  wear  a  cap  on  account  of  his  great  age. 
Obviously,  however,  a  tabard  requires  other  clothing  to  be  worn 
with  it.  The  heralds  in  Scotland,  until  quite  recently,  when  making 
public  proclamations  were  content  to  appear  in  the  ordinary  elastic- 
side  boots  and  cloth  trousers  of  everyday  life.  This  gave  way  for  a 
brief  period,  in  which  Court  dress  was  worn  below  the  tabard,  but 
now,  as  in  England,  the  recognised  uniform  of  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Household  is  worn.  In  England,  owing  to  the  less  frequent  cere- 
monial appearances  of  the  heralds,  and  the  more  scrupulous  control 


Fig.  15. — William  Bruges, 
the  first  Garter  King 
of  Arms,  appointed  5th 
January  1420.  (From  an 
illuminated  MS.  in  the 
Museum  at  Oxford.) 


42       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

which  has  been  exercised,  no  such  anachronisms  as  were  perpetuated 
in  Scotland  have  been  tolerated;  and  it  has  been  customary  for  the 
officers  of  arms  to  wear  their  uniform  as  members  of  the  Sovereign's 
Household    (in  which    uniform   they   attend  the   levees)  beneath  the 


Fig.  i6.— a  Herald.     {Temp.  Hen.  VHI.) 


tabard  when  making  proclamations  at  the  opening  of  Parliament  or 
on  similar  occasions.  At  a  coronation  and  at  some  other  full  State 
ceremonies  they  wear  knee-breeches.  At  the  late  ceremony  of  the 
coronation  of  King  Edward  VII.;  a  head-dress  was  designed  for  the 
officers  of  arms.     These  caps  are  of  black  velvet  embroidered  at  the 


THE    HERALDS   AND    OFFICERS    OF    ARMS     43 

side  with  a  rose,  a   thistle,  or   a  harp,   respectively  for  the   English, 
Scottish,  and  Irish  officers  of  arms. 

A  great  deal  of  confusion  has  arisen  between  the  costume  and  the 
functions  of  a  Herald  and  a  Trumpeter,  though  the  confusion  has  been 
confined  to  the  minds  of  the  uninitiated  and  the  theatrical  stage.     The 


Fig.  17.— a  State  Trumpetef.     {Temp.  Hen.  VIII.) 

whole  subject  was  very  amusingly  dealt  with  in  the  Genealogical  Magazine 
in  an  article  by  Mr.  G.  Ambrose  Lee,  Bluemantle,  and  the  illustrations 
which  he  gives  of  the  relative  dresses  of  the  Heralds  and  the  Trumpeters 
at  different  periods  (see  Figs.  16-19)  are  interesting.  Briefly,  the 
matter  can  be  summed  up  in  the  statement  that  there  never  was  a 
Trumpeter  who  made  a  proclamation,  or  wore  a  tabard,  and  there 
never  was  a  Herald  who  blew  a  trumpet.     The  Trumpeters   nearly 


44      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

always  accompanied  the  Heralds  to  proclaim  their  presence  and  call 
attention  to  their  proclamation. 

In  France  the  Heralds  were  formed  into  an  incorporation  by 
Charles  VI.  in  1406,  their  head  being  Mountjoye,  King  of  Arms,  with 
ten  heralds  and  pursuivants  under  him.  It  will  be  noticed  that  this 
incorporation  is  earlier  than  that  of  the  College  of  Arms  in  England. 


Fig.  18. — A  State  Trumpeter  and  a  Herald  at  the  coronation  of  James  I. 

The  Revolution  played  havoc  with  the  French  Records,  and  no  College 
of  Arms  now  exists  in  France.  But  it  is  doubtful  whether  at  any  time 
it  reached  the  dignity  or  authority  which  its  English  counterpart  has 
enjoyed  in  former  times. 

Fig.  20  represents  a  French  Herald  of  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  It  is  taken  from  a  representation  of  the  Rally  of  the  Parisians 
against  King  Charles  VI.  in  141 3,  to  be  found  in  a  MS.  edition  of 
Froissart,  formerly  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris. 

All  the  heralds  and  Kings  of  Arms  (but  not  the  pursuivants)  wear 
the  curious  collar  of  SS  about  which  there  has  been  so  much  discussion. 


THE   HERALDS   AND    OFFICERS   OF   ARMS     45 

The  form  has  remained  unchanged,  save  that  the  badge  is  the  badge 
for  the  time  being  of  the  Sovereign.  The  heralds  have  their  collars  of 
SS  of  silver,  whilst  those  of  a  King  of  Arms  are  of  silver  gilt,  and 
the  latter  have  the  further  distinction  that  a  portcullis  is  introduced 
on  each  shoulder.  The  heralds  and  Kings  of  Arms  usually  place 
these  collars  round  their  shields  in  representations  of  their  arms. 
Collars  of  SS  are  also  worn  by  Serjeants-at-Arms,  and  by  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice. 

The   English  Heralds  have  no  equivalent  badge  to  that  which  the 


Fig.  19. — Peace  proclaimed  at  the  Royal  Exchange  after  the 
Crimean  War. 


Scottish  Heralds  wear  suspended  from  their  necks  by  a  ribbon.  In 
Ireland  both  Heralds  and  Pursuivants  wear  a  badge. 

In  addition  each  King  of  Arms  has  his  crown  ;  the  only  occasion, 
however,  upon  which  this  is  worn  being  at  the  ceremony  of  a  coro- 
nation. The  crown  is  of  silver  gilt,  formed  of  a  circle  upon  which  is 
inscribed  part  of  the  first  verse  of  the  51st  Psalm,  viz.  "Miserere  mei 
Deus  secundum  magnam  misericordiam  tuam  "  :  the  rim  is  surmounted 
of  sixteen  leaves,  in  shape  resembling  the  oak-leaf,  every  alternate  one 
being  somewhat  higher  than  the  remainder.  Nine  of  these  leaves  are 
shown  in  a  representation  of  it.  The  cap  is  of  crimson  satin,  closed  at 
the  top  by  a  gold  tassel,  and  turned  up  with  ermine. 

Garter  King  of  Arms  has  a  baton  or  "  sceptre  "  of  silver  gilt,  about 
two  feet  in  length,  the  top  being  of  gold,  of  four  sides  of  equal  height, 


46      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO   HERALDRY 

but  of  unequal  breadth.  On  the  two  larger  sides  are  the  arms  of  St. 
George  impaling  the  Sovereign's,  and  on  the  two  lesser  sides  the  arms 
of  St.  George  surrounded  by  the  Garter  and  motto,  the  whole  ensigned 
with  an  Imperial  crown.     This  *^ sceptre"  has  sometimes  been  placed 

in  bend  behind  the  arms 
of  Garter  King.  Lyon 
King  of  Arms  has  a  baton 
of  blue  enamel  with  gold 
extremities,  the  baton 
being  powdered  with 
roses,  thistles,  and  fleurs- 
de-lis.  Lyon  (Sir  James 
Balfour  Paul)  in  his 
^^  Heraldry  in  relation  to 
Scottish  History  and 
Art,"  remarks  that  this 
is  one  of  the  few  pieces 
of  British  official  regalia 
which  is  still  adorned 
with  the  ancient  ensigns 
of  France.  But  know- 
ing how  strictly  all 
official  regalia  in  Eng- 
land is  required  to  have 
the  armorial  devices 
thereupon  changed,  as 
the  Royal  arms  and 
badges  change,  there  can 
be  very  httle  doubt  that 
the  appearance  of  the 
fleur-de-lis  in  this  case 
is  due  to  an  oversight. 
The  baton  happens  to  be 
that  of  a  former  Lyon 
King  of  Arms,  which 
really  should  long  since 
have  been  discarded  and 
usually    placed   in   saltire 


Fig.  20.- 


-A  French  Herald  of  the  early  part  of 
the  fifteenth  century. 


a    new  one   substituted.     Two   batons   are 
behind  the  arms  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms. 

Ulster  King  of  Arms  has  a  staff  of  office  which,  however,  really 
belongs  to  his  office  as  Knight  Attendant  on  the  Most  Illustrious  Order 
of  St.  Patrick. 

The  Scottish  Heralds  each  have  a  rod  of  ebony  tipped  with  ivory, 


THE   HERALDS   AND    OFFICERS    OF    ARMS     47 

which  has  been  sometimes  stated  to  be  a  rod  of  office.  This,  however, 
is  not  the  case,  and  the  explanation  of  their  possession  of  it  is  very 
simple.  They  are  constantly  called  upon  by  virtue  of  their  office  to 
make  from  the  Market  Cross  in  Edinburgh  the  Royal  Proclamations. 
Now  these  Proclamations  are  read  from  printed  copies  which  in  size  of 
type  and  paper  are  always  of  the  nature  of  a  poster.  The  Herald 
would  naturally  find  some  difficulty  in  holding  up  a  large  piece  of  paper 
of  this  size  on  a  windy  day,  in  such  a  manner  that  it  was  easy  to  read 
from  ;  consequently  he  winds  it  round  his  ebony  staff,  slowly  unwind- 
ing it  all  the  time  as  he  reads. 

Garter  King  of  Arms,  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  and  Ulster  King  of  Arms 
all  possess  badges  of  their  offices  which  they  wear  about  their  necks. 

The  badge  of  Garter  is  of  gold,  having  on  both  sides  the  arms  of 
St.  George,  impaled  with  those  of  the  Sovereign,  within  the  Garter  and 
motto,  enamelled  in  their  proper  colours,  and  ensigned  with  the  Royal 
crown. 

The  badge  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  is  oval,  and  is  worn  suspended  by 
a  broad  green  ribbon.  The  badge  proper  consists  on  the  obverse  of 
the  effigy  of  St.  Andrew  bearing  his  cross  before  him,  with  a  thistle  be- 
neath, all  enamelled  in  the  proper  colours  on  an  azure  ground.  The 
reverse  contains  the  arms  of  Scotland,  having  in  the  lower  parts  of  the 
badge  a  thistle,  as  on  the  other  side  ;  the  whole  surmounted  with  the 
Imperial  crown. 

The  badge  of  ^'  Ulster  "  is  of  gold,  containing  on  one  side  the  cross 
of  St.  Patrick,  or,  as  it  is  described  in  the  statutes,  ^'  The  cross  gules  of 
the  Order  upon  a  field  argent,  impaled  with  the  arms  of  the  Realm  of 
Ireland,"  and  both  encircled  with  the  motto,  "  Quis  Separabit,"  and  the 
date  of  the  institution  of  the  Order,  mdcclxxxiii.  The  reserve  ex- 
hibits the  arms  of  the  office  of  Ulster,  viz. :  "  Or,  a  cross  gules,  on  a 
chief  of  the  last  a  lion  of  England  between  a  harp  and  portcullis,  all  of 
the  first,"  placed  on  a  ground  of  green  enamel,  surrounded  by  a  gold 
border  with  shamrocks,  surmounted  by  an  Imperial  crown,  and  sus- 
pended by  a  sky-blue  riband  from  the  neck. 

The  arms  of  the  Corporation  of  the  College  of  Arms  are  :  Argent,  a 
cross  gules  between  four  doves,  the  dexter  wing  of  each  expanded  and 
inverted  azure.  Crest:  on  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  dove  rising  azure. 
Supporters  :  two  lions  rampant  guardant  argent,  ducally  gorged  or. 

The  official  arms  of  the  English  Kings  of  Arms  are  : — 
Garter  King  of  Arms. — Argent,  a  cross  gules,  on  a  chief  azure,  a 
ducal  coronet  encircled  with  a  garter,  between  a  lion  passant  guardant 
on  the  dexter  and  a  fleur-de-lis  on  the  sinister  all  or. 

Clarenceux  King  of  Arms, — Argent,  a  cross  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the 
second  a  lion  passant  guardant  or,  crowned  of  the  last. 


48       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Norroy  King  of  Arms. — Argent,  a  cross  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  second 
a  Hon  passant  guardant  crowned  of  the  first,  between  a  fleur-de-Hs  on 
the  dexter  and  a  key  on  the  sinister  of  the  last. 

Badges  have  never  been  officially  assigned  to  the  various  Heralds 
by  any  specific  instruments  of  grant  or  record  ;  but  from  a  remote 
period  certain  of  the  Royal  badges  relating  to  their  titles  have  been  used 
by  various  Heralds,  viz. : — 

Lancaster, — The  red  rose  of  Lancaster  ensigned  by  the  Royal  crown. 

York, — The  white  rose  of  York  en  soleil  ensigned  by  the  Royal 
crown. 

Richmond. — The  red  rose  of  Lancaster  impaled  with  the  white  rose 
en  soleil  of  York,  the  whole  ensigned  with  the  Royal  crown. 

Windsor. — Rays  of  the  sun  issuing  from  clouds. 

The  four  Pursuivants  make  use  of  the  badges  from  which  they 
derive  their  titles. 

The  official  arms  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  and  of  Lyon  Office  are  the 
same,  namely  :  Argent,  a  lion  sejant  full-faced  gules,  holding  in  the 
dexter  paw  a  thistle  slipped  vert  and  in  the  sinister  a  shield  of  the 
second ;  on  a  chief  azure,  a  St.  Andrew's  cross  of  the  field. 

There  are  no  official  arms  for  Ulster's  Office,  that  office,  unlike  the 
College  of  Arms,  not  being  a  corporate  body,  but  the  official  arms  of 
Ulster  King  of  Arms  are :  Or,  a  cross  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  last  a 
lion  passant  guardant  between  a  harp  and  a  portcullis  all  of  the  field. 


CHAPTER   IV 
HERALDIC     BRASSES 

By  Rev.  WALTER  J.  KAYE,  Junr.,  B.A.,  F.S.A.,  F.S.A.  Scot. 

Member  of  the  Monumental  Brass  Society^  London;  Honorary  Member  of  the  Spalding 
Gentlemeiis  Society;  Author  of  ^^  A  Brief  History  of  Gosberton,  in  the  County  of 
Lincoln^ 

MONUMENTAL  brasses  do  not  merely  afford  a  guide  to  the 
capricious  changes  of  fashion  in  armour,  in  ecclesiastical  vest- 
ments (which  have  altered  but  little),  and  in  legal,  civilian, 
and  feminine  costume,  but  they  provide  us  also  with  a  vast  number  of 
admirable  specimens  of  heraldic  art.  The  vandal  and  the  fanatic  have 
robbed  us  of  many  of  these  beautiful  memorials,  but  of  those  which 
survive  to  our  own  day  the  earliest  on  the  continent  of  Europe  marks 
the  last  resting-place  of  Abbot  Ysowilpe,  1231,  at  Verden,  in  Hanover. 
In  England  there  was  once  a  brass,  which  unfortunately  disappeared 
long  ago,  to  an  Earl  of  Bedford,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Bedford,  of  the 
year  1208,  leaving  1277  as  the  date  of  the  earliest  one. 

Latten  (Fr.  laiton),  the  material  of  which  brasses  were  made,  was 
at  an  early  date  manufactured  in  large  quantities  at  Cologne,  whence 
plates  of  this  metal  came  to  be  known  as  cullen  (Koln)  plates  ;  these 
were  largely  exported  to  other  countries,  and  the  Flemish  workmen 
soon  attained  the  greatest  proficiency  in  their  engraving.  Flemish 
brasses  are  usually  large  and  rectangular,  having  the  space  between  the 
figure  and  the  marginal  inscription  filled  either  by  diaper  work  or  by 
small  figures  in  niches.  Brasses  vary  considerably  in  size :  the  matrix 
of  Bishop  Beaumont's  brass  in  Durham  Cathedral  measures  about  16 
feet  by  8  feet,  and  the  memorial  to  Griel  van  Ruwescuere,  in  the 
chapel  of  the  Lady  Superior  of  the  Beguinage  at  Bruges,  is  only  about 
I  foot  square.  Brazen  effigies  are  more  numerous  in  England  in  the 
eastern  and  southern  counties,  than  in  parts  more  remote  from  the 
continent  of  Europe. 

Armorial  bearings  are  displayed  in  a  great  variety  of  ways  on  monu- 
mental brasses,  some  of  which  are  exhibited  in  the  rubbings  selected 
for  illustration.  In  most  cases  separate  shields  are  placed  above  and 
below  the  figures.     They  occur  also  in  the  spandrils  of  canopies  and 

49  D 


50       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

in  the  shafts  and  finials  of  the  same,  as  well  as  in  the  centre  and  at  the 
angles  of  border-fillets.  They  naturally  predominate  in  the  memorials 
of  warriors,  where  we  find  them  emblazoned  not  only  on  shield  and 
pennon  but  on  the  scabbard  and  ailettes,  and  on  the  jupon,  tabard, 
and  cuirass  also,  while  crests  frequently  occur  on  the  tilting-helm.  In 
one  case  (the  brass  of  Sir  Peter  Legh,  1527,  at  Winwick,  co.  Lancaster) 
they  figure  upon  the  priestly  chasuble.  Walter  Pescod,  the  merchant 
of  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  1398,  wears  a  gown  adorned  with  peascods — 
a  play  upon  his  name  ;  and  many  a  merchant's  brass  bears  his  coat  of 
arms  and  merchant's  mark  beside,  pointing  a  moral  to  not  a  few  at  the 
present  day.  The  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries  witnessed  the 
greatest  profusion  in  heraldic  decoration  in  brasses,  when  the  tabard 
and  the  heraldic  mantle  were  evolved.  A  good  example  of  the  former 
remains  in  the  parish  church  of  Ormskirk,  Lancashire,  in  the  brass 
commemorating  a  member  of  the  Scarisbrick  family,  c,  1500  (Fig.  21). 
Ladies  were  accustomed  at  this  time  to  wear  their  husband's  arms 
upon  the  mantle  or  outer  garment  and  their  own  upon  the  kirtle,  but 
the  fashion  which  obtained  at  a  subsequent  period  was  to  emblazon 
the  husband's  arms  on  the  dexter  and  their  own  on  the  sinister  side  of 
the  mantle  (Fig.  22). 

The  majority  of  such  monuments,  as  we  behold  them  now,  are 
destitute  of  any  indications  of  metals  or  tinctures,  largely  owing  to  the 
action  of  the  varying  degrees  of  temperature  in  causing  contraction  and 
expansion.  Here  and  there,  however,  we  may  still  detect  traces  of 
their  pristine  glory.  But  these  matters  received  due  attention  from 
the  engraver.  To  represent  or,  he  left  the  surface  of  the  brass  un- 
touched, except  for  gilding  or  perhaps  polishing  ;  this  universal  method 
has  solved  many  heraldic  problems.  Lead  or  some  other  white  metal 
was  inlaid  to  indicate  argent^  and  the  various  tinctures  were  supplied  by 
the  excision  of  a  portion  of  the  plate,  thereby  forming  a  depression, 
which  was  filled  up  by  pouring  in  some  resinous  substance  of  the  re- 
quisite colour.  The  various  kinds  of  fur  used  in  armory  may  be 
readily  distinguished,  with  the  sole  exception  of  vair  {argent  and  azure), 
which  presents  the  appearance  of  a  row  of  small  upright  shields  alter- 
nating with  a  similar  row  reversed. 

The  earliest  brass  extant  in  England  is  that  to  Sir  John  D'Aubernoun, 
the  elder  (Fig.  23),  at  Stoke  D'Abernon,  in  Surrey,  which  carries  us 
back  to  the  year  1277.  The  simple  marginal  inscription  in  Norman- 
French,  surrounding  the  figure,  and  each  Lombardic  capital  of  which 
is  set  in  its  own  matrix,  reads  :  ^'  Sire  :  John  :  Daubernoun  :  Chivaler  : 
Gist  :  Icy  :  Deu  :   De  :  Sa  :   Alme  :   Eyt  :   Mercy  : "  ^     In  the  space 

*  Here  lieth  Sir  John  D'Aubernoun,  knight.     On  his  soul  may  God  have  mercy. 


HERALDIC   BRASSES 


SI 


between  the  inscription  and  the  upper  portion  of  the  figure  were  tw^o 
small  shields,  of  which  the  dexter  one  alone  remains,  charged  with  the 


Fig.  22. — Brass  of  Margaret 
(daughter  of  Henry  Percy, 
Earl  of  Northumberland), 
second  wife  of  Henry,  1st 
Earl  of  Cumberland,  in 
Skipton  Parish  Church. 
Arms  :  On  the  dexter  side 
those  of  the  Earl  of  Cum- 
berland, on  the  sinister 
side  those  of  Percy. 


Fig.  21. — Brass  in  the  Scarisbrick 
Chapel  of  Ormskirk  Church,  co. 
Lanes.,  to  a  member  of  the  Scaris- 
brick family  of  that  name.  Arms: 
Gules,  three  mullets  in  bend  be- 
tween two  bendlets  engrailed  argent. 
(From  a  rubbing  by  Walter  J.  Kaye.) 

arms  of  the  knight  :  ^*  Azure,  a  chevron,  or."  Sir  John  D'Aubernoun 
is  represented  in  a  complete  panoply  of  chain  mail — his  head  being 
protected  by  a  coif  de  maillesy  which  is  joined  to  the  hauberk  or  mail 


52       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

shirt,  which  extends  to  the  hands,  having  apparently  no  divisions  for  the 


Fig.  23, — Brass  of  Sir  John  D'Aubernoun 
at  Stoke  D'Abernon.  Arms  :  Azure, 
a  chevron  or.  (From  a  rubbing  by 
Walter  J.  Kaye.) 


Fig.  24. — Brass  of  Sir  Roger  de  Trumpington 
at  Trumpington.  Arms :  Azure,  crusilly 
and  two  trumpets  palewise  or.  (From  a 
rubbing  by  Walter  J.  Kaye.) 


fingers,  and  being  tightened  by  straps  at  the  wrists.     The  legs,  which 
are  not  crossed,  are  covered  by  long  chausses,  or  stockings  of  mail,  pro- 


HERALDIC    BRASSES  53 

tected  at  the  knees  hy  poleyns  ov  genouilleresoi  citir  bouilli  vlchXy  ornamented 


Fig.  25.— Brass  of  Sir 
Robert  de  Septvans  in 
Chartham  Church. 


mw 


Fig.  26.— Brass  of  Sir  William 
de  Aldeburgh  at  Aldborough, 
Yorks.  Arms:  Azure,  a  fesse 
argent  between  three  cross 
crosslets  or.  (From  a  rubbing 
by  Walter  J.  Kaye.) 


by  elaborate  designs.     A  surcoat,  probably  of  linen,  depends  from  the 
shoulders  to  a  little  below  the  knees,  and  is  cut  away  to  a  point  above 


54      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  knee.     This  garment  is  tightly  confined  (as  the  creases  in  the  sur- 
coat  show)  at  the  waist  by  a  girdle,  and  over  it  is  passed  a  gutge  whereto 

the     long     sword     is     attached. 


"  Pryck  "  spurs  are 
instep,  and  the  feet 
lion,  whose  mouth 
lower  portion   of    a 


fixed   to  the 

rest  upon  a 

grasps     the 

lance.     The 


lance  bears  a  pennon  charged 
with  a  chevron,  as  also  is  the 
small  heater-shaped  shield  borne 
on  the  knight's  left  arm.  The 
whole  composition  measures  about 
eight  feet  by  three. 

Heraldry  figures  more  pro- 
minently in  our  second  illustra- 
tion, the  brass  to  Sir  Roger  de 
Trumpington,  1289  (Fig.  24). 
This  fine  effigy  lies  under  the 
canopy  of  an  altar-tomb,  so  called, 
in  the  Church  of  St.  Michael  and 
All  Angels,  Trumpington,  Cam- 
bridgeshire. It  portrays  the  knight 
in  armour  closely  resembling  that 
already  described,  with  these  ex- 
ceptions :  the  head  rests  upon  a 
huge  heaumef  or  tilting  -  helm, 
attached  by  a  chain  to  the  girdle, 
and  the  neck  is  here  protected 
from  side -thrusts  by  ailettes  or 
oblong  plates  fastened  behind  the 
shoulders,  and  bearing  the  arms 
of  Sir  Roger.  A  dog  here  re- 
places the  lion  at  the  feet,  the 
lance  and  pennon  are  absent,  and 
the  shield  is  rounded  to  the  body. 
On  this  brass  the  arms  not  only 
occur  upon  the  shield,  but  also 
upon  the  ailettes,  and  are  four 
times  repeated  on  the  scabbard. 
They  afford  a  good  example  of 
*^  canting  "  arms  ;  *^  Azure,  crusilly 
and  two  trumpets  palewise  or,  with  a  label  of  five  points  in  chief,  for 
difference."      It  is  interesting  also  to  notice  that  the  engraver  had  not 


Fig.  27. — Brass  of  Elizabeth  Knevet. 


HERALDIC    BRASSES  55 

completed  his  task;  for  the  short  horizontal  lines  across  the  dexter  side  of 
the  shield  indicate  his  intention  of  cutting  away  the  surface  of  the  field. 

Sir  Robert  de  Setvans  (formerly  Septvans),  whose  beautiful  brass 
may  be  seen  at  Chartham,  Kent,  is  habited  in  a  surcoat  whereon,  to- 
gether with  the  shield  and  ailettes,  are  seven  winnowing  fans — another 
instance  of  canting  arms  (Fig.  25).  This  one  belongs  to  a  somewhat 
later  date,  1307. 

Our  next  example  is  a  mural  effigy  to  Sir  William  de  Aldeburgh, 
c.  1360,  from  the  north  aisle  of  Aldborough  Church,  near  Boroughbridge, 
Yorkshire  (Fig.  26).  He  is  attired  like  the  "  veray  parfite  gentil  knight" 
of  Chaucer,  in  a  bascinet  or  steel  cap,  to  which  is  laced  the  camail  or 
tippet  of  chain  mail,  and  a  hauberk  almost  concealed  by  a  jupon^ 
whereon  are  emblazoned  his  arms  :  ''  Azure,  a  fess  indented  argent, 
between  three  crosslets  botony,  or."  The  first  crosslet  is  charged 
with  an  annulet,  probably  as  a  mark  of  cadency.  The  engraver  has 
omitted  the  indenture  upon  the  fess,  which,  however,  appears  upon  the 
shield.  The  knight's  arms  are  protected  by  epaulieresy  brassartSy  coules, 
and  vambraces;  his  hands,  holding  a  heart,  by  gauntlets  of  steel.  An 
elaborate  baldric  passes  round  his  waist,  from  which  are  suspended,  on 
the  left,  a  cross-hilted  sword,  in  a  slightly  ornamented  scabbard ;  on 
the  right,  a  misericorde,  or  dagger  of  mercy.  The  thighs  are  covered 
by  cuisses — steel  plates,  here  deftly  concealed  probably  by  satin  or 
velvet  secured  by  metal  studs — the  knees  by  genouilleresy  the  lower  leg 
by  jambesy  which  reveal  chausses  of  mail  at  the  interstices.  Sollerets, 
or  long,  pointed  shoes,  whereto  are  attached  rowel  spurs,  complete  his 
outfit.  The  figure  stands  upon  a  bracket  bearing  the  name  ^*  Will's  de 
Aldeburgh." 

The  parish  church  of  Eastington,  Gloucestershire,  contains  a  brass 
to  Elizabeth  Knevet,  which  is  illustrated  and  described  by  Mr.  Cecil 
T.  Davis  at  p.  117  of  his  excellent  work  on  the  '*  Monumental  Brasses 
of  Gloucestershire."  ^  The  block  (Fig.  27),  which  presents  a  good 
example  of  the  heraldic  mantle,  has  been  very  kindly  placed  at  my  dis- 
posal by  Mr.  Davis.  To  confine  our  description  to  the  heraldic  portion 
of  the  brass,  we  find  the  following  arms  upon  the  mantle : — 

^'Quarterly,  i.  argent,  a  bend  sable,  within  a  bordure  engrailed 
azure  (Knevet);  2.  argent,  a  bend  azure,  and  chief,  gules  (Cromwell)  ; 
3.  chequy  or  and  gules,  a  chief  ermine  (Tatshall) ;  4.  chequy  or  and 
gules,  a  bend  ermine  (De  Cailly  or  Clifton);  5.  paly  of  six  within  a 
bordure  bezante  ...   6.  bendy  of  six,  a  canton  .  .  ."  ^ 

A  coat  of  arms  occurs  also  at  each  corner  of  the  slab :  '*  Nos.  i 
and  4  are  on  ordinary  shields,  and  2  and  3  on  lozenges.     Nos.  i  and 

*  *'  Monumental  Brasses  of  Gloucestershire,"  by  C.  T.  Davis.     London  :  PhiIlimore&  Co.,  1899. 

*  The  arms  are  quoted  by  Mr.  Davis  from  Bigland's  **  Gloucestershire,"  p.  5 39. 


56      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

3  are  charged  with  the  same  bearings  as  are  on  her  mantle.  No.  2, 
on  a  lozenge,  quarterly,  i.  Knevet ;  2.  Cromwell  ;  3.  Tatshall;  4.  Cailli ; 
5.  De  Woodstock  ;  6.  paly  of  six  within  a  bordure;  7.  bendy  of  six,  a 
canton  ;  8.  or,  a  chevron  gules  (Stafford) ;  9.  azure,  a  bend  cottised  be- 
tween six  lioncels  rampant,  or  (de  Bohun).  No.  4  similar  to  No.  i, 
with  the  omission  of  2  and  3." 

In  later  times  thinner  plates  of  metal  were  employed,  a  fact  which 
largely  contributed  to  preclude  much  of  the  boldness  in  execu- 
tion hitherto  displayed.  A  prodigality  in  shading,  either  by  means 
of  parallel  lines  or  by  cross-hatching,  also  tended  to  mar  the  beauty  of 
later  work  of  this  kind.  Nevertheless  there  are  some  good  brasses  of 
the  Stuart  period.  These  sometimes  consist  of  a  single  quadrangular 
plate,  with  the  upper  portion  occupied  by  armorial  bearings  and 
emblematical  figures,  the  centre  by  an  inscription,  and  the  lower  portion 
by  a  representation  of  the  deceased,  as  at  Forcett,  in  the  North  Riding 
of  Yorkshire.  Frequently,  however,  as  at  Rotherham  and  Rawmarsh, 
in  the  West  Riding  of  the  same  county,  the  inscription  is  surmounted 
by  a  view  of  the  whole  family,  the  father  kneeling  on  a  cushion  at  a 
fald-stool,  with  his  sons  in  a  similar  attitude  behind  him,  and  the  mother 
likewise  engaged  with  her  daughters  on  the  opposite  side,  while  the 
armorial  insignia  find  a  place  on  separate  shields  above. 


*  ->  /^ 


CHAPTER   V 

THE    COMPONENT    PARTS    OF    AN    ACHIEVEMENT 

WE  now  come  to  the  science  of  armory  and  the  rules  governing 
the  display  of  these  marks  of  honour.  The  term  ^^  coat  of 
arms,"  as  we  have  seen,  is  derived  from  the  textile  garment 
or  "  surcoat "  which  was  worn  over  the  armour,  and  which  bore  in  em- 
broidery a  duplication  of  the  design  upon  the  shield.  There  can  be 
very  little  doubt  that  arms  themselves  are  older  than  the  fact  of  the 
surcoat  or  the  term  ^^  coat  of  arms."  The  entire  heraldic  or  armorial 
decoration  which  any  one  is  entitled  to  bear  may  consist  of  many  things. 
It  must  as  a  minimum  consist  of  a  shield  of  arms,  for  whilst  there  are 
many  coats  of  arms  in  existence,  and  many  still  rightly  in  use  at  the 
present  day,  to  which  no  crest  belongs,  a  crest  in  this  country  cannot 
lawfully  exist  without  its  complementary  coat  of  arms.  For  the  last 
two  certainly,  .and  probably  nearly  three  centuries,  no  original  grant  of 
personal  arms  has  ever  been  issued  without  it  containing  the  grant  of 
a  crest  except  in  the  case  of  a  grant  to  a  woman,  who  of  course  cannot 
bear  or  transmit  a  crest  ;  or  else  in  the  case  of  arms  borne  in  right  of 
women  or  descent  from  women,  through  whom  naturally  no  right  to 
a  crest  could  have  been  transmitted.  The  grants  which  I  refer  to  as 
exceptions  are  those  of  quarterings  and  impalements  to  be  borne  with 
other  arms,  or  else  exemplifications  following  upon  the  assumption  of 
name  and  arms  which  in  fact  and  theory  are  regrants  of  previously 
existing  arms,  in  which  cases  the  regrant  is  of  the  original  coat  with  or 
without  a  crest,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  as  the  arms  theretofor  existed. 
Grants  of  impersonal  arms  also  need  not  include  a  crest.  As  it  has  been 
impossible  for  the  last  two  centuries  to  obtain  a  grant  of  arms  without 
its  necessarily  accompanying  grant  of  crest,  a  decided  distinction 
attaches  to  the  lawful  possession  of  arms  which  have  no  crest  belonging 
to  them,  for  of  necessity  the  arms  must  be  at  least  two  hundred  years 
old.  Bearing  this  in  mind,  one  cannot  but  wonder  at  the  actions  of 
some  ancient  families  like  those  of  Astley  and  Pole,  who,  lawfully  possess- 
ing arms  concerning  which  there  is  and  can  be  no  doubt  or  question, 
yet  nevertheless  invent  and  use  crests  which  have  no  authority. 

One  instance  and  one  only  do  I  know  where  a  crest  has  }iad  a 

57 


58       A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

legitimate  existence  without  any  coat  of  arms.  This  case  is  that  of  the 
family  of  Buckworth,  who  at  the  time  of  the  Visitations  exhibited  arms 
and  crest.  The  arms  infringed  upon  those  of  another  family,  and  no 
sufficient  proof  could  be  produced  to  compel  their  admission  as  borne 
of  right.  The  arms  were  respited  for  further  proof,  while  the  crest 
was  allowed,  presumably  tentatively,  and  whilst  awaiting  the  further 
proof  for  the  arms  ;  no  proof,  however,  was  made.  The  arms  and 
crest  remained  in  this  position  until  the  year  1 806,  when  Sir  Buckworth 
Buckworth-Herne,  whose  father  had  assumed  the  additional  name  of 
Heme,  obtained  a  Royal  Licence  to  bear  the  name  of  Soame  in  addition 
to  and  after  those  of  Buckworth-Herne,  with  the  arms  of  Soame 
quarterly  with  the  arms  of  Buckworth.  It  then  became  necessary  to 
prove  the  right  to  these  arms  of  Buckworth,  and  they  were  accordingly 
regranted  with  the  trifling  addition  of  an  ermine  spot  upon  the  chevron ; 
consequently  this  solitary  instance  has  now  been  rectified,  and  I  cannot 
learn  of  any  other  instance  where  these  exceptional  circumstances  have 
similarly  occurred  ;  and  there  never  has  been  a  grant  of  a  crest  alone 
unless  arms  have  been  in  existence  previously. 

Whilst  arms  may  exist  alone,  and  the  decoration  of  a  shield  form 
the  only  armorial  ensign  of  a  person,  such  need  not  be  the  case  ;  and 
it  will  usually  be  found  that  the  armorial  bearings  of  an  ordinary 
commoner  consist  of  shield,  crest,  and  motto.  To  these  must  naturally 
be  added  the  helmet  and  mantling,  which  become  an  essential  to  other 
than  an  abbreviated  achievement  when  a  crest  has  to  be  displayed. 
It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  helmet  is  not  specifically 
granted,  and  apparently  is  a  matter  of  inherent  right,  so  that  a  person 
would  not  be  in  the  wrong  in  placing  a  helmet  and  mantling  above  a 
shield  even  when  no  crest  exists  to  surmount  the  helmet.  The  motto 
is  usually  to  be  found  but  is  not  a  necessity,  and  there  are  many  more 
coats  of  arms  which  have  never  been  used  with  a  motto  than  shields 
which  exist  without  a  crest.  Sometimes  a  crt-de-guerre  will  be  found 
instead  of  or  in  addition  to  a  motto.  The  escutcheon  may  have  sup- 
porters, or  it  may  be  displayed  upon  an  eagle  or  a  lymphad,  &c.,  for 
which  particular  additions  no  other  generic  term  has  yet  been  coined 
save  the  very  inclusive  one  of  ^^  exterior  ornaments."  A  coronet  of 
rank  may  form  a  part  of  the  achievement,  and  the  shield  may  be 
encircled  by  the  ^'  ribbons  "  or  the  ^'  circles  "  or  by  the  Garter,  of  the 
various  Orders  of  Knighthood,  and  by  their  collars.  Below  it  may 
depend  the  badge  of  a  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia,  or  of  an  Order  of 
Knighthood,  and  added  to  it  may  possibly  be  what  is  termed  a  com- 
partment, though  this  is  a  feature  almost  entirely  peculiar  to  Scottish 
armory.  There  is  also  the  crowning  distinction  of  a  badge  ;  and  of 
all  armorial  insignia  this  is  the  most  cherished,  for  the  existing  badges 


COMPONENT  PARTS  OF  AN  ACHIEVEMENT     59 

are  but  few  in  number.  The  escutcheon  may  be  placed  in  front  of  the 
crosiers  of  a  bishop,  the  batons  of  the  Earl  Marshal,  or  similar  orna- 
ments. It  may  be  displayed  upon  a  mantle  of  estate,  or  it  may  be 
borne  beneath  a  pavilion.  With  two  more  additions  the  list  is  com- 
plete, and  these  are  the  banner  and  the  standard.  For  these  several 
features  of  armory  reference  must  be  made  to  the  various  chapters  in 
which  they  are  treated. 

Suffice  it  here  to  remark  that  whilst  the  term  ^'  coat  of  arms  "  has 
through  the  slipshod  habits  of  English  philology  come  to  be  used  to 
signify  a  representation  of  any  heraldic  bearing,  the  correct  term  for 
the  whole  emblazonment  is  an  "  achievement,"  a  term  most  frequently 
employed  to  signify  the  whole,  but  which  can  correctly  be  used  to  signify 
anything  which  a  man  is  entitled  to  represent  of  an  armorial  character. 
Had  not  the  recent  revival  of  interest  in  armory  taken  place,  we  should 
have  found  a  firmly  rooted  and  even  yet  more  slipshod  declension,  for  a 
few  years  ago  the  habit  of  the  uneducated  in  styling  anything  stamped 
upon  a  sheet  of  note-paper  "  a  crest,"  was  fast  becoming  stereotyped 
into  current  acceptance. 


CHAPTER   VI 
THE    SHIELD 

THE  shield  is  the  most  important  part  of  the  achievement,  for  on 
it  are  depicted  the  signs  and  emblems  of  the  house  to  which  it 
appertains  ;  the  difference  marks  expressive  of  the  cadency  of 
the  members  within  that  house  ;  the  augmentations  of  honour  which 
the  Sovereign  has  conferred  ;  the  quarterings  inherited  from  families 
which  are  represented,  and  the  impalements  of  marriage  ;  and  it  is 
with  the  shield  principally  that  the  laws  of  armory  are  concerned,  for 
everything  else  is  dependent  upon  the  shield,  and  falls  into  comparative 
insignificance  alongside  of  it. 

Let  us  first  consider  the  shield  itself,  without  reference  to  the 
charges  it  carries.  A  shield  may  be  depicted  in  any  fashion  and  after 
any  shape  that  the  imagination  can  suggest,  which  shape  and  fashion 
have  been  accepted  at  any  time  as  the  shape  and  fashion  of  a  shield. 
There  is  no  law  upon  the  subject.  The  various  shapes  adopted  in  em- 
blazonments in  past  ages,  and  used  at  the  present  time  in  imitation  of 
past  usage — for  luckily  the  present  period  has  evolved  no  special  shield 
of  its  own — are  purely  the  result  of  artistic  design,  and  have  been 
determined  at  the  periods  they  have  been  used  in  heraldic  art  by  no 
other  consideration  than  the  particular  theory  of  design  that  has 
happened  to  dominate  the  decoration,  and  the  means  and  ends  of  such 
decoration  of  that  period.  The  lozenge  certainly  is  reserved  for  and 
indicative  of  the  achievements  of  the  female  sex,  but,  save  for  this  one 
exception,  the  matter  may  be  carried  further,  and  arms  be  depicted 
upon  a  banner,  a  parallelogram,  a  square,  a  circle,  or  an  oval  ;  and 
even  then  one  would  be  correct,  for  the  purposes  of  armory,  in 
describing  such  figures  as  shields  on  all  occasions  on  which  they 
are  made  the  vehicles  for  the  emblazonment  of  a  design  which 
properly  and  originally  should  be  borne  upon  a  shield.  Let  no  one 
think  that  a  design  ceases  to  be  a  coat  of  arms  if  it  is  not  displayed 
upon  a  shield.  Many  people  have  thought  to  evade  the  authority  of 
the  Crown  as  the  arbiter  of  coat-armour,  and  the  penalties  of  taxation 
imposed  by  the  Revenue  by  using  designs  without  depicting  them 
upon  a  shield.     This  little  deception  has  always  been  borne  in  mind, 


THE   SHIELD  6i 

for  we  find  in  the  Royal  Warrants  of  Queen  Elizabeth  commanding 
the  Visitations  that  the  King  of  Arms  to  whom  the  warrant  was 
addressed  was  to  ''  correcte;  cumptroUe  and  refourme  all  mann'  of 
armes,  crests,  cognizaunces  and  devices  unlawfuU  or  unlawfully  usurped, 
borne  or  taken  by  any  p'son  or  p'sons  within  the  same  p'vince  cont^ry 
to  the  due  order  of  the  laws  of  armes,  and  the  same  to  rev'se,  put 
downe  or  otherwise  deface  at  his  discrecon  as  well  in  coote  armors, 
helmes,  standerd,  pennons  and  hatchmets  of  tents  and  pavilions,  as 
also  in  plate  Jewells,  pap',  parchement,  wyndowes,  gravestones  and 
monuments,  or  elsewhere  wheresoev'  they  be  sett  or  placed,  whether 
they  be  in  shelde,  schoocheon,  lozenge,  square,  rundell  or  otherwise 
howsoev'  cont^rie  to  the  autentiq'  and  auncient  lawes,  customes,  rules, 
privileges  and  orders  of  armes." 

The  Act  32  &  33  Victoria,  section  19,  defines  (for  the  purpose  of 
the  taxation  it  enforced)  armorial  bearings  to  mean  and  include  <'  any 
armorial  bearing,  crest,  or  ensign,  by  whatever  name  the  same  shall  be 
called,  and  whether  such  armorial  bearing,  crest,  or  ensign  shall  be 
registered  in  the  College  of  Arms  or  not." 

The  shape  of  the  shield  throughout  the  rest  of  Europe  has  also 
varied  between  wide  extremes,  and  at  no  time  has  any  one  particular 
shape  been  assigned  to  or  peculiar  to  any  country,  rank,  or  condition, 
save  possibly  with  one  exception,  namely,  that  the  use  of  the  cartouche 
or  oval  seems  to  have  been  very  nearly  universal  with  ecclesiastics  in 
France,  Spain,  and  Italy,  though  never  reserved  exclusively  for  their 
use.  Probably  this  was  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Church  to  get 
away  from  the  military  character  of  the  shield.  It  is  in  keeping  with 
the  rule  by  which,  even  at  the  present  day,  a  bishop  or  a  cardinal 
bears  neither  helmet  nor  crest,  using  in  place  thereof  his  ecclesiastical 
mitre  or  tasselled  hat,  and  by  which  the  clergy,  both  abroad  and  in 
this  country,  seldom  made  use  of  a  crest  in  depicting  their  arms.  A 
clergyman  in  this  countrj^,  however,  has  never  been  denied  the  right  of 
using  a  crest  (if  he  possesses  one  and  chooses  to  display  it)  until  he 
reaches  episcopal  rank.  A  grant  of  arms  to  a  clergyman  at  the  present 
day  depicts  his  achievement  with  helmet,  mantling,  and  crest  in  iden- 
tical form  with  those  adopted  for  any  one  else.  But  the  laws  of  armory, 
official  and  amateur,  have  always  denied  the  right  to  make  use  of  a 
crest  to  bishop,  archbishop,  and  cardinal. 

At  the  present  day,  if  a  grant  of  arms  is  made  to  a  bishop  of  the 
Established  Church,  the  emblazonment  at  the  head  of  his  patent  con- 
sists of  shield  and  mitre  only.  The  laws  of  the  Church  of  England, 
however,  require  no  vow  of  celibacy  from  its  ecclesiastics,  and  con- 
sequently the  descendants  of  a  bishop  would  be  placed  in  the  position 
of  having  no  crest  to  display  if  the  bishop  and  his  requirements  were 


62       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

alone  considered.  So  that  in  the  case  of  a  grant  to  a  bishop  the  crest 
is  granted  for  his  descendants  in  a  separate  clause,  being  depicted  by 
itself  in  the  body  of  the  patent  apart  from  the  emblazonment  '^  in  the 
margin  hereof/'  which  in  an  ordinary  patent  is  an  emblazonment  of  the 

whole  achievement.  A  similar  method 
is  usually  adopted  in  cases  in  which  the 
actual  patentee  is  a  woman,  and  where, 
by  the  limitations  attached  to  the  patent 
being  extended  beyond  herself,  males 
are  brought  in  who  will  bear  the  arms 
granted  to  the  patentee  as  their  prono- 
minal arms.  In  these  cases  the  arms  of 
the  patentee  are  depicted  upon  a  lozenge 
at  the  head  of  the  patent,  the  crest 
being  depicted  separately  elsewhere. 

Whilst  shields  were  actually  used  in 
warfare  the  utilitarian  article  largely 
governed  the  shape  of  the  artistic  re- 
presentation, but  after  the  fifteenth 
century  the  latter  gradually  left  the 
beaten  track  of  utility  and  passed  wholly 
into  the  cognisance  of  art  and  design. 
The  earliest  shape  of  all  is  the  long, 
narrow  shape,  which  is  now  but  seldom 
seen.  This  was  curved  to  protect  the 
body,  which  it  nearly  covered,  and  an 
interesting  example  of  this  is  to  be  found 
in  the  monumental  slab  of  champlev^ 
enamel,  part  of  the  tomb  of  Geoffrey 
Plantagenet,  Count  of  Anjou  (Fig.  28), 
the  ancestor  of  our  own  Royal  dynasty 
of  Plantagenet,  who  died  in  the  year 
1 150.  This  tomb  was  formerly  in  the 
cathedral  of  Le  Mans,  and  is  now  in  the 
museum  there.  I  shall  have  occasion 
again  to  refer  to  it.  The  shield  is  blue  ; 
the  lions  are  gold. 
Other  forms  of  the  same  period  are  found  with  curved  tops,  in  the 
shape  of  an  inverted  pear,  but  the  form  known  as  the  heater-shaped 
shield  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  the  earliest  shape  which  was  used 
for  armorial  purposes. 

The  church  of  St.  Elizabeth  at  Marburg,  in  Hesse,  affords  examples 
of  shields  which  are  exceedingly   interesting,   inasmuch   as   they   are 


Fig.  28. — Taken  from  the  tomb  of 
Geoffrey  Plantagenet,  Count  of 
Anjou. 


THE   SHIELD  63 

original  and  contemporary  even  if  only  pageant  shields.  Those  which 
now  remain  are  the  shields  of  the  Landgrave  Konrad  {d.  1 241)  of 
Thuringia  and  of  Henry  of  Thuringia  {d.  1298).  The  shield  of  the 
former  (see  Fig.  29)  is  90  centimetres  high  and  74  wide.  Konrad  was 
Landgrave  of  Thuringia  and  Grand  Master  of  the  Teutonic  Order  of 
Knighthood.     His  arms  show  the  lion  of  Thuringia  barry  of  gules  and 


Fig.  29. — Shield  of  the  Landgrave  Koniad  of  Thuringia  (died  1241). 

argent  on  a  field  of  azure,  and  betw^een  the  hind  feet  a  small  shield, 
with  the  arms  of  the  Teutonic  Order  of  Knights,  The  only  remains  of 
the  lion's  mane  are  traces  of  the  nails.  The  body  of  the  lion  is  made 
of  pressed  leather,  and  the  yellow  claws  have  been  supplied  with  a 
paint-brush.     A  precious  stone  probably  represented  the  eye. 

The  making  and  decorating  of  the  shields  lay  mostly  in  the  hands  of 
the  herald  painters,  known  in  Germany  as  Schiltery  who,  in  addition  to 
attending  to  the  shield  and  crest,  also  had  charge  of  all  the  riding 
paraphernalia,  because  most  of  the  articles   comprised  therein  were 


64       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

heraldically  decorated.  Many  of  these  shield-workers'  fraternities  won 
widespread  fame  for  themselves,  and  enjoyed  great  consideration  at 
that  time. 

Thus  the  ^'  History  of  a  Celebrated  Painters'  Guild  on  the  Lower 
Rhine  "  tells  us  of  costly  shields  which  the  shield-workers  of  Paris  had 
supplied,  1260,  &c.  Vienna,  too,  was  the  home  of  a  not  unimportant 
shield-workers'  guild,  and  the  town  archives  of  Vienna  contain  writings 
of  the  fifteenth  century  treating  of  this  subject.  For  instance,  we  learn 
that  in  an  order  of  St.  Luke's  parish,  June  28,  1446,  with  regard  to  the 
masterpiece  of  a  member  of  the  guild — 

'^  Item,  a  shield-worker  shall  make  four  new  pieces  of  work  with  his 
own  hand,  a  jousting  saddle,  a  leather  apron,  a  horse's  head-piece, 
and  a  jousting  shield,  that  shall  he  do  in  eight  weeks,  and  must  be 
able  to  paint  it  with  his  own  hand,  as  Knight  and  man-at-arms  shall 
direct." 

The  shield  was  of  wood,  covered  with  linen  or  leather,  the  charges 
in  relief  and  painted.  Leather  plastic  was  very  much  esteemed  in  the 
early  Middle  Ages.  The  leather  was  soaked  in  oil,  and  pressed  or 
beaten  into  shape.  Besides  piecing  and  leather  plastic,  pressed  linen 
(linen  dipped  in  chalk  and  Hme)  was  also  used,  and  a  kind  of  tempera 
painting  on  a  chalk  background.  After  the  shield  was  decorated  with 
the  charges,  it  was  frequently  strengthened  with  metal  clasps,  or  studs, 
particularly  those  parts  which  were  more  especially  exposed  to  blows 
and  pressure.  These  clasps  and  nails  originally  had  no  other  object 
than  to  make  the  shield  stronger  and  more  durable,  but  later  on  their 
nature  was  misunderstood  ;  they  were  treated  and  used  as  genuine 
heraldic  charges,  and  stereotyped  into  hereditary  designs.  The  long 
strips  with  which  the  edge  was  bound  were  called  the  '*  frame  "  {Schild- 
gestel[)y  the  clasps  introduced  in  the  middle  of  the  shield  the  "  buckle  " 
or  '^  umbo  "  (see  on  Fig.  28),  from  which  frequently  circularly  arranged 
metal  snaps  reached  the  edge  of  the  shield.  This  latter  method  of 
strengthening  the  shield  was  called  the  ''  Buckelris,"  a  figure  which  was 
afterwards  frequently  employed  as  a  heraldic  charge,  and  is  known  in 
Germany  by  the  name  of  Lilienhaspel  (Lily-staple)  or  Glevenrad,  or,  as 
we  term  it  in  England,  the  escarbuncle. 

In  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  century,  when  the  tourna- 
ment provided  the  chief  occasion  for  the  shield,  the  jousting-shield, 
called  in  Germany  the  Tartsche  or  Tartscher^  came  into  use,  and  from 
this  class  of  shield  the  most  varied  shapes  were  gradually  developed. 
These  Tarfschen  were  decidedly  smaller  than  the  earlier  Gothic  shields, 
being  only  about  one-fifth  of  a  man's  height.  They  were  concave, 
and  had  on  the  side  of  the  knight's  right  hand  a  circular  indentation. 
This  was  the  spear-rest,  in  which  to  place  the  tilting-spear.     The  la.ter 


Fig.  30. 


THE   SHIELD  65 

art  of  heraldic  decoration  symmetrically  repeated  the  spear-rest  on  the 
sinister  side  of  the  shield,  and,  by  so  doing,  transformed  a  useful  fact 
into  a  matter  of  mere  artistic  design.  Doubtless  it  was  argued  that 
if  indentations  were  correct  at  one  point  in  the  outline  they  were 
correct  at  another,  and  when  once  the  actual  fact  was  departed 
from  the  imagination  of  designers  knew  no  limits.  But  if  the  spear- 
rest  as  such  is  introduced  into  the  outline  of  a  shield  it  should  be  on 
the  dexter  side. 

Reverting  to  the  various  shapes  of  shield,  however,  the  degeneration 
is  explained  by  a  remark  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Eve  in  the  able  book  which  he 
has  recently  published  under  the  title  of  ^^  Decorative  Heraldry,"  in 
which,  alluding  to  heraldic  art  in  general,  he  says  (p.  235) : — 

'^  With  the  Restoration  heraldry  naturally  became  again  con- 
spicuous, with  the  worst  form  of  the  Renaissance  character  in  full 
sway,  the  last  vestiges  of  the  Gothic  having  disappeared.  Indeed,  the 
contempt  with  which  the  superseded  style  was  regarded  amounted  to 
fanaticism,  and  explains,  in  a  measure,  how  so  much  of  good  could  be 
relinquished  in  favour  of  so  weak  a  successor." 

Later  came  the  era  of  gilded  embellishments,  of  flowing  palms,  of 
borders  decorated  with  grinning  heads,  festoons  of  ribbon,  and  fruit 
and  flowers  in  abundance.  The  accompanying  examples  are  repro- 
duced from  a  book.  Knight  and  Rumley's  "  Heraldry."  The  book  is 
not  particularly  well  known  to  the  public,  inasmuch  as  its  circulation 
was  entirely  confined  to  heraldic  artists,  coach-painters,  engravers,  and 
die-sinkers.  Amongst  these  handicraftsmen  its  reputation  was  and  is 
great.  With  the  school  of  design  it  adopted,  little  or  no  sympathy 
now  exists,  but  a  short  time  ago  (how  short  many  of  those  who  are 
now  vigorous  advocates  of  the  Gothic  and  mediaeval  styles  would  be 
startled  to  realise  were  they  to  recognise  actual  facts)  no  other  style 
was  known  or  considered  by  the  public.  As  examples  of  that  style 
the  plates  of  Knight  and  Rumley  were  admittedly  far  in  advance  of 
any  other  book,  and  as  specimens  of  copperplate  engraving  they  are 
superb.  Figs.  30,  31,  and  32  show  typical  examples  of  escutcheons 
from  Knight  and  Rumley  ;  and  as  the  volume  was  in  the  hands 
of  most  of  the  heraldic  handicraftsmen,  it  will  be  found  that  this 
type  of  design  was  constantly  to  be  met  with.  The  external  decoration 
of  the  shield  was  carried  to  great  lengths,  and  Fig.  3 1  found  many 
admirers  and  users  amongst  the  gallant  "  sea-dogs  "  of  the  kingdom. 
In  fact,  so  far  was  the  idea  carried  that  a  trophy  of  military  weapons 
was  actually  granted  by  patent  as  part  of  the  supporters  of  the  Earl 
of  Bantry.  Fig.  30,  from  the  same  source,  is  the  military  equivalent. 
These  plates  are  interesting  as  being  some  of  the  examples  from  which 
most  of  the  heraldic  handicraft  of  a  recent  period  was  adapted.     The 

E 


66       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

official  shield  eventually  stereotyped  itself  into  a  shape  akin  to  that 
shown  in  Fig.  32,  though  nowadays  considerable  latitude  is  permitted. 
For  paintings  which  are  not  upon  patents  the  design  of  the  shield  rests 
with  the  individual  taste  of  the  different  officers  of  arms,  and  recently 
some  of  the  work  for  which  they  have  been  responsible  has  reached  a 
high  standard  judged  even  by  the  strictest  canons  of  art.  In  Scotland, 
until  very  recently,  the  actual  workmanship  of  the  emblazonments 
which  were  issued  from  Lyon  Office  was  so  wretchedly  poor  that  one  is 
hardly  justified  in  taking  them  into  consideration  as  a  type.  With  the 
advent  into  office  of  the  present  Lyon  King  of  Arms  (Sir  James  Balfour 
Paul),  a  complete  change  has  been  made,  and  both  the  workmanship 
and  design  of  the  paintings  upon  the  patents  of  grant  and  matricula- 
tion, and  also  in  the  Lyon  Register,  have  been  examples  of  everything 
that  could  be  desired. 


CHAPTER   VII 

THE    FIELD    OF    A    SHIELD    AND    THE    HERALDIC 

TINCTURES 

THE  shield  itself  and  its  importance  in  armory  is  due  to  its  being 
the  vehicle  whereon  are  elaborated  the  pictured  emblems  and 
designs  which  constitute  coat-armour.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  theoretically  all  shields  are  of  equal  value,  saving  that  a  shield 
of  more  ancient  date  is  more  estimable  than  one  of  recent  origin,  and 
the  shield  of  the  head  of  the  house  takes  precedence  of  the  same  arms 
when  differenced  for  a  younger  member  of  the  family.  A  shield  crowded 
with  quarterings  is  interesting  inasmuch  as  each  quartering  in  the 
ordinary  event  means  the  representation  through  a  female  of  some  other 
family  or  branch  thereof.  But  the  real  value  of  such  a  shield  should 
be  judged  rather  by  the  age  of  the  single  quartering  which  represents 
the  strict  male  descent  male  upon  male,  and  a  simple  coat  of  arms 
without  quarterings  may  be  a  great  deal  more  ancient  and  illustrious 
than  a  shield  crowded  with  coat  upon  coat.  A  fictitious  and  far  too 
great  estimation  is  placed  upon  the  right  to  display  a  long  string  of 
quarterings.  In  reality  quarterings  are  no  more  than  accidents,  because 
they  are  only  inherited  when  the  wife  happens  to  be  an  heiress  in  blood. 
It  is  quite  conceivable  that  there  may  be  families,  in  fact  there  are  such 
families,  who  are  able  to  begin  their  pedigrees  at  the  time  of  the  Con- 
quest, and  who  have  married  a  long  succession  of  noble  w^omen,  all  of 
the  highest  birth,  but  yet  none  of  whom  have  happened  to  be  heiresses. 
Consequently  the  arms,  though  dating  from  the  earliest  period  at  which 
arms  are  known,  would  remain  in  their  simple  form  without  the  addition 
of  a  solitary  quartering.  On  the  other  hand,  I  have  a  case  in  mind  of 
a  marriage  which  took  place  some  years  ago.  The  husband  is  the  son 
of  an  alien  whose  original  position,  if  report  speaks  truly,  was  that  of  a 
pauper  immigrant.  His  wealth  and  other  attributes  have  placed  him  in 
a  good  social  position  ;  but  he  has  no  arms,  and,  as  far  as  the  world 
is  aware,  no  ancestry  whatever.  Let  us  now  consider  his  wife's  family. 
Starting  soon  after  the  Conquest,  its  descendants  obtained  high  posi- 
tion and  married  heiress  after  heiress,  and  before  the  commencement  of 
this  century  had  amassed  a  shield  of  quarterings  which  can  readily  be 
proved  to  be  little  short  of  a  hundred  in  number.     Probably  the  number 

67 


68       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

is  really  much  greater.  A  large  family  followed  in  one  generation,  and 
one  of  the  younger  sons  is  the  ancestor  of  the  aforesaid  wife.  But  the 
father  of  this  lady  never  had  any  sons,  and  though  there  are  many  males 
of  the  name  to  carry  on  the  family  in  the  senior  line  and  also  in  several 
younger  branches,  the  wife,  by  the  absence  of  brothers,  happens  to  be  a 
coheir;  and  as  such  she  transmits  to  her  issue  the  right  to  all  the  quarter- 
ings  she  has  inherited.  If  the  husband  ever  obtains  a  grant  of  arms, 
the  date  of  them  will  be  subsequent  to  the  present  time  ;  but  supposing 
such  a  grant  to  be  obtained,  the  children  will  inevitably  inherit  the 
scores  of  quarterings  which  belong  to  their  mother.  Now  it  would  be 
ridiculous  to  suppose  that  such  a  shield  is  better  or  such  a  descent 
more  enviable  than  the  shield  of  a  family  such  as  1  first  described. 
Quarterings  are  all  very  well  in  their  way,  but  their  glorification  has 
been  carried  too  far. 

A  shield  which  displays  an  augmentation  is  of  necessity  more 
honourable  than  one  without.  At  the  same  time  no  scale  of  precedence 
has  ever  been  laid  down  below  the  rank  of  esquires  ;  and  if  such  pre- 
cedence does  really  exist  at  all,  it  can  only  be  according  to  the  date  of 
the  grant.  Here  in  England  the  possession  of  arms  carries  with  it  no 
style  or  title,  and  nothing  in  his  designation  can  differentiate  the  posi- 
tion of  Mr.  Scrope  of  Danby,  the  male  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  this  country,  whose  arms  were  upheld  in  the  Scrope  and 
Grosvenor  controversy  in  1390,  or  Mr.  Daubeney  of  Cote,  from  a  Mr. 
Smith,  whose  known  history  may  have  commenced  at  the  Foundling 
Hospital  twenty  years  ago.  In  this  respect  English  usage  stands 
apart,  for  whilst  a  German  is  *^  Von  "  and  a  Frenchman  was  ^^  De,"  if 
of  noble  birth,  there  is  no  such  apparent  distinction  in  England,  and 
never  has  been.  The  result  has  been  that  the  technical  nobility  attach- 
ing to  the  possession  of  arms  is  overlooked  in  this  country.  On  the 
Continent  it  is  usual  for  a  patent  creating  a  title  to  contain  a  grant  of 
the  arms,  because  it  is  recognised  that  the  two  are  inseparable.  This 
is  not  now  the  case  in  England,  where  the  grant  of  arms  is  one  thing 
and  the  grant  of  the  title  another,  and  where  it  is  possible,  as  in  the 
case  of  Lord  St.  Leonards,  to  possess  a  peerage  without  ever  having 
obtained  the  first  step  in  rank,  which  is  nobility  or  gentility. 

The  foregoing  is  in  explanation  of  the  fact  that  except  in  the  matter 
of  date  all  shields  are  equal  in  value. 

So  much  being  understood,  it  is  possible  to  put  that  consideration 
on  one  side,  and  speaking  from  the  artistically  technical  point  of  view, 
the  remark  one  often  hears  becomes  correct,  that  the  simpler  a  coat  of 
arms  the  better.  The  remark  has  added  truth  from  the  fact  that 
most  ancient  coats  of  arms  were  simple,  and  many  modern  coats  are 
far  from  being  worthy  of  such  a  description. 


THE   FIELD   OF   A   SHIELD  69 

A  coat  of  arms  must  consist  of  at  least  one  thing,  to  wit,  the 
<*  field."  This  is  equivalent  in  ordinary  words  to  the  colour  of  the 
ground  of  the  shield.  A  great  many  writers  have  asserted  that  every 
coat  of  arms  must  consist  of  at  least  the  field,  and  a  charge,  though 
most  have  mentioned  as  a  solitary  exception  the  arms  of  Brittany, 
which  were  simply  '' ermine."  A  plain  shield  of  ermine  (Fig.  33)  was 
borne  by  John  of  Brittany,  Earl  of  Richmond  {d.  1399),  though  some 
of  his  predecessors  had  relegated  the  arms  of  Brittany  to  a  ^'  quarter 
ermine"  upon  more  elaborate  escutcheons  (Fig.  61).  This  idea  as 
to  arms  of  one  tincture  was,  however,  exploded  in  Woodward  and 
Burnett's  "Treatise  on  Heraldry,"  where  no  less  than  forty  different 
examples  are  quoted.  The  above-mentioned  writer 
continues  :  "  There  is  another  use  of  a  plain  red 
shield  which  must  not  be  omitted.  In  the  full 
quartered  coat  of  some  high  sovereign  princes 
of  Germany  —  Saxony  (duchies),  Brandenburg 
(Prussia),  Bavaria,  Anhalt — appears  a  plain  red 
quartering  ;  this  is  known  as  the  Bhit  Fahne  or 
Regalien  quarter,  and  is  indicative  of  Royal  pre- 
rogatives. It  usually  occupies  the  base  of  the 
shield,  and  is  often  diapered."  Fig.  33.— Arms  of  John 

But  in  spite  of  the  lengthy  list  which  is  quoted  (^P  Montfort,  other- 
in  Woodward  and  Burnett,  the  fact  remains  that  Duke  of  Brittany  ami 
only  one  British  instance  is  included.     The  family       ^^^^    °(    Richmond. 

;       .  ,  •'         (From  his  seal.) 

of  Berington  of  Chester  (on  the  authority  of  Har- 
leian  manuscript  No.  1535)  is  said  to  bear  a  plain  shield  of  azure. 
Personally  I  doubt  this  coat  of  arms  for  the  Berington  family  of 
Chester,  which  is  probably  connected  with  the  neighbouring  family  in 
Shropshire,  who  in  later  times  certainly  used  very  different  arms.  The 
plain  shield  of  ermine  is  sometimes  to  be  found  as  a  quartering  for 
Brittany  in  the  achievement  of  those  English  families  who  have  the  right 
to  quarter  the  Royal  arms ;  but  I  know  of  no  other  British  case  in  which, 
either  as  a  quartering  or  as  a  pronominal  coat,  arms  of  one  tincture  exist. 
But  there  are  many  coats  which  have  no  charge,  the  distinctive 
device  consisting  of  the  partition  of  the  shield  in  some  recognised  heraldic 
method  into  two  or  more  divisions  of  different  tinctures.  Amongst  such 
coats  may  be  mentioned  the  arms  of  Waldegrave,  which  are  simply : 
Party  per  pale  argent  and  gules  ;  Drummond  of  Megginch,  whose  arms 
are  simply  :  Party  per  fess  wavy  or  and  gules  ;  and  the  arms  of  Boyle, 
which  are :  Per  bend  embattled  argent  and  gules.  The  arms  of 
Berners — which  are  :  Quarterly  or  and  vert — are  another  example, 
as  are  the  arms  of  Campbell  (the  first  quarter  in  the  Duke  of  Argyll's 
achievement),  which  are :  Gyronny  or  and  sable. 


70       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  coat  bendy  argent  and  gules,  the  ancient  arms  of  Talbot,  which 
are  still  borne  as  a  quartering  by  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  Waterford, 
and  Talbot  ;  and  the  coat  chequy  or  and  azure,  a  quartering  for 
Warren,  which  is  still  borne  by  the  House  of  Howard,  all  come  within 
the  same  category.  There  are  many  other  coats  of  this  character 
which  have  no  actual  charge  upon  them. 

The  colour  of  the  shield  is  termed  the  field  when  it  consists  of  only 
one  colour,  and  when  it  consists  of  more  than  one  colour  the  two 
together  compose  the  field.  The  field  is  usually  of  one  or  more  of  the 
recognised  metals,  colours,  or  furs. 

The  metals  are  gold  and  silver,  these  being  termed  '^  or "  and 
'*  argent."  The  colours,  which  are  really  the  '^  tinctures,"  if  this  word 
is  to  be  used  correctly,  are :  gules  (red),  azure  (blue),  vert  (green), 
purpure  (purple),  and  (in  spite  of  the  fact  that  it  is  not  really  a  colour) 
black,  which  is  known  as  sable. 

The  metal  gold,  otherwise  *'  or,"  is  often  represented  in  emblazon- 
ments by  yellow :  as  a  matter  of  fact  yellow  has  always  been  used  for 
gold  in  the  Register  Books  of  the  College  of  Arms,  and  Lyon  Office 
has  recently  reverted  to  this  practice.  In  ancient  paintings  and  em- 
blazonments the  use  of  yellow  was  rather  more  frequent  than  the  use 
of  gold,  but  gold  at  all  times  had  its  use,  and  was  never  discarded. 
Gold  seems  to  have  been  usually  used  upon  ancient  patents,  whilst 
yellow  was  used  in  the  registrations  of  them  retained  in  the  Offices  of 
Arms,  but  I  know  of  no  instance  in  British  armory  in  which  the  word 
yellow  has  been  used  in  a  blazon  to  represent  any  tint  distinct  from 
gold.  With  regard  to  the  other  metal,  silver,  or,  as  it  is  always  termed, 
'^  argent,"  the  same  variation  is  found  in  the  usage  of  silver  and  white 
in  representing  argent  that  we  find  in  yellow  and  gold,  though  we  find 
that  the  use  of  the  actual  metal  (silver)  in  emblazonment  does  not 
occur  to  anything  like  the  same  extent  as  does  the  use  of  gold.  Pro- 
bably this  is  due  to  the  practical  difficulty  that  no  one  has  yet  discovered 
a  silver  medium  which  does  not  lose  its  colour.  The  use  of  aluminium 
was  thought  to  have  solved  the  difficulty,  but  even  this  loses  its  bril- 
liancy, and  probably  its  usage  wall  never  be  universally  adopted.  This 
is  a  pity,  for  the  use  of  gold  in  emblazonments  gives  a  brilliancy  in 
effect  to  a  collection  of  coat-armour  which  it  is  a  pity  cannot  be  ex- 
tended by  an  equivalent  usage  of  silver.  The  use  of  silver  upon  the 
patents  at  the  College  of  Arms  has  been  discontinued  some  centuries, 
though  aluminium  is  still  in  use  in  Lyon  Office.  Argent  is  therefore 
usually  represented  either  by  leaving  the  surface  untouched,  or  by  the 
use  of  Chinese  white. 

I  believe  I  am  the  first  heraldic  writer  to  assert  the  existence  of  the 
heraldic  colour  of  white  in  addition  to  the  heraldic  argent.     Years  ago 


THE    FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  71 

I  came  across  the  statement  that  a  white  label  belonged  only  to  the 
Royal  Family,  and  could  be  used  by  no  one  else.  I  am  sorry  to  say 
that  though  I  have  searched  high  and  low  I  cannot  find  the  authority 
for  the  statement,  nor  can  I  learn  from  any  officer  of  arms  that  the 
existence  of  such  a  rule  is  asserted  ;  but  there  is  this  curious  confir- 
mation that  in  the  warrants  by  which  the  various  labels  are  assigned 
to  the  different  members  of  the  Royal  Family,  the  labels  are  called 
white  labels.  Now  the  label  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  is  of  three  points 
and  is  plain.  Heraldry  knows  nothing  of  the  black  lines  which  in 
drawing  a  coat  of  arms  usually  appear  for  the  outline  of  a  charge.  In 
older  work  such  lines  are  absent.  In  any  case  they  are  only  mere 
accidents  of  draughtsmanship.  Bearing  this  in  mind,  and  bearing  in 
mind  that  the  sinister  supporter  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  is  a  unicorn 
argent,  how  on  earth  is  a  plain  label  of  argent  to  be  depicted  there- 
upon ?  Now  it  is  necessary  also  that  the  label  shall  be  placed  upon 
the  crest,  which  is  a  lion  statant  guardant  or,  crowned  with  the  coronet 
of  the  Prince,  and  upon  the  dexter  supporter  which  is  another  golden 
lion  ;  to  place  an  argent  label  upon  either  is  a  fiat  violation  of  the 
rule  which  requires  that  metal  shall  not  be  placed  upon  metal,  nor 
colour  upon  colour  ;  but  if  the  unicorn  is  considered  argent,  which  it 
is,  it  would  if  really  depicted  in  silver  be  quite  possible  to  paint  a 
white  label  upon  it,  for  the  distinction  between  white  and  silver  is 
marked,  and  a  white  label  upon  a  gold  lion  is  not  metal  upon  metal. 
Quite  recently  a  still  further  and  startling  confirmation  has  come  under 
my  notice.  In  the  grant  of  a  crest  to  Thomas  Mowbray,  Earl  of 
Nottingham,  the  coronet  which  is  to  encircle  the  neck  of  the  leopard 
is  distinctly  blazoned  argent,  the  label  to  which  he  is  previously  said 
to  have  had  a  just  hereditary  right  is  as  distinctly  blazoned  white, 
and  the  whole  grant  is  so  short  that  inadvertence  could  hardly  be 
pleaded  as  an  explanation  for  the  distinction  in  blazon.  Instances  of 
an  official  exemplification  of  coats  of  arms  with  labels  are  not  un- 
common, because  the  label  in  some  number  of  families,  for  example 
Courtenay  and  Prideaux-Brune  and  Barrington,  has  become  stereotyped 
into  a  charge.  In  none  of  these  cases,  however,  is  it  either  argent 
or  white,  but  instances  of  the  exemplification  of  a  coat  of  arms  bearing 
a  label  as  a  mark  of  cadency  are,  outside  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Family,  distinctly  rare  ;  they  are  necessarily  so,  because  outside  the 
Royal  Family  the  label  is  merely  the  temporary  mark  of  the  eldest 
son  or  grandson  during  the  lifetime  of  the  head  of  the  house, 
and  the  necessity  for  the  exemplification  of  the  arms  of  an  eldest  son 
can  seldom  occur.  The  one  circumstance  which  might  provide  us  with 
the  opportunity  is  the  exemplification  consequent  upon  a  change  of 
name  and  arms  by  an  eldest  son  during  the  lifetime  of  his  father  ;  but 


72      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

this  very  circumstance  fails  to  provide  it,  because  the  exemplification 

only  follows  a  change  of  arms,  and  the  arms  being  changed,  there  no 

longer  exists  the  necessity  for  a  mark  of  cadency  ;  so  that  instances  of 

the  official  use  of  a  label  for  cadency  are  rare,  but  of  such  as  occur  I 

can   learn    of    none   which    has    received    official 

sanction  which   blazons   the   label  white.     There 

is,  however,  one  coat  which    is  said   to  have   a 

label  argent  as  a  charge,  this  is  the  coat  of  Fitz- 

Simon,  which  is  quoted  in   Papworth,  upon  the 

authority  of  one  of  the  Harleian  Manuscripts,  as 

follows  :  Sable,  three  crescents,  in  chief  a  label  of 

two  drops  and  in  fess  another  of  one  drop  argent  ; 

and  the  same  coat  of  arms  is  recorded  in  a  funeral 

Fig.  34.— Armorial  bear-    entry  in   Ulster's  Office.     The  label   is  not  here 

Ea?l''o"^Unctln^^S    ^^rmed  white,  and  it   is  peculiar  that  we  find  it 

1311):  Or,  a  lion  ram-    of  another  colour  in  another  coat  of  Fitz-Simon 

hrseaio'^"'^*    ^^'''"'    (azure,    a   lion   rampant   ermine,   a   label  of  four 

point  gules). 

Of  other  colours  may  be  mentioned  purpure  (purple).     This  in 

English  heraldry  is  a  perfectly  well  recognised  colour,  and  though  its 

use  is  extremely  rare  in  comparison  with  the  others,  it  will  be  found 

too  frequently  for  it  to  be  classed  as  an  exception.     The  earliest  instance 

of  this  tincture  which  I  have  met  with  is  in  the  coat  of  De  Lacy  (Fig. 

34).     The  Roll  of  Caerlaverock  speaks  of  his 

"  Baniere  ot  de  un  cendall  saffrin, 
O  un  lion  rampant  porprin," 

whilst  MS.  Cott.  Calig.  A.  xviii.  quotes  the  arms  :  ^^  De  or^  a  un  lion 
rampaund  de  pourpre'^  The  Burton  coat  of  the  well-known  Shropshire 
family  of  Lingen-Burton  is :  Quarterly  purpure  and  azure,  a  cross  en- 
grailed or  between  four  roses  argent.  The  Irish  baronets  of  the  name 
of  Burton,  who  claimed  descent  from  this  family,  bore  a  very  similar 
coat,  namely  :  Per  pale  azure  and  purpure,  a  cross  engrailed  or  between 
four  roses  argent. 

Two  other  colours  will  be  found  in  nearly  all  text-books  of  English 
armory.  These  are  murrey  or  sanguine,  and  orange  or  tenne.  The 
exact  tint  of  murrey  is  between  gules  and  purpure  ;  and  tenne  is  an 
orange-tawny  colour.  Theyare  both  ^^stains,"  and  were  perhaps  invented 
by  the  old  heralds  for  the  perpetration  of  their  preposterous  system 
of  abatements,  which  will  be  found  set  out  in  full  in  the  old  heraldry 
books,  but  which  have  yet  to  be  found  occurring  in  fact.  The  subject 
of  abatements  is  one  of  those  pleasant  little  insanities  which  have  done 
so  much  to  the  detriment  of  heraldry.     One,  and  one  only,  can  be  said 


THE    FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  73 

to  have  had  the  slightest  foundation  in  fact ;  that  was  the  entire  reversal 
of  the  escutcheon  in  the  ceremony  of  degradation  following  upon 
attainder  for  high  treason.  Even  this,  however,  was  but  temporary, 
for  a  man  forfeited  his-  arms  entirely  by  attainder.  They  were  torn 
down  from  his  banner  of  knighthood  ;  they  were  erased  in  the  records 
of  the  College  of  Arms  ;  but  on  that  one  single  occasion  when  he  was 
drawn  upon  a  hurdle  to  the  place  of  his  execution,  they  are  said  to  have 
been  painted  reversed  upon  paper,  wliich  paper  was  fastened  to  his 
breast.  But  the  arms  then  came  to  an  end,  and  his  descendants 
possessed  none  at  all.  They  certainly  had  not  the  right  to  depict  their 
shield  upside  down  (even  if  they  had  cared  to  display  such  a  mon- 
strosity). Unless  and  until  the  attainder  was  reversed,  arms  (like  a  title) 
were  void  ;  and  the  proof  of  this  is  to  be  found  in  the  many  regrants 
of  arms  made  in  cases  where  the  attainder  has  remained,  as  in  the 
instances  of  the  Earl  of  Stafford  and  the  ancestor  of  the  present  Lord 
Barnard.  But  that  any  person  should  have  been  supposed  to  have 
been  willing  to  make  use  of  arms  carrying  an  abatement  is  preposterous, 
and  no  instance  of  such  usage  is  known.  Rather  would  a  man  decline  to 
bear  arms  at  all ;  and  that  any  one  should  have  imagined  the  existence 
of  a  person  willing  to  advertise  himself  as  a  drunkard  or  an  adulterer, 
with  variations  in  the  latter  case  according  to  the  personality  of  his 
partner  in  guilt,  is  idiotic  in  the  extreme.  Consequently,  as  no  example 
of  an  abatement  has  ever  been  found,  one  might  almost  discard  the 
"  stains  "  of  murrey  and  tenne  were  it  not  that  they  were  largely  made 
use  of  for  the  purposes  of  liveries,  in  which  usage  they  had  no  such 
objectionable  meaning.  At  the  present  day  scarlet  or  gules  being 
appropriated  to  the  Royal  Family  for  livery  purposes,  other  people 
possessing  a  shield  of  gules  are  required  to  make  use  of  a  different  red, 
and  though  it  is  now  termed  chocolate  or  claret  colour  by  the  utilitarian 
language  of  the  day,  it  is  in  reality  nothing  more  than  the  old  sanguine 
or  murrey.  Of  orange-tawny  I  can  learn  of  but  one  livery  at  the 
present  day.  I  refer  to  the  orange-tawny  coats  used  by  the  hunt 
servants  of  Lord  Fitzhardinge,  and  now  worn  by  the  hunt  servants  of 
the  Old  Berkeley  country,  near  London.  Apropos  of  this  it  is  interest- 
ing to  note  the  curious  legend  that  the  "  pink  "  of  the  hunting  field  is 
not  due  to  any  reasons  of  optical  advantage,  but  to  an  entirely  different 
reason.  Formerly  no  man  might  hunt  even  on  his  own  estate  until 
he  had  had  licence  of  free  warren  from  the  Crown.  Consequently 
he  merely  hunted  by  the  pleasure  of  the  Crown,  taking  part  in  what 
was  exclusively  a  Royal  sport  by  Royal  permission,  and  for  this  Royal 
sport  he  wore  the  King's  livery  of  scarlet.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  a 
curious  anomaly  that  although  the  livery  of  the  only  Royal  pack  recently 
in  existence,  the  Royal  Buck  Hounds,  was  scarlet  and  gold,  the  Master 


74      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

wore  a  green  coat.  The  legend  may  be  a  fallacy,  inasmuch  as  scarlet 
did  not  become  the  Royal  livery  until  the  accession  of  the  Stuarts  ;  but 
it  is  by  no  means  clear  to  what  date  the  scarlet  hunting  coat  can  be 
traced. 

There  is,  however,  one  undoubted  instance  of  the  use  of  sanguine 
for  the  field  of  a  coat  of  arms,  namely,  the  arms  of  Clayhills  of  Inver- 
gowrie,!  which  are  properly  matriculated  in  Lyon  Register. 

To  these  colours  German  heraldry  has  added  brown,  blood-red 
(this  apparently  is  different  from  the  English  sanguine,  as  a  different 
hatching  has  been  invented  for  it),  earth-colour,  iron-grey,  water-colour, 
flesh-colour,  ashen-grey,  orange  (here  also  a  separate  hatching  from 
the  one  to  represent  tenn6  has  been  invented),  and  the  colour  of  nature, 
ue.  ''  proper."  These  doubtless  are  not  intended  to  be  added  to  the 
list  of  heraldic  tinctures,  but  are  noted  because  various  hatchings  have 
been  invented  in  modern  times  to  represent  them. 

Mr.  Woodward, in  Woodward  and  Burnett's  '^  Treatise  on  Heraldry," 
alludes  to  various  tinctures  amongst  Continental  arms  which  he  has 
come  across. 

''  Besides  the  metals,  tinctures,  and  furs  which  have  been  already 
described,  other  tinctures  are  occasionally  found  in  the  Heraldry  of 
Continental  nations  ;  but  are  comparatively  of  such  rarity  as  that  they 
may  be  counted  among  the  curiosities  of  blazon,  which  would  require 
a  separate  volume.  That  of  which  I  have  collected  instances  is  Cendree^ 
or  ash  colour,  which  is  borne  by  (among  others)  the  Bavarian  family  of 
Ashua,  as  its  amies  parlantes  :  Cendree,  a  mount  of  three  conpeaiix  in  base  or. 

"  Brundtrey  a  brown  colour,  is  even  more  rare  as  a  tincture  of  the 
field  ;  the  Mieroszewsky  in  Silesia  bear,  ^  de  Brundtrey  A  cross  patee 
argent  supporting  a  raven  rising  sable^  and  holding  in  its  beak  a  horseshoe 
proper,  its  points  towards  the  chief,'*  , 

"  Bleu-celeste,  or  bleu  du  del,  appears  occasionally,  apart  from  what  we 
may  term  ^  landscape  coats.'  That  it  differs  from,  and  is  a  much  lighter 
colour  than,  azure  is  shown  by  the  following  example.  The  Florentine 
CiNTi  (now  CiNi)  bear  a  coat  which  would  be  numbered  among  the 
armes  fausses,  or  a  enquerir :  Per  pale  azure  and  bleu-celeste,  an  estoile 
counter  changed  J' 

"  Amaranth  or  columbine  is  the  field  of  a  coat  (of  which  the  blazon 
is  too  lengthy  for  insertion  in  this  place)  which  was  granted  to  a 
Bohemian  knight  in  170 1." 

Carnation  is  the  French  term  for  the  colour  of  naked  flesh,  and  is 
often  employed  in  the  blazonry  of  that  country. 

*  The  arms  of  Clayhills  of  Invergowrie  :  Parted  per  bend  sanguine  and  vert,  two  greyhounds 
courant  bendwise  argent.  Mantling  gules  doubled  argent ;  and  upon  a  wreath  of  the  liveries  is  set 
for  crest,  an  arm  holding  an  Imperial  crown  proper  ;  and  in  an  cscroU  over  the  same,  this  motto, 
"  Corde  et  animo."     Matriculated  in  Lyon  Office  circa  1672. 


THE   FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  75 

Perhaps  mention  should  here  be  made  of  the  EngHsh  term  ''  proper." 
Anything,  aUve  or  otherwise,  which  is  depicted  in  its  natural  colours  is 
termed  ^'  proper,"  and  it  should  be  depicted  in  its  really  correct  tones 
or  tints,  without  any  attempt  to  assimilate  these  with  any  heraldic 
tincture.  It  will  not  be  found  in  the  very  ancient  coats  of  arms,  and 
its  use  is  not  to  be  encouraged.  When  a  natural  animal  is  found 
existing  in  various  colours  it  is  usual  to  so  describe  it,  for  the  term 
"  proper  "  alone  would  leave  uncertainty.  For  instance,  the  crest  of 
the  Lane  family,  which  was  granted  to  commemorate  the  ride  of  King 
Charles  II.  behind  Mistress  Jane  Lane  as  her  servant,  in  his  perilous 
escape  to  the  coast  after  the  disastrous  Battle  of  Worcester,  is  blazoned 
"a  strawberry  roan  horse,  couped  at  the  flanks  proper,  bridled  sable, 
and  holding  between  the  feet  an  Imperial  crown  also  proper."  Lord 
Cowper's  supporters  were,  on  either  side  of  the  escutcheon,  "  a  light 
dun  horse  proper,  with  a  large  blaze  down  the  face,  the  mane  close 
shorn  except  a  tuft  on  the  withers,  a  black  list  down  the  back,  a  bob 
tail,  and  the  near  fore-foot  and  both  hind  feet  white."  Another  instance 
that  might  be  quoted  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  Newlands,  which  are  : 
**  On  either  side  a  dapple-grey  horse  proper,  gorged  with  a  riband  and 
suspended  therefrom  an  escutcheon  gules,  charged  with  three  bezants 
in  chevron."  The  crest  of  the  family  of  Bewes,  of  St.  Neots,  Cornwall, 
is  :  ^'  On  a  chapeau  gules,  turned  up  ermine,  a  pegasus  rearing  on  his 
hind  legs  of  a  bay  colour,  the  mane  and  tail  sable,  winged  or,  and 
holding  in  the  mouth  a  sprig  of  laurel  proper." 

There  are  and  were  always  many  occasions  in  which  it  was  desired 
to  represent  armorial  bearings  in  black  and  white,  or  where  from  the 
nature  of  the  handicraft  it  was  impossible  to  make  use  of  actual  colour. 
But  it  should  always  be  pointedly  remembered  that  unless  the  right 
colours  of  the  arms  could  be  used  the  tinctures  were  entirely  ignored 
in  all  matters  of  handicraft  until  the  seventeenth  century.  Various 
schemes  of  hatchings,  however,  were  adopted  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
dicating the  real  heraldic  colours  when  arms  were  represented  and  the 
real  colours  could  not  be  employed,  the  earliest  being  that  of  Francquart 
in  Belgium,  area  1623.  Woodward  says  this  was  succeeded  by  the 
systems  of  Butkens,  1626  ;  Petra  Sancta,  1638  ;  Lobkowitz,  1639  ; 
Gelenius  ;  and  De  Rouck,  1645  ;  but  all  these  systems  differed  from 
each  other,  and  were  for  a  time  the  cause  of  confusion  and  not  of 
order.  Eventually,  however,  the  system  of  Petra  Sancta  (the  author  of 
Tesserce  Gentilitid)  superseded  all  the  others,  and  has  remained  in  use  up 
to  the  present  time. 

Upon  this  point  Herr  Str5hl  in  his  Heraldischer  Atlas  remarks  : 
''The  system  of  hatching  used  by  Marcus  Vulson  de  la  Colombiere, 
1639,  in  the  course  of  time  found  acceptance  everywhere,  and  has 


76       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

maintained  itself  in  use  unaltered  until  the  present  day,  and  these  are 
shown  in  Fig.  35,  only  that  later,  hatchings  have  been  invented  for 
brown,  grey,  &c. ;  which,  however,  seems  rather  a  superfluous  enrich- 
ing." None  of  these  later  creations,  by  the  way,  have  ever  been  used 
in  this  country.  For  the  sake  of  completeness,  however,  let  them  be 
mentioned  (see  Fig.  36):  a,  brown  ;  b,  blood-red  ;  c,  earth-colour;  dy 
iron-grey  ;  ^,  water-colour  ;  /,  flesh-colour  ;  g,  ashen-grey  ;  h,  orange  ; 


or.         argent        gules. 


azure. 
Fig.  35. 


sable. 


vert,  purpure. 


and  /,  colour  of  nature.  In  English  armory  '<  tenn^  "  is  represented 
by  a  combination  of  horizontal  (as  azure)  lines  with  diagonal  lines  from 
sinister  to  dexter  (as  purpure),  and  sanguine  or  murrey  by  a  combina- 
tion of  diagonal  lines  from  dexter  to  sinister  (as  vert),  and  from  sinister 
to  dexter  (as  purpure). 

The  hatchings  of  the  shield  and  its  charges  always  accommodate 
themselves  to  the  angle  at  which  the  shield  is  placed,  those  of  the 


',  'I'l'i'i 

'   '  'i»   ' 
1,1  I   I  I 

I   I  I   I   I 

•  '  •  V 

I  I  I  I  I 

t!i!i:i!t! 


TifirE 


l^IlT 


# 


S-Ki 


I 


I  I  liji 

I  '  t  •  I  '  I  •  M 

•I*   I*    I    '    I*    I 
lililiiiii 


g 


6 


I. 


Fig.  36. 


crest  to  the  angle  of  the  helmet.  A  curious  difficulty,  however,  occurs 
when  a  shield,  as  is  so  often  the  case  in  this  country,  forms  a  part  of 
the  crest.  Such  a  shield  is  seldom  depicted  quite  upright  upon  the 
wreath.  Are  the  tincture  lines  to  follow  the  angle  of  the  smaller 
shield  in  the  crest  or  the  angle  of  the  helmet  ?  Opinion  is  by  no  means 
agreed  upon  the  point. 

But  though  this  system  of  representing  colours  by  ^^  hatching  "  has 
been  adopted  and  extensively  made  use  of,  it  is   questionable  whether 


THE   FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  77 

it  has  ever  received  official  sanction,  at  any  rate  in  Great  Britain.  It 
certainly  has  never  been  made  use  of  in  any  qfficmi  record  or  document 
in  the  College  of  Arms.  Most  of  the  records  are  in  colour.  The  re- 
mainder are  all  without  exception  "  tricked,"  that  is,  drawn  in  outline, 
the  colours  being  added  in  writing  in  the  following  contracted  forms  : 
"0,"or  <'or,"  for  or;  '^  A,"  ^'ar,"  or  ^' arg,"  for  argent;  ^'G,"  or 
"  gu,"  for  gules ;  "  Az,"  or  "  B  "  (for  blue,  owing  to  the  likelihood  of 
confusion  between  *^  ar  "  and  *'  az,"  "  B  "  being  almost  universally  used 
in  old  trickings),  for  azure  ;  *'  S,"  or  *^  sa,"  for  sable  ;  "  Vt "  for  vert, 
and  "  Purp  "  for  purpure.  It  is  unlikely  that  any  change  will  be  made 
in  the  future,  for  the  use  of  tincture  lines  is  now  very  rapidly  being 
discarded  by  all  good  heraldic  artists  in  this  country.  With  the  rever- 
sion to  older  and  better  forms  and  methods  these  hatchings  become 
an  anachronism,  and  save  that  sable  is  represented  by  solid  black  they 
will  probably  be  unused  and  forgotten  before  very  long. 

The  plain,  simple  names  of  colours,  such  as  red  and  green,  seemed 
so  unpoetical  and  unostentatious  to  the  heralds  and  poets  of  the  Middle 
Ages,  that  they  substituted  for  gold,  topaz  ;  for  silver,  pearl  or  "  meer- 
gries  " ;  for  red,  ruby ;  for  blue,  sapphire  ;  for  green,  emerald  ;  and 
for  black,  diamond  or  "  zobel "  (sable,  the  animal,  whence  the  word 
^<  sable  ").  Let  the  following  blazonment  from  the  grant  of  arms  to 
Modling  bei  Wien  in  1458  serve  as  example  of  the  same  :  "  Mit  namen 
ain  Schilt  gleich  getailt  in  fasse,  des  ober  und  maister  tail  von  Rubin 
auch  mit  ainer  fasse  von  Berlein,  der  under  thail  von  grunt  des  Schilts 
von  Schmaragaden,  darinneain  Pantel  von  Silber  in  Rampannt " — (///. 
*'  Namely,  a  shield  equally  divided  in  fess,  the  upper  and  greater  part 
of  ruby,  also  with  a  fess  of  pearl,  the  under  part  of  the  field  of  the 
shield  of  emerald,  therein  a  panther  of  silver,  rampant  ")  ;  that  is,  '^  Per 
fess  gules  and  vert,  in  chief  a  fess  argent,  in  base  a  panther  rampant  of 
the  last." 

Even  the  planets,  and,  as  abbreviations,  their  astronomical  signs, 
are  occasionally  employed  :  thus,  the  sun  for  gold,  the  moon  for  silver, 
Mars  for  red,  Jupiter  for  blue,  Venus  for  green,  Saturn  for  black,  and 
Mercury  for  purple.  This  aberration  of  intellect  on  the  part  of  mediaeval 
heraldic  writers,  for  it  really  amounted  to  Uttle  more,  had  very  little,  if 
indeed  it  had  any,  English  official  recognition.  No  one  dreams  of  using 
such  blazon  at  the  present  time,  and  it  might  have  been  entirely  disre- 
garded were  it  not  that  Guillim  sanctions  its  use ;  and  he  being  the 
high  priest  of  English  armory  to  so  many,  his  example  has  given  the 
system  a  certain  currency.  I  am  not  myself  aware  of  any  instance  of 
the  use  of  these  terms  in  an  English  patent  of  arms. 

The  furs  known  to  heraldry  are  now  many,  but  originally  they  were 
only  two,  ^*  ermine  "  and  *^  vair."      Ermine,  as  every  one  knows,  is  of 


78       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

white  covered  with  black  spots,  intended  to  represent  the  tails  of  the 
animal.  From  ermine  has  been  evolved  the  following  variations,  viz. 
ermines,  erminois,  pean,  and  erminites.  ^'  Ermines  "  is  a  black  field 
with  white  ermine  spots  (the  French  term  for  this  is  conire-hermtHy  the 
German,  gegen-hermelin),  A  gold  background  with  black  ermine  spots 
is  styled  erminois,  and  pean  is  a  black  gromid  with  gold  ermine  spots. 
Planche  mentions  still  another,  as  does  Parker  in  his  *'  Glossary  of 
Heraldry,"  namely,  ^^  erminites,"  which  is  supposed  to  be  white,  with 
black  ermine  spots  and  a  red  hair  on  each  side  of  the  spot.  I  believe 
there  is  no  instance  known  of  any  such  fur  in  British  armory.  It  is 
not  mentioned  in  Strohl's  ^^  Heraldic  Atlas,"  nor  can  I  find  any  foreign 
instance,  so  that  who  invented  it,  or  for  what  purpose  it  was  invented, 
I  cannot  say  ;  and  I  think  it  should  be  relegated,  with  abatements  and 
the  seize  quartiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  the  category  of  the  silly  inventions 
of  former  heraldic  writers,  not  of  former  heralds,  for  I  know  of  no  ofhcial 
act  which  has  recognised  the  existence  of  erminites.  The  German  term 
for  erminois  is  gold-hermelhiy  but  there  are  no  distinctive  terms  either 
in  French  or  German  heraldry  for  the  other  varieties.  Thus,  erminois 
would  be  in  French  blazon  :  d'or,  seme  d'hermines  de  sable  ;  pean 
would  be  de  sable,  seme  d'hermines  d'or.  Though  ermine  is  always 
nowadays  represented  upon  a  white  background,  it  was  sometimes  de- 
picted with  black  ermine  spots  upon  a  field  of  silver,  as  in  the  case  of 
some  of  the  stall  plates  of  the  Knights  of  the  Garter  in  St.  George's 
Chapel  at  Windsor.  Ermine  spots  are  frequently  to  be  found  as  charges. 
For  instance,  in  the  well-known  coat  of  Kay,  which  is  :  '^  Argent,  three 
ermine  spots  in  bend  between  two  bendlets  sable,  the  whole  between 
as  many  crescents  azure."  As  charges  two  ermine  spots  figure  upon 
the  arms  recently  granted  to  Sir  Francis  Laking,  Bart.,  G.C.V.O.  The 
ermine  spot  has  also  sometimes  been  used  in  British  armory  as  the 
difference  mark  granted  under  a  Royal  Licence  to  assume  name  and 
arms  when  it  is  necessary  to  indicate  the  absence  of  blood  relationship. 
Other  instances  of  the  use  of  an  ermine  spot  as  a  charge  are  : — 

Or,  on  two  bars  azure,  as  many  barrulets  dancett^  argent,  a  chief 
indented  of  the  second  charged  with  an  ermine  spot  or  (Sawbridge). 

Argent,  a  chevron  between  three  crows  sable,  in  each  beak  an  ermine 
spot  (Lloyd,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  1680  ;  Lichfield,  1692  ;  and  Worces- 
ter, 1700-17). 

Argent,  a  fess  gules  between  three  ermine  spots  sable  (Kilvington). 

Argent,  two  bars  sable,  spotted  ermine,  in  chief  a  lion  passant  gules 
(Hill,  CO.  Wexford). 

The  earliest  form  in  which  ermine  was  depicted  shows  a  nearer 
approach  to  the  reality  of  the  black  tail,  inasmuch  as  the  spots  above 
the  tail  to  which  we  are  now  accustomed  are  a  modern  variant. 


Fig.  37.— Arms  of  Wil- 
liam de  Ferrers,  Earl 
of  Derby  {d.  1247) : 
*'  Scutum  variatum 
auro  &  gul."  (From 
MS.  Cott.  Nero,  D.  i.) 


THE    FIELD    OF   A   SHIELD  79 

V/hen  a  bend  is  ermine,  the  spots  (like  all  other  charges  placed  upon 
a  bend)  must  be  bendwise  ;  but  on  a  chevron,  saltire,  &c.,  they  are  drawn 
upright. 

The  other  variety  of  fur  is  <'vair."  This  originated  from  the  fur 
of  a  kind  of  squirrel  (the  ver  or  vair,  differently  spelt  ;  Latin  varus), 
which  was  much  used  for  the  lining  of  cloaks.  The 
animal  was  bluey-grey  upon  the  back  and  white 
underneath,  and  the  whole  skin  was  used.  It  will 
be  readily  seen  that  by  sewing  a  number  of  these 
skins  together  a  result  is  obtained  of  a  series  of 
cup -shaped  figures,  alternating  bluey-grey  and 
white,  and  this  is  well  shown  in  Fig.  28,  which 
shows  the  effigy  upon  the  tomb  of  Geoffrey  Planta- 
genet.  Count  of  Anjou,  where  the  lining  of  vair  to 
his  cloak  is  plainly  to  be  seen. 

The  word  seems  to  have  been  used  independ- 
ently of  heraldry  for  fur,  and  the  following  curious 
error,  which  is  pointed  out  in  Parker's  ^'  Glossary 
of  the  Terms  used  in  Heraldry,"  may  be  noted  in 
passing.     The  familiar  fairy  tale  of  Cinderella  was  brought  to  us  from 

the  French,  and  the  slippers  made  of 
this  costly  fur,  written,  probably,  verre 
for  vaire)  were  erroneously  translated 
^^  glass  "  slippers.  This  was,  of  course, 
an  impossible  material,  but  the  error  has 
always  been  repeated  in  the  nursery 
tale-books. 

In  the  oldest  records  vair  is  repre- 
sented by  means  of  straight  horizontal 
lines  alternating  with  horizontal  wavy  or 
nebuly  lines  (see  Fig.  37),  but  the  cup- 
shaped  divisions  therefrom  resulting  hav- 
ing passed  through  various  intermediate 
forms  (see  Fig.  38),  have  now  been 
stereotyped  into  a  fixed  geometrical 
pattern,  formed  of  rows  of  ear-shaped 
shields  of  alternate  colours  and  alternately  reversed,  so  depicted  that 
each  reversed  shield  fits  into  the  space  left  by  those  on  either  side  which 
are  not  reversed  (see  Fig.  39,  k).  The  accompanying  illustration  will 
show  plainly  what  is  intended.  In  some  of  the  older  designs  it  was 
similar  to  that  shown  in  the  arms  of  the  Earl  Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby, 
1254-65,  the  sketch  (Fig.  38)  being  taken  from  almost  contemporary 
stained  glass  in  Dorchester  Church,  Oxon.;  whilst  sometimes  the  divi- 


FiG.  38. — Arms  of  Robert  de  Ferrers, 
Earl  of  Derby  (1254-1265).  (From 
stained  glass  in  Dorchester  Church.) 


8o       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

sion  lines  are  drawn,  after  the  same  manner,  as  nebuly.  There  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  any  fixed  proportion  for  the  number  of  rows  of 
vair,  as  Fig.  40  shows  the  arms  of  the  same  Earl  as  represented  upon  his 
seal.     The  palpable  pun  upon  the  name  which  a  shield  vaire  supplied 


no  doubt  affords  the  origin  of  the  arms  of  Ferrers.  Some  families  of 
the  name  at  a  later  date  adopted  the  horseshoes,  which  are  to  be  found 
upon  many  Farrer  and  Ferrers  shields,  the  popular  assumption  being 
that  they  are  a  reference  to  the  ^'  farrier  "  from  whom  some  would  derive 


Fig.  40.— Arms  of  Robert  de 
Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby 
(1254-1265).  (From  his 
seal.) 


Fig.  41. — Arms  of  William  de 
Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby :  Vaire, 
or,  and  gules,  a  bordure  argent, 
charged  with  eight  horseshoes 
sable.  (From  a  drawing  of  his 
seal,  MS.  Cott.  Julius,  C   vii.) 


the  surname.  Woodward,  however,  states  that  a  horseshoe  being  the 
badge  of  the  Marshalls,  horseshoes  were  assumed  as  armes  parlantes  by 
their  descendants  the  Ferrers,  who  appear  to  have  borne  :  Sable,  six 
horseshoes  argent.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  only  one  of  that  family  who 
bore  the  horseshoes  seems  to  have  been  William  de  Ferrers,  Earl  of 
Derby  (d.  1254),  as  will  be  seen  from  the  arms  as  on  his  seal  (Fig.  41). 


THE   FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  8i 

His  wife  was  Sybilla,  daughter  of  William  Marshall,  Earl  of  Pembroke. 
His  son  reverted  to  the  plain  shield  of  vair6,  or,  and  gules.  The  arms 
of  the  Ferrers  family  at  a  later  date  are  found  to  be  :  Gules,  seven 
mascles  conjoined  or,  in  w^hich  form  they  are  still  borne  by  Ferrers 
of  Baddesley  Clinton  ;  but  whether  the  mascles  are  corruptions  of  the 
horseshoes,  or  whether  (as  seems  infinitely  more  probable)  they  are 
merely  a  corrupted  form  of  the  vair6,  or,  and  gules,  it  is  difficult  to 
say.  Personally  I  rather  doubt  whether  any  Ferrers  ever  used  the 
arms :  Argent,  six  horseshoes  sable. 

The  early  manner  of  depicting  vair  is  still  occasionally  met  with  in 
foreign  heraldry,  where  it  is  blazoned  as  Vair  ond6  or  Vair  ancien. 
The  family  of  Margens  in  Spain  bears :  Vair  ond6,  on  a  bend  gules 
three  griffins  or  ;  and  Tarragone  of  Spain  :  Vair  ond^,  or  and  gules. 
German  heraldry  seems  to  distinguish  between  wolkenfeh  (cloud  vair) 
and  wogenfeh  (wave  vair  ;  see  Fig.  39,  n).  The  former  is  equivalent  to 
vair  ancient,  the  latter  to  vair  en  point. 

The  verbal  blazon  of  vair  nearly  always  commences  with  the  metal, 
but  in  the  arrangement  of  the  panes  there  is  a  difference  between 
French  and  English  usage.  In  the  former  the  white  panes  are 
generally  (and  one  thinks  more  correctly)  represented  as  forming  the 
first,  or  upper,  line  ;  in  British  heraldry  the  reverse  is  more  usually  the 
case.  It  is  usual  to  depict  the  white  panes  of  ordinary  vair  with  white 
rather  than  silver,  though  the  use  of  the  latter  cannot  be  said  to  be 
incorrect,  there  being  precedents  in  favour  of  that  form.  When  an 
ordinary  is  of  vair  or  vairy,  the  rows  of  vair  may  be  depicted  either 
horizontally  or  following  the  direction  of  the  ordinary.  There  are 
accepted  precedents  for  both  methods. 

Vair  is  always  blue  and  white,  but  the  same  subdivision  of  the 
field  is  frequently  found  in  other  colours  ;  and  when  this  is  the  case, 
it  is  termed  vairy  of  such  and  such  colours.  When  it  is  vairy,  it  is 
usually  of  a  colour  and  metal,  as  in  the  case  of  Ferrers,  Earls  of  Derby, 
above  referred  to  ;  though  a  fur  is  sometimes  found  to  take  the  place 
of  one  or  other,  as  in  the  arms  of  Gresley,  which  are  :  "  Vair6  gules 
and  ermine."  I  know  of  no  instance  where  vair6  is  found  of  either 
two  tnetals  or  of  two  colours,  nor  at  the  same  time  do  I  know  of  any 
rule  against  such  a  combination.  Probably  it  will  be  time  enough  to 
discuss  the  contingency  when  an  instance  comes  to  light.  Gerard 
Leigh  mentions  vair  of  three  or  more  tinctures,  but  instances  are 
very  rare.  Parker,  in  his  ''Glossary,"  refers  to  the  coat  of  Roger 
Holthouse,  which  he  blazons:  ''Vairy  argent,  azure,  gules,  and]  or,  en 
point." 

The  Vair  of  commerce  was  formerly  of  three  sizes,  and  the  dis- 
tinction   is   continued  in    foreign    armory.     The   middle   or   ordinary 

F 


82       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

size  is  known  as  Vair;  a  smaller  size  as  Menu-vair  (whence  our  word 
'<  miniver  ")  ;  the  largest  as  Beffroi  or  Gros  vair,  a.  term  which  is  used 
in  armory  when  there  are  less  than  four  rows.  The  word  Beffroi  is 
evidently  derived  from  the  bell-like  shape  of  the  vair^  the  word  Beffroi 
being  anciently  used  in  the  sense  of  the  alarm-bell  of  a  town.  In  French 
armory,  Beffroi  should  consist  of  three  horizontal  rows ;  Vair^  of  four  ; 
Menu'vair^  of  six.  This  rule  is  not  strictly  observed,  but  in  French 
blazon  if  the  rows  are  more  than  four  it  is  usual  to  specify  the  number  ; 
thus  Varroux  bears  :  de  Vair  de  cinq  traits,  Menu-vair  is  still  the  blazon 
of  some  families  ;  Banville  de  Trutemne  bears  :  de  Menu-vair  de  six 
tires;  the  Barons  van  Houthem  bore:  de  Menu-vair^  au  franc  quartter 
de  gueules  charge  de  trois  maillets  d'or.  In  British  armory  the  foregoing 
distinctions  are  unknown,  and  Vair  is  only  of  one  size,  that  being  at 
the  discretion  of  the  artist. 

When  the  Vair  is  so  arranged  that  in  two  horizontal  rows  taken 
together,  either  the  points  or  the  bases  of  two  panes  of  the  same  tincture 
are  in  apposition,  the  fur  is  known  as  Counter  Vair  {Contre  Vair)  (see 
Fig.  39,  /).  Another  variation,  but  an  infrequent  one,  is  termed 
Vair  in  Pale,  known  in  German  heraldry  as  Pfahlfeh  {Vair  appointe 
or  Vair  en  pal ;  but  if  of  other  colours  than  the  usual  ones,  Vaire  en  pal). 
In  this  all  panes  of  the  same  colour  are  arranged  in  vertical,  or  palar, 
rows  (Fig.  39,  m),  German  heraldry  apparently  distinguishes  between 
this  and  Sturzpjahlfehy  or  reversed  vair  in  pale.  Vair  in  Bend  (or  in 
bend-sinister)  is  occasionally  met  with  in  foreign  coats;  thus  Mignia- 
NELLI  in  Italy  bears  :  Vaire  dor  et  dazur  en  bande  ;  while  Vaire  en  barre 
(that  is,  in  bend-sinister)  dor  et  de  sable  is  the  coat  of  PiCHON  of 
Geneva.  ! 

"  Vair  en  pointe  "  is  a  term  applied  by  Nisbet  to  an  arrangement 
by  which  the  azure  shield  pointing  downwards  has  beneath  it  an  argent 
shield  pointing  downwards,  and  vice  versa,  by  which  method  the  result- 
ing effect  is  as  shown  in  Fig.  39,  n.  The  German  term  for  this  is 
Wogenfeh,  or  wave  vair.  Fig.  39,  0,  shows  a  purely  German  variety — 
Wechselfeh,  or  alternate  vair;  and  Fig.  39,  />,  which  is  equivalent  to  the 
English  vair6  of  four  colours,  is  known  in  German  armory  as  Buntfeh, 
i.e,  gay-coloured  or  checked  vair. 

Ordinary  vair  in  German  heraldry  is  known  as  Eisenhut-fehy  or  iron 
hat  vair.  On  account  of  its  similarity,  when  drawn,  to  the  old  iron 
hat  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries  (see  Fig.  42),  this  skin  has 
received  the  name  of  Eisenhiitlein  (little  iron  hat)  from  German  heraldic 
students,  a  name  which  later  gave  rise  to  many  incorrect  interpretations. 
An  old  charter  in  the  archives  of  the  chapter-house  of  Lilienfield,  in 
Lower  Austria,  under  the  seal  (Fig.  43)  of  one  Chimrad  Pellifex,  1329, 
proves  that  at  that  time  vair  was  so  styled.     The  name  of  Pellifex  (in 


THE   FIELD    OF   A   SHIELD  83 

German  Wildwerker,  a  worker  in  skins,  or  furrier)  is  expressed  in  a 
punning  or  canting  form  on  the  dexter  side  of  the  shield.  This  Conrad 
the  Furrier  was  Burgomaster  of  Vienna  1340-43. 

A  considerable  number  of  British  and  foreign  families  bear  Vair 
only  ;  such  are  Ferrers  and  Gresley,  above  mentioned ;  Varano, 
Dukes  de  Camerino  ;  Vaire  and  Vairiere,  in  France  ;  Veret,  in 
Switzerland  ;  Gouvis,  Fresnay  (Brittany) ;  De  Vera  in  Spain  ;  Loheac 
(Brittany)  ;  Varenchon  (Savoy)  ;  Soldanieri  (Florence).  Counter  vair 
is  borne  by  Loffredo  of  Naples  ;  by  BoucHAGE,  Du  Plessis  Angers, 
and  Brotin,  of  France.  Hellemmes  of  Tournay  uses  :  de  Contre  vair^ 
a  lac  otice  de  gueules  brochante  sur  le  tout. 

Mr.  Woodward,   in   his  <*  Treatise   on  Heraldry,"  writes  :    *^  Two 


Fig.  43. — Seal  of  Chini- 
FiG.  42.  ""^^  Pellifex,  1329. 

curious  forms  of  Vair  occasionally  met  with  in  Italian  or  French 
coats  are  known  as  Plumete  and  Papelonne. 

In  Plumete  the  field  is  apparently  covered  with  feathers.  Plumete 
dargent  et  dazur  is  the  coat  of  Ceba  (note  that  these  are  the  tinctures 
of  Vair)  ;  SOLDONIERI  of  Udine,  Plumete  au  natural  (but  the  SOLDONIERI 
of  Florence  bore :  Vaire  argent  and  sable  with  a  bordure  chequy  or  and 
azure)  ;  Tenremonde  of  Brabant  :  Plumete  or  and  sable.  In  the  arms 
of  the  SCALTENIGHI  of  Padua,  the  Benzoni  of  Milan,  the  GiOLFiNi, 
Catanei,  and  Nuvoloni  of  Verona,  each  feather  of  the  plumete  is  said 
to  be  charged  with  an  ermine  spot  sable. 

The  bearing  of  Papelonne  is  more  frequently  found  ;  in  it  the 
field  is  covered  with  what  appear  to  be  scales,  the  heraldic  term 
papelonne  being  derived  from  a  supposed  resemblance  of  these  scales 
to  the  wings  of  butterflies  ;  for  example  the  coat  of  MoNTi  :  GuleSf 
papelonne  argent,  DONZEL  at  Besan^on  bears  :  Papelonne  d'or  et  de 
sable.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Donze  of  Lorraine  used  :  Gules,  three 
bars  wavy  or.  The  Franconis  of  Lausanne  are  said  to  bear  :  de  Gueules 
papelonne  d argent y  and  on  a  chief  of  the  last  a  rose  of  the  first y  but  the  coat 
is  otherwise  blazoned  :  Vaire  gules  and  or,  &c.  The  coat  of  Arquin- 
VILLIERS,   or   Hargenvilliers,  in   Picardy,  of   d'Hermine  papelonne  de 


84       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

guetdes  (not  being  understood,  this  has  been  blazoned  ^*  seme  of  caltraps  "). 
So  also  the  coat  of  Chemille  appears  in  French  books  of  blazon 
indifferently  as  :  dOr  papelonne  de  gueules :  and  dOr  seme  de  chausse-trapes 
de  guQules.  GUETTEVILLE  DE  GUENONVILLE  is  Said  to  bear  :  d Argent 
seme  de  chausse-trapes  de  sable^  but  it  is  more  probable  that  this  is  simply 
d Argent  papelonne  de  sable.  The  Barisoni  of  Padua  bear  :  Or,  a  bend 
of  scaleSj  bendwise  argent,  on  each  scale  an  ermine  spot  sable,  the  bend  bordered 
sable.  The  Alberici  of  Bologna  bear  :  Papelonne  of  seven  rows,  four  of 
argenty  three  of  or ;  but  the  Alberghi  of  the  same  city  :  Papelonne  of  six 
rows,  three  of  argent,  as  many  of  gules.  The  connection  with  vaire  is 
much  clearer  in  the  latter  than  in  the  former.  Cambi  (called  Figliam- 
BUCHi),  at  Florence,  carried  :  d Argent,  papelonne  de  gueules;  MONTi  of 
Florence  and  Sicily,  and  Ronquerolles  of  France  the  reverse. 

No  one  who  is  familiar  with  the  licence  given  to  themselves  by 
armorial  painters  and  sculptors  in  Italy,  who  were  often  quite  ignorant 
of  the  meaning  of  the  blazons  they  depicted,  will  doubt  for  a  moment 
the  statement  that  Papelonnd  was  originally  a  corruption  from  or 
perhaps  is  simply  ill-drawn  Vair." 

Potent,  and  its  less  common  variant  Counter  Potent,  are 
usually  ranked  in  British  heraldic  works  as  separate  furs.  This  has 
arisen  from  the  writers  being  ignorant  that  in  early  times  Vair  was 
frequently  depicted  in  the  form  now  known  as  Potent  (see  Fig.  39,  q), 
(By  many  heraldic  writers  the  ordinary  Potent  is  styled  Potent-counter- 
potent,  When  drawn  in  the  ordinary  way,  Potent  alone  suffices.)  An 
example  of  Vair  in  the  form  now  known  as  Potent  is  afforded  by  the 
seal  of  Jeanne  de  Flandre,  wife  of  Enguerrand  IV.  (De  Courcy)  ; 
here  the  well-known  arms  of  CoURCY,  Barry  of  six  vair  and  gules,  are 
depicted  as  if  the  bars  of  vair  w^ere  composed  of  bars  of  potent  (Vree, 
Genealogie  des  Comtes  de  Flandre),  In  a  Roll  of  Arms  of  the  time  of  Edward  I. 
the  Vair  resembles  Potent  (-counter-potent),  which  Dr.  Perceval 
erroneously  terms  an  *'  invention  of  later  date."  The  name  and  the 
differentiation  may  be,  but  not  the  fact.  In  the  First  Nobility  Roll  of 
the  year  1297,  the  arms  of  No.  8,  Robert  de  Bruis,  Baron  of 
Brecknock,  are  :  Barry  of  six,  Vaire  ermine  and  gules,  and  azure. 
Here  the  vair  is  potent;  so  is  it  also  in  No.  19,  where  the  coat  of 
INGELRAM  DE  Ghisnes,  or  Gynes,  is :  Gules,  a  chief  vair.  The  same 
coat  is  thus  drawn  in  the  Second  Nobility  Roll,  1299,  No.  57.  Potent, 
like  its  original  Vair,  is  always  of  argent  and  azure,  unless  other  tinctures 
are  specified  in  the  blazon.  The  name  Potent  is  the  old  English  word 
for  a  crutch  or  walking-staff.  Chaucer,  in  his  description  of  "  Elde  " 
{i,e,  old  age)  writes  : 

"  So  olde  she  was,  that  she  ne  went 
A  fote,  but  it  were  by  potent." 


THE   FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  85 

And  though  a  potent  is  a  heraldic  charge,  and  a  cross  potent  a  well- 
known  variety  of  that  ordinary,  "  potent "  is  usually  intended  to  indi- 
cate the  fur  of  blue  and  white  as  in  Fig.  39,  q.  It  is  not  of  frequent 
usage,  but  it  undoubtedly  has  an  accepted  place  in  British  armory,  as 
also  has  "  counter-potent,"which,  following  the  same  rules  as  counter- 
vair,  results  in  a  field  as  Fig.  39,  r.  The  German  terms  for  Potent  and 
counter-potent  are  respectively  Sturzkruckenfeh  and  gegensturzkruckenfeh. 
German  heraldry  has  evolved  yet  another  variant  of  Potent,  viz. 
Verschobenes  Gegensturzkriickenfeh  {i.e.  displaced  potent-counter-potent),  as 
in  Fig.  39,  s.  There  is  still  yet  another  German  heraldic  fur  which  is 
quite  unknown  in  British  armory.  This  is  called  Kurschy  otherwise 
"  Vair  bellies,"  and  is  usually  shown  to  be  hairy  and  represented  brown. 
Possibly  this  is  the  same  as  the  Pliimete  to  which  Mr.  Woodward  refers. 

Some  heraldic  writers  also  speak  of  varry  as  meaning  the  pieces  of 
which  the  vair  is  composed  ;  they  also  use  the  terms  vairy  cuppy  and 
vairy  /assy  for  poierU-counter-po/enf,  perhaps  from  the  drawings  in  some 
instances  resembling  cups;  that  is  a  possible  meaning  of  iassa.  It  may 
be  said  that  all  these  variations  of  the  ancient  vair  arise  from  mere 
accident  (generally  bad  drawing),  supplemented  by  over  refinement  on 
the  part  of  the  heraldic  writers  who  have  described  them.  This  gene- 
ralisation may  be  extended  in  its  application  from  vair  to  many  other 
heraldic  matters.  To  all  intents  and  purposes  British  heraldry  now  or 
hitherto  has  only  known  vair  and  potent. 

One  of  the  earliest  rules  one  learns  in  the  study  of  armory  is  that 
colour  cannot  be  placed  upon  colour,  nor  metal  upon  metal.  Now  this 
is  a  definite  rule  which  must  practically  always  be  rigidly  observed. 
Many  writers  have  gone  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  only  case  of  an  in- 
fraction of  this  rule  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Jerusalem  :  Argent,  a 
cross  potent  between  four  crosslets  or.  This  was  a  favourite  windmill 
at  which  the  late  Dr.  Woodward  tilted  vigorously,  and  in  the  appendix 
to  his  ''Treatise  on  Heraldry  "  he  enumerates  some  twenty-six  instances 
of  the  violation  of  the  rule.  The  whole  of  the  instances  he  quoted, 
however,  are  taken  from  Continental  armory,  in  which  these  exceptions 
— for  even  on  the  Continent  such  armesfausses  are  noticeable  exceptions 
— occur  much  more  frequently  than  in  this  country.  Nevertheless 
such  exceptions  do  occur  in  British  armory,  and  the  following  instances 
of  well-known  coats  which  break  the  rule  may  be  quoted. 

The  arms  of  Lloyd  of  Ffos-y-Bleiddied,  co.  Cardigan,  and  Danyrallt, 
CO.  Carmarthen,  are :  "  Sable,  a  spearhead  imbrued  proper  between 
three  scaling-ladders  argent,  on  a  chief  gules  2l  castle  of  the  second." 
Burke,  in  his  ''  General  Armory,"  says  this  coat  of  arms  was  granted  to 
Cadifor  ap  Dyfnwal,  ninth  in  descent  from  Roderick  the  Great,  Prince 
of  Wales,  by  his  cousin  the  great  Lord  Rhys,  for  taking  the  castle  of 


86      A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Cardigan  by  escalade  from  the  Earl  of  Clare  and  the  Flemings  in  1 1 64. 
Another  instance  is  a  coat  of  Meredith  recorded  in  Ulster's  Office  and 
now  inherited  by  the  Hon.  Richard  Edmund  Meredith,  a  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Judicature  of  Ireland  and  a  Judicial  Commissioner 
of  the  Irish  Land  Commission.  These  arms  are  :  '^  Gules,  on  a  chevron 
sabkf  between  three  goats'  heads  erased,  as  many  trefoils  or."  An 
instance  of  comparatively  recent  date  will  be  found  in  the  grant  of  the 
arms  of  Thackeray.  A  little  careful  research,  no  doubt,  would  produce 
a  large  number  of  English  instances,  but  one  is  bound  to  admit  the 
possibility  that  the  great  bulk  of  these  cases  may  really  be  instances  of 
augmentation. 

Furs  may  be  placed  upon  either  metal  or  colour,  as  may  also  any 
charge  which  is  termed  proper.  German  heralds  describe  furs  and 
natural  colours  as  amphibious.  It  is  perfectly  legitimate  to  place  fur 
upon  fur,  and  though  not  often  found,  numbers  of  examples  can  be 
quoted  ;  probably  one  will  suffice.  The  arms  of  Richardson  are : 
Sable,  two  hawks  belled  or,  on  a  chief  indented  ermine,  a  pale  ermines, 
and  three  lions'  heads  counterchanged.  It  is  also  correct  to  place 
ermine  upon  argent.  But  such  coats  are  not  very  frequently  found, 
and  it  is  usual  in  designing  a  coat  to  endeavour  to  arrange  that  the  fur 
shall  be  treated  as  metal  or  colour  according  to  what  may  be  its  back- 
ground. The  reason  for  this  is  obvious.  It  is  correct,  though  unusual, 
for  a  charge  which  is  blazoned  proper,  and  yet  depicted  in  a  recognised 
heraldic  colour,  to  be  placed  upon  colour  ;  and  where  such  cases 
occur,  care  should  be  taken  that  the  charges  are  blazoned  proper.  A 
charge  composed  of  more  than  one  tincture,  that  is,  of  a  metal  and 
colour,  may  be  placed  upon  a  field  of  either  ;  for  example  the  well- 
known  coat  of  Stewart,  which  is  :  Or,  a  fess  chequy  azure  and  argent ; 
other  examples  being  :  Per  pale  ermine  and  azure,  a  fess  wavy  gules 
(Broadbent)  ;  and  :  Azure,  a  lion  rampant  argent,  debruised  by  a  fess 
per  pale  of  the  second  and  gules  (Walsh) ;  but  in  such  coats  it  will 
usually  be  found  that  the  first  tincture  of  the  composite  charge  should 
be  in  opposition  to  the  field  upon  which  it  is  superimposed.  For  in- 
stance, the  arms  of  Stewart  are  :  Or,  a  fess  chequy  azure  and  argent, 
and  to  blazon  or  depict  them  with  a  fess  chequy  argent  and  azure 
would  be  incorrect.  When  an  ordinary  is  charged  upon  both  metal 
and  colour,  it  would  be  quite  correct  for  it  to  be  of  either  metal,  colour, 
or  fur,  and  in  such  cases  it  has  never  been  considered  either  exceptional 
or  an  infraction  of  the  rule  that  colour  must  not  be  placed  upon 
colour,  nor  metal  upon  metal.  There  is  one  point,  however,  which  is 
one  of  these  little  points  one  has  to  learn  from  actual  experience,  and 
which  1  believe  has  never  yet  been  quoted  in  any  handbook  of  heraldry, 
and  that  is,  that  this  rule  must  be  thrown  overboard  with  regard  to 


THE    FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  87 

crests  and  supporters.  I  cannot  call  to  mind  an  instance  of  colour  upon 
colour,  but  a  gold  collar  around  the  neck  of  an  argent  crest  will  con- 
stantly be  met  with.  The  sinister  supporter  of  the  Royal  achievement 
is  a  case  in  point,  and  this  rule,  which  forbids  colour  upon  colour,  and 
metal  upon  metal,  only  holds  with  regard  to  supporters  and  crests  when 
the  crest  or  supporter  itself  is  treated  as  a  field  and  charged  with  one  or 
more  objects.  The  Royal  labels,  as  already  stated,  appear  to  be  a 
standing  infraction  of  the  rule  if  white  and  argent  are  to  be  heraldically 
treated  as  identical.  The  rule  is  also  disregarded  entirely  as  regards 
augmentations  and  Scottish  cadency  bordures. 

So  long  as  the  field  is  party,  that  is,  divided  into  an  equal  number 
of  pieces  (for  example,  paly,  barruly,  or  bendy,  or  party  per  bend  or 
per  chevron),  it  may  be  composed  of  two  metals  or  two  colours, 
because  the  pieces  all  being  equal,  and  of  equal  number,  they  all  are 
parts  of  the  field  lying  in  the  same  plane,  none  being  charges. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  the  field,  one  must  not  omit  to  mention 
certain  exceptions  which  hardly  fall  within  any  of  the  before-mentioned 
categories.  One  of  these  can  only  be  described  by  the  word  "  land- 
scape." It  is  not  uncommon  in  British  armory,  though  I  know  of  but 
one  instance  where  the  actual  field  itself  needs  to  be  so  described. 
This  is  the  coat  of  the  family  of  Franco,  the  paternal  ancestors  of 
Sir  Massey  Lopes,  Bart.,  and  Lord  Ludlow.  The  name  was  changed 
from  Franco  to  Lopes  by  Royal  Licence  dated  the  4th  of  May  1831. 
Whether  this  coat  of  arms  originated-  in  an  English  grant,  or  whether 
the  English  grant  of  it  amounts  to  no  more  than  an  attempt  at  the 
registration  of  a  previously  existing  or  greatly  similar  foreign  coat  of 
arms  for  the  name  of  Franco,  I  am  unaware,  but  the  coat  certainly 
is  blazoned :  ^Mn  a  landscape  field,  a  fountain,  therefrom  issuing  a 
palm-tree  all  proper." 

But  landscape  has  very  extensively  been  made  use  of  in  the  aug- 
mentations which  were  granted  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  and 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  centuries.  In  these  cases  the  augmentation 
very  generally  consisted  of  a  chief  and  thereon  a  representation  either 
of  some  fort  or  ship  or  action,  and  though  the  field  of  the  augmenta- 
tion is  officially  blazoned  argent  in  nearly  every  case,  there  is  no  doubt 
the  artist  was  permitted,  and  perhaps  intended,  to  depict  clouds  and 
other  "  atmosphere  "  to  add  to  the  verisimilitude  of  the  picture.  These 
augmentations  will  be  more  especially  considered  in  a  later  chapter,  but 
here  one  may  perhaps  be  permitted  to  remark,  that  execrable  as  we  now 
consider  such  landscape  heraldry,  it  ought  not  to  be  condemned  in  the 
wholesale  manner  in  which  it  has  been,  because  it  was  typical  of  the 
over  elaboration  to  be  found  in  all  art  and  all  artistic  ideas  of  the 
period  in  which  we  find  it  originating.     Heraldry  and  heraldic  art  have 


88       A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

always  been  a  mirror  of  the  artistic  ideas  prevalent  at  equivalent  periods, 
and  unless  heraldry  is  to  be  wholly  relegated  to  consideration  as  a  dead 
subject;  it  is  an  anachronism  to  depict  an  action  the  date  of  w^hich  is 
well  known  (and  which  date  it  is  desired  to  advertise  and  not  conceal) 
in  a  method  of  art  belonging  to  a  different  period.  In  family  arms  the 
case  is  different,  as  with  those  the  idea  apparently  is  always  the  con- 
cealment of  the  date  of  nobility. 

The  **  landscape  "  variety  of  heraldry  is  more  common  in  Germany 
than  with  us,  and  Strohl  writes :  ^'  Of  very  little  heraldic  worth 
are  the  old  house  and  home  signs  as  they  were  used  by  landed  pro- 
prietors, tradesmen,  and  artisans  or  workmen,  as  indicative  of  their 
possessions,  wares,  or  productions.  These  signs,  originally  simply  out- 
line pictures,  were  later  introduced  into  heraldic  soil,  inasmuch  as 
bourgeois  families  raised  to  the  nobility  adopted  their  house  signs  as 
heraldic  charges  upon  their  shields." 

There  are  also  many  coats  of  arms  which  run  :  "In  base,  a  repre- 
sentation of  water  proper,"  and  one  of  the  best  instances  of  this  will 
be  found  in  the  arms  of  Oxford,  though  for  the  sake  of  preserving  the 
pun  the  coat  in  this  case  is  blazoned  :  "  Argent,  an  ox  gules  passing 
over  a  ford  proper."  Similar  instances  occur  in  the  arms  of  Renfrew, 
Queensferry,  Leith,  Ryde,  and  scores  of  other  towns.  It  has  always 
been  considered  permissible  to  represent  these  either  by  an  attempt  to 
depict  natural  water,  or  else  in  the  ancient  heraldic  way  of  representing 
water,  namely  "  barry  wavy  argent  and  azure."  There  are  many  other 
coats  of  arms  which  are  of  a  similar  character  though  specifically 
blazoned  "  barry  wavy  argent  and  azure."  Now  this  representation  of 
water  in  base  can  hardly  be  properly  said  to  be  a  charge,  but  perhaps 
it  might  be  dismissed  as  such  were  it  not  that  one  coat  of  arms  exists 
in  Scotland,  the  whole  of  the  field  of  which  is  simply  a  representation 
of  water.  Unfortunately  this  coat  of  arms  has  never  been  matricu- 
lated in  Lyon  Register  or  received  official  sanction  ;  but  there  is  no 
doubt  of  its  ancient  usage,  and  were  it  to  be  now  matriculated  in 
conformity  with  the  Act  of  1672,  there  is  very  little  doubt  that  the 
ancient  characteristic  would  be  retained.  The  arms  are  those  of  the 
town  of  Inveraray  in  Argyllshire,  and  the  blazon  of  the  coat,  according  to 
the  form  it  is  depicted  upon  the  Corporate  seal,  would  be  for  the  field  : 
"  The  sea  proper,  therein  a  net  suspended  from  the  dexter  chief  and 
the  sinister  fess  points  to  the  base  ;  and  entangled  in  its  meshes  five 
herrings,"  which  is  about  the  most  remarkable  coat  of  arms  I  have 
ever  come  across. 

Occasionally  a  "  field,"  or  portion  of  a  field,  will  be  found  to  be  a 
representation  of  masonry.  This  may  be  either  proper  or  of  some 
metal  or  colour.     The  arms  of  the  city  of  Bath  are :  "  Party  per  fesse 


THE   FIELD    OF   A   SHIELD  89 

embattled  azure  and  argent,  the  base  masonry,  in  chief  two  bars  wavy 
of  the  second  ;  over  all,  a  sword  in  pale  gules,  hilt  and  pommel  or." 
P'The  arms  of  Reynell  are  :  ^'  Argent,  masoned  sable,  a  chief  indented 
of  the  second." 

SEME 

The  use  of  the  term  ''  seme  "  must  be  considered  before  we  leave  the 
subject  of  the  field.  It  simply  means  ^*  powdered  with  "  or  ^<  strewed 
with"  any  objects,  the  number  of  the  latter  being  unlimited,  the 
purpose  being  to  evenly  distribute  them  over  the  shield.  In  depicting 
anything  seme,  care  is  usually  taken  that  some  of  the  charges  (with 
which  the  field  is  seme)  shall  be  partly  defaced  by  the  edges  of  the 
shield,  or  the  ordinary  upon  which  they  are  charged,  or  by  the  superior 


Fig.  44. — Arms  of  John, 
Lord  De  la  V^arr  {d. 
1398).  (From  MS. 
Ashm.  804,  iv.) 


Fig.  45. — Arms  of  John, 
Lord  Beaumont,  K.G. 
{d.  1396).  From  his 
Garter  Plate :  i  and  4, 
Beaumont ;  2  and  3, 
azure,  three  garbs  or 
(for  Comyn). 


Fig.  46. — Arms  of  Gil- 
bert Umfraville,  Earl 
of  Kyme  {d.  142 1). 
(From  Harl.  MS.  6163.) 


charge  itself,  to  indicate  that  the  field  is  not  charged  with  a  specific 
number  of  objects. 

There  are  certain  special  terms  which  may  be  noted.  A  field  or 
charge  seme  of  fleurs-de-lis  is  termed  ^^  sem6-de-lis,"  but  if  seme  of 
bezants  it  is  bezants,  and  is  termed  plat(^  if  sem6  of  plates. 

A  field  seme  of  billets  is  billetty  or  billette,  and  when  sem6  of  cross 
crosslets  it  is  termed  crusilly.  A  field  or  charge  sem6  of  drops  is 
termed  goutt^  or  gutty. 

Instances  of  coats  of  which  the  field  is  sem6  will  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  De  la  Warr  (see  Fig.  44),  which  are  :  Gules,  crusilly,  and  a 
lion  rampant  argent  ;  Beaumont  (see  Fig.  45) :  Azure,  seme-de-lis  and 
a  lion  rampant  or  ;  and  Umfraville  (see  Fig.  46) :  Gules,  sem6  of 
crosses  flory,  and  a  cinquefoil  or. 

The  goutte  or  drop  occasionally  figures  (in  a  specified  number)  as 
a  charge  ;  but  such  cases  are  rare,  its  more  frequent  use  being  to  show 


90      A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

a  field  seme.  British  heraldry  alone  has  evolved  separate  names  for 
the  different  colours,  all  other  nations  simply  using  the  term  *'  goutt6  " 
or  '*  gutte,"  and  specifying  the  colour.  The  terms  we  have  adopted 
are  as  follows  :  For  drops  of  gold,  '^  gutte-d'or  "  ;  silver,  "  gutt^-d'eau  "  ; 
for  gules,  ^'  gutt6-de-sang  "  ;  azure,  '*  gutt6-de-larmes  "  ;  vert,  '^  gutt^- 
d'huile  "  ;  and  sable,  '^  gutt^-de-poix." 

The  term  seme  must  not  be  confused  with  diapering,  for  whilst  the 
objects  with  which  a  field  is  seme  are  an  integral  part  of  the  arms, 
diapering  is  a  purely  artistic  and  optional  matter. 


DIAPERING 

The  diapering  of  armorial  emblazonments  is  a  matter  with  which 
the  Science  of  armory  has  no  concern.  Diaper  never  forms  any  part  of 
the  blazon,  and  is  never  officially  noticed,  being  considered,  and  very 
properly  allowed  to  remain,  a  purely  artistic  detail.  From  the  artistic 
point  of  view  it  has  some  importance,  as  in  many  of  the  earliest  in- 
stances of  handicraft  in  which  armorial  decoration  appears,  very  elaborate 
diapering  is  introduced.  The  frequency  with  which  diapering  is  met 
with  in  armorial  handicraft  is  strangely  at  variance  with  its  absence 
in  heraldic  paintings  of  the  same  periods,  a  point  which  may  perhaps 
be  urged  upon  the  attention  of  some  of  the  heraldic  artists  of  the 
present  day,  who  would  rather  seem  to  have  failed  to  grasp  the  true 
purpose  and  origin  and  perhaps  also  the  use  of  diaper.  In  stained  glass 
and  enamel  work,  where  the  use  of  diaper  is  most  frequently  met  with, 
it  was  introduced  for  the  express  purpose  of  catching  and  breaking  up 
the  light,  the  result  of  which  was  to  give  an  enormously  increased  effect 
of  brilliance  to  the  large  and  otherwise  flat  surfaces.  These  tricks  of 
their  art  and  craft  the  old  handicraftsmen  were  past  masters  in  the  use 
of.  But  no  such  purpose  could  be  served  in  a  small  painting  upon 
vellum.  For  this  reason  early  heraldic  emblazonments  are  seldom  if 
ever  found  to  have  been  diapered.  With  the  rise  of  heraldic  engraving 
amongst  the  **  little  masters  "  of  German  art,  the  opportunity  left  to  their 
hands  by  the  absence  of  colour  naturally  led  to  the  renewed  use  of 
diaper  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  blanks  in  their  work.  The  use  of 
diaper  at  the  present  day  needs  to  be  the  result  of  careful  study  and 
thought,  and  its  haphazard  employment  is  not  recommended. 

If,  as  Woodward  states  (an  assertion  one  is  rather  inclined  to 
doubt),  there  are  some  cases  abroad  in  which  the  constant  use  of 
diapering  has  been  stereotyped  into  an  integral  part  of  the  arms,  these 
cases  must  be  exceedingly  few  in  number,  and  they  certainly  have  no' 
counterpart  in  the  armory  of  this  country.     Where  for  artistic  reasons 


THE   FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  91 

diapering  is  employed,  care  must  always  be  taken  that  the  decorative 
form  employed  cannot  be  mistaken  for  a  field  either  charged  or  seme. 

PARTITION    LINES 

If  there  is  one  subject  which  the  ordinary  text-books  of  armory 
treat  in  the  manner  of  classification  adapted  to  an  essay  on  natural 
history  or  grammar,  with  its  attendant  rigidity  of  rule,  it  is  the  subject 
of  partition  lines  ;  and  yet  the  whole  subject  is  more  in  the  nature  of 
a  set  of  explanations  which  must  each  be  learned  on  its  own  merits. 
The  usual  lines  of  partition  are  themselves  well  enough  known  ;  and 
it  is  hardly  necessary  to  elaborate  the  different  variations  at  any  great 
length.  They  may,  however,  be  enumerated  as  follows  :  Engrailed, 
embattled,  indented,  invecked  or  invected,  wavy  or  undy,  nebuly, 
dancett^,  raguly,  potent^,  dovetailed,  and  urdy.  These  are  the  lines 
which  are  recognised  by  most  modern  heraldic  text-books  and  generally 
recapitulated  ;  but  we  shall  have  occasion  later  to  refer  to  others  which 
are  very  well  known,  though  apparently  they  have  never  been  included 
in  the  classification  of  partition  lines  (Fig.  47).  Engrailed^  as  every 
one  knows,  is  formed  by  a  continuous  and  concurrent  series  of  small 
semicircles  conjoined  each  to  each,  the  sharp  points  formed  by  the  con- 
junction of  the  two  arcs  being  placed  outwards.  This  partition  Hne 
may  be  employed  for  the  rectilinear  charges  known  as  <'  ordinaries  "  or 
"  sub-ordinaries."  In  the  bend,  pale,  pile,  cross,  chief,  and  fess,  when 
these  are  described  as  engrailed  the  enclosing  lines  of  the  ordinary, 
other  than  the  edges  of  the  shield,  are  all  composed  of  these  small 
semicircles  with  the  points  turned  outwardsy  and  the  word  ^^  outwards  " 
must  be  construed  as  pointing  away  from  the  centre  of  the  ordinary 
when  it  is  depicted.  In  the  case  of  a  chief  the  points  are  turned  down- 
wards, but  it  is  rather  difficult  to  describe  the  use  of  the  term  when 
used  as  a  partition  line  of  the  field.  The  only  instance  I  can  call  to 
mind  where  it  is  so  employed  is  the  case  of  Baird  of  Ury,  the  arms  of 
this  family  being  :  Per  pale  engrailed  gules  and  or,  a  boar  passant 
counterchanged.  In  this  instance  the  points  are  turned  towards  the 
sinister  side  of  the  shield,  which  would  seem  to  be  correct,  as,  there 
being  no  ordinary,  they  must  be  outwards  from  the  most  important 
position  affected,  which  in  this  case  undoubtedly  is  the  dexter  side  of 
the  shield.  In  the  same  way  ^'  per  fess  engrailed  "  would  be  presum- 
ably depicted  with  the  points  outwards  from  the  chief  line  of  the  shield, 
that  is,  they  would  point  downwards  ;  and  I  should  imagine  that  in 
^^  per  bend  engrailed  "  the  points  of  the  semicircles  would  again  be 
placed  inclined  towards  the  dexter  base  of  the  shield,  but  I  may  be 
wrong  in  these  two  latter  cases,  for  they  are  only  supposition.     This 


92       A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

point,  however,  which  puzzled  me  much  in  depicting  the  arms  of  Baird 
of  Ury,  I  could  find  explained  in  no  text-book  upon  the  subject. 

The  term  invected  or  invecked  is  the  precise  opposite  of  engrailed. 

ENGRAILED. 

INVECTED. 

C.  J      B II 18 II I      EMBATTLED. 

D.  AA/V\AA/VV\  INDENTED. 

DANCETTY 
WAVY 

^^  (deep) 


NEBULY 

(SHAIXOW) 

RAGULY 


J.    r*  'n  r"  *n  r-  ^  r*  »i  i-*  ^  r^  "i  C  POTENTE. 

K.  ZSTZYZXZYZSTZXZ  dovetailed. 


L. 


.mmmmtm 


FLORY 
COUNTER-FLORY 


RAYONNE. 


Fig.  47. — Lines  of  Partition. 

It  is  similarly  composed  of  small  semicircles,  but  the  points  are  turned 
inwards  instead  of  outwards,  so  that  it  is  no  more  than  the  exact  reverse 
of  engrailed,  and  all  the  regulations  concerning  the  one  need  to  be 
observed  concerning  the  other,  with  the  proviso  that  they  are  reversed. 


THE    FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  93 

The  partition  line  embattled  has  certain  peculiarities  of  its  own. 
When  dividing  the  field  there  can  be  no  difficulty  about  it,  inasmuch 
as  the  crenellations  are  equally  inwards  and  outwards  from  any  point, 
and  it  should  be  noted  that  the  term  <<  crenelle "  is  almost  as  often 
used  as  *'  embattled."  When,  however,  the  term  describes  an  ordinary, 
certain  points  have  to  be  borne  in  mind.  The  fess  or  the  bar  embattled 
is  drawn  with  the  crenellations  on  the  upper  side  only,  the  under  edge 
being  plain  unless  the  ordinary  is  described  both  as  ^<  embattled  and 
counter-embattled."  Similarly  a  chevron  is  only  crenellated  on  the 
upper  edge  unless  it  is  described  as  both  embattled  and  counter- 
embattled,  but  a  pale  embattled  is*  crenellated  on  both  edges  as  is  the 
cross  or  saltire.  Strictly  speaking,  a  bend  embattled  is  crenellated 
upon  the  upper  edge  only,  though  with  regard  to  this  ordinary  there 
is  much  laxity  of  practice.  I  have  never  come  across  a  pile  embattled  ; 
but  it  would  naturally  be  embattled  on  both  edges.  Some  writers 
make  a  distinction  between  embattled  and  bretessed,  giving  to  the 
former  term  the  meaning  that  the  embattlements  on  the  one  side  are 
opposed  to  the  indentations  on  the  other,  and  using  the  term  bretessed 
to  signify  that  embattlements  are  opposite  embattlements  and  indenta- 
tions opposite  indentations.  I  am  doubtful  as  to  the  accuracy  of  this 
distinction,  because  the  French  term  bretess^  means  only  counter- 
embattled. 

The  terms  indented  and  dancette  need  to  be  considered  together, 
because  they  differ  very  little,  and  only  in  the  fact  that  whilst  indented 
may  be  drawn  with  any  number  of  teeth,  dancette  is  drawn  with  a 
limited  number,  which  is  usually  three  complete  teeth  in  the  width  of 
the  field.  But  it  should  be  observed  that  this  rule  is  not  so  hard  and 
fast  that  the  necessity  of  artistic  depicting  may  not  modify  it  slightly. 
An  ordinary  which  is  indented  would  follow  much  the  same  rules  as 
an  ordinary  which  was  engrailed,  except  that  the  teeth  are  made  by 
small  straight  lines  for  the  indentations  instead  of  by  small  semicircles, 
and  instances  can  doubtless  be  found  of  all  the  ordinaries  qualified  by 
the  term  indented.  Dancette,  however,  does  not  lend  itself  so  readily 
to  general  application,  and  is  usually  to  be  found  applied  to  either  a 
fess  or  chief,  or  occasionally  a  bend.  In  the  case  of  a  fess  dancette 
the  indentations  on  the  top  and  bottom  lines  are  made  to  fit  into  each 
other,  so  that  instead  of  having  a  straight  band  with  the  edge  merely 
toothed,  one  gets  an  up  and  down  zig-zag  band  with  three  complete 
teeth  at  the  top  and  three  complete  teeth  at  the  bottom.  Whilst  a  fess, 
a  bar,  a  bend,  and  a  chief  can  be  found  dancette,  I  do  not  see  how  it 
would  be  possible  to  draw  a  saltire  or  a  cross  dancette.  At  any  rate 
the  resulting  figure  would  be  most  ugly,  and  would  appear  ill-balanced. 
A  pile  and  a  chevron  seem  equally  impossible,  though  there  does  not 


94      A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

seem  to  be  the  like  objection  to  a  pale  dancette.  An  instance  of  a 
bend  dancette  is  found  in  the  arms  of  Cuffe  (Lord  Desart),  which  are  : 
Argent;  on  a  bend  dancette  sable,  plain  cotised  azure,  three  fleurs-de- 
lis,  and  on  each  cotise  as  many  bezants. 

JVavy  or  undy,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  taken  from  water, 
and  nebulyf  which  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  clouds,  are  of  course 
lines  which  are  well  known.  They  are  equally  applicable  to  any 
ordinary  and  to  any  partition  of  the  field  ;  but  in  both  cases  it  should 
be  noticed  by  artists  that  there  is  no  one  definite  or  accepted  method 
of  depicting  these  lines,  and  one  is  quite  at  liberty,  and  might  be 
recommended,  to  widen  out  the  indentations,  or  to  increase  them  in 
height,  as  the  artistic  requirements  of  the  work  in  hand  may  seem  to 
render  advisable.  It  is  only  by  bearing  this  in  mind  and  treating 
these  lines  with  freedom  that  really  artistic  work  can  sometimes  be 
produced  where  they  occur.  There  is  no  fixed  rule  either  as  to  the 
width  which  these  lines  may  occupy  or  as  to  the  number  of  indentations 
as  compared  with  the  width  of  the  shield,  and  it  is  a  pity  to  introduce 
or  recognise  any  regulations  of  this  character  where  none  exist.  There 
are  writers  who  think  it  not  unlikely  that  vaire  and  barry  nebuly  were 
one  and  the  same  thing.  It  is  at  any  rate  difficult  in  some  old  repre- 
sentations to  draw  any  noticeable  distinctions  between  the  methods  of 
depicting  barry  nebuly  and  vair. 

The  line  raguly  has  been  the  subject  of  much  discussion.  It,  and 
the  two  which  follow,  viz.  potent^  and  dovetailed,  are  all  comparatively 
modern  introductions.  It  would  be  interesting  if  some  enthusiast 
would  go  carefully  through  the  ancient  Rolls  of  Arms  and  find  the 
earliest  occurrences  of  these  terms.  My  own  impression  is  that  they 
would  all  be  found  to  be  inventions  of  the  mediaeval  writers  on  heraldry. 
Raguly  is  the  same  as  embattled,  with  the  crenellations  put  upon  the 
slant.  Some  writers  say  they  should  slant  one  way,  others  give  them 
slanting  the  reverse.  In  a  pale  or  a  bend  the  teeth  must  point  upwards  ; 
but  in  a  fess  I  should  hesitate  to  say  whether  it  were  more  correct  for 
them  to  point  to  the  dexter  or  to  the  sinister,  and  I  am  inclined  to 
consider  that  either  is  perfectly  correct.  At  any  rate,  whilst  they  are 
usually  drawn  inclined  to  the  dexter,  in  Woodward  and  Burnett 
they  are  to  the  sinister,  and  Guillim  gives  them  turned  to  the  dexter, 
saying,  ''This  form  of  line  I  never  yet  met  with  in  use  as  a  partition, 
though  frequently  in  composing  of  ordinaries  referring  them  like  to 
the  trunks  of  trees  with  the  branches  lopped  off,  and  that  (as  I  take  it) 
it  was  intended  to  represent."  Modern  heraldry  supplies  an  instance 
which  in  the  days  of  Mr.  Guillim,  of  course,  did  not  exist  to  refer  to. 
This  instance  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the  late  Lord  Leighton,  which 
were :   *'  Quarterly  per  fesse  raguly  or  and  gules,  in  the  second  and 


THE    FIELD    OF    A    SHIELD  95 

third  quarters  a  wyvern  of  the  first."  It  is  curious  that  Guillim,  even 
in  the  edition  of  1724,  does  not  mention  any  of  the  remaining  terms. 
Dovetailed  in  modern  armory  is  even  yet  but  seldom  made  use  of, 
though  I  can  quote  two  instances  of  coats  of  arms  in  which  it  is  to 
be  found,  namely,  the  arms  of  Kirk,  which  are  :  '<  Gules,  a  chevron 
dovetailed  ermine,  on  a  chief  argent,  three  dragons'  heads  couped  of 
the  field  ; "  and  Ambrose  :  ^'  Azure,  two  lions  passant  in  pale  argent, 
on  a  chief  dovetailed  of  the  last,  a  fleur-de-lis  between  two  annulets 
of  the  first."  Other  instances  of  dovetailed  used  as  a  line  of  partition 
will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Farmer,  which  are  :  "  Per 
chevron  dovetailed  gules  and  argent,  in  chief  two  lions'  heads  erased 
of  the  last,  and  in  base  a  salamander  in  flames  proper  ; "  and  in  the 
arms  of  Fenton  namely  :  "  Per  pale  argent  and  sable,  a  cross  dovetailed, 
in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters  a  fleur-de-lis,  and  in  the  second  and 
third  a  trefoil  slipped  all  countercharged."  There  are,  of  course,  many 
others.  The  term  potente,  as  will  be  seen  from  a  reference  to  Fig.  47, 
is  used  to  indicate  a  line  which  follows  the  form  of  the  division  lines 
in  the  fur  potent.     As  one  of  the  partition  lines  potent^  is  very  rare. 

As  to  the  term  tirdyj  which  is  given  in  Woodward  and  Burnett 
and  also  in  Berry,  I  can  only  say  I  personally  have  never  come  across 
an  instance  of  its  use  as  a  partition  line.  A  cross  or  a  billet  urdy  one 
knows,  but  urdy  as  a  partition  line  I  have  yet  to  find.  It  is  significant 
that  it  is  omitted  in  Parker  except  as  a  term  applicable  to  a  cross,  and 
the  instances  and  variations  given  by  Berry,  ^'  urdy  in  point  paleways  " 
and  "  contrary  urdy,"  I  should  be  much  more  inclined  to  consider  as 
variations  of  vair  ;  and,  though  it  is  always  well  to  settle  points  which 
can  be  settled,  I  think  urdy  and  its  use  as  a  partition  line  may  be  well 
left  for  further  consideration  when  examples  of  it  come  to  hand. 

There  is  one  term,  however,  which  is  to  be  met  with  at  the  present 
time,  but  which  I  have  never  seen  quoted  in  any  text-book  under  the 
heading  of  a  partition  line  ;  that  is,  <'  flory  counter-flory,"  which  is  of 
course  formed  by  a  succession  of  fleurs-de-lis  alternately  reversed  and 
counterchanged.  They  might  of  course  be  blazoned  after  the  quota- 
tion of  the  field  as  '*  per  bend  "  or  '<  per  chevron  "  as  the  case  might  be, 
simply  as  so  many  fleurs-de-lis  counterchanged,  and  alternately  reversed 
in  a  specified  position  ;  but  this  never  appears  to  be  the  case,  and 
consequently  the  fleurs-de-lis  would  appear  to  be  essentially  parts  of 
the  field  and  not  charges.  I  have  sometimes  thought  whether  it  would 
not  be  more  correct  to  depict  "per  something"  flory  and  counter-flory 
without  completing  the  fleurs-de-lis,  simply  leaving  the  alternate  tops  of 
the  fleurs-de-lis  to  show.  In  the  cases  of  the  illustrations  which  have 
come  under  my  notice,  however,  the  whole  fleur-de-lis  is  depicted,  and 
as  an  instance  of  the  use  of  the  term  may  be  mentioned  the  arms  of 


96      A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Dumas,  which  are  :  "  Per  chevron  flory  and  counter-flory  or  and  azure, 
in  chief  two  Hons'  gambs  erased,  and  in  base  a  garb  counterchanged." 
But  when  the  term  flory  and  counter-flory  is  used  in  conjunction  with 
an  ordinary,  e,g.  a  fess  flory  and  counter-flory,  the  half  fleurs-de-Hs, 
only  alternately  reversed,  are  represented  on  the  outer  edges  of  the 
ordinary. 

I  think  also  that  the  word  ^^ arched"  should  now  be  included  as  a 
partition  line.  I  confess  that  the  only  form  in  which  I  know  of  it  is  that 
it  is  frequently  used  by  the  present  Garter  King  of  Arms  in  designing 
coats  of  arms  with  chiefs  arched.  Recently  Garter  has  granted  a  coat 
with  a  chief  double  arched.  But  if  a  chief  can  be  arched  I  see  no 
reason  why  a  fesse  or  a  bar  cannot  equally  be  so  altered,  and  in  that 
case  it  undoubtedly  becomes  a  recognised  line  of  partition.  Perhaps 
it  should  be  stated  that  a  chief  arched  is  a  chief  with  its  base  line  one 
arc  of  a  large  circle.  The  diameter  of  the  circle  and  the  consequent 
acuteness  of  the  arch  do  not  appear  to  be  fixed  by  any  definite  rule, 
and  here  again  artistic  requirements  must  be  the  controlling  factor  in 
any  decision.  Elvin  in  his  "Dictionary  of  Heraldic  Terms"  gives  a 
curious  assortment  of  lines,  the  most  curious  of  all,  perhaps,  being 
indented  embowed,  or  hacked  and  hewed.  Where  such  a  term  origi- 
nated or  in  what  coat  of  arms  it  is  to  be  found  I  am  ignorant,  but  the 
appearance  is  exactly  what  would  be  presented  by  a  piece  of  wood 
hacked  with  an  axe  at  regular  intervals.  Elvin  again  makes  a  difference 
between  bretessed  and  embattled-counter-embattled,  making  the  em- 
battlement  on  either  side  of  an  ordinary  identical  in  the  former  and 
alternated  in  the  latter.  He  also  makes  a  difference  between  raguly, 
which  is  the  conventional  form  universally  adopted,  and  raguled  and 
trunked,  where  the  ordinary  takes  the  representation  of  the  trunk  of  a 
tree  with  the  branches  lopped  ;  but  these  and  many  others  that  he  gives 
are  refinements  of  idea  which  personally  I  should  never  expect  to  find 
in  actual  use,  and  of  the  instances  of  which  I  am  unaware.  I  think, 
however,  the  term  *^  rayonnej'  which  is  found  in  both  the  arms  of 
OTiara  and  the  arms  of  Colman,  and  which  is  formed  by  the  addition 
of  rays  to  the  ordinary,  should  take  a  place  amongst  lines  of  partition, 
though  I  admit  I  know  of  no  instance  in  which  it  is  employed  to  divide 
the  field. 

METHODS    OF    PARTITION 

The  field  of  any  coat  of  arms  is  the  surface  colour  of  the  shield, 
and  is  supposed  to  include  the  area  within  the  limits  formed  by  its  out- 
line. There  are,  as  has  been  already  stated,  but  few  coats  of  a  single 
colour  minus  a  charge  to  be  found  in   British  heraldry.     But  there 


THE    FIELD    OF   A    SHIELD  97 

are  many  which  consist  of   a  field  divided  by  partition  lines  only,  of 
which  some  instances  were  given  on  page  69. 

A  shield  may  be  divided  by  partition  lines  running  in  the  direction 
of  almost  any  ^^  ordinary,"  in  which  case  the  field  will  be  described  as 


1     or  •*  per  cnevn 
Per  fess 

m. 

CKC.      It  may  be  : 

Fig.  48 

Per  bend 

„    49 

Per  bend  sinister 

„    50 

Per  pale 

.        '.             ;,    51 

Per  chevron      i 

,,    52 

Per  cross 

n     53 

(though  it  should  be  noted  that  the  more  usual  term  em 

ployed 

for 

this  is  <<  quarterly  ") 

Per  saltire 

. 

Fig.  54 

But  a  field  cannot  be   '*  per  pile  "  or  ^'  per  chief,"  because  there  is 
no  other  way  of  representing  these  ordinaries. 


Fig.  48.— Per  fess. 


Fig.  49.— Per  bend. 


Fig.  50. — Per  bend  sinister. 


Fig.  51. — Per  pale. 


Fig.  52. — Per  chevron.  Fig.  53. — Per  cross  or  quarterly. 


A  field  can  be  composed  of  any  number  of  pieces  in  the  form  of  the 
ordinaries  filling  the  area  of  the  shield,  in  which  case  the  field  is  said 
to  be  ^^  barry  "  (Figs.  55  and  56),  <^  paly  "  (Fig.  57),  ^^  bendy  "  (Fig.  58), 
<'  chevronny  "  (Fig.  59),  &c.,  but  the  number  of  pieces  must  be  specified. 

G 


98       A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

Another  method  of  partition  will  be  found  in  the  fields  "  cheeky  " 
(or  "  chequy  ")  and  lozengy  ;  but  these  divisions,  as  also  the  foregoing, 
will  be  treated  more  specifically  under  the  different  ordinaries.     A  field 


Fig.  54. — Per  saltire. 


Fig.  55.— Barry. 


Fig.  56. — Barry  nebuly. 


Fig.  57 


Fig.  58.— Bendy. 


Fig.  59. — Chevronny. 


which  is  party  need  not  necessarily  have  all  its  lines  of  partition  the 
same.  This  peculiarity,  however,  seldom  occurs  except  in  the  case 
of  a  field  quarterly,  the  object  in  coats  of  this  character  being  to  pre- 
vent different  quarters  of  one  coat  of  arms  being  ranked  as  or  taken 
to  be  quarterings  representing  different  families. 


CHAPTER    VIII 
THE    RULES    OF    BLAZON 

THE  word  ''  Blazon  "  is  used  with  some  number  of  meanings,  but 
practically  it  may  be  confined  to  the  verb  ^^  to  blazon/'  which  is 
to  describe  in  words  a  given  coat  of  arms,  and  the  noun  ''  blazon," 
which  is  such  a  description. 

Care  should  be  taken  to  differentiate  between  the  employment  of 
the  term  '<  blazon  "  and  the  verb  '^  to  emblazon,"  which  latter  means  to 
depict  in  colour. 

It  may  here  be  remarked,  however,  that  to  illustrate  by  the  use  of 
outline  with  written  indications  of  colour  is  termed  "to  trick,"  and  a 
picture  of  arms  of  this  character  is  termed  "  a  trick." 

The  term  trick  has  of  late  been  extended  (though  one  almost  thinks 
improperly)  to  include  representations  of  arms  in  which  the  colours 
are  indicated  by  the  specified  tincture  lines  which  have  been  already 
referred  to. 

The  subject  of  blazon  has  of  late  acquired  rather  more  import- 
ance than  has  hitherto  been  conceded  to  it,  owing  to  an  unofficial 
attempt  to  introduce  a  new  system  of  blazoning  under  the  guise  of 
a  supposed  reversion  to  earlier  forms  of  description.  This  it  is  not, 
but  even  if  it  were  what  it  claims  to  be,  merely  the  revival  of  ancient 
forms  and  methods,  its  reintroduction  cannot  be  said  to  be  either  ex- 
pedient or  permissible,  because  the  ancient  practice  does  not  permit 
of  extension  to  the  limits  within  which  more  modern  armory  has  de- 
veloped, and  modern  armory,  though  less  ancient,  is  armory  equally 
with  the  more  ancient  and  simpler  examples  to  be  found  in  earlier  times. 
To  ignore  modern  armory  is  simply  futile  and  absurd. 

The  rules  to  be  employed  in  blazon  are  simple,  and  comparatively 
few  in  number. 

The  commencement  of  any  blazon  is  of  necessity  a  description  of 
the  field,  the  one  word  signifying  its  colour  being  employed  if  it  be  a 
simple  field  ;  or,  if  it  be  composite,  such  terms  as  are  necessary.  Thus, 
a  coat  divided  **  per  pale  "  or  *'  per  chevron  "  is  so  described,  and  whilst 
the  Scottish  field  of  this  character  is  officially  termed  ^*  Parted  "  [per 
pale,  or  per  chevron],  the  English  equivalent  is  "  Party,"  though  this 

99 


loo     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

word  in  English  usage  is  more  often  omitted  than  not  in  the  blazon 
which  commences  "  per  pale,"  or  ^*  per  chevron/'  as  the  case  may  be. 
The  description  of  the  different  colours  and  different  divisions  of  the 
field  have  all  been  detailed  in  earlier  chapters,  but  it  may  be  added 
that  in  a  ''  party  "  coloured  field,  that  colour  or  tincture  is  mentioned 
first  which  occupies  the  more  important  part  of  the  escutcheon.  Thus, 
in  a  field  *'  per  bend,"  "  per  chevron,"  or  '^  per  fess,"  the  upper  portion 
of  the  field  is  first  referred  to  ;  in  a  coat  *'  per  pale,"  the  dexter  side  is 
the  more  important  ;  and  in  a  coat  ''  quarterly,"  the  tinctures  of  the 
ist  and  4th  quarters  are  given  precedence  of  the  tinctures  of  the  2nd 
and  3rd.  The  only  division  upon  which  there  has  seemed  any  un- 
certainty is  the  curious  one  '^  gyronny,"  but  the  correct  method  to  be 
employed  in  this  case  can  very  easily  be  recognised  by  taking  the  first 
quarter  of  the  field,  and  therein  considering  the  field  as  if  it  were 
simply  '^  per  bend." 

After  the  field  has  been  described,  anything  of  which  the  field 
is  sem6  must  next  be  alluded  to,  e.g,  gules,  seme-de-lis  or,  &c. 

The  second  thing  to  be  mentioned  in  the  blazon  is  the  principal 
charge.  We  will  consider  first  those  cases  in  which  it  is  an  ordinary. 
Thus,  one  would  speak  of  ^^  Or,  a  chevron  gules,"  or,  if  there  be  other 
charges  as  well  as  the  ordinary,  *'  Azure,  a  bend  between  two  horses' 
heads  or,"  or  ^'  Gules,  a  chevron  between  three  roses  argent." 

The  colour  of  the  ordinary  is  not  mentioned  until  after  the  charge, 
if  it  be  the  same  as  the  latter,  but  if  it  be  otherwise  it  must  of  course 
be  specified,  as  in  the  coat :  ^^  Or,  a  fess  gules  between  three  crescents 
sable."  If  the  ordinary  is  charged,  the  charges  thereupon,  being  less 
important  than  the  charges  in  the  field,  are  mentioned  subsequently, 
as  in  the  coat :  "  Gules,  on  a  bend  argent  between  two  fountains  proper, 
a  rose  gules  between  two  mullets  sable." 

The  position  of  the  charges  need  not  be  specified  when  they  would 
naturally  fall  into  a  certain  position  with  regard  to  the  ordinaries.  Thus, 
a  chevron  between  three  figures  of  necessity  has  two  in  chief  and  one 
in  base.  A  bend  between  two  figures  of  necessity  has  one  above  ana 
one  below.  A  fess  has  two  above  and  one  below.  A  cross  between 
four  has  one  in  each  angle.  In  none  of  these  cases  is  it  necessary  to 
state  the  position.  If,  however,  those  positions  or  numbers  do  not 
come  within  the  category  mentioned,  care  must  be  taken  to  specify  what 
the  coat  exactly  is. 

If  a  bend  is  accompanied  only  by  one  charge,  the  position  of  this 
charge  must  be  stated.  For  example  :  ^^Gules,  a  bend  or,  in  chief  a 
crescent  argent."  A  chevron^  with  four  figures  would  be  described  : 
'*  Argent,  a  chevron  between  three  escallops  in  chief  and  one  in  base 
sable,"  though  it  would  be  equally  correct  to  say  :  "  Argent,  a  chevron 


THE    RULES    OF    BLAZON  loi 

between  four  escallops,  three  in  chief  and  one  in  base  sable."  In  the 
same  way  we  should  get :  ''Vert,  on  a  cross  or,  and  in  the  ist  quarter 
a  bezant,  an  estoile  sable  ; "  though,  to  avoid  confusion,  this  coat  would 
more  probably  be  blazoned  :  ''  Vert,  a  cross  or,  charged  with  an  estoile 
sable,  and  in  the  first  quarter  a  bezant."  This  example  will  indicate  the 
latitude  which  is  permissible  if,  for  the  sake  of  avoiding  confusion  and 
making  a  blazon  more  readily  understandable,  some  deviation  from  the 
strict  formulas  would  appear  to  be  desirable. 

If  there  be  no  ordinary  on  a  shield,  the  charge  which  occupies  the 
chief  position  is  mentioned  first.  For  example :  ''  Or,  a  lion  rampant 
sable  between  three  boars'  heads  erased  gules,  two  in  chief  and  one  in 
base."  Many  people,  however,  would  omit  any  reference  to  the 
position  of  the  boars'  heads,  taking  it  for  granted  that,  as  there  were 
only  three,  they  would  be  2  and  i,  which  is  the  normal  position  of 
three  charges  in  any  coat  of  arms.  If,  however,  the  coat  of  arms  had 
the  three  boars'  heads  all  above  the  lion,  it  would  then  be  necessary 
to  blazon  it :  ''  Or,  a  lion  rampant  sable,  in  chief  three  boars'  heads 
erased  gules." 

When  a  field  is  seme  of  anything,  this  is  taken  to  be  a  part  of  the 
field,  and  not  a  representation  of  a  number  of  charges.  Consequently 
the  arms  of  Long  are  blazoned  :  ''  Sable,  sem6  of  cross  crosslets,  a 
lion  rampant  argent."  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  sem6  of  cross  crosslets 
is  always  termed  crusilly,  as  has  been  already  explained. 

When  charges  are  placed  around  the  shield  in  the  position  they 
would  occupy  if  placed  upon  a  bordure,  these  charges  are  said  to  be 
''  in  orle,"  as  in  the  arms  of  Hutchinson  :  ''  Quarterly,  azure  and  gules, 
a  lion  rampant  erminois,  within  four  cross  crosslets  argent,  and  as 
many  bezants  alternately  in  orle  ; "  though  it  is  equally  permissible 
"to  term  charges  in  such  a  position  ''an  orle  of  [e.g.  cross  crosslets 
argent  and  bezants  alternately],"  or  so  many  charges  "  in  orle  "  (see 
Fig.  60). 

If  an  ordinary  be  engrailed,  or  invected,  this  fact  is  at  once  stated, 
>the  term  occurring  before  the  colour  of  the  ordinary.  Thus  :  "  Argent, 
on  a  chevron  nebuly  between  three  crescents  gules,  as  many  roses  of 
the  field."  When  a  charge  upon  an  ordinary  is  the  same  colour  as  the 
field,  the  name  of  the  colour  is  not  repeated,  but  those  charges  are  said 
to  be  "  of  the  field." 

It  is  the  constant  endeavour,  under  the  recognised  system,  to 
avoid  the  use  of  the  name  of  the  same  colour  a  second  time  in  the 
blazon.  Thus  :  "  Quarterly,  gules  and  or,  a  cross  counterchanged 
between  in  the  first  quarter  a  sword  erect  proper,  pommel  and  hilt  of 
the  second ;  in  the  second  quarter  a  rose  of  the  first,  barbed  and 
seeded   of  the  third  ;  in  the  third  quarter  a  fleur-de-lis  azure  ;  and 


Fig.  6o. — Arms  of  Aymer 
de  Valence,  Earl  of 
Pembroke  :  ' '  Baruly  ar- 
gent and  azure,  an  orle  of 
martlets  gules."  (From 
his  seal.) 


102     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

in  the  fourth   quarter  a  mullet  gold" — ^the  use  of  the  term  "gold" 
being  alone  permissible  in  such  a  case. 

Any  animal  which  needs  to  be  described,  also  needs  its  position  to 
be  specified.  It  may  be  rampant,  segreant,  passant,  statant,  or  trippant, 
as  the  case  may  be.  It  may  also  sometimes  be 
necessary  to  specify  its  position  upon  the  shield, 
but  the  terms  peculiarly  appropriated  to  specific 
animals  will  be  given  in  the  chapters  in  which 
these  animals  are  dealt  with. 

With  the  exception  of  the  chief,  the  quarter, 
the  canton,  the  flaunch,  and  the  bordure,  an  ordi- 
nary or  sub-ordinary  is  always  of  greater  import- 
ance, and  therefore  should  be  mentioned  before 
any  other  charge,  but  in  the  cases  alluded  to  the 
remainder  of  the  shield  is  first  blazoned,  before 
attention  is  paid  to  these  figures.  Thus  we 
should  get :  "  Argent,  a  chevron  between  three 
mullets  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  last  three  cres- 
cents of  the  second  ; "  or  "  Sable,  a  lion  rampant  between  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  or,  on  a  canton  argent  a  mascle  of  the  field  ; "  or  "  Gules,  two 
chevronels  between  three  mullets  pierced  or,  within  a  bordure  engrailed 
argent  charged  with  eight  roses  of  the  field."  The  arms  in  Fig.  6i 
are  an  interesting  example  of  this  point.  They 
are  those  of  John  de  Bretagne,  Earl  of  Richmond 
{d.  1334),  and  would  properly  be  blazoned: 
''  Chequy  or  and  azure,  a  bordure  gules,  charged 
with  lions  passant  guardant  or  (^  a  bordure  of 
England  '),  over  all  a  canton  (sometimes  a  quarter) 
ermine." 

If  two  ordinaries  or  sub-ordinaries  appear  in 
the  same  field,  certain  discretion  needs  to  be 
exercised,  but  the  arms  of  Fitzwalter,  for  example, 
are  as  follows  :  "  Or,  a  fess  between  two  chevrons 
gules." 

When  charges  are  placed  in  a  series  following  the  direction  of  any 
ordinary  they  are  said  to  be  '*  in  bend,"  "  in  chevron,"  or  "  in  pale,"  as 
the  case  may  be,  and  not  only  must  their  position  on  the  shield  as 
regards  each  other  be  specified,  but  their  individual  direction  must  also 
be  noted. 

A  coat  of  arms  in  which  three  spears  were  placed  side  by  side,  but 
each  erect,  would  be  blazoned  :  "  Gules,  three  tilting-spears  palevv^se  in 
fess ; "  but  if  the  spears  were  placed  horizontally,  one  above  the  other, 
they    would    be    blazoned :    <'  Three    tilting-spears    fesswise    in    pale," 


Fig.  61.  —  The  arms  of 
John  de  Bretagne,.  Earl 
of  Richmond. 


THE   RULES   OF   BLAZON  103 

because  in  the  latter  case  each  spear  is  placed  fesswise,  but  the  three 
occupy  in  relation  to  each  other  the  position  of  a  pale.  Three  tilting- 
spears  fesswise  which  were  not  in  pale  would  be  depicted  2  and  i. 

When  one  charge  surmounts  another,  the  undermost  one  is 
mentioned  first,  as  in  the  arms  of  Beaumont  (see  Fig.  62).  Here  the 
lion  rampant  is  the  principal  charge,  and  the  bend  which  debruises  it 
is  consequently  mentioned  afterwards. 

In  the  cases  of  a  cross  and  of  a  saltire,  the  charges  when  all  are 
alike  would  simply  be  described  as  between  four  objects,  though 
the  term  "  cantonned  by  "  four  objects  is  sometimes  met  with.  If  the 
objects  are  not  the  same,  they  must  be  specified 
as  being  in  the  ist,  2nd,  or  3rd  quarters,  if  the 
ordinary  be  a  cross.  If  it  be  a  saltire,  it  will  be 
found  that  in  Scotland  the  charges  are  mentioned 
as  being  in  chief  and  base,  and  in  the  ^'  flanks." 
In  England  they  would  be  described  as  -being 
ill  pale  and  in  fess  if  the  alternative  charges  are 
the  same  ;  if  not,  they  would  be  described  as  in 
chief,  on  the  dexter  side,  on  the  sinister  side,  and 

in  base  Fig.  62. — Arms  of  John  de 

*  '  .  Beaumont,    Lord    Beau- 

When  a  specified  number  of  charges  is  mont  {d.  1369) :  Azure, 
immediately   followed   by   the    same    number   of       seme-de-iis  and  a  Hon 

J  J  ,  rampant  or,   over  all  a 

charges  elsewhere  disposed,  the  number  is  not  bend  gobony  argent  and 
repeated,  the  words  ''  as  many  "  being  substituted  ^uies.  (From  his  seal.) 
instead.  Thus  :  *'  Argent,  on  a  chevron  between  three  roses  gules,  as 
many  crescents  of  the  field."  When  any  charge,  ordinary,  or  mark 
of  cadency  surmounts  a  single  object,  that  object  is  termed  "  de- 
bruised  "  by  that  ordinary.  If  it  surmounts  everything^  as,  for  instance, 
*'  a  bendlet  sinister,"  this  would  be  termed  "  over  all."  When  a  coat 
of  arms  is  ^^  party  "  coloured  in  its  field  and  the  charges  are  alternately 
of  the  same  colours  transposed,  the  term  counterchanged  is  used.  For 
example,  '*  Party  per  pale  argent  and  sable,  three  chevronels  between 
as  many  mullets  pierced  all  counterchanged."  In  that  case  the  coat 
is  divided  down  the  middle,  the  dexter  field  being  argent,  and  the 
sinister  sable  ;  the  charges  on  the  sable  being  argent,  whilst  the 
charges  on  the  argent  are  sable.  A  mark  of  cadency  is  mentioned 
last,  and  is  termed  "  for  difference " ;  a  mark  of  bastardy,  or  a  mark 
denoting  lack  of  blood  descent,  is  termed  "  for  distinction."  ; 

Certain  practical  hints,  which,  however,  can  hardly  be  termed 
rules,  were  suggested  by  the  late  Mr.  J.  Gough  Nicholls  in  1863,  when 
writing  in  the  Herald  and  Genealogist,  and  subsequent  practice  has  since 
conformed  therewith,  though  it  may  be  pointed  out  with  advantage 
that  these  suggestions  are  practically,  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 


X 

I 

? 

4 

F 

6 

c^ 

8 

y° 

B 


104    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  same  rules  which  have  been  observed  officially  over  a  long  period. 
Amongst  these  suggestions  he  advises  that  the  blazoning  of  every  coat 
or  quarter  should  begin  with  a  capital  letter,  and  that,  save  on  the  occur- 
rence of  proper  names,  no  other  capitals  should  be  employed.  He 
also  suggests  that  punctuation  marks  should  be  avoided  as  much  as 
possible,  his  own  practice  being  to  limit  the  use  of  the  comma  to  its 
occurrence  after  each  tincture.  He  suggests 
also  that  figures  should  be  omitted  in  all  cases 
except  in  the  numbering  of  quarterings. 

When  one  or  more  quarterings  occur,  each 
is  treated  separately  on  its  own  merits  and 
blazoned  entirely  without  reference  to  any  other 
quartering. 

In  blazoning  a  coat  in  which  some  quarter- 
ings (grand  quarterings)  are  composed  of  several 
coats  placed  sub-quarterly,  sufficient  distinction 
is  afforded  for  English  purposes  of  writing  or 
printing  if  Roman  numerals  are  employed  to 
indicate  the  grand  quarters,  and  Arabic  figures 
But  in  speaking  such  a  method  would  need  to  be 
in   accordance  with   the  Scottish   practice,  which 


Fig.  63.— a  to  B,  the  chief; 
C  to  D,  the  base  ;  A  to  C, 
dexter  side  ;  B  to  D,  sinis- 
ter side.  A,  dexter  chief; 
B,  sinister  chief ;  C,  dexter 
base;  D,  sinister  base,  i, 
2,  3,  chief;  7,  8,  9,  base; 
2,  5,8,  pale;  4,  5,  6,  fess; 
5,  fess  point. 


a 


the  sub-quarters. 

somewhat  modified 

describes  grand  quarterings  as  such,  and  so  alludes  to  them. 

The  extensive  use  of  bordures,  charged  and  uncharged,  in  Scotland, 
which  figure  sometimes  round  the  sub-quarters,  sometimes  round  the 
grand  quarters,  and  sometimes  round  the  entire  escutcheon, 
causes  so  much  confusion  that  for  the  purposes  of  blazon- 
ing it  is  essential  that  the  difference  between  quarters  and 
grand  quarters  should  be  clearly  defined. 

In  order  to  simplify  the  blazoning  of  a  shield,  and  so 
express   the   position  of   the   charges,    the  Jield  has    been 
divided   into  pomfs,  of  which  those  placed  near  the  top,         ^'^'   ^' 
and   to   the   dexter,  are   always   considered  the  more  important.      In 
heraldry,  dexter  and  sinister  are  determined,  not  from  the  point   of 
view  of  the  onlooker,  but  from  that  of  the  bearer  of  the  shield.      The 
diagram  (Fig.  63)  will  serve  to  explain  the  plan  of  a  shield's  surface. 

If  a  second  shield  be  placed  upon  the  fess  point,  this  is  called  an 
inescutcheon  (in  German,  the  <^  heart-shield  ").  The  enriching  of  the 
shield  with  an  inescutcheon  came  into  lively  use  in  Germany  in  the 
course  of  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  Later  on,  further 
points  of  honour  were  added,  as  the  honour  point  (a,  Fig.  64),  and  the 
nombril  point  (b.  Fig.  64).  These  extra  shields  laid  upon  the  others 
should  correspond  as  much  as  possible  in  shape  to  the  chief  shield.  If 
between  the  inescutcheon  and  the  chief  shield  still  another  be  inserted, 


THE   RULES    OF    BLAZON  105 

it  is  called  the  *'  middle  shield/'  from  its  position,  but  except  in  Anglicised 
versions  of  Continental  arms,  these  distinctions  are  quite  foreign  to 
British  armory. 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  stated  that  although  the  foregoing  are  the 
rules  which  are  usually  observed,  and  that  every  effort  should  be  made 
to  avoid  unnecessary  tautology,  and  to  make  the  blazon  as  brief  as 
possible,  it  is  by  no  manner  of  means  considered  officially,  or  unoffici- 
ally, that  any  one  of  these  rules  is  so  unchangeable  that  in  actual 
practice  it  cannot  be  modified  if  it  should  seem  advisable  so  to  do. 
For  the  essential  necessity  of  accuracy  is  of  far  greater  importance 
than  any  desire  to  be  brief,  or  to  avoid  tautology.  This  should  be 
borne  in  mind,  and  also  the  fact  that  in  official  practice  no  such  hide- 
bound character  is  given  to  these  rules,  as  one  is  led  to  believe  is  the 
case  when  perusing  some  of  the  ordinary  text-books  of  armory.  They 
certainly  are  not  laws,  they  are  hardly  ''  rules,"  perhaps  being  better 
described  as  accepted  methods  of  blazoning. 


CHAPTER    IX 

THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES    AND    SUB-ORDINARIES 

A  RMS,  and  the  charges  upon  arms,  have  been  divided  into  many 
/-\  fantastical  divisions.  There  is  a  type  of  the  precise  mind 
-*"  -^  much  evident  in  the  scientific  writing  of  the  last  and  the  pre- 
ceding centuries  which  is  for  ever  unhappy  unless  it  can  be  dividing 
the  object  of  its  consideration  into  classes  and  divisions,  into  sub- 
classes and  sub-divisions.  Heraldry  has  suffered  in  this  way  ;  for, 
oblivious  of  the  fact  that  the  rules  enunciated  are  impossible  as  rigid 
guides  for  general  observance,  and  that  they  never  have  been  complied 
with,  and  that  they  never  will  be,  a  '^  tabular  "  system  has  been  evolved 
for  heraldry  as  for  most  other  sciences.  The  '*  precise  "  mind  has  applied 
a  system  obviously  derived  from  natural  history  classification  to  the 
principles  of  armory.  It  has  selected  a  certain  number  of  charges, 
and  has  been  pleased  to  term  them  ordinaries.  It  has  selected  others 
which  it  has  been  pleased  to  term  sub-ordinaries.  The  selection  has 
been  purely  arbitrary,  at  the  pleasure  of  the  writer,  and  few  writers  have 
agreed  in  their  classifications.  One  of  the  foremost  rules  which 
former  heraldic  writers  have  laid  down  is  that  an  ordinary  must  con- 
tain the  third  part  of  the  field.  Now  it  is  doubtful  whether  an  ordi- 
nary has  ever  been  drawn  containing  the  third  part  of  the  field  by 
rigid  measurement,  except  in  the  solitary  instance  of  the  pale,  when  it 
is  drawn  "  per  fess  counterchanged,"  for  the  obvious  purpose  of 
dividing  the  shield  into  six  equal  portions,  a  practice  which  has  been 
lately  pursued  very  extensively  owing  to  the  ease  with  which,  by  its 
adoption,  a  new  coat  of  arms  can  be  designed  bearing  a  distinct  re- 
semblance to  one  formerly  in  use  without  infringing  the  rights  of  the 
latter.  Certainly,  if  the  ordinary  is  the  solitary  charge  upon  the  shield, 
it  will  be  drawn  about  that  specified  proportion.  But  when  an  attempt 
is  made  to  draw  the  Walpole  coat  (which  cannot  be  said  to  be  a  modern 
one)  so  that  it  shall  exhibit  three  ordinaries,  to  wit,  one  fess  and  two 
chevrons  (which  being  interpreted  as  three-thirds  of  the  shield,  would 
fill  it  entirely),  and  yet  leave  a  goodly  proportion  of  the  field  still  visible, 
the  absurdity  is  apparent.  And  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  classi- 
fication and  rules  which  occupy  such  a  large  proportion  of  the  space 
in  the  majority  of  heraldic  text-books  are  equally  unnecessary,  con- 

xo6 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  107 

fusing,  and  incorrect,  and  what  is  very  much  more  important,  such 
rules  have  never  been  recognised  by  the  powers  that  have  had  the 
control  of  armory  from  the  beginning  of  that  control  down  to  the 
present  day.  I  shall  not  be  surprised  to  find  that  many  of  my  critics, 
bearing  in  mind  how  strenuously  I  have  pleaded  elsewhere  for  a  right 
and  proper  observance  of  the  laws  of  armory,  may  think  that  the  fore- 
going has  largely  the  nature  of  a  recantation.  It  is  nothing  of  the 
kind,  and  I  advocate  as  strenuously  as  I  have  ever  done,  the  com- 
pliance with  and  the  observance  of  every  rule  which  can  be  shown  to 
exist.  But  this  is  no  argument  whatever  for  the  idle  invention  of 
rules  which  never  have  existed ;  or  for  the  recognition  of  rules  which 
have  no  other  origin  than  the  imagination  of  heraldic  writers.  Nor  is 
it  an  argument  for  the  deduction  of  unnecessary  regulations  from 
cases  which  can  be  shown  to  have  been  exceptions.  Too  little  re- 
cognition is  paid  to  the  fact  that  in  armory  there  are  almost  as  many 
rules  of  exception  as  original  rules.  There  are  vastly  more  plain  ex- 
ceptions to  the  rules  which  should  govern  them. 

On  the  subject  of  ordinaries,  I  cannot  see  wherein  lies  the  difference 
between  a  bend  and  a  lion  rampant,  save  their  difference  in  form,  yet 
the  one  is  said  to  be  an  ordinary,  the  other  is  merely  a  charge.  Each 
has  its  special  rules  to  be  observed,  and  whilst  a  bend  can  be  engrailed 
or  invected,  a  lion  can  be  guardant  or  regardant ;  and  whilst  the  one 
can  be  placed  between  two  objects,  which  objects  will  occupy  a 
specified  position,  so  can  the  other.  Each  can  be  charged,  and  each 
furnishes  an  excellent  example  of  the  futility  of  some  of  the  ancient 
rules  which  have  been  coined  concerning  them.  The  ancient  rules 
allow  of  but  one  lion  and  one  bend  upon  a  shield,  requiring  that  two 
bends  shall  become  bendlets,  and  two  lions  lioncels,  whereas  the  in- 
stance we  have  already  quoted — the  coat  of  Walpole — has  never  been 
drawn  in  such  form  that  either  of  the  chevrons  could  have  been  con- 
sidered chevronels,  and  it  is  rather  late  in  the  day  to  degrade  the  lions 
of  England  into  unblooded  whelps.  To  my  mind  the  ordinaries  and 
sub-ordinaries  are  no  more  than  first  charges,  and  though  the  bend, 
the  fess,  the  pale,  the  pile,  the  chevron,  the  cross,  and  the  saltire  will 
always  be  found  described  as  honourable  ordinaries,  whilst  the  chief 
seems  also  to  be  pretty  universally  considered  as  one  of  the  honour- 
able ordinaries,  such  hopeless  confusion  remains  as  to  the  others 
(scarcely  any  two  writers  giving  similar  classifications),  that  the  utter 
absurdity  of  the  necessity  for  any  classification  at  all  is  amply  demon- 
strated. Classification  is  only  necessary  or  desirable  when  a  certain 
set  of  rules  can  be  applied  identically  to  all  the  set  of  figures  in  that 
particular  class.  Even  this  will  not  hold  with  the  ordinaries  which 
have  been  quoted. 


io8     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

A  pale  embattled  is  embattled  upon  both  its  edges  ;  a  fess  em- 
battled is  embattled  only  upon  the  upper  edge  ;  a  chief  is  embattled 
necessarily  only  upon  the  lower  ;  and  the  grave  difficulty  of  distinguish- 
ing "per  pale  engrailed"  from  ^^per  pale  invected "  shows  that  no 
rigid  rules  can  be  laid  down.  When  we  come  to  sub-ordinaries,  the 
confusion  is  still  more  apparent,  for  as  far  as  I  can  see  the  only 
reason  for  the  classification  is  the  tabulating  of  rules  concerning  the 
lines  of  partition.  The  bordure  and  the  orle  can  be,  and  often  are, 
engrailed  or  embattled  ;  the  fret,  the  lozenge,  the  fusil,  the  mascle,  the 
rustre,  the  flanche,  the  roundel,  the  billet,  the  label,  the  pairle,  it  would 
be  practically  impossible  to  meddle  with  ;  and  all  these  figures  have 
at  some  time  or  another,  and  by  some  writer  or  other,  been  included 
amongst  either  the  ordinaries  or  the  sub-ordinaries.  In  fact  there  is 
no  one  quality  which  these  charges  possess  in  common  which  is  not 
equally  possessed  by  scores  of  other  well-known  charges,  and  there  is 
no  particular  reason  why  a  certain  set  should  be  selected  and  dignified 
by  the  name  of  ordinaries  ;  nor  are  there  any  rules  relating  to  ordi- 
naries which  require  the  selection  of  a  certain  number  of  figures,  or  of 
any  figures  to  be  controlled  by  those  rules,  with  one  exception.  The 
exception  is  to  be  found  not  in  the  rules  governing  the  ordinaries,  but 
in  the  rules  of  blazon.  After  the  field  has  been  specified,  the  princi- 
pal charge  must  be  mentioned  first,  and  no  charge  can  take  precedence 
of  a  bend,  fess,  pale,  pile,  chevron,  cross,  or  saltire,  except  one  of  them- 
selves. If  there  be  any  reason  for  a  subdivision  those  charges  must 
stand  by  themselves,  and  might  be  termed  the  honourable  ordinaries, 
but  I  can  see  no  reason  for  treating  the  chief,  the  quarter,  the  canton, 
gyron,  flanche,  label,  orle,  tressure,  fret,  inescutcheon,  chaplet,  bordure, 
lozenge,  fusil,  mascle,  rustre,  roundel,  billet,  label,  shakefork,  and 
pairle,  as  other  than  ordinary  charges.  They  certainly  are  purely 
heraldic,  and  each  has  its  own  special  rules,  but  so  in  heraldry  have 
the  lion,  griffin,  and  deer.  Here  is  the  complete  list  of  the  so-called 
ordinaries  and  sub-ordinaries  :  The  bend  ;  fess  ;  bar  ;  chief ;  pale  ; 
chevron  ;  cross  ;  saltire  ;  pile  ;  pairle,  shakefork  or  pall  ;  quarter  ; 
canton  ;  gyron  ;  bordure  ;  orle  ;  tressure  ;  flanche  ;  label,  fret  ;  in- 
escutcheon ;  chaplet  ;  lozenge  ;  fusil  ;  mascle  ;  rustre  ;  roundel ; 
billet,  together  with  the  diminutives  of  such  of  these  as  are  in  use. 

With  reference  to  the  origin  of  these  ordinaries,  by  the  use  of  which 
term  is  meant  for  the  moment  the  rectilinear  figures  peculiar  to  armory, 
it  may  be  worth  the  passing  mention  that  the  said  origin  is  a  matter  of 
some  mystery.  Guillim  and  the  old  writers  almost  universally  take 
them  to  be  derived  from  the  actual  military  scarf  or  a  representation  of 
it  placed  across  the  shield  in  various  forms.  Other  writers,  taking  the 
surcoat  and  its  decoration  as  the  real  origin  of  coats  of  arms,  derive 


THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  109 

the  ordinaries  from  the  belt,  scarf,  and  other  articles  of  raiment. 
Planche,  on  the  other  hand,  scouted  such  a  derivation,  putting  forward 
upon  very  good  and  plausible  grounds  the  simple  argument  that  the 
origin  of  the  ordinaries  is  to  be  found  in  the  cross-pieces  of  wood 
placed  across  a  shield  for  strengthening  purposes.  He  instances  cases 
in  which  shields,  apparently  charged  with  ordinaries  but  really 
strengthened  with  cross-pieces,  can  be  taken  back  to  a  period  long 
anterior  to  the  existence  of  regularised  armory.  But  then,  on  the 
other  hand,  shields  can  be  found  decorated  with  animals  at  an  equally 
early  or  even  an  earlier  period,  and  I  am  inclined  myself  to  push 
Planche's  own  argument  even  farther  than  he  himself  took  it,  and 
assert  unequivocally  that  the  ordinaries  had  in  themselves  no  particular 
symbolism  and  no  definable  origin  whatever  beyond  that  easy  method 
of  making  some  pattern  upon  a  shield  which  was  to  be  gained  by 
using  straight  lines.  That  they  ever  had  any  military  meaning,  I 
cannot  see  the  slightest  foundation  to  believe  ;  their  suggested  and 
asserted  symbolism  I  totally  deny.  But  when  we  can  find,  as  Planch^ 
did,  that  shields  were  strengthened  with  cross-pieces  in  various  direc- 
tions, it  is  quite  natural  to  suppose  that  these  cross-pieces  afforded  a 
ready  means  of  decoration  in  colour,  and  this  would  lead  a  good  deal 
of  other  decoration  to  follow  similar  forms,  even  in  the  absence  of 
cross-pieces  upon  the  definite  shield  itself.  The  one  curious  point 
which  rather  seems  to  tell  against  Planche's  theory  is  that  in  the 
earliest  *^  rolls  "  of  arms  but  a  comparatively  small  proportion  of  the 
arms  are  found  to  consist  of  these  rectilinear  figures,  and  if  the  ordi- 
naries really  originated  in  strengthening  cross-pieces  one  would  have 
expected  a  larger  number  of  such  coats  of  arms  to  be  found  ;  but  at 
the  same  time  such  arms  would,  in  many  cases,  in  themselves  be  so 
palpably  mere  meaningless  decoration  of  cross-pieces  upon  plain 
shields,  that  the  resulting  design  would  not  carry  with  it  such  a  com- 
pulsory remembrance  as  would  a  design,  for  example,  derived  from 
lines  which  had  plainly  had  no  connection  with  the  construction  of 
the  shield.  Nor  could  it  have  any  such  basis  of  continuity.  Whilst  a 
son  would  naturally  paint  a  lion  upon  his  shield  if  his  father  had 
done  the  same,  there  certainly  would  not  be  a  similar  inducement  for 
a  son  to  follow  his  father's  example  where  the  design  upon  a  shield 
were  no  more  than  different-coloured  strengthening  pieces,  because  if 
these  were  gilt,  for  example,  the  son  would  naturally  be  no  more  in- 
clined to  perpetuate  a  particular  form  of  strengthening  for  his  shield, 
which  might  not  need  it,  than  any  particular  artistic  division  with 
which  it  was  involved,  so  that  the  absence  of  arms  composed  of  ordi- 
naries from  the  early  rolls  of  arms  may  not  amount  to  so  very  much. 
Still  further,  it  may  well  be  concluded  that  the  compilers  of  early  rolls 


no     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  arms,  or  the  collectors  of  the  details  from  which  early  rolls  were 
made  at  a  later  date,  may  have  been  tempted  to  ignore,  and  may  have 
been  justified  in  discarding  from  their  lists  of  amis,  those  patterns 
and  designs  which  palpably  were  then  no  more  than  a  meaningless 
colouring  of  the  strengthening  pieces,  but  which  patterns  and  designs 
by  subsequent  continuous  usage  and  perpetuation  became  accepted 
later  by  certain  families  as  the  '^  arms  "  their  ancestors  had  worn.  It 
is  easy  to  see  that  such  meaningless  patterns  would  have  less  chance 
of  survival  by  continuity  of  usage,  and  at  the  same  time  would  re- 
quire a  longer  continuity  of  usage,  before  attaining  to  fixity  as  a 
definite  design. 

The  undoubted  symbolism  of  the  cross  in  so  many  early  coats  of 
arms  has  been  urged  strongly  by  those  who  argue  either  for  a  symbol- 
ism for  all  these  rectilinear  figures  or  for  an  origin  in  articles  of  dress. 
But  the  figure  of  the  cross  preceded  Christianity  and  organised  armory, 
and  it  had  an  obvious  decorative  value  which  existed  before,  and  which 
exists  now  outside  any  attribute  it  may  have  of  a  symbolical  nature. 
That  it  is  an  utterly  fallacious  argument  must  be  admitted  when  it  is 
remembered  that  two  lines  at  right  angles  make  a  cross — probably  the 
earliest  of  all  forms  of  decoration — and  that  the  cross  existed  before 
its  symbolism.  Herein  it  differs  from  other  forms  of  decoration  {e,g, 
the  Masonic  emblems)  which  cannot  be  traced  beyond  their  symbolical 
existence.  The  cross,  like  the  other  heraldic  rectilinear  figures,  came 
into  existence,  meaningless  as  a  decoration  for  a  shield,  before  armory 
as  such  existed,  and  probably  before  Christianity  began.  Then  being 
in  existence  the  Crusading  instinct  doubtless  caused  its  frequent  selec- 
tion with  an  added  symbolical  meaning.  But  the  argument  can 
truthfully  be  pushed  no  farther. 


THE    BEND 

The  bend  is  a  broad  band  going  from  the  dexter  chief  corner  to 
the  sinister  base  (Fig.  65).  According  to  the  old  theorists  this  should 
contain  the  third  part  of  the  field.  As  a  matter  of  fact  it  hardly  ever  does, 
and  seldom  did  even  in  the  oldest  examples.  Great  latitude  is  allowed 
to  the  artist  on  this  point,  in  accordance  with  whether  the  bend  be 
plain  or  charged,  and  more  particularly  according  to  the  charges  which 
accompany  it  in  the  shield  and  their  disposition  thereupon. 

"  Azure,  a  bend  or,"  is  the  well-known  coat  concerning  which  the 
historic  controversy  was  waged  between  Scrope  and  Grosvenor.  As 
every  one  knows,  it  was  finally  adjudged  to  belong  to  the  former,  and 
a  right  to  it  has  also  been  proved  by  the  Cornish  family  of  Carminow. 


THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  iii 

A  bend  is,  of  course,  subject  to  the  usual  variations  of  the  lines  of 
partition  (Figs.  66-75). 

A  bend  compony  (Fig.  76),  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Beaumont, 
and  the  difference  between  this  (in  which  the  panes  run  with  the  bend) 


Fig.  66. — Bend  engrailed. 


Fig.  68.— Bend  embattled 


Fig.  69.— Bend  embattled 
counter-embattled . 


Fig.  70. — Bend  raguly. 


Fig 


Bend  dovetailed. 


Fig.  72. — Bend  indented. 


Fig.  ys. — Bend  dancette. 


and  a  bend  barry  (in  which  the  panes  are  horizontal,  Fig.  77),  as  in 
the  arms  of  King/  should  be  noticed. 

A  bend  wavy  is  not  very  usual,  but  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
Wallop,  De  Burton,  and  Conder.  A  bend  raguly  appears  in  the  arms 
of  Strangman. 

1  Armorial  bearings  of  Sir  Henry  Seymour  King,  K.C.I. E. :  Quarterly,  argent  and  azure,  in 
the  second  and  third  quarters  a  quatrefoil  of  the  first,  over  all  a  bend  barry  of  six  of  the  second, 
charged  with  a  quatrefoil  also  of  the  first,  and  gules. 


112     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

When  a  bend  and  a  bordure  appear  upon  the  same  arms,  the  bend 
is  not  continued  over  the  bordure,  and  similarly  it  does  not  surmount 
a  tressure  (Fig.  78),  but  stops  within  it. 

A  bend  upon  a  bend  is  by  no  means  unusual.  An  example  of  this 
will  be  found  in  a  coat  of  Waller.  Cases  where  this  happens  need 
to  be  carefully  scrutinised  to  avoid  error  in  blazoning. 


Fig.  74. — Bend  wavy.  Fig.  75. — Bend  nebuly, 


Fig.  tj. — Bend  barry.  Fig.  78.— Bend  within  tressure.         Fig.  79.— Bend  lozengy. 

A  bend  lozengy,  or  of  lozenges  (Fig.  79),  will  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  Bolding. 

A  bend  flory  and  counterflory  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Fellows, 
a  quartering  of  Tweedy. 

A  bend  chequy  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Menteith,  and  it 
should  be  noticed  that  the  checks  run  the  way  of  the  bend. 

Ermine  spots  upon  a  bend  are  represented  the  way  of  the  bend. 

Occasionally  two  bends  will  be  found,  as  in  the  arms  of  Lever  : 
Argent,  two  bends  sable,  the  upper  one  engrailed  {vide  Lyon  Register 
— escutcheon  of  pretence  on  the  arms  of  Goldie-Scot  of  Craigmore, 
1868)  ;  or  as  in  the  arms  of  James  Ford,  of  Montrose,  1804:  Gules, 
two  bends  vaire  argent  and  sable,  on  a  chief  or,  a  greyhound  courant 
sable  between  two  towers  gules.  A  different  form  appears  in  the 
arms  of  Zorke  or  Yorke  (see  Papworth),  which  are  blazoned :  Azure, 
a  bend  argent,  impaling  argent,  a  bend  azure.  A  solitary  instance  of 
three  bends  (which,   however,  effectually   proves   that  a   bend  cannot 


Fig.  So.— Bendlets. 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  113 

occupy  the  third  part  of  the  field)  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Penrose, 
matriculated  in  Lyon  Register  in  1795  as  a  quartering  of  Cumming- 
Gordon  of  Altyre.  These  arms  of  Penrose  are  :  Argent,  three  bends 
sable,  each  charged  with  as  many  roses  of  the  field. 

A  charge  half  the  width  of  a  bend  is  a  bendlet  (Fig.  80),  and  one 
half  the  width  of  a  bendlet  is  a  cottise  (Fig.  81),  but  a  cottise  cannot 
exist  alone,  inasmuch  as  it  has  of  itself  neither 
direction  nor  position,  but  is  only  found  accom- 
panying one  of  the  ordinaries.  The  arms  of 
Harley  are  an  example  of  a  bend  cottised. 

Bendlets  will  very  seldom  be  found  either  in 
addition  to  a  bend,  or  charged,  but  the  arms  of 
Vaile  show  both  these  peculiarities. 

A  bend  will  usually  be  found  between  two 
charges.  Occasionally  it  will  be  found  between 
four,  but  more  frequently  between  six.  In  none 
of  these  cases  is  it  necessary  to  specify  the  posi- 
tion of  the  subsidiary  charges.  It  is  presumed  that  the  bend 
separates  them  into  even  numbers,  but  their  exact  position  (beyond 
this)  upon  the  shield  is  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  artist,  and  their 
disposition  is  governed  by  the  space  left  available 
by  the  shape  of  the  shield.  A  further  presump- 
tion is  permitted  in  the  case  of  a  bend  between 
three  objects,  which  are  presumed  to  be  two  in 
chief  and  one  in  base.  But  even  in  the  case 
of  three  the  position  will  be  usually  found  to  be 
specifically  stated,  as  would  be  the  case  with  any 
other  uneven  number. 

Charges  on  a  bend  are  placed  in  the  direction 
of  the  bend.  In  such  cases  it  is  not  necessary  to 
specify  that  the  charges  are  bendwise.  When  a 
charge  or  charges  occupy  the  position  which  a  bend  would,  they  are 
said  to  be  placed  "  in  bend."  This  is  not  the  same  thing  as  a 
charge  placed  '^  bendwise "  (or  bendways).  In  this  case  the  charge 
itself  is  slanted  into  the  angle  at  which  the  bend  crosses  the  shield, 
but  the  position  of  the  charge  upon  the  shield  is  not  governed 
thereby. 

When  a  bend  and  chief  occur  together  in  the  same  arms,  the  chief 
will  usually  surmount  the  bend,  the  latter  issuing  from  the  angle 
between  the  base  of  the  chief  and  the  side  of  the  shield.  An  instance 
to  the  contrary,  however,  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Fitz-Herbert  of 
Swynnerton,  in  which  the  bend  is  continued  over  the  chief.  This 
instance,  however  (as  doubtless  all  others  of  the  kind),  is  due  to  the. 


Fig.  81. — Bend  cottised. 


Fig.  82. — Bend  sinister. 


114     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

use  of  the  bend  in  early  times  as  a  mark  of  difference.  The  coat  of 
arms,  therefore,  had  an  earlier  and  separate  existence  without  the 
bend,  which  has  been  superimposed  as  a  difference  upon  a  previously 
existing  coat.  The  use  of  the  bend  as  a  difference  will  be  again 
referred  to  when  considering  more  fully  the  marks 
and  methods  of  indicating  cadency. 

A  curious  instance  of  the  use  of  the  sun's  rays 
in  bend  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Warde-Aldam.^ 
The  bend  sinister  (Fig.  82),  is  very  frequently 
stated  to  be  the  mark  of  illegitimacy.  It  certainly 
has  been  so  used  upon  some  occasions,  but  these 
occasions  are  very  few  and  far  between,  the  charge 
more  frequently  made  use  of  being  the  bendlet  or 
its  derivative  the  baton  (Fig.  83).  These  will  be 
treated  more  fully  in  the  chapter  on  the  marks  of 
illegitimacy.  The  bend  sinister,  which  is  a  band  running  from  the 
sinister  chief  corner  through  the  centre  of  the  escutcheon  to  the  dexter 
base,  need  not  necessarily  indicate  bastardy.  Naturally  the  popular 
idea  which  has  originated  and  become  stereotyped  concerning  it 
renders  its  appearance  extremely  rare,  but  in  at 
least  two  cases  it  occurs  without,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  carrying  any  such  meaning.  At  any  rate, 
in  neither  case  are  the  coats  '*  bastardised  "  versions 
of  older  arms.  These  cases  are  the  arms  of  Shiff- 
ner  :  '*  Azure,  a  bend  sinister,  in  chief  two  estoiles, 
in  like  bend  or  ;  in  base  the  end  and  stock  of  an 
anchor  gold,  issuing  from  waves  of  the  sea  proper  ;  " 
and  Burne-Jones  :  ^'  Azure,  on  a  bend  sinister  ar- 
gent, between  seven  mullets,  four  in  chief  and  three 
in  base  or,  three  pairs  of  wings  addorsed  purpure." 

No  coat  with  the  chief  charge  a  single  bendlet  occurs  in  Pap  worth. 
A  single  case,  however,  is  to  be  found  in  the  Lyon  Register  in  the  duly 
matriculated  arms  of  Porterfield  of  that  Ilk  :  ^'  Or,  a  bendlet  between 
a  stag's  head  erased  in  chief  and  a  hunting-horn  in  base  sable,  garnished 
gules."  Single  bendlets,  however,  both  dexter  and  sinister,  occur  as 
ancient  difference  marks,  and  are  then  sometimes  known  as  ribands. 
So  described,  it  occurs  in  blazon  of  the  arms  of  Abernethy :  *^  Or,  a 
lion  rampant  gules,  debruised  of  a  ribbon  sable,"  quartered  by  Lindsay, 
Earl  of  Crawford  and  Balcarres  ;  but  here  again  the  bendlet  is  a  mark 


Fig.  83.— Baton  sinister. 


^  Armorial  bearings  of  William  Warde-Aldam,  Esq. :  Quarterly,  I  and  4,  party  per  fesse  azure 
and  ermine,  in  the  sinister  chief  and  dexter  base  an  eagle  displayed  or,  in  the  dexter  canton  issuant 
towards  the  sinister  base  seven  rays,  the  centre  one  gold,  the  others  argent  (for  Aldam)  ;  2  and 
3  (for  Warde). 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  115 

of  cadency.  In  the  Gelre  Armorml,  in  this  particular  coat  the  ribbon 
is  made  '<  engrailed/'  which  is  most  unusual^  and  which  does  not 
appear  to  be  the  accepted  form.  In  many  of  the  Scottish  matriculations 
of  this  Abernethy  coat  in  which  this  riband  occurs  it  is  termed  a  '<  cost," 
doubtless  another  form  of  the  word  cottise. 

When  a  bend  or  bendlets  (or,  in  fact,  any  other  charge)  are  raised 
above  their  natural  position  in  the  shield  they  are  termed  "  enhanced  " 
(Fig.  84).  An  instance  of  this  occurs  in  the  well-known  coat  of 
Byron,  viz. :  ''  Argent,  three  bendlets  enhanced  gules,"  and  in  the  arms 
of  Manchester,  which  were  based  upon  this  coat. 

When  the  field  is  composed  of  an  even  number  of  equal  pieces 
divided  by  lines  following  the  angle  of   a  bend  the  field  is  blazoned 


Fig.  84. — Bendlets  enhanced. 


Fig.  85.— Pale. 


Fig.  86. — Pale  engrailed. 


'<  bendy"  of  so  many  (Fig.  58).  In  most  cases  it  will  be  composed  of 
six  or  eight  pieces,  but  as  there  is  no  diminutive  of  **  bendy,"  the  number 
must  always  be  stated. 


THE    PALE 


The  pale  is  a  broad  perpendicular  band  passing  from  the  top  of  the 
escutcheon  to  the  bottom  (Fig.  85).  Like  all  the  other  ordinaries,  it  is 
stated  to  contain  the  third  part  of  the  area  of  the  field,  and  it  is  the 
only  one  which  is  at  all  frequently  drawn  in  that  proportion.  But  even 
with  the  pale,  the  most  frequent  occasion  upon  which  this  proportion 
is  definitely  given,  this  exaggerated  width  will  be  presently  explained. 
The  artistic  latitude,  however,  permits  the  pale  to  be  drawn  of  this 
proportion  if  this  be  convenient  to  the  charges  upon  it. 

Like  the  other  ordinaries,  the  pale  will  be  found  varied  by  the 
different  lines  of  partition  (Figs,  86—94), 

The  single  circumstance  in  which  the  pale  is  regularly  drawn  to 
contain  a  full  third  of  the  field  by  measurement  is  when  the  coat  is 
"  per  fess  and  a  pale  counterchanged."  This,  it  will  be  noticed,  divides 
the  shield  into  six  equal  portions  (Fig.  95).     The  ease  with  which,  by 


ii6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  employment  of  these  conditions,  a  new  coat  can  be  based  upon  an 
old  one  which  shall  leave  three  original  charges  in  the  same  position, 
and  upon  a  field  of  the  original  tincture,  and  yet  shall  produce  an 
entirely  different  and  distinct  coat  of  arms,  has  led  to  this  particular 
form  being  constantly  repeated  in  modern  grants. 


Fig.  87.— Pale  invecked.  Fig.  88.— Pale  embattled.  Fig.  89.— Pale  raguly. 


Fig.  90.— Pale  dovetailed.  Fig.  91. — Pale  indented.  -Fig.  92. — Pale  wavy. 


Fig.  93. — Pale  nebuly. 


Fig.  94. — Pale  rayonne. 


Fig.  95. — Pale  per  fesse 
counter  changed. 


The  diminutive  of  the  pale  is  the  pallet  (Fig.  96),  and  the  pale 
cottised  is  sometimes  termed  "  endorsed." 

Except  when  it  is  used  as  a  mark  of  difference  or  distinction  (then 
usually  wavy),  the  pallet  is  not  found  singly  ;  but  two  pallets,  or  three, 
are  not  exceptional.  Charged  upon  other  ordinaries,  particularly  on 
the  chief  and  the  chevron,  pallets  are  of  constant  occurrence. 


THE  SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  117 

When  the  field  is  striped  vertically  it  is  said  to  be  ^'  paly  "  of  so 
many  (Fig.  57). 

The  arms  shown  in  Fig.  97  are  interesting  inasmuch  as  they  are 
doubtless  an  early  form  of  the  coat  per  pale  indented  argent  and 
gules,  which  is  generally  described  as  a  banner  borne  for  the  honour 
of  Hinckley;  by  the  Simons  de  Montfort,  Earls  of  Leicester,  father 
and  son.     In  a  Roll  temp.  Henry  III.,  to  Simon  the  younger  is  ascribed 


Fig.  96.— Pallets. 


Fig.  97.  —  The  arms  of 
Amaury  de  Montfort, 
Earl  of  Gloucester  ;  died 
before  1 2 14.  (From  his 
seal.) 


Fig.  98. — Arms  of  Simon 
de  Montfort,  Earl  of 
Leicester;  died  1265. 
(From  MS.  Cott.,  Nero, 
D.I.) 


Fig.  99. — Fess. 


Fig.  100. — Fess  engrailed. 


Fig.  ioi. — Fess  invecked. 


*'  Le  Banner  party  endentee  dargent  &  de  goules,"  although  the  arms  of 
both  father  and  son  are  known  to  have  been  as  Fig.  98:  <^  Gules,  a 
lion  rampant  queue-fourch^e  argent."  More  probably  the  indented  coat 
gives  the  original  Montfort  arms. 


THE    FESS 


The  fess  is  a  broad  horizontal  band  crossing  the  escutcheon  in 
the  centre  (Fig.  99).  It  is  seldom  drawn  to  contain  a  full  third  of 
the  area  of  the  shield.  It  is  subject  to  the  lines  of  partition  (Figs. 
100-109). 


JS^. 


ii8     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

A  curious  variety  of  the  fess  dancette  is  borne  by  the  Shropshire 
family  Plowden  of  Plowden.  They  bear  ;  Azure,  a  fess  dancette,  the 
upper  points  terminating  in  fleurs-de-lis  (Fig.  no).  A  fess  couped 
(Fig.  in)  is  found  in  the  arms  of  Lee. 


Fig.  I02. — Fess  embattled.  Fig.  103. — Fess  embattled 

counter-embattled. 


Fig.  104. — Fess  raguly. 


sAAAAAA/ 
WS/WW 


AAA 


Fig.  108. 


Fig.  109. — Fess  nebuly. 


Fig.  iio. — The  arms  of 
Plowden. 


-Fess  wavy. 

The  "fess  embattled"  is  only  crenellated  upon  the  upper  edge; 
but  when  both  edges  are  embattled  it  is  a  fess  embattled  and  counter- 
embattled.  The  term  bretesse  (which  is  said  to  indicate  that  the  battle- 
ments orf  the  upper  edge  are  opposite  the  battlements  on  the  lower 
edge,  and  the  indentations  likewise  corresponding)  is  a  term  and  a  dis- 
tinction neither  of  which  are  regarded  in  British  armory. 


X 


THE  SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  119 

A  fess  wreathed  (Fig.  112)  is  a  bearing  which  seems  to  be  almost 
peculiar  to  the  Carmichael  family,  but  the  arms  of  Waye  of  Devon  are 
an  additional  example,  being  :  Sable,  two  bars  wreathed  argent  and 
gules.  I  know  of  no  other  ordinary  borne  in  a  wreathed  form,  but 
there  seems  no  reason  why  this  peculiarity  should  be  confined  to 
the  fess. 

It  is  a  fixed  rule  of  British  armory  that  there  can  be  only  one  fess 
upon  a  shield.  If  two  figures  of  this  character  are  found  they  are 
termed  bars  (Fig.  113).      But  it  is  hardly  correct  to  speak  of  the  bar  as 


Hni 


Fig.  III. — Fess  couped. 


Fig.  112. — Fess  wreathed. 


Fig.  113.— Two  Bars. 


Fig.  114. — Bars  embattled. 


Fig.  115. — Bars  engrailed.  Fig.  116. — Bars  invecked. 


a  diminutive  of  the  fess,  because  if  two  bare  only  appear  on  the  shield 
there  would  be  little,  if  any,  diminution  made  from  the  width  of  the 
fess-  when  depicting  the  bars.  As  is  the  case  with  other  ordinaries, 
there  is  much  latitude  allowed  to  the  artist  in  deciding  the  dimensions, 
it  being  usually  permitted  for  these  to  be  governed  by-the  charges  upon 
the  fess  or  bars,  and  the  charges  between  which  these  are  placed. 

Bars,  like  the  fess,  are  of  course  equally  subject  to  all  the  varying 
lines  of  partition  (Figs.  11 4-1 18). 

The  diminutive  of  the  bar  is  the  barrulet,  which  is  half  its  width 
and  double  the  width  of  the  cottise.  But  the  barrulet  will  almost  in" 
variably  be  found  borne  in  pairSy  when  such  a  pair  is  usually  known  as  a 
<^  bar  gemel  "  and  not  as  two  barrulets.     Thus  a  coat  with  four  barrulets 


i2o    A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

would  have  these  placed  at  equal  distances  from  each  other  ;  but  a 
coat  with  two  bars  gemel  would  be  depicted  with  two  of  its  barrulets 
placed  closely  together  in  chief  and  two  placed  closely  together  in  base, 
the  disposition  being  governed  by  the  fact  that  the  two  barrulets  com- 
prising the  '^  bar  gemel  "  are  only  07te  charge.  Fig.  119  shows  three  bars 
gemel.  There  is  theoretically  no  limit  to  the  number  of  bars  or  bars 
gemel  which  can  be  placed  upon  the  shield.  In  practical  use,  however, 
four  will  be  found  the  maximum. 

A  field  composed  of  four,  six,  eight,  or  ten  horizontal  pieces  of 
equal  width  is  '^  barry  of  such  and  such  a  number  of  pieces,"  the 
number  being  always  specified  (Figs.  55  and  56).  A  field  composed 
of  an  equal  number  of  horizontally  shaped  pieces,  when  these  exceed 
ten  in  number,  is  termed  "  barruly "  of  such  and  such  a  number. 
The   term   barruly  is   also    sometimes   used   for   ten    pieces.      If    the 


Fig.  117. — Bars  raguly. 


Fig.  118. — Bars  dovetailed. 


Bars  gemel. 


number  is  omitted  "  barry "  will  usually  be  of  six  pieces,  though 
sometimes  of  eight.  On  the  other  hand  a  field  composed  of  five, 
seven,  or  nine  pieces  is  not  barry,  but  (e.g.)  two  bars,  three  bars,  and 
four  bars  respectively.  This  distinction  in  modern  coats  needs  to  be 
carefully  noted,  but  in  ancient  coats  it  is  not  of  equal  importance. 
Anciently  also  a  shield  '^  barry "  was  drawn  of  a  greater  number  of 
pieces  (see  Figs.  120,  121  and  122)  than  would  nowadays  be  employed. 
In  modern  armory  a  field  so  depicted  would  more  correctly  be  termed 
'^  barruly." 

Whilst  a  field  can  be  and  often  is  barry  of  two  colours  or  two 
metals,  an  uneven  number  of  pieces  must  of  necessity  be  of  metal  and 
colour  or  fur.  Consequently  in  a  shield  e.g.  divided  into  seven  equal 
horizontal  divisions,  alternately  gules  and  sable,  there  must  be  a  mistake 
somewhere. 

Although  these  distinctions  require  to  be  carefully  noted  as  regards 
modern  arms,  it  should  be  remembered  that  they  are  distinctions  evolved 
by  the  intricacies  and  requirements  of  modern  armory,  and  ancient 
arms  were  not  so  trammelled. 


THE  SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  121 

A  field  divided  horizontally  into  three  equal  divisions  of  e.g,  gules, 
sable,  and  argent  is  theoretically  blazoned  by  British  rules  ^^  party  per 
fess  gules  and  argent,  a  fess  sable."  This,  however,  gives  an  exag- 
gerated width  to  the  fess  which  it  does  not  really  possess  with  us,  and 
the  German  rules,  which  would  blazon  it  ^'  tierced  per  fess  gules,  sable, 
and  argent,"  would  seem  preferable. 

A  field  which  is  barry  may  also  be  counterchanged,  as  in  the  arms 


Fig.  120. — Arms  of  William  de 
Valence,  Earl  of  Pembroke 
{d.  1296) ;  Barruly  azure  and 
argent,  a  label  of  five  points 
gules,  the  files  depending 
from  the  chief  line  of  the 
shield,  and  each  file  charged 
with  three  lions  passant 
guardant  or.  (From  MS. 
Reg.  14,  C.  vii.) 


Fig.  123. — Barry,  per  chevron 
counter-changed. 


Fig.  121. — Arms  of  Laurence 
de  Hastings,  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke {,d.  1348) ;  Quarterly, 
I  and  4,  or,  a  maunch  gules 
(for  Hastings) ;  2  and  3, 
barruly  argent  and  azure,  an 
orle  of  martlets  (for  Valence). 
(From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  124. — Barry-bendy. 


(?()(") 


a 


^s^ 


^^i^^i:^ 


SZ^ 


w^ 


^^ 


DZ2 


Fig.  122. — Arms  of  Edmund 
Grey,  Earl  of  Kent  (^.  1489)  : 
Quarterly,  I  and  4,  barry  of 
six,  argent  and  azure,  in  chief 
three  torteaux  (for  Grey)  ;  2 
and  3,  Hastings  and  Valence 
sub-quarterly.  (From  his 
seal,  1442.) 


Fig.  125. — Paly-bendy. 


of  Ballingall,  where  it  is  counterchanged  per  pale  ;  but  it  can  also  be 
counterchanged  per  chevron  (Fig.  123),  or  per  bend  dexter  or  sinister. 
Such  counterchanging  should  be  carefully  distinguished  from  fields 
which  are  '' barry-bendy "  (Fig.  124),  or  '^paly-bendy"  (Fig.  125). 
In  these  latter  cases  the  field  is  divided  first  by  lines  horizontal  (for 
barry)  or  perpendicular  (for  paly),  and  subsequently  by  lines  bendy 
(dexter  or  sinister). 


122     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  result  produced  is  very  similar  to  ^Mozengy"  (Fig.  126),  and 
care  should  be  taken  to  distinguish  the  two. 

Barry-bendy  is  sometimes  blazoned  ^^fusilly  in  bend/'  whilst  paly- 
bendy  is  sometimes  blazoned  "fusilly  in  bend  sinister,"  but  the  other 
terms  are  the  more  accurate  and  acceptable. 

*^  Lozengy "  is  made  by  use  of  lines  in  bend  crossed  by  lines  in 


Fig.  127. — Chevron. 


Fig.  128. — Chevron  engrailed. 


vy  W 


Fig.  129. — Chevron  invecked.         Fig.  130. — Chevron  em- 
battled. 


Fig  131. — Chevron  embattled 
and  counter-embattled. 

bend  sinister  (Fig.  126),  and  '*  fusilly  "  the  same,  only  drawn  at  a  more 
acute  angle. 

THE  CHEVRON 

Probably  the  ordinary  of  most  frequent  occurrence  in  British,  as 
also  in  French  armory,  is  the  chevron  (Fig.  127).  It  is  comparatively 
rare  in  German  heraldry.  The  term  is  derived  from  the  French  word 
chevron,  meaning  a  rafter,  and  the  heraldic  chevron  is  the  same  shape  as 
a  gable  rafter.  In  early  examples  of  heraldic  art  the  chevron  will  be 
found  depicted  reaching  very  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  shield,  the  angle 
contained  within  the  chevron  being  necessarily  more  acute.  The 
chevron  then  attained  very  much  more  nearly  to  its  full  area  of  one- 
third  of  the  field  than  is  now  given  to  it.  As  the  chevron  became 
accompanied  by  charges,  it  was  naturally  drawn  so  that  it  would  allow 
of  these  charges  being  more  easily  represented,  and  its  height  became 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  123 

less  whilst  the  angle  it  enclosed  was  increased.  But  now,  as  then,  it 
is  perfectly  at  the  pleasure  of  the  artist  to  design  his  chevron  at  the 
height  and  angle  which  will  best  allow  the  proper  representation  of 
the  charges  which  accompany  it. 


Fig.  132. — Chevron  indented.        Fig.  133. — Chevron  wavy. 


Fig.  135. — Chevron  raguly. 


Fig.  136. — Chevron 
dovetailed. 


Fig.  137. — Chevron  doubly 
cottised. 


The  chevron,  of  course,  is  subject  to  the  usual  lines  of  partition 
(Figs.  128-136),  and  can  be  cottised  and  doubly  cottised  (Fig.  137). 

It  is  usually  found  between  three  charges,  but  the  necessity  of 
modern  differentiation  has  recently  introduced  the 
disposition  of  four  charges,  three  in  chief  and  one 
in  base,  which  is  by  no  means  a  happy  invention. 
An  even  worse  disposition  occurs  in  the  arms  of  a 
certain  family  of  Mitchell,  where  the  four  escallops 
which  are  the  principal  charges  are  arranged  two 
in  chief  and  two  in  base. 

Ermine  spots  upon  a  chevron  do  not  follow 
the  direction  of  it,  but  in  the  cases  of  chevrons 
vair,  and  chevrons  chequy,  authoritative  examples 
can  be  found  in  which  the  chequers  and  rows  of 
vair  both  do,  and  do  not,  conform  to  the  direction 
of  the  chevron.      My  own  preference  is  to  make  the  rows  horizontal. 

A  chevron  quarterly  is  divided  by  a  line  chevronwise,  apparently 


Fig.  138. — Chevron 
quarterly. 


124     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

dividing  the  chevron  into  two  chevronels,  and  then  by  a  vertical  Hne 

in  the  centre  (Fig.  138). 

A  chevron  in  point  embov^^ed  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Trapaud 

quartered  by  Adlercron  (Fig.  139). 

A  field  per   chevron   (Fig.  52)  is  often  met  with,  and  the  division 

line  in  this  case  (like  the  en- 
closing lines  of  a  real  chevron) 
is  subject  to  the  usual  partition 
lineS;  but  how  one  is  to  determine 
the  differentiation  between  per 
chevron  engrailed  and  per  chev- 
ron invecked  I  am  uncertain, 
but  think  the  points  should  be 
upwards  for  engrailed. 

The  field  when  entirely  com- 
posed of  an  even  number  of 
chevrons  is  termed  ^'  chevronny  " 

(Fig-  59)- 

The  diminutive  of  the  chev- 
ron is  the  chevronel  (Fig.  140). 

Chevronels  ^<  interlaced  "  or 
^'braced"  (Fig.  141),  will  be 
found  in  the  arms  of  Sirr.  The 
chevronel  is  very  seldom  rnet 
with  singly,  but  a  case  of  this 
will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Spry. 

A  chevron  '' rompu "  or 
broken  is  depicted  as  in  Fig.  142. 


Fig.  139. — Armorial  bearings  of  Rodolph  Lade- 
veze  Adlercron,  Esq . :  Quarterly,  i  and  4, 
argent,  an  eagle  displayed,  wings  inverted  sable, 
langued  gules,  membered  and  ducally  crowned 
or  (for  Adlercron)  :  2  and  3,  argent,  a  chevron 
in  point  embowed  between  in  chief  two  mullets 
and  in  base  a  lion  rampant  all  gules  (for 
Trapaud),  Mantling  sable  and  argent.  Crest : 
on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  demi-eagle  dis- 
played sable,  langued  gules,  ducally  crowned  or, 
the  dexter  wing  per  fess  argent  and  azure,  the 
sinister  per  fess  of  the  last  and  or.  Motto: 
**  Quo  fata  vocant." 


THE    PILE 

The  pile  (Fig.  143)  is  a 
triangular  wedge  usually  (and 
unless  otherwise  specified)  issu- 
ing from  the  chief.  The  pile  is 
subject    to    the    usual    lines    of 


partition  (Figs.  1 44-1 51). 
The  early  representation  of  the  pile  (when  coats  of  arms  had  no 
secondary  charges  and  were  nice  and  simple)  made  the  point  nearly 
reach  to  the  base  of  the  escutcheon,  and  as  a  consequence  it  naturally 
was  not  so  wide.  It  is  now  usually  drawn  so  that  its  upper  edge 
occupies  very  nearly  the  whole  of  the  top  line  of  the  escutcheon  ;  but 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  125 

the  angles  and  proportions  of  the  pile  are  very  much  at  the  discretion 
of  the  artist,  and  governed  by  the  charges  which  need  to  be  intro- 
duced in  the  field  of  the  escutcheon  or  upon  the  pile. 

A  single  pile  may  issue  from  any  point  of  the  escutcheon  except 


Fig.  141. — Chevronels  braced.       Fig.  142. — Chevron  rompu 


Fig.  143. — Pile. 


Fig 


Pile  engrailed. 


Fig.  145. — Pile  invecked. 


Fig.  146. — Pile  embattled. 


Fig.  147. — Pile  indented. 


Fig.  148. — Pile  wavy. 


the  base  ;  the  arms  of  Darbishire  showing  a  pile  issuing  from  the 
dexter  chief  point. 

A  single  pile  cannot  issue  in  base  if  it  be  unaccompanied  by  other 
piles,  as  the  field  would  then  be  blazoned  per  chevron. 

Two  piles  issuing  in  chief  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Holies,  Earl 
of  Clare. 

When  three  piles,  instead  of  pointing  directly  at  right  angles  to  the 
line  of  the  chief,  all  point  to  the  same  point,  touching  or  nearly  touching 


126     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

at  the  tips,  as  in  the  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  and  Chester 
or  in  the  arms  of  Isham/  they  are  described  as  three  piles  in  point. 
This  term  and  its  differentiation  probably  are  modern  refinements,  as 
with  the  early  long-pointed  shield  any  other  position  was  impossible. 
The  arms  of  Henderson  show  three  piles  issuing  from  the  sinister  side 
of  the  escutcheon. 

A  disposition  of  three  piles  which  will  very  frequently  be  found 
in  modern  British  heraldry  is  two  issuing  in  chief  and  one  in  base 

(Fig.  152). 

Piles  terminating  in  fleurs-de-lis  or  crosses  pat^e  are  to  be  met 
with,  and  reference  may  be  made  to  the  arms  of  Poynter  and  Dickson- 
Foynder.  Each  of  these  coats  has  the  field  pily  counter-pily,  the 
points  ending  in  crosses  form^e. 

An  unusual  instance  of  a  pile  in  which  it  issues  from  a  chevron 


Fig.  149. — Pile  nebuly.  Fig.  150. — Pile  raguly.  Fig.  151. — Pile  dovetailed. 

will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Wright,  which  are  :  "  Sable,  on  a  chevron 
argent,  three  spear-heads  gules,  in  chief  two  unicorns'  heads  erased 
argent,  armed  and  maned  or,  in  base  on  a  pile  of  the  last,  issuant  from 
the  chevron,  a  unicorn's  head  erased  of  the  field." 


THE    SHAKEFORK 

The  pall,  pairle,  or  shakefork  (Fig.  153),  is  almost  unknown  in 
English  heraldry,  but  in  Scotland  its  constant  occurrence  in  the  arms 
of  the  Cunninghame  and  allied  families  has  given  it  a  recognised 
position  among  the  ordinaries. 

As  usually  borne  by  the  Cunninghame  family  the  ends  are  couped 
and  pointed,  but  in  some  cases  it  is  borne  throughout. 

The  pall  in  its  proper  ecclesiastical  form  appears  in  thei  arms  of 
the  Archiepiscopal  Sees  of  Canterbury,  Armagh,  and  Dublin.     Though 

*  Armorial  bearin^^s  of  Ishara  :    Gules,  a  fesse  wavy,  and  in  chief  three  piles  in   point  also 
wavy,  the  points  meeting  in  fesse  argent. 


THE  SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  127 

in  these  cases  the  pall  or  pallium  (Fig.  154),  is  now  considered  to 
have  no  other  heraldic  status  than  that  of  an  appropriately  ecclesiastical 
charge  upon  an  official  coat  of  arms,  there  can  be  very  little  doubt 
that  originally  the  pall  of  itself  was  the  heraldic  symbol  in  this  country 
of  an  archbishop,  and  borne  for  that  reason  by  all  archbishops,  in- 
cluding the  Archbishop  of  York,  although  his  official  archiepiscopal 
coat  is  now  changed  to :  *^  Gules,  two  keys  in  saltire  argent,  in  chief 
a  royal  crown  or." 

The  necessity  of   displaying  this   device  of   rank — the   pallium — 


Fig.  152.— Three  piles,  two  in 
chief  and  one  in  base. 


Fig.  153.— Shakefork. 


Fig.  154. — Ecclesiastical 
pallium. 


<A>.^K^  UkA,>^ 


Fig.  155. — Cross.  Fig.  156. — Cross  engrailed.  Fig.  157. — Cross  jnvecked. 

Upon  a  field  of  some  tincture  has  led  to  its  corruption  into  a  usual 
and  stereotyped  *' charge." 

THE    CROSS 

The  heraldic  cross  (Fig.  155),  the  huge  preponderance  of  which 
in  armory  we  of  course  owe  to  the  Crusades,  like  all  other  armorial 
charges,  has  strangely  developed.  There  are  nearly  four  hundred 
varieties  known  to  armory,  or  rather  to  heraldic  text-books,  and 
doubtless  authenticated  examples  could  be  found  of  most  if  not  of 
them  all.  But  some  dozen  or  twenty  forms  are  about  as  many  as 
will  be  found  regularly  or  constantly  occurring.  Some  but  not  all 
of  the  varieties  of  the  cross  are  subject  to  the  lines  of  partition 
(Figs.  1 56-1 6 1), 


128     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

When  the  heraldic  cross  was  first  assumed  with  any  reason  beyond 
geometrical  convenience,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  intended 
to  represent  the  Sacred  Cross  itself.  The  symbolism  of  the  cross  is 
older  than  our  present  system  of  armory,  but  the  cross  itself  is  more 
ancient  than  its  symbolism.  A  cross  depicted  upon  the  long,  pointed 
shields  of  those  who  fought  for  the  Cross  would  be  of  that  shape, 
with  the  elongated  arm  in  base. 

But  the  contemporary  shortening  of  the  shield,  together  with  the 
introduction  of  charges  in  its  angles,  led  naturally  to  the  arms  of  the 


UL  uuau 


Fig.  158.— Cross  embattled.  Fig.  159. — Cross  indented.  Fig.  160. — Cross  raguly. 


x^    Csn^ 


FiG^-^j^x — Cross  dovetailed. 


A 


Fig.  162. — Passion  Cross. 


FiG.  163. — Cross  Calvary. 


cross  being  so  disposed  that  the  parts  of  the  field  left  visible  were  as 
nearly  as  possible  equal.  The  Sacred  Cross,  therefore,  in  heraldry  is 
now  known  as  a  '<  Passion  Cross"  (Fig.  162)  (or  sometimes  as  a 
*^  long  cross "),  or,  if  upon  steps  or  '*  grieces,"  the  number  of  which 
needs  to  be  specified,  as  a  ''Cross  Calvary"  (Fig.  163).  The 
crucifix  (Fig.  164),  under  that  description  is  sometimes  met  with 
as  a  charge. 

The  ordinary  heraldic  cross  (Fig.  155)  is  always  continued  through- 
out the  shield  unless  stated  to  be  couped  (Fig.  165). 

Of  the  crosses  more  regularly  in  use  may  be  mentioned  the  cross 
botonny  (Fig.  166),  the  cross  flory  (Fig.  167),  which  must  be  dis- 
tinguished from   the    cross    fleurette  (Fig.    168) ;    the  cross   moline, 


PLATE  111. 


ARMS  OF  THE  DUKE  OF  ARGYLL. 


ARMS  OF  SIR  WILLIAM  GORDON  GUMMING,  BT. 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  129 

(Fig.   169),  the   cross  potent  (Fig.    170),   the   cross  pat^e  or   formee 
(Fig.^  171);   the    cross    patonce    (Fig.    172),    and    the    cross    crosslet 

(Fig.' 173)- 

Of  other  but  much  more   uncommon  varieties  examples  will   be 
found  of  the   cross  parted  and  fretty  (Fig.   174),  of  the  cross  pat^e 


Fig.  164. — Crucifix. 


Fig.  167. — Cross  flory. 


FiG.^  170. — Cross  potent. 


Fig.  165. — Cross  couped. 


Fig.  168. — Cross  fleurette. 


Fig.  169. — Cross  moline. 


Fig.  171. — Cross  patee 
(or  formee). 


Fig.  172. — Cross  patonce. 


quadrate  (Fig.  175),  of  a  cross  pointed  and  voided  in  the  arms  of 
Dukinfield  (quartered  by  Darbishire),  and  of  a  cross  clech^  voided 
and  pomett6  as  in  the  arms  of  Cawston.  A  cross  quarter-pierced 
(Fig.  176)  has  the  field  visible  at  the  centre.  A  cross  tau  or  St. 
Anthony's  Cross  is  shown  in  Fig.  177,  the  real  Maltese  Cross  in 
Fig.  178;  and  the  Patriarchal  Cross  in  Fig.  179. 

I 


130     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

Whenever  a  cross  or  cross  crosslet  has  the  bottom  arm  elongated 
and  pointed  it  is  said  to  be  '' fitched  "  (Figs.  i8o  and  i8i),  but  when 
a  point  is  added  at  the  foot  e.g.  of  a  cross  pat^e,  it  is  then  termed 
"fitchee  at  the  foot"  (Fig.  182). 

Of  the  hundreds  of  other  varieties  it  may  confidently  be  said  that  a 


Fig.  173. — Cross  crosslet. 


Fig.  174. — Cross  parted 
and  fretty. 


Fig.  175. — Cross  patee 
quadrate. 


Fig.  176. — Cross  quarter- 
pierced. 


Fig.  177. — Cross  Tau. 


^ 


Fig.  179.— Patriarchal  Cross. 


Fig.  180. — Cross  crosslet 
fitched. 


Fig.  181. — Cross  patee 
fitched. 


large  proportion  originated  in  misunderstandings  of  the  crude  drawings  of 
early  armorists,  added  to  the  varying  and  alternating  descriptions  applied 
at  a  more  pliable  and  fluent  period  of  heraldic  blazon.  A  striking 
illustration  of  this  will  be  found  in  the  cross  botonny,  which  is  now,  and 
has  been  for  a  long  time  past,  regularised  with  us  as  a  distinct  variety  of 


THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  131 

constant  occurrence.  From  early  illustrations  there  is  now  no  doubt 
that  this  was  the  original  form,  or  one  of  the  earliest  forms,  of  the 
cross  crosslet.  It  is  foolisTi  to  ignore  these  varieties,  reducing  all 
crosses  to  a  few  original  forms,  for  they  are  now  mostly  stereotyped 
and  accepted  ;  but  at  the  same  time  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  learn 

1'%' 


^^ 


_rnau    rfnm-    jTBoi. 
"^    S^    S^ 


Fig.  182. — Cross  patee 
fitched  at  foot. 


Fig.  183.— Crusilly. 


Fig.  184. — Saltire. 


Fig.  185. — Saliire  engrailed.         Fig.  i86. — Saltire  invecked.       Fig.  187. — Saltire  embattled. 

them,  for  in  a  lifetime  they  will  mostly  be  met  with  but  once  each  or 
thereabouts.  A  field  seme  of  cross  crosslets  (Fig.  183)  is  termed 
crusilly. 


THE  SALTIRE 

The  saltire  or  saltier  (Fig.  184)  is  more  frequently  to  be  met  with 
in  Scottish  than  in  English  heraldry.  This  is  not  surprising,  inasmuch 
as  the  saltire  is  known  as  the  Cross  of  St.  Andrew,  the  Patron  Saint 
of  Scotland.  Its  form  is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  It  is 
of  course  subject  to  the  usual  partition  lines  (Figs.  185-192). 

When  a  saltire  is  charged  the  charges  are  usually  placed  conform- 
ably therewith. 

The  field  of  a  coat  of  arms  is  often  per  saltire. 

When  one  saltire  couped  is  the  principal  charge  it  will  usually  be 


132     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

found  that  it  is  couped  conformably  to  the  outline  of  the  shield  ;  but 
if  the  couped  saltire  be  one  of  a  number  or  a  subsidiary  charge  it  will 
be  found  couped  by  horizontal  lines,  or  by  lines  at  right  angles.  The 
saltire  has  not  developed  into  so  many  varieties  of  form  as  the  cross, 
and  {e.g,)  a  saltire  botonny  is  assumed  to  be  a  cross  botonny  placed 
saltire  ways,  but  a  saltire  parted  and  fretty  is  to  be  met  with  (Fig.  193). 


THE  CHIEF 

The  chief  (Fig.  194),  which  is  a  broad  band  across  the  top  of  the 
shield   containing  (theoretically,  but  not  in  fact)  the  uppermost  third 


Fig, 


Fig.  190. — Saltire  nebuly. 


Fig.  191. — Saltire  raguly.         Fig.  192. — Saltire  dovetailed. 


Fig.  193. — Saltire  parted 
and  fretty. 


of  the  area  6f  the  field,  is  a  very  favourite  ordinary.  It  is  of  course 
subject  to  the  variations  of  the  usual  partition  lines  (Figs.  195-203). 
It  is  usually  drawn  to  contain  about  one-fifth  of  the  area  of  the  field, 
though  in  cases  where  it  is  used  for  a  landscape  augmentation  it  will 
usually  be  found  of  a  rather  greater  area. 

The  chief  especially  lent  itself  to  the  purposes  of  honourable  aug- 
mentation, and  is  constantly  found  so  employed.  As  such  it  will  be 
referred  to  in  the  chapter  upon  augmentations,  but  a  chief  of  this 
character  may  perhaps  be  here  referred  to  with  advantage,  as  this  will 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  133 

indicate  the  greater  area  often  given  to  it  under  these  conditions,  as  in 
the  arms  of  Ross-of-Bladensburg  (Plate  II.). 

Knights  of  the  old  Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  and  also  of  the 
modern  Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  in  England 
display  above  their  personal  arms  a  chief  of  the  order,  but  this  will  be 


Fig.  194. — Chief. 


Fig.  195. — Chief  engrailed.         Fig.  196. — Chief  invecked. 


aaaaaaa 


Fig.  197. — Chief  embattled.         Fig.  198. — Chief  indented. 


s^zsxszs^ 


Fig.  200. — Chief  wavy. 


Fig.  201. — Chief  nebuly. 


Fig.  202. — Chief  raguly. 


dealt  with  more  fully  in  the  chapter  relating  to  the  insignia  of  knight- 
hood. 

Save  in  exceptional  circumstances,  the  chief  is  never  debruised  or 
surmounted  by  any  ordinary. 

The  chief  is  ordinarily  superimposed  over  the  tressure  and  over 
the  bordure,   partly   defacing  them   by  the  elimination  of  the  upper 


134     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

part  thereof.  This  happens  with  the  bordure  when  it  is  a  part  of 
the  original  coat  of  arms.  If,  however,  the  chief  were  in  existence 
at  an  earUer  period  and  the  bordure  is  added  later  as  a  mark  of 
difference,  the  bordure  surrounds  the  chief.  On  the  other  hand,  if  a 
bordure  exists,  even  as  a  mark  of  difference,  and  a  chief  of  augmen- 
tation is  subsequently  added,  or  a  canton  for  distinction,  the  chief  or  the 
canton  in  these  cases  would  surmount  the  bordure. 

Similarly  a  bend  when  added  later  as  a  mark  of  difference  sur- 
mounts the  chief.  Such  a  case  is  very  unusual,  as  the  use  of  the  bend 
for  differencing  has  long  been  obsolete. 


Fig.  203, 
tailed. 


-Chief  dove- 


AAA 

fw" 

L 

v 

J 

N 

/ 

N 

^ 

^ 

V 

Fig.  204. — Arms  of  Peter 
de  Dreux,  Earl  of  Rich- 
mond (<r.  1230):  Chequy 
or  and  azure,  a  quarter 
ermine.     (From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  205. — Arms  of  De 
Vere,  Earls  of  Oxford : 
Quarterly  gules  and  or,  in 
the  first  quarter  a  mullet 
argent. 


A  chief  is  never  couped  or   cottised,  and  it  has   no   diminutive   in 
British  armory. 


THE    QUARTER 

The  quarter  is  not  often  met  with  in  English  armory,  the  best- 
known  instance  being  the  well-known  coat  of  Shirley,  Earl  Ferrers, 
viz :  Paly  of  six  or  and  azure,  a  quarter  ermine.  The  arms  of  the 
Earls  of  Richmond  (Fig.  204)  supply  another  instance.  Of  course  as 
a  division  of  the  field  under  the  blazon  of  '■'■  quarterly  "  {e.g.  or  and 
azure)  it  is  constantly  to  be  met  with,  but  a  single  quarter  is  rare. 

Originally  a  single  quarter  was  drawn  to  contain  the  full  fourth  part 
of  the  shield,  but  with  the  more  modern  tendency  to  reduce  the  size  of 
all  charges,  its  area  has  been  somewhat  diminished.  Whilst  a  quarter 
will  only  be  found  within  a  plain  partition  line,  a  field  divided  quarterly 
(occasionally,  but  I  think  hardly  so  correctly,  termed  ^'  per  cross  ")  is 
not  so  limited.  Examples  of  quarterly  fields  will  be  found  in  the  historic 
shield  of  De  Vere  (Fig.  205)  and  De  Mandeville.  An  irregular  parti- 
tion line   is  often  introduced  in  a   new  grant   to  conjoin  quarterings 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  135 

borne  without  authority  into  one  single  coat.  The  diminutive  of  the 
quarter  is  the  canton  (Fig.  206),  and  the  diminutive  of  that  the 
chequer  of  a  chequy  field  (Fig.   207). 


Fig.  206. — Canton. 


THE    CANTON 

The  canton  is  supposed  to  occupy  one-third  of  the  chief,  and  that 
being  supposed  to  occupy  one-third  of  the  field,  a  simple  arithmetical 
sum  gives  us  one-ninth  of  the  field  as  the  theoretical  area  of  the  canton. 
Curiously  enough,  the  canton  to  a  certain  extent 
gives  us  a  confirmation  of  these  ancient  proportions, 
inasmuch  as  all  ancient  drawings  containing  both  a 
fess  and  a  canton  depict  these  conjoined.  This  will 
be  seen  in  the  Garter  plate  of  Earl  Rivers.  In 
modern  days,  however,  it  is  very  seldom  that  the 
canton  will  be  depicted  of  such  a  size,  though  in 
cases  where,  as  in  the  arms  of  Boothby,  it  forms 
the  only  charge,  it  is  even  nowadays  drawn  to 
closely  approximate  to  its  theoretical  area  of  one- 
ninth  of  the  field.  It  may  be  remarked  here 
perhaps  that,  owing  to  the  fact  that  there  are  but  few  instances  in 
which  the  quarter  or  the  canton  have  been  used  as  the  sole  or  prin- 
cipal charge,  a  coat  of  arms  in  which  these  are  employed  would  be 
granted  with  fewer  of  the  modern  bedevilments 
than  would  a  coat  with  a  chevron  for  example.  I 
know  of  no  instance  in  modern  times  in  which  a 
quarter,  when  figuring  as  a  charge,  or  a  canton 
have  been  subject  to  the  usual  lines  of  partition. 

The  canton  (with  the  single  exception  of  the 
bordure,  when  used  as  a  mark  of  cadency  or  dis- 
tinction) is  superimposed  over  every  other  charge 
or  ordinary,  no  matter  what  this  may  be.  Theo- 
retically the  canton  is  supposed  to  be  always  a 
later  addition  to  the  coat,  and  even  though  a  charge 
may  be  altogether  hidden  or  '' absconded"  by  the  canton,  the 
charge  is  always  presumed  to  be  there,  and  is  mentioned  in  the 
blazon. 

Both  a  cross  and  a  saltire  are  sometimes  described  as  "  cantonned  " 
by  such-and-such  charges,  when  Ihey  are  placed  in  the  blank  spaces 
left  by  these  ordinaries.  In  addition,  the  spaces  left  by  a  cross  (but 
not  by  a  saltire)  are  frequently  spoken  of  e.g.  as  the  dexter  chief  canton 
or  the  sinister  base  canton. 


Fig.  207.— Chequy. 


136     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  canton  is  frequently  used  to  carry  an  augmentation,  and  these 
cantons  of  augmentation  will  be  referred  to  under  that  heading,  though 
it  may  be  here  stated  that  a  ''  canton  of  England  "  is  a  canton  gules, 
charged  with  three  lions  passant  guardant  or,  as  in  the  arms  of  Lane 
(Plate  II.). 

The  canton,  unless  it  is  an  original  charge^  need  not  conform  to  the 
rule,  forbidding  colour  on  colour,  or  metal  on  metal  ;  otherwise  the 
canton  of  Ulster  would  often  be  an  impossibility. 

The  canton,  with  rare  exceptions,  is  always  placed  in  the 
dexter  chief  corner.  The  canton  of  augmentation  in  the  arms  of 
Gierke,  Bart. — "Argent,  on  a  bend  gules,  between  three  pellets  as 
many  swans  of  the  field  ;  on  a  sinister  canton  azure,  a  demi-ram 
salient  of  the  first,  and  in  chief  two  fleurs-de-lis  or,  debruised  by  a 
baton  " — is,  however,  a  sinister  one,  as  is  the  canton  upon  the  arms 
of  Charlton.  In  this  latter  case  the  sinister  canton  is  used  to  signify 
illegitimacy.  This  will  be  more  fully  dealt  with  in  the  chapter  upon 
marks  of  illegitimacy. 

A  curious  use  of  the  canton  for  the  purposes  of  marshalling  occurs 
in  the  case  of  a  woman  who,  being  an  heiress  herself,  has  a  daughter  or 
daughters  only,  whilst  her  husband  has  sons  and  heirs  by  another  mar- 
riage. In  such  an  event,  the  daughter  being  heir  (or  in  the  case  of 
daughters  these  being  coheirs)  of  the  mother,  but  not  heir  of  the  father, 
cannot  transmit  as  quarterings  the  arms  of  the  father  whom  she  does 
not  represent,  whilst  she  ought  to  transmit  the  arms  of  the  mother 
whom  she  does  represent.  The  husband  of  the  daughter,  therefore, 
places  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  the  arms  of  her  mother,  with 
those  of  her  father  on  a  canton  thereupon.  The  children  of  the 
marriage  quarter  this  combined  coat,  the  arms  of  the  father  always 
remaining  upon  a  canton.  This  will  be  more  fully  dealt  with  under 
the  subject  of  marshalling. 

The  canton  has  yet  another  use  as  a  '^  mark  of  distinction."  When, 
under  a  Royal  Licence,  the  name  and  arms  of  a  family  are  assumed 
where  there  is  no  blood  descent  from  the  family,  the  arms  have  some 
mark  of  distinction  added.  This  is  usually  a  plain  canton.  This  point 
will  be  treated  more  fully  under  *'  Marks  of  Cadency." 

Woodward  mentions  three  instances  in  which  the  lower  edge  of  the 
canton  is  "  indented,"  one  taken  from  the  Calais  Roll,  viz.  the  arms  of 
Sir  William  de  la  Zouche — "  Gules,  bezant^e,  a  canton  indented  at  the 
bottom  " — and  adds  that  the  canton  has  been  sometimes  thought  to  in- 
dicate the  square  banner  of  a  knight-baronet,  and  he  suggests  that  the 
lower  edge  being  indented  may  give  some  weight  to  the  idea.  As  the 
canton  does  not  appear  to  have  either  previously  or  subsequently  formed 
any  part  of  the  arms  of  Zouche,  it  is  possible  that  in  this  instance  some 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  137 

such  meaning  may  have  been  intended,  but  it  can  have  no  such  applica- 
tion generally. 

The  ^'  Canton  of  Ulster  " — i.e,  ^'  Argent,  a  sinister  hand  couped  at 
the  v^rist  gules " — is  the  badge  of  a  baronet  of 
England,  Ireland,  Great  Britain,  or  the  United 
Kingdom.  This  badge  may  be  borne  upon  a 
canton,  dexter  or  sinister,  or  upon  an  inescut- 
cheon,  at  the  pleasure  of  the  wearer.  There 
is  some  little  authority  and  more  precedent  for 
similarly  treating  the  badge  of  a  Nova  Scotian 
Baronet,  but  as  such  Baronets  wear  their  badges 
it  is  more  usually  depicted  below  the  shield, 
depending  by  the  orange  tawny  ribbon  of  their 
order. 


Fig.  208. — Gyronny. 


THE    GYRON 


As  a  charge,  the  gyron  (sometimes  termed  an  esquire)  is  very  seldom 
found,  but  as  a  subdivision  of  the  field,  a  coat  "gyronny"  (Fig.  208) 

is  constantly  met  with,  all  arms  for  the  name 
of  Campbell  being  gyronny.  Save  in  rare 
cases,  a  field  gyronny  is  divided  quarterly  and 
then  per  saltire,  making  eight  divisions,  but  it 
may  be  gyronny  of  six,  ten,  twelve,  or  more 
pieces,  though  such  cases  are  seldom  met 
with  and  always  need  to  be  specified.  The 
arms  of  Campbell  of  Succoth  are  gyronny  of 
eight  engrailed^  a  most  unusual  circumstance. 
Fig.  209.-The  arms  of  Roger  ^  know  of  no  Other  instance  of  the  use  of  lines 
Mortimer,  Earl  of  March  and  of  partition  ill  a  gyronny  field.  The  arms  of 
a"n'd "'tu^e'f'iSe^ba^'o'r  Lanyon  afford  an  example  of  the  gyron  as  a 
(sometimes  but  not  so  cor-    charge,  as  docs  also  the  well-known  shield  of 

rectly  quoted  barry  of  six),  on     ,  ,       ..  .y^.  v 

a  chief  of  the  first  two  pallets     Mortimcr  (Fig.   209). 
between  two  base  esquires  of 


?!#-tt.:K^ 

■^"■^ 

^ss 

— 

nn^ 

■li 

Vi 

\y 

i 

^ 

the  second,  over  all  an  in- 
escutcheon  argent  (for  Morti- 
mer) ;  2  and  3,  or,  a  cross 
gules  (for  Ulster).  (From  his 
seal.) 


THE    INESCUTCHEON 


The  inescutcheon  is  a  shield  appearing  as 
a  charge  upon  the  coat  of  arms.  Certain 
writers  state  that  it  is  termed  an  inescutcheon  if  only  one  appears  as 
the  charge,  but  that  when  more  than  one  is  present  they  are  merely 
termed  escutcheons.  This  is  an  unnecessary  refinement  not  officially 
recognised  or  adhered  to,  though  unconsciously  one  often  is  led  to 
make  this  distinction,  which  seems  to  spring  naturally  to  one's  mind. 


138     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

When  one  inescutcheon  appears,  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  tell 
whether  to  blazon  the  arms  as  charged  with  a  bordnre  or  an  inescutcheon. 
Some  coats  of  arms,  for  example  the  arms  of  Molesworth,  will  always 
remain  more  or  less  a  matter  of  uncertainty. 

But  as  a  matter  of  fact  a  bordure  should  not  be  wide  enough  to 
fill  up  the  field  left  by  an  inescutcheon,  nor  an  inescutcheon  large 
enough  to  occupy  the  field  left  by  a  bordure. 

The  inescutcheon  in  German  armory  (or,  as  they  term  it,  the  heart 
escutcheon),  when  superimposed  upon  other  quarterings,  is  usually  the 
paternal  or  most  important  coat  of  arms.  The  same  method  of  mar- 
shalling has  sometimes  been  adopted  in  Scotland,  and  the  arms  of  Hay 
are  an  instance.  It  usually  in  British  heraldry  is  used  to  carry  the 
arms  of  an  heiress  wife,  but  both  these  points  will  be  dealt  with  later 
under  the  subject  of  marshalling.  The  inescutcheon,  no  matter  what 
its  position,  should  never  be  termed  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  if  it 
forms  a  charge  upon  the  original  arms.  A  curious  instance  of  the 
use  of  an  inescutcheon  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Gordon-Cumming 
(Plate  III.). 

When  an  inescutcheon  appears  on  a  shield  it  should  conform  in 
its  outline  to  the  shape  of  the  shield  upon  which  it  is  placed. 


THE    BORDURE 


The  bordure  (Fig.  210)  occurs  both  as  a  charge  and  as  a  mark  of 
difference.  As  may  be  presumed  from  its  likeness  to  our  word  border, 
the  bordure  is  simply  a  border  round  the  shield. 
Except  in  modern  grants  in  which  the  bordure 
forms  a  part  of  the  original  design  of  the  arms, 
there  can  be  very  little  doubt  that  the  bordure  has 
always  been  a  mark  of  difference  to  indicate  either 
cadency  or  bastardy,  but  its  stereotyped  continu- 
ance without  further  alteration  in  so  many  coats 
of  arms  in  which  it  originally  was  introduced  as 
a  difference,  and  also  its  appearance  in  new  grants, 
leave   one  no   alternative   but  to  treat  of  it  in  the 

Fig.  210. — Bordure.  ,.  ,  i         •         vi  -  ^ 

ordmary  way  as  a  charge,  leaving  the  considera- 
tion of  it  as  a  mark  of  difference  to  a  future  chapter. 

There  is  no  stereotyped  or  official  size  for  the  bordure,  the  width 
of  which  has  at  all  times  varied,  though  it  will  almost  invariably  be 
found  that  a  Scottish  bordure  is  depicted  rather  wider  than  is  an 
English  one  ;  and  naturally  a  bordure  which  is  charged  is  a  little 
wider  than  an  entirely  plain  one.     The  bordure  of  course  is  subject  to 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  139 

all  the  lines  of  partition  (Figs.  21 1-2 18).  Bordures  may  also  be  per 
fesse,  per  pale  (Fig.  219),  quarterly  (Fig.  220),  gyronny  (Fig.  221),  or 
tierced  in  pairle  (Fig.  222),  &c. 

The  bordure  has  long  since  ceased  to  be  a  mark  of  cadency   in 
England,  but  as  a  mark  of  distinction  the  bordure  wavy  (Fig.  215) 


Fig.  211. — Bordure  engrailed.     Fig.  212. — Bordure  invecked.      Fig.  213. — Bordure  embattled. 


Fig.  214. — Bordure  indented.  Fig.  215. — Bordure  wavy.         Fig.  216. — Bordure  nebul) 


^V^ 


Fig.  217. — Bordure  dovetailed.       Fig.  218. — Bordure  potente.        Fig.  219. — Bordure  per  pule. 

is  still  used  to  indicate  bastardy.  A  bordure  of  England  was  granted 
by  Royal  warrant  as  an  augmentation  to  H.M.  Queen  Victoria 
Eugenie  of  Spain,  on  the  occasion  of  her  marriage.  The  use  of  the 
bordure  is,  however,  the  recognised  method  of  differencing  in  Scotland, 
but  it  is  curious  that  with  the  Scots  the  bordure  wavy  is  in  no  way  a 
ixj^rk  of  illegitimacy.     The  Scottish  bordure  for  indicating  this  fact  is 


I40     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  bordure  compony  (Fig.  223),  which  has  been  used  occasionally  for 
the  same  purpose  in  England,  but  the  bordures  added  to  indicate 
cadency  and  the  various  marks  to  indicate  illegitimacy  will  be  dis- 
cussed in  later  chapters.  The  difference  should  here  be  observed 
between  the  bordure  compony  (Fig.  223),  which  means  illegitimacy; 
the  bordure  counter  compony  (Fig.  224),  which  may  or  may  not  have 
that  meaning  ;  and  the  bordure  chequy  (Fig.  225),  which  certainly  has 
no  relation  to  bastardy.  In  the  two  former  the  panes  run  with  the 
shield,  in  the  latter  the  chequers  do  not.     Whilst  the  bordure  as  a 


\   1    / 

.A              A   i 

vii:^  '<icy 


w^ 


Fig.  220. — Bordure  quarterly.       FiG.  221. — Bordure  gyronny.        FiG.  222. — Bordure  tierced 

in  pairle. 


Vi^ 


•  IV.  I  I  I  /f 


^^  ^ 


Fig.  223. — Bordure  compony.      FiG.  224. — Bordure  counter  Fig.  225. — Bordure  chequy. 

compony. 

mark  of  cadency  or  illegitimacy  surrounds  the  whole  shield,  being 
superimposed  upon  even  the  chief  and  canton,  a  bordure  when  merely 
a  charge  gives  way  to  both. 

A  certain  rule  regarding  the  bordure  is  the  sole  remaining  instance 
in  modern  heraldry  of  the  formerly  recognised  practice  of  conjoining 
two  coats  of  arms  (which  it  might  be  necessary  to  marshal  together) 
by  ''  dimidiation  "  instead  of  using  our  present-day  method  of  impale- 
ment. To  dimidiate  two  coats  of  arms,  the  dexter  half  of  one  shield 
was  conjoined  to  the  sinister  half  of  the  other.  The  objections  to 
such  a  practice,  however,  soon  made  themselves  apparent  (e.g,  a  dimi- 
diated chevron  was  scarcely  distinguishable  from  a  bend),  and  the 
*'  dimidiation  "  of  arms  was  quickly  abandoned  in  favour  of  *'  impale- 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  141 

ment,"  in  which  the  entire  designs  of  both  coats  of  arms  are  depicted. 
But  in  impaUng  a  coat  of  arms  which  is  surrounded  by  a  bordure,  the 
bordure  is  not  continued  down  the  centre  between 
the  two  coats,  but  stops  short  top  and  bottom  at 
the  palar  Hne.  The  same  rule,  by  the  way,  appHes 
to  the  tressure,  but  not  to  the  orle.  The  curious 
fact,  however,  remains  that  this  rule  as  to  the  dimi- 
diation  of  the  bordure  in  cases  of  impalement  is 
often  found  to  have  been  ignored  in  ancient  seals 
and  other  examples.  The  charges  upon  the  bor- 
dure are  often  three,  but  more  usually  eight  in 
number,  in  the  latter  case  being  arranged  three 
along  the  top  of  the  shield,  one  at  the  base  point, 
and  two  on  either  side.  The  number  should,  however,  always  be 
specified,  unless  (as  in  a  bordure  bezantee,  &c.)  it  is  immaterial  ;  in 
which  case  the  number  eight  must  be  exceeded  in  emblazoning  the 
shield.  The  rule  as  to  colour  upon  colour  does  not  hold  and  seems 
often  to  be  ignored  in  the  cases  of  bordures,  noticeably  when  these 
occur  as  marks  of  Scottish  cadency. 


Fig.  226. — Orle. 


THE  ORLE 


The  orle  (Fig.  226),  or,  as  it  was  originally  termed  in  ancient 
British  rolls  of  arms,  <*  un  faux  ecusson,"  is  a  narrow  bordure  following 
the  exact  outline  of  the  shield,  but  within  it,  show- 
ing the  field  (for  at  least  the  width  usually  occupied 
by  a  bordure)  between  the  outer  edge  of  the  orle 
and  the  edge  of  the  escutcheon.  An  orle  is  about 
half  the  width  of  a  bordure,  rather  less  than  more, 
but  the  proportion  is  never  very  exactly  maintained. 
The  difference  may  be  noted  between  this  figure 
and  the  next  (Fig.  227),  which  shows  an  inescut- 
cheon  within  a  bordure. 

Though  both  forms  are  very  seldom  so  met 
with,  an  orle  may  be  subject  to  the  usual  lines  of 
partition,  and  may  also  be  charged.  Examples  of 
both  these  variations  are  met  with  in  the  arms  of  Yeatman-Biggs,  and 
the  arms  of  Gladstone  afford  an  instance  of  an  orle  *'  flory."  The 
arms  of  Knox,  Earl  of  Ranfurly,  are  :  Gules,  a  falcon  volant  or, 
within  an  orle  wavy  on  the  outer  and  engrailed  on  the  inner  edge 
argent. 

When   a   series  of  charges   are    placed    round    the   edges   of    the 


Fig.   227. — An  inescut 
cheon  within  a  bordure. 


142     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

escutcheon  {theoretically  in  the  position  occupied  by  the  orle,  but  as  a 
matter  of  actual  fact  usually  more  in  the  position  occupied  by  the 
bordure),  they  are  said  to  be  ^'  in  orle,"  which  is  the  correct  term,  but 
they  will  often  be  found  blazoned  ^^an  orle  of  {e.g,)  martlets  or  mounds." 


THE    TRESSURE 

The  tressure  is  really  an  orle  gemel,  ix.  an  orle  divided  into  two 
narrow  ones  set  closely  together,  the  one  inside  the  other.  It  is,  how- 
ever, usually  depicted  a  trifle  nearer  the  edge  of  the  escutcheon  than 
the  orle  is  generally  placed. 

The  tressure  cannot  be  borne  singly,  as  it  would  then  be  an  orle, 
but  plain  tressures  under  the  name  of  ^'  concentric  orles "  will  be 
found  mentioned  in  Papworth.  In  that  Ordinary 
eight  instances  are  given  of  arms  containing  more 
than  a  single  orle,  though  the  eight  instances  are 
plainly  varieties  of  only  four  coats.  Two  con- 
centric orles  would  certainly  be  a  tressure,  save 
that  perhaps  they  would  be  drawn  of  rather  too 
great  a  width  for  the  term  "  tressure  "  to  be  pro- 
perly applied  to  them. 

If   these   instances   be   disregarded,  and    I   am 

inclined   to   doubt  them  as    genuine   coats,   there 

^^*^and^cmime^rX7y^°'^^    Certainly   is    no   example    of    a    plain    tressure   in 

British    heraldry,    and    one's    attention    must    be 

directed  to  the  tressure  flory  and  counterflory  (Fig.   228),  so  general 

in  Scottish  heraldry. 

Originating  entirely  in  the  Royal  escutcheon,  one  cannot  do  better 
than  reproduce  the  remarks  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  upon  the  subject 
from  his  work  ^^  Heraldry  in  relation  to  Scottish  History  and  Art "  : — 
"  William  the  Lion  has  popularly  got  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
to  introduce  heraldic  bearings  into  Scotland,  and  to  have  assumed  the 
lion  as  his  personal  cognisance.  The  latter  statement  may  or  may  not 
be  true,  but  we  have  no  trace  of  hereditary  arms  in  Scotland  so  early 
as  his  reign  (1165-1214).  Certainly  the  lion  does  not  appear  on  his 
seal,  but  it  does  on  that  of  his  son  and  successor  Alexander  II.,  with 
apparent  remains  of  the  double  tressure  flory- counterflory,  a  device 
which  is  clearly  seen  on  the  seals  of  Alexander  III.  (i 249-1 285).  We 
are  unable  to  say  what  the  reason  was  for  the  adoption  of  such  a  dis- 
tinctive coat  ;  of  course,  if  you  turn  to  the  older  writers  you  will 
find  all  sorts  of  fables  on  the  subject.  Even  the  sober  and  sensible 
Nisbet  states  that  <  the  lion  has  been  carried  on  the  armorial  ensign  of 


THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  143 

Scotland  since  the  first  founding  of  the  monarchy  by  King  Fergus  1/ 
— a  very  mythical  personage,  who  is  said  to  have  flourished  about  300 
B.C.,  though  he  is  careful  to  say  that  he  does  not  believe  arms  are  as 
old  as  that  period.  He  says,  however,  that  it  is  '  without  doubt  '  that 
Charlemagne  entered  into  an  alliance  with  Achaius,  King  of  Scotland, 
and  for  the  services  of  the  Scots  the  French  king  added  to  the  Scottish 
lion  the  double  tressure  fleur-de-lisee  to  show  that  the  former  had 
defended  the  French  lilies,  and  that  therefore  the  latter  would  surround 
the  lion  and  be  a  defence  to  him."- 

All  this  is  very  pretty,  but  it  is  not  history.  Chalmers  remarks  in 
his  ^'  Caledonia  "  that  the  lion  may  possibly  have  been  derived  from 
the  arms  of  the  old  Earls  of  Northumberland  and  Huntingdon,  from 
whom  some  of  the  Scpttish  kings  were  descended  ;  and  he  mentions 
an  old  roll  of  arms  preserved  by  Leland,^  which  is  certainly  not  later 
than  1272,  in  which  the  arms  of  Scotland  are  blazoned  as:  Or,  a  lion 
gules  within  a  hordure  or  fleurette  gules,  which  we  may  reasonably  interpret 
as  an  early  indication  of  what  may  be  considered  as  a  foreign  rendering 
of  the  double  tressure.  Sylvanus  Morgan,  one  of  the  very  maddest  of 
the  seventeenth-century  heraldic  writers,  says  that  the  tressure  was 
added  to  the  shield  of  Scotland,  in  testimony  of  a  league  between 
Scotland  and  France,  by  Charles  V.  ;  but  that  king  did  not  ascend  the 
throne  of  France  till  1364,  at  which  time  we  have  clear  proof  that  the 
tressure  was  a  firmly  established  part  of  the  Scottish  arms.  One  of 
the  earliest  instances  of  anything  approaching  the  tressure  in  the 
Scottish  arms  which  I  have  met  with  is  in  an  armorial  of  Matthew 
Paris,  which  is  now  in  the  Cottonian  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,  and 
at  one  time  belonged  to  St.  Alban's  Monastery.  Here  the  arms  of  the 
King  of  Scotland  are  given  as :  "  Or,  a  lion  rampant  flory  gules  in  a 
bordure  of  the  same."  The  drawing  represents  a  lion  within  a  bordure, 
the  latter  being  pierced  by  ten  fleurs-de-lis,  their  heads  all  looking  in- 
wards, the  other  end  not  being  free,  but  attached  to  the  inner  margin 
of  the  shield.  This,  you  will  observe,  is  very  like  the  arms  I  mentioned 
as  described  by  Chalmers,  and  it  may  possibly  be  the  same  volume 
which  may  have  been  acquired  by  Sir  Robert  Cotton.  In  1471-  there 
was  a  curious  attempt  of  the  Scottish  Parliament  to  displace  the 
tressure.  An  Act  was  passed  in  that  year,  for  some  hitherto  unex- 
plained reason,  by  which  it  was  ordained  '^  that  in  tyme  to  cum  thar 
suld  be  na  double  tresor  about  his  (the  king's)  armys,  but  that  he  suld 
ber  hale  armys  of  the  lyoun  without  ony  mair."  Seeing  that  at  the 
time  of  this  enactment  the  Scottish  kings  had  borne  the  tressure  for 
upwards  of  220  years,  it  is  difficult  to  understand  the  cause  of  this 
procedure.      Like  many  other  Acts,  however,  it  never  seems  to  have 

^   Collectanea^  ed.  1774,  ii.  611, 


144     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

been  carried  into  effect ;  at  least  I  am  not  aware  of  even  a  solitary 
instance  of  the  Scottish  arms  without  the  tressure  either  at  or  after 
this  period. 

There  are  other  two  representations  of  the  Scottish  arms  in  foreign 
armorials,  to  which  I  may  briefly  allude.  One  is  in  the  Armorial  de 
GelrCf  a  beautiful  MS,  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Brussels,  the  Scottish 
shields  in  which  have  been  figured  by  Mr.  Stodart  in  his  book  on 
Scottish  arms,  and,  more  accurately,  by  Sir  Archibald  Dunbar  in  a 
paper  read  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland  in  1890.  The 
armorial  is  believed  to  be  the  work  of  Claes  Heynen,  Gelre  Herald  to 
the  Duke  of  Gueldres  between  1334  and  1372,  with  later  additions  by 
another  hand.  The  coat  assigned  in  it  to  the  King  of  Scotland  is  the 
Hon  and  double  tressure ;  the  Hon  is  uncrowned,  and  is  armed  and 
langued  azure  ;  above  the  shield  is  a  helmet  argent  adorned  behind 
with  a  short  capelin  or  plain  mantling,  on  which  is  emblazoned  the 
saltire  and  chief  of  the  Bruces,  from  which  we  may  gather  that  the 
arms  of  David  II.  are  here  represented  ;  the  lining  is  blue,  which  is 
unusual,  as  mantlings  are  usually  lined  or  doubled  with  a  metal,  if  not 
with  ermine.  The  helmet  is  surmounted  by  an  Imperial  crown,  with 
a  dark  green  bonnet  spotted  with  red.^  On  the  crown  there  is  the 
crest  of  a  lion  sejant  guardant  gules,  imperially  crowned  or,  holding 
in  his  paw  a  sword  upright ;  the  tail  is  cou6  or  placed  between  the 
hind-legs  of  the  lion,  but  it  then  rises  up  and  flourishes  high  above  his 
back  in  a  sufficiently  defiant  fashion.  This  shows  that  the  Scottish 
arms  were  well  known  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  nearly  a  hundred 
years  before  the  date  of  the  Grunenberg  MS.,  while  Virgil  de  Solis 
{c.  1555)  gives  a  sufficiently  accurate  representation  of  the  Royal  shield, 
though  the  fleur-de-lis  all  project  outwards  as  in  the  case  of  Grunen- 
berg ;  he  gives  the  crest  as  a  lion  rampant  holding  a  sword  in  bend 
over  his  shoulder.  Another  ancient  representation  of  the  Scottish 
arms  occurs  in  a  MS.  treatise  on  heraldry  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
containing  the  coats  of  some  foreign  sovereigns  and  other  personages, 
bound  up  with  a  Scottish  armorial,  probably  by  David  Lindsay,  Lyon 
in  1568." 

The  tressure,  like  the  bordure,  in  the  case  of  an  impalement  stops 
at  the  line  of  impalement,  as  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  arms  of 
Queen  Anne  after  the  union  of  the  crow^ns  of  England  and  Scotland. 

It  is  now  held,  both  in  England  and  Scotland,  that  the  tressure 
flory  and  counterflory  is,  as  a  part  of  the  Royal  Arms,  protected,  and 
cannot  be  granted  to  any  person  without  the  express   licence  of  the 

*  In  M.  Victor  Bouton's  edition  of  the  Armorial  d^  Celre  (Paris  1881)  the  bonnet  is  described 
as  a  mount. 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  145 

Sovereign.  This,  however,  does  not  interfere  with  the  matriculation  or 
exempHfication  of  it  in  the  case  of  existing  arms  in  which  it  occurs. 

Many  Scottish  families  bear  or  claim  to  bear  the  Royal  tressure  by 
reason  of  female  descent  from  the  Royal  House,  but  it  would  seem 
much  more  probable  that  in  most  if  not  in  all  cases  where  it  is  so 
borne  by  right  its  origin  is  due  rather  to  a  gift  by  way  of  augmentation 
than  to  any  supposed  right  of  inheritance.  The  apparently  conflicting 
statements  of  origin  are  not  really  antagonistic,  inasmuch  as  it  will  be 
seen  from  many  analogous  English  instances  {e.g,  Mowbray,  Manners, 
and  Seymour)  that  near  relationship  is  often  the  only  reason  to  account 
for  the  grant  of  a  Royal  augmentation.  As  an  ordinary  augmentation 
of  honour  it  has  been  frequently  granted. 

The  towns  of  Aberdeen  and  Perth  obtained  early  the  right  of 
honouring  their  arms  with  the  addition  of  the  Royal  tressure.  It 
appears  on  the  still  existing  matrix  of  the  burgh  seal  of  Aberdeen, 
which  was  engraved  in  1430. 

James  V.  in  1542  granted  a  warrant  to  Lyon  to  surround  the  arms 
of  John  Scot,  of  Thirlestane,  with  the  Royal  tressure,  in  respect  of  his 
ready  services  at  Soutra  Edge  with  three  score  and  ten  lances  on  horse- 
back, when  other  nobles  refused  to  follow  their  Sovereign.  >  The  grant 
was  put  on  record  by  the  grantee's  descendant,  Patrick,  Lord  Napier, 
and  is  the  tressured  coat  borne  in  the  second  and  third  quarters  of  the 
Napier  arms. 

When  the  Royal  tressure  is  granted  to  the  bearer  of  a  quartered 
coat  it  is  usually  placed  upon  a  bordure  surrounding  the  quartered 
shield,  as  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  the  Marquess  of  Queensberry, 
to  whom,  in  1682,  the  Royal  tressure  was  granted  upon  a  bordure  or, 
A  like  arrangement  is  borne  by  the  Earls  of  Eglinton,  occurring  as 
far  back  as  a  seal  of  Earl  Hugh,  appended  to  a  charter  of  1598. 

The  Royal  tressure  had  at  least  twice  been  granted  as  an  augmen- 
tation 'to  the  arms  of  foreigners.  James  V.  granted  it  to  Nicolas 
Canivet  of  Dieppe,  secretary  to  John,  Duke  of  Albany  (Reg.  Mag. 
Sig.,  xxiv.  263,  Oct.  24,  1529).  James  VI.  gave  it  to  Sir  Jacob  Van 
Eiden,  a  Dutchman  on  whom  he  conferred  the  honour  of  knighthood. 

On  12th  March  1762,  a  Royal  Warrant  was  granted  directing 
Lyon  to  add  a  *^  double  tressure  counterflowered  as  in  the  Royal  arms  of 
Scotland  "  to  the  arms  of  Archibald,  Viscount  Primrose.  Here  the 
tressure  was  guksy  as  in  the  Royal  arms,  although  the  field  on  which  it 
was  placed  was  vert.  In  a  later  record  of  the  arms  of  Archibald,  Earl 
of  Rosebery,  in  1823,  this  heraldic  anomaly  was  brought  to  an  end, 
and  the  blazon  of  the  arms  of  Primrose  is  now :  "  Vert,  three  primroses 
within  a  double  tressure  flory  counterflory  or."  (See  Stodart,  "  Scottish 
Arms,"  vol.  i.  pp.  262,  263,  where  mention  is  also  made  of  an  older 

K 


146     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

use  of  the  Royal  tressure  or,  by  ^'  Archbald  Primrose  of  Dalmenie, 
Knight  and  baronet,  be  his  majesty  Charles  ii.  create,  Vert,  three 
primroses  within  a  double  tressure  flowered  comiter- flowered  or.")  Another 
well-known  Scottish  instance  in  which  the  tressure  occurs  will  be 
found  in  the  arms  of  the  Marquess  of  Ailsa  (Fig.  229). 

Two  instances  are  known  in  which  the  decoration  of  the  tressure 
has  differed  from  ihe  usual  conventional  fleurs-de-lis.  The  tressure 
granted  to  Charles,  Earl  of  Aboyne,  has  crescents  without  and  demi- 
fleurs-de-lis  within,  and  the  tressure  round  the  Gordon  arms  in  the 
case  of  the  Earls  of  Aberdeen  is  of  thistles,  roses,  and  fleurs-de-lis 
alternately. 

The  tressure  gives  way  to  the  chief  and  canton,  but  all  other  ordi- 
naries are  enclosed  by  the  tressure,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  arms  of 
Lord  Ailsa. 


THE    LOZENGE,    THE    FUSIL,    THE    MASCLE,    AND 
THE    RUSTRE 

Why  these,  which  arc  simply  varying  forms  of  one  charge,  should 
ever  have  been  included  amongst  the  list  of  ordinaries  is  difficult  to 
understand,  as  they  do  not  seem  to  be  *' ordinaries  "  any  more  than  say 
the  mullet  or  the  crescent.      My  own    opinion    is 
that  they  are  no  more  than  distinctively  heraldic 
charges.      The    lozenge    (Fig.     230),    which    is    the 
original  form,  is  the  same  shape  as  the  *^  diamond  " 
in  a  pack  of  cards,  and  will  constantly  be  found  as 
a  charge.      In  addition  to  this,  the  arms  of  a  lady 
as  maid,  or  as  widow,  are  always  displayed  upon 
a  lozenge.      Upon   this  point  reference  should  be 
made  to  the  chapters  upon  marshalHng.     The  arms 
P         ^^  of  Kyrke  show  a  single  lozenge  as  the  charge,  but 

a  single  lozenge  is  very  rarely  met  with.  The 
arms  of  Guise  show  seven,  lozenges  conjoined.  The  arms  of  Barnes 
show  four  lozenges  conjoined  in  cross,  and  the  arms  of  Bartlett  show 
five  lozenges  conjoined  in  fess.  Although  the  lozenge  is  very  seldom 
found  in  English  armory  as  a  single  charge,  nevertheless  as  a  lozenge 
throughout  (that  is,  with  its  four  points  touching  the  borders  of  the 
escutcheon)  it  will  be  found  in  some  number  of  instances  in  Conti- 
nental heraldry,  for  instance  in  the  family  of  Eubing  of  Bavaria.  An 
indefinite  number  of  lozenges  conjoined  as  a  bend  or  a  pale  are 
known  as  a  bend  lozengy,  or  a  pale  lozengy,  but  care  should  be  taken 
in  using  this  term,  as  it  is  possible  for  these  ordinaries  to  be  plain 


r^ 


Fig.  229. — Armorial  bearings  of  Sir  Archibald  Kennedy,  Marquess  of  Ailsa  :  Argent,  a  chevron  gules 
between  three  cross  crosslets  fitchee  sable,  all  within  a  double  tressure  flory  and  counter-flory  of  the 
second.  Mantling  gules,  doubled  ermine.  Crest  :  upon  a  wreath  of  his  liveries,  a  dolphin  naiant 
proper.  Supporters :  two  swans  proper,  beaked  an^  membered  gules.  Motto :  "  Avise  la  fin." 
(From  the  painting  by  Mr.  Graham  Johnston  in  the  Lyon  Register.) 


^     OF   THE 


OF 


,LII 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  147 

ordinaries  tinctured  ^'  lozengy  of  two  colours."     The  arms  of  Holding 
are  an  example  of  a  bend  lozengy. 

The  fusil  is  supposed  to  be,  and  is  generally  depicted,  of  a  greater 
height  and  less  width  than  a  lozenge,  being  an  altogether  narrower 
figure  (Fig.  231).  Though  this  distinction  is  generally  observed,  it  is 
not  always  easy  to  decide  which  figure  any  emblazonment  is  intended  to 
represent,  unless  the  blazon  of  the  arms  in  question  is  known.  In  many 
cases  the  variations  of  different  coats  of  arms,  to  suit  or  to  fit  the  varying 
shapes  of  shields,  have  resulted  in  the  use  of  lozenges  and  fusils  indiffer- 
ently. Fusils  occur  in  the  historic  arms  of  Daubeney,  from  which 
family  Daubeney  of  Cote,  near  Bristol,  is  descended,  being  one  of  the 
few  families  who  have  an  undoubted  male  descent  from  a  companion  of 
William  the  Conqueror.  In  the  ordinary  way  five  or  more  lozenges  in 
fess  would  be  fusils,  as  in  the  arms  of  Percy,  Duke  of  Northumber- 


FiG.  231. — Fusil. 


Fig.  232. — Mascle. 


Fig.  233. — Rustre. 


land,  who  bears  in  the  first  quarter  :  Azure,  live  fusils  conjoined  in  fess 
or.  The  charges  in  the  arms  of  Montagu,  though  only  three  in  number, 
are  always  termed  fusils.  But  obviously  in  early  times  there  could 
have  been  no  distinction  between  the  lozenge  and  the  fusil. 

The  mascle  is  a  lozenge  voided,  i.e,  only  the  outer  framework  is  left, 
the  inner  portion  being  removed  (Fig.  232).  Mascles  have  no  particular 
or  special  meaning,  but  are  frequently  to  be  met  with. 

The  blazon  of  the  arms  of  De  Quincy  in  Charles's  Roll  is :  ^'  Do 
goules  poudr6  afause  losengez  dor,"  and  in  another  Roll  (MS.  Brit.  Mus. 
29,796)  the  arms  are  described  :  ''  De  gules  a  set  fauses  lozenges  de  or  " 
(Fig.  234).  The  great  Seiher  de  Quincy,  Earl  of  Winchester,  father  of 
Roger,  bore  quite  different  arms  (Fig.  235).  In  1472  Louis  de  Bruges, 
Lord  of  Gruthuyse,  was  created  Earl  of  Winchester,  having  no  relation 
to  the  De  Quincy  line.  The  arms  of  De  Bruges,  or  rather  of  Gruthuyse, 
were  very  different,  yet  nevertheless,  we  find  upon  the  Patent  Roll 
(12  Edward  IV.  pt.  I,  m.  11)  a  grant  of  the  following  arms  :  ^<  Azure, 
dix  mascles  d'Or,  enorm^  d'une  canton  de  nostre  propre  Armes  de 
Angleterre  ;  cest  a  savoir  de  Gules  a  une  Lipard  passant  d'Or,  armc^e 


148     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

d' Azure,"  to  Louis,  Earl  of  Winchester  (Fig.  236).  The  recurrence 
of  the  mascles  in  the  arms  of  the  successive  Earls  of  Winchester, 
whilst  each  had  other  family  arms,  and  in  the  arms  of  Ferrers,  whilst 
not  being  the  original  Ferrers  coat,  suggests  the  thought  that  there 
may  be  hidden  some  reference  to  a  common  saintly  patronage  which 
all  enjoyed;  or  some  territorial  honour  common  to  the  three  of  which 
the  knowledge  no  longer  remains  with  us. 

There  are  some  number  of  coats  which  are  said  to  have  had  a 
field  masculy.  Of  course  this  is  quite  possible,  and  the  difference 
between  a  field  masculy  and  a  field  fretty  is  that  in  the  latter  the  separate 
pieces  of  which  it  is  composed  interlace  each  other  ;  but  when  the  field 
is  masculy  it  is  all  one  fretwork  surface,  the  field  being  visible  through 
the  voided  apertures.     Nevertheless  it  seems  by  no  means  certain  that 


Fig.    234. — Arms  of  Roger  de  Fig.  235. — Arms  of  Seiher  de 

Quincy,    Earl  of  Winchester  Quincy,  Earl  of  Winchester 

{d.      1264):      Gules,     seven  {d.   1219):  Or,  a  fess  gules, 

mascles  conjoined,  three,  three  a     label     of     seven     points 

and  one  or.     (From  his  seal.)  azure.     (From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  236. — Arms  of  Louis 
de  Bruges,  Earl  of  Win- 
chester {d.  1492.) 


in  every  case  in  which  the  field  masculy  occurs  it  may  not  be  found 
in  other,  and  possibly  earlier,  examples  as  fretty.  At  any  rate,  very 
few  such  coats  of  arms  are  even  supposed  to  exist.  The  arms  of 
De  Burgh  (Fig.  237)  are  blazoned  in  the  Grimaldi  Roll:  <^  Masclee  de 
vere  and  de  goules,"  but  whether  the  inference  is  that  this  blazon  is 
wrong  or  that  lozenge  and  mascle  were  identical  terms  I  am  not  aware. 
The  rusfre  is  comparatively  rare  (Fig.  233).  It  is  a  lozenge 
pierced  in  the  centre  with  a  circular  hole.  It  occurs  in  the  arms 
of  J.  D.  G.  Dalrymple,  Esq.,  F.S.A.  Some  few  coats  of  arms  are 
mentioned  in  Papworth  in  which  the  rustre  appears  ;  for  example  the 
arms  of  Pery,  which  are  :  **  Or,  three  rustres  sable  ; "  and  Goodchief, 
which  are  :  ^^  Per  fess  or  and  sable,  three  rustres  counterchanged  ;  " 
but  so  seldom  is  the  figure  met  with  that  it  may  be  almost  dropped 
out  of  consideration.  How  it  ever  reached  the  position  of  being 
considered  one  of  the  ordinaries  has  always  been  to  me  a  profound 
mystery. 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES 


149 


THE    FRET 

The  fret  (Fig.  238),  which  is  very  frequently  found  occurring  in 
British  armory,  is  no  doubt  derived  from  earher  coats  of  arms,  the 
whole  field  of  which  was  covered  by  an  interlacing  of  alternate  bendlets 


Fig.  237. — Arms  of  Hubert  de 
Burgh,  Earl  of  Kent  {d.  1 243). 
(From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  238.— The  Fret. 


Fig.  239. — Fretty. 


and  bendlets  sinister,  because  many  of  the  families  who  now  bear  a 
simple  fret  are  found  in  earlier  representations  and  in  the  early  rolls 
of  arms  bearing  coats  which  were  fretty  (Fig.  239).  Instances  of  this 
kind  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Maltravers, 
Verdon,  Tollemache,  and  other  families. 

^'  Sable  fretty  or  "  was  the  original  form  of  the 
arms  of  the  ancient  and  historic  family  of  Mal- 
travers. At  a  later  date  the  arms  of  Maltravers 
are  found  simply  '^  sable,  a  fret  or,"  but,  like  the 
arms  of  so  many  other  families  which  we  now 
find  blazoned  simply  as  charged  with  a  fret,  their 
original  form  was  undoubtedly  '^  fretty."  They 
appear  fretty  as  late  as  in  the  year  1421,  which 
is  the  date  at  which  the  Garter  plate  of  Sir 
William  Arundel,  K.G.  (i 395-1400),  was  set  up 
in  St.  George's  Chapel  at  Windsor.  His-  arms 
as  there  displayed  are  in  the  first  and  fourth 
quarters,  <*  gules,  a  lion  rampant  or,"  and  in  the 
second  and  third,  "  purpure  fretty  or  "  for  Maltravers.  Probably  the 
seal  of  John  Fitz  Alan,  Earl  of  Arundel  {d,  1435),  roughly  marks  the 
period,  and  shows  the  source  of  the  confusion  (Fig.  240).  But  it 
should  be  noted  that  Sir  Richard  Arundel,  Lord  Maltravers,  bore  at 
the  siege  of  Rouen,  in  the  year  141 8,  gules  a  lion  rampant  or,  quarterly 
with  *^  sable  a  fret  or  "  (for  Maltravers).     This  would  seem  to  indicate 


Fig.  240. — Arms  of  John 
Fitz  Alan,  Earl  of 
Arundel  {d.  1435) : 
Quarterly,  I  and  4, 
gules,  a  lion  rampant  or 
(for  Fitz  Alan) ;  2  and 
3,  sable,  fretty  or  (for 
Maltravers).  (From  his 
seal,  c.  1432.) 


I50     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

that  those  who  treat  the  fret  and  fretty  as  interchangeable  have  good 
grounds  for  so  doing.  A  Sir  John  Maltravers  bore  ^<  sable  fretty  or  "  at 
the  siege  of  Calais,  and  another  Sir  John  Maltravers,  a  knight  banneret, 
bore  at  the  first  Dunstable  tournament  ^'  sable  fretty  or,  a  label  of  three 
points  argent."  As  he  is  there  described  as  Le  Fitz,  the  label  was 
probably  a  purely  temporary  mark  of  difference.  In  a  roll  of  arms 
which  is  believed  to  belong  to  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry 
III.,  a  Sir  William  Maltravers  is  credited  with  ''sable  fretty  or,  on  a 
quarter  argent,  three  lions  passant  in  pale  gules."  The  palpable 
origin  of  the  fret  or  fretty  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Maltravers 
is  simply  the  canting  similarity  between  a  traverse  and  the  name  Mal- 
travers. Another  case,  which  starting  fretty  has  ended  in  a  fret,  occurs 
in  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Harington.  Sir  John  de  Haverington, 
or  Sir  John  de  Harington,  is  found  at  the  first  Dunstable  tournament 
in  1308  bearing  "sable  fretty  argent,"  and  this  coat  of  arms  variously 
differenced  appears  in  some  number  of  the  other  early  rolls  of  arms. 
The  Harington  family,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  current  baronetages, 
now  bear  ''  sable  a  fret  argent,"  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  in 
this  case  the  origin  of  the  fretty  is  to  be  found  in  a  representation  of 
a  herring-net. 

The  fret  is  usually  depicted  throughotii  when  borne  singly,  and  is 
then  composed  of  a  bendlet  dexter  and  a  bendlet  sinister,  interlaced  in 
the  centre  by  a  mascle.  Occasionally  it  will  be  found  couped,  but  it 
is  then,  as  a  rule,  only  occupying  the  position  of  a  subsidiary  charge. 
A  coat  which  is  fretty  is  entirely  covered  by  the  interlacing  bendlets  and 
bendlets  sinister,  no  mascles  being  introduced. 


THE    FLAUNCH 

The  flaunch,  which  is  never  borne  singly,  and  for  which  the  ad- 
ditional names  of  "  flasks  "  and  "  voiders  "  are  some- 
times found,  is  the   segment   of   a   circle   of   large 
diameter  projecting,  jnto  the  field  from  either  side 
of  the  escutcheon,  of  a  different  colour  from  the 
field.      It    is   by    no  means   an   unusual   charge   to 
be  met  with,  and,  like  the  majority  of  other  ordi- 
naries, is  subject  to  the  usual  lines  of  partition,  but 
so  subject  is,  however,  of  rather  rare  occurrence.     " 
Planche,  in  his    ''  Pursuivant    of    Arms,"  men- 
FiG  2  I  — Fi       h        tions  the  old  idea,   which    is    repeated   by   Wood- 
ward, "that  the  base  son  of  a  noble  woman,  if  he 
doe  gev  armes,  must  give  upon  the  same  a  surcoat,  but  unless  you  do 


THE   SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES 


151 


well  mark  such  coat  you  may  take  it  for  a  coat  flanchette."  The  sur- 
coat  is  much  the  same  figure  that  would  remain  after  flaunches  had 
been  taken  from  the  field  of  a  shield,  with  this  exception,  that  the 
flaunches  would  be  wider  and  the  intervening  space  necessarily  much 
narrower.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  this  is  supposed  to  be  one  of 
the  recognised  rules  of  armory,  one  instance  only  appears  to  be 
known  of  its  employment,  which,  however,  considering  the  cir- 
cumstances, is  not  very  much  to  be  wondered  at.  One  exceptional 
case  surely  cannot  make  a  rule.  I  know  of  no  modern  case  of  a 
mother's  coat  bastardised — but  I  assume  it  would  fall  under  the 
ordinary  practice  of  the  bordure  wavy. 


THE    ROUNDLE 

The  roundle  is  a  generic  name  which  comprises  all  charges  which 

are  plain  circular  figures  of  colour  or  metal.      Foreign  heraldry  merely 

terms  them  roundles  of  such  and  such  a  colour, 

but    in   England  we  have   special   terms   for   each 

tincture. 

When    the    roundle    is    gold    it    is    termed    a 

*'  bezant,"    when   silver   a    "  plate,"    when   gules    a 

^'  torteau,"   when  azure  a  ^^  hurt,"    when   sable  an 

^<  ogress,"   "  pellet,"    or    '^  gunstone,"   when   vert   a 

"  pomeis,"  when  purpure  a  '^  golpe,"  when  tenne 

an    *'  orange,"    when    sanguine    a    "  guze."       The 

golpes,   oranges,   and    guzes    are    seldom,  if    ever,  *  242.—  ountam. 

met  with,  but  the  others  are  of  constant  occurrence,  and  roundles  of 

fur  are  bv  no  means  unknown.  A  roundle  of  more  than  one  colour 
is  described  as  a  roundle  '^  per  pale,"  for  ex- 
ample of  gules  and  azure,  or  whatever  it  may  be. 
The  plates  and  bezants  are  naturally  flat,  and 
must  be  so  represented.  They  should  never  be 
shaded  up  into  a  globular  form.  The  torteau 
is  sometijnes  found  shaded,  but  is  more  cor- 
rectly flat,  but  probably  the  pellet  or  ogress 
and  the  pomeis  are  intended  to  be  globular. 
Roundles  of  fur  are  always  flat.  One  curious 
roundle  is  a  very  common  charge  in  British 
armory,  that  is,  the  '^  fountain,"  which  is  a  roundle 
barry  wavy  argent  and  azure  (Fig.  242).  This 
is  the    conventional    heraldic  representation    of 

water,  of  course.      A  fountain  will   be  found  termed  a  "  syke  "  when 

occurring    in   the   arms    of    any   family   of    the  name    of    Sykes.      It 


Fig.  243. — The  Arms  of 
Siourton. 


152     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

typifies  naturally  anything  in  the  nature  of  a  well,  in  which  meaning 
it  occurs  on  the  arms  of  Stourton  (Fig.  243). 

The  arms  of  Stourton  are  one  of  the  few  really  ancient  coats  con- 
cerning which  a  genuine  explanation  exists.  The  blazon  of  them  is  : 
Sable  a  bend  or,  between  six  fountains  proper.  Concerning  this  coat 
of  arms  Aubrey  says  :  ''  I  believe  anciently  'twas  only  Sable  a  bend 
or."  With  all  deference  to  Aubrey,  I  personally  neither  think  he  was 
right,  nor  do  I  pay  much  attention  to  his  opinionsj  particularly  in  this 
case,  inasmuch  as  every  known  record  of  the  Stourton  arms  intro- 
duces the  six  fountains.  The  name  Stourton,  originally  ^^  de  Stourton," 
is  emphatically  a  territorial  name,  and  there  is  little  opportunity  for 
this  being  gainsaid,  inasmuch  as  the  lordship  and  manor  of  Stourton, 
in  the  counties  of  Wilts  and  Somerset,  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  Lords  Stourton  until  the  year  17 14.  The  present  Lord  Mowbray 
and  Stourton  still  owns  land  within  the  parish.  Consequently  there 
is  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  Lords  Stourton  derived  their  surname 
from  this  manor  of  Stourton.  Equally  is  it  certain  that  the  manor  of 
Stourton  obtained  its  name  from  the  river  Stour,  which  rises  within 
the  manor.  The  sources  of  the  river  Stour  are  six  wells,  which  exist 
in  a  tiny  valley  in  Stourton  Park,  which  to  this  day  is  known  by 
the  name  of  '^  The  Six  Wells  Bottom."  In  the  present  year  of  grace 
only  one  of  the  six  wells  remains  visible.  When  Sir  Richard  Colt 
Hoare  wrote,  there  were  four  visible.  Of  these  four,  three  were  out- 
side and  one  inside  the  park  wall.  The  other  two  within  the  park 
had  been  then  closed  up.  When  Leland  wrote  in  1540  to  1542,  the 
six  wells  were  in  existence  and  visible  ;  for  he  wrote  :  '^  The  ryver  of 
Stoure  risith  ther  of  six  fountaynes  or  springes,  whereof  3  be  on  the 
northe  side  of  the  Parke,  harde  withyn  the  Pale,  the  other  3  be  north 
also,  but  withoute  the  Parke.  The  Lorde  Stourton  giveth  these  6 
fountaynes  yn  his  Armes."  Guillim  says  the  same  thing  :  ''  These  six 
Fountains  are  borne  in  signification  of  six  Springs,  whereof  the  River 
of  Sture  in  Wiltshire  hath  his  beginning,  and  passeth  along  to  Sturton, 
the  seat  of  that  Barony."  Here,  then,  is  the  origin  of  the  six  fountains 
upon  the  coat  of  arms  ;  but  Aubrey  remarks  that  three  of  the  six  springs 
in  the  park  are  in  the  county  of  Wilts,  whereas  Mr.  Camden  has  put 
them  all  in  Somersetshire.  However,  the  fact  is  that  three  of  the 
springs  were  inside  the  park  and  three  outside,  and  that  three  were 
in  Wiltshire  and  three  in  Somersetshire.  Here,  then,  is  to  be  found 
the  division  upon  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  six  fountains  in  the  two 
sets  of  three  each,  and  it  is  by  no  means  an  improbable  suggestion 
that  the  bend  which  separates  the  three  from  the  three  is  typical  of,  or 
was  suggested  by,  either  the  park  wall  or  pale,  or  by  the  line  of  division 
between  the  two  counties,  and  the  more  probable  of  the  two  seems  to 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES  153 

be  the  park  wall.  The  coat  of  arms  is  just  a  map  of  the  property. 
Now,  with  regard  to  the  arms,  as  far  as  is  known  there  has  not  been 
at  any  time  the  slightest  deviation  by  the  family  of  the  Lords  Stourton 
from  the  coat  quoted  and  illustrated.  But  before  leaving  the  subject 
it  may  be  well  to  point  out  that  in  the  few  cases  in  which  an  ancient 
coat  of  arms  carries  with  it  an  explanation,  such  explanation  is  usually 
to  be  found  either  in  some  such  manner  as  that  in  which  these  arms 
of  Stourton  have  been  explained,  or  else  in  some  palpable  pun,  and 
not  in  the  mythical  accounts  and  legends  of  supernatural  occurrences 
which  have  been  handed  down,  and  seldom  indeed  in  any  explanation 
of  personal  nobility  which  the  tinctures  or  charges  are  sometimes  said 
to  represent. 

What  is  now  considered  quite  a  different  charge  from  the  fountain 
is  the  whirlpool  or  gurges,  which  is  likewise  intended  to  represent 
water,  and  is  borne  by  a  family  of  the  name  of  Gorges,  the  design 
occupying  the  whole  of  the  field.  This  is  represented  by  a  spiral  line 
of  azure  commencing  in  the  centre  of  an  argent  field,  continuing 
round  and  round  until  the  edges  of  the  shield  are  reached  ;  but  there 
can  be  very  little  doubt  that  this  was  an  early  form  of  representing 
the  watery  roundle  which  happens  to  have  been  perpetuated  in  the 
instance  of  that  one  coat.  The  fountains  upon  the  seal  of  the  first 
Lord  Stourton  are  represented  in  this  manner. 

Examples  of  a  field  seme  of  roundles  are  very  usual,  these  being 
termed  bezants  or  plat^  if  sem6  of  bezants  or  plates  ;  but  in  the  cases 
of  roundles  of  other  colours  the  words  <<  sem^  of "  need  to  be  used. 


THE    ANNULET 


Closely  akin  to  the  roundel  is  the  annulet  (Fig.  244)  and  though, 
as  far  as  I  am  aware,  no  text-book  has  as  yet 
included  this  in  its  list  of  ordinaries  and  sub-ordi- 
naries, one  can  see  no  reason,  as  the  annulet  is  a 
regularly  used  heraldic  figure,  why  the  lozenge 
should  have  been  included  and  the  annulet  ex- 
cluded, when  the  annulet  is  of  quite  as  frequent 
occurrence.  It  is,  as  its  name  implies,  simply  a 
plain  ring  of  metal  or  colour,  as  will  be  found  in 
the  arms  of  Lowther,  Hutton,  and  many  other 
families.  Annulets  appear  anciently  to  have  been 
termed  false  roundles. 

Annulets  will  frequently  be  found  interlaced. 


Fig.  244. — Annulet. 


154     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

Care  should  be  taken  to  distinguish  them  from  gem-rings,  which 
are  always  drawn  in  a  very  natural  manner  with  stones,  which,  how- 
ever, in  real  life  would  approach  an  impossible  size. 


THE    LABEL 

The  label  (Fig.  245)  as  a  charge  must  be  distinguished  from  the 
label  as  a  mark  of  difference  for  the  eldest  son,  though  there  is  no 
doubt  that  in  those  cases  in  which  it  now  exists  as  a  charge,  the 
origin  must  be  traced  to  its  earlier  use  as  a  differ- 
ence. Concerning  its  use  as  a  mark  of  difference 
it  will  be  treated  of  further  in  the  chapter  upon 
marks  of  difference  and  cadency,  but  as  a  charge 
it  will  seldom  be  found  in  any  position  except  in 
chief,  and  not  often  of  other  than  three  points, 
and  it  will  always  be  found  drawn  throughout,  that 
is,  with  the  upper  line  extended  to  the  size  of  the 
field.      It  consists  of  a  narrow  band  straight  across 


Fig  — Th  L  b  1  ^^^  shield,  from  which  depend  at  right  angles  three 
short  bands.  These  shorter  arms  have  each  of 
late  years  been  drawn  more  in  the  shape  of  a  dovetail,  but  this  was 
not  the  case  until  a  comparatively  recent  period,  and  now-a-days  we 
are  quite  as  inclined  to  revert  to  the  old  forms  as  to  perpetuate 
this  modern  variety.  Other  names  for  the  label  are  the  '*  lambel " 
and  the  ^'  file."  The  label  is  the  only  mark  of  difference  now  borne 
by  the  Royal  Family.  Every  member  of  the  Royal  Family  has  the 
Royal  arms  assigned  to  him  for  use  presumably  during  life,  and  in 
these  warrants,  which  are  separate  and  personal  for  each  individual, 
both  the  coronet  and  the  difference  marks  which  are  to  be  borne  upon 
the  label  are  quoted  and  assigned.  This  use  of  the  label,  however,  will 
be  subsequently  fully  dealt  with.  As  a  charge,  the  label  occurs  in  the 
arms  of  Barrington  :  *^  Argent,  three  chevronels  gules,  a  label  azure  ;  " 
and  Babington  :  ^*  Argent,  ten  torteaux,  four,  three,  two,  and  one,  in 
chief  a  label  of  three  points  azure  ; "  also  in  the  earlier  form  of  the 
arms  of  De  Quincy  (Fig.  235)  and  Courtenay  (Fig.  246).  Various 
curious  coats  of  arms  in  which  the  label  appears  are  given  in 
Papworth   as  follows  : — 

"...  a  label  of  four  points  in  bend  sinister  .  .  .  Wm.  de  Curli,  20th  Hen.  HI. 
(Cotton,  Julius  F.,  vii.  175.) 

"Argent,  a  label  of  five  points  azure.  Henlington,  co.  Gloucester.  (Harl.  MS. 
1404,  fo.  109.) 

*'  Or,  a  file  gules,  with  three  bells  pendent  azure,  clappers  sable.     (Belfile.) 


THE   SO-CALLED   ORDINARIES 


^55 


"  Sable,  three  crescents,  in  chief  a  label  of  two  drops  and  in  fess  another  of  one 
drop  argent.     Fitz-Simons.     (Harl.  MS.  1441  and  5866.) 

"  Or,  three  files  borne  barways  gules,  the  first  having  five  points,  the  second 
four,  and  the  last  three.     Liskirke,  Holland.     (Gwillim.)  " 

A  curious  label  will  have  been  noticed  in  the  arms  of  De  Valence 
(Fig.  120). 

THE    BILLET 

The  billet  (Fig.  247),  though  not  often  met  with  as  a  charge,  does 
sometimes  occur,  as  for  example,  in  the  arms  of  Alington. 

Its  more  frequent  appearance  is  as  an  object  with  which  a  field 
or  superior  charge  is  seme,  in  which  case  these  are  termed  billette 
(Fig.  248).  The  best  known  instance  of  this  is  probably  the  coat  borne 
on  an  inescutcheon  over  the  arms  of  England  during  the  joint  reign  of 


mm 
W 

Fig.  246, — Arms  of  Hugh  Cour- 
tenay,  Earl  of  Devon  {d.  1422) : 
Or,  three  torteaux,  a  label 
azure.     (From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  247.— The  Billet. 


D   D    D 

Fig.  248.— Billette. 


William  and  Mary.  The  arms  of  Gasceline  afford  another  example  of  a 
field  billette.  These  are  "  or,  billette  azure,  and  a  label  gules."  Though 
not  many  instances  are  given  under  each  subdivision,  Papworth  affords 
examples  of  coats  with  every  number  of  billets  from  i  to  20,  but  many 
of  them,  particularly  some  of  those  from  10  to  20  in  number,  are 
merely  mistaken  renderings  of  fields  which  should  have  been  termed 
billette.  The  billet,  slightly  widened,  is  sometimes  known  as  a  block, 
and  as  such  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Paynter.  Other  instances  are 
to  be  found  where  the  billets  are  termed  delves  or  gads.  The  billet 
will  sometimes  be  found  pointed  at  the  bottom,  in  which  case  it  is 
termed  "  urdy  at  the  foot."  But  neither  as  a  form  of  sem^,  nor  as  a 
charge,  is  the  billet  of  sufficiently  frequent  use  to  warrant  its  inclusion 
as  one  of  the  ordinaries  or  sub-ordinaries. 


156     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 


THE    CHAPLET 

Why  the  chaplet  was  ever  included  amongst  the  ordinaries  and 
sub-ordinaries  passes  my  comprehension.  It  is  not  of  frequent  occur- 
rence, and  I  have  yet  to  ascertain  in  which  form  it  has  acquired  this 


Fig.  249. — Armorial  bearings  of  R.  E.  Yerburgh,  Fig.  250. — Armorial  bearings  of  Robert  Berry,  Esq. 
Esq. :  Per  pale  argent  and  azure,  on  a  chevron  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  vert,  a  cross  crosslet  argent  (fo 
between  three  chaplets  all  counterchanged,  an  Berry) ;  2  and  3,  parted  per  pale  argent  and  sable 
annulet  for  difference.  Mantling  azure  and  on  a  chaplet  four  mullets  counterchanged  (for  Nairne) 
argent.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  in  the  centre  of  the  quarters  a  crescent  or,  for  differ 
falcon  close  or,  belled  of  the  last,  preying  upon  ence.  Mantling  vert,  doubled  argent.  Crest :  upoi 
a  mallard  proper.  a  wreath  of  his  liveries,  a  demi-lion  rampant  gules 

armed  and  langued,  holding  in  his  dexter  paw  a  cros 
crosslet  fitch^e  azure ;  and  in  an  escroll  over  th( 
same  this  motto,  "  In  hoc  signo  vinces,"  and  ii 
another  under  the  shield,  "  L'esperance  me  comforte.' 

status.  The  chaplet  which  is  usually  meant  when  the  term  is  employed 
is  the  garland  of  oak,  laurel,  or  other  leaves  or  flowers  (Fig.  249), 
which  is  found  more  frequently  as  part  of  a  crest.  There  is  also  the 
chaplet,  which  it  is  difficult  to  describe,  save  as  a  large  broad  annulet 


THE    SO-CALLED    ORDINARIES  157 

such  as  the  one  which  figures  m  the  arms  of  Nairne  (Fig.  250);  and 
which  is  charged  at  four  regular  intervals  with  roses,  mullets,  or  some 
other  objects. 

The  chaplet  of  oak  and  acorns  is  sometimes  known  as  a  civic  crown, 
but  the  term  chaplet  will  more  frequently  be  found  giving  place  to  the 
use  of  the  word  wreath,  and  a  chaplet  of  laurel  or  roses,  unless  com- 
pletely conjoined  and  figuring  as  a  charge  upon  the  shield,  will  be  far 
more  likely  to  be  termed  a  wreath  or  garland  of  laurel  or  roses  than  a 
chaplet. 

There  are  many  other  charges  which  have  no  great  distinction  from 
some  of  these  which  have  been  enumerated,  but  as  nobody  hitherto 
has  classed  them  as  ordinaries  I  suppose  there  could  be  no  excuse 
for  so  introducing  them,  but  the  division  of  any  heraldic  charges  into 
ordinaries  and  sub-ordinaries,  and  their  separation  from  other  figures, 
seems  to  a  certain  extent  incomprehensible  and  very  unnecessary. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   HUMAN  FIGURE   IN   HERALDRY 

IF  we  include  the  many  instances  of  the  human  head  and  the 
human  figure  which  exist  as  crests,  and  also  the  human  figure 
as  a  supporter,  probably  it  or  its  parts  will  be  nearly  as  frequently 
met  with  in  armory  as  the  lion  ;  but  if  crests  and  supporters  be  disre- 
garded, and  the  human  figure  be  simply  considered  as  a  charge  upon 
the  shield,  it  is  by  no  means  often  to  be  met  with. 

English  (but  not  Scottish)  official  heraldry  now  and  for  a  long 
time  past  has  set  its  face  against  the  representation  of  any  specific 
saint  or  other  person  in  armorial  bearings.  In  many  cases,  however, 
particularly  in  the  arms  of  ecclesiastical  sees  and  towns,  the  armorial 
bearings  registered  are  simply  the  conventionalised  heraldic  repre- 
sentation of  seal  designs  dating  from  a  very  much  earlier  period. 

Seal  engravers  laboured  under  no  such  limitations,  and  their 
representations  were  usually  of  some  specific  saint  or  person  readily 
recognisable  from  accompanying  objects.  Consequently,  if  it  be 
desirable,  the  identity  of  a  figure  in  a  coat  of  arms  can  often  be  traced 
in  such  cases  by  reference  to  a  seal  of  early  date,  whilst  all  the  time 
the  official  coat  of  arms  goes  no  further  than  to  term  the  figure  that  of 
a  saint. 

The  only  representation  which  will  be  found  in  British  heraldry  of 
the  Deity  is  in  the  arms  of  the  See  of  Chichester,  which  certainly 
originally  represented  our  Lord  seated  in  glory.  Whether  by  intention 
or  carelessness,  this,  however,  is  now  represented  and  blazoned  as  : 
'*  Azure,  a  Prester  [Presbyter]  John  sitting  on  a  tombstone,  in  his  left 
hand  a  mound,  his  right  hand  extended  all  or,  with  a  linen  mitre  on 
his  head,  and  in  his  mouth  a  sword  proper."  Possibly  it  is  a  corrup- 
tion, but  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  it  is  an  intentional  alteration  to 
avoid  the  necessity  of  any  attempt  to  pictorially  represent  the  Deity. 

Christ  upon  the  Cross,  however,  will  be  found  represented  in  the 
arms  of  Inverness  (Fig.  251).  The  shield  used  by  the  town  of 
Halifax  has  the  canting  ^<  Holy  Face "  upon  a  chequy  field.  This 
coat,  however,  is  without  authority,  though  it  is  sufficiently  remark- 
able to  quote  the  blazon   in   full :    ^'  Chequy  or   and  azure,  a  man's 

face  with  long  hair  and  bearded  and  dropping  blood,  and  surmounted 

158 


THE    HUMAN    FIGURE    IN    HERALDRY     159 

by  a  halo,  all  proper  ;    in  chief   the   letters  HALEZ,  and  in   base   the 
letters  fax." 

No  other  instance  is  known,  but,  on   the   other   hand,  representa- 


:^mm^y^- 


p}h/ 


Fig.  251. — Annorial  bearings  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Inverness:  Gules,  our  Lord 
upon  the  Cross  proper.  Mantling  gules,  doubled  or.  Crest :  upon  a  wreath  of 
the  proper  liveries  a  cornucopia  proper.  Supporters :  dexter,  a  dromedary ; 
sinister,  an  elephant,  both  proper.  (From  a  painting  by  Mr.  Graham  Johnston  in 
Lyon  Register.) 

tions  of  the  Virgin  Mary  with  her  babe  are  not  uncommon.  She  will 
be  found  so  described  in  the  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Banff.  The 
Virgin  Mary  and  Child   appear  also  in  the  arms  of  the  town  of  Leith, 


i6o     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

viz. :  "  Argent,  in  a  sea  proper,  an  ancient  galley  with  two  masts,  sails 
furled  sable,  flagged  gules,  seated  therein  the  Virgin  Mary  with  the 
Infant  Saviour  in  her  arms,  and  a  cloud  resting  over  their  heads,  all 
also  proper." 

The  Virgin  and  Child  appear  in  the  crest  of  Marylebone  (Fig.  252), 
but  in  this  case,  in  accordance  with  the  modern  English  practice,  the 
identity  is  not  alluded  to.  The  true  derivation  of  the  name  from  ^'  St. 
Mary  le  Bourne  "  (and  not  "  le  bon  ")  is  perpetuated  in  the  design  of 
the  arms. 

A  demi-figure  of  the  Virgin  is  the  crest  of  Rutherglen  ;  ^  and  the 
Virgin  and  Child  figure,  amongst  other  ecclesiastical  arms,  on  the 
shields  of  the  Sees  of  Lincoln  [^'  Gules,  two  lions  passant-guardant  or ; 
on  a  chief  azure,  the  Holy  Virgin  and  Child,  sitting  crowned,  and 
bearing  a  sceptre  of  the  second  "],  Salisbury  ['<  Azure,  the  Holy  Virgin 
and  Child,  with  sceptre  in  her  left  hand  all  or"],  Sodor  and  Man 
[''  Argent,  upon  three  ascents  the  Holy  Virgin  standing  with  her  arms 
extended  between  two  pillars,  on  the  dexter  whereof  is  a  church  ;  in 
base  the  ancient  arms  of  Man  upon  an  inescutcheon "],  Southwell 
["  Sable,  three  fountains  proper,  a  chief  paly  of  three,  on  the  first  or, 
a  stag  couchant  proper,  on  the  second  gules,  the  Virgin  holding  in  her 
arms  the  infant  Jesus,  on  the  third  also  or,  two  staves  raguly  couped 
in  cross  vert"],  and  Tuam  [^' Azure,  three  figures  erect  under  as  many 
canopies  or  stalls  of  Gothic  work  or,  their  faces,  hands,  and  legs  proper  ; 
the  first  representing  an  archbishop  in  his  pontificals  ;  the  second  the 
Holy  Virgin  Mary,  a  circle  of  glory  over  her  head,  holding  in  her  left 
arm  the  infant  Jesus  ;  and  the  third  an  angel  having  his  dexter  arm 
elevated,  and  under  the  sinister  arm  a  lamb,  all  of  the  second  "]. 

Various  saints  figure  in  different  Scottish  coats  of  arms,  and  amongst 
them  will  be  found  the  following : — 

St.  Andrew,  in  the  arms  of  the  National  Bank  of  Scotland,  granted 
in  1826  [''Or,  the  image  of  St.  Andrew  with  vesture  vert  and  surcoat 
purpure  bearing  before  him  the  cross  of  his  martyrdom  argent,  all 
resting  on  a  base  of  the  second,  in  the  dexter  flank  a  garb  gules,  in  the 
sinister  a  ship  in  full  sail  sable,  the  shield  surrounded  with  two  thistles 
proper,  disposed  in  orle  "]  ;  St.  Britius,  in  the  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh 
of  Kirkcaldy  [*'  Azur,  ane  abbay  of  three  pyramids  argent,  each  ensigned 
with  a  cross  pat6e  or.  And  on  the  reverse  of  the  seal  is  insculped  in 
a  field  azure  the  figure  of  St.  Bryse  with  long  garments,  on  his  head  a 

*  Arms  of  Rutherglen :  Argent,  in  a  sea  proper  an  ancient  galley  sable,  flagged  gules,  therein 
two  men  proper,  one  rowing,  the  other  furling  the  sail.  Above  the  shield  is  placed  a  suitable 
helmet,  with  a  mantling  gules,  doubled  argent ;  and  on  a  wreath  of  the  proper  liveries  is  set  for 
crest,  a  demi-figure  of  the  Virgin  Mary  with  the  Infant  Saviour  in  her  arms  proper  ;  and  on  a  com- 
partment below  the  shield,  on  which  is  an  escroll  containing  this  motto,  "  Ex  fumo  fama,"  are 
placed  for  supporters,  two  angels  proper,  winged  or. 


THE   HUMAN   FIGURE   IN   HERALDRY     i6i 


Fig.  252. — Arms  of  Marylebone  :  Per  chevron  sable  and  barry  wavy  of  six, 
argent  and  azure  in  chief,  in  the  dexter  a  fleur-de-lis,  and  in  the  sinister 
a  rose,  both  or.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  upon  two  bars  wavy 
argent  and  azure,  between  as  many  lilies  of  the  first,  stalked  and  leaved  vert, 
a  female  figure  affronte  proper,  vested  of  the  first,  mantled  of  the  second, 
on  the  left  arm  a  child  also  proper,  vested  or,  around  the  head  of  each  a 
halo  of  the  last.     Motto  :   "  Fiat  secundum  verbum  tuum." 

L 


1 62     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

mytre,  in  the  dexter  a  fleur-de-lis,  the  sinister  laid  upon  his  breast  all 
proper.  Standing  in  ye  porch  of  the  church  or  abbay.  Ensigned  on 
the  top  as  before  all  betwixt  a  decrescent  and  a  star  in  fess  or.  The 
motto  is  ^  Vigilando  Munio.'  And  round  the  escutcheon  of  both  sydes 
these  words — '  Sigillum  civitatus  Kirkaldie '  "] ;  St.  Columba,  in  the 
arms  of  the  College  of  the  Holy  Spirit  at  Cumbrae  ['^  Quarterly,  i  and 
4  grand  quarters,  azure,  St.  Columba  in  a  boat  at  sea,  in  his  sinister 
hand  a  dove,  and  in  the  dexter  chief  a  blazing  star  all  proper  ;  2  and 
3  grand  quarters,  quarterly,  i.  and  iv.,  argent,  an  eagle  displayed  with 
two  heads  gules ;  ii.  and  iii.,  parted  per  bend  embattled  gules  and 
argent  ;  over  the  second  and  third  grand  quarters  an  escutcheon  of 
the  arms  of  Boyle  of  Kelburne,  viz.  or,  three  stags'  horns  gules  "] ;  St. 
Duthacus,  in  the  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Tain  ['^  Gules,  St.  Duthacus 
in  long  garments  argent,  holding  in  his  dexter  hand  a  stafif  garnished 
with  ivy,  in  the  sinister  laid  on  his  breast  a  book  expanded  proper  "]  ; 
St.  ^gidius  (St.  Giles),  in  the  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Elgin 
[^'  Argent,  Sanctus  -^gidius  habited  in  his  robes  and  mitred,  holding  in 
his  dexter  hand  a  pastoral  staff,  and  in  his  left  hand  a  clasped  book, 
all  proper.  Supporters  ;  two  angels  proper,  winged  or  volant  upwards. 
Motto  :  *  Sic  itur  ad  astra,'  upon  ane  compartment  suitabil  to  a  Burgh 
Royal,  and  for  their  colours  red  and  white  "]  ;  St.  Ninian,  in  the  arms 
of  the  Episcopal  See  of  Galloway  ['*  Argent,  St.  Ninian  standing  and 
full-faced  proper,  clothed  with  a  pontifical  robe  purple,  on  his  head  a 
mitre,  and  in  his  dexter  hand  a  crosier  or  "]  ;  and  St.  Adrian,  in  the 
arms  of  the  town  of  Pittenweem  ["  Azur,  in  the  sea  a  gallie  with  her 
oars  in  action  argent,  and  therein  standing  the  figure  of  St.  Adrian, 
with  long  garments  close  girt,  and  a  mytre  on  his  head  proper,  holding 
in  his  sinister  hand  a  crosier  or.  On  the  stern  a  flag  developed  argent, 
charged  with  the  Royall  Armes  of  Scotland,  with  this  word,  '  Deo 
Duce ' "]. 

Biblical  characters  of  the  Old  Testament  have  found  favour  upon 
the  Continent,  and  the  instances  quoted  by  Woodward  are  too  amusing 
to  omit: — 

"  The  families  who  bear  the  names  of  saints,  such  as  St.  Andrew, 
St.  George,  St.  Michael,  have  (perhaps  not  unnaturally)  included  in 
their  arms  representation  of  their  family  patrons. 

**  The  Bavarian  family  of  Reider  include  in  their  shield  the  mounted 
efifigy  of  the  good  knight  St.  Martin  dividing  his  cloak  with  a  beggar 
(date  of  diploma  1760).  The  figure  of  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles 
appears  in  the  arms  of  Von  Pauli  Joerg,  and  JORGER,  of  Austria, 
similarly  make  use  of  St.  George. 

'^  Continental  Heraldry  affords  not  a  few  examples  of  the  use  of 
the  personages  of  Holy  Writ.   The  Adamoli  of  Lombardy  bear  :  *  Azure, 


THE    HUMAN    FIGURE    IN    HERALDRY     163 

the  Tree  of  Life  entwined  with  the  Serpent,  and  accosted  with  our  first 
parents,  all  proper '  {i.e.  in  a  state  of  nature).  The  addition  of  a  chief 
of  the  Empire  to  this  coat  makes  it  somewhat  incongruous. 

"The  family  of  Adam  in  Bavaria  improve  on  Sacred  History  by 
eliminating  EvE,  and  by  representing  Adam  as  holding  the  apple  in 
one  hand,  and  the  serpent  wriggling  in  the  other.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Spanish  family  of  EvA  apparently  consider  -there  is  a 
sufficiently  transparent  allusion  to  their  own  name,  and  to  the  mother 
of  mankind,  in  the  simple  bearings  :  <  Or,  on  a  mount  in  base  an 
apple-tree  vert,  fructed  of  the  field,  and  encircled  by  a  serpent  of  the 
second.' 

"  The  family  of  Abel  in  Bavaria  make  the  patriarch  in  the  attitude 
of  prayer  to  serve  as  their  crest  ;  while  the  coat  itself  is  :  ^  Sable,  on 
a  square  altar  argent,  a  lamb  lying  surrounded  by  fire  and  smoke 
proper.' 

"  Samson  slaying  the  lion  is  the  subject  of  the  arms  of  the  Vesentina 
family  of  Verona.  The  field  is  gules,  and  on  a  terrace  in  base  vert  the 
strong  man  naked  bestrides  a  golden  lion  and  forces  its  jaws  apart. 
The  Polish  family  of  Samson  naturally  use  the  same  device,  but  the 
field  is  azure  and  the  patriarch  is  decently  habited.  The  Starckens 
of  the  Island  of  Oesel  also  use  the  like  as  armes  parlantes ;  the  field  in 
this  case  is  or.  After  these  we  are  hardly  surprised  to  find  that  Daniel 
in  the  lions'  den  is  the  subject  of  the  arms  of  the  Rhenish  family  of 
Daniels,  granted  late  in  the  eighteenth  century  ;  the  field  is  azure. 
The  Bolognese  Daniels  are  content  to  make  a  less  evident  allusion  to 
the  prophet  ;  their  arms  are  ;  "  per  fess  azure  and  vert,  in  chief  <  the 
lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  '  naissant  or,  holding  an  open  book  with  the 
words  ^LiBRi  Aperti  Sunt'  (Daniel  vii.  10). 

''The  Archangel  St.  Michael  in  full  armour,  as  conventionally 
represented,  treading  beneath  his  feet  the  great  adversary,  sable,  is  the 
charge  on  an  azure  field  of  the  Van  Schorel  of  Antwerp." 

Other  instances  will  be  found,  as  St.  Kentigern  (who  is  sometimes 
said  to  be  the  same  as  St.  Mungo),  and  who  occurs  as  the  crest  of 
Glasgow :  ''  The  half-length  figure  of  St.  Kentigern  affronts,  vested  and 
mitred,  his  right  hand  raised  in  the  act  of  benediction,  and  having  in 
his  left  hand  a  crosier,  all  proper  ; "  St.  Michael,  in  the  arms  of  Lin- 
lithgow :  "  Azure,  the  figure  of  the  Archangel  Michael,  with  wings  ex- 
panded, treading  on  the  belly  of  a  serpent  lying  with  its  tail  nowed 
fesswise  in  base,  all  argent,  the  head  of  which  he  is  piercing  through 
with  a  spear  in  his  dexter  hand,  and  grasping  with  his  sinister  an 
escutcheon  charged  with  the  Royal  Arms  of  Scotland.  The  same  saint 
also  figures  in  the  arms  of  the  city  of  Brussels  ;  while  the  family  of 
Mitchell-Carruthers  bears  as  a  crest :    ''  St.   Michael   in   armour. 


i64     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

holding  a  spear  in  his  dexter  hand,  the  face,  neck,  arms  and  legs  bare, 
all  proper,  the  wings  argent,  and  hair  auburn." 

St.  Martin  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Dover,  and  he  also  figures,  as 
has  been  already  stated,  on  the  shield  of  the  Bavarian  family  of  Reider, 
whilst  St.  Paul  occurs  as  a  charge  in  the  arms  of  the  Dutch  family  of 
Von  Pauli. 

The  arms  of  the  See  of  Clogher  are :  "  A  Bishop  in  pontifical  robes 
seated  on  his  chair  of  state,  and  leaning  towards  the  sinister,  his  left 
hand  supporting  a  crosier,  his  right  pointing  to  the  dexter  chief,  all 
or,  the  feet  upon  a  cushion  gules,  tasselled  or." 

"A  curious  crest  will  be  found  belonging  to  the  arms  of  a  family 
of  Stewart,  which  is :  "A  king  in  his  robes,  crowned."  The  arms  of 
the  Episcopal  See  of  Ross  afford  another  instance  of  a  bishop,  together 
with  St.  Boniface. 

The  arms  of  the  town  of  Queensferry,  in  Scotland,  show  an  instance 
of  a  queen.  ^'  A  king  in  his  robes,  and  crowned,"  will  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  Dartmouth  [^'  Gules,  the  base  barry  wavy,  argent  and  azure, 
thereon  the  hulk  of  a  ship,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  king  robed  and 
crowned,  and  holding  in  his  sinister  hand  a  sceptre,  at  each  end  of  the 
ship  a  lion  sejant  guardant  all  or]." 

Allegorical  figures,  though  numerous  as  supporters,  are  compara- 
tively rare  as  charges  upon,  a  shield  ;  but  the  arms  of  the  University 
of  Melbourne  show  a  representation  of  the  figure  of  Victory  ['*  Azure, 
a  figure  intended  to  represent  Victory,  robed  and  attired  proper,  the 
dexter  hand  extended  holding  a  wreath  of  laurel  or,  between  four  stars 
of  eight  points,  two  in  pale  and  two  in  fess  argent "],  which  also  appears 
in  other  coats  of  arms. 

The  figure  of  Truth  will  be  found  in  the  coats  of  arms  for  various 
members  of  the  family  of  Sandeman, 

The  bust  of  Queen  Elizabeth  was  granted  by  that  Queen,  as  a 
special  mark  of  her  Royal  favour,  to  Sir  Anthony  Weldon,  her  Clerk 
of  the  Spicery. 

Apollo  is  represented  in  the  arms  of  the  Apothecaries'  Company  : 
"  Azure,  Apollo,  the  inventor  of  physic,  proper,  with  his  head  radiant, 
holding  in  his  left  hand  a  bow  and  in  his  right  hand  an  arrow  or, 
supplanting  a  serpent  argent." 

The  figure  of  Justice  appears  in  the  arms  of  Wiergman  [or  Wergman]. 

Neptune  appears  in  the  arms  granted  to  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  Lancaster 
Herald,  afterwards  Garter  King  of  Arms,  and  is  again  to  be  found  in 
the  crest  of  the  arms  of  Monneypenny  [^'  On  a  dolphin  embowed,  a 
bridled  Neptune  astride,  holding  with  his  sinister  hand  a  trident  over 
his  shoulder  "]. 

The  figure  of  Temperance  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Goodfellow. 


THE   HUMAN    FIGURE   IN    HERALDRY     165 

The  head  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  in  a  charger  figures  in  the  crest 
of  the  Tallow  Chandlers'  Livery  Company  and  in  the  arms  of  Ayr, 
whilst  the  head  of  St.  Denis  is  the  charge  upon  the  arms  of  a  family 
of  that  name. 

Angels;  though  very  frequently  met  with  as  supporters,  are  far 
from  being  usual,  either  as  a  charge  upon  a  shield  or  as  a  crest.  The 
crest  of  Leslie,  however,  is  an  angel. 

The  crest  of  Lord  Kintore  is  an  angel  in  a  praying  posture  or, 
within  an  orle  of  laurel  proper. 

Cherubs  are  far  more  frequently  to  be  met  with.  They  are 
represented  in  various  forms,  and  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
Chaloner,  Thackeray,  Maddocks,  and  in  the  crest  of  Carruthers. 

The  nude  figure  is  perhaps  the  most  usual  form  in  which 
the  human  being  is  made  use  of  as  a  charge,  and  examples  will 
be  found  in  the  arms  of  Wood  (Lord  Halifax),  and  in  the  arms  of 
Oswald. 

The  arms  of  Dalziell  show  an  example — practically  unique  in 
British  heraldry — of  a  naked  man,  the  earliest  entry  (1685)  of  the 
arms  of  Dalziell  of  Binns  (a  cadet  of  the  family)  in  the  Lyon  Register, 
having  them  then  blazoned :  "  Sable,  a  naked  man  with  his  arms 
extended  au  naturel,  on  a  canton  argent,  a  sword  and  pistol  disposed 
in  saltire  proper." 

This  curious  coat  of  arms  has  been  the  subject  of  much  speculation. 
The  fact  that  in  some  early  examples  the  body  is  swinging  from  a 
gibbet  has  led  some  to  suppose  the  arms  to  be  an  allusion  to  the  fact, 
or  legend,  that  one  of  the  family  recovered  the  body  of  Kenneth  III., 
who  had  suffered  death  by  hanging  at  the  hands  of  the  Picts.  But  it 
seems  more  likely  that  if  the  gibbet  is  found  in  any  authoritative 
versions  of  the  arms  possibly  the  coat  may  owe  its  origin  to  a  similar 
reason  to  that  which  is  said,  and  probably  correctly,  to  account  for 
the  curious  crest  of  the  Davenport  family,  viz.  :  "  A  man's  head  in 
profile  couped  at  the  shoulders  proper,  about  the  neck  a  rope  or,"  or 
as  it  is  sometimes  termed,  "a  felon's  head  proper,  about  the  neck 
a  halter  or."  There  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Capesthorne 
branch  of  the  Davenport  family  a  long  and  very  ancient  roll,  containing 
the  names  of  the  master  robbers  captured  and  beheaded  in  the  times  of 
Koran,  Roger,  and  Thomas  de  Davenport,  and  probably  the  Davenport 
family  held  some  office  or  Royal  Commission  which  empowered  them 
to  deal  in  a  summary  way  with  the  outlaws  which  infested  the  Peak 
country.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  crest  of  Davenport  should 
be  traced  to  some  such  source  as  this,  and  I  suggest  the  possibility 
of  a  similar  origin  for  the  arms  of  Dalziel. 

As  a  crest  the  savage  and  demi-savage  are  constantly  occurring. 


1 66     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

They  are  in  heraldry  distinguished  by  the  garlands  of  leaves  about 
either  or  both  loins  and  temples. 

Men  in  armour  are  sometimes  met  with.  The  arms  of  O'Loghlen 
are  an  instance  in  point,  as  are  the  cresfs  of  Marshall,  Morse,  Banner- 
man,  and  Seton  of  Mounie. 

Figures  of  all  nationalities  and  in  all  costumes  will  be  found  in  the 
form  of  supporters,  and  occasionally  as  crests,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
classify  them,  and  it  must  suffice  to  mention  a  few  curious  examples. 
The  human  figure  as  a  supporter  is  fully  dealt  with  in  the  chapter 
devoted  to  that  subject. 

The  arms  of  Jedburgh  have  a  mounted  warrior,  and  the  same 
device  occurs  in  the  crest  of  the  Duke  of  Fife,  and  in  the  arms  of 
Lanigan-O'Keefe. 

The  arms  of  Londonderry  afford  an  instance  of  a  skeleton. 

The  emblematical  figure  of  Fortune  is  a  very  favourite  charge  in 
foreign  heraldry. 

A  family  of  the  name  of  Rodd  use  the  Colossus  of  Rhodes  as  a 
crest :  and  the  arms  of  Sir  William^ Dunn,  Bart.,  are  worth  the  passing 
mention  [^^  Azure,  on  a  mount  in  base  a  bale  of  wool  proper,  thereon 
seated  a  female  figure  representing  Commerce,  vested  argent,  resting 
the  dexter  hand  on  a  stock  of  an  anchor,  and  in  the  sinister  a  cadu- 
ceus,  both  or,  on  the  chief  of  the  last  a  tree  eradicated,  thereon  hang- 
ing a  hunting-horn  between  a  thistle  slipped  proper  on  the  dexter  and 
a  fleur-de-lis  azure  on  the  sinister.  Crest :  a  cornucopia  fesswise,  sur- 
mounted by  a  dexter  hand  couped  proper,  holding  a  key  in  bend  sinister 
or.     Motto  :  <  Vigilans  et  audax.'  "]. 

The  crests  of  Vivian  [^^A  demi-hussar  of  the  i8th  Regiment, 
holding  in  his  right  hand  a  sabre,  and  in  his  left  a  pennon  flying  to 
the  sinister  gules,  and  inscribed  in  gold  letters,  ^  Croix  d'Orade,'  issuant 
from  a  bridge  of  one  arch,  embattled,  and  at  eaph  end  a  tower  "],  and 
Macgregor  [^'  two  brass  guns  in  saltire  in  front  of  a  demi-Highlander 
armed  with  his  broadsword,  pistols,  and  with  a  target,  thereon  the 
family  arms  of  Macgregor,"  viz. :  *'  Argent :  a  sword  in  bend  dexter 
azure,  and  an  oak-tree  eradicated  in  bend  sinister  proper,  in  the  dexter 
chief  an  antique  crown  gules,  and  upon  an  escroll  surmounting  the 
crest  the  motto,  ^  E'en  do  and  spare  not ' "]  are  typical  of  many 
crests  of  augmentation  and  quasi-augmentation  granted  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

The  crest  of  the  Devonshire  family  of  Arscot  [^'  A  demi-man 
affronts  in  a  Turkish  habit,  brandishing  in  his  dexter  hand  a  scimitar, 
and  his  sinister  hand  resting  on  a  tiger's  head  issuing  from  the  wreath  "] 
is  curious,  as  is  the  crest  granted  by  Sir  William  Le  Neve  in  1642  to 
Sir   Robert   Minshull,  viz.  :  "A  Turk  kneeling  on  one  knee,  habited 


THE    HUMAN    FIGURE    IN    HERALDRY     167 

gules,  legs  and  arms  in  mail  proper,  at  the  side  a  scymitar  sable,  hilted 
or,  on  the  head  a  turban  with  a  crescent  and  feather  argent,  holding 
in  the  dexter  hand  a  crescent  ol  the  last." 

The  crest  of  Pilkington  ["  a  mower  with  his  scythe  in  front 
habited  as  follows  :  a  high-crowned  hat  with  flap,  the  crown  party 
per  pale,  flap  the  same,  counterchanged  ;  coat  buttoned  to  the  middle, 
with  his  scythe  in  bend  proper,  habited  through  quarterly  and  counter- 
changed  argent  and  gules  "],  and  the  very  similar  crest  of  De  Trafford, 
in  which  the  man  holds  a  flail,  are  curious,  and  are  the  subjects  of 
appropriate  legends. 

The  crest  of  Clerk  of  Pennycuick  (a  demi-man  winding  a  horn) 
refers  to  the  curious  tenure  by  which  the  Pennycuick  estate  is  sup- 
posed to  be  held,  namely,  that  whenever  the  sovereign  sets  foot  there- 
upon, the  proprietor  must  blow  a  horn  from  a  certain  rocky  point. 
The  motto,  ^'  Free  for  a  blast,"  has  reference  to  the  same. 

The  arms  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  in  Edinburgh,  I  fancy,  afford 
the  only  instance  of  what  is  presumably  a  corpse,  the  blazon  being : 
"  Azure,  a  man  (human  body)  fesswise  between  a  dexter  hand  having 
an  eye  on  the  palm  issuing  out  of  a  cloud  downward  and  a  castle 
situate  on  a  rock  proper,  within  a  bordure  or  charged  with  several 
instruments  peculiar  to  the  art  (sic) ;  on  a  canton  of  the  first  a  saltire 
argent  surmounted  of  a  thistle  vert,  crowned  of  the  third." 

When  we  come  to  parts  of  the  human  body  instances  of  heads, 
arms,  and  legs  are  legion. 

There  are  certain  well-known  heraldic  heads,  and  though  many 
instances  occur  where  the  blazon  is  simply  a  "  man's  head,"  it  will  be 
most  frequently  found  that  it  is  more  specifically  described. 

Sloane  Evans  in  his  ^'  Grammar  of  Heraldry  "  specifies  eight  dif- 
ferent varieties,  namely  :  i.  The  wild  man's  ;  2.  The  Moor's  ;  3.  The 
Saracen's  ;  4.  The  Saxon's  ;  5.  The  Englishman's  ;  6.  The  old 
man's  ;  7.  The  woman's  ;  8.  The  child's. 

The  wild  man's  or  savage's  head  is  usually  represented  with  a 
wreath  of  leaves  about  the  temples,  but  not  necessarily  so  (Fig.  253). 

The  head  of  the  Moor,  or  "blackamoor,"  as  it  is  more  usually 
described,  is  almost  always  in  profile,  and  very  frequently  adorned 
with  a  twisted  wreath  (torse)  about  the  temples  (Fig.  254). 

The  head  of  the  Saracen  is  also  usually  found  with  wreaths  about 
the  temples  (Fig.  255). 

The  head  of  the  Saxon  is  borne  by  several  Welsh  families,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  known  by  the  absence  of  a  beard. 

The  Englishman's  head,  which  is  borne  by  the  Welsh  family  of 
Lloyd  of  Plymog,  has  no  very  distinctive  features,  except  that  whilst 
the  hair  and  beard  of  the  savage  are  generally  represented  brown,  they 


i68     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

are  black  in  the  case  of  the  Moor  and  Saracen,  and  fair  for  the  Saxon 
and  Englishman. 

The  old  man's  head,  which,  like  that  of  the  Saxon  and  Englishman, 
is  seldom  met  with,  is  bald  and  grey-haired  and  bearded. 

But  for  all  practical  purposes  these  varieties  may  be  all  disregarded 
except  the  savage's  (Fig.  253),  the  blackamoor's  (Fig.  254),  and  the 
Saracen's  (Fig.  255).  Examples  of  the  savage's  head  will  be  found  in 
the  arms  of  Eddington  of  Balbartan  [^' Azure,  three  savages'  heads 
couped  argent "],  in  the  arms  of  Gladstone,  and  in  the  canting  coat  of 
Rochead  of  Whitsonhill  [^'Argent,  a  savage's  head  erased,  distilling 
drops  of  blood  proper,  between  three  combs  azure  "].  Moir  of  Otter- 
burn  bears  the  Moors'  heads  ["  Argent,  three  negroes'  heads  couped 
proper  within  a  bordure  counter-indented  sable  and  or  "],  and  Moir 
of  Stonniwood   matriculated  a   somewhat   similar   coat   in  which  the 


Fig.  253. — A  savage's 
head. 


Fig.  254. — A  blacka- 
moor's head. 


Fig.  255. — A  Saracen's 
head. 


heads  are  termed  Mauritanian  ["Argent,  three  Mauritanian  negroes' 
heads  couped  and  distilling  gutt6s-de-sang  "].  Alderson  of  Homerton, 
Middlesex,  bears  Saracens'  heads  ["Argent,  three  Saracens'  heads 
affronts,  couped  at  the  shoulders  proper,  wreathed  about  the  temples 
of  the  first  and  sable  "]. 

The  woman's  head  (Fig.  256)  in  heraldry  is  always  represented  young 
and  beautiful  (that  is,  if  the  artist  is  capable  of  so  drawing  it),  and  it  is 
almost  invariably  found  with  golden  hair.  The  colour,  however,  should 
be  blazoned,  the  term  "  crined "  being  used.  Five  maidens'  heads 
appear  upon  the  arms  of  the  town  of  Reading,  and  the  crest  of  Thorn- 
hill  shows  the  same  figure.  The  arms  of  the  Mercers'  Livery  Company 
["  Gules,  a  demi-virgin  couped  below,  the  shoulders,  issuing  from  clouds 
all  proper,  vested  or,  crowned  with  an  Eastern  crown  of  the  last,  her 
hair  dishevelled,  and  wreathed  round  the  temples  with  roses  of  the 
second,  all  within  an  ode  of  clouds  proper  "]  and  of  the  Master  of  the 
Revels  in  Scotland  ["  Argent,  a  lady  rising  out  of  a  cloud  in  the  nombril 
point,  richly  apparelled,  on  her  head  a  garland  of  ivy,  holding  in  her 
right  hand  a  poinziard  crowned,  in  her  left  a  vizard  all  proper,  standing 


THE  HUMAN   FIGURE  IN   HERALDRY     169 

under  a  veil  or  canopy  azure,  garnished  or,  in  base  a  thistle  vert  "]  are 
worthy  of  quotation. 

The  boy's  head  will  seldom  be  found  except  in  Welsh  coats,  of 
which  the  arms  of  Vaughan  and  Price  are  examples. 

Another  case  in  which  the  heads  of  children  appear  are  the  arms 
of  Fauntleroy  \J^  Gules,  three  infants'  heads  couped  at  the  shoulders 
proper,  crined  or "],  which  are  a  very  telling  instance  of  a  canting 
device  upon  the  original  form  of  the  name,  which  was  <'  Enfantleroy," 

Children,  it  may  be  here  noted,  are  seldom  met  with  in  armory, 
but  instances  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Davies,  of  Marsh,  co. 
Salop  ['^  Sable,  a  goat  argent,  attired  or,  standing  on  a  child  proper 
swaddled  gules,  and  feeding  on  a  tree  vert  "],  of  the  Foundling  Hospital 
[^'  Per  fesse  azure  and  vert,  in  chief  a  crescent  argent,  between  two 
mullets  of  six  points   or,  in  base  an   infant  exposed,  stretching  out  its 


Fig.  256. — A  woman's 
head  and  bust. 


Fig.  257. — A  dexter 
hand. 


Fig.  258. — A  sinister 
hand. 


arms  for  help  proper  "],  and  in  the  familiar  "  bird  and  bantling  "  crest 
of  Stanley,  Earls  of  Derby.  Arms  and  hands  are  constantly  met  with, 
and  have  certain  terms  of  their  own.  A  hand  should  be  stated  to  be 
either  dexter  (Fig.  257),  or  sinister  (Fig.  258),  and  is  usually  blazoned 
and  always  understood  to  be  couped  at  the  wrist.  If  the  hand  is  open 
and  the  palm  visible  it  is  ^^  apaum^ "  (Figs.  257  and  258),  but  this 
being  by  far  the  most  usual  position  in  which  the  hand  is  met  with, 
unless  represented  to  be  holding  anything,  the  term  **  apaum^  "  is  not 
often  used  in  blazon,  that  position  being  presumed  unless  anything 
contrary  is  stated. 

The  hand  is  occasionally  represented  *'  clenched,"  as  in  the  arms 
and  crest  of  Fraser-Mackintosh.  When  the  thumb  and  first  two  fingers 
are  raised,  they  are  said  to  be  "raised  in  benediction"  (Fig.  259). 

The  cubit  arm  (Fig.  260),  should  be  carefully  distinguished  from 
the  arm  couped  at  the  elbow  (Fig.  261).  The  former  includes  only 
about  two-thirds  of  the  entire  arm  from  the  elbow.  The  form  "  couped 
at  the  elbow"  is  not  frequently  met  with. 

When  the  whole  arm  from  the  shoulder  is  used,  it  is  always  bent  at 


170     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  elbow,  and  this  is  signified  by  the  term  "  embowed,"  and  an  arm 
embovved  necessarily  includes  the  whole  arm.  Fig.  262  shows  the 
usual  position  of  an  arm  embowed,  but  it  is  sometimes  placed  embowed 


Fig.  259. — A  hand  "  in 
benediction." 


Fig.  260.  — A  cubit  arm. 


Fig.      261.  — An     arm 
couped  at  the  elbow. 


Fig.  262. — An  arm  em- 
bowed. 


Fig.  263. — An  arm  em- 
bowed  to  the  dexter. 


Fig.  264. — An  arm  em- 
bowed  fesseways. 


Fig.  265. — An  arm  em- 
bowed  the  upper  part 
in  fesse. 


Fig.    266. — Two    arms 
counter-embowed. 


Fig.  267.  —  Two  arms 
counter-embowed  and 
interlaced. 


to  the  dexter  (Fig.  263);  upon  the  point  of  the  elbow,  that  is,  ^^  em- 
bowed  fesseways"  (Fig.  264),  and  also,  but  still  more  infrequently, 
resting  on  the  upper  arm  (Fig.  265).  Either  of  the  latter  positions 
must  be  specified  in  the  blazon.  Tw^o  arms  "  counter-embowed " 
occur  in  many  crests  (Figs.  266  and  267). 

When  the  arm  is  bare  it  is  termed  "  proper."      When  clothed  it  is 
termed  either  <<  vested  "  or  <<  habited  "  (Fig.  268).      The  cuff  is  very 


THE   HUMAN   FIGURE   IN   HERALDRY     171 

frequently  of  a  different  colour,  and  the  crest  is  then  also  termed 
''  cuffed."  The  hand  is  nearly  always  bare,  but  if  not  represented 
of  flesh  colour  it  will  be  presumed  and  termed  to  be  ^*  gloved "  of 
such  and  such  a  tincture.  When  it  is  represented  in  armour  it  is 
termed  "in  armour"  or  "vambraced"  (Fig.  269).  Even  when  in 
armour  the  hand  is  usually  bare,  but  if  in  a  gauntlet  this  must  be 
specifically  so  stated  (Fig.  270).  The  armour  is  always  represented 
as  riveted  plate  armour  unless  it  is  specifically  stated  to  be  chain 
armoury  as  in.  the  crest  of  Bathurst,  or  scale  armour.  Armour  is  some- 
times decorated  with  gold,  when  the  usual  term  employed  will  be 
'^garnished  or,"  though  occasionally  the  word  ^^purfled"  is  used. 

Gloves  are  occasionally  met  with  as  charges,  e,g,  in  the  arms  of 
Barttelot.     Gauntlets  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Vane. 


Fig.  268. — A  cubit  arm 
habited. 


Fig.  269. — An  arm  em- 
bowed  in  armour. 


Fig.  270. — A  cubit  arm 
in  armour,  the  hand  in 


a  gauntlet. 

Legs  are  not  so  frequently  met  with  as  arms.  They  will  be  found, 
however,  in  the  arms  of  the  Isle  of  Man  and  the  families  Gillman, 
Bower,  Legg,  and  as  the  crest  of  Eyre.  Boots  will  be  found  in  the 
crests  of  various  families  of  the  name  of  Hussey. 

Bones  occur  in  the  arms  of  Scott-Gatty  and  Baines. 

A  skull  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Graeme  ['^  Two  arms  issuing  from  a 
cloud  erected  and  lighting  up  a  man's  skull  encircled  with  two 
branches  of  palm,  over  the  head  a  marquess's  coronet,  all  proper  "]. 

A  woman's  breast  occurs  in  the  canting  arms  of  Dodge  (Plate 
VI.)  ["  Barry  of  six  or  and  sable,  on  a  pale  gules,  a  woman's  breast 
distilling  drops  of  milk  proper.  Crest :  upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours, 
a  demi  sea-dog  azure,  collared,  maned,  and  finned  or  "]. 

An  eye  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Blount  of  Maple-Durham  ['^  On  a 
wreath  of  the  colours,  the  sun  in  splendour  charged  in  the  centre  with 
an  eye  all  proper  "]. 

The  man-lion,  the  merman,  mermaid,  melusine,  satyr,  satyral, 
harpy,  sphinx,  centaur,  sagitarius,  and  weirwolf  are  included  in  the 
chapter  upon  mythical  animals. 


CHAPTER   XI 

THE    HERALDIC    LION 

HERALDIC  art  without  the  lion  would  not  amount  to  very  much, 
for  no  figure  plays  such  an  important  or  such  an  extensive 
part  in  armory  as  the  lion,  in  one  or  other  of  its  various 
positions.  These  present-day  positions  are  the  results  of  modern 
differentiation,  arising  from  the  necessity  of  a  larger  number  of  varying 
coats  of  arms ;  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  in  early  times  the 
majority  of  these  positions  did  not  exist,  having  been  gradually 
evolved,  and  that  originally  the  heraldic  animal  was  just  '^  a  lion." 
The  shape  of  the  shield  was  largely  a  governing  factor  in  the  manner 
in  which  we  find  it  depicted  ;  the  old  artists,  with  a  keener  artistic 
sense  than  is  evidenced  in  so  many  later  examples  of  heraldic  design, 
endeavoured  to  fill  up  as  large  a  proportion  of  the  space  available  as 
was  possible,  and  consequently  when  only  one  lion  was  to  be  depicted 
upon  the  shield  they  very  naturally  drew  the  animal  in  an  upright 
position,  this  being  the  one  most  convenient  and  adaptable  for  their 
purpose.  Probably  their  knowledge  of  natural  history  was  very 
limited,  and  this  upright  position  would  seem  to  them  the  most 
natural,  and  probably  was  the  only  one  they  knew ;  at  any  rate,  at 
first  it  is  almost  the  only  position  to  be  found.  A  curious  commentary 
upon  this  may  be  deduced  from  the  head-covering  of  Geoffrey  of 
Anjou,  Fig.  28),  which  shows  a  lion.  This  lion  is  identically  of  the 
form  and  shape  of  the  lions  rampant  upon  the  shield,  but  from  the 
nature  of  the  space  it  occupies,  is  what  would  now  be  termed  statant  ; 
but  there  is  at  the  same  time  no  such  alteration  in  the  relative  position 
of  the  limbs  as  would  now  be  required.  This  would  seem  to  indicate 
very  clearly  that  there  was  but  the  one  stereotyped  pattern  of  a  lion, 
which  answered  all  their  purposes,  and  that  our  fore-runners  applied 
that  one  pattern  to  the  spaces  they  desired  to  decorate. 

Early  heraldry,  however,  when  the  various  positions  came  into 
recognised  use,  soon  sought  to  impose  this  definite  distinction,  that  the 
lion  could  only  be  depicted  erect  in  the  rampant  position,  and  that 
an  animal  represented  to  be  walking  must  therefore  be  a  leopard  from 
the  very  position  which  it  occupied.  This,  however,  was  a  distinction 
known  only  to  the  more  pedantic  heralds,  and  found  greatest  favour 

17a 


THE    HERALDIC    LION  173 

amongst  the  French  ;  but  we  find  in  Glover's  Roll,  which  is  a  copy 
of  a  roll  originally  drawn  up  about  the  year  1250,  that  whilst  he  gives 
lions  to  six  of  the  English  earls,  he  commences  with  <*  le  Roy  d'Angle- 
terre  porte,  Gules,  trois  lupards  d'or."  On  the  other  hand,  the 
monkish  chronicler  John  of  Harmoustier  in  Touraine  (a  contemporary 
writer)  relates  that  when  Henry  I.  chose  Geoffrey,  son  of  Foulk,  Earl 
of  Anjou,  Touraine,  and  Main,  to  be  his  son-in-law,  by  marrying  him 
to  his  only  daughter  and  heir,  Maud  the  Empress,  and  made  him 
knight  ;  after  the  bathing  and  other  solemnities  (pedes  ejus  solutaribus 
in  superficie  Leonculos  aureos  habentibus  muniuntur),  boots  em- 
broidered with  golden  lions  we^e  drawn  on  his  legs,  and  also  that 
(Clypeus  Leonculos  aureos  imaginarios  habens  collo  ejus  suspenditur) 
a  shield  with  lions  of  gold  therein  was  hung  about  his  neck. 

It  is,  therefore,  evident  that  the  refinement  of  distinction  between 
a  lion  and  a  leopard  was  not  of  the  beginning;  it  is  a  later  addition 
to  the  earlier  simple  term  of  lion.  This  distinction  having  been  in- 
vented by  French  heralds,  and  we  taking  so  much  of  our  heraldry, 
our  language,  and  our  customs  from  France,  adopted,  and  to  a  certain 
extent  used,  this  description  of  lions  passant  as  <<  leopards."  There 
can  be  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  lions  passant  guardant  upon  the 
English  shield  have  always  been  represented  as  lions,  no  matter  what 
they  may  have  been  called,  and  the  use  of  the  term  leopard  in  heraldry 
to  signify  a  certain  position  for  the  lion  never  received  any  extensive 
sanction,  and  has  long  since  become  obsolete  in  British  armory.  In 
French  blazon,  however,  the  old  distinction  is  still  observed,  and  it 
is  curious  to  observe  that  on  the  coins  of  the  Channel  Islands  the 
shield  of  arms  distinctly  shows  three  leopards.  The  French  lion  is 
our  lion  rampant,  the  French  leopard  is  our  lion  passant  guardant, 
whilst  they  term  our  lion  passant  a  leopard-lionney  and  our  lion  rampant 
guardant  is  their  lion-leoparde. 

A  lion  rampant  and  any  other  beast  of  prey  is  usually  represented 
in  heraldry  with  the  tongue  and  claws  of  a  different  colour  from  the 
animal.  If  it  is  not  itself  gules,  its  tongue  and  claws  are  usually  re- 
presented as  of  that  colour,  unless  the  lion  be  on  a  field  of  gules. 
They  are  then  represented  azure,  the  term  being  ^^  armed  and  langued  " 
of  such  and  such  a  colour.  It  is  not  necessary  to  mention  that  a 
lion  is  "  armed  and  langued  "  in  the  blazon  when  tongue  and  claws  are 
emblazoned  in  gules,  but  whenever  any  other  colour  is  introduced  for 
the  purpose  it  is  better  that  it  should  be  specified.  Outside  British 
heraldry  a  lion  is  always  supposed  to  be  rampant  unless  otherwise 
specifically  described.  The  earliest  appearance  of  the  lions  in  the 
arms  of  any  member  of  the  Royal  Family  in  England  would  appear 
to  be    the   seal    of  King  John  when    he  was  Prince    and  before  he 


174     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

ascended  the  throne.  This  seal  shows  his  arms  to  be  two  lions  passant. 
The  English  Royal  crest,  which  originated  with  Richard  I.,  is  now 
always  depicted  as  a  lion  statant  guardant.  There  can  be  no  doubt, 
however,  that  this  guardant  attitude  is  a  subsequent  derivation  from 
the  position  of  the  lions  on  the  shield,  when  heraldry  was  ceasing  to 
be  actual  and  becoming  solely  pictorial.  We  find  in  the  case  of  the 
crest  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince,  now  suspended  over  his  tomb  in 
Canterbury  Cathedral,  that  the  lion  upon  the  chapeau  looks  straight 
forward  over  the  front  of  the  helm  (see  Fig.  271). 

Another  ancient  rule  belonging  to  the  same  period  as  the  contro- 
versy between  leopards  and  lions  was  that  there  cannot  be  more  than 
one  lion  upon  a  shield,  and  this  was  one  of  the  great 
arguments  used  to  determine  that  the  charges  on  the 
Royal  Arms  of  England  must  be  leopards  and  not  lions. 
It  was  admitted  as  a  rule  of  British  armory  to  a  limited 
extent,  viz.,  that  when  two  or  more  lions  rampant  ap- 
peared upon  the  same  shield,  unless  combatant,  they 
were  always  formerly  described  as  lioncels.  Thus  the 
arms  of  Bohun  are :  ^'  Azure,  a  bend  argent,  cottised 
^  between  six  lioncels  rampant  or."  British  heraldry  has, 
however,  long  since  disregarded  any  such  rule  (if  any 
definite  rule  ever  really  existed  upon  the  point),  though  curiously 
enough  in  the  recent  grant  of  arms  to  the  town  of  Warrington  the 
animals  are  there  blazoned  six  <^  lioncels." 

The  artistic  evolution  of  the  lion  rampant  can  be  readily  traced  in 
the  examples  and  explanations  which  follow,  but,  as  will  be  understood, 
the  employment  in  the  case  of  some  of  these  models  cannot  strictly 
be  said  to  be  confined  within  a  certain  number  of  years,  though  the 
details  and  periods  given  are  roughly  accurate,  and  sufficiently  so  to 
typify  the  changes  which  have  occurred. 

Until  perhaps  the  second  half  of  the  thirteenth  century  the  body 
of  the  lion  appears  straight  upright,  so  that  the  head,  the  trunk,  and 
the  kft  hind-paw  fall  into  the  angle  of  the  shield.  The  left  fore-paw 
is  horizontal,  the  right  fore-  and  the  right  hind-paw  are  placed  diagon- 
ally (or  obliquely)  upwards  (Fig.  272).  The  paws  each  end  in  three 
knobs,  similar  to  a  clover-leaf,  out  of  which  the  claws  come  forth. 
The  fourth  or  inferior  toes  appeared  in  heraldry  somewhat  later.  The 
jaws  are  closed  or  only  very  slightly  opened,  without  the  tongue  being 
visible.  The  tail  is  thickened  in  the  middle  with  a  bunch  of  longer 
hair  and  is  turned  down  towards  the  body. 

In  the  course  of  the  period  lasting  from  the  second  half  of  the 
thirteenth  to  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  centuries,  the  right  hind- 
paw  sinks  lower  until  it  forms  a  right  angle  with  the  left.     The  mouth 


Fig. 
and 


271. — Shield,  helmet, 
crest  of  Edward  the 
Black  Prince,  suspended 
over  his  tomb  in  Canterbury 
Cathedral. 


>!J^B^A^ 


OF    THE 


imtVERSITY 

OF 

LlFORN^hj 


THE   HERALDIC   LION  175 

grows  pointed,  and  in  the  second  half  of  the  period  the  tongue  be- 
comes visible.     The  tail  also  shows  a  knot  near  its  root  (Fig.  273). 

In  examples  taken  from  the  second  half  of  the  four- 
teenth century  and  the  fifteenth  century  the  lion's  body 
is  no  longer  placed  like  a  pillar,  but  lays  its  head  back 
to  the  left  so  that  the  right  fore-paw  falls  into  an  oblique 
upward  line  with  the  trunk.  The  toes  are  lengthened, 
appearing  almost  as  fingers,  and  spread  out  from  one 
another ;  the  tail,  adorned  with  flame-like  bunches  of 
hair,  strikes  outwards  and  loses  the  before-mentioned 
knot,  which  only  remains  visible  in  a  forked  tail  (^queue- 
fourche).  The  jaws  grow  deep  and  are  widely  opened, 
and  the  breast  rises  and  expands  under  the  lower  jaw  (Fig.  274). 
Lions  of  peculiar  virility  and  beauty  appear 
upon  a  fourteenth-century  banner  which  shows  the 
arms  of  the  family  of  Talbot,  Earls  of  Shrewsbury : 
Gules,  a  lion  rampant  within  a  bordure  engrailed 
or,  quartered  with  the  arms  of  Strange:  Argent, 
two  lions  passant  in  pale  gules,  armed  and  langued 
azure.  Fig.  275  gives  the  lower  half  of  the  banner 
Fig.  274.  which    was  published  in  colours   in   the   Catalogue 

of  the  Heraldic  Exhibition  in  London,  1894. 


Fig.  273. 


Fig.  275. — Arms  of  Strange  and  Talbot.     (From  a  design  for  a  banner.) 


Fig.  276  is  an  Italian  coat  of  arms  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and 
shows  a  lion  of  almost  exactly  the  same  design,  except  the  paws  are 


176     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDI^Y 

here  rendered  somewhat  more  heraldically.  The  painting  (azure,  a 
Hon  rampant  argent)  served  as  an  ^'  Ex  Hbris,"  and  bears  the  inscription 
"  Libe  accusacionum  mey  p.  he  .  .  ."  (The  remainder  has  been  cut 
away.  It  is  reproduced  from  Warnecke's  ^'  German  Bookplates,"  1890.) 
When  we  come  to  modern  examples  of  lions,  it  is  evident  that  the 
artists  of  the  present  day  very  largely  copy  lions  which  are  really  the 
creations  of,  or  adaptations  from,  the  work  of  their  predecessors.     The 

lions  of  the  late  Mr.  Forbes  Nixon, 
as  shown  in  Fig.  277,  which  were 
specially  drawn  by  him  at  my  re- 
quest as  typical  of  his  style,  are 
respectively  as  follows  : — 

A  winged  lion  passant  coward. 
A  lion  rampant  regardant.  A  Hon 
rampant  queue  -  fourch^.  A  lion 
passant  crow^ned.  A  lion  passant. 
A  lion  rampant.  A  lion  rampant 
to  the  sinister.  A  lion  passant 
guardant,  ducally  gorged.  A  lion 
statant  guardant,  ducally  crowned. 
A  lion  rampant.  A  Hon  statant 
guardant.  A  lion  sejant  guardant 
erect.  Lions  drawn  by  Mr.  Scruby 
will  be  found  in  Figs.  278  and 
279,  which  are  respectively  :  '^  Argent,  a  lion  rampant  sable,"  "Sable, 
a  lion  passant  guardant  argent,"  and  "  Sable,  a  lion  rampant  argent." 
These  again  were  specially  drawn  by  Mr.  Scruby  as  typical  of  his 
style. 

The  lions  of  Mr.  Eve  would  seem  to  be  entirely  original.  Their 
singularly  graceful  form  and  proportions  are  perhaps  best  shown  by 
Figs.  280  and  281,  which  are  taken  from  his  book  "Decorative 
Heraldry." 

The  Hons  of  Mr.  Graham  Johnston  can  be  appreciated  from  the 
examples  in  Figs.  284-9. 

Examples  of  lions  drawn  by  Miss  Helard  will  be  found  in  Figs. 
282,  283. 

The  various  positions  which  modern  heraldry  has  evolved  for  the 
lions,  together  with  the  terms  of  blazon  used  to  describe  these  positions, 
are  as  follows,  and  the  differences  can  best  be  appreciated  from  a 
series  drawn  by  the  same  artist,  in  this  case  Mr.  Graham  John- 
ston : — 

Lion  rampant, — The  animal  is  here  depicted  in  profile,  and  erect, 
resting  upon  its  sinister  hind-paw  (see  Fig.  284). 


Fig.  276. 


THE   HERALDIC   LION  177 

Lion  rampant  guar dant, — In  this  case  the  head  of  the  lion  is  turned 
to  face  the  spectator  (Fig.  285). 


Fig.  277. — Lions.     (Drawn  by  Mr.  J.  Forbes  Nixon.) 

Lion  rampant  regardant, — In  this  case  the  head  is  turned  completely 
round,  looking  backwards  (Fig.  286). 

Lion  rardpant  double- queued, — In  this  case  the  lion  is  represented  as 


178     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

having  two  tails  (Fig.  287).  These  must  both  be  apparent  from 
the  base  of  the  tail,  otherwise  confusion  will  arise  with  the  next 
example. 

Lion  rampant  qiieue-fourchL — In  this  case  one  tail  springs  from  the 
base,  which  is  divided  or  ^<  forked  "  in  the  centre  (Fig.  288).     There  is 


278. — Lion  passant  guardant. 
(By  Mr.  G.  Scruby.) 


Fig.  279. — Lion  rampant. 
(By  Mr.  G.  Scruby.) 


Fig.     280. — Lion    rampant    and   lion  statant     Fig.  281. — Lion  statant,  lion  passant  guardant, 
guardant,     by     Mr.     G.    W.     Eve.     (From  and  lion  passant   regardant,  by    Mr.    G.    W. 

*' Decorative  Heraldry.")  Eve.     (From  "  Decorative  Heraldry.") 

no  doubt  that  whilst  in  modern  times  and  with  regard  to  modern 
arms  this  distinction  must  be  adhered  to,  anciently  queue-fourch6  and 
double-queued  were  interchangeable  terms. 

Lion  rampant  tail  nowed, — ^The  tail  is  here  tied  in  a  knot  (Fig.  289). 
It  is  not  a  term  very  frequently  met  with. 

Lion  rampant  tail  elevated  and  turned  over  its  head, — The  only  instances 
of  the  existence  of  this  curious  variation  (Fig.  290)  which  have  come 
under  my  own  notice  occur  in  the  coats  of  two  families  of  the  name 


THE    HERALDIC    LION 


179 


of  Buxton,   the  one   being  obviously   a  modern  grant  founded  upon 
the  other. 


Fig.  282.  —  A  lion  rampant 
(By  Miss  Helard.) 


Fig.  283. — A  lion  rampant. 
(By  Miss  Helard.) 


Fig.  284. — Lion  rampant.  FiG.  285. — Lion  rampant 

guardant. 


Fig.  286. — Lion  rampant 
regardant. 


Fig.  287. — Lion  rampant 
double  queued. 


Fig.  288.— Lion  rampant 
queue-fourche. 


Fig.  289. — Lion  rampant, 
tail  nowed. 


Lion  rampant  with  two  heads, — This  occurs  (Fig.  291)  in  the  coat  of 
armS;  probably  founded  on  an  earlier  instance,  granted  in    1739  to 


i8o     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Mason  of  Greenwich,  the  arms  being  :  ^^  Per  fess  ermine  and  azure, 
a  lion  rampant  with  two  heads  counterchanged."     This  curious  charge 
had  been  adopted  by  Mason's   College   in   Birmingham,  and   on  the 
foundation  of  Birmingham  University  it  was  incorporated  in  its  arms. 
Lion  rampant  guardant  bicorporated, — In  this  case  the  lion  has  one 


Fig.  290. — Lion  rampant, 
tail  elevated  and  turned 
over  its  head. 


Fig.  291. — Lion  rampant, 
with  two  heads. 


Fig.  292. — Tricorporate 
lion. 


head  and  two  bodies.  An  instance  of  this  curious  creature  occurs 
in  the  arms  of  Attewater,  but  I  am  not  aware  of  any  modern  instance 
of  its  use. 

Lion  rampant  tricorporate, — In  this  case  three  bodies  are  united  in 
one  head  (Fig.  292).  Both  this  and  the  preceding  variety  are  most 
unusual,  but  the  tricorporate  lion  occurs  in  a 
coat  of  arms  {temp.  Car.  II.)  registered  in  Ulster's 
Office :  "  Or,  a  tricorporate  lion  rampant,  the  bodies 
disposed  in  the  dexter  and  sinister  chief  points  and 
in  base,  all  meeting  in  one  head  guardant  in  the 
fess  point  sable." 

Lion  coward, — In  this  case  the  tail  of  the  lion 
is  depressed,  passing  between  its  hind  legs  (Fig. 
293).  The  exactitude  of  this  term  is  to  some 
extent  modern.  Though  a  lion  cowarded  was 
known  in  ancient  days,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  formerly  an  artist  felt  himself  quite  at  liberty  to  put  the  tail 
between  the  legs  if  this  seemed  artistically  desirable,  without  neces- 
sarily having  interfered  with  the  arms  by  so  doing. 

Lion  couped  in  all  its  joints  is  a  charge  which  seems  peculiar  to  the 
family  of  Maitland,  and  it  would  be  interesting  to  learn  to  what  source 
its  origin  can  be  traced.  It  is  represented  with  each  of  its  four  paws, 
its  head  and  its  tail  severed  from  the  body,  and  removed  slightly  away 
therefrom.  A  Maitland  coat  of  arms  exhibiting  this  peculiarity  will  be 
found  in  Fig.  294. 


Fig.  293. — Lion  coward. 


THE   HERALDIC   LION 


i8i 


Lions  rampant  combatant  are  so  termed  when  two  are  depicted  in 
one  shield  facing  each  other  in  the  attitude  of  fighting  (Fig.  295). 

A  very  curious  and  unique  instance  of  a  lion  rampant  occurs  in 
the  arms  of  Williams  (matriculated  in  Lyon  Register  in  1862,  as  the 
second  and  third  quarterings  of  the  arms  of  Sir  James  Williams 
Drummond  of  Hawthornden, 
Bt.);  the  coat  in  question  being : 
Argent,  a  lion  rampant,  the  body 
sable,  the  head,  paws,  and  tuft  of 
the  tail  of  the  field. 

Lion  passant. — A  lion  in  this 
position  (Fig.  296)  is  represented 
in  the  act  of  walking,  the  dexter 
forepaw  being  raised,  but  all  three 
others  being  upon  the  ground. 

Lion  passant  guardant. — This 
(Fig.  297)  is  the  same  as  the 
previous  position,  except  that  the 
head  is  turned  to  face  the  spec- 
tator. The  lions  in  the  quarter- 
ing for  England  in  the  Royal 
coat  of  arms  are  ^'  three  lions 
passant  guardant  in  pale." 

Lion  of  England. — ^This  is  <<  a 
lion  passant  guardant  or,"  and 
the  term  is  only  employed  for  a 
lion  of  this  description  when  it 
occurs  as  or  in  an  honourable 
augmentation,  then  being  usually 
represented  on  a  field  of  gules. 
A  lion  passant  guardant  or,  is 
now  never  granted  to  any  appli- 
cant except  under  a  specific 
Royal  Warrant  to  that  effect.  It 
occurs   in    many    augmentations, 


Fig.  294. — Armorial  bearings  of  Alexander 
Charles  Richards  Maiiland,  Esq.  :  Or,  a  lien 
rampant  gules,  couped  in  all  his  joints  of  the 
field,  within  a  double  tressure  floryand  countcr- 
flory  azure,  a  bordure  engrailed  ermine.  Mant- 
li'ig  gules  and  or.  Crest :  upon  a  wreath  of  his 
liveries,  a  lion  sejant  erect  and  affronte  gules, 
holding  in  his  dexter  paw  a  sword  proper,  hilted 
and  pommelled  gold,  and  in  his  sinister  a  fleur- 
de-lis  argent.     Motto  :   "  Consilio  et  animis." 


e.g,  Wolfe,  Camperdown,  and 
many  others  ;  and  when  three  lions  passant  guardant  in  pale  or  upon  a 
canton  gules  are  granted,  as  in  the  arms  of  Lane  (Plate  II.),  the 
augmentation  is  termed  a  ^^  canton  of  England." 

Lion  passant  regardant  is  as  the  lion  passant,  but  with  the  head 
turned  right  round  looking  behind  (Fig.  298).  A  lion  is  not  often 
met  with  in  this  position. 

Lions  passant  dimidiated. — A  curious  survival  of  the  ancient  but  now 


1 82     A  COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

obsolete  practice  of  dimidiation  is  found  in  the  arms  of  several  English 
seaport  towns.  Doubtless  all  can  be  traced  to  the  "  so-called  "  arms 
of  the  ^'  Cinque  Ports,"  which  show  three  lions  passant  guardant  dimi- 
diated with  the  hulks  of  three  ships.  There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever 
that  this  originally  came  from  the  dimidiation  of  two  separate  coats, 
viz.  the  Royal  Arms  of  England  (the  three  lions  passant  guardant), 
and  the  other  <*  azure,  three  ships  argent/'  typical  of  the  Cinque  Ports, 
referring  perhaps  to  the  protection  of  the  coasts  for  which  they  were 
liable,  or  possibly  merely  to  their  seaboard  position.  Whilst  Sandwich  ^ 
uses  the  two  separate  coats  simply  dimidiated  upon  one  shield,  the 
arms  of   Hastings  ^  vary  slightly,  being :  "  Party  per  pale  gules  and 


Fig.  295. — Two  lions  rampant 
combatant. 


Fig.  296. — Lion  passant. 


Fig.  297. — Lion  passant 
guardant. 


azure,  a  lion  passant  guardant  or,  between  in  chief  and  in  base  a  lion 
passant  guardant  of  the  last  dimidiated  with  the  hulk  of  a  ship  argent." 
From  long  usage  we  have  grown  accustomed  to  consider  these  two 
conjoined  and  dimidiated  figures  as  one  figure  (Fig.  299),  and  in  the 
recent  grant  of  arms  to  Ramsgate  ^  a  figure  of  this  kind  was  granted 
as  a  simple  charge. 

The  arras  of  Yarmouth  *  afford  another  instance  of  a  resulting  figure 
of  this  class,  the  three  lions  passant  guardant  of  England  being  here 
dimidiated  with  as  many  herrings  naiant. 

Lion  statant — The  distinction  between  a  lion  passant  and  a  lion 
statant  is  that  the  lion  statant  has   all  four   paws  resting   upon   the 


^  Arms  of  Sandwich  :  Party  per  pale  gules  and  azure,  three  demi-lions  passant  guardant  or, 
conjoined  to  the  hulks  of  as  many  ships  argent. 

^  Arms  of  Hastings  :  Party  per  pale  gules  and  azure,  a  lion  passant  guardant  or,  between  in 
chief  and  in  base  a  lion  passant  guardant  or,  dimidiated  with  the  hulk  of  a  ship  argent. 

^  Arms  of  Ramsgate  :  Quarterly  gules  and  azure,  a  cross  parted  and  fretty  argent  between  a 
horse  rampant  of  the  last  in  the  first  quarter,  a  demi-lion  passant  guardant  of  the  third  conjoined 
to  the  hulk  of  a  ship  or  in  the  second,  a  dolphin  naiant  proper  in  the  third,  and  a  lymphad  also  or 
in  the  fourth.  Crest :  a  naval  crown  or,  a  pier-head,  thereon  a  lighthouse,  both  proper.  Motto  : 
*'  Salus  naufragis  salus  segris." 

*  Arms  of  Yarmouth  :  Party  per  pale  gules  and  azure,  three  demi-lions  passant  guardant  or, 
conjoined  to  the  bodies  of  as  many  herrings  argent.     Motto  :   **  Rex  et  nostra  jura." 


THE   HERALDIC   LION  183 

ground.  The  two  forepaws  are  usually  placed  together  (Fig.  300). 
Whilst  but  seldom  met  with  as  a  charge  upon  a  shield,  the  lion  statant 
is  by  no  means  rare  as  a  crest. 

Lion  statant  tail  extended. — This  term  is  a  curious  and,  seemingly,  a 
purposeless  refinement,  resulting  from  the  perpetuation  in  certain  cases 
of  one  particular  method  of  depicting  the  crest — originally  when  a 
crest  a  lion  was  always  so  drawn — but  i-t  cannot  be  overlooked,   be- 


FiG.  298. — Lion  passant  re- 
gardant. 


Fig.  299. — Lion  passant  guard, 
dimidiated  with  the  hulk  of 
a  ship. 


Fig.  300. — Lion  statant. 


Fig.  301. — Lion  statant  tail 
extended. 


Fig.  302. — Lion  statant 
guardant. 


Fig.  303. — Lion  salient. 


cause  in  the  crests  of  both  Talbot,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  and  Percy, 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  the  crest  is  now  stereotyped  as  a  lion  in 
this  form  (Fig.  301)  upon  a  chapeau. 

Lion  statant  guardant  (Fig.  302). — This  (crowned)  is  of  course  the 
Royal  crest  of  England,  and  examples  of  it  will  be  found  in  the  arms 
of  the  Sovereign  and  other  descendants,  legitimate  and  illegitimate,  of 
Sovereigns  of  this  country.  An  exceptionally  fine  rendering  of  it 
occurs  in  the  Windsor  Castle  Bookplates  executed  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Eve. 

Lion  salient. — This,  which  is  a  very  rare  position  for  a  lion,  repre- 
sents it  in  the  act  of  springing,  the  two  hind  legs  being  on  the  ground, 
the  others  in  the  air  (Fig.  303). 


1 84    A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Lion  salient  guardanU — There  is  no  reason  why  the  lion  salient  may 
not  be  guardant  or  regardant,  though  an  instance  of  the  use  of  either 
does  not  come  readily  to  mind. 

Lion  sejant, — Very  great  laxity  is  found  in  the  terms  applied  to  lions 
sejant,  consequently  care  is  necessary  to  distinguish  the  various  forms. 
The  true  lion  sejant  is  represented  in  profile,  seated  on  its  haunches, 
with  the  forepaws  resting  on  the  ground  (Fig.  304). 


Fig.  304. — Lion  sejant. 


Fig.  305. — Lion  sejant 
guardant. 


Fig.  306. — Lion  sejant 
regardant. 


Fig.  307. — Lion  sejant  erect. 


Fig.  308. — Lion  sejant 
guardant  erect. 


Fig.  309. — Lion  sejant 
regardant  erect. 


Lion  sejant  guardant, — This  is  as  the  foregoing,  but  with  the  face 
(only)  turned  to  the  spectator  (Fig.  305). 

Lion  sejant  regardant, — In  this  the  head  is  turned  right  back  to 
gaze  behind  (Fig.  306). 

Lion  sejant  erect  (or,  as  it  is  sometimes  not  very  happily  termed, 
sejant-rampant). — In  this  position  the  lion  is  sitting  upon  its  haunches, 
but  the  body  is  erect,  and  it  has  its  forepaws  raised  in  the  air  (Fig.  307). 

Lion  sejant  guardant  erect  is  as  the  last  figure,  but  the  head  faces 
the  spectator  (Fig.  308). 

Lion  sejant  regardant  erect  is  as  the  foregoing,  but  with  the  head 
turned  right  round  to  look  backwards  (Fig.  309). 

Lion  sejant  affronte', — In  this  case  the  lion  is  seated  on  its  haunches, 


THE   HERALDIC   LION  185 

but  the  whole  body  is  turned  to  face  the  spectator,  the  forepaws  resting 
upon  the  ground  in  front  of  its  body.  Ugly  as  this  position  is,  and 
impossible  as  it  might  seem,  it  certainly  is  to  be  found  in  some  of  the 
early  rolls. 

Lion  sejant  erect  affronfe' {¥ig,  294). — This  position  is  by  no  means 
unusual  in  Scotland.  A  lion  sejant  erect  and  affronte,  &c.,  is  the  Royal 
crest  of  Scotland,  and  it  will  also  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Lyon  Office. 

A  good  representation  of  the  lion  sejant  affronts  and  erect  is  shown 
in  Fig.  310,  which  is  taken  from  Jost  Amman's  Wappen  und  Stammbuch 
(1589).  It  represents  the  arms  of  the  celebrated  Lansquenet  Captain 
Sebastian  Schartlin  (Schertel)  von  Burtenbach  ["Gules,  a  lion  sejant 
affronts  erect,  double-queued,  holding  in  its  dexter  paw  a  key  argent 
and  in  its  sinister  a  fleur-de-lis].      His  victorious  assault  on  Rome  in 


Fig.  310. — Arms  of  Sebastian 
Schartlin  von  Burtenbach. 


Fig.  311. — Lion  couchant. 


Fig.  312. — Lion  dormant. 


1527,  and  his  striking  successes  against  France  in  1532,  are  strikingly 
typified  in  these  arms,  which  were  granted  in  1534. 

Lion  couchant. — In  this  position  the  lion  is  represented  lying  down, 
but  the  head  is  erect  and  alert  (Fig.  311). 

Lion  dormant, — A  lion  dormant  is  in  much  the  same  position  as  a 
lion  couchant,  except  that  the  eyes  are  closed,  and  the  head  rests  upon 
the  extended  forepaws  (Fig.  312).  Lions  dormant  are  seldom  met 
with,  but  they  occur  in  the  arms  of  Lloyd,  of  Stockton  Hall,  near 
York. 

Lion  morne, — ^This  is  a  lion  without  teeth  and  claws,  but  no  instance 
of  the  use  of  the  term  would  appear  to  exist  in  British  armory.  Wood- 
ward mentions  amongst  other  Continental  examples  the  arms  of  the 
old  French  family  of  De  Mornay  ['^  Fasce  d'argent  et  de  gueules  au 
lion  morne  de  sable,  couronne  d'or  brochant  sur  le  tout "]. 

Lions  as  supporters. — Refer  to  the  chapter  on  Supporters. 

Winged  lion, — The  winged  lion — usually  known  as  the  lion  of 
St.  Mark — is  not  infrequently  met  with.      It  will  be  found  both  passant 


1 86     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

and  sejant,  but  more  frequently  the  latter  (Fig.  313).  The  true  lion  of 
St.  Mark  (that  is,  when  used  as  a  badge  for  sacred  purposes  to  typify 
St.  Mark)  has  a  halo.     Winged  lions  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  Braye. 

Sea  lion  (or,  to  use  another  name  for  it,  a  morse)  is  the  head,  fore- 
paws,  and  upper  part  of  a  lion  conjoined  to  the  tail  of  a  fish.  The 
most  frequent  form  in  which  sea  lions  appear  are  as  supporters,  but 
they  are  also  met  with  as  crests  and  charges.  When  placed  horizon- 
tally they  are  termed  naiant.  Sea  lions,  however,  will  also  be  found 
'^sejant"  and  <* sejant-erect "  (Fig.  314).  When  issuing  from  waves 
of  the  sea  they  are  termed  "  assurgeant." 

Lion-dragon, — One  hesitates  to  believe  that  this  creature  has  any 
existence  outside  heraldry  books,  where  it  is  stated  to  be  of  similar 
form  and  construction  to  the  sea  lion,  the  difference  being  that  the 


Fig.  313. — Winged  lion. 


Fig.  314. — Sea  lion. 


Fig.  315. — Man-Lion. 


lower  half  is  the  body  and  tail  of  a  wyvern.  I  know  of  no  actual 
arms  or  crest  in  which  it  figures. 

Man-lion  or  man-tiger, — This  is  as  a  lion  but  with  a  human  face. 
Two  of  these  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  Huntingdon,  and  one  was 
granted  to  the  late  Lord  Donington  as  a  supporter,  whilst  as  charges 
they  also  occur  in  the  arms  of  Radford.  This  semi-human  animal  is 
sometimes  termed  a  "lympago"  (Fig.  315). 

Other  terms  relating  to  lions  occur  in  many  heraldic  works — both  old 
and  new — but  their  use  is  very  limited,  if  indeed  of  some,  any  example 
at  all  could  be  found  in  British  armory.  In  addition  to  this,  whilst 
the  fact  may  sometimes  exist,  the  term  has  never  been  adopted  or 
officially  recognised.  Personally  I  believe  most  of  the  terms  which 
follow  may  for  all  practical  purposes  be  entirely  disregarded.  Amongst 
such  terms  are  contournSy  applied  to  a  lion  passant  or  rampant  to  the 
sinister.  It  would,  however,  be  found  blazoned  in  these  words  and 
not  as  contourne.  "Dismembered,"  '^  Demembre,"  ^^  Dechaussee," 
and  <*  Trononn^e "  are  all  "  heraldry-book "  terms  specified  to  mean 
the  same  as  "  couped  in  all  its  joints,"  but  the  uselessness  and  un- 
certainty concerning  these  terms  is  exemplified  by  the  fact  that  the 


THE    HERALDIC    LION  187 

same  books  state  '^  dismembered "  or  <^  demembr^ "  to  mean  (when 
applied  to  a  lion)  that  the  animal  is  shown  without  legs  or  tail.  The 
term  ''  embrued "  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  lion  to  signify  that  its 
mouth  is  bloody  and  dropping  blood  ;  and  '*  vulned  "  signifies  wounded, 
heraldically  represented  by  a  blotch  of  gules,  from  which  drops  of 
blood  are  falling.     A  lion  *'  disarmed  "  is  without  teeth,  tongue,  or  claws. 

A  term  often  found  in  relation  to  lions  rampant,  but  by  no  means 
peculiar  thereto,  is  "  debruised."  This  is  used  when  it  is  partly  defaced 
by  another  charge  (usually  an  ordinary)  being  placed  over  it. 

Another  of  these  guide-book  terms  is  "  decollated,"  which  is  said 
to  be  employed  in  the  case  of  a  lion  which  has  its  head  cut  off.  A 
lion  ''  defamed "  or  ^'  diffamed "  is  supposed  to  be  rampant  to  the 
sinister  but  looking  backwards,  the  supposition  being  that  the  animal 
is  being  (against  his  will)  chased  off  the  field  with  infamy.  A  lion 
'^  evire  "  is  supposed  to  be  emasculated  and  without  signs  of  sex.  In 
this  respect  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  earlier  days,  before  mock 
modesty  and  prudery  had  become  such  prominent  features  of  our 
national  life,  the  genital  organ  was  always  represented  of  a  pronounced 
size  in  a  prominent  position,  and  it  was  as  much  a  matter  of  course 
to  paint  it  gules  as  it  now  is  to  depict  the  tongue  of  that  colour.  To 
prevent  error  I  had  better  add  that  this  is  not  now  the  usual  practice. 

Lions  placed  back  to  back  are  termed  "  endorsed  "  or  "  addorsed," 
but  when  two  lions  passant  in  pale  are  represented,  one  passing  to  the 
dexter  and  one  to  the  sinister,  they  are  termed  '*  counter-passant." 
This  term  is,  however,  also  used  sometimes  when  they  are  merely 
passant  towards  each  other.  A  more  correct  description  in  such  cases 
would  be  passant  '*  respecting  "  or  ^*  regarding  "  each  other. 

The  term  lionne  is  one  stated  to  be  used  with  animals  other  than 
lions  when  placed  in  a  rampant  position.  Whilst  doubtless  of  regular 
acceptation  in  French  heraldry  as  applied  to  a  leopard,  it  is  unknown 
in  English,  and  the  term  rampant  is  indifferently  applied  ;  e.g,  in  the 
case  of  a  leopard,  wolf,  or  tiger  when  in  the  rampant  position. 

Lionced  is  a  term  seldom  met  with,  but  it  is  said  to  be  applied  (for 
example  to  a  cross)  when  the  arms  end  in  lions'  heads.  I  have  yet  to 
find  an  authentic  example  of  the  use  of  such  a  cross. 

When  a  bend  or  other  ordinary  issues  from  the  mouths  of  lions 
(or  other  animals),  the  heads  issuing  from  the  edges  or  angles  of  the 
escutcheon,  the  ordinary  is  said  to  be  '*  engouled." 

A  curious  term,  of  the  use  of  which  I  know  only  one  example,  is 
*'  fleshed  "  or  ^'  flayed."  This,  as  doubtless  will  be  readily  surmised, 
means  that  the  skin  is  removed,  leaving  the  flesh  gules.  This  was  the 
method  by  which  the  supporters  of  Wurtemburg  were  "  differenced " 
for  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  forepaws  being  '^  fleshed." 


1 88     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Woodward  gives  the  following  very  curious  instances  of  the  lion  in 
heraldry : — 

*^  Only  a  single  example  of  the  use  of  the  lioness  as  a  heraldic 
charge  is  known  to  me.  The  family  of  CoiNG,  in  Lorraine,  bears  : 
d'Azure,  a  une  lionne  arret^e  d'or. 

'^  The  following  fourteenth-century  examples  of  the  use  of  the  lion 
as  a  heraldic  charge   are  taken  from  the  oft-quoted   Wappenrolle  von 
Zurich^  and  should  be  of  interest  to  the  student  of  early  armory : — 
•  •  •  •  •  • 

*'  5 1  :  End  :  Azure,  a  lion  rampant-guardant  argent,  its  feet  or. 

'<  305.  WiLDENVELS  :  Per  pale  argent  and  sable,  in  the  first  a  demi- 
lion  statant-guardant  issuant  from  the  dividing  line. 

"  408.  Tannenvels  :  Azure,  a  lion  rampant  or,  queu6  argent. 

"  489.  RiNACH :  Or,  a  lion  rampant  gules,  headed  azure. 

*^  A  curious  use  of  the  lion  as  a  charge  occurs  in  several  ancient 
coats  of  the  Low  Countries,  e,g,  in  that  of  Trasegnies,  whose  arms 
are  :  Band6  d'or  et  d'azur,  a  I'ombre  du  lion  brochant  sur  le  tout,  a  la 
bordure  engrel^e  d'or.  Here  the  ombre  du  lion  is  properly  represented 
by  a  darker  shade  of  the  tincture  (either  of  or  or  of  azure),  but  often 
the  artist  contents  himself  with  simply  drawing  the  outline  of  the 
animal  in  a  neutral  tint. 

"  Among  other  curiosities  of  the  use  of  the  lion  are  the  following 
foreign  coats: — 

"  BoissiAU,  in  France,  bears :  De  gueules,  sem6  de  lions  d'argent. 

*^  MiNUTOLi,  of  Naples :  Gules,  a  lion  rampant  vair,  the  head  and 
feet  or. 

"  Loen,  of  Holland :  Azure,  a  decapitated  lion  rampant  argent, 
three  jets  of  blood  spurting  from  the  neck  proper. 

'*  Papacoda,  of  Naples :  Sable,  a  lion  rampant  or,  its  tail  turned 
over  its  head  and  held  by  its  teeth. 

'^  The  Counts  Reinach,  of  Franconia :  Or,  a  lion  rampant  gules, 
hooded  and  masked  azure  (see  above)." 

To  these  instances  the  arms  of  Westbury  may  well  be  added,  these 
being :  Quarterly,  or  and  azure,  a  cross  patonce,  on  a  bordure  twenty 
lions  rampant  all  counter-changed.  No  doubt  the  origin  of  such  a 
curious  bordure  is  to  be  found  in  the  *'  bordure  of  England,"  which, 
either  as  a  mark  of  cadency  or  as  an  indication  of  affinity  or  augmenta- 
tion, can  be  found  in  some  number  of  instances.  Probably  one  will 
suffice  as  an  example.  This  is  forthcoming  in  Fig.  61,  which  shows 
the  arms  of  John  de  Bretagne,  Earl  of  Richmond.  Of  a  similar  nature 
is  the  bordure  of  Spain  (indicative  of  his  maternal  descent)  borne  by 
Richard  of  Conisburgh,  Earl  of  Cambridge,  who  bore :  Quarterly 
France  and  England,  a  label  of  three  points  argent,  each  charged  with 


Fig.  317.- 


-Arms  of  Bohemia,  from  the  "  Pulver  Turme"  at  Prague. 
(Latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.) 


-^^ 


R 


THE 


CAI 


THE   HERALDIC    LION  189 

as  many  torteaux,  on  a  bordure  of  the  same  twelve  lions   rampant 
pm-pure  (Fig.  316). 

Before  leaving  the  lion,  the  hint  may  perhaps  be  usefully  con- 
veyed that  the  temptation  to  over-elaborate  the  lion  when  depicting 
it  heraldically  should  be  carefully  avoided.  The 
only  result  is  confusion — the  very  contrary  of 
the  essence  of  heraldic  emblazonment,  which 
was,  is,  and  should  be,  the  method  of  clear 
advertisement  of  identity.  Examples  of  over- 
elaboration  can,  however,  be  found  in  the  past, 
as  will  be  seen  from  Fig.  317.  This  example 
belongs  to  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, and  represents  the  arms  of  Bohemia.  It 
is  taken  from  a  shield  on  the  *^  Pulver  Turme  " 
at  Prague. 

Parts  of  lions  are  very  frequently  to  be  met 
with,  particularly  as  crests.  In  fact  the  most 
common  crest  in  existence  is  the  demi-Hon  rampant  (Fig.  318).  This 
is  the  upper  half  of  a  lion  rampant.  It  is  comparatively  seldom  found 
other  than  rampant  and  couped,  so  that  the  term  <*  a  demi-lion," 
unless   otherwise  qualified,  may  always   be   assumed   to   be  a   demi- 


FiG.  316. — Arms  of  Richard  of 
Conisburgh,  Earl  of  Cam- 
bridge. (From  MS.  Cott., 
Julius  C.  vii.) 


Fig.  318. — A  demi-lion 
rampant. 


Fig.  319. — A  demi-lion 
passant. 


Fig.  320. — A  lion's  head 
couped. 


lion  rampant  couped.  As  charges  upon  the  shield  three  will  be  found 
in  the  arms  of  Bennet,  Earl  of  Tankerville :  '*  Gules,  a  bezant  between 
three  demi-lions  rampant  argent." 

The  demi-lion  may  be  both  guardant  and  regardant. 

Demi-lions  rampant  and  erased  are  more  common  as  charges 
than  as  crests.  They  are  to  be  found  in  several  Harrison  coats  of 
arms. 

Demi-lions  passant  (Fig.  319)  are  rather  unusual,  but  in  addition  to 
the  seeming  cases  in  which  they  occur  by  dimidiation  they  are  some- 
times found,  as  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Newman. 


Fig.  321. — A  lion's  face. 


190    A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Demi-lion  affronte, — ^The  only  case  which  has  come  under  notice 
would  appear  to  be  the  crest  of  Campbell  of  Aberuchill, 

Demi-lion   issuanL — This   term   is  applied  to  a  demi-lion  when   it 
issues  from  an  ordinary,  e.g,  from  the  base  Hne  of  the  chief,  as  in  the 
arms  of  Dormer,  Markham,  and  Abney  ;   or  from 
behind  a  fesse,  as  in  the  arms  of  Chalmers. 

Demi-lion  naissant  issues  from  the  centre  of  an 
ordinary,  and  not  from  behind  it. 

Lions'  headSf  both  couped  (Fig.  320)  and  erased, 
are  very  frequently  met  with  both  as  charges  on 
the  shield  and  as  crests. 

Lions  gamb, — Many  writers  make  a  distinction 
between  the  gamb  (which  is  stated  to  be  the  lower 
part  only,  couped  or  erased  half-way  up  the  leg) 
and  the  paiVj  but  this  distinction  cannot  be  said 
to  be  always  rigidly  observed.  In  fact  some  authorities  quote  the 
exact  reverse  as  the  definition  of  the  terms.  As  charges  the  gamb 
or  paw  will  be  found  to  occur  in  the  arms  of  Lord  Lilford  ["  Or,  a 
lion's  gamb  erased  in  bend  dexter  between  two  crosslets  fitchee  in 
bend  sinister  gules  "],  and  in  the  arms  of  Newdigate.  This  last  is  a 
curious  example,  inasmuch  as,  without  being  so  specified  in  the 
blazon,  the  gambs  are  represented  in  the  position  occupied  by  the 
sinister  foreleg  of  a  lion  passant. 

The  crest  upon  the  Garter  Plate  of  Edward  Cherleton,  Lord 
Cherleton  of  Powis,  must  surely  be  unique.  It  consists  of  two  lions' 
paws  embowed,  the  outer  edge  of  each  being  adorned  with  fleurs-de-lis 
issuant  therefrom. 

A  lion's  tail  will  sometimes  be  found  as  a  crest,  and  it  also  occurs 
as  a  charge  in  the  arms  of  Corke,  viz. :  ^'  Sable,  three  lions'  tails  erect 
and  erased  argent." 

A  lions  face  (Fig.  321)  should  be  carefully  distinguished  from  a 
lion's  head.  In  the  latter  case  the  neck,  either  couped  or  erased, 
must  be  shown  ;  but  a  lion's  face  is  affronts  and  cut  off  closely 
behind  the  ears.  The  distinction  between  the  head  and  the  face 
can  be  more  appropriately  considered  in  the  case  of  the  leopard. 


CHAPTER   XII 

BEASTS 


NEXT  after  the  lion  should  be  considered  the  tiger,  but  it  must  be 
distinctly  borne  in  mind  that  heraldry  knows  two  kinds  of  tigers 
— the  heraldic  tiger  (Figs.  322  and  323)  and  the  Bengal  tiger 
(Figs.  324  and  325).    Doubtless  the  heraldic  tiger,  w^hich  was  the  only 


Fig.  322. — Heraldic 
tyger  rampant. 


Fig.  323. — Heraldic 

tyger  passant. 


Fig.  324.— Bengal  tiger 
passant. 


one  found  in  British  armory  until  a  comparatively  recent  date,  is  the 
attempt  of  artists  to  depict  their  idea  of  a  tiger.  The  animal  was  un- 
known to  them,  except  by  repute,  and  consequently  the  creature  they 
depicted  bears  little  relation  to  the  animal  of  real 
life ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  their  inten- 
tion was  to  depict  an  animal  which  they  knew  to 
exist.  The  heraldic  tiger  had  a  body  much  like 
the  natural  tiger,  it  had  a  lion's  tufted  taii  and 
mane,  and  the  curious  head  which  it  is  so  difficult 
to  describe,  but  which  appears  to  be  more  like  the 
wolf  than  any  other  animal  we  know.  This,  how- 
ever, will  be  again  dealt  with  in  the  chapter  on 
fictitious  animals,  and  is  here  only  introduced  to 
demonstrate  the  difference  which  heraldry  makes  ^^*  ^^rampan"tf^  ^'^^"^ 
between  the  heraldic  tiger  and  the  real  animal. 
A  curious  conceit  is  that  the  heraldic  tiger  will  anciently  be  often 
found  spelt  ^^  tyger,"  but  this  peculiar  spelling  does  not  seem  ever 
to  have  been  applied  to  the  tiger  of  nature. 


191 


192     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

When  it  became  desirable  to  introduce  the  real  tiger  into  British 
armory  as  typical  of  India  and  our  Eastern  Empire,  something  of  course 
was  necessary  to  distinguish  it  from  the  tyger  which  had  previously 
usurped  the  name  in  armory,  and  for  this  reason  the  natural  tiger  is 
always  heraldically  known  as  the  Bengal  tiger.  This  armorial  variety 
appears  towards  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  in  this  country, 
though  in  foreign  heraldry  it  appears  to  have  been  recognised  some- 
what earlier.  There  are,  however,  but  few  cases  in  which  the  Bengal 
tiger  has  appeared  in  armory,  and  in  the  majority  of  these  cases  as  a 
supporter,  as  in  the  supporters  of  Outram,  which  are  two  tigers  rampant 
guardant  gorged  with  wreaths  of  laurel  and  crowned  with  Eastern 
crowns  all  proper.  Another  instance  of  the  tiger  as  a  supporter  will 
be  found  in  the  arms  of  Bombay.     An  instance  in  which  it  appears  as 


Fig.  326. — Leopard 


Fig.  327. — Leopard 
passant  guardant. 


Fig.  328. — Leopard 
rampant. 


a  charge  upon  a  shield  will  be  found  in  the  arms  granted  to  the 
University  of  Madras. 

Another  coat  is  that  granted  in  1874  to  Augustus  Beaty  Bradbury 
of  Edinburgh,  which  was  :  '^  Argent,  on  a  mount  in  base  vert,  a  Bengal 
tiger  passant  proper,  on  a  chief  of  the  second  two  other  tigers  dormant 
also  proper."  A  tigress  is  said  to  be  occasionally  met  with,  and  when 
so,  is  sometimes  represented  with  a  mirror,  in  relation  to  the  legend 
that  ascribes  to  her  such  personal  vanity  that  her  young  ones  might  be 
taken  from  under  her  charge  if  she  had  the  counter  attraction  of  a 
hand-glass  1  At  least  so  say  the  heraldry  books,  but  I  have  not  yet 
come  across  such  a  case. 

The  leopard  (Figs.  326,  327,  and  328)  has  to  a  certain  extent 
been  referred  to  already.  Doubtless  it  is  the  peculiar  cat-like  and 
stealthy  walk  which  is  so  characteristic  of  the  leopard  which  led  to 
any  animal  in  that  position  being  considered  a  leopard  ;  but  the 
leopard  in  its  natural  state  was  of  course  known  to  Europeans  in  the 
early  days  of  heraldry,  and  appears  amongst  the  lists  of  heraldic 
animals  apart  from  its  existence  as  '^  a  lion  passant."     The  animal, 


BEASTS  193 

however,  except  as  a  supporter  or  crest,  is  by  no  means  common  in 
English  heraldry.  It  will  be  found,  however,  in  the  crests  of  some 
number  of  families  ;  for  example,  Taylor  and  Potts. 

A  very  similar  animal  is  the  ounce,  which  for  heraldic  purposes  is  in 
no  way  altered  from  the  leopard.  Parts  of  the  latter  will  be  found  in 
use  as  in  the  case  of  the  lion.  As  a  crest  the  demi-leopard,  the  leopard's 
head  (Fig.  329),  and  the  leopard's  head  affronte  (Fig.  330)  are  often  to 
be  met  with.  In  both  cases  it  should  be  noticed  that  the  neck  is  visibky 
and  this  should  be  borne  in  mind,  because  this  constitutes  the  difference 
between  the  leopard's  head  and  the  leopard's  face  (Fig.   331).     The 


Fig.  329. — Leopard's 
head  erased. 


Fig.  330.  —  Leopard's 
head  erased  and 
affronte. 


Fig.  331. — Leopard's 
face. 


leopard's  face  is  by  far  the  most  usual  form  in  which  the  leopard  will 
be  found  in  armory,  and  can  be  traced  back  to  quite  an  early  period 
in  heraldry.  The  leopard's  face  shows  no  neck  at  all,  the  head  being 
removed  close  behind  the  ears.  It  is  then  represented  affronte.  For 
some  unfathomable  reason  these  charges  when  they  occur  in  the  arms 
of  Shrewsbury  are  usually  referred  to  locally  as 
*'  loggerheads."  They  were  perpetuated  in  the 
arms  of  the  county  in  its  recent  grant.  A  curious 
development  or  use  of  the  leopard's  face  occurs 
when  it  is  jessant-de-lis  (Fig.  332).  This  will  be 
found  referred  to  at  greater  length  under  the 
heading  of  the  Fleur-de-lis. 

The  panther  is  an  animal  which  in  its  relation 
to  heraldry  it  is  difficult  to  know  whether  to  place 
amongst  the  mythical  or  actual  animals.  No 
instance  occurs  to  me  in  which  the  panther  figures 
as  a  charge  in  British  heraldry,  and  the  panther 
as  a  supporter,  in  the  few  cases  in  which  it  is  met  with,  is  cer- 
tainly not  the  actual  animal,  inasmuch  as  it  is  invariably  found 
flammant,  ue,  with  flames  issuing  from  the  mouth  and  ears.  In  this 
character  it  will  be  found  as   a   supporter  of  the  Duke  of  Beaufort, 

N 


Fig.  332. — Leopard's 
face  jessant-de-lis. 


194      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

and  derived  therefrom  as  a  supporter  of  Lord  Raglan.  Foreign 
heraldry  carries  the  panther  to  a  most  curious  result.  It  is  fre- 
quently represented  with  the  tail  of  a  lion,  horns,  and  for  its  fore-legs 
the  claws  of  an  eagle.     Even  in   England  it   is  usually  represented 


•Jf^) 


Fig.  333. — Arms  of  Styria.      (Drawn  by  Hans  Burgkmair,  1523.) 

vomiting  flames,  but  the  usual  method  of  depicting  it  on  the  Con- 
tinent is  greatly  at  variance  with  our  own.  Fig.  333  represents  the 
samft  arms  of  Styria — Vert,  a  panther  argent,  armed  close,  vomiting 
flames  of  fire— from  the  title-page  of  the  Land-bond  of  Styria  in  the 
year  1523,  drawn  by  Hans  Burgkmair.      In  Physiologtts,  a  Greek  writing 


BEASTS  195 

of  early  Christian  times  of  about  the  date  140,  which  in  the  course  of 
time  has  been  translated  into  every  tongue,  mention  is  made  of  the 
panther,  to  which  is  there  ascribed  the  gaily  spotted  coat  and  the 
pleasant,  sweet-smelling  breath  which  induces  all  other  animals  to 
approach  it  ;  the  dragon  alone  retreats  into  its  hole  from  the  smell, 
and  consequently  the  panther  appears  to  have  sometimes  been  used  as 
a  symbol  of  Christ.  The  earliest  armorial  representations  of  this 
animal  show  the  form  not  greatly  dissimilar  to  nature  ;  but  very  soon 
the  similarity  disappears  in  Continental  representations,  and  the  fancy 
of  the  artist  transferred  the  animal  into  the  fabulous  creature  which  is 
now  represented.  The  sweet-smelling  breath,  suozzon-stanch  as  it  is 
called  in  the  early  German  translation  of  the  Physiologus,  was  expressed 
by  the  flames  issuing  from  the  mouth,  but  later  in  the  sixteenth  century 
flames  issued  from  every  opening  in  the  head.  The  head  was  in  old 
times  similar  to  that  of  a  horse,  occasionally  horned  (as  in  the  seal  of 
Count  Heinrich  von  Lechsgemiind,  11 97);  the  fore-feet  were  well 
developed.  In  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  century  the  fore-feet 
assume  the  character  of  eagles'  claws,  and  the  horns  of  the  animal 
were  a  settled  matter.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Lake  Constance  we 
find  the  panther  with  divided  hoofs  on  his  hind-feet  ;  perhaps  with  a 
reference  to  the  panther's  ^'  cleanness."  According  to  the  Mosaic 
law,  of  course,  a  four-footed  animal,  to  be  considered  clean,  must 
not  have  paws,  and  a  ruminant  must  not  have  an  undivided  hoof. 
Italian  heraldry  is  likewise  acquainted  with  the  panther,  but  under 
another  name  [La  Dolce,  the  sweet  one)  and  another  form.  The 
dolce  has  a  head  like  a  hare,  and  is  unhorned.  (See  A.  Anthony  v. 
Siegenfeld,  ''The  Territorial  Arms  of  Styria,"  Graz,  1898.) 

The  panther  is  given  by  Segar,  Garter  King  of  Arms  1 603-1 663, 
as  one  of  the  badges  of  King  Henry  VI.,  where  it  is  silver,  spotted 
of  various  colours,  and  with  flames  issuing  from  its  mouth  and  ears. 
No  doubt  this  Royal  badge  is  the  origin  of  the  supporter  of  the  Duke 
of  Beaufort. 

English  armory  knows  an  animal  which  it  terms  the  male  griffin, 
which  has  no  wings,  but  which  has  gold  rays  issuing  from  its  body 
in  all  directions.  Strohl  terms  the  badge  of  the  Earls  of  Ormonde, 
which  from  his  description  are  plainly  male  griffins,  keythongSy  which 
he  classes  with  the  panther  ;  and  probably  he  is  correct  in  looking 
upon  our  male  griffin  as  merely  one  form  of  the  heraldic  panther. 

The  cat,  under  the  name  of  the  cat,  the  wild  cat,  the  cat-a-mountain, 
or  the  cat-a-mount  (Figs.  334,  335,  and  336),  is  by  no  means 
infrequent  in  British  armory,  though  it  will  usually  be  found  in 
Scottish  or  Irish  examples.  The  arms  of  Keates  and  Scott-Gatty  in 
which  it  figures  are  English  examples,  however. 


196      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  wolf  (Figs.  337-341)  is  a  very  frequent  charge  in  EngHsh 
armory.  Apart  from  its  use  as  a  supporter,  in  which  position  it  is 
found  in  conjunction  with  "the  shields  of  Lord  Welby,  Lord  Rendell, 
and  Viscount  Wolseley,  it  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Lovett  and 
in  by  far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  coats  for  the  name  of  Wilson 
and  in  the  arms  of  how. 

The  wolf;  however,  in  earlier  representations  has  a  less  distinctly 
wolf-like  character,  it  being  sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish  the  wolf 
from  some  other  heraldic  animals.       This  is  one   of  these   cases   in 


Fig.  334. — Cat-a-mountain 
sejant  guardant. 


Fig.   335. — Cat-a-mountain 
sejant  guardant  erect. 


Fig.  336. — Cat-a-mountain 
passant  guardant. 


Fig.  337. — Wolf  rampant. 


Fig.  338. — Wolf  salient. 


Fig.  339.— Wolf courant. 


which,  owing  to  insufficient  knowledge  and  crude  draughtsmanship, 
ancient  heraldry  is  not  to  be  preferred  to  more  realistic  treatment. 
The  demi-wolf  is  a  very  frequent  crest,  occurring  not  only  in  the 
arms  and  crests  of  members  of  the  Wilson  and  many  other  families, 
but  also  as  the  crest  of  Wolfe.  The  latter  crest  is  worthy  of 
remark,  inasmuch  as  the  Royal  crown  which  is  held  within  its 
paws  typifies  the  assistance  given  to  King  Charles  IL,  after  the 
battle  of  Worcester,  by  Mr.  Francis  Wolfe  of  Madeley,  to  whom  the 
crest  was  granted.  King  Charles,  it  may  be  noted,  also  gave  to 
Mr.  Wolfe  a  silver  tankard,  upon  the  lid  of  which  was  a  representation 
of  this  crest.  Wolves'  heads  are  particularly  common,  especially  in 
Scottish  heraldry.      An  example  of  them  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of 


BEASTS  197 

*'  Struan  "  Robertson,  and  in  the  coats  used  by  all  other  members  of 
the  Robertson  Clan  having  or  claiming  descent  from,  or  relationship 
with,  the  house  of  Struan.  The  wolf's  head  also  appears  in  the  arms 
of  Skeen.  Woodward  states  that  the  wolf  is  the  most  common  of  all 
heraldic  animals  in  Spanish  heraldry,  where  it  is  frequently  represented 
as  ravissani,  t.e,  carrying  the  body  of  a  lamb  in  its  mouth  or  across  its 
back. 

Much  akin  to  the  wolf  is  the  Lynx ;  in  fact  the  heraldic  representa- 
tion of  the  two  animals  is  not  greatly  different.     The  lynx  •  does  not 


Fig.  340. — Wolf  passant. 


Fig.  341. — Wolf  statant. 


Fig.  342. — A  lynx 
coward. 


Fig.  343.— Fox  passant.  Fig,  344. — Fox  sejant.  Fig.  345. — A  fox's  mask 


often  occur  in  heraldry  except  as  a  supporter,  but  it  will  be  found  as 
the  crest  of  the  family  of  Lynch.  The  lynx  is  nearly  always  depicted 
and  blazoned  ^^  coward,"  ue.  with  its  tail  between  its  legs  (Fig.  342). 
Another  instance  of  this  particular  animal  is  found  in  the  crest  of 
Comber. 

A  Fox  (Figs.  343  and  344)  which  from  the  similarity  of  its  repre- 
sentation is  often  confused  with  a  wolf,  is  said  by  Woodward  to  be 
very  seldom  met  with  in  British  heraldry.  This  is  hardly  a  correct 
statement,  inasmuch  as  countless  instances  can  be  produced  in  which  a 
fox  figures  as  a  charge,  a  crest,  or  a  supporter.  The  fox  is  found  on 
the  arms  and  as  the  crest,  and  two  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  Ilchester, 
and  instances  of  its  appearance  will  be  found  amongst  others  in  the  arms 


198     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

or  crests,  for  example,  of  Fox,  Colfox,  and  Ashvvorlh.  Probably 
the  most  curious  example  of  the  heraldic  fox  will  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  Sir  Watkin  Williams  Wynn,  who  for  the  arms  of  Williams 
quarters  :  ^^  Argent,  two  foxes  counter-salient  gules,  the  dexter  sur- 
mounted of  the  sinister."  The  face  of  a  fox  is  termed  its  mask 
(Fig.  345). 

The  Bear  (Figs.  346-349)  is  frequently  found  figuring  largely 
in  coats  of  arms  for  the  names  of  Barnard,  Baring,  Barnes,  and 
Bearsley,  and  for  other  names  which  can  be  considered  to  bear  canting 
relation  to  the  charge.  In  fact  the  arms,  crest,  and  motto  of  Barnard 
together  form  such  an  excellent  example  of  the  little  jokes  which 
characterise  heraldry  that  I  quote  the  blazon  in  full.  The  coat  is 
'<  argent,  a  bear  rampant  sable,"  the  crest  is  ''  a  demi-bear  sable,"  and 
the  motto  ^^  Bear  and  forbear." 

The  bear  is  generally  muzzled,  but  this  must  not  be  presumed 
unless  mentioned  in   the  blazon.     Bears'  paws  are  often  found  both 


Fig.  346. — Bear  rampant.  Fig.  347. — Bear  passant.  Fig.  348.— Bear  statant. 


in  crests  and  as  charges  upon  shields,  but  as  they  ditfer  Httle  if 
anything  in  appearance  from  the  lion's  gamb,  they  need  not  be  further 
particularised.  To  the  bear's  head,  however,  considerable  attention 
should  be  paid,  inasmuch  as  the  manner  of  depicting  it  in  England 
and  Scotland  differs.  The  bear's  head,  according  to  English  ideas  of 
heraldry,  would  be  depicted  down  to  the  shoulders,  and  would  show 
the  neck  couped  or  erased  (Fig.  350).  In  Scottish  heraldry,  bears' 
heads  are  almost  invariably  found  couped  or  erased  close  behind  the 
ears  without  any  of  the  neck  being  visible  (Figs.  351  and  352);  they 
are  not,  however,  represented  as  caboshed  or  affronts. 

The  Boar  is  an  animal  which,  with  its  parts,  will  constantly  be  met 
with  in  British  armory  (Figs.  353-355).  Theoretically  there  is  a 
difference  between  the  boar,  which  is  the  male  of  the  domestic  animal, 
and  the  wild  boar,  which  is  the  untamed  creature  of  the  woods. 
Whilst  the  latter  is  usually  blazoned  as  a  wild  boar  or  sanglier,  the 
latter  is  just  a  boar  ;  but  for  all  practical  purposes  no  difference  what- 


BEASTS 


199 


ever  is  made  in  heraldic  representations  of  these  varieties,  though  it 
may  be  noted  that  the  crest  of  Swinton  is  often  described  as  a  sanglier, 
as  invariably  is  also  the  crest  of  Douglas,  Earl  of  Morton  [''  A  sanglier 
sticking  between  the  cleft  of  an  oak-tree  fructed,  with  a  lock  holding 
the  clefts  together  all  proper"].     The  boar,  like  the  lion,  is  usually 


Fig.   349. — Bear   sejant 
erect. 


Fig.  350. — Bear's  head 
couped  (English). 


Fig.   351. — Bear's  head 
couped  (Scottish). 


Fig.  352. — Bear's  head 
erased  and  muzzled 
(Scottish). 


Fig.  354.— Boar 


Fig.  355. — Boar  statant. 


Fig.    356. — Boar's  head 
erased  (English). 


Fig.    357.— Boar's  head 
couped  (Scottish). 


described  as  armed  and  langued,  but  this  is  not  necessary  when  the 
tusks  are  represented  in  their  own  colour  and  when  the  tongue  is  gules. 
It  will,  however,  be  very  frequently  found  that  the  tusks  are  or.  The 
''armed,"  however,  does  not  include   the  hoofs,  and  if  these  are  to 


200      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

be  of  any  colour  different  from  that  of  the  animal,  it  must  be  blazoned 
<*  unguled  "  of  such  and  such  a  tincture.  Precisely  the  same  distinction 
occurs  in  the  heads  of  boars  (Figs.  356-358)  that  was  referred  to 
in  bears.  The  real  difference  is  this,  that  whilst  the  English  boar's 
head  has  the  neck  attached  to  the  head  and  is  couped  or  erased  at 
the  shoulders,  the  Scottish  boar's  head  is  separated  close  behind  the 
ears.  No  one  ever  troubled  to  draw  any  distinction 
between  the  two  for  the  purposes  of  blazon,  because 
the  English  boars'  heads  were  more  usually  drawn 
with  the  neck,  and  the  boars'  heads  in  Scotland 
were  drawn  couped  or  erased  close.  But  the  boar's 
head  in  Welsh  heraldry  followed  the  Scottish  and 
not  the  English  type.  Matters  armorial,  however, 
are  now  cosmopolitan,  and  one  can  no  longer 
ascertain  that  the  crest  of  Campbell  must  be  Scot- 
tish, or  that  the  crest  of  any  other  family  must  be 
^'erVsifw^).  *'''''  English  ;  and  consequently,  though  the  terms  will 
not  be  found  employed  officially,  it  is  just  as  well 
to  distinguish  them,  because  armory  can  provide  means  of  such  dis- 
tinction— the  true  description  of  an  English  boar's  head  being  couped 
or  erased  "at  the  neck,"  the  Scottish  term  being  a  boar's  head 
couped  or  erased  "  close." 

Occasionally  a  boar's  head  will  be  stated  to  be  borne  erect  ;  this  is 
then  shown  with  the  mouth  pointing  upwards.  A  curious  example  of 
this  is  found  in  the  crest  of  Tyrrell  :  "  A  boar's  head  erect  argent,  in 
the  mouth  a  peacock's  tail  proper." 

Woodward  mentions  three  very  strange  coats  of  arms  in  which  the 
charge,  whilst  not  being  a  boar,  bears  very  close  connection  with  it. 
He  states  that  among  the  curiosities  of  heraldry  we  may  place  the 
canting  arms  of  Ham,  of  Holland:  "Gules,  five  hams  proper,  2,  i,  2." 
The  Verhammes  also  bear  :  "  Or,  three  hams  sable."  These  common- 
place charges  assume  almost  a  poetical  savour  when  placed  beside  the 
matter-of-fact  coat  of  the  family  of  Bacquere :  "  d'Azur,  a  un  ecusson 
d'or  en  abime,  accompagn^  de  trois  groins  de  pore  d'argent,"  and  that 
of  the  Wursters  of  Switzerland  :  "  Or,  two  sausages  gules  on  a  gridiron 
sable,  the  handle  in  chief." 

HORSES 

Tt  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  horse  is  frequently  met  with 
in  armory.  It  will  be  found,  as  in  the  arms  of  Jedburgh,  carrying  a 
mounted  warrior  (Fig.  359),  and  the  same  combination  appears  as  the 
crest  of  the  Duke  of  Fife. 


BEASTS  20 1 

The  horse  will  be  found  rampant  (or  forcene,  or  salient)  (Fig.  360), 
and  will  be  found  courant  (Fig.  361),  passant  (Fig.  362),  and  trotting. 

When  it  is  ^^  comparisoned  "  or  ^'  furnished  "  it  is  shown  with  saddle 
and  bridle  and  all  appurtenances  ;  but  if  the  saddle 
is  not  present  it  would  only  be  blazoned  '^  bridled/' 

*'  Gules,  a  horse  argent,"  really  the  arms  of  West- 
phalia, is  popularly  known  in  this  country  as  the 
coat  of  Hanover,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the  most 
prominent  charge  upon  the  inescutcheon  or  quarter- 
ing of  Hanover  formerly  borne  with  the  Royal 
Arms.  Every  one  in  this  country  is  familiar  with 
the  expression,  ''the  white  horse  of  Hanover." 

Horses  will  also  be  found   in   many  cases   as 
supporters,    and   these   will  be   referred   to  in  the 
chapter   upon   that  subject,  but   reference   should 
be  particularly   made  here  to  the   crest  of    the  family   of    Lane,    of 
King's    Bromley,    which    is  a  strawberry  roan  horse,  couped  at   the 
flanks,   bridled,   saddled,   and  holding  in  its  feet  the   Imperial  crown 
proper.     This  commemorates  the  heroic  action  of  Mistress  Jane  Lane, 


Fig.  359. — A  chevalier 
on  horseback. 


Fig.  360. — Horse  rampant.  Fig.  361. — Horse  courant. 


Fig.  362. — Horse  passant. 


afterwards  Lady  Fisher,  and  the  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Lane,  of  King's 
Bromley,  who,  after  the  battle  of  Worcester  and  when  King  Charles 
was  in  hiding,  rode  from  Staffordshire  to  the  south  coast  upon  a 
strawberry  roan  horse,  with  King  Charles  as  her  serving-man.  For 
this  the  Lane  family  were  first  of  all  granted  the  canton  of  England 
as  an  augmentation  to  their  arms,  and  shortly  afterwards  this  crest  of 
the  demi-horse  (Plate  IL). 

The  arms  of  Trevelyan  afford  an  interesting  example  of  a  horse, 
being :  •'  Gules,  issuant  out  of  water  in  base  proper,  a  demi-horse 
argent,  hoofed  and  maned  or." 

The  heads  of  horses  are  either  so  described  or  (and  more  usually) 
termed  '<  nags'  heads,"  though  what  the  difference  may  be  is  beyond 


202      A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO   HERALDRY 

the  comprehension  of  most  people  ;  at  any  rate  heraldry  knows 
of  none. 

The  crest  of  the  family  of  Buncombe  is  curious,  and  is  as  follows  : 
"  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  horse's  hind-leg  sable,  the  shoe  argent." 

Though  they  can  hardly  be  termed  animate  charges,  perhaps  one 
may  be  justified  in  here  mentioning  the  horse-shoe  (Fig.  363),  which 
is  far  from  being  an  uncommon  charge.  It  will  be  found  in  various 
arms  for  the  name  of  Ferrar,  Ferrers,  Farrer,  and  Marshall ;  and,  in 
the  arms  of  one  Scottish  family  of  Smith,  three  horse-shoes  interlaced 
together  form  an  unusual  and  rather  a  curious  charge. 

Other  instances  in  which  it  occurs  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
Burlton,  and  in  the  arms  used  by  the  town  of  Oakham.  In  the  latter 
case  it  doubtless  has  reference  to  the  toll  of  a  horse-shoe,  which  the 
town  collects  from  every  peer  or  member  of  the  Royal  Family  who  passes 


Fig.  363. — Horse-shoe. 


Fig.  364  — Sea-horse. 


Fig.  365. — Pegasus  rampant. 


through  its  Hmits.     The  collection  of  these,  which  are  usually  of  silver, 
and  are  carefully  preserved,  is  one  of  the  features  of  the  town. 

The  sea-horse,  the  unicorn,  and  the  pegasus  may  perhaps  be  more 
properly  considered  as  mythical  animals,  and  the  unicorn  will,  of  course, 
be  treated  under  that  heading  ;  but  the  sea-horse  and  the  pegasus  are 
so  closely  allied  in  form  to  the  natural  animal  that  perhaps  it  will  be 
simpler  to  treat  of  them  in  this  chapter  The  sea-horse  (Fig.  364)  is 
composed  of  the  head  and  neck  of  a  horse  and  the  tail  of  a  fish, 
but  in  place  of  the  fore-feet,  webbed  paws  are  usually  substituted. 
Two  sea-horses  respecting  each  other  will  be  found  in  the  coat  of 
arms  of  Pirrie,  and  sea-horses  naiant  will  be  found  in  the  arms,  of 
M'Cammond.  It  is  a  matter  largely  left  to  the  discretion  of  the 
artist,  but  the  sea-horse  will  be  found  as  often  as  not  depicted  with 
a  fin  at  the  back  of  its  neck  in  place  of  a  mane.  A  sea-horse  as  a 
crest  will  be  found  in  the  case  of  Belfast  and  in  the  crests  of 
Clippingdale  and  Jenkinson.  The  sea-horse  is  sometimes  represented 
winged,  but  I  know  of  no  officially  sanctioned  example.  When  - 
represented  rising  from  the  sea  the  animal  is  said  to  be  ''  assurgeant." 


BEASTS 


203 


The  pegasus  (Figs.  365  and  366),  though  often  met  with  as  a  crest 
or  found  in  use  as  a  supporter,  is  very  unusual  as  a  charge  upon  an 
escutcheon.  It  will  be  found,  however,  in  the  arms  of  the  Society  of  the 
Inner  Temple  and  in  the  arms  of  Richardson,  which  afford  an  example 
of  a  pegasus  rampant  and  also  an  example  in  the  crest  of  a  pegasus 
sejant,  which  at  present  is  the  only  one  which  exists  in  British  heraldry. 

Fig.  367  gives  a  solitary  instance  of  a  mare.  The  arms,  which  are 
from  Griinenberg's   Wappenbtcch  (i^S^\  3.re  attributed  to  '' Herr  von 


Fig.  366. — Pegasus 
passant. 


Fig.  367. — Anns  of  Ilerr  von 
Frouberg. 


Fig.  368.— Talbot  passant. 


Fig.  369.— Talbot  statant. 


Fig.  370. — Talbot 
rampant. 


Fig.  371. — Talbot  sejant. 


Frouberg  from  the  Forest  in  Bavaria/'  and  are  :   Gules,  a  mare  rampant 
argent,  bridled  sable. 

The  ass  is  not  a  popular  charge,  but   the   family  of  Mainwaring 
have  an  ass's  head  for  a  crest. 


DOGS 

Dogs  will  be  found  of  various  kinds  in  many  English  and  Scottish 
coats  of  arms,  though  more  frequently  in  the  former  than  in  the  latter. 
The  original  English  dog,  the  hound  of  early  days,  is,  of  course,  the 
talbot  (Figs.  368,   369,  370,  and  371).     Under  the  heading  of  sup- 


Fig.  372 

passant 


Greyhound 


204     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

porters   certain   instances   will    be  quoted  in  which   dogs   of   various 

kinds  and  breeds  figure  in  heraldry,  but  the  talbot  as  a  charge   will 

be   found   in   the  arms  of  the  old  Staffordshire  family,  Wolseley  of 

Wolseley,  a  cadet  of  which  house  is  the  present  Field-Marshal  Viscount 
Wolseley.  The  Wolseley  arms  are  :  ^'  Argent,  a 
talbot  passant  gules."  Other  instances  of  the  talbot 
will  be  found  in  the  arms  or  crests  of  the  families 
of  Grosvenor,  Talbot,  and  Gooch.  The  arms 
^^  Azure,  three  talbots  statant  or,"  were  granted 
by  Cooke  to  Edward  Peke  of  Heldchurchgate, 
Kent.  A  sleuth-hound  treading  gingerly  upon 
the  points  of  a  coronet  [^^On  a  ducal  coronet,  a 
sleuth-hound  proper,  collared  and  leashed  gules  "] 
was  the  crest  of  the  Earl  of  Perth  and  Melfort, 
and  one  wonders  whether  the  motto,  *'  Gang 
warily,"  may  not  really  have  as  much  relation  to 

the  perambulations  of  the  crest  as  to  the  dangerous  foothold  amongst 

the  galtraps  which  is  provided  for  the  supporters. 

Greyhounds  (Figs.  372   and  373)  are,  of  course,  very  frequently 

met  with,  and  amongst  the  instances  which  can  be  mentioned  are  the 

arms  of  Clayhills,  Hughes-Hunter  of  Plas  Coch,  and 

Hunter  of   Hunterston.      A  curious  coat  of  arms 

will  be  found  under  the  name  of  Udney  of  that 

Ilk,  registered  in  the  Lyon  Ofhce,  namely  :  ''  Gules, 

two    greyhounds    counter-salient    argent,   collared 

of  the  field,  in  the  inner  point  a  stag's  head  couped 

and  attired  with  ten  tynes,  all  between  the  three 

fleurs-de-lis,  two   in  chief  and  one   in   base,   or." 

Another  very  curious  coat  of  arms  is  registered  as 

the  design  of  the  reverse  of  the  seal  of  the  Royal 

Burgh  of   Linlithgow,  and  is :  <'  Or,  a  greyhound 

bitch  sable,  chained  to  an  oak-tree  within  a  loch 

proper."     This   curious    coat   of   arms,    however,    being   the   reverse 

of  the  seal,  is  seldom  if  ever  made  use  of. 

Two   bloodhounds  are  the  supporters  to   the  arms  of   Campbell 

of  Aberuchill. 

The  dog  may  be  salient,  that  is,  springing,  its  hind-feet  on  the 

ground  ;  passant,  when  it  is  sometimes  known  as  trippant,  otherwise 

walking  ;    and  courant   when    it   is  at   full  speed.      It  will  be  found 

occasionally  couchant  or  lying  down,  but  if  depicted  chasing  another 

animal  (as  in  the  arms  of  EchHn)  it  is  described  as  ''in  full  chase," 

or  <<  in  full  course." 

A  mastiff  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of  Crawshay,  and  there  is  a 


Fig.  373. — Greyhound 
courant. 


BEASTS  205 

well-known  crest  of  a  family  named  Phillips  which  is  ''  a  dog  sejant 
regardant  surmounted  by  a  bezant  charged  with  a  representation  of 
a  dog  saving  a  man  from  drowning."  Whether  this  crest  has  any 
official  authority  or  not  I  do  not  know,  but  I  should  imagine  it  is 
highly  doubtful. 

Foxhounds  appear  as  the  supporters  of  Lord  Hindlip  ;  and  when 
depicted  with  its  nose  to  the  ground  a  dog  is  termed  "a  hound  on 
scent." 

A  winged  greyhound  is  stated  to  be  the  crest  of  a  family  of  Benwell. 
A  greyhound  ^^  courant "  will  be  found  in  the  crests  of  Daly  and 
Watney  ;  and  a  curious  crest  is  that  of  Biscoe,  which  is  a  greyhound 


Fig.  374.— a  sea-dog.  Fig.  375.--BUII  rampant.  Fig.  376.— Bull  passant. 

seizing  a  hare.     The  crest  of  Anderson,  until  recently  borne  by  the 
Earl  of  Yarborough,  is  a  water  spaniel. 

The  sea-dog  (Fig.  374)  is  a  most  curious  animal.  It  is  represented 
much  as  the  talbot,  but  with  scales,  webbed  feet,  and  a  broad  scaly 
tail  like  a  beaver.  In  my  mind  there  is  very  little  doubt  that  the  sea- 
dog  is  really  the  early  heraldic  attempt  to  represent  a  beaver,  and  I 
am  confirmed  in  that  opinion  by  the  arms  of  the  city  of  Oxford. 
There  has  been  considerable  uncertainty  as  to  what  the  sinister  sup- 
porter was  intended  to  represent.  A  reference  to  the  original  record 
shows  that  a  beaver  is  the  real  supporter,  but  the  representation  of  the 
animal,  which  in  form  has  varied  little,  is  very  similar  to  that  of  a  sea- 
dog.  The  only  instances  I  am  aware  of  in  British  heraldry  in  which 
it  occurs  under  the  name  of  a  sea-dog  are  the  supporters  of  the 
Barony  of  Stourton  and  the  crest  of  Dodge  ^  (Plate  VI.). 

BULLS 

The  bull  (Figs.  375  and  376),  and  also  the  calf,  and  very  occa- 
sionally the  cow  and  the  buffalo,  have  their  allotted  place  in  heraldry. 

1  Armorial  bearings  of  Dodge  :  Barry  of  six  or  and  sable,  on  a  pale  gules,  a  woman's  breast 
distilling  drops  of  milk  proper.  Crest:  upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  demi  sea-dog  azure, 
collared,  maned,  and  finned  or.    . 


2o6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

They  are  amongst  the  few  animals  which  can  never  be  represented 
proper,  inasmuch  as  in  its  natural  state  the  bull  is  of  very  various 
colours.  And  yet  there  is  an  exception  to  even  this  apparently 
obvious  fact,  for  the  bulls  connected  with  or  used  either  as  crests, 
badges,  or  supporters  by  the  various  branches  of  the  Nevill  family 
are  all  pied  bulls  [^'  Arms  of  the  Marquis  of  Abergavenny  :  Gules,  on 
a  saltire  argent,  a  rose  of  the  field,  barbed  and  seeded  proper. 
Crest :  a  bull  statant  argent,  pied  sable,  collared  and  chain  reflexed 
over  the  back  or.  Supporters  ;  two  bulls  argent,  pied  sable,  armed, 
unguled,  collared  and  chained,  and  at  the  end  of  the  chain  two  staples 
or.  Badges  :  on  the  dexter  a  rose  gules,  seeded  or,  barbed  vert ;  on 
the  sinister  a  portcullis  or.  Motto  :  *  Ne  vile  velis.'  "]  The  bull  in  the 
arms  of  the  town  of  Abergavenny,  which  are  obviously  based  upon 
the  arms  and  crest  of  the  Marquess  of  Abergavenny,  is  the  same. 

Examples  of  the  bull  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Verelst,  Blyth, 
and  Ffinden.  A  bull  salient  occurs  in  the  arms  of  De  Hasting  [''  Per 
pale  vert  and  or,  a  bull  salient  counterchanged  "].  The  arms  of  the 
Earl  of  Shaftesbury  show  three  bulls,  which  happen  to  be  the  quarter- 
ing for  Ashley.  This  coat  of  arms  affords  an  instance,  and  a  striking 
one,  of  the  manner  in  which  arms  have  been  improperly  assumed  in 
England.  The  surname  of  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  is  Ashley-Cooper. 
It  may  be  mentioned  here  in  passing,  through  the  subject  is  properly 
dealt  with  elsewhere  in  the  volume,  that  in  an  English  sub-quarterly 
coat  for  a  double  name  the  arms  for  the  last  and  most  important  name 
are  the  first  and  fourth  quarterings.  But  Lord  Shaftesbury  himself  is 
the  only  person  who  bears  the  name  of  Cooper,  all  other  members  of 
the  family  except  his  lordship  being  known  by  the  name  of  Ashley 
only.  Possibly  this  may  be  the  reason  which  accounts  for  the  fact 
that  by  a  rare  exception  Lord  Shaftesbury  bears  the  arms  of  Ashley  in 
the  first  and  fourth  quarters,  and  Cooper  in  the  second  and  third. 
But  by  a  very  general  mistake  these  arms  of  Ashley  [''  Argent,  three 
bulls  passant  sable,  armed  and  unguled  or  "]  were  until  recently  almost 
invariably  described  as  the  arms  of  Cooper.  The  result  has  been  that 
during  the  last  century  they  were  *^  jumped  "  right  and  left  by  people  of 
the  name  of  Cooper,  entirely  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  the  arms  of 
Cooper  (if  it  were,  as  one  can  only  presume,  the  popular  desire  to 
indicate  a  false  relationship  to  his  lordship)  are  :  '^  Gules,  a  bend 
engrailed  between  six  lions  rampant  or."  The  ludicrous  result  has 
been  that  to  those  who  know,  the  arms  have  stood  self-condemned,  and 
in  the  course  of  time,  as  it  has  become  necessary  for  these  Messrs. 
Cooper  to  legalise  these  usurped  insignia,  the  new  grants,  differentiated 
versions  of  arms  previously  in  use,  have  nearly  all  been  founded  upon 
this  Ashley  coat.     At  any  rate  there  must  be  a  score  or  more  Cooper 


BEASTS  207 

grants  with  bulls  as  the  principal  charges,  and  innumerable  people  of 

the  name  of  Cooper  are  still  using  without  authority  the  old  Ashley 

coat  pure  and  simple. 

The  bull  as  a  crest  is  not  uncommon,   belonging  amongst  other 

families  to  Ridley,  Sykes,  and  De  Hoghton  ;  and  the  demi-bull,  and  more 

frequently  the  bull's  head,  are  often  met  with.     A 

bull's  leg  is  the  crest  of  De  la  Vache,  and  as  such 

appears    upon    two    of    the     early    Garter    plates. 

Winged   bulls  are  the  supporters  of  the  Butchers' 

Livery   Company,      A  bull's  scalp    occurs    upon  a 

canton   over  the  arms  of  Cheney,  a  coat  quartered 

by  Johnston  and  Cure. 

The  ox  seldom  occurs,   except  that,  in  order 

sometimes  to  preserve  a  pun,   a  bovine   animal  is 

sometimes    so    blazoned,    as   in    the    case    of    the 

arms    of    the    City    of    Oxford.       Cows    also    are    ^'^-  ^^/ab^shed.''  ^'^^ 

equally    rare,    but    occur    in  the   arms    of   Cowell 

[''  Ermine,  a  cow  statant  gules,  within  a  bordure  sable,  bezantee  "]  and 

in  the   modern  grants  to  the  towns  of   Rawtenstall  and   Cowbridge. 

Cows'   heads   appear   on   the   arms   of  Veitch   ["Argent,  three  cowls' 

heads   erased   sable "],    and    these    were   transferred   to   the   cadency 

bordure  of  the   Haig  arms  when  these  were  rematriculated  for  Mr. 

H.  Veitch  Haig. 

Calves  are  of  much  more  frequent  occurrence  than  cows,  appearing 

in  many  coats  of  arms  in  which  they  are  a  pun  upon  the  name.     They 

will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Vaile  and 
Metcalfe  (Fig.  378).  Special  attention  may 
well  be  drawn  to  the  last-mentioned  illustra- 
tion, inasmuch  as  it  is  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Metcalfe, 
whose  heraldic  work  has  obtained  a  well- 
deserved  reputation.  A  bull  or  cow  is 
termed  "  armed "  if  the  horns  are  of  a 
different  tincture  from  the  head.  The 
term  ^'  unguled "  applies  to  the  hoofs, 
and  *^  ringed "  is  used  when,  as  is  some- 
times the  case,   a  ring   passes    through    the 

Fig.  378. -Armorial  bearings  nostdls.  A  bull's  head  is  somctimes  found 
ofjohn Henry  Metcalfe,  Esq.:  caboshed  (Fig.  377),  as  in  the  crcst  of 
stLU"a  ctonguS  """"'    Macleod,    or  as    in    the    arms    of    Walrond. 

The    position    of    the    tail    is    one    of    those 

matters  which   are  left  to  the  artist,   and  unless  the  blazon  contains 

any  statement  to  the  contrary,  it  may  be  placed  in  any  convenient 

position. 


2o8      A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 


STAGS 

The  stag,  using  the  term  in  its  generic  sense,  under  the  various 
names  of  stag,  deer,  buck,  roebuck,  hart,  doe,  hind,  reindeer,  springbok, 
and  other  'varieties,  is  constantly  met  with  in  British  armory,  as  well 
as  in  that  of  other  countries. 

In  the  specialised  varieties,  such  as  the  springbok  and  the  reindeer, 
naturally  an  attempt  is  made  to  follow  the  natural  animal  in  its  salient 
peculiarities,  but  as  to  the  remainder,  heraldry  knows  little  if  any  dis- 


FiG.  379. — Stag  lodged.  Fig.  380. — Stag  trippant.  Fig.  381. — Stag  courant. 


Fig.  382. — Stag  springing.  Fig.  383. — Stag  at  gaze. 


Fig.  384. — Stag  statant. 


tinction  after  the  following  has  been  properly  observed.  The  stag, 
which  is  really  the  male  red  deer,  has  horns  which  are  branched  with 
pointed  branches  from  the  bottom  to  the  top  ;  but  a  buck,  which  is 
the  fallow  deer,  has  broad  and  flat  palmated  horns.  Anything  in  the 
nature  of  a  stag  must  be  subject  to  the  following  terms.  If  lying  down 
it  is  termed  ^'lodged"  (Fig.  379);  if  walking  it  is  termed  ^'trippant" 
(Fig.  380),  if  running  it  is  termed  ^'courant"  (Fig.  381),  or  '<at  speed" 
or  "in  full  chase."  It  is  termed  <^ salient"  when  springing  (Fig.  382), 
though  the  term  "  springing  "  is  sometimes  employed,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
'^  at  gaze  "  when  statant  with  the  head  turned  to  face  the  spectator 
(Fig.  383)  ;  but  it  should  be  noted  that  a  stag  may  also  be  ''statant" 
(Fig.  384)  ;  and  it  is  not  ''at  gaze"  unless  the  head  is  turned  round. 


BEASTS  209 

When  it  is  necessary  owing  to  a  difference  of  tincture  or  for  other 
reasons  to  refer  to  the  horns,  a  stag  or  buck  is  described  as  "  attired  " 
of  such  and  such  a  colour,  whereas  bulls,  rams,  and  goats  are  said  to 
be  ^'  armed." 

When  the  stag  is  said  to  be  attired  of  ten  or  any  other  number 
of  tynes,  it  means  that  there  are  so  many  points  to  its  horns.  Like 
other  cloven-footed  animals,  the  stag  can  be  unguled  of  a  different 
colour. 

The  stag's  head  is  very  frequently  met  with,  but  it  will  be  almost  more 
frequently  found  as  a  stag's  head  caboshed  (Fig.  385).      In  these  cases 


Fig.  385. — Stag's  head 
caboshed. 


Fig.  386. — Stag's  head 
erased. 


Fig.  387.— Buck's  head 
couped. 


Fig.  388.— Hind. 


Fig.  389. — Reindeer. 


Fig.  390. — Winged  stag 
rampant. 


the  head  is  represented  affronte  and  removed  close  behind  the  ears, 
so  that  no  part  of  the  neck  is  visible.  The  stag's  head  caboshed  occurs 
in  the  arms  of  Cavendish  and  Stanley,  and  also  in  the  arms  of  Legge, 
Earl  of  Dartmouth.     Figs.  386  and  387  are  examples  of  other  heads. 

The  attires  of  a  stag  are  to  be  found  either  singly  (as  in  the  arms 
of  Boyle)  or  in  the  form  of  a  pair  attached  to  the  scalp.  The 
crest  of  Jeune  affords  an  instance  of  a  scalp.  The  hind  or  doe  (Fig. 
388)  is  sometimes  met  with,  as  in  the  crest  of  Hatton,  whilst  a  hind's 
head  is  the  crest  of  Conran. 

The  reindeer  (Fig.  389)  is  less  usual,  but  reindeer  heads  will  be 
found  in  the  arms  of  Fellows.     It,  however,  appears  as  a  supporter  for 

O 


/ 
2IO     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

several  English  peers.  Winged  stags  (Fig.  390)  were  the  supporters 
of  De  Carteret,  Earls  of  Granville,  and  '^  a  demi-winged  stag  gules, 
collared  argent,"  is  the  crest  of  Fox  of  Coalbrookdale,  co.  Salop. 

Much  -akin  to  the  stag  is  the  antelope,  which,  unless  specified  to 
be  an  heraldic  antelope,  or  found  in  a  very  old  coat,  is  usually  repre- 
sented in  the  natural  form  of  the  animal,  and  subject  to  the  foregoing 
rules. 

Heraldic  Antelope. — This  animal  (Figs.  391,  392,  and  393)  is  found 
in  English  heraldry  more  frequently  as  a  supporter  than  as  a  charge. 
As  an  instance,  however,  of  the  latter  form  may  be  mentioned  the 
family  of  Dighton  (Lincolnshire) :  ''  Per  pale  argent  and  gules,  an  her- 
aldic antelope  passant  counterchanged."  It  bears  little  if  any  relation 
to  the  real  animal,  though  there  can  be  but  small  doubt  that  the  earliest 
forms  originated  in  an  attempt  to  represent  an  antelope  or  an  ibex. 
Since,  however,  heraldry  has  found  a  use  for  the  real  antelope,  it  has 


Fig.  391. — Heraldic 
antelope  statant. 


Fig.  392. — The  heraldic 
antelope  rampant. 


Fig.  393. — Heraldic 
antelope  passant. 


been  necessary  to  distinguish  it  from  the  creations  of  the  early  armorists, 
which  are  now  known  as  heraldic  antelopes.  Examples  will  be  found 
in  the  supporters  of  Lord  Carew,  in  the  crest  of  Moresby,  and  of 
Bagnall. 

The  difference  chiefly  consists  in  the  curious  head  and  horns  and 
in  the  tail,  the  heraldic  antelope  being  an  heraldic  tiger,  with  the  feet 
and  legs  similar  to  those  of  a  deer,  and  with  two  straight  serrated 
horns. 

Ibex. — ^This  is  another  form  of  the  natural  antelope,  but  with  two 
saw-edged  horns  projecting  from  the  forehead. 

A  curious  animal,  namely,  the  sea-stag,  is  often  met  with  in 
German  heraldry.  This  is  the  head,  antlers,  fore-legs,  and  the  upper 
part  of  the  body  of  a  stag  conjoined  to  the  fish-tail  end  of  a  mermaid. 


BEASTS 


21  I 


The  only  instance  I  am  aware  of  in  which  it  occurs  in  British  armory 
is  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Marindin,  which  were  recently  matriculated 
in  Lyon  Register  (Fig.  394).  This  coat,  however,  it  should  be  ob- 
served, is  really  of  German  or  perhaps  of  Swiss  origin. 


THE    RAM    AND    GOAT 

The  ram  (Figs.  395  and  396),  the  consideration  of  which  must  of 
necessity  include  the  sheep  (Fig.  397),  the  Paschal  lamb  (Fig.  398), 
and  the  fleece  (Fig.  399),  plays 
no  unimportant  part  in  armory. 
The  chief  heraldic  difference 
between  the  ram  and  the  sheep, 
to  some  extent,  in  opposition 
to  the  agricultural  distinctions, 
lies  in  the  fact  that  the  ram  is 
always  represented  with  horns 
and  the  sheep  without.  The 
lamb  and  the  ram  are  always 
represented  with  the  natural 
tail,  but  the  sheep  is  deprived 
of  it.  A  ram  can  of  course 
be  *'  armed  "  (i,e.  with  the  horns 
of  a  different  colour)  and  ^^  un- 
guled,"  but  the  latter  will  seldom 
be  found  to  be  the  case.  The 
ram,  the  sheep,  and  the  lamb 
will  nearly  always  be  found 
either  passant  or  statant,  but 
a  demi-ram  is  naturally  repre- 
sented in  a  rampant  posture, 
though  in  such  a  case  the  word 
*^  rampant "  is  not  necessary  in 
the  blazon. 

Occasionally,  as  in  the 
crest  of  Marwood,  the  ram 
will  be  found  couchant.  As  a  charge  upon  a  shield  the  ram  will 
be  found  in  the  arms  of  Sydenham  [^'  Argent,  three  rams  passant 
sable "],  and  a  ram  couchant  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Pujolas  (granted 
1762)  ["Per  fess  wavy  azure  and  argent,  in  base  on  a  mount  vert, 
a  ram  couchant  sable,  armed  and  unguled  or,  in  chief  three  doves 
proper "].     The  arms  of  Ramsey  [^*  Azure,  a  chevron  between  three 


Fig.  394. — Armorial  bearings  of  Marindin. 


212     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

rams    passant    or "]    and   the   arms    of    Harman   [^'  Sable,   a  chevron 
between  six  rams   counter-passant   two   and   two   argent,  armed  and 


Fig.  395. — Ram  statant. 


Fig.  397. — Sheep  passant. 


unguled   or "]   are   other    instances   in   which   rams   occur.     A   sheep 
occurs    in    the    arms   of   Sheepshanks   ['^  Azure,    a    chevron    erminois 


Fig.  399. — Fleece. 

between    in   chief  three   roses   and   in  base  a   sheep   passant   argent. 
Crest :  on  a  mount  vert,  a  sheep  passant  argent "]. 


Fig.  401. — Goat  passant. 


Fig.  402. — Goat  rampant. 


Fig.  403. — Goat  salient. 


The  lamb,  which  is  by  no  means  an  unusual  charge  in  Welsh  coats 
of  arms,  is  most  usually  found  in  the  form  of  a  '<  paschal  lamb" 
(^^g-  398)>  or  some  variation  evidently  founded  thereupon. 

,  The  fleece — of  course  originally  of  great  repute  as  the  badge  of 


BEASTS  213 

the  Order  of  the  Golden  Fleece — has  in  recent  years  been  frequently 
employed  in  the  grants  of  arms  to  towns  or  individuals  connected  with 
the  woollen  industry. 

The  demi-ram  and  the  demi-lamb  are  to  be  found  as  crests,  but  far 
more  usual  are  rams'  heads,  which  figure,  for  example,  in  the  arms  of 
Ramsden,  and  in  the  arms  of  the  towns  of  Huddersfield,  and  Barrow- 
in-Furness.  The  ram's  head  will  sometimes  be  found  caboshed,  as  in 
the  arms  of  Ritchie  and  Roberts. 

Perhaps  here  reference  may  fittingly  be  made  to  the  arms  granted 
by  Lyon  Office  in  181 2  to  Thomas  Bonar,  co.  Kent  ['^Argent,  a 
saltire  and  chief  azure,  the  last  charged  with  a  dexter  hand  proper, 
vested  with  a  shirt-sleeve  argent,  issuing  from  the  dexter  chief  point, 
holding  a  shoulder  of  mutton  proper  to  a  lion  passant  or,  all  within 
a  bordure  gules  "]. 

•  The  Goat  (Figs.  401—403)  is  very  frequently  met  with  in  armory. 
Its  positions  are  passant,  statant,  rampant,  and  salient.  When  the 
horns  are  of  a  different  colour  it  is  said  to  be  ^^  armed." 


OTHER    ANIMALS 

The  Elephant  is  by  no  means  unusual  in  heraldry,  appearing  as  a 
crest,  as  a  charge,  and  also  as  a  supporter.  Nor,  strange  to  say,  is  its 
appearance  exclusively  modern.  The  elephant's  head,  however,  is  much 
more  frequently  met  with  than  the  entire  animal.  Heraldry  generally 
finds  some  way  of  stereotyping  one  of  its  creations  as  peculiarly  its 
own,  and  in  regard  to  the  elephant,  the  curious  ^*  elephant  and  castle  " 
(Fig.  404)  is  an  example,  this  latter  object  being,  of  course,  simply  a 
derivative  of  the  howdah  of  Indian  life.  Few 
early  examples  of  the  elephant  omit  the  castle. 
The  elephant  and  castle  is  seen  in  the  arms  of 
Dumbarton  and  in  the  crest  of  Corbet. 

A  curious  practice,  the  result  of  pure  ignor- 
ance, has  manifested  itself  in  British  armory.  As 
will  be  explained  in  the  chapter  upon  crests,  a 
large  proportion  of  German  crests  are  derivatives 
of  the  stock  basis  of  two  bull's  horns,  which  formed 
a  recognised  ornament  for  a  helmet  in  Viking 
and  other  pre-heraldic  days.  As  heraldry,  found 
its  footing  it  did  not  in  Germany  displace  those 
horns,  which  in  many  cases  continued  alone  as  the  crest  or  remained 
as  a  part  of  it  in  the  form  of  additions  to  other  objects.  The  craze 
for  decoration  at  an  early  period  seized  upon  the  horns,  which  carried 
repetitions  of  the  arms  or  their  tinctures.     As  time  went  on  the  decora- 


FiG.  404. — Elephant 
and  castle. 


214     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

tion  was  carried  further,  and  the  horns  were  made  with  bell-shaped 
open  ends  to  receive  other  objects,  usually  bunches  of  feathers  or 
flowers.  So  universal  did  this  custom  become  that  even  when  nothing 
was  inserted  the  horns  came  to  be  always  depicted  with  these  open 
mouths  at  their  points.  But  German  heraldry  now,  as  has  always 
been  the  case,  simply  terms  the  figures  ^' horns."  In  course  of  time 
German  immigrants  made  application  for  grants  of  arms  in  this  country, 
which,  doubtless,  were  based  upon  other  German  arms  previously  in 
use,  but  which,  evidence  of  right  not  being  forthcoming,  could  not  be 
recorded  as  borne  of  right,  and  needed  to  be  granted  with  alteration 
as  a  new  coat.  The  curious  result  has  been  that  these  horns  have 
been  incorporated  in  some  number  of  English  grants,  but  they 
have  universally  been   described   as   elephants'   proboscides,    and   are 


Fig.  405. — Hare  salient. 


Fig.  406. — Coney. 


Fig.  407. — Squirrel. 


now  always  so  represented  in  this  country.  A  case  in  point  is  the 
crest  of  Verelst,  and  another  is  the  crest  of  Allhusen. 

Elephants'  tusks  have  also  been  introduced  into  grants,  as  in  the 
arms  of  Liebreich  (borne  in  pretence  by  Cock)  and  Randies  ["  Or,  a 
chevron  wavy  azure  between  three  pairs  of  elephants'  tusks  in  saltire 
proper  "]. 

The  Hare  (Fig.  405)  is  but  rarely  met  with  in  British  armory.  It 
appears  in  the  arms  of  Cleland,  and  also  in  the  crest  of  Shakerley,  Bart. 
['^  A  hare  proper  resting  her  forefeet  on  a  grab  or  "].  A  very  curious 
coat  ['<  Argent,  three  hares  playing  bagpipes  gules"]  belongs  to  an  ancient 
Derbyshire  family  FitzErcald,  now  represented  (through  the  Sacheverell 
family)  by  Coke  of  Trussley,  who  quarter  the  FitzErcald  shield. 

The  Rabbit  (Fig.  406),  or,  as  it  is  more  frequently  termed  heraldic- 
ally,  the  Coneyy  appears  more  frequently  in  heraldry  than  the  hare, 
being  the  canting  charge  on  the  arms  of  Coningsby,  Cunliffe  [''  Sable, 
three  conies  courant  argent "],  and  figuring  also  as  the  supporters  of 
Montgomery  Cunningham  [''  Two  conies  proper  "]. 

The  Squirrel  (Fig.  407)  occurs  in  many  English  coats  of  arms.  It 
is  always  sejant,  and  very  frequently  cracking  a  nut. 


BEASTS  21  s 

The  Ape  is  not  often  met  with,  except  in  the  cases  of  the  different 
families  of  the  great  Fitz  Gerald  clan.  It  is  usually  the  crest,  though 
the  Duke  of  Leinster  also  has  apes  as  supporters.  One  family  of 
Fitzgerald,  however,  bear  it  as  a  charge  upon  the  shield  ['^  Gules, 
a  saltire  invected  per  pale  argent  and  or,  between  four  monkeys 
statant  of  the  second,  environed  with  a  plain  collar  and  chained 
of  the  second.  Mantling  gules  and  argent.  Crest :  on  a  wreath 
of  the  colours,  a  monkey  as  in  the  arms,  charged  on  the  body 
with  two  roses,  and  resting  the  dexter  fore-leg  on  a  saltire  gules. 
Motto  :  ^  Crom-a-boo ' "],  and  the  family  of  Yorke  bear  an  ape's  head 
for  a  crest. 

The  ape  is  usually  met  with  "  collared  and  chained  "  (Fig.  408), 
though,  unlike  any  other  animal,  the  collar  of  an  ape  environs  its  loins 


Fig.  408. — Ape  collared 
and  chained. 


Fig.  409. — Brock. 


Fig.  410. — Otter. 


and  not  its  neck.  A  winged  ape  is  included  in  Elvin's  "  Dictionary 
of  Heraldry  "  as  a  heraldic  animal,  but  I  am  not  aware  to  whom  it  is 
assigned. 

The  Brock  or  Badger  (Fig.  409)  figures  in  some  number  of  English 
arms.  It  is  most  frequently  met  with  as  the  crest  of  Brooke,  but  will 
be  also  found  in  the  arms  or  crests  of  Brocklebank  and  Motion. 

The  Otter  (Fig.  410)  is  not  often  met  with  except  in  Scottish 
coats,  but  an  English  example  is  that  of  Sir  George  Newnes,  and 
a  demi-otter  issuant  from  a  fess  wavy  will  be  found  quartered  by 
Seton  of  Mounie. 

An  otter's  head,  sometimes  called  a  seal's  head,  for  it  is  impossible 
to  distinguish  the  heraldic  representations  of  the  one  or  the  other, 
appears  in  many  coats  of  arms  of  different  families  of  the  name  of 
Balfour,  and  two  otters  are  the  supporters  belonging  to  the  head  of 
the  Scottish  house  of  Balfour. 

The  Ermincy  the  Stoaty  and  the  Weasely  &c.,  are  not  very  often  met 
with,  but  the  ermine  appears  as  the  crest  of  Crawford  and  the  marten 
as  the  crest  of  a  family  of  that  name. 


Fig.  411. — Urcheon. 


216     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  Hedgehogy  or,  as  it  is  usually  heraldically  termed,  the  Urcheon 
(Fig.  411),  occurs  in  some  number  of  coats.  For  example,  in  the 
arms  of  Maxwell  [^^  Argent,  an  eagle  with  two  heads  displayed  sable, 
beaked  and  membered  gules,  on  the  breast  an  escutcheon  of  the  first, 
charged  with  a  saltire  of  the  second,  surcharged  in 
the  centre  with  a  hurcheon  (hedgehog)  or,  all 
within  a  bordure  gules  "],  Harris,  and  as  the  crest 
of  Money-Kyrle. 

The  Beaver  has  been  introduced  into,  many 
coats  of  late  years  for  those  connected  in  any  way 
with  Canada.  It  figures  in  the  arms  of  Lord 
Strathcona  and  Mount  Royal,  and  in  the  arms  of 
Christopher. 

The  beaver  is  one  of  the  supporters  of  the  city 
of  Oxford,  and  is  the  sole  charge  in  the  arms  of 
the  town  of  Biberach  (Fig.  412).  Originally  the  arms  were: 
"Argent,  a  beaver  azure,  crowned  and  armed  gules,"  but  the 
arms  authorised  by  the  Emperor  Frederick  IV.,  i8th  July  1848, 
were  :  "  Azure,  a  beaver  or." 

It  is  quite  impossible,  or  at  any  rate  very  unnecessary,  to  turn 
a  work  on  armory  into  an  Illustrated  Guide  to  Natural  History, 
which  would  be  the  result  if  under  the  de- 
scription of  heraldic  charges  the  attempt  were 
made  to  deal  with  all  the  various  animals 
which  have  by  now  been  brought  to  the  ar- 
morial fold,  owing  to  the  inclusion  of  each  for 
special  and  sufficient  reasons  in  one  or  two 
isolated  grants. 

Far  be  it  from  me,  however,  to  make  any 
remark  which  should  seem  to  indicate  the  raising 
of  any  objection  to  such  use.  In  my  opinion 
it  is  highly  admirable,  providing  there  is  some 
definite  reason  in  each  case  for  the  introduction 
of  these  strange  animals  other  than  mere  caprice. 
They  add  to  the  interest  of  heraldry,  and  they  give 
to  modern  arms  and  armory  a  definite  status 
and  meaning,  which  is  a  relief  from  the  endless 
monotony  of  meaningless  lions,  bends,  chevrons,  mullets,  and  martlets. 
But  at  the  same  time  the  isolated  use  in  a  modern  grant  of  such  an 
animal  as  the  kangaroo  does  not  make  it  one  of  the  peculiarly  heraldic 
menagerie,  and  consequently  such  instances  must  be  dismissed  herein 
with  brief  mention,  particularly  as  many  of  these  creatures  heraldically 
exist  only  as  supporters,  in  which  chapter  some  are  more  fully  dis- 


bibwcb 


Fig.  412. — Arms  of  the 
town  of  Biberach. 
(From  Ulrich  Reichen- 
thal's  Concilium  von 
Constanzy  Augsburg, 
1483-) 


BEASTS  217 

cussed.      Save  as   a  supporter,   the   only   instances    I    know   of    the 
Kangaroo  are  in  the  coat  of  Moore  and  in  the  arms  of  Arthur,  Bart. 

The  Zebra  will  be  found  as  the  crest  of  Kemsley. 

The  Camely  which  will  be  dealt  with  later  as  a  supporter,  in  which 
form  it  appears  in  the  arms  of  Viscount  Kitchener,  the  town  of 
Inverness  (Fig.  251),  and  some  of  the  Livery 
Companies,  also  figures  in  the  reputed  but  un- 
recorded arms  of  Camelford,  and  in  the  arms  of 
Cammell  of  Sheffield  and  various  other  families 
of  a  similar  name. 

The  fretful  Porcupine  was  borne  ["Gules,  a 
porcupine  erect  argent,  tusked,  collared,  and 
chained  or"]  by  Simon  Eyre,  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  in  1445  :  and  the  creature  also  figures 
as  one  of  the  supporters  and  the  crest  of  Sidney, 
Lord  De  Lisle  and  Dudley.  ^°*  ^^■^'~ 

The  Bat  (Fig.  413)  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Heyworth  and 
as  the  crest  of  a  Dublin  family  named  Wakefield. 

The  Tortoise  occurs  in  the  arms  of  a  Norfolk  family  named  Gandy, 
and  is  also  stated  by  Papworth  to  occur  in  the  arms  of  a  Scottish 
family  named  Goldie.  This  coat,  however,  is  not  matriculated.  It 
also  occurs  m  the  crests  of  Deane  and  Hayne. 

The  Springboky  which  is  one  of  the  supporters  of  Cape  Colony, 
and  two  of  which  are  the  supporters  of  Viscount  Milner,  is  also  the 
crest  of  Randies  ["  On  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  springbok  or  South 
African  antelope  statant  in  front  of  an  assegai  erect  all  proper  "]. 

The  Rhinoceros  occurs  as  one  of  the  supporters  of  Viscount  Colville 
of  Culross,  and  also  of  the  crest  of  Wade,  and  the  Hippopotamus  is 
one  of  the  supporters  of  Speke. 

The  Crocodiky  which  is  the  crest  and  one  of  the  supporters  of  Speke, 
is  also  the  crest  of  Westcar  ["A  crocodile  proper,  collared  and 
chained  or"]. 

The  Alpacay  and  also  two  Angora  Goats'  heads  figure  in  the  arms  of 
Benn. 

The  Rat  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Ratton,^  which  is  a  peculiarly  good 
example  of  a  canting  coat. 

The  Moky  sometimes  termed  a  moldiwarp,  occurs  in  the  arms  of 
Mitford  ["  Argent,  a  fess  sable  between  three  moles  displayed  sable  "]. 

^  Armorial  bearings  of  James  Joseph  Louis  Ratton,  Esq.  :  Azure,  in  base  the  sea  argent,  and 
thereon  a  tunny  sable,  on  a  chief  of  the  second  a  rat  passant  of  the  third.  Upon  the  escutcheon 
is  placed  a  helmet  befitting  his  degree,  with  a  mantling  azure  and  argent ;  and  for  his  crest, 
upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  an  ibex  statant  guardant  proper,  charged  on  the  body  with  two 
fleurs-de-lis  fesswise  azure,  and  resting  the  dexter  foreleg  on  a  shield  argent  charged  with  a  passion 
cross  sable.     Motto:  *'In  Deo  spero." 


CHAPTER   XIII 

MONSTERS 

THE  heraldic  catalogue  of  beasts  runs  riot  when  we  reach  those 
mythical  or  legendary  creatures  which  can  only  be  summarised 
under  the  generic  term  of  monsters.  Most  mythical  animals, 
however,  can  be  traced  back  to  some  comparable  counterpart  in 
natural  history. 

The  fauna  of  the  New  World  was  of  course  unknown  to  those 
early  heraldic  artists  in  whose  knowledge  and  imagination,  no  less 
than  in  their  skill  (or  lack  of  it)  in  draughtsmanship,  lay  the 
nativity  of  so  much  of  our  heraldry.  They  certainly  thought  they 
were  representing  animals  in  existence  in  most  if  not  in  all  cases, 
though  one  gathers  that  they  considered  many  of  the  animals  they 
used  to  be  misbegotten  hybrids.  Doubtless,  working  on  the  assump- 
tion of  the  mule  as  the  hybrid  of  the  horse  and  the  ass,  they  jumped 
to  the  conclusion  that  animals  which  contained  salient  characteristics 
of  two  other  animals  which  they,  knew  were  likewise  hybrids.  A 
striking  example  of  their  theories  is  to  be  found  in  the  heraldic  Camelo- 
pard,  which  was  anciently  devoutly  believed  to  be  begotten  by  the 
leopard  upon  the  camel.  A  leopard  they  would  be  familiar  with,  also 
the  camel,  for  both  belong  to  that  corner  of  the  world  where  the 
north-east  of  the  African  Continent,  the  south-east  of  Europe,  and 
the  west  of  Asia  join,  where  were  fought  out  the  wars  of  the  Cross, 
and  where  heraldry  took  on  itself  a  definite  being.  There  the  known 
civilisations  of  the  world  met,  taking  one  from  the  other  knowledge, 
more  or  less  distorted,  ideas  and  wild  imaginings.  A  stray  giraffe 
was  probably  seen  by  some  journeyer  up  the  Nile,  who,  unable  to 
otherwise  account  for  it,  considered  and  stated  the  animal  to  be  the 
hybrid  offspring  of  the  leopard  and  camel.  Another  point  needs  to 
be  borne  in  mind.  Earlier  artists  were  in  no  way  fettered  by  any 
supposed  necessity  for  making  their  pictures  realistic  representations. 
Realism  is  a  modernity.  Their  pictures  were  decoration,  and  they 
thought  far  more  of  making  their  subject  fit  the  space  to  be  decorated 
than  of  making  it  a  ^'  speaking  likeness." 

Nevertheless,  their  work  was  not  all  imagination.     In  the  Crocodile 

2X8 


MONSTERS  219 

we  get  the  basis  of  the  dragon,  if  indeed  the  heraldic  dragon  be  not  a 
perpetuation  of  ancient  legends,  or  even  perhaps  of  then  existing  repre- 
sentations of  those  winged  antediluvian  animals,  the  fossilised  remains 
of  which  are  now  available.  Wings,  however,  need  never  be  con- 
sidered a  difficulty.  It  has  ever  been  the  custom  (from  the  angels  of 
Christianity  to  the  personalities  of  Mercury  and  Pegasus)  to  add  wings 
to  any  figure  held  in  veneration.  Why,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say, 
but  nevertheless  the  fact  remains. 

The  Unicornj  however,  it  is  not  easy  to  resolve  into  an  original  basis, 
because  until  the  seventeenth  century  every  one  fondly  believed  in  the 
existence  of  the  animal.  Mr.  Beckles  Wilson  appears  to  have  paid 
considerable  attention  to  the  subject,  and  was  responsible  for  the 
article  ^^  The  Rise  of  the  Unicorn  "  which  recently  appeared  in  CasseU's 
Magazine,  That  writer  traces  the  matter  to  a  certain  extent  from  non- 
heraldic  sources,  and  the  following  remarks,  which  are  taken  from  the 
above  article,  are  of  considerable  interest  : — 

*'  The  real  genesis  of  the  unicorn  was  probably  this  :  at  a  time 
when  armorial  bearings  were  becoming  an  indispensable  part  of  a 
noble's  equipment,  the  attention  of  those  knights  who  were  fighting 
under  the  banner  of  the  Cross  was  attracted  to  the  wild  antelopes  of 
Syria  and  Palestine.  These  animals  are  armed  with  long,  straight, 
spiral  horns  set  close  together,  so  that  at  a  side  view  they  appeared  to 
be  but  a  single  horn.  To  confirm  this,  there  are  some  old  illuminations 
and  drawings  extant  which  endow  the  early  unicorn  with  many  of  the 
attributes  of  the  deer  and  goat  kind.  The  sort  of  horn  supposed  to  be 
carried  by  these  Eastern  antelopes  had  long  been  a  curiosity,  and  was 
occasionally  brought  back  as  a  trophy  by  travellers  from  the  remote 
parts  of  the  earth.  There  is  a  fine  one  to  be  seen  to-day  at  the  abbey 
of  St.  Denis,  and  others  in  various  collections  in  Europe.  We  now 
know  these  so-called  unicorn's  horns,  usually  carved,  to  belong  to 
that  marine  monster  the  narwhal,  or  sea-unicorn.  But  the  fable  of  a 
breed  of  horned  horses  is  at  least  as  old  as  Pliny  "  [Had  the  "  gnu  " 
anything  to  do  with  this  ?  ],  <'  and  centuries  later  the  Crusaders,  or  the 
monkish  artists  who  accompanied  them,  attempted  to  delineate  the 
marvel.  From  their  first  rude  sketches  other  artists  copied ;  and  so 
each  presentment  was  passed  along,  until  at  length  the  present  form 
of  the  unicorn  was  attained.  There  was  a  time — not  so  long  ago — 
when  the  existence  of  the  unicorn  was  as  implicitly  believed  in  as  the 
camel  or  any  other  animal  not  seen  in  these  latitudes ;  and  the  trans- 
lators of  the  Bible  set  their  seal  upon  the  legend  by  translating  the 
Hebrew  word  reem  (which  probably  meant  a  rhinoceros)  as  '  unicorn.' 
Thus  the  worthy  Thomas  Fuller  came  to  consider  the  existence  of  the 
unicorn  clearly  proved  by  the  mention  of  it  in  Scripture  !     Describing 


220     A    COMPLETE  GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  horn  of  the  animal,  he  writes,  *  Some  are  plain,  as  that  of  St. 
Mark's  in  Venice  ;  others  wreathed  about  it,  which  probably  is  the  effect 
of  age,  those  wreaths  being  but  the  wrinkles  of  most  vivacious  unicorns. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  colour  :  white  when  newly  taken  from 
the  head  ;  yellow,  like  that  lately  in  the  Tower,  of  some  hundred  years' 
seniority  ;  but  whether  or  no  it  will  soon  turn  black,  as  that  of  Plinie's 
description,  let  others  decide.' 

"All  the  books  on  natural  history  so  late  as  the  seventeenth 
century  describe  at  length  the  unicorn  ;  several  of  them  carefully 
depict  him  as  though  the  artist  had  drawn  straight  from  the  life. 

"  If  art  had  stopped  here,  the  wonder  of  the  unicorn  would  have 
remained  but  a  paltry  thing  after  all.  His  finer  qualities  would  have 
been  unrecorded,  and  all  his  virtues  hidden.  But,  happily,  instead  of 
this,  about  the  animal  first  conceived  in  the  brain  of  a  Greek  (as 
Pegasus  also  was),  and  embodied  through  the  fertile  fancy  of  the 
Crusader,  the  monks  and  heraldists  of  the  Middle  Ages  devised  a  host 
of  spiritual  legends.  They  told  of  his  pride,  his  purity,  his  endurance, 
his  matchless  spirit, 

**  ^  The  greatnesse  of  his  mynde  is  such  that  he  chooseth  rather  to 
dye  than  be  taken  alive.'  Indeed,  he  was  only  conquerable  by  a 
beautiful  maiden.  One  fifteenth-century  writer  gives  a  recipe  for 
catching  a  unicorn.  *  A  maid  is  set  where  he  hunteth  ;  and  she 
openeth  her  lap,  to  whom  the  unicorn,  as  seeking  rescue  from  the  force 
of  the  hunter,  yieldeth  his  head  and  leaveth  all  his  fierceness,  and 
resteth  himself  under  her  protection,  sleepeth  until  he  is  taken  and 
slain.'  But  although  many  were  reported  to  be  thus  enticed  to  their 
destruction,  only  their  horns,  strange  to  say,  ever  reached  Europe. 
There  is  one  in  King  Edward's  collection  at  Buckingham  Palace. 

'*  Naturally,  the  horn  of  such  an  animal  was  held  a  sovereign 
specific  against  poison,  and  *  ground  unicorn's  horn '  often  figures  in 
mediaeval  books  of  medicine. 

**  There  was  in  Shakespeare's  time  at  Windsor  Castle  the  *  horn  of 
a  unicorn  of  above  eight  spans  and  a  half  in  length,  valued  at  above 
;^  10,000.'  This  may  have  been  the  one  now  at  Buckingham  Palace. 
One  writer,  describing  it,  says : — 

" '  I  doe  also  know  that  horn  the  King  of  England  possesseth  to  be 
wreathed  in  spires,  even  as  that  is  accounted  in  the  Church  of  St. 
Dennis,  than  which  they  suppose  none  greater  in  the  world,  and  I 
never  saw  anything  in  any  creature  more  worthy  praise  than  this 
home.  It  is  of  soe  great  a  length  that  the  tallest  man  can  scarcely 
touch  the  top  thereof,  for  it  doth  fully  equal  seven  great  feet.  It 
weigheth  thirteen  pounds,  with  their  assize,  being  only  weighed  by 
the  gesse  of  the  hands  it  seemeth  much  heavier.' 


MONSTERS  221 

'*  Spenser,  in  the  '  Faerie  Queen/  thus  describes  a  contest  between 
the  unicorn  and  the  Hon  : — 

*  Like  as  the  lyon,  whose  imperial  powre 
A  proud  rebellious  unicorn  defyes, 
T'avoide  the  rash  assault  and  wrathful  stowre 
Of  his  fiers  foe,  him  to  a  tree  applies. 
And  when  him  running  in  full  course  he  spyes 
He  slips  aside ;  the  whiles  that  furious  beast    , 
His  precious  home,  sought  of  his  enimyes, 
Strikes  in  the  stroke,  ne  thence  can  be  released, 
But  to  the  victor  yields  a  bounteous  feast.' 

'* '  It  hath,'  remarked  GuilHm,  in  1600,  'been  much  questioned 
among  naturalists  which  it  is  that  is  properly  called  the  unicorn  ;  and 
some  have  made  doubt  whether  there  be  such  a  beast  or  no.     But  the 


Fig.  414. — Unicorn  rampant.       FiG.  415. — Unicorn  passant.         Fig.  416. — Unicom  statant 


great  esteem  of  his  horn  in  many  places  to  be  seen  may  take  away  that 
needless  scruple.' 

"  Another  old  writer,  Topsell,  says  : — 

*< '  These  beasts  are  very  swift,  and  their  legs  have  not  articles. 
They  keep  for  the  most  part  in  the  deserts,  and  live  solitary  in  the  tops 
of  the  mountaines.  There  was  nothing  more  horrible  than  the  voice 
or  braying  of  it,  for  the  voice  is  strained  above  measure.  It  fighteth 
both  with  the  mouth  and  with  the  heeles,  with  the  mouth  biting  like  a 
lyon,  and  with  the  heeles  kicking  like  a  horse.' 

"  Nor  is  belief  in  the  unicorn  confined  to  Europe.  By  Chinese 
writers  it  is  characterised  as  a  '  spiritual  beast.'  The  existence  of  the 
unicorn  is  firmly  credited  by  the  most  intelligent  natives  and  by  not  a 
few  Europeans.  A  very  trustworthy  observer,  the  Abb6  Hue,  speaks 
very  positively  on  the  subject :  *  The  unicorn  really  exists  in  Tibet.  .  .  . 
We  had  for  a  long  time  a  small  Mongol  treatise  on  Natural  History, 
for  the  use  of  children,  in  which  a  unicorn  formed  one  of  the  pictorial 
illustrations.'  " 

The  unicorn,  however,  as  it  has  heraldically  developed,  is  drawn 


222     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

with  the  body  of  a  horse,  the  tail  of  the  heraldic  lion,  the  legs  and  feet 
of  the  deer,  the  head  and  mane  of  a  horse,  to^  which  is  added  the  long 
twisted  horn  from  which  the  animal  is  named,  and  a  beard  (Figs.  414, 
415,  and  416).      A  good  representation   of  the  unicorn  will  be  found 

in  the  figure  of  the  Royal  Arms  herein, 
and  in  Fig.  417,  which  is  as  fine  a  piece 
of  heraldic  design  as  could  be  wished. 

The  crest  of  Yonge  of  Colbrooke, 
Devonshire,  is  **  a  demi-sea-unicorn  ar- 
gent, armed  gules,  finned  or,"  and  the 
crest  of  Tynte  (Kemeys-Tynte  of  Cefn 
Mably  and  Halswell)  is  ^'  on  a  mount 
vert,  a  unicorn  sejant  argent,  armed  and 
crined  or." 

The  unicorn  will  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  Styleman,  quartered  by  Le 
Strange,  and  Swanzy. 

The  Grijfm  or  Gryphon, — Though  in 
the  popular  mind  any  heraldic  monster 
is  generically  termed  a  grifBn,  the  griffin 
has,  nevertheless,  very  marked  and  distinct  peculiarities.  It  is  one  of 
the  hybrid  monstrosities  which  heraldry  is  so  fond  of,  and  is  formed  by 
the  body,  hind-legs,  and  tail  of  a  lion  conjoined  to  the  head  and  claws 
of  an  eagle,  the  latter  acting  as  its  forepaws  (Figs.  418—420).     It  has 


Fig.  417. — Unicorn  rampant. 


Fig.  418. — Gryphon  segreant.      Fig.  419. — Gryphon  passant.        Fig.  420. — Gryphon  statant. 

the  wings  of  the  eagle,  which  are  never  represented  close,  but  it  also 
has  ears,  and  this,  by  the  way,  should  be  noted,  because  herein  is  the 
only  distinction  between  a  griffin's  head  and  an  eagle's  head  when  the 
rest  of  the  body  is  not  represented  (Fig.  421).  Though  but  very  seldom 
so  met  with,  it  is  occasionally  found  proper,  by  which  description  is 
meant  that  the  plumage  is  of  the  brown  colour  of  the  eagle,  the  rest  of 
the  body  being  the  natural  colour  of  the  lion.  The  griffin  is  frequently 
found  with  its  beak  and  fore-legs  of  a  different  colour  from  its  body, 


Fig.  422. — Seal  of  the  Town  of  Schweidnitz. 


Fig.  421. — Gryphon's 
head  erased. 


MONSTERS  223 

and  is  then  termed  <'  armed,"  though  another  term,  <'  beaked  and  fore- 
legged,"  is  almost  as  frequently  used.  A  very  popular  idea  is  that  the 
origin  of  the  griffin  was  the  dimidiation  of  two  coats  of  arms,  one 
having  an  eagle  and  the  other  a  lion  as  charges,  but  taking  the  origin 
of  armory  to  belong  to  about  the  end  of  the  eleventh  century,  or  there- 
abouts, the  griffin  can  be  found  as  a  distinct  creation,  not  necessarily 
heraldic,  at  a  very  much  earlier  date.  An  exceed- 
ingly good  and  an  early  representation  of  the  griffin 
will  be  found  in  Fig.  422.  It  is  a  representation 
of  the  great  seal  of  the  town  of  Schweidnitz  in 
the  jurisdiction  of  Breslau,  and  belongs  to  the  year 
13 1 5.  The  inscription  is  "  +  S  universitatis  civium 
de  Swidnitz."  In  the  grant  of  arms  to  the  town  in 
the  year  1452,  the  griffin  is  gules  on  a  field  of 
argent. 

The  griffin  will  be  found  in  all  sorts-  of  posi- 
tions, and  the  terms  applied  to  it  are  the  same  as 
would  be  applied  to  a  lion,  except  in  the  single 
instance  of  the  rampant  position.  A  griffin  is  then  termed  <' seg- 
reant  "  (Fig.  418).  The  wings  are  usually  represented  as  endorsed  and 
erect,  but  this  is  not  compulsory,  as  will  be  noticed 
by  reference  to  the  supporters  of  the  Earl  of  Mar 
and  Kellie,  in  which  the  wings  are  inverted. 

There  is  a  certain  curiosity  in  English  heraldry, 
wholly  peculiar  to  it,  which  may  be  here  referred 
to.  A  griffin  in  the  ordinary  way  is  merely  so 
termed,  but  a  male  griffin  by  some  curious  reason- 
ing has  no  wings,  but  is  adorned  with  spikes  show- 
ing at  some  number  of  points  on  its  body  (Fig. 
423).  I  have,  under  my  remarks  upon  the  panther, 
hazarded  the  supposition  that  the  male  griffin  of 
English  heraldry  is  nothing  more  than  a  British 
development  and  form  of  the  Continental  heraldic  panther  which  is 
unknown  to  us.  The  origin  of  the  clusters  and  spikes,  unless  they 
are  to  be  found  in  the  flames  of  fire  associated  with  the  panther,  must 
remain  a  mystery.  The  male  griffin  is  very  seldom  met  with,  but 
two  of  these  creatures  are  the  supporters  of  Sir  George  John  Egerton 
Dashwood,  Bart.  Whilst  we  consider  the  griffin  a  purely  mythical 
animal,  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  earlier  writers  devoutly  be- 
lieved that  such  animals  existed.  Sir  John  Maundeville  tells  us  in 
his  ^'  Travels  "  that  they  abound  in  Bacharia.  "  Sum  men  seyn  that 
thei  han  the  body  upward  as  an  egle,  and  benethe  as  a  lyoun  ;  and 
treuly  thei  seyn  sothe  that  thei  ben  of  that  schapp.     But  a  Griffoun 


Fig.  423 
gryphon. 


Male 


224     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

hathe  the  body  more  gret  and  more  strong  than  eight  lyouns  of  such 
lyouns  as  ben  o'  this  half  (of  the  world),  and  more  gret  and  stronger 
than  an  loo  egles  such  as  we  han  amonges  us  .  .  .  ,"  and  other  writers, 
whilst  not  considering  them  an  original  type  of  animal,  undoubtedly 
believed  in  their  existence  as  hybrid  of  the  eagle  and  the  lion.  It  is  of 
course  a  well-known  fact  that  the  mule,  the  most  popular  hybrid,  does 
not  breed.  This  fact  would  be  accepted  as  accounting  for  the  rarity 
of  animals  which  were  considered  to  be  hybrids. 

Though  there  are  examples  of  griffins  in  some  of  the  earliest  rolls 
of  arms,  the  animal  cannot  be  said  to  have  come  into  general  use 
until  a  somewhat  later  period.  Nowadays,  however,  it  is  probably 
next  in  popularity  to  the  lion. 

The  demi-griffin  is  very  frequently  found  as  a  crest. 

A  griffin's  head  (Fig.  421)  is  still  yet  more  frequently  met  with,  and 
as  a  charge  upon  the  shields  it  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Raikes, 
Kay,  and  many  other  families. 

A  variety  of  the  griffin  is  found  in  the  gryphon-marine,  or  sea-griffin. 
In  it  the  fore  part  of  the  creature  is  that  of  the  eagle,  but  the  wings 
are  sometimes  omitted ;  and  the  lower  half  of  the  animal  is  that  of  a 
fish,  or  rather  of  a  mermaid.  Such  a  creature  is  the  charge  in  the 
arms  of  the  Silesian  family  of  Mestich  :  "Argent,  a  sea-griffin  proper" 
(Siebmacher,  Wappenbuchy  i.  69).  "Azure,  a  (winged)  sea-griffin  per 
fesse  gules  and  argent  crowned  or,"  is  the  coat  of  the  Barons  von 
Puttkammer.  One  or  two  other  Pomeranian  families  have  the  like 
charge  without  wings. 

The  Dragon, — Much  akin  to  the  griffin  is  the  dragon,  but  the  simi- 
larity of  appearance  is  more  superficial  than  real,  inasmuch  as  in  all 
details  it  differs,  except  in  the  broad  similarity  that  it  has  four  legs,  a  pair 
of  wings,  and  is  a  terrible  creature.  The  much  referred  to  "  griffin  " 
opposite  the  Law  Courts  in  the  Strand  is  really  a  dragon.  The  head 
of  a  dragon  is  like  nothing  else  in  heraldry,  and  from  what  source  it 
originated  or  what  basis  existed  for  ancient  heraldic  artists  to  imagine 
it  from  must  remain  a  mystery,  unless  it  has  developed  from  the  croco- 
dile or  some  antediluvian  animal  much  akin.  It  is  like  nothing  else  in 
heaven  or  on  earth.  Its  neck  is  covered  with  scales  not  unlike  those 
of  a  fish.  All  four  legs  are  scaled  and  have  claws,  the  back  is  scaled, 
the  tongue  is  barbed,  and  the  under  part  of  the  body  is  likewise  scaled, 
but  here,  in  rolls  of  a  much  larger  size.  Great  differences  will  be 
found  in  the  shape  of  the  ears,  but  the  wings  of  the  dragon  are  always 
represented  as  the  wings  of  a  bat,  with  the  long  ribs  or  bones  carried 
to  the  base  (Figs.  424-426).  The  dragon  is  one  of  the  most  artistic 
of  heraldic  creations,  and  lends  itself  very  readily  to  the  genius  of  any 
artist.      In  nearly  all  modern  representations  the  tail,  like  the  tongue, 


MONSTERS  225 

will  be  found  ending  in  a  barb,  but  it  should  be  observed  that  this  is 
a  comparatively  recent  addition.  All  dragons  of  the  Tudor  period 
were  invariably  represented  without  any  such  additions  to  their  tails. 
The  tail  was  long  and  smooth,  ending  in  a  blunt  point. 

Whilst  we  have  separate  and  distinct  names  for  many  varieties  of 
dragon-like  creatures,  other  countries  in  their  use  of  the  word  "  dragon  " 


Fig.  424. — Dragon  rampant.        Fig.  425. — Dragon  passant. 


include  the  wyvern,  basilisk,  cockatrice,  and  other  similar  creatures, 
but  the  distinct  name  in  German  heraldry  for  our  four-footed  dragon 
is  the  Lindwurniy  and  Fig.  427  is  a  representation  of  the  dragon 
according  to  German  ideas,  which  nevertheless 
might  form  an  example  for  English  artists  to 
copy,  except  that  we  very  seldom  represent 
ours  as  coward. 

The  red  dragon  upon  a  mount  vert,  which 
forms  a  part  of  the  Royal  achievement  as  the 
badge  of  Wales,  is  known  as  the  red  dragon 
of  Cadwallader,  and  in  deference  to  a  loudly 
expressed  sentiment  on  the  subject.  His 
Majesty  the  King  has  recently  added  the 
Welsh  dragon  differenced  by  a  label  of  three 
points  argent  as  an  additional  badge  to  the 
achievement  of  His  Royal  Highness  the 
Prince  of  Wales.  The  red  dragon  was  one  of  the  supporters  of  the 
Tudor  kings,  being  used  by  Henry  VII.;  Henry  VIII.,  and  Edward  VI. 
Queen  Elizabeth,  however,  whose  liking  for  gold  is  evidenced  by  her 
changing  the  Royal  mantle  from  gules  and  ermine  to  gold  and  ermine, 
also  changed  the  colour  of  the  dragon  as  her  supporter  to  gold,  and 
many  Welsh  scholars  hold  that  the  ruddy  dragon  of  Wales  was  and 
should  be  of  ruddy  gold  and  not  of  gules.  There  is  some  room  for 
doubt  whether  the  dragon  in  the  Royal  Arms  was  really  of  Welsh 
origin.     The  point  was  discussed  at  some  length  by  the  present  writer 

P 


Fig.  427. — A  German  dragon. 


226     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

in  the  Genealogical  Magazine  (October  1902).  It  was  certainly  in  use 
by  King  Henry  III. 

A  dragon  may  be  statant  (Fig.  426),  rampant  (Fig.  424),  or 
passant  (Fig.  425),  and  the  crests  of  Bicknell  and  of  the  late  Sir  Charles 
Young,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  are  examples  of  dragons  couehant. 

A  sea-dragon,  whatever  that  creature  may  be,  occurs  in  one  of  the 
crests  of  Mr.  Mainwaring-EUerker-Onslow, 

Variations  such  as  that  attributed  to  the  family  of  Raynor  ["  Argent,  a 
dragon  volant  in  bend  sable  "],  the  dragon  overthrown  on  the  arms  of 
Langridge  as  quartered  by  Lowdell,  and  the  sinister  supporter  of  the 
arms  of  Viscount  Gough  [''The  dragon  of  China  or  gorged  with  a  mural 
crown  and  chained  sable  "]  may  be  noted.     The  Chinese  dragon,  which 


Fig.  428. — Wyvern. 


Fig.  429. — Wyvern  with 
wings  displayed. 


Fig.  430. — Wyvern  erect. 


is  also  the  dexter  supporter  of  Sir  Robert  Hart,  Bart.,  follows  closely 
the  Chinese  model,  and  is  without  wings. 

The  Wyvern. — There  is  no  difference  whatever  between  a  wyvern's 
head  and  a  dragon's,  but  there  is  considerable  difference  between  a 
wyvern  and  a  dragon,  at  any  rate  in  English  heraldry,  though  the 
wyvern  appears  to  be  the  form  more  frequently  met  with  under  the  name 
of  a  dragon  in  other  countries.  The  wyvern  has  only  two  legs,  the  body 
curling  away  into  the  tail,  and  it  is  usually  represented  as  resting  upon 
its  legs  and  tail  (Figs.  428  and  429).  On  the  other  hand,  it.  will 
occasionally  be  found  sitting  erect  upon  its  tail  with  its  claws  in  the 
air  (Fig.  430),  and  the  supporters  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  are 
generally  so  represented.  As  a  charge  or  crest,  however,  probably  the 
only  instance  of  a  wyvern  sejant  erect  is  the  crest  of  Mansergh.  A 
curious  crest  also  is  that  of  Langton,  namely  :  ^^  On  a  wreath  of  the 
colours,  an  eagle  or  and  a  wyvern  vert,  interwoven  and  erect  on  their 
tails,"  and  an  equally  curious  one  is  the  crest  of  Maule,  i.e,  "  A  wyvern 
vert,  with  two  heads  vomiting  fire  at  both  ends  proper,  charged  with 
a  crescent  argent." 

Occasionally  the  wyvern  is  represented  without  wings  and  with  the 


MONSTERS 


227 


Fig.  431. — Cockatrice 


tail  nowed.      Both  tJlese  peculiarities  occur  in  the  case  of  the  crest  of 

a  Lancashire  family  named  Ffarington, 

The  Cockatrice. — The  next  variety  is  the  cockatrice  (Fig.  431),  which 

is,  however,  comparatively  rare.     Two  cockatrices  are  the  supporters  to 

the  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Westmeath,  and  also  to  the  arms  of  Sir  Edmund 

Charles  Nugent,  Bart.     But  the  animal  is  not  common  as  a  charge. 

The  difference  between  a  wyvern  and  a  cockatrice 

is  that  the  latter  has  the  head  of  a  cock  substituted 

for   the   dragon's   head  with  which   the  wyvern  is 

decorated.      Like   the   cock,  the   beak,   comb,   and 

wattles  are  often  of  another  tincture,  and  the  animal 

is  then  termed  armed,  combed,  and  wattled. 

The  cockatrice  is  sometimes  termed  a  basilisky 

and   according  to    ancient   writers    the    basilisk    is 

produced  from  an  egg  laid  by  a  nine-year-old  cock 

and  hatched  by  a  toad  on  a  dunghill.     Probably 

this    is    merely   the    expression    of    the    intensified 

loathing  which   it  was  desired  to  typify.      But  the  heraldic  basilisk  is 

stated   to   have    its  tail  terminating  in   a  dragon's  head.      In   English 

heraldry,  at  any  rate,  I  know  of  no  such  example. 

The  Hydray  or  Seven-headed  DragoHy  as  the  crest, 
is  ascribed  to  the  families  of  Barret,  Crespine,  and 
Lownes. 

The  Cameiopard  (Fig.  432),  which  is  nothing 
more  or  less  than  an  ordinary  giraffe,  must  be 
properly  included  amongst  mythical  animals,  be- 
cause the  form  and  semblance  of  the  giraffe  was 
used  to  represent  a  mythical  hybrid  creation  which 
the  ancients  believed  to  be  begotten  between  a 
leopard  and  a  camel.  Possibly  they  represented 
the    real    giraffe   (which   they   may   have    known), 

taking    that    to    be    a    hybrid    between    the    two    animals    stated.     It 

occurs  as  the  crest  of  several  coats  of  arms  for  the  name  of  Crisp. 

The  Camelopardel,  which  is  another  mythical   animal  fathered  upon 

armory,  is  stated  to  be  the   same  as  the   cameiopard,  but   with   the 

addition  of  two  long  horns  curved  backwards.     I  know  of  no   instance 

in  which  it  occurs. 

The  human  face  or  figure  conjoined  to  some  other  animal's   body 

gives  us  a  number  of  heraldic  creatures,  some  of  which  play  no  incon- 
siderable part  in  armory. 

The  human  figure  (male)  conjoined  to  the  tail  of  a  fish  is   known 

as  the  Triton  or  Merman  (Fig,  433).     Though  there  are  some  number 

of  instances  in  which  it  occurs  as  a  supporter,  it  is  seldom  met  with  as 


Fig.  432. — Cameiopard. 


228     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

a  charge  upon  a  shield.  It  is,  however,  to  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
Otway,  and  is  assigned  as  a  crest  to  the  family  of  Tregent,  and  a  family 
of  Robertson,  of  London. 

The  Mermaid  (Fig.  434),  is  much  more  frequently  met  with.  It 
is  generally  represented  with  the  traditional  mirror  and  comb  in  the 
hands.  It  will  be  found  appearing,  for  example, 
in  the  arms  of  Ellis,  of  Glasfryn,  co.  Monmouth. 
The  crest  of  Mason,  used  without  authority  by 
the  founder  of  Mason's  College,  led  to  its  inclu- 
sion in  the  arms  of  the  University  of  Birmingham. 
It  will  also  be  found  as  the  crest  of  Rutherford 
and  many  other  families. 

The  Melusinej  Le,  a  mermaid  with  two  tails  dis- 
posed on  either  side,  though  not  unknown  in 
British  heraldry,  is  more  frequent  in  German. 

The  Sphinx,  of  course  originally  derived  from 
the  Egyptian  figure,  has  the  body,  legs,  and  tail  of  a  lion  conjoined  to 
the  breasts,  head,  and  face  of  a  woman  (Fig.  435).  As  a  charge  it 
occurs  in  the  arms  of  Cochrane  and  Cameron  of  Fassiefern.  This 
last-mentioned  coat  affords  a  striking  example  of  the  over-elaboration 
to  be  found  in  so  many  of  the  grants  which  owe  their  origin  to  the 
Peninsular  War  and  the   other   ^'  fightings "   in   which   England   was 


Fig.  433. — Merman. 


Fig.  434. — Mermaid. 


Fig.  435. — Sphinx. 


Fig.  436. — Centaur. 


engaged  at  the  period.  A  winged  sphinx  is  the  crest  of  a  family 
of  the  name  of  Asgile.  Two  sphinxes  were  granted  as  supporters 
to  the  late  Sir  Edward  Malet,  G.C.B. 

The  Centaur  {¥\g,  436) — the  familiar  fabulous  animal,  half  man,  half 
horse — is  sometimes  represented  carrying  a  bow  and  arrow,  when  it  is 
called  a  *'  Sagittarius."  It  is  not  infrequently  met  with  in  heraldry, 
though  it  is  to  be  found  more  often  in  Continental  than  in  English 
blazonry.  In  its  *^  Sagittarius  "  form  it  is  sculptured  on  a  column  in  the 
Romanesque  cloister  of  St.  Aubin  at  Angers.  It  will  be  found  as  the  crest 
of  most  families  named  Lambert,  and  it  was  one  of  the  supporters  of 


MONSTERS  229 

Lord  Hood  of  Avelon.  It  is  also  the  crest  of  a  family  of  Fletcher.  A 
very  curious  crest  was  borne  by  a  family  of  Lambert,  and  is  to  be  seen 
on  their  monuments.  They  could  establish  no  official  authority  for  their 
arms  as  used,  and  consequently  obtained  official  authorisation  in  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  the  crest  then  granted  was 
a  regulation  Sagittarius,  but  up  to  that  time,  however,  they  had  always 
used  a  '^female  centaur"  holding  a  rose  in  its  dexter  hand. 

Chimera, — This  legendary  animal  happily  does  not  figure  in  English 
heraldry,  and  but  rarely  abroad.  It  is  described  as  having  the  head 
and  breast  of  a  woman,  the  forepaws  of  a  lion,  the  body  of  a  goat, 
the  hind-legs  of  a  griffin,  and  the  tail  of  a  dragon,  and  would  be  about 
as  ugly  and  misbegotten  a  creature  as  can  readily  be  imagined. 

The  Man-Lion  will  be  found  referred  to  under  the  heading  of  lions, 
and  Elvin  mentions  in  addition  the  Weir-Wolfy  i.e,  the  wolf  with  a 
human  face  and  horns.  Probably  this  creature  has  strayed  into  heraldic 
company  by  mistake.      I  know  of  no  armorial  use  of  it. 

The  Satyr,  which  has  a  well-established  existence  in  other  than 
heraldic  sources  of  imagination,  is  composed  of  a  demi-savage  united 
to  the  hind-legs  of  a  goat. 

The  Satyral  is  a  hybrid  animal  having  the  body  of  a  lion  and  the 
face  of  an  old  man,  with  the  horns  of  an  antelope.  I  know  of  no 
instance  of  its  use. 

The  Harpy — which  is  a  curious  creature  consisting  of  the  head, 
neck,  and  breasts  of  a  woman  conjoined  to  the  wings  and  body  of  a 
vulture — is  peculiarly  German,  though  it  does  exist  in  the  heraldry  of 
this  country.  The  German  name  for  it  is  the  Jungfraunadler,  The 
shield  of  the  Rietbergs,  Princes  of  Ost-Friesland,  is :  <<  Sable,  a  harpy 
crowned,  and  with  wings  displayed  all  proper,  between  four  stars,  two 
in  chief  and  as  many  in  base  or."  The  harpy  will  be  found  as  a 
crest  in  this  country. 

The  Devil  is  not,  as  may  be  imagined,  a  favourite  heraldic  charge. 
The  arms  of  Sissinks  of  Groningen,  however,  are :  "  Or,  a  horned 
devil  having  six  paws,  the  body  terminating  in  the  tail  of  a  fish  all 
gules."  The  family  of  Bawde  have  for  a  crest :  ^'  A  satyr's  head  in 
profile  sable,  with  wings  to  the  side  of  the  head  or,  the  tongue  hanging 
out  of  his  mouth  gules."  Though  so  blazoned,  I  feel  sure  it  is  really 
intended  to  represent  a  fiend.  On  the  Garter  Hall-plate  of  John  de 
Grailly,  Captal  de  Buch,  the  crest  is  a  man's  head  with  ass's  ears. 
This  is,  however,  usually  termed  a  Midas'  head.  A  certain  coat  of 
arms  which  is  given  in  the  *'  General  Armory "  under  the  name  of 
Dannecourt,  and  also  under  the  name  of  Morfyn  or  Murfyn,  has  for  a 
crest :  '*  A  blackamoor's  head  couped  at  the  shoulders,  habited  paly  of 
six  ermine  and  ermines,  pendents  in  his  ears  or,  wreathed  about  the 


230    A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

forehead,    with   bat's   wings   to    the    head    sable,   expanded   on    each 
side." 

Many  mythical  animals  can  be  more  conveniently  considered  under 
their  natural  counterparts.  Of  these  the  notes  upon  the  heraldic  ante- 
lope and  the  heraldic  ibex  accompany  those  upon  the  natural  antelope, 
and  the  heraldic  panther  is  included  with  the  real  animal.  The  heraldic 
tiger,  likewise,  is  referred  to  concurrently  with  the  Bengal  or  natural 
tiger.  The  pegasus,  the  sea-horse,  and  the  winged  sea-horse  are 
mentioned  with  other  examples  of  the  horse,  and  the  sea-dog  is 
included  with  other  breeds  and  varieties  of  that  useful  animal.  The 
winged  bull,  of  which  only  one  instance  is  known 
to  me,  occurs  as  the  supporters  of  the  Butchers' 
Livery  Company,  and  has  been  already  alluded 
to,  as  also  the  winged  stag.  The  sea-stag  is  re- 
ferred to  under  the  sub-heading  of  stags.  The 
two-headed  lion,  the  double-queued  lion,  the  lion 
queue-fourche,  the  sea-lion  (which  is  sometimes 
found  winged)  are  all  included  in  the  chapter 
upon  lions,  as  are  also  the  winged  lion  and  the 
Fig  4^7  ^^lamander  ^^^^-^^^^^^'  The  winged  ape  was  mentioned  when 
considering  the  natural  animal,  and  perhaps  it  may 
be  as  well  to  allude  to  the  asserted  heraldic  existence  of  the  sea- 
monkey,  though  I  am  not  aware  of  any  instance  in  which  it  is  borne. 

The  arms  of  Challoner  afford  an  instance  of  the  Sea-Wolf,  the  crest 
of  that  family  being  ;  '<  A  demi-sea-wolf  rampant  or."  Guillim,  how- 
ever (p.  271),  in  quoting  the  arms  of  Fennor,  would  seem  to  assert  the 
sea-wolf  and  sea-dog  to  be  one  and  the  same.  They  certainly  look 
rather  like  each  other. 

The  Phoenix  and  the  Double-headed  Eagle  will  naturally  be  more  con- 
veniently dealt  with  in  the  chapter  upon  the  eagle. 

The  Salamander  has  been  represented  in  various  ways,  and  is  usually 
described  as  a  dragon  in  flames  of  fire.  It  is  sometimes  so  represented 
but  without  wings,  though  it  more  usually  follows  the  shape  of  a  lizard. 
The  salamander  is,  however,  best  known  as  the  personal  device  of 
Francis  I.,  King  of  France.  It  is  to  this  origin  that  the  arms  of  the 
city  of  Paris  can  be  traced. 

The  remainder  of  the  list  of  heraldic  monsters  can  be  very  briefly 
dismissed.  In  many  cases  a  good  deal  of  research  has  failed  to  dis- 
cover an  instance  of  their  use,  and  one  is  almost  inclined  to  believe 
that  they  were  invented  by  those  mediaeval  writers  of  prolific  imagina- 
tion for  their  treatises,  without  ever  having  been  borne  or  emblazoned 
upon  helmet  or  shield. 

The  Allocamelus  is  supposed  to  have  the  head  of  an  ass  conjoined 


Fig.  438.— Enfield. 


MONSTERS  131 

to  the  body  of  a  camel,      I  cannot  call  to  mind  any  British  instance 

of  its  use. 

The  Amphiptere  is  the  term  applied  to  a  "winged  serpent/'  a  charge 

of   but  rare  occurrence  in  either  English  or  foreign  heraldry.     It  is 

found  in  the  arms  of  the  French  family  of  Potier,  viz. :  "  Azure,  a 

bendlet    purpure     between   two    amphipteres    or," 

while  they  figure  as  supporters  also  in  that  family, 

and    in   those   of    the   Dues  de    Tresmes    and   De 

Gevres. 

The  Apres  is  an  animal  with  the  body  similar  to 

that  of  a  bull,  but  with  a  bear's  tail.      It  is  seldom 

met  with  outside  heraldic  text-books. 

The  Amphisboena  is  usually  described  as  a  winged 

serpent  (with  two  legs)  having  a  head  at  each  end 

of  its  body,  but  in  the  crest  of  Gwilt  ["  On  a  saltire 

or,  interlaced  by  two  amphisboenae  azure,  langued 

gules,  a  rose  of  the  last,  barbed  and  seeded  proper "]   the  creatures 

certainly  do  not  answer  to  the  foregoing  description.     They  must  be 

seen  to  be  duly  appreciated. 

The  Cockfish  is  a  very  unusual  charge,  but  it  is  to  be  met  with  in  the 

arms  of  the  family  of  Geyss,  in  Bavaria,  i.e. :  "  Or,  a  cock  sable, 
beaked  of  the  first,  crested  and  armed  gules,  its 
body  ending  in  that  of  a  fish  curved  upwards, 
proper." 

The  Enfield  (Fig.  438)  is  a  purely  fanciful 
animal,  having  the  head  of  a  fox,  chest  of  a  grey- 
hound, talons  of  an  eagle,  body  of  a  lion,  and  hind 
legs  and  tail  of  a  wolf.  It  occurs  as  the  crest  of 
most  Irish  families  of  the  name  of  Kelly. 

The  Bagwyn  is  an  imaginary  animal  with  the 
head  of  and  much  like  the  heraldic  antelope,  but 
with  the  body  and  tail  of  a  horse,  and  the  horns 

long  and  curved  backwards.      It  is  difficult  to  say  what  it  is  intended 

to  represent,  and  I  can  give  no  instance  in  which  it  occurs. 

The  Musimon  is  a  fabulous  animal  with  the  body  and  feet  of  a  goat 

and  the  head  of  a  ram,  with  four  horns.     It  is  supposed  to  be  the  hybrid 

between  the  ram  and  the  goat,  the  four  horns  being  the  two  straight 

ones  of  the  goat  and  the  two  curled  ones  of  the  ram.     Though  no 

heraldic  instance  is  known  to  me,  one  cannot  definitely  say  such  an 

animal  never  existed.     Another  name  for  it  is  the  tityron. 

The  Opiniciis  (Fig.  439)  is   another  monster  seldom  met  with  in 

armory.     When  it  does  occur  it  is  represented  as  a  winged  gryphon, 

with  a  lion's  legs  and  short  tail.     Another  description  of  it  gives  it  the 


Fig.  439.  —  Opinicus. 


^32     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

body  and  forelegs  of  a  lion,  the  head,  neck,  and  wings  of  an  eagle,  and 
the  tail  of  a  camel.  It  is  the  crest  of  the  Livery  Company  of  Barbers 
in  London,  which  doubtless  gives  us  the  origin  of  it  in  the  recent 
grant  of  arms  to  Sir  Frederick  Treves,  Bart.  Sometimes  the  wings  are 
omitted. 

The  Manticoray  Mantegre,  or  Man-Tiger  is  the  same  as  the  man-lion, 
but  has  horns  attached  to  its  forehead. 

The  Hippogriff  has  the  head,  wings  and  foreclaws  of  the  griffin 
united  to  the  hinder  part  of  the  body  of  a  horse. 

The  Calopus  or  Chailoup  is  a  curious  horned  animal  difficult  to 
describe,  but  which  appears  to  have  been  at  one  time  the  badge  of  the 
Foljambe  family.  No  doubt,  as  the  name  would  seem  to  indicate,  it 
is  a  variant  of  the  wolf. 

Many  of  the  foregoing  animals,  particularly  those  which  are  or 
are  supposed  to  be  hybrids,  are,  however  well  they  may  be  depicted, 
ugly,  inartistic,  and  unnecessary.  Their  representation  leaves  one  with 
a  disappointed  feeling  of  crudity  of  draughtmanship.  No  such  objec- 
tion applies  to  the  pegasus,  the  griffin,  the  sea-horse,  the  dragon,  or 
the  unicorn,  and  in  these  modern  days,  when  the  differentiation  of 
well-worn  animals  is  producing  singularly  inept  results,  one  would 
urge  that  the  sea-griffin,  the  sea-stag,  the  winged  bull,  the  winged  stag, 
the  winged  lion,  and  winged  heraldic  antelope  might  produce  (if  the 
necessity  of  differentiation  continue)  very  much  happier  results. 


CHAPTER    XIV 
BIRDS 

BIRDS  of  course  play  a  large  and  prominent    part  in  heraldry 
Those   which  have  been  impressed  into  the  service  of  heraldic 
emblazonment    comprise  almost    every  species    known    to  the 
zoological  world. 

Though  the  earliest  rolls  of  arms  give  us  instances  of  various 
other  birds,  the  bird  which  makes  the  most  prominent  appearance  is 
the  Eagle,  and  in  all  early  representations  this  will  invariably  be  found 
^^  displayed."  A  double-headed  eagle  displayed,  from  a  Byzantine  silk 
of  the  tenth  century,  is  illustrated  by  Mr.  Eve  in  his  ''  Decorative 
Heraldry,"  so  that  it  is  evident  that  neither  the  eagle  displayed  nor  the 
double-headed  eagle  originated  with  the  science  of  armory,  which  appro- 
priated them  ready-made,  together  with  their  symbolism.  An  eagle 
displayed  as  a  symbolical  device  was  certainly  in  use  by  Charlemagne. 
It  may  perhaps  here  be  advantageous  to  treat  of  the  artistic 
development  of  the  eagle  displayed.  Of  this,  of  course,  the  earliest 
prototype  is  the  Roman  eagle  of  the  Caesars,  and  it  will  be  to  English  eyes, 
accustomed  to  our  conventional  spread-eagle,  doubtless  rather  startling 
to  observe  that  the  German  type  of  the  eagle,  which  follows  the 
Roman  disposition  of  the  wings  (which  so  many  of  our  heraldic  artists 
at  the  present  day  appear  inclined  to  adopt  either  in  the  accepted 
German  or  in  a  slightly  modified  form  as  an  eagle  displayed)  is  certainly 
not  a  true  displayed  eagle  according  to  our  English  ideas  and  require- 
ments, inasmuch  as  the  wings  are  inverted.  It  should  be  observed 
that  in  German  heraldry  it  is  simply  termed  an  eagle,  and  not  an  eagle 
displayed.  Considering,  however,  its  very  close  resemblance  to  our 
eagle  displayed,  and  also  its  very  artistic  appearance,  there  is  every 
excuse  for  its  employment  in  this  country,  and  I  for  one  should  be  sorry 
to  observe  its  slowly  increasing  favour  checked  in  this  country.  It  is 
quite  possible,  however,  to  transfer  the  salient  and  striking  points  of 
beauty  to  the  more  orthodox  position  of  the  wings.  The  eagle  (com- 
pared with  the  lion  and  the  ordinaries)  had  no  such  predominance  in 
early  British  heraldry  that  it  enjoyed  in  Continental  armory,  and 
therefore  it  may  be  better  to  trace  the  artistic  development  of  the 
German  eagle. 


w 


A 


234    A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

In  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries  the  eagle  appears  with  the 
head  raised  and  the  beak  closed.  The  sachsen  (bones  of  the  wings) 
are  rolled  up  at  the  ends  like  a  snail,  and  the  pinions  (like  the 
talons)  take  a  vertical  downward  direction.  The  tail,  composed  of  a 
number  of  stiff  feathers,  frequently  issues  from  a  knob  or  ball.  Com- 
pare Fig.  440  herewith. 

With  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century  the  head  straightens  itself, 
the  beak  opens  and  the  tongue  becomes  visible.     The  rolling  up  of 

the  wing-bones  gradually 
disappears,  and  the  claws 
form  an  acute  angle  with 
the  direction  of  the  body ; 
and  at  this  period  the  claws 
occasionally  receive  the 
^  /•   1   \  X  \     *'  h.o?>Q "  covering  the  upper 

/[K  1^^  C^^         P^^^     o^     ^^^     ^^§-       'The 

^  _  feathers  of  the  tail  spread 

Fig.  440.  Fig.  441.  Fig.  442.  ^     •   1  1       •       /t-  \ 

out  sicklewise  (Fig.  441). 

The  fifteenth  century  shows  the  eagle  with  sachsen  forming  a  half 
circle,  the  pinions  spread  out  and  radiating  therefrom,  and  the  claws 
more  at  a  right  angle  (Fig.  442).  The  sixteenth  century  draws  the 
eagle  in  a  more  ferocious  aspect,  and  depicts  it  in  as  ornamental  and 
ornate  a  manner  as  possible. 

From  Konrad  Grunenberg's  Wappenhnch  (Constance,  1483)  is 
reproduced  the  shield  (Fig.  443)  with  the  boldly  sketched  Adlerflugel 
mit  Schwerthand  (eagle's  wing  with  the  sword  hand),  the  supposed  arms 
of  the  Duke  of  Calabria. 

Quite  in  the  same  style  is  the  eagle  of  Tyrol  on  a  corporate  flag  of 
the  Society  of  the  Schwazer  Bergbute  (Fig.  444),  which  belongs  to 
the  last  quarter  of  the  fifteenth  century.  This  is  reproduced  from  the 
impression  in  the  Bavarian  National  Museum  given  in  Hefner- 
Alteneck's  ^<  Book  of  Costumes." 

A  modern  German  eagle  drawn  by  H.  G.  Str5hl  is  shown  in  Fig.  445. 
The  illustration  is  of  the  arms  of  the  Prussian  province  of  Brandenburg. 

The  double  eagle  has,  of  course,  undergone  a  somewhat  similar 
development. 

The  double  eagle  occurs  in  the  East  as  well  as  in  the  West  in  very 
early  times.  Since  about  1335  the  double  eagle  has  appeared  sporadi- 
cally as  a  symbol  of  the  Roman-German  Empire,  and  under  the 
Emperor  Sigismund  (d.  1447)  became  the  settled  armorial  device  of 
the  Roman  Empire.  King  Sigismund,  before  his  coronation  as 
Emperor,  bore  the  single-headed  eagle. 

It  may  perhaps  be  as  well  to  point  out,  with  the  exception  of  the  two 


BIRDS  235 

positions  ^'displayed"  (Fig.  451)  and  "close"  (Fig.  446),  very  little  if 
any  agreement  at  all  exists  amongst  authorities  either  as  to  the  terms  to 
be  employed  or  as  to  the  position 
intended  for  the  wings  when 
a  given  term  is  used  in  a 
blazon.  Practically  every  other 
single  position  is  simply  blazoned 
"  rising,"  this  term  being  em- 
ployed without  any  additional 
distinctive  terms  of  variation  in 
official  blazons  and  emblazon- 
ments. Nor  can  one  obtain 
any  certain  information  from 
a  reference  to  the  real  eagle, 
for  the  result  of  careful  observa- 
tion would  seem  to  show  that 
in  the  first  stroke  of  the  wings, 
when  rising  from  the  ground,  the 
wings  pass  through  every  posi-  ^ 

,.      ^r  XI  -J  X  X     X   1-    J  Fig.  443.— Arms  of  Duke  of  Calabria. 

tion  from  the  wide  outstretched 

form,  which  I  term  "  rising  with  wings  elevated  and  displayed  "  (Fig. 

450),  to  a  position  practically  "  close."     As  a  consequence,  therefore, 

no  one  form  can  be  said  to 
be  more  correct  than  any 
other,  either  from  the  point 
of  view  of  nature  or  from 
the  point  of  view  of  ancient 
precedent.  This  state  of 
affairs  is  eminently  unsatis- 
factory, because  in  these 
days  of  necessary  differenti- 
ation no  heraldic  artistof  any 
appreciable  knowledge  or 
abilityhas  claimedtheliberty 
(which  certainly  hasnot  been 
officially  conceded)to  depict 
an  eagle  rising  with  wings 
elevated  and  displayed, 
when  it  has  been  granted 
^    ,     ^^     ,  with  the  wings  in  the  posi- 

•Eagle  of  Tyrol.  ^  ^ 

tion  addorsed  and  mverted. 
Such  a  liberty  when  the  wings  happen  to  be  charged,  as  they  so  fre- 
quently are  in  m.odern  English  crests,  must  clearly  be  an  impossibility. 


Fig.  444. 


236     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Until  some  agreement  has  been  arrived  at;  I  can  only  recommend 
my  readers  to  follow  the  same  plan  which   I    have   long  adopted  in 

blazoning  arms  of  which  the 
official  blazon  has  not  been 
available  to  me.  That  is,  to 
use  the  term  *'  rising/'  fol- 
lowed by  -the  necessary  de- 
scription of  the  position  of 
the  wings  (Figs.  447-450). 
This  obviates  both  mistake 
and  uncertainty.  Originally 
with  US;  as  still  in  Germany, 
an  eagle  was  always  displayed, 
and  in  the  days  when  coats  of 
arms  were  few  in  number  and 
simple  in  character  the  artist 
may  well  have  been  permitted 
to  draw  an  eagle  as  he  chose, 
providing  it  was  an  eagle. 
But  arms  and  their  elabora- 
tion in  the  last  four  hundred 
years  have  made  this  impos- 
sible. It  is  foolish  to  over- 
look this,  and  idle  in  the  face 
of  existing  facts  to  attempt  to  revert  to  former  ways.  Although  now 
the  English  eagle  displayed  has  the  tip  of  its  wings  pointed  upwards 
(Fig.  451),  and  the  contrary  needs  now  to  be  mentioned  in  the  blazon 


Fig.  445. — Arms  of  the  Prussian  Province  of  Branden- 
burg.    (From  Strohl's  Deutsche  Wappenrolle.) 


Fig.  446.— Eagle  close. 


Fig.  447. — Eagle  rising,  wings    Fig.  448. — Eagle  rising,  wings 
elevated  and  addorsed.  addorsed  and  inverted. 


(Fig.  452);  this  even  with  us  was  not  so  in  the  beginning.     A  reference 

to  Figs.  453  and  454  will  show  how  the  eagle  was  formerly  depicted. 

The  earliest  instance  of  the  eagle  as  a  definitely  heraldic  charge 

upon  a  shield  would  appear  to  be  its  appearance  upon  the  Great  Seal 


BIRDS 


237 


of  the  Markgrave  Leopold  of  Austria  in    1136,  where  the   equestrian 

figure   of  the   Markgrave   carries  a  shield  so   charged.     More  or  less 

regularly,   subsequently   to  the  reign  of  Frederick 

Barbarossa,  elected  King  of  the  Romans  in   1152, 

and  crowned  as  Emperor  in  1155,  the  eagle  with 

one  or  two  heads  (there  seems  originally  to  have 

been  little  unanimity  upon  the  point)  seems  to  have 

become  the  recognised  heraldic  symbol  of  the  Holy 

Roman  Empire  ;  and  the  seal  of  Richard,  Earl  of 

Cornwall,    elected   King  of   the   Romans  in    1257, 

shows   his   arms   [^'Argent,  a  lion   rampant   gules, 

within  a  bordure  sable,  bezante "]  displayed  upon    p^^     o-^aienin 

the  breast  of  an  eagle  ;  but  no  properly  authenti-       wings  displayed  and 

cated    contemporary   instance   of    the   use   of    this       averted. 

eagle  by  the  Earl  of  Cornwall  is  found  in  this  country.     The   origin 

of  the  double-headed  eagle  (Fig.  455)  has  been  the  subject  of  endless 


Fig.  450.— Eagle  rising,  wings 
elevated  and  displayed. 


Fig.  452. — Eagle  displayed 
with  wings  inverted. 


Fig.  453. — Arms  of  Ralph  de 
Monthermer,  Earl  of  Glou- 
cester and  Hereford :  Or,  an 
eagle  vert.  (From  his  seal, 
1301.) 


Fig.  454. — Arms  of  Piers  de 
Gaveston,  Earl  of  Cornwall 
{d.  131 2);  Vert,  six  eagles 
or. 


Fig.  455.  —  Double- 
headed  eagle  dis- 
played. 


controversy,   the   tale   one  is   usually  taught  to   believe  being  that   it 
originated  in  the   dimidiation  upon  one  shield  of  two   separate  coats 


Fig.  456. — Napoleonic 
Eagle. 


238     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

of  arms.  Nisbet  states  that  the  Imperial  eagle  was  "  not  one  eagle 
with  two  heads,  but  two  eagles,  the  one  laid  upon  the  other,  and 
their  heads  separate,  looking  different  ways,  which  represent  the 
two  heads  of  the  Empire  after  it  was  divided  into  East  and  West." 
The  whole  discussion  is  an  apt  example  of  the  habit  of  earlier  writers 
to  find  or  provide  hidden  meanings  and  symbolisms  when  no  such 
meanings  existed.  The  real  truth  undoubtedly  is 
that  the  double-headed  eagle  was  an  accepted 
figure  long  before  heraldry  came  into  existence, 
and  that  when  the  displayed  eagle  was  usurped 
by  armory  as  one  of  its  peculiarly  heraldic  figures, 
the  single-headed  and  double-headed  varieties  were 
used  indifferently,  until  the  double-headed  eagle 
became  stereotyped  as  the  Imperial  emblem. 
Napoleon,  however,  reverted  to  the  single-headed 
eagle,  and  the  present  German  Imperial  eagle 
has  likewise  only  one  head. 

The  Imperial  eagle  of  Napoleon  had  little  in 
keeping  with  then  existing  armorial  types  of  the  bird.  There  can  be 
little  doubt  that  the  model  upon  which  it  was  based  was  the  Roman 
Eagle  of  the  Caesars  as  it  figured  upon  the  head  of  the  Roman 
standards.  In  English  terms  of  blazon  the  Napoleonic  eagle  would 
be  :  <*  An  eagle  displayed  with  wings  inverted,  the  head  to  the  sinister, 
standing  upon  a  thunderbolt  or  "  (Fig.  456). 

The   then   existing   double-headed   eagles   of   Austria    and   Russia 
probably  supply  the  reason  why,  when  the  German  Empire  was  created, 
the  Prussian  eagle  in  a  modified  form  was  preferred  to  the  resuscitation 
of  the  older  double-headed  eagle,  which  had  theretofore  been  more- 
usually  accepted  as  the  symbol  of  Empire. 

By  the  same  curious  idea  which  was  noticed  in  the  earlier  chapter 
upon  lions,  and  which  ruled  that  the  mere  fact  of  the  appearance  of  two 
or  more  lions  rampant  in  the  same  coat  of  arms  made  them  into  lioncels, 
so  more  than  one  eagle  upon  a  shield  resulted  sometimes  in  the  birds 
becoming  eaglets.  Such  a  rule  has  never  had  official  recognition,  and 
no  artistic  difference  is  made  between  the  eagle  and  the  eaglet.  The 
charges  on  the  arms  of  Piers  Gaveston,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  are 
blazoned  as  eagles  (Fig.  454).  In  the  blazon  of  a  few  coats  of  arms, 
the  term  eaglet,  however,  still  survives,  e.g.  in  the  arms  of  Child  [^^  Gules 
a  chevron  ermine,  between  three  eaglets  close  argent "],.  and  in  the 
arms  of  Smitheman  [^^  Vert,  three  eaglets  statant  with  wings  displayed 
argent,  collared  or  "]. 

When  an  eagle  has  its  beak  of  another  colour,  it  is  termed  *^  armed  " 
of  that  colour,  and  when  the  legs  differ  it  is  termed  "  membered." 


Fig.  457. — Eagle's  head 
couped. 


BIRDS  239 

An  eagle  volant  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Jessel  ['^  On  a  wreath  of  the 
colours,  a  torch  fesswise,  fired  proper,  surmounted  by  an  eagle  volant 
argent,  holding  in  the  beak  a  pearl  also  argent.  Motto  :  *  Persevere '  "1 
Parts  of  an  eagle  are  almost  as  frequently  met  with  as  the  entire 
bird.  Eagles'  heads  (Fig.  457)  abound  as  crests  (they  can  be  distin- 
guished from  the  head  of  a  griffin  by  the  fact 
that  the   latter  has  always  upstanding  ears). 

Unless  otherwise  specified  [e,g,  the  crest  of 
the  lat€  Sir  Noel  Paton  was  between  the  two  wings 
of  a  dove),  wings  occurring  in  armory  are  always 
presumed  to  be  the  wings  of  an  eagle.  This, 
however,  in  English  heraldry  has  little  effect  upon 
their  design,  for  probably  any  well-conducted 
eagle  (as  any  other  bird)  would  disown  the 
English  heraldic  wing,  as  it  certainly  would  never 
recognise  the  German  heraldic  variety.  A  pair 
of  wings  when  displayed  and  conjoined  at  the 
base  is  termed  "conjoined  in  leure "  (Fig.  458),  from  the  palpable 
similarity  of  the  figure  in  its  appearance  to  the  lure  with  which, 
thrown  into  the  air,  the  falconer  brought  back  his  hawk  to  hand. 
The  best  known,  and  most  frequently  quoted  instance,  is  the  well- 
known  coat  of  Seymour  or  St.  Maur  ["  Gules,  two  wings  conjoined  in 
leure  the  tips  downwards  or  "].  It  should  always 
be  stated  if  the  wings  (as  in  the  arms  of  Seymour) 
are  inverted.  Otherwise  the  tips  are  naturally 
presumed  to  be  in  chief. 

Pairs  of  wings  not  conjoined  can  be  met 
with  in  the  arms  and  crest  of  Burne-Jones  ['^  Azure, 
on  a  bend  sinister  argent  between  seven  mullets, 
four  in  chief  and  three  in  base  or,  three  pairs 
of  wings  addorsed  purpure,  charged  with  a  mullet 
Or.  Crest :  in  front  of  fire  proper  two  wings  elevated 
and  addorsed  purpure,  charged  with  a  mullet  or  "] ; 
but  two  wings,  unless  conjoined  or  addorsed,  will 
not  usually  be  described  as  a  pair.  Occasionally,  however,  a  pair  of 
wings  wall  be  found  in  saltire,  but  such  a  disposition  is  most  unusual. 
Single  wMngs,  unless  specified  to  be  the  contrary,  are  presumed  to  be 
dexter  wings. 

Care  needs  to  be  exercised  in  some  crests  to  observe  the  difference 
between  {a)  a  bird's  head  between  two  wings,  {b)  a  bird's  head  winged 
(a  form  not  often  met  with,  but  in  which  rather  more  of  the  neck  is 
shown,  and  the  wings  are  conjoined  thereto),  and  {c)  a  bird's  head 
between  two  wings  addorsed.    The  latter  form,  which  of  course  is  really 


Fig.  458. — A  pair  of 
wings  conjoined  in 
leure. 


Fig.  459. — An  eagle's 
leg  erased  a  la  quise. 


240     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

no  more  than  a  representation  of  a  crest  between  two  wings  turned  to 
be  represented  upon  a  profile  helmet,  is  one  of  the  painful  results  of 
our  absurd  position  rules  for  the  helmet. 

A  pair  of  wings  conjoined  is  sometimes  termed  a  vol,  and  one 
wing  a  demi-vol.     Though   doubtless  it   is   desirable   to   know   these 
terms,    they    are  but   seldom   found   in    use,    and 
are  really  entirely  French, 

Eagles'  legs  are  by  no  means  an  infrequentjk' 
charge.  They  will  usually  be  found  erased  at  the 
thigh,  for  which  there  is  a  recognised  term  '^  erased 
a  la  quise  "  (Fig.  459);  which,  however,  is  by  no 
means  a  compulsory  one.  An  eagle's  leg  so  erased 
was  a  badge  of  the  house  of  Stanley.  The  eagle's 
leg  will  sometimes  be  met  with  couped  below  the 
feathers,  but  would  then  be  more  properly  described 
as  a  claw. 

A  curious  form  of  the  eagle  is  found  in  the 
alerioHy  which  is  represented  without  beak  or  legs.  It  is  difficult  to 
conjecture  what  may  have  been  the  origin  of  the  bird  in  this  debased 
form,  unless  its  first  beginnings  may  be  taken  as  a  result  of  the 
unthinking  perpetuation  of  some  crudely  drawn  example.  Its  best- 
known  appearance  is,  of  course,  in  the  arms  of  Loraine  ;  and  as 
Planche  has  pointed  out,  this  is  as  perfect  an  example  of  a  ganting 
anagram  as  can  be  met  with  in  armory. 

The  Phoenix  (Fig.  460),  one  of  the  few  mythical  birds  which  heraldry 
has  familiarised  us  with,  is  another,  and  perhaps  the  most  patent  example 
of  all,  of  the  appropriation  by  heraldic  art  of  an 
ancient  symbol,  with  its  symbolism  ready  made. 
It  belongs  to  the  period  of  Grecian  mythology. 
As  a  charge  upon  a  shield  it  is  comparatively  rare, 
though  it  so  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Samuelson. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  frequently  to  be  found 
as  a  crest.  It  is  always  represented  as  a  demi- 
eagle  issuing  from  flames  of  fire,  and  though  the 
flames  of  fire  will  generally  be  found  mentioned 
in  the  verbal  blazon,  this  is  not  essential.  With- 
out its  fiery  surroundings  it  would  cease  to  be 
a  phoenix.  On  the  other  hand,  though  it  is  always  depicted  as  a 
demi'MwA  (no  instance  to  the  contrary  exists),  it  is  never  considered 
necessary  to  so  specify  it.  It  occurs  as  the  crest  of  the  Seymour 
family  ['^  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  a  phoenix  issuant  from  flames  of 
fire  "]. 

The  Osprey  may  perhaps  be  here  mentioned,  because  its  heraldic 


Fig.  460. — Phoenix. 


BIRDS  241 

representation  always  shows  it  as  a  white  eagle.  It  is  however  seldom 
met  with,  though  it  figures  in  the  crests  of  Roche  (Lord  Fermoy)  and 
Trist.  The  osprey  is  sometimes  known  as  the  sea-eagle,  and  heraldic- 
ally  so  termed. 

The  Vulture  (probably  from  its  repulsive  appearance  in  nature  and 
its    equally    repulsive    habits)    is    not    a    heraldic 
favourite.      Two    of    these   birds   occur,   however, 
as  the  supporters  of  Lord  Graves. 

The  Falcon  (Fig.  461)  naturally  falls  next  to 
the  eagle  for  consideration.  Considering  the  very 
important  part  this  bird  played  in  the  social  life 
of  earlier  centuries,  this  cannot  be  a  matter  of 
any  surprise.  Heraldry,  in  its  emblazonment, 
makes  no  distinction  between  the  appearance  of 
the  hawk  and  the  falcon,  but  for  canting  and  p^^  ztei^F  I 
other  reasons  the  bird  will  be  found  described  by 
all  its  different  names,  e,g.  in  the  arms  of  Hobson,  to  preserve  the 
obvious  pun,  the  two  birds  are  blazoned  as  hobbies. 

The  falcon  is  frequently  (more  often  than  not)  found  belled. 
With  the  slovenliness  (or  some  may  exalt  it  into  the  virtue  of 
freedom  from  irritating  restriction)  characteristic  of  many  matters"  in 
heraldic  blazon,  the  simple  term  *'  belled  "  is  found  used  indiscriminately 
to  signify  that  the  falcon  is  belled  on  one  leg  or  belled  on  both,  and 
if  it  is  belled  the  bell  must  of  necessity  be  on- a  jess.  Others  state 
that  every  falcon  must  of  necessity  (whether  so  blazoned  or  not)  be 
belled  upon  at  least  one  leg,  and  that  when  the  term  "  belled  "  is  used 
it  signifies  that  it  is  belled  upon  both  legs.  There  is  still  yet  another 
alternative,  viz.  that  when  *<  belled  "  it  has  the  bell  on  only  one  leg, 
but  that  when  <*  jessed  and  belled "  it  is  belled  on  both  legs.  The 
jess  is  the  leather  thong  with  which  the  bells  are  attached  to  the 
leg,  and  it  is  generally  considered,  and  this  may  be  accepted,  that 
when  the  term  '<  jessed  "  is  included  in  the  wording  of  the  blazon  the 
jesses  are  represented  with  the  ends  flying  loose,  unless  the  use  of  the 
term  is  necessitated  by  the  jesses  being  of  a  different  colour.  When 
the  term  "  vervelled  "  is  also  employed  it  signifies  that  the  jesses  have 
small  rings  attached  to  the  floating  ends.  In  actual  practice,  however, 
it  should  be  remembered  that  if  the  bells  and  jesses  are  of  a  different 
colour,  the  use  of  the  terms  ''jessed"  and  ** belled"  is  essential.  A 
falcon  is  seldom  drawn  without  at  least  one  bell,  and  when  it  is  found 
described  as  "belled,"  in  most  cases  it  will  be  found  that  the  intention 
is  that  it  shall  have  two  bells. 

Like  all  other  birds  of  prey  the  falcon  may  be  "  armed,"  a  technical 
term  which  theoretically  should  include  the  beak  and  legs,  but  in  actual 

Q 


242     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

practice  a  falcon  will  be  far  more  usually  found  described  as  ^'  beaked 
and  legged  "  when  these  differ  in  tincture  from  its  plumage. 

When  a  falcon  is  blindfolded  it  is  termed  "  hooded."     It  was  always 
so  carried  on  the  wrist  until  it  was  flown. 

The  position  of  the  wings  and  the  confusion  in  the  terms  applied 
thereto  is  even  more  marked  in  the  case  of  the  falcon  than  the  eagle. 

Demi-falcons  are  not  very  frequently  met  with,  but  an  example 
occurs  in  the  crest  of  Jerningham. 

A  falcon*s  head  is  constantly  met  with  as  a  crest. 
When  a  falcon  is  represented  preying  upon  anything  it  is  termed 
"  trussing  "  its  prey,  though  sometimes  the  description  *<  preying  upon  " 
is  (perhaps  less   accurately)  employed.     Examples 
of   this   will   be    found   in    the    arms    of    Madden 
\J*  Sable,  a  hawk  or,  trussing  a  mallard  proper,  on 
a  chief  of  the  second  a  cross  botonny  gules  "],  and 
in  the  crests  of  Graham,  Cawston,  and  Yerburgh. 
A  falcon's  leg  appears  in  the  crest  of  Joscelin. 
The   Pelican,    with    its   curious   heraldic   repre- 
sentation   and   its  strange   terms,   may  almost   be 
considered  an   instance   of  the   application  of  the 
existing   name   of    a    bird   to    an   entirely   fanciful 
^'''- '^herVirty!'^'' '"     creation.     Mr.  G.    W.    Eve,    in    his    ^^  Decorative 
Heraldry,"  states  that  in   early   representations  of 
the  bird  it  was  depicted  in  a  more  naturalistic  form,  but   I   confess  I 
have  not  myself  met  with  such  an  ancient  representation. 

Heraldically,  it  has  been  practically  always  depicted  with  the  head 
and  body  of  an  eagle,  with  wings  elevated  and  with  the  neck  embowed, 
pecking  with  its  beak  at  its  breast.  The  term  for  this  is  ^^vulning 
itself,"  and  although  it  appears  to  be  necessary  always  to  describe  it  in 
the  blazon  as  ^'  vulning  itself,"  it  will  never  be  met  with  save  in  this 
position  ;  a  pelican's  head  even,  when  erased  at  the  neck,  being  always 
so  represented.  It  is  supposed  to  be  pecking  at  its  breast  to  provide 
drops  of  blood  as  nourishment  for  its  young,  and  it  is  termed  *<  in 
its  piety "  when  depicted  standing  in  its  nest  and  with  its  brood  of 
young  (Fig.  462).  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  how  the  pelican  came 
to  be  considered  as  always  existing  in  this  position,  because  there 
is  nothing  in  the  nature  of  a  natural  habit  from  which  this  could 
be  derived.  There  are,  however,  other  birds  which,  during  the 
brooding  season,  lose  their  feathers  upon  the  breast,  and  some  which 
grow  red  feathers  there,  and  it  is  doubtless  from  this  that  the  idea 
originated. 

In  heraldic  and  ecclesiastical  symbolism  the  pelican  has  acquired 
a   somewhat   sacred   character  as  typical  of  maternal  solicitude.     It 


BIRDS  243 

will  never  be  found  ^'  close/'   or  in  any  other  positions  than  with  the 
wings  endorsed  and  either  elevated  or  inverted. 

When  blazoned  "  proper,"  it  is  always  given  the  colour  and  plumage 
of  the  eagle,  and  not  its  natural  colour  of  white.  In  recent  years, 
however,  a  tendency  has  rather  made  itself  manifest  to  give  the 
pelican  its  natural  and  more  ungainly  appearance,  and  its  curious 
pouched  beak. 

The  Ostrich  (Fig,  463)  is  doubtless  the  bird  which  is  most  frequently 
met  with  as  a  crest  after  the  falcon,  unless  it  be  the  dove  or  martlet. 
The  ostrich  is  heraldically  emblazoned  in  a  very  natural  manner,  and 
it  is  difficult  to  understand  why  in  the  case  of  such  a  bird  heraldic 
artists  of  earlier  days  should  have  remained  so  true 
to  the  natural  form  of  the  bird,  whilst  in  other 
cases,  in  which  they  could  have  had  no  less  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  bird,  greater  variation  is  to 
be  found.  ' 

As  a  charge  upon  a  shield  it  is  not  very 
common,  although  instances  are  to  be  found  in  the 
arms  of  MacMahon  ["Argent,  an  ostrich  sable,  in 
its  beak  a  horse-shoe  or  "],  and  in  the  arms  of  Mahon 
f"  Per  fess  sable  and  ars^ent,  an   ostrich  counter-      ^       ^      ^    .  , 

1  J    t-    ij-         •      -x     u      1        t.  i_  MT  Fig.  463.— Ostrich. 

changed,  holdmg  m  its  beak  a  horse-shoe  or    J. 

It  is  curious  that,  until  quite  recent  times,  the  ostrich  is  never  met 
with  heraldically,  unless  holding  a  horse-shoe,  a  key,  or  some  other 
piece  of  old  iron  in  its  beak.  The  digestive  capacity  of  the  ostrich, 
though  somewhat  exaggerated,  is  by  no  means  fabulous,  and  in  the 
earliest  forms  of  its  representation  in  all  the  old  natural  history  books 
it  is  depicted  feeding  upon  this  unnatural  food.  If  this  were  the 
popular  idea  of  the  bird,  small  wonder  is  it  that  heraldic  artists  per- 
petuated the  idea,  and  even  now  the  heraldic  ostrich  is  seldom  seen 
without  a  key  or  a  horse-shoe  in  its  beak. 

The  ostrich's  head  alone  is  sometimes  met  with,  as  in  the  crest  of 
the  Earl  of  Carysfort. 

The  wing  of  an  ostrich  charged  with  a  bend  sable  is  the  crest  of 
a  family  of  Gulston,  but  an  ostrich  wing  is  by  no  means  a  usual 
heraldic  charge. 

Ostrich  feathers,  of  course,  play  a  large  part  in  armory,  but  the 
consideration  of  these  may  be  postponed  for  the  moment  until  the 
feathers  of  cocks  and  peacocks  can  be  added  thereto. 

The  Dove — at  least  the  heraldic  bird — has  one  curious  peculiarity. 
It  is  always  represented  with  a  slight  tuft  on  its  head.  Mr.  Eve 
considers  this  to  be  merely  the  perpetuation  of  some  case  in  which 
the  crude  draughtsman  has  added  a  tuft  to  its  head.      Possibly  he  is 


Fig.  464. — Dove. 


244    A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

correct;  but  I  think  it  may  be  an  attempt  to  distinguish  between  the 
domestic  dove  and  the  wood-pigeon — both  of  which  varieties  would 
be  known  to  the  early  heraldic  artists. 

The  dove  with  an  olive  branch  in  its  beak  is  constantly  and  con- 
tinually met  with.     When  blazoned  ^^  proper "  it  is  quite  correct  to 
make  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  natural  pinky  colour, 
but  it  will  be  more  usually  found  that  a  dove  is 
specifically  described  as  '^  legged  gules." 

The  ordinary  heraldic  dove  will  be  found 
most  frequently  represented  with  its  wings  close 
and  holding  a  branch  of  laurel  in  its  beak,  but  it 
also  occurs  volant  and  with  outstretched  wings. 
It  is  then  frequently  termed  a  ^^  dove  rising." 

The  doves  in  the  arms  of  the  College  of  Arms 
are  always  represented  with  the  sinister  wing  close, 
and  the  dexter  wing  extended  and  inverted.  This 
has  given  rise  to  much  curious  speculation ;  but  whatever  may 
be  the  reason  of  the  curious  position  of  the  wings,  there  can  be 
very  Httle  doubt  that  the  coat  of  arms  itself  is  based  upon  the  coat 
of  St.  Edward  the  Confessor.  The  so-called  coat  of  St.  Edward  the 
Confessor  is  a  cross  patonce  between  live  martlets,  but  it  is  pretty 
generally  agreed  that  these  martlets  are  a  corruption  of  the  doves 
which  figure  upon  his  coins,  and  one  of  which 
surmounts  the  sceptre  which  is  known  as  St. 
Edward's  staff,  or  ^^  the  sceptre  with  the  dove." 

The  Wood-Pigeon  is  not  often  met  with,  but  it 
does  occur,  as  in  the  crest  of  the  arms  of  Bradbury 
['^  On  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  in  front  of  a  demi- 
wood-pigeon,  wings  displayed  and  elevated  argent, 
each  wing  charged  with  a  round  buckle  tongue 
pendent  sable,  and  holding  in  the  beak  a  sprig  of 
barberry,  the  trunk  of  a  tree  fesswise  eradicated, 
and  sprouting  to  the  dexter,  both  proper  "]. 

The  Martlet  is  another  example  of  the  curious  perpetuation  in 
heraldry  of  the  popular  errors  of  natural  history.  Even  at  the  present 
day,  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  it  is  popularly  believed  that  a 
swallow  has  no  feet,  or,  at  any  rate,  cannot  perch  upon  the  ground, 
or  raise  itself  therefrom.  The  fact  that  one  never  does  see  a  swallow 
upon  the  ground  supports  the  foundation  of  the  idea.  At  any  rate 
the  heraldic  swallow,  which  is  known  as  the  martlet,  is  never  repre- 
sented with  feet,  the  legs  terminating  in  the  feathers  which  cover  the 
upper  parts  of  the  leg  (Fig.  465).  It  is  curious  that  the  same  idea  is 
perpetuated  in  the  little  legend  of  the  explanation,  which  may  or  may 


Fig.  465. — Martlet. 


Fig.  466. — Martlet 
volant. 


BIRDS  245 

not  be  wholly  untrue,  that  the  reason  the  martlet  has  been  adopted  as 
the  mark  of  cadency  for  the  fourth  son  is  to  typify  the  fact  that  whilst 
the  eldest  son  succeeds  to  his  father's  lands,  and  whilst  the  second  son 
may  succeed,  perhaps,  to  the  mother's,  there  can  be  very  little  doubt 
that  by  the  time  the  fourth  son  is  reached,  there  is  no  land  remaining 
upon  which  he  can  settle,  and  that  he  must,  per- 
force, fly  away  from  the  homestead  to  gather  him 
means  elsewhere.  At  any  rate,  whether  this  be 
true  or  false,  the  martlet  certainly  is  never 
represented  in  heraldry  with  feet.  If  the  feet  are 
shown,  the  bird  becomes  a  swallow. 

Most  heraldry  books  state  also  that  the  martlet 
has  no  beak.  How  such  an  idea  originated  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  understand,  because  I  have  never  yet 
come  across  an  official  instance  in  which  the 
martlet  is  so  depicted. 

Perhaps    the    confusion    between    the    foreign 
merlette — which  is  drawn  like  a  duck  without  wings,  feet,  or  forked 
tail — and  the  martlet  may  account  for  the  idea  that  the  martlet  should 
be  depicted  without  a  beak. 

i  It  is  very  seldom  that  the  martlet  occurs  except  close,  and  conse- 
quently it  is  never  so  specified  in  blazon.  An  instance,  however,  in 
which  it  occurs  '*  rising "  will  be  found  in  the 
crest  of  a  family  of  Smith,  and  there  are  a 
number  of  instances  in  ■  which  it  is  volant 
(Fig.  466). 

The   SwalloWf   as   distinct  from   the  martlet,   is 
sometimes  met  with. 

A  swallow  'Wolant"  appears  upon  the  arms 
usually  ascribed  to  the  town  of  Arundel.  These, 
however,  are  not  recorded  as  arms  in  the  Visita- 
tion books,  the  design  being  merely  noted  as  a 
seal  device,  and  one  hesitates  to  assert  definitely 
what  the  status  of  the  design  in  question  may  be.  The  pun  upon 
"  I'hirondelle  "  was  too  good  for  ancient  heralds  to  pass  by. 

The  Swan  (Fig.  467)  is  a  very  favourite  charge,  and  will  be  found 
both  as  a  crest  and  as  a  charge  upon  a  shield,  and  in  all  varieties  of 
position.  It  is  usually,  however,  when  appearing  as  a  charge,  to  be 
found  '^  close."  A  swan  couchant  appears  as  the  crest  of  Barttelot,  a 
swan  regardant  as  the  crest  of  Swaby,  and  a  swan  "  rising "  will  be 
found  as  a  crest  of  Guise  and  as  a  charge  upon  the  arms  of  Muntz. 
Swimming  in  water  it  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Stilwell,  and  a  swan  to 
which  the  unusual  term  of  "  rousant "  is  sometimes  applied  figures  as 


Fig.  467. — Swan. 


Fig.  468.— Cock. 


246    A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  crest  of  Stafford  :  *^  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  per  pale  gules  and 
sable,  a  demi-swan  rousant,  wings  elevated  and  displayed  argent, 
beaked  gules."  It  is,  however,  more  usually 
blazoned  as :  ''  A  demi-swan  issuant  (from  the 
coronet,  per  pale  gules  and  sable  "). 

Swans'  heads  and  necks  are  not  often  met  with 
as  a  charge,  though  they  occur  in  the  arms  of 
Baker.  As  a  crest  they  are  very  common,  and 
will  be  found  in  the  cases  of  Lindsay  and  Bates. 

The  Duck — with  its  varieties   of   the  moorhen 
and    eider-duck — is    sometimes    met     with,     and 
appears    in   the   arms   of   Duckworth   and  Billiat. 
Few  better  canting  examples  can  be  found  than 
the  latter  coat,  in  which  the  duck  is  holding  the  billet  in  its  bill. 

The  other  domestic  bird — the  Cock — is  often  met  with,  though  it 
more  often  figures  as  a  crest  than  upon  a  shield.  A  cock  '^  proper  " 
is  generally  represented  of  the  kind  which  in  farmyard  phraseology  is 
known  as  a  gamecock  (Fig.  468).  Nevertheless  the  gamecock — as 
such — does  occur  ;  though  in  these  cases,  when  so  blazoned,  it  is 
usually  depicted  in  the  artificial  form — deprived  of  its  comb  and 
wattles,  as  was  the  case  when  it  was  prepared  for 
cock-fighting.  Birds  of  this  class  are  usually 
met  with,  with,  a  comb  and  wattles,  &c.,  of  a 
different  colour,  and  are  then  termed  ^*  combed  (or 
crested),  wattled,  and  jelopped  " — if  it  is  desired  to 
be  strictly  accurate — ^though  it  will  be  generally 
found  that  the  term  is  dropped  to  "combed  and 
jelopped.''  If  the  bird  is  termed  '*  armed,"  the 
beak  and  spurs  are  thereby  referred  to.  It  occurs 
in  the  arms  of  Handcock  (Lord  Castlemaine) 
["  Ermine,  on  a  chief  sable,  a  dexter  hand  between 
two  cocks  argent "]  and  in  the  arms  of  Cokayne 
["  Argent,  three  cocks  gules,  armed,  crested,  and  jelopped  sable "], 
and  also  in  that  of  Law.  It  likewise  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Aitken. 
The  Sheldrake  appears  occasionally  under  another  name,  i.e,  that  of 
the  Shoveller^  and  as  such  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Jackson,  of 
Doncaster. 

The  gorgeous  plumage  of  the  Peacock  has  of  course  resulted  in  its 
frequent  employment.  It  has  a  special  term  of  its  own,  being  stated 
to  be  "  in  his  pride  "  when  shown  affronte,  and  with  the  tail  displayed 
(Fig.  469).  It  is  seldom  met  with  except  in  this  position,  though  the 
well-known  crest  of  Harcourt  is  an  example  to  the  contrary,  as  is  the 
crest  of  Sir  Jamsetjee  Jejeebhoy,   Bart.,  viz.  "A  mount  vert,  thereon 


Fig.  469. — Peacock  in 
his  pride. 


Fig.  470. — Crane  in  its 
vigilance. 


BIRDS  247 

a  peacock  amidst  wheat,  and  in  the  beak  an  ear  of  wheat  all  proper." 

With  the  tail  closed  it  also  figures  as  one  of  the  supporters  of  Sir 

Robert    Hart,    Bart.    ['<  Sinister,    a    peacock    close 

proper "] :  its  only  appearance  in   such   a  position 

that  I  am  aware  of. 

A   peacock's   tail    is    not   a   familiar   figure    in 

British  armory,  though  the  exact  contrary  is  the 

case    in    German    practices.       "  Issuant    from    the 

mouth   of   a   boar's   head  erect "  it  occurs  as  the 

crest     of    Tyrell,    and    *'  A    plume    of    peacock's 

feathers" — which    perhaps    is    the    same    thing — 

*^  issuant    from    the    side    of    a    chapeau"    is    the 

crest  of  Lord  Sefton. 

Another  bird  for  which   heraldry   has   created 

a  term  of  its  own  is  the  Crane,      It  is  seldom  met  with  except  holding 

a  stone  in  its  claw,  the   term  for  which  stone    is   its   **  vigilance,"  a 

curious   old   fable,  which  explains  the  whole  matter,  being  that  the 

crane   held  the   stone   in   its   foot   so  that   if   by   any   chance  it    fell 

asleep,  the  stone,  by  dropping,  would  awaken  it,  and  thus  act  as   its 

"vigilance"  (Fig.  470).  It  is  a  pity  that  the  truth  of  such  a  charming 
example  of  the  old  world  should  be  dissipated  by 
the  fact  that  the  crest  of  Cranstoun  is  the  crane 
asleep — or  rather  dormant — with  its  head  under 
its  wing,  and  nevertheless  holding  its  ^^  vigilance  " 
in  its  foot  1  The  crane  is  not  often  met  with, 
but  it  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Cranstoun,  with  the 
curious  and  rather  perplexing  motto,  *'Thou  shalt 
want  ere  I  want."  Before  leaving  the  crane,  it 
may  be  of  interest  to  observe  that  the  deriva- 
tion of  the  word  "  pedigree  "  is  from  pied  de  grue^ 

Fig.  47 1 -—Stork  holding  ^j^g  appearance  of  a  crane's  foot  and  the  branching 

in  Its  beak  a  snake.  .  \^    ...  .  . 

lines  indicative  of  issue  being  similar  in  shape. 

Heraldic  representation  makes  little  if  any  difference  when  depict- 
ing a  crane,  a  stork,  or  a  heron,  except  that  the  tuft  on  the  head  of 
the  latter  is  never  omitted  when  a  heron  is  intended. 

Instances  of  the  Stork  are  of  fairly  frequent  occurrence,  the  usual 
heraldic  method  of  depicting  the  bird  being  with  the  wings  close. 

More  often  than  not  the  stork  is  met  with  a  snake  in  its  beak 
(Fig.  471)  ;  and  the  fact  that  a  heron  is  also  generally  provided  with 
an  eel  to  play  with  adds  to  the  confusion. 

The  Heron — or,  as  it  was  anciently  more  frequently  termed  heraldic- 
ally,  the  Heme  (Fig.  472) — will  naturally  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
Hearne  and  some  number  of  other  coats  and  crests. 


Fig.  472. — Heron. 


Fig.  473. — Raven. 


dm}ft\  UtrtU 


248     A  COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  Raven  (Fig.  473)  occurs  almost  as  early  as  any  other  heraldic 
bird.  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  Danish  device.  The  powerful  Norman 
family  of  Corbet,  one  of  the  few  remaining  families  which  can  show  an 

unbroken  male  descent  from 
the  time  of  the  Conquest  to 
the  present  day,  have  always 
remained  faithful  to  the  raven, 
though  they  have  added  to  it 
sometimes  a  bordure  or  ad- 
ditional numbers  of  its  kind. 
''  Or,  a  raven  sable,"  the 
well-known  Corbet  coat,  is, 
of  course,  a  canting  allusion 
to  their  Norman  name,  or 
nickname,  '^  Le  Corbeau."  Their  name,  like  their  pedigree,  is  unique, 
inasmuch  as  it  is  one  of  the  few  names  of  undoubted  Norman  origin 
which  are  not  territorial,  and  possibly  the  fact  that  their  lands  of 
Moreton  Corbett,  one  of  their  chief  seats,  were  known  by  their  name 
has  assisted  in  the  perpetuation  of  what 
was,  originally,  undoubtedly  a  personal 
nickname. 

'Fig.  474  is  a  striking  example  of  the 
virility  which  can  be  imparted  to  the  raven. 
It  is  reproduced  from  Griinenberg's  <^  Book 
of  Arms"  (1483).  Strohl  suggests  it  may 
be  of  "  Corbie "  in  Picardy,  but  the  identity 
of  the  arms  leads  one  to  fancy  the  name 
attached  may  be  a  misdescription  of  the 
English  family  of  Corbet. 

Heraldically,  no  difference  is  made  in 
depicting  the  raven,  the  rook,  and  the  crow  ; 
and  examples  of  the  Crow  will  be  found 
in   the   arms   of   Crawhall,  and   of  the  Rook 

in  the  crest  of  Abraham.  The  arms  of  the  Yorkshire  family  of 
Creyke  are  always  blazoned  as  rooks,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
they  may  possibly  have  been  originally  creykesy  or  corn-crakes. 

The  Cornish  Chough  is  very  much  more  frequently  met  with  than 
either  the  crow,  rook,  or  raven,  and  it  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Bewley, 
the  town  of  Canterbury,  and  (as  a  crest)  of  Cornwall. 

It  can  only  be  distinguished  from  the  raven  in  heraldic  repre- 
sentations by  the  fact  that  the  Cornish  chough  is  always  depicted  and 
frequently  blazoned  as  ^'  beaked  and  legged  gules,"  as  it  is  found  in 
its  natural  state. 


Fig.  474. 


BIRDS  249 

775^  Owl  (Fig.  475),  too,  is  a  very  favourite  bird.  It  is  always 
depicted  with  the  face  affronte,  though  the  body  is  not  usually 
so  placed.  It  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Leeds — which,  by  the  way, 
are  an  example  of  colour  upon  colour — Oldham,  and  Dewsbury. 
In  the  crest  of  Brimacombe  the  wings  are  open,  a  most  unusual 
position. 

77i^  Lark  will  be  found  in  many  cases  of  arms  or  crests  for  families 
of  the  name  of  Clarke. 

The  Parroty  or,  as  it  is  more  frequently  termed  heraldically,  the 
Popinjay  (Fig.  476),  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Lumley  and  other 


Fig.  47$. — Owl. 


Fig.  476. — Popinjay. 


Fig.  477. — Moorcock. 


families.  It  also  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Curzon  :  *^  Argent,  on  a  bend 
sable  three  popinjays  or,  collared  gules." 

There  is  nothing  about  the  bird,  or  its  representations,  which  needs 
special  remark,  and  its  usual  heraldic  form  follows  nature  pretty 
closely. 

The  Moorcock  or  Heathcock  is  curious,  inasmuch  as  there  are  two 
distinct  forms  in  which  it  is  depicted.  Neither  of  them  are  correct 
from  the  natural  point  of  view,  and  they  seem  to  be  pretty  well  inter- 
changeable from  the  heraldic  point  of  view.  The  bird  is  always 
represented  with  the  head  and  body  of  an  ordinary  cock,  but  some- 
times it  is  given  the  wide  flat  tail  of  black  game,  and  sometimes  a 
curious  tail  of  two  or  more  erect  feathers  at  right  angles  to  its  body 
(Fig.  477). 

Though  usually  represented  close,  it  occurs  sometimes  with  open 
wings,  as  in  the  crest  of  a  certain  family  of  Moore. 

Many  other  birds  are  to  be  met  with  in  heraldry,  but  they  have 
nothing  at  all  especial  in  their  bearing,  and  no  special  rules  govern 
them. 

The  Lapwtngj  under  its  alternative  names  of  Peewhtty  Plover,  and 
Tyrwhitty  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Downes,  Tyrwhitt,  and  Tweedy. 

The  Pheasant  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of  Scott-Gatty ,  and  the  King- 
fisher in  many  cases  of  arms  of  the  name  of  Fisher. 


250     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  Magpie  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Dusgate,  and  in  those  of  Finch. 
Woodward  mentions  an  instance  in  which  the  Bird  of  Paradise 
occurs  (p.  267);  *^  Argent,  on  a  terrace  vert,  a  cannon  mounted  or, 
supporting  a  Bird  of  Paradise  proper  "  [Rjevski  and  Yeropkin]  ;  and 
the  arms  of  Thornton  show  upon  a  canton  the  Swedish  bird  tjader : 
**  Ermine,  a  chevron  sable  between  three  hawthorn  trees  eradicated 
proper,  a  canton  or,  thereon  the  Swedish  bird 
tjader,  or  cock  of  the  wood,  also  proper."  Two 
similar  birds  were  granted  to  the  first  Sir  Edward 
Thornton,  G.C.B.,  as  supporters,  he  being  a  Knight 
Grand  Cross. 

Single  feathers  as  charges  upon  a  shield  are 

sometimes  met  with,  as  in  the  '<  shield  for  peace  " 

of   Edward  the   Black   Prince   (Fig.  478)  and  in 

the    arms    of    Clarendon.      These    two    examples 

are,  however,  derivatives  from  the  historic  ostrich- 

^"fo-r''/fa«"'of  e!S   feather  badges  of  the  English  Royal  Family,  and 

the  Black  Prince  {d.    will  be  more  conveniently  dealt  with  later  when 

c^/rkh  feather  with    considering  the   subject  of   badges.     The   single 

scrolls  argent.    (From    feather  cnfiled  by  the  circlet  of  crosses  patee  and 

buVcathedrai.)  ^"  ^^'    fleurs-de-Hs,   which  is   borne   upon    a   canton    of 

augmentation   upon  the   arms    of  Gull,    Bart.,   is 

likewise  a  derivative,  but  feathers  as  a  charge  occur  in  the  arms  of 

Jervis :  "  Argent,  six  ostrich  feathers,  three,  two,  and  one  sable."     A 

modern   coat  founded  upon  this,  in   which  the   ostrich  feathers   are 

placed  upon  a  pile,  between  two  bombshells  fracted  in  base,  belongs 

to  a  family  of  a  very  similar  name,  and  the  crest  granted  therewith  is 

a   single  ostrich  feather  between  two  bombs  fired.     Cock's  feathers 

occur  as  charges  in  the  arms  of  Galpin. 

'  In  relation  to  the  crest,  feathers  are  constantly  to  be  found,  which  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  inasmuch  as  fighting  and  tournament  helmets, 
when  actually  in  use,  frequently  did  not  carry  the  actual  crests  of  the 
owners,  but  were  simply  adorned  with  the  plume  of  ostrich  feathers. 
A  curious  instance  of  this  will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  family  of 
Dymoke  of  Scrivelsby,  the  Honourable  the  King's  Champions.  The 
crest  is  really  :  "  Upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  the  two  ears  of  an 
ass  sable,"  though  other  crests  [^^  i.  a  sword  erect  proper  ;  2.  a  lion 
as  in  the  arms  "]  are  sometimes  made  use  of.  When  the  Champion 
performs  his  service  at  a  Coronation  the  shield  which  is  carried  by 
his  esquire  is  not  that  of  his  sovereign,  but  is  emblazoned  with  his 
personal  arms  of  Dymoke  :  '^  Sable,  two  lions  passant  in  pale  argent, 
ducally  crowned  or."  The  helmet  of  the  Champion  is  decorated  with 
a  triple  plume  of  ostrich  feathers  and  not  with  the  Dymoke  crest.     In 


BIRDS  251 

old  representations  of  tournaments  and  warfare  the  helmet  will  far 
oftener  be  found  simply  adorned  with  a  plume  of  ostrich  feathers  than 
with  a  heritable  crest,  and  consequently  such  a  plume  has  remained 
in  use  as  the  crest  of  a  very  large  number  of  families.  This  point  is, 
however,  more  fully  dealt  with  in  the  chapter  upon  crests. 

The  plume  of  ostrich  feathers  is,  moreover,  attributed  as  a  crest  to 
a  far  greater  number  of  families  than  it  really  belongs  to,  because  if  a 
family  possessed  no  crest  the  helmet  was  generally  ornamented  with  a 
plume  of  ostrich  feathers,  which  later  generations  have  accepted  and 
adopted  as  their  heritable  crest,  when  it  never  possessed  such  a 
character.  A  notable  instance  of  this  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of 
Astley,  as  given  in  the  Peerage  Books. 

The  number  of  feathers  in  a  plume  requires  to  be  stated  ;  it  will 
usually  be  found  to  be  three,  five,  or  seven,  though  sometimes  a  larger 
number  are  met  with.  When  it  is  termed  a  double  plume  they  are 
arranged  in  two  rows,  the  one  issuing  above  the  other,  and  a  triple 
plume  is  arranged  in  three  rows  ;  and  though  it  is  correct  to  speak  of 
any  number  of  feathers  as  a  plume,  it  will  usually  be  found  that  the 
word  is  reserved  for  five  or  more,  whilst  a  plume  of  three  feathers  would 
more  frequently  be  termed  three  ostrich  feathers.  Whilst  they  are 
usually  white,  they  are  also  found  of  varied  colours,  and  there  is  even 
an  instance  to  be  met  with  of  ostrich  feathers  of  ermine.  When  the 
feathers  are  of  different  colours  they  need  to  be  carefully  blazoned  ; 
if  alternately,  it  is  enough  to  use  the  word  <' alternately,"  the  feather 
at  the  extreme  dexter  side  being  depicted  of  the  colour  first  mentioned. 
In  a  plume  which  is  of  three  colours,  care  must  be  used  in  noting  the 
arrangement  of  the  colours,  the  colours  first  mentioned  being  that  of 
the  dexter  feather  ;  the  others  then  follow  from  dexter  to  sinister,  the 
fourth  feather  commencing  the  series  of  colours  again.  If  any  other 
arrangement  of  the  colours  occurs  it  must  be  specifically  detailed. 
The  rainbow-hued  plume  from  which  the  crest  of  Sir  Reginald  Barne- 
wall  ^  issues  is  the  most  variegated  instance  I  have  met  with. 

Two  peacock's  feathers  in  saltire  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of  a 
family  of  Gatehouse,  and  also  occur  in  the  crest  of  Crisp-Molineux- 
Montgomerie.  The  pen  in  heraldry  is  always  of  course  of  the  quill 
variety,  and  consequently  should  not  be  mistaken  for  a  single  feather. 
The  term  *^  penned "  is  used  when  the  quill  of  a  feather  is  of  a 
different  colour  from  the  remainder  of  it.  Ostrich  and  other  feathers 
are  very  frequently  found  on  either  side  of  a  crest,  both  in  British  and 
Continental  armory  ;  but  though  often  met  with  in  this  position,  there 
is  nothing  peculiar  about  this  use  in  such  character.    German  heraldry 

*  Upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  from  a  plume  of  five  ostrich  feathers  or,  gules,  azure,  vert,  and 
argent,  a  falcon  rising  of  the  last ;  with  the  motto,  "  Malo  mori  quam  foedari." 


252     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

has  evolved  one  use  of  the  peacock's  feather,  or  rather  for  the  eye  from 
the  peacock's  feather,  which  happily  has  not  yet  reached  this  country. 
It  will  be  found  adorning  the  outer  edges  of  every  kind  of  object,  and 
it  even  occurs  on  occasion  as  a  kind  of  dorsal  fin  down  the  back  of 
animals.  Bunches  of  cock's  feathers  are  also  frequently  made  use  of 
for  the  same  purpose.  There  has  been  considerable  diversity  in  the 
method  of  depicting  the  ostrich  feather.  In  its  earliest  form  it  was 
stiff  and  erect  as  if  cut  from  a  piece  of  board  (Fig.  478),  but  gradually, 
as  the  realistic  type  of  heraldic  art  came  into  vogue,  it  was  represented 
more  naturally  and  with  flowing  and  drooping  curves.  Of  later  years, 
however,  we  have  followed  the  example  of  His  Majesty  when  Prince  of 
Wales  and  reverted  to  the  earlier  form,  and  it  is  now  very  general  to 
give  to  the  ostrich  feather  the  stiff  and  straight  appearance  which  it 
originally  possessed  when  heraldically  depicted.  Occasionally  a  plume 
of  ostrich  feathers  is  found  enclosed  in  a  *'case,"  that  is,  wrapped 
about  the  lower  part  as  if  it  were  a  bouquet,  and  this  form  is  the  more 
usual  in  Germany.  In  German  heraldry  these  plumes  are  constantly 
met  with  in  the  colours  of  the  arms,  or  charged  with  the  whole  or  a 
part  of  the  device  upon  the  shield.  It  is  not  a  common  practice  in 
this  country,  but  an  instance  of  it  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Lord 
Waldegrave :  ^^  Per  pale  argent  and  gules.  Crest :  out  of  a  ducal 
coronet  or  a  plume  of  five  ostrich  feathers,  the  first  two  argent,  the 
third  per  pale  argent  and  gules,  and  the  last  two  gules." 


CHAPTER   XV 

FISH 

HERALDRY  has  a  system  of  *'  natural "  history  all  its  very  own, 
and  included  in  the  comprehensive  heraldic  term  of  fish  are 
dolphins,  whales,  and  other  creatures.  There  are  certain 
terms  which  apply  to  heraldic  fish  which  should  be  noted.  A  fish  in 
a  horizontal  position  is  termed  *'  naiant,"  whether  it  is  in  or  upon 
water  or  merely  depicted  as  a  charge  upon  a  shield.  A  fish  is  termed 
"  hauriant "  if  it  is  in  a  perpendicular  position,  but  though  it  will 
usually  be  represented  with  the  head  upwards  in  default  of  any  specific 
direction  to  the  contrary,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  this  is  always 
the  case,  and  it  is  more  correct  to  state  whether  the  head  is  upwards 
or  downwards,  a  practice  which  it  is  usually  found  will  be  conformed 
to.  When  the  charges  upon  a  shield  are  simply  blazoned  as  '^  fish," 
no  particular  care  need  be  taken  to  represent  any  particular  variety, 
but  on  the  other  hand  it  is  not  in  such  cases  usual  to  add  any  dis- 
tinctive signs  by  which  a  charge  which  is  merely  a  fish  might  become 
identified  as  any  particular  kind  of  fish. 

The  heraldic  representations  of  the  Dolphin  are  strangely  dissimilar 
from  the  real  creature,  and  also  show  amongst  themselves  a  wide 
variety  and  latitude.  It  is  early  found  in  heraldry,  an'd  no  doubt  its 
great  importance  in  that  science  is  derived  from  its  usage  by  the  Dauphins 
of  France.  Concerning  its  use  by  these  Princes  there  are  all  sorts  of 
curious  legends  told,  the  most  usual  being  that  recited  by  Berry. 

Woodward  refers  to  this  legend,  but  states  that  "in  1343  King  Philip 
of  FvdincQ purchasedihQ  domains  of  Humbert  III.,  Dauphin  de  Viennois," 
and  further  remarks  that  the  legend  in  question  "  seems  to  be  without 
solid  foundation."  But  neither  Woodward  nor  any  other  writer  seems 
to  have  previously  suggested  what  is  doubtless  the  true  explanation, 
that  the  title  of  Dauphin  and  the  province  of  Viennois  were  a  separate 
dignity  of  a  sovereign  character,  to  which  were  attached  certain  terri- 
torial and  sovereign  arms  [^<  Or,  a  dolphin  embowed  azure,  finned  and 
langued  gules "].  The  assumption  of  these  sovereign  arms  with  the 
sovereignty  and  territory  to  which  they  belonged,  was  as  much  a 
matter  of  course  as  the  use  of  separate  arms  for  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster 

253 


Fig.  479. — Dolphin 
naiant. 


Fig.  480. — Dolphin 
hauriant. 


254     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

by  his  present  Majesty  King  Edward  VII.,  or  the  use  of  separate  arms 
for  his  Duchy  of  Cornwall  by  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

Berry  is  wrong  in  asserting  that  no  other  family  were  permitted 
to  display  the  dolphin  in  France,  because  a  very  similar  coat  (but  with 
the  dolphin  lifeless)  to  that  of  the  Dauphin  was  quartered  by  the 
family  of  La  Tour  du  Pin,  who  claimed  descent  from  the  Dauphins 

d'Auvergne,  another  ancient 
House  which  originally  bore 
the  sovereign  title  of  Dauphin. 
A  dolphin  was  the  charge 
upon  the  arms  of  the  Grauff 
von  DalfEn  (Fig.  481). 

The  dolphin  upon  this 
shield,  as  also  that  in  the 
coat  of  the  Dauphin  of  France, 
is  neither  naiant  nor  hauriant, 
but  is  '^  embowed,"  that  is,  with 
the  tail  curved  towards  the 
head.  But  the  term  ^^  embowed  "  really  signifies  nothing  further  than 
"  bent "  in  some  way,  and  as  a  dolphin  is  never  heraldically  de- 
picted straight,  it  is  always  understood  to  be  and  usually  is  termed 
**  embowed,"  though  it  will  generally  be 
'^  naiant  embowed "  (Fig.  479),  or  '*  hau- 
riant embowed"  (Fig.  480).  The  dolphin 
occurs  in  the  arms  of  many  British  families, 
e.g.  in  the  arms  of  Ellis,  Monypenny,  Loder- 
Symonds,  Symonds-Taylor,  Fletcher,  and 
Stuart-French. 

Woodward  states  that  the  dolphin  is 
used  as  a  supporter  by  the  Trevelyans, 
Burnabys,  &c.  In  this  statement  he  is 
clearly  incorrect,  for  neither  of  those  families 

are  entitled  to  or  use  supporters.  But  his  Fig.  481.— Arms  of  the  Grauff 
statement  probably  originates  in  the  practice 
which  in  accordance  with  the  debased  ideas 
of  artistic  decoration  at  one  period  added 
all  sorts  of  fantastic  objects  to  the  edges  of 
a  shield  for  purely  decorative  (!)  purposes. 
The  only  instance  within  my  knowledge  in  which  a  dolphin  figures  as  a 
heraldic  supporter  will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Waterford. 
The  Whale  is  seldom  met  with  in  British  armory,  one  of  its  few 
appearances  being  in  the  arms  of  Whalley,  viz. :  '^  Argent,  three  whales' 
heads  erased  sable," 


von  Dalffin  lett  och  in  Dalffinat 
(Count  von  Dalffin),  which  also 
lies  in  Dauphine  (from  Grunen- 
berg's  "Book  of  Arms"): 
Argent,  a  dolphin  azure  within 
a  bordure  compony  of  the  first 
and  second. 


FISH  255 

The  crest  of  an  Irish  family  named  Yeates  is  said  to  be  :  ^^  A  shark 
issuant  regardant  swallowing  a  man  all  proper/'  and  the  same  device 
is  also  attributed  to  some  number  of  other  families. 

.  Another  curious  piscine  coat  of  arms  is  that  borne,  but  still  un- 
matriculated,  by  the  burgh  of  Inveraray,  namely  :  ^^  The  field  is  the  sea 
proper,  a  net  argent  suspended  to  the  base  from  the  dexter  chief  and 
the  sinister  fess  points,  and  in  chief  two  and  in  base  three  herrings 
entangled  in  the  net." 

Salmon  are  not  infrequently  met  with,  but  they  need  no  specific 
description.  They  occur  in  the  arms  of  Peebles,^  a  coat  of  arms 
which  in  an  alternative  blazon  introduces  to  one's  notice  the  term 
^^  contra-naiant."  The  explanation  of  the  quaint  and  happy  conceit 
of  these  arms  and  motto  is  that  for  every  fish  which  goes  up  the  river 
to  spawn  two  return  to  the  sea.  A  salmon  on  its  back  figures  in  the 
arms  of  the  city  of  Glasgow,  and  also  in  the  arms  of  Lumsden  and 
Finlay,  whilst  other  instances  of  salmon  occur  in  the  arms  of  Blackett- 
Ord,  Sprot,  and  Winlaw. 

The  Herring  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Maconochie,  the  Roach  in  the 
arms  of  Roche  [<^  Gules,  three  roaches  naiant  within  a  bordure  en- 
grailed argent.  Crest :  a  rock,  thereon  a  stork  close,  charged  on  the 
breast  with  a  torteau,  and  holding  in  his  dexter  claw  a  roach  proper  "], 
and  Trout  in  the  arms  of  Troutbeck  ["  Azure,  three  trout  fretted  tete 
a  la  queue  argent ").  The  same  arrangement  of  three  fish  occurs  upon 
the  seal  of  Anstruther  Wester,  but  this  design  unfortunately  has 
never  been  matriculated  as  a  coat  of  arms. 

The  arms  of  Iceland  present  a  curious  charge,  which  is  included 
upon  the  Royal  shield  of  Denmark.  The  coat  in  question  is  :  <'  Gules, 
a  stockfish  argent,  crowned  with  an  open  crown  or."  The  stockfish 
is  a  dried  and  cured  cod,  split  open  and  with  the  head  removed. 

A  Pike  or  Jack  is  more  often  termed  a ''  lucy  "  in  English  heraldry 
and  a  <'ged"  in  Scottish.  Under  its  various  names  it  occurs  in  the 
arms  of  Lucy,  Lucas,  Geddes,  and  Pyke. 

The  Eel  is  sometimes  met  with,  as  in  the  arms  of  Ellis,  and 
though,  as  Woodward  states,  it  is  always  given  a  wavy  form,  the  term 
*^  ondoyant,"  which  he  uses  to  express  this,  has,  I  believe,  no  place  in 
an  English  armorist's  dictionary. 

The  Lobster  and  Crab  are  not  unknown  to  English  armory,  being 
respectively  the  crests  of  the  families  of  Dykes  and  Bridger.  The 
arms  of  Bridger  are :  '^  Argent,  a  chevron  engrailed  sable,  between 
three  crabs  gules."  Lobster  claws  are  a  charge  upon  the  arms  of 
Platt-Higgins. 

^  Armorial  bearings  of  Peebles  (official  blazon) :  Gules,  three  salmon  naiant  in  pale,  the  centre 
towards  the  dexter,  the  others  towards  the  sinister.     Motto :  "  Contra  nando  incrementum." 


256     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  arms  of  Birt  are  given  in  Papworth  as  :  '^  Azure,  a  birthfish 
proper,"  and  of  Bersich  as  :  ^*  Argent,  a  perch  azure."  The  arms  of 
Cobbe  (Bart.,  extinct)  are  :  '^  Per  chevron  gules  and  sable,  in  chief  two 
swans  respecting  and  in  base  a  herring  cob  naiant  proper."  The 
arms  of  Bishop  Robinson  of  Carlisle  were:  ^^ Azure,  a  flying  fish  in 
bend  argent,  on  a  chief  of  the  second,  a  rose 
gules  between  two  torteaux,"  and  the  crest  of  Sir 
Philip  Oakley  Fysh  is :  **  On  a  wreath  of  the 
colours,  issuant  from  a  wreath  of  red  coral,  a  cubit 
arm  vested  azure,  cuffed  argent,  holding  in  the 
hand  a  flying  fish  proper."  The  coat  of  arms  of 
Colston  of  Essex  is :  "  Azure,  two  barbels  hauriant 
respecting  each  other  argent,"  and  a  barbel  occurs 
in  the  crest  of  Binney.  ''Vert,  three  sea-breams 
o     "T!rt^  „    ,.  „    or   hakes   hauriant    argent "    is   the   coat    of    arms 

Fig.  482. — Whelk  shell.         ,   .,  ,    ^  r        -i  r    -r^  -r^  ,       ^ 

attributed  to  a  family  of  Dox  or  Doxey,  and  ''  Or, 
three  chabots  gules "  is  that  of  a  French  family  of  the  name  of 
Chabot.  ''  Barry  wavy  of  six  argent  and  gules,  three  crevices  (crayfish) 
two  and  one  or  "  is  the  coat  of  Atwater.  Codfish  occur  in  the  arms  of 
Beck,  dogfish  in  the  arms  of  Dodds  (which  may,  however,  be  merely 
the  sea-dog  of  the  Dodge  achievement),  flounders  or  flukes  in  the  arms 
of  Arbutt,  garvinfishes  in  the  arms  of  Garvey,  and  gudgeon  in  the 
arms  of  Gobion.  Papworth  also  includes  instances  of  mackerel, 
prawns,  shrimps,  soles,  sparlings,  sturgeon,  sea-urchins,  turbots, 
whales,  and  whelks.  The  whelk  shell  (Fig.  482)  appears  in  the  arms 
of  Storey  and  Wilkinson. 


CHAPTER   XVI 


REPTILES 


IF  armorial  zoology  is  ''  shaky  "  in  its  classification  of  and  dealings 
with  fish,  it  is  most  wonderful  when  its  laws  and  selections  are 
considered  under  the  heading  of  reptiles.  But  with  the  ex- 
ception of  serpents  (of  various  kinds),  the  remainder  must  have  no 
more  than  a  passing  mention. 

The  usual  heraldic  Serpent  is  most  frequently  found  ''nowed,"  that  is, 
interlaced  in  a  knot  (Fig.  483).  There  is  a  certain  well-understood  form 
for  the  interlacing  which  is  always  officially  adhered 
to,  but  of  late  there  has  manifested  itself  amongst 
heraldic  artists  a  desire  to  break  loose  to  a  certain 
extent  from  the  stereotyped  form.  A  serpent  will 
sometimes  be  found  ''  erect "  and  occasionally 
gliding  or  '^  glissant,"  and  sometimes  it  will  be 
met  with  in  a  circle  with  its  tail  in  its  mouth — 
the  ancient  symbol  of  eternity.  Its  constant 
appearance  in  British  armory  is  due  to  the  fact 
that  it  is  symbolically  accepted  as  the  sign  of 
medicine,  and  many  grants  of  arms  made  to 
doctors  and  physicians  introduce  in  some  way 
either  the  serpent  or  the  rod  of  ^sculapius,  or  a  serpent  entwined 
round  a  staff.  A  serpent  embowed  biting  its  tail  occurs  in  the  arms 
of  Falconer,  and  a  serpent  on  its  back  in  the  crest  of  Backhouse. 
Save  for  the  matter  of  position,  the  serpent  of  British  armory  is 
always  drawn  in  a  very  naturalistic  manner.  It  is  otherwise,  how- 
ever, in  Continental  armory,  where  the  serpent  takes  up  a  position 
closely  allied  to  that  of  our  dragon.  It  is  even  sometimes  found  winged, 
and  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Visconti,  which  subsequently  came  into 
use  as  the  arms  of  the  Duchy  of  Milan  (Fig.  484),  have  familiarised 
us  as  far  as  Continental  armory  is  concerned  with  a  form  of  serpent 
which  is  very  different  from  the  real  animal  or  from  our  own  heraldic 
variety.  Another  instance  of  a  serpent  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
the  Irish  family  of  Cotter,  which  are  :  "  Argent,  a  chevron  gules  between 
three  serpents  proper,"  and  the  family  of  Lanigan  O'Keefe  bear  in  one 

257  R 


Fig.  483. — Serpent 
nowed. 


258     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

quarter  of  their  shield  :  ^'  Vert,  three  lizards  in  pale  or."  The  family 
of  Cole  bear  :  "  Argent,  a  chevron  gules  between  three  scorpions  re- 
versed sable/'  a  coat  of  arms  which  is  sometimes  quoted  with  the 
chevron  and  the  scorpions  both  gules  or  both  sable.  The  family  of 
Freed  of  Shropshire  bear  :  ^'  Azure,  three  horse-leeches  ; "  and  the 
family  of  Whitby  bear  :  "Gules,  three  snakes  coiled  or  ;  on  a  chief  of 
the  second,  as  many  pheons  sable."  A  family  of  Sutton  bears :  '^  Or, 
a  newt  vert,  in  chief  a  lion  rampant  gules  all  within  a  bordure  of  the 
last,  and  Papworth  mentions  a  coat  of  arms  for  the  name  of  Ory : 
*' Azure,  a  chameleon  on  a  shady  ground  proper,  in  chief  a  sun  or." 
Another  coat  mentioned  by  Papworth  is  the  arms  of  Bume  :  "  Gules, 
a  steUion  serpent  proper,"  though  what  the  creature  may  be  it  is  im- 
possible to  imagine.  Unfortunately,  when  one  comes  to  examine  so 
many  of  these  curious  coats  of  arms,  one  finds  no  evidence  that  such 
famines  existed,  or  that  there  is  no  official  authority  or  record  of  the 
arms  to  w'hich  reference  can  be  made.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
they  largely  consist  of  misreadings  or  misinterpretations  of  both  names 
and  charges,  and  I  am  sorely  afraid  this  remark  is  the  true  explanation 
of  what  otherwise  would  be  most  strange  and  interesting  curiosities  of 
arms.  Sir  Walter  Scott's  little  story  in  "  Quentin  Durward  "  of  Toison 
d'Or,  who  depicted  the  "  cat  looking  through  the  dairy  window  "  as 
the  arms  of  Childebert,  and  blazoned  it  "  sable  a  musion  passant  or, 
oppressed  with  a  trellis  gules,  clou^  of  the  second,"  gives  in  very  truth 
the  real  origin  of  many  quaint  coats  of  arms  and  heraldic  terms. 
Ancient  heraldic  writers  seem  to  have  amused  themselves  by  inventing 
"  appropriate "  arms  for  mythological  or  historical  personages,  and 
I  verily  believe  that  when  so  doing  they  never  intended  these  arms  to 
stand  for  more  than  examples  of  their  own  wit.  Their  credulous 
successors  incorporated  these  little  witticisms  in  the  rolls  of  arms  they 
collected,  and  one  can  only  hope  that  in  the  distant  future  the  charm- 
ing drawings  of  Mr.  E.  T.  Reed  which  in  recent  years  have  appeared 
in  Punch  may  not  be  used  in  like  manner. 

There  are  but  few  instances  in  English  armory  in  which  the  Toad 
or  Frog  is  met  with.  In  fact,  the  only  instance  which  one  can 
recollect  is  the  coat  of  arms  attributed  to  a  family  of  Botreaux,  who 
are  said  to  have  borne  :  "  Argent,  three  toads  erect  sable."  I  am 
confident,  however,  that  this  coat  of  arms,  if  it  ever  existed,  and  if  it 
could  be  traced  to  its  earliest  sources,  would  be  found  to  be  really 
three  buckets  of  water,  a  canting  allusion  to  the  name.  Toads  of 
course  are  the  charges  on  the  mythical  arms  of  Pharamond. 

Amongst  the  few  instances  I  have  come  across  of  a  snail  in  British 
armory  are  the  crest  of  Slack  of  Derwent  Hill  (^^  in  front  of  a  crescent  or, 
a  snail  proper  ")  and  the  coat  attributed  by  Papworth  to  the  family  of 


Fig.  484. — Arms  of  the  Visconti,  Dukes  of  Milan  :  Argent,  a  serpent  azure,  devouring  a  child  gules. 
(A  wood-carving  from  the  castle  of  Passau  at  the  turn  of  the  fifteenth  century.) 


REPTILES  259 

Bartan  or  Bertane,  who  are  mentioned  as  bearing,  '*  Gules,  three  snails 
argent  in  their  shells  or."  This  coat,  however,  is  not  matriculated  in 
Scotland,  so  that  one  cannot  be  certain  that  it  was  ever  borne.  The 
snail  occurs,  however,  as  the  crest  of  a  family  named  Billers,  and  is 
also  attributed  to  several  other  families  as  a  crest. 

Lizards  appear  occasionally  in  heraldry,  though  more  frequently 
in  Irish  than  English  or  Scottish  coats  of  arms.  A  lizard  forms  part 
of  the  crest  of  Sillifant,  and  a  hand  grasping  a  lizard  is  the  crest  of 
McCarthy,  and  ^^ Azure,  three  lizards  or"  the  first  quarter  of  the  arms 
of  an  Irish  family  of  the  name  of  Cotter,  who,  however,  blazon  these 
charges  upon  their  shield  as  evetts.  The  family  of  Enys,  who  bear  : 
^'  Argent,  three  wyverns  volant  in  pale  vert,"  probably  derive  tlieir 
arms  from  some  such  source. 


CHAPTER   XVII 


INSECTS 


THE  insect  which  is  most  usually  met  with  in  heraldry  is  un- 
doubtedly the  Bee,  Being  considered,  as  it  is,  the  symbol  of 
industry,  small  wonder  that  it  has  been  so  frequently  adopted. 
It  is  usually  represented  as  if  displayed  upon  the  shield,  and  it  is  then 
termed  volant,  though  of  course  the  real  term  which  will  sometimes  be 
found  used  is  <<  volant  en  arriere"  (Fig.  485).  It  occurs  in  the  arms  of 
Dore,  Beatson,  Abercromby,  Samuel,  and  Sewell, 
either  as  a  charge  or  as  a  crest.  Its  use,  however, 
as  a  crest  is  slightly  more  varied,  inasmuch  as  it 
is  found  walking  in  profile,  and  with  its  wings 
elevated,  and  also  perched  upon  a  thistle  as  in 
the  arms  of  Ferguson.  A  bee-hive  '^with  bees 
diversely  volant "  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Rowe, 
and  the  popularity  of  the  bee  in  British  armory  is 
doubtless  due  to  the  frequent  desire  to  perpetuate 
the  fact  that  the  foundation  of  a  house  has  been  laid 
by  business  industry.     The  fact  that  the  bee  was 


Fig.  485. — Bee  volant. 


adopted  as  a  badge  by  the  Emperor  Napoleon  gave  it  considerable 
importance  in  French  armory,  inasmuch  as  he  assumed  it  for  his  own 
badge,  and  the  mantle  and  pavilion  around  the  armorial  bearings  of 
the  Empire  were  seme  of  these  insects.  They  also  appeared  upon 
his  own  coronation  mantle.  He  adopted  them  under  the  impression, 
which  may  or  may  not  be  correct,  that  they  had  at  one  time  been 
the  badge  of  Childeric,  father  of  Clovis.  The  whole  story  connected 
with  their  assumption  by  Napoleon  has  been  a  matter  of  much 
controversy,  and  little  purpose  would  be  served  by  going  into  the 
matter  here,  but  it  may  be  added  that  Napoleon  changed  the  fleur- 
de-lis  upon  the  chief  in  the  arms  of  Paris  to  golden  bees  upon  a 
chief  of  gules,  and  a  chief  azure,  seme  of  bees  or,  was  added  as 
indicative  of  their  rank  to  the  arms  of  '^  Princes-Grand-Dignitarics 
of  the  Empire."  A  bee-hive  occurs  as  the  crest  of  a  family  named 
Gvvatkin,  and  also  upon  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Kettle  of  Wolver- 
hampton. 

260 


INSECTS  261 

The  Grasshopper  is  most  familiar  as  the  crest  of  the  family  of 
Gresham,  and  this  is  the  origin  of  the  golden  grasshoppers  which  are 
so  constantly  met  with  in  the  city  of  London.  ^'Argent,  a  chevron 
sable  between  three  grasshoppers  vert "  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  Wood- 
ward of  Kent.  Two  of  them  figure  in  the  arms  of  Treacher,  which 
arms  are  now  quartered  by  Bowles. 

Ants  are  but  seldom  met  with.  ^'Argent,  six  ants,  three,  two,  and 
one  sable,"  is  a  coat  given  by  Pap  worth  to  a  family  of  the  name  of 
Tregent ;  "  Vert,  an  ant  argent,"  to  Kendiffe  ;  and  ^'  Argent,  a  chevron 
vert  between  three  beetles  proper"  are  the  arms  attributed  by  the 
same  authority  to  a  family  named  Muschamp.  There  can  be  little 
doubt,  however,  that  these  ^^  beetles  "  should  be  described  as  flies. 

Butterflies  figure  in  the  arms  of  Papillon  ["Azure,  a  chevron 
between  three  butterflies  volant  argent "]  and  in  the  arms  of  Penhellicke 
[''  Sable,  three  butterflies  volant  argent "]. 

Gadflies  are  to  be  found  in  a  coat  of  arms  for  the  name  of  Adams 
["  Per  pale  argent  and  gules,  a  chevron  between  three  gadflies  counter- 
changed  "],  and  also  in  the  arms  of  Somerscales,  quartered  by 
Skeet  of  Bishop  Stortford.  '^  Sable,  a  hornet  argent "  is  one  blazon 
for  the  arms  of  Bollord  or  Bolloure,  but  elsewhere  the  same  coat  is 
blazoned :  ''  Sable,  a  harvest-fly  in  pale  volant  en  arriere  argent." 
Harvest  flies  were  the  charges  on  the  arms  of  the  late  Sir  Edward 
Watkin,  Bart. 

Crickets  appear  in  the  arms  ['^  azure,  a  fire  chest  argent,  flames 
proper,  between  three  crickets  or  "]  recently  granted  to  Sir  George 
Anderson  Critchett,  Bart. 

The  arms  of  Bassano  (really  of  foreign  origin  and  not  an  English 
coat)  are :  "  Per  chevron  vert  and  argent,  in  chief  three  silkworm  flies 
palewise  en  arriere,  and  in  base  a  mulberry  branch  all  counterchanged." 
"  Per  pale  gules  and  azure,  three  stag-beetles,  wings  extended  or,"  is 
assigned  by  Papworth  to  the  Cornish  family  of  Dore,  but  elsewhere 
these  charges  (under  the  same  family  name)  are  quoted  as  bees,  gadflies, 
and  flies.  '^  Or,  three  spiders  azure  "  is  quoted  as  a  coat  for  Chettle. 
A  spider  also  figures  as  a  charge  on  the  arms  of  Macara.  The  crest  of 
Thorndyke  of  Great  Carleton,  Lincolnshire,  is  :  ''  On  a  wreath  of  the 
colours  a  damask  rose  proper,  leaves  and  thorns  vert,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  shield  a  beetle  or  scarabaeus  proper." 

Woodward,  in  concluding  his  chapter  upon  insects,  quotes  the  arms 
of  the  family  of  Pullici  of  Verona,  viz. :  ''  Or,  sem6  of  fleas  sable,  two 
bends  gules,  surmounted  by  two  bends  sinister  of  the  same." 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

TREES,    LEAVES,    FRUITS,    AND    FLOWERS 


Fig 


THE  vegetable  kingdom  plays  an  important  part  in  heraldry. 
Trees  will  be  found  of  all  varieties  and  in  all  numbers,  and 
though  little  difference  is  made  in  the  appearance  of  many 
varieties  when  they  are  heraldically  depicted,  for  canting  purposes  the 
various  names  are  carefully  preserved.  When,  however,  no  name  is 
specified,  they  are  generally  drawn  after  the  fashion  of  oak-trees. 

When  a  tree  issues  from  the  ground  it  will  usually 
be   blazoned    "issuant    from   a    mount    vert,"    but 
when  the  roots  are  shown  it  is  termed  ''  eradicated." 
A    Hurst  of  Trees  figures   both   on   the   shield 
and  in  the  crest  of  France-Hayhurst,  and  in  the 
arms  of  Lord  Lismore  ['^  Argent,  in  base  a  mount 
vert,  on  the  dexter  side  a  hurst  of  oak-trees,  there- 
from issuing  a  wolf  passant  towards  the  sinister,  all 
proper "].     A  hurst  of  elm-trees  very  properly   is 
the   crest  of   the  family  of   Elmhurst.      Under  the 
description  of  a  forest,  a  number  of  trees  figure  in 
the  arms  of  Forrest. 
The  arms  of  Walkinshaw  of  that  Ilk  are  :  '*  Argent,  a  grove  of  fir- 
trees  proper,"    and  Walkinshaw   of   BarrOwfield   and   Walkinshaw   of 
London  have  matriculated  more  or  less  similar  arms. 

The  Oak-Tree  (Fig.  486)  is  of  course  the  tree  most  frequently  met 
with.  Perhaps  the  most  famous  coat  in  which  it  occurs  will  be  found  in 
the  arms  granted  to  Colonel  Carlos,  to  commemorate  his  risky  sojourn 
with  King  Charles  in  the  oak-tree  at  Boscobel,  after  the  King's  flight 
subsequent  to  the  ill-fated  battle  of  Worcester.  The  coat  was :  ^*  Or, 
on  a  mount  in  base  vert,  an  oak-tree  proper,  fructed  or,  surmounted 
by  a  fess  gules,  charged  w^ith  three  imperial  crowns  of  the  -  third " 
(Plate  II.). 

Fir-Trees  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Greg,  Melles,  De  la  Ferte, 
and  Farquharson. 

A  Cedar-Tree  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Montefiore  ["Argent,  a  cedar- 
tree,  between  two  mounts  of  flowers  proper,  on  a  chief  azure,  a  dagger 

26? 


486. — An  oak-tree 
eradicated. 


TREES,   LEAVES,   FRUITS,    AND    FLOWERS     263 

erect  proper,  pommel  and  hilt  or,  between  two  mullets  of  six  points 
gold"],  and  a  hawthorn-tree  in  the  arms  of  MacMurrogh-Murphy, 
Thornton,  and  in  the  crest  of  Kynnersley. 

A  Maple-Tree  figures  in  the  arms  of  Lord  Mount-Stephen  ["  Or,  on 
a  mount  vert,  a  maple-tree  proper,  in  chief  two  fleurs-de-lis  azure  "], 
and  in  the  crest  of  Lord  Strathcona  ['*  On  a  mount  vert,  a  maple-tree, 
at  the  base  thereof  a  beaver  gnawing  the  trunk  all  proper  "]. 

A  Cocoanut-Tree  is  the  principal  charge  in  the  arms  of  Glasgow 
(now  Robertson-Glasgow)  of  Montgrennan,  matriculated  in  1807 
[^<  Argent,  a  cocoanut-tree  fructed  proper,  growing  out  of  a  mount  in 
base  vert,  on  a  chief  azure,  a  shakefork  between  a  martlet  on  the 
dexter  and  a  salmon  on  the  sinister  argent,  the  last  holding  in  the 
mouth  a  ring  or  "]. 

The  arms  of  Clifford  afford  an  instance  of  a  Coffee-  Tree,  and  the 
coat  of  Chambers  has  a  negro  cutting  down  a  Sugar-Cane, 

A  Palm-Tree  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Besant  and  in  the  armorials  of 
many  other  families.  The  crest  of  Grimke-Drayton  affords  an  instance 
of  the  use  of  palmetto-trees.  An  Olive-Trce  is  the  crest  of  Tancred, 
and  a  Laurel-Tree  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Somers. 

Cypress-Trees  are  quoted  by  Papworth  in  the  arms  of  Birkin,  pro- 
bably an  error  for  birch-trees,  but  the  cypress  does  occur  in  the  arms 
of  Tardy,  Comte  de  Montravel  ["  Argent,  three  cypress-trees  eradicated 
vert,  on  a  chief  gules,  as  many  bezants  "],  and  ^'  Or,  a  willow  (salix) 
proper  "  is  the  coat  of  the  Counts  de  Salis  (now  Fane-de-Salis). 

The  arms  of  Sweetland,  granted  in  i8o8,  are:  ^'Argent,  on  a 
mount  vert,  an  orange-tree  fructed  proper,  on  a  chief  embattled  gules, 
three  roses  of  the  field,  barbed  and  seeded  also  proper." 

A  Mountain' Ash  figures  in  the  shield  and  crest  of  Wigan,  and  a 
Walnut-Tree  is  the  crest  of  Waller,  of  Groombridge  [^'  On  a  mount 
vert,  a  walnut-tree  proper,  on  the  sinister  side  an  escutcheon  pendent, 
charged  with  the  arms  of  France,  and  thereupon  a  label  of  three 
points  argent."] 

The  arms  of  Arkwrighf  afford  an  example  of  a  Cotton-Tree. 

The  curious  crest  of  Sir  John  Leman,  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
affords  an  instance  of  a  Lemon-Tree  [''  In  a  lemon-tree  proper,  a  pelican 
in  her  piety  proper  "]. 

The  arms  of  a  family  whose  name  appears  to  have  been  variously 
spelled  Estwere,  Estwrey,  Estewer,  Estower,  and  Esture,  have  :  ^*  Upon 
an  argent  field  a  tree  proper,"  variously  described  as  an  apple-tree,  an 
ash-tree,  and  a  cherry-tree.  The  probabilities  largely  point  to  its  being 
an  ash-tree.  ''  Or,  on  a  mount  in  base  vert,  a  pear-tree  fructed  proper  " 
is  the  coat  of  arms  of  Pyrton  or  Peryton,  and  the  arms  granted  in 
1 591   to   Dr.   Lopus,  a  physician   to  Queen  Elizabeth,  were :  '' Or,  a 


264     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

pomegranate-tree  eradicated  vert,  fructed  gold,  supported  by  a  hart 
rampant  proper,  crowned  and  attired  of  the  first." 

A  Poplar  Tree  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Gandolfi,  but  probably  the 
prime  curiosity  must  be  the  coat  of  Abank,  which  Papworth  gives  as  : 
^^  Argent,  a  China-cokar  tree  vert."  Its  botanical  identity  remains  a 
mystery. 

Trunks  of  Trees  for  some  curious  reason  play  a  prominent  part  in 
heraldry.  The  arms  of  Borough,  of  Chetwynd  Park,  granted  in  1702, 
are  :  '*  Argent,  on  a  mount  in  base,  in  base  the  trunk  of  an  oak-tree 
sprouting  out  two  branches  proper,  with  the  shield  of  Pallas  hanging 
thereon  or,  fastened  by  a  belt  gules,"  and  the  arms  of  Houlds worth 
(1868)  of  Gonaldston,  co.  Notts,  are:  ^'Ermine,  the  trunk  of  a  tree 
in  bend  raguly  eradicated  at  the  base  proper,  between  three  foxes* 
heads,  two  in  chief  and  one  in  base  erased  gules." 

But  it  is  as  a  crest  that  this  figure  of  the  withered  trunk  sprout- 
ing again  is  most  often  met  with,  it  being  assigned  to  no  less  than 
forty-three  families. 

In  England  again,  by  one  of  those  curious  fads  by  which  certain 
objects  were  repeated  over  and  over  again  in  the  wretched  designs 
granted  by  the  late  Sir  Albert  Woods,  Garter,  in  spite  of  their  unsuita- 
bility,  tree-trunks  fesswise  eradicated  and  sprouting  are  constantly 
met  with  either  as  the  basis  of  the  crest  or  placed  ^'  in  front  of  it "  to 
help  in  providing  the  differences  and  distinctions  which  he  insisted 
upon  in  a  new  grant.  An  example  of  such  use  of  it  will  be  found  in 
the  arms  of  the  town  of  Abergavenny. 

Stocks  of  Trees  '*  couped  and  eradicated  "  are  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon. They  figure  in  the  arms  of  the  Borough  of  WoodvStock  :  ^'  Gules, 
the  stump  of  a  tree  couped  and  eradicated  argent,  and  in  chief  three 
stags'  heads  caboshed  of  the  same,  all  within  a  bordure  of  the  last 
charged  with  eight  oak-leaves  vert."  They  also  occur  in  the  arms  of 
Grove,  of  Shenston  Park,  co.  Stafford,  and  in  the  arms  of  Stubbs. 

The  arms  matriculated  in  Lyon  Register  by  Capt.  Peter  Winchester 
(c,  1672-7)  are  :  ^'Argent,  a  vine  growing  out  of  the  base,  leaved  and 
fructed,  between  two  papingoes  endorsed  feeding  upon  the  clusters 
all  proper."  The  vine  also  appears  in  the  arms  of  Ruspoli,  and  the 
family  of  Archer-Houblon  bear  for  the  latter  name:  <^ Argent,  on  a 
mount  in  base,  three  hop-poles  erect  with  hop-vines  all  proper." 

The  town  of  St.  Ives  (Cornwall)  has  no  authorised  arms,  but  those 
usually  attributed  to  the  town  are :  <^  Argent,  an  ivy  branch  over- 
spreading the  whole  field  vert." 

*'  Gules,  a  flaming  bush  on  the  top  of  a  mount  proper,  between 
three  lions  rampant  argent,  in  the  flanks  two  roses  of  the  last "  is  the 
coat  of  Brander  (now  Dunbar-Brander)  of  Pitgavenny.      Holly-bushes 


TREES,    LEAVES,    FRUITS,   AND    FLOWERS     265 

are  also  met  with,  as  in  the  crests  of  Daiibeney  and  Crackanthorpe, 
and  a  rose-bush  as  in  the  crest  of  Inverarity. 

The  arms  of  Owen,  co.  Pembroke,  are  :  ''  Gules,  a  boar  argent, 
armed,  bristled,  collared,  and  chained  or  to  a  holly-bush  on  a  mount 
in  base  both  proper." 

A  Fern-Brake  is  another  stock  object  used  in  designing  modern 
crests,  and  will  be  found  in  the  cases  of  Harter,  Scott-Gatty,  and  Lloyd. 

Branches  are  constantly  occurring,  but  they  are  usually  oak, 
laurel,  palm,  or  holly.  They  need  to  be  distinguished  from  ^'  slips," 
which  are  much  smaller  and  wdth  fewer  leaves.  Definite  rules  of 
distinction  between  e.g.  an  acorn  ^'  slipped,"  a  slip  of  oak,  and  an  oak- 
branch  have  been  laid  down  by  purists,  but  no  such  minute  detail  is 
officially  observed,  and  it  seems  better  to  leave  the  point  to  general 
artistic  discretion  ;  the  colloquial  difference  between  a  slip  and  a  branch 
being  quite  a  sufficient  guide  upon  the  point. 

An  example  of  an  Oak-Branch  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Aikman,  and 
another,  which  is  rather  curious,  is  the  crest  of  Accrington.^ 

Oak-SlipSj  on  the  other  hand,  occur  in  the  arms  of  Baldwin. 

A  Palm-Branch  occurs  in  the  crests  of  Innes,  Chafy,  and  Corfield 

Laurel-Branches  occur  in  the  arms  of  Cooper,  and  sprigs  of  laurel 
in  the  arms  of  Meeking. 

Holly-Branches  are  chiefly  found  in  the  arms  of  families  named 
Irvine  or  Irwin,  but  they  are  invariably  blazoned  as  *'  sheaves "  of 
holly  or  as  holly-branches  of  three  leaves.  To  a  certain  extent  this 
is  a  misnomer,  because  the  so-called  "  branch  "  is  merely  three  holly- 
leaves  tied  together. 

*'  Argent,  an  almond-slip  proper "  is  the  coat  of  arms  attributed 
to  a  family  of  Almond,  and  Papworth  assigns  "  Argent,  a  barberry- 
branch  fructed  proper  "  to  Berry. 

^<  Argent,  three  sprigs  of  balm  flowered  proper "  is  stated  to  be 
the  coat  of  a  family  named  Balme,  and  ''  Argent,  three  teasels  slipped 
proper "  the  coat  of  Bowden,  whilst  Boden  of  the  Friary  bears, 
^'  Argent,  a  chevron  sable  between  three  teasels  proper,  a  bordure  of 
the  second."  A  teasle  on  a  canton  figures  in  the  arms  of  Chichester- 
Constable. 

The  Company  of  Tobacco-Pipe  Makers  in  London,  incorporated 
in  the  year  1663,  bore:  '^Argent,  on  a  mount  in  base  vert,  three 
plants  of  tobacco  growing  and  flowering  all  proper."  The  crest 
recently  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Lipton,  Bart.  [''  On  a  wreath  of  the 
colours,  two  arms  in   saltire,  the  dexter  surmounted   by  the  sinister 

^  Arms  of  Accrington  :  Gules,  on  a  fess  argent,  a  shuttle  fesswise  proper,  in  base  two  printing 
cylinders,  issuant  therefrom  a  piece  of  calico  (parsley  pattern)  also  proper,  on  a  chief  per  pale  or 
and  vert,  a  lion  rampant  purpure  and  a  stag  current  or  ;  and  for  the  crest,  an  oak-branch  bent 
chevronwise,  sprouting  and  leaved  proper,  fructed  or.    Motto  :  "  Industry  and  prudence  conquer." 


266     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

holding  a  sprig  of  the  tea-plant  erect,  and  the  other  a  hke  sprig  of 
the  cotfee-plant  both  sUpped  and  leaved  proper,  vested  above  the 
elbow  argent "],  affords  an  example  of  both  the  coffee-plant  and  the 
tea-plant,  which  have  both  assisted  him  so  materially  in  piling  up  his 
immense  fortune.  ^'  Or,  three  birch-twigs  sable "  is  the  coat  of 
Birches,  and  *^  Or,  a  bunch  of  nettles  vert "  is  the  coat  of  Mallerby 
of  Devonshire.     The  pun  in  the  last  case  is  apparent. 

The  Cotton-Plant  figures  in  the  arms  of  the  towns  of  Darwen, 
Rochdale,  and  Nelson,  and  two  culms  of  the  papyrus  plant  occur  in 
the  arms  of  the  town  of  Bury. 

The  Coffee-Plant  also  figures  in  the  arms  of  Yockney  :  ^'  Azure,  a 
chevron  or,  between  a  ship  under  sail  in  chief  proper,  and  a  sprig  of 
the  coffee-plant  slipped  in  base  of  the  second." 

A  branch,  slip,  bush,  or  tree  is  termed  <<  fructed "  when  the  fruit 
is  shown,  though  the  term  is  usually  disregarded  unless  '^  fructed " 
of  a  different  colour.  When  represented  as  ^'fructed,"  the  fruit  is 
usually  drawn  out  of  all  proportion  to  its  relative  size. 

Leaves  are  not  infrequent  in  their  appearance.  Holly-leaves  occur 
in  the  various  coats  for  most  people  of  the  name  of  Irwin  and  Irvine, 
as  already  mentioned.  Laurel-leaves  occur  in  the  arms  of  Leveson- 
Gower,  Foulis,  and  Foulds. 

Oak-Leaves  occur  in  the  arms  of  Trelawney  [^'  Argent,  a  chevron 
sable,  between  three  oak-leaves  slipped  proper  "]  ;  and  hazel-leaves  in 
the  arms  of  Hesilrige  or  Hazlerigg  [''  Argent,  a  chevron  sable,  between 
three  hazel-leaves  vert]. 

*^  Argent,  three  edock  (dock  or  burdock)  leaves  vert "  is  the  coat  of 
Hepburn.  Papworth  assigns  ^^  Argent,  an  aspen  leaf  proper"  to  Aspinal, 
and  "Or,  a  betony-leaf  proper"  to  Betty.  "Argent,  three  aspen- 
leaves  "  is  an  unauthorised  coat  used  by  Espin,  and  the  same  coat  with 
varying  tinctures  is  assigned  to  Cogan.  Killach  is  stated  to  bear  : 
"  Azure,  three  bay-leaves  argent,"  and  to  Woodward,  of  Little  Walsing- 
ham,  Norfolk,  was  granted  in  1806  :  "Vert,  three  mulberry-leaves  or." 

The  Maple-Leaf  has  been  generally  adopted  as  a  Canadian  emblem, 
and  consequently  figures  upon  the  arms  of  that  Dominion,  and  in  the 
arms  of  many  families  which  have  or  have  had  Canadian  associations. 

"  Vert,  three  vine-leaves  or  "  is  assigned  by  Papworth  to  Wortford, 
and  the  same  authority  mentions  coats  in  which  woodbine-leaves  occur 
for  Browne,  Theme,  and  Gamboa.  Rose-leaves  occur  in  the  arms 
of  Utermarck,  and  walnut-leaves  figure  in  the  arms  of  Waller. 

A  curious  leaf — usually  called  the  "sea-leaf,"  which  is  properly 
the  '^nenuphar-leaf,"  is  often  met  with  in  German  heraldry,  as  are 
Linden  leaves. 

Although  theoretically  leaves,  the  trefoil,  quatrefoil,  and  cinquefoil 


TREES,    LEAVES,   FRUITS,   AND    FLOWERS     267 

are  a  class  by  themselves,  having  a  recognised  heraldic  status  as 
exclusively  heraldic  charges,  and  the  quatrefoil  and  cinquefoil,  in  spite 
of  the  derivation  of  their  names,  are  as  likely  to  have  been  originally 
flowers  as  leaves. 

The  heraldic  Trefoil  (Fig.  487),  though  frequently  specifically  de- 
scribed as  ''  slipped,"  is  nevertheless  always  so  depicted,  and  it  is  not 
necessary  to  so  describe  it.  Of  late  a  tendency  has  been  noticeable  in 
paintings  from  Ulster's  Office  to  represent  the  trefoil  in  a  way  more 
nearly  approaching  the  Irish  shamrock,  from  which  it  has  undoubtedly 
been  derived.     Instances  of  the  trefoil  occur  in  the  arms  of  Rodd, 


Fig.  487.— Trefoil. 


Fig.  488.— Quatrefoil. 


Fig.  489. — Cinquefoil. 


Dobree,  MacDermott,  and  Gilmour.  The  crowned  trefoil  is  one  of 
the  national  badges  of  Ireland. 

A  four-leaved  "  lucky "  shamrock  has  been  introduced  into  the 
arms  of  Sir  Robert  Hart,  Bart. 

The  Quatrefoil  (Fig.  488)  is  not  often  met  with,  but  it  occurs  in  the 
arms  of  Eyre,  King,  and  Dreyer. 

The  Cinquefoil  (Fig.  489)  is  of  frequent  appearance,  but,  save  in  ex- 
ceedingly rare  instances,  neither  the  quatrefoil  nor  the  cinquefoil  will  be 
met  with  '^  slipped."  The  constant  occurrence  of  the  cinquefoil  in  early 
rolls  of  arms  is  out  of  all  proportion  to  its  distinctiveness  or  artistic 
beauty,  and  the  frequency  with  which  it  is  met  with  in  conjunction  with 
the  cross  crosslet  points  clearly  to  the  fact  that  there  is  some  allusion 
behind,  if  this  could  only  be  fathomed.  Many  a  man  might  adopt  a 
lion  through  independent  choice,  but  one  would  not  expect  independent 
choice  to  lead  so  many  to  pitch  upon  a  combination  of  cross  crosslets 
and  cinquefoils.  The  cross  crosslets,  I  am  confident,  are  a  later 
addition  in  many  cases,  for  the  original  arms  of  D'Arcy,  for  example, 
were  simply  :  ^^  Argent,  three  cinquefoils  gules."  The  arms  of  the  town 
of  Leicester  are  :  "  Gules,  a  cinquefoil  ermine,"  and  this  is  the  coat  attri- 
buted to  the  family  of  the  De  Beaumonts  or  De  Bellomonts,  Earls  of 
Leicester.  Simon  de  Montfort,  the  great  Earl  of  Leicester,  was  the 
son  or  grandson  of  Amicia,  a  coheir  of  the  former  Earls,  and  as  such 


268     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

entitled  to  quarter  the  arms  of  the  De  Bellomonts.  As  stated  on 
page  117  {vide  Figs.  97  and  98),  there  are  two  coats  attributed  to  De 
Montfort.  His  only  status  in  this  country  depended  solely  upon  the 
De  Bellomont  inheritance,  and,  conformably  with  the  custom  of  the 
period;  we  are  far  more  likely  to  find  him  using  arms  of  De  Bello- 
mont or  De  Beaumont  than  of  Montfort.  From  the  similarity  of 
the  charge  to  the  better-known  Beaumont  arms,  I  am  inclined  to 
think  the  Hon  rampant  to  be  the  real  De  Bellomont  coat.  The 
origin  of  the  cinquefoil  has  yet  to  be  accounted  for.  The  earliest  De 
Bellomont  for  whom  I  can  find  proof  of  user  thereof  is  Robert  "  Fitz- 
Pernell,"  otherwise  De  Bellomont,  who  died  in 
1206,  and  whose  seal  (Fig.  490)  shows  it.  Be 
it  noted  it  is  not  on  a  shield,  and  though  of 
course  this  is  not  proof  in  any  way,  it  is  in 
accord  with  my  suggestion  that  it  is  nothing 
more  than  a  pimpernel  flower  adopted  as  a 
device  or  badge  to  typify  his  own  name  and  his 
mother's  name,  she  being  Pernelle  or  Petron- 
illa,  the  heiress  of  Grantmesnil.  The  cinque- 
FiG.  490.— From  the  seal  of  foil  was  not  the  coat  of  Grantmcsnil  but  a 
^i^c^llt^tllt'^"'^''^  quaint  little  conceit,  and  is  not  therefore  likely 
to  have  been  used  as  a  coat  of  arms  by  the  De 
Bellomonts,  though  no  doubt  they  used  it  as  a  badge  and  device, 
as  no  doubt  did  Simon  de  Montfort.  Simon  de  Montfort  split  Eng- 
land into  two  parties.  Men  were  for  Montfort  or  the  king,  and  those 
that  were  for  De  Montfort  very  probably  took  and  used  his  badge  of 
a  cinquefoil  as  a  party  badge. 

The  cinquefoil  in  its  ordinary  heraldic  form  also  occurs  in  the  arms 
of  Umfraville,  Bardolph,  Hamilton,  and  D'Arcy,  and  sprigs  of  cinquefoil 
will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Hill,  and  in  the  crest  of  Kersey.  The 
cinquefoil  is  sometimes  found  pierced.  The  five-foiled  flower  being 
the  blossom  of  so  many  plants,  what  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
cinquefoils  occur  in  the  arms  of  Fraser,  where  they  are  termed 
**  fraises,"  of  Primrose,  where  they  are  blazoned  *^  primroses,"  and  of 
Lambert,  where  they  are  called  '^  narcissus  flowers." 

The  double  Quatrefoil  is  cited  as  the  English  difference  mark  for 
the  ninth  son,  but  as  these  difference  marks  are  but  seldom  used, 
and  as  ninth  sons  are  somewhat  of  a  rarity,  it  is  seldom  indeed 
that  this  particular  mark  is  seen  in  use.  Personally  I  have  never 
seen  it. 

The  Turnip  makes  an  early  appearance  in  armory,  and  occurs  in  the 
coat  of  Dammant  [*^  Sable,  a  turnip  leaved  proper,  a  chief  or,  gutte- 
de-poix  "]. 


Fig.  491. — Rose. 


TREES,  LEAVES,   FRUITS,  AND   FLOWERS     269 

The  curious  crest  of  Lingen,  which  is  ''  Seven  leeks  root  upwards 

issuing  from  a  ducal  coronet  all  proper/'  is  worthy  of  especial  mention. 

In  considering  flowers  as  a  charge,  a  start  must  naturally  be  made 

with    the    rose,   which  figures   so    prominently    in    the    heraldry    of 

England.  ,  I 

The  heraldic  Rose  until  a  much  later  date  than  its  first  appearance 
in  armory — it  occurs,  however,  at  the  earliest  period — was  always 
represented  in  what  we  now  term  the  ^'conven- 
tional" form,  with  five  displayed  petals  (Fig.  491). 
Accustomed  as  we  are  to  the  more  ornate  form  of 
the  cultivated  rose  of  the  garden,  those  who  speak 
of  the  "  conventional "  heraldic  rose  rather  seem  to 
overlook  that  it  is  an  exact  reproduction  of  the 
wild  rose  of  the  hedgerow,  which,  morever,  has  a 
tendency  to  show  itself  '^  displayed "  and  not  in 
the  more  profile  attitude  we  are  perhaps  accus- 
tomed to.  It  should  also  be  observed  that  the 
earliest  representations  of  the  heraldic  rose  depict 
the  intervening  spaces  between  the  petals  which  are  noticeable  in  the 
wild  rose.  Under  the  Tudor  sovereigns,  the  heraldic  rose  often  shows 
a  double  row  of  petals,  a  fact  which  is  doubtless  accounted  for  by 
the  then  increasing  familiarity  with  the  cultivated  variety,  and  also 
by  the  attempt  to  conjoin  the  rival  emblems  of 
the  warring  factions  of  York  and  Lancaster. 

Though  the  heraldic  rose  is  seldom,  if  ever, 
otherwise  depicted,  it  should  be  described  as 
'^  barbed  vert  "  and  "  seeded  or  "  (or  '^  barbed  and 
seeded  proper  ")  when  the  centre  seeds  and  the 
small  intervening  green  leaves  (the  calyx)  between 
the  petals  are  represented  in  their  natural  colours. 
In  the  reign  of  the  later  Tudor  sovereigns  the  con- 
ventionality of  earlier  heraldic  art  was  slowly  begin- 
^''''  ^andTe^ved.'^'^^'"^  ^^i"g  ^^  givc  Way  to  the  pure  naturalism  towards 
which  heraldic  art  thereafter  steadily  degenerated, 
and  we  find  that  the  rose  then  begins  (both  as  a  Royal  badge  and  else- 
where) to  be  met  with  '^  slipped  and  leaved"  (Fig.  492).  The  Royal 
fleurs-de-lis  are  turned  into  natural  lilies  in  the  grant  of  arms  to  Eton 
College,  and  in  the  grant  to  William  Cope,  Cofferer  to  Henry  VII.,  the 
roses  are  slipped  [''  Argent,  on  a  chevron  azure,  between  three  roses 
gules,  slipped  and  leaved  vert,  as  many  fleurs-de-lis  or.  Crest :  out  of 
a  fleur-de-lis  or,  a  dragon's  head  gules "].  A  rose  when  ''  slipped " 
theoretically  has  only  a  stalk  added,  but  in  practice  it  will  always  have  at 
least  one  leaf  added  to  the  slip,  and  a  rose  ''  slipped  and  leaved  "  would 


270     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

have  a  leaf  on  either  side.  A  rose  ^'  stalked  and  leaved  "  is  not  so 
hmited,  and  will  usually  be  found  with  a  slightly  longer  stalk  and 
several  leaves  ;  but  these  technical  refinements  of  blazon,  which  are 
really  unnecessary;  are  not  greatly  observed  or  taken  into  account. 
The  arms  of  the  Burgh  of  Montrose  afford  an  example  of  a  single  rose 
as  the  only  charge,  although  other  instances  will  be  met  with  in  the 
arms  of  Boscawen,  Viscount  Falmouth  ["  Ermine,  a  rose  gules,  barbed 
and  seeded  proper  "],  and  of  Nightingale,  Bart.  ['*  Per  pale  ermine  and 
gules,  a  rose  counterchanged  "  ]. 

Amongst  the  scores  of  English  arms  in  which  the  rose  figures,  it 
will  be  found  in  the  original  heraldic  form  in  the  case  of  the  arms 
of  Southampton  (Plate  VII.)  ;  and  either  stalked  or 
slipped  in  the  arms  of  Brodribb  and  White-Thom- 
son. A  curious  instance  of  the  use  of  the  rose  will 
be  found  in  the  crest  of  Bewley,  and  the  ^'  culti- 
vated" rose  was  depicted  in  the  emblazonment 
of  the  crest  of  Inverarity,  which  is  a  rose-bush 
proper. 

Heraldry,  with  its  roses,  has  accomplished 
what  horticulture  has  not.  There  is  an  old  legend 
that  when  Henry  VII.  succeeded  to  the  English 
throne  some  enterprising  individual  produced  a 
natural  parti-coloured  rose  which  answered  to  the  conjoined  heraldic 
rose  of  gules  and  argent.  Our  roses  "  or  "  may  really  find  their  natural 
counterpart  in  the  primrose,  but  the  arms  of  Rochefort  [^'  Quarterly  or 
and  azure,  four  roses  counterchanged  "]  give  us  the  blue  rose,  the  arms 
of  Berendon  [^^  Argent,  three  roses  sable  "]  give  us  the  black  rose,  and 
the  coat  of  Smallshaw  [^'  Argent,  a  rose  vert,  between  three  shakeforks 
sable  "]  is  the  long-desired  green  rose. 

The  Thistle  (Fig.  493)  ranks  next  to  the  rose  in  British  heraldic 
importance.  Like  the  rose,  the  reason  of  its  assumption  as  a  national 
badge  remains  largely  a  matter  of  mystery,  though  it  is  of  nothing  like 
so  ancient  an  origin.  Of  course  one  knows  the  time-honoured  and 
wholly  impossible  legend  that  its  adoption  as  a  national  symbol  dates 
from  the  battle  of  Largs,  when  one  of  the  Danish  invaders  gave  away 
an  attempted  surprise  by  his  cry  of  agony  caused  by  stepping  bare- 
footed upon  a  thistle. 

The  fact,  however,  remains  that  its  earliest  appearance  is  on  the 
silver  coinage  of  1474,  in  the  reign  of  James  III.,  but  during  that  reign 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  accepted  either  as  a  national  badge 
or  else  as  the  personal  badge  of  the  sovereign.  The  period  in  question 
was  that  in  which  badges  were  so  largely  used,  and  it  is  not  unlikely 
that,  desiring  to  vie   with  his  brother  of  England,  and  fired  by  the 


Fig.  493.— Thistle. 


TREES,    LEAVES,    FRUITS,    AND    FLOWERS     271 

example  of  the  broom  badge  and  the  rose  badge,  the  Scottish  king, 
remembering  the  ancient  legend,  chose  the  thistle  as  his  own  badge. 
In  1540,  when  the  thistle  had  become  recognised  as  one  of  the  national 
emblems  of  the  kingdom,  the  foundation  of  the  Order  of  the  Thistle 
stereotyped  the  fact  for  all  future  time.  The  conventional  heraldic 
representation  of  the  thistle  is  as  it  appears  upon  the  star  of  that  Order, 
that  is,  the  flowered  head  upon  a  short  stalk  with  a  leaf  on  either  side. 
Though  sometimes  represented  of  gold,  it  is  nearly  always  proper. 
It  has  frequently  been  granted  as  an  augmentation,  though  in  such  a 
meaning  it  will  usually  be  found  crowned.  The  coat  of  augmentation 
carried  in  the  first  quarter  of  his  arms  by  Lord  Torphichen  is  :  *^  Argent, 
a  thistle  vert,  flowered  gules  (really  a  thistle  proper),  on  a  chief  azure 
an  imperial  crown  or."  ^'  Sable,  a  thistle  (possibly  really  a  teasel) 
or,  between  three  pheons  argent "  is  the  coat  of  Teesdale,  and  "  Gules, 
three  thistles  or  "  is  attributed  in  Papworth  to  Hawkey.  A  curious 
use  of  the  thistle  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the  National  Bank  of  Scotland 
(granted  1826),  which  are  :  ^^  Or,  the  image  of  St.  Andrew  with  vesture 
vert,  and  surcoat  purpure,  bearing  before  him  the  cross  of  his  martjrdom 
argent,  all  resting  on  a  base  of  the  second,  in  the  dexter  flank  a  garb 
gules,  in  the  sinister  a  ship  in  full  sail  sable,  the  shield  surrounded  xvith 
two  thistles  proper  disposed  in  orle." 

The  Lily  in  its  natural  form  sometimes  occurs,  though  of  course  it 
generally  figures  as  the  fleur-de-lis,  which  will  presently  be  considered. 
The  natural  lily  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Aberdeen  University,  of 
Dundee,  and  in  the  crests  of  various  families  of  the  name  of  Chadvvick. 
It  also  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the  College  of  St.  Mary  the  Virgin,  at 
Eton  ["  Sable,  three  lifies  argent,  on  a  chief  per  pale  azure  and  gules 
a  fleur-de-lis  on  the  dexter  side,  and  a  lion  passant  guardant  or  on  the 
sinister  "].  Here  they  doubtless  typify  the  Virgin,  to  whom  they  have 
reference  ;  as  also  in  the  case  of  Marylebone  (Fig.  252). 

The  arms  of  Lilly,  of  Stoke  Prior,  are  :  '^  Gules,  three  lilies  slipped 
argent  ;  "  and  the  arms  of  J.  E.  Lilley,  Esq.,  of  Harrow^  are :  ^'  Azure, 
on  a  pile  between  two  fleurs-de-lis  argent,  a  lily  of  the  valley  eradi- 
cated proper.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  cubit  arm  erect 
proper,  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  argent  and  holding  in  the  hand  two 
lilies  of  the  valley,  leaved  and  slipped  in  saltire,  also  proper." 

Columbine  Flowers  occur  in  the  arms  of  Cadman,  and  Gillyfloivers  in 
the  arms  of  Livingstone.  Fraises — really  the  flowers  of  the  strawberry- 
plant — occur,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  in  the  arms  of  Eraser, 
and  Narcissus  Flowers  in  the  arms  of  Lambeth.  '^  Gules,  three  poppy 
bolles  on  their  stalks  in  fess  or  "  are  the  arms  of  Boiler. 

The  Lotus-Flower^  which  is  now  very  generally  becoming  the  recog- 
nised emblem  of  India,  is  constantly  met  with  in  the  arms  granted  to 


HERALDRY 

in  that  country.  In- 
Sir  Roper  Lethbridge, 
and    the    University   of 

of   General   Sir    Henry 


272     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO 

those   who   have   won   fortune   or   reputation 
stances  in  which  it   occurs  are   the  arms   of 
K.C.I.E.,    Sir    Thomas    Seccombe,    G.C.I.E., 
Madras. 

The  Sylphium-Plant  occurs  in  the  arms 
Augustus  Smyth,  K.C.M.G.,  which  are:  Vert,  a  chevron  erminois, 
charged  with  a  chevron  gules,  between  three  Saracens'  heads  habited 
in  profile  couped  at  the  neck  proper,  and  for  augmentation  a  chief 
argent,  thereon  a  mount  vert  inscribed  with  the  Greek  letters  K  Y  P  A 
gold  and  issuant  therefrom  a  representation  of  the  plant  Silphium 
I.  (of  augmentation)  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a 
mount  vert  inscribed  with  the  aforesaid  Greek 
letters  and  issuant  therefrom  the  Silphium  as  in 
the  arms  ;   2.  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  an  anchor 


proper.     Crests 


ermmois 
Motto  : 


hold- 
"  Vin- 


FiG.  494. — Fleur-de-lis. 

arms    of 


fesswise  sable,  thereon  an    ostrich 
ing  in  the  beak  a  horse-shoe  or. 
cere  est  vivere." 

The  arms  granted  to  Sir  Richard  Quain  were  : 
^'  Argent,  a  chevron  engrailed  azure,  in  chief  two 
fers-de-moline  gules,  and  issuant  from  the  base  a 
rock  covered  wdth  daisies  proper. 

Primroses  occur  (as  was  only 
the    Earl    of     Rosebery    [^^  Vert, 


to  be  expected) 
three    primroses 


in    the 

within  a  double  tressure  flory  counterflory  or "]. 

The  Sunflower  or  Marigold  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Buchan  [<'  A  sun- 
flower in  full  bloom  towards  the  sun  in  the  dexter  chief  "],  and  also 
in  the  arms  granted  in  16 14  to  Florio.  Here,  however,  the  flower  is 
termed  a  heUotrope.  The  arms  in  question  are  :  '^  Azure,  a  heliotrope 
or,  issuing  from  a  stalk  sprouting  from  two  leaves  vert,  in  chief  the  sun 
in  splendour  proper." 

Tulips  occur  in  the  arms  of  Raphael,  and  the  Cornflower  or  Bluehoitle 
in  the  arms  of  Chorley  of  Chorley,  Lanes.  ["  Argent,  a  chevron  gules 
between  three  bluebottles  slipped  proper"],  and  also  in  the  more 
modern  arms  of  that  town. 

Safl'ron- Flowers  are  a  charge  upon  the  arms  of  Player  of  Nottingham. 
The  arms  granted  to  Sir  Edgar  Boehm,  Bart.,  were:  ''Azure,  in  the 
sinister  canton  a  sun  issuant  therefrom  eleven  rays,  over  all  a  clover- 
plant  eradicated  proper." 

The  Fleur-de-Lis, — Few  figures  have  puzzled  the  antiquary  so  much 
as  the  fleur-de-lis.  Countless  origins  have  been  suggested  for  it ;  we 
have  even  lately  had  the  height  of  absurdity  urged  in  a  suggested 
phallic  origin,  which  only  rivals  in 
exploded  legend  that  the  fleurs-de-lis 


ridiculousness    the   long   since 
in  the  arms  of  France  were  a 


TREES,    LEAVES,    FRUITS,   AND    FLOWERS     273 

corrupted    form    of    an    earlier   coat,    "  Azure,    three    toads    or/'   the 
reputed  coat  of  arms  of  Pharamond  ! 

To  France  and  the  arms  of  France  one  must  turn  for  the  origin  of 
the  heraldic  use  of  the  fleur-de-lis.  To  begin  with,  the  form  of  the  fleur- 
de-lis  as  a  mere  presumably  meaningless  form  of  decoration  is  found  long 
before  the  days  of  armory,  in  fact  from  the  earliest  period  of  decora- 
tion. It  is  such  an  essentially  natural  development  of  decoration  that  it 
may  be  accepted  as  such  without  any  attempt  to  give  it  a  meaning  or  any 
symbolism.  Its  earliest  heraldic  appearances  as  the  finial  of  a  sceptre  or 
the  decoration  of  a  coronet  need  not  have  had  any  symbolical  character. 

We  then  find  the  '*  lily "  accepted  as  having  some  symbolical 
reference  to  France,  and  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  iris  was 
known  by  the  name  of  a  lily  until  comparatively  modern  times. 

It  is  curious — though  possibly  in  this  case  it  may  be  only  a  coin- 
cidence— that,  on  a  coin  of  the  Emperor  Hadrian,  Gaul  is  typified  by 
a  female  figure  holding  in  the  hand  a  lily,  the  legend  being,  '^  Restutori 
,Galliae."  The  fleur-de-lis  as  the  finial  of  a  sceptre  and  as  an  ornament 
of  a  crown  can  be  taken  back  to  the  fifth  century.  Fleurs-de-Hs  upon 
crowns  and  coronets  in  France  are  at  least  as  old  as  the  reign  of 
King  Robert  (son  of  Hugh  Capet)  whose  seal  represents  him  crowned 
in  this  manner. 

We  have,  moreover,  the  ancient  legendary  tradition  that  at  the 
baptism  of  Clovis,  King  of  the  Franks,  the  Virgin  (whose  emblem  the 
lily  has  always  been)  sent  a  lily  by  an  angel  as  a  mark  of  her  special 
favour.  It  is  difficult  to  determine  the  exact  date  at  which  this  tradi- 
tion was  invented,  but  its  accepted  character  may  be  judged  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  solemnly  advanced  by  the  French  bishops  at  the 
Council  of  Trent  in  a  dispute  as  to  the  precedence  of  their  sovereign. 
The  old  legend  as  to  Clovis  would  naturally  identify  the  flower  with 
him,  and  it  should  be  noted  that  the  names  Clovis,  Lois,  Loys,  and 
Louis  are  identical.  *'  Loys  "  w^as  the  signature  of  the  kings  of  France 
until  the  time  of  Louis  XIII.  It  is  worth  the  passing  conjecture  that 
what  are  sometimes  termed  "  Cleves  lilies  "  may  be  a  corrupted  form 
of  Clovis  lilies.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  term  *^  fleur-de-lis  " 
is  quite  as  Hkely  to  be  a  corruption  of  ^'  fleur-de-lois  "  as  flower  of  the 
lily.  The  chief  point  is  that  the  desire  was  to  represent  a  /lower  in 
allusion  to  the  old  legend,  without  perhaps  any  very  definite  certainty 
of  the  flower  intended  to  be  represented.  Philip  I.  on  his  seal  (A.D. 
1060)  holds  a  short  staff  terminating  in  a  fleur-de-lis.  The  same 
object  occurs  in  the  great  seal  of  Louis  VII.  In  the  seal  of  his  wife, 
Queen  Constance,  we  find  her  represented  as  holding  in  either  hand  a 
similar  object,  though  in  these  last  cases  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that 
the  objects  are  not  attempts  to  represent  the  natural  flower.     A  signet 

s 


274     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  Louis  VII.  bears  a  single  fleur-de-lis  "  florenc^e  "  (or  flowered),  and 
in  his  reign  the  heraldic  fleur-de-lis  undoubtedly  became  stereotyped 
as  a  symbolical  device,  for  we  find  that  when  in  the  lifetime  of  Louis 
VII.  his  son  Philip  was  crowned,  the  king  prescribed  that  the  prince 
should  wear  *'ses  chausses  appel^es  sandales  ou  bottines  de  soye, 
couleur  bleu  azur^  s^m^e  en  moult  endroits  de  fleurs-de-lys  or,  puis 
aussi  sa  dalmatique  de  meme  couleur  et  ceuvre."  On  the  oval  counter- 
seal  of  Philip  II.  (d,  1223)  appears  a  heraldic  fleur-de-lis.  His  great 
seal,  as  also  that  of  Louis  VIII.,  shows  a  seated  figure  crowned  with 
an  open  crown  of  **  fleurons,"  and  holding  in  his  right  hand  a  flower, 
and  in  his  left  a  sceptre  surmounted  by  a  heraldic  fleur-de-lis  enclosed 
within  a  lozenge-shaped  frame.  On  the  seal  of  Louis  VIII.  the  con- 
junction of  the  essentially  heraldic  fleur-de-lis  (within  the  lozenge-shaped 
head  of  the  sceptre),  and  the  more  natural  flower  held  in  the  hand, 
should  leave  little  if  any  doubt  of  the  intention  to  represent  flowers  in 
the  French  fleurs-de-lis.  The  figure  held  in  the  hand  represents  a 
flower  of  five  petals.  The  upper  pair  turned  inwards  to  touch  the 
centre  one,  and  the  lower  pair  curved  downwards,  leave  the  figure 
with  a  marked  resemblance  both  to  the  iris  and  to  the  conventional 
fleur-de-lis.  The  counter-seal  of- Louis  VIII.  shows  a  Norman-shaped 
shield  seme  of  fleurs-de-lis  of  the  conventional  heraldic  pattern.  By 
then,  of  course,  '^  Azure,  seme-de-lis  or "  had  become  the  fixed  and 
determined  arms  of  France.  By  an  edict  dated  1376,  Charles  V. 
reduced  the  number  of  fleurs-de-lis  in  his- 'shield  to  three:  ''Pour 
symboliser  la  Sainte-Trinite." 

The  claim  of  Edward  III.  to  the  throne  of  France  was  made  on 
the  death  of  Charles  IV.  of  France  in  1328,  but  the  decision  being 
against  him,  he  apparently  acquiesced,  and  did  homage  to  Philip  of 
Valois  (Philip  VI.)  for  Guienne.  Philip,  however,  lent  assistance  to 
David  II.  of  Scotland  against  King  Edward,  who  immediately  renewed 
his  claim  to  France,  assumed  the  arms  and  the  title  of  king  of  that 
country,  and  prepared  for  war.  He  commenced  hostilities  in  1339, 
and  upon  his  new  Great  Seal  (made  in  the  early  part  of  1340)  we  find 
his  arms  represented  upon  shield,  surcoat,  and  housings  as  :  ''  Quarterly, 
I  and  4,  azure,  sem6-de-lis  or  (for  France)  ;  2  and  3,  gules,  three  lions 
passant  guardant  in  pale  or  (for  England)."  The  Royal  Arms  thus 
remained  until  141 1,  when  upon  the  second  Great  Seal  of  Henry  IV. 
the  fleurs-de-lis  in  England  (as  in  France)  were  reduced  to  three  in 
number,  and  so  remained  as  part  of  the  Royal  Arms  of  this  country 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  George  III. 

Fleurs-de-lis  (probably  intended  as  badges  only)  had  figured  upon 
all  the  Great  Seals  of  Edward  III.  On  the  first  seal  (which  with  slight 
alterations  had  also  served  for  both  Edward  I.  and  II.),  a  small  fleur- 


TREES,   LEAVES,    FRUITS,   AND    FLOWERS     275 

de-lis  appears  over  each  of  the  castles  which  had  previously  figured  on 
either  side  of  the  throne.  In  the  second  Great  Seal,  fleurs-de-lis  took 
the  places  of  the  castles. 

The  similarity  of  the  Montgomery  arms  to  the  Royal  Arms  of 
France  has  led  to  all  kinds  of  wild  genealogical  conjectures,  but  at  a 
time  when  the  arms  of  France  were  hardly  determinate,  the  seal  of 
John  de  Mundegumbri  is  met  with,  bearing  a  single  fleur-de-lis,  the 
original  from  which  the  arms  of  Montgomery  were  developed.  Letters 
of  nobility  and  the  name  of  Du  Lis  were  granted  by  Charles  VIL  in 
December  1429  to  the  brothers  of  Joan  of  Arc,  and  the  following 
arms  were  then  assigned  to  them :  *^  Azure,  a  swt)rd  in  pale  proper, 
hilted  and  supporting  on  its  point  an  open  crown  or,  between  two 
fleurs-de-lis  of  the  last." 

The  fleur-de-lis  "  florencee,"  or  the  '*  fleur-de-lis  flowered,"  as  it  is 
termed  in  England,  is  ofiicially  considered  a  distinct  charge  from  the 
simple  fleur-de-lis.  Eve  employs  the  term  "  seeded,"  and  remarks  of 
it:  ''This  being  one  of  the  numerous  instances  of  pedantic,  because 
unnecessary  distinction,  which  showed  marks  of  decadence  ;  for  both 
forms  occur  at  the  same  period,  and  adorn  the  same  object,  evidently 
with  the  same  intention."  The  difference  between  these  forms  really 
is  that  the  fleur-de-lis  is  *' seeded  "  when  a  stalk  having  seeds  at  the  end 
issues  in  the  upper  interstices.  In  a  fleur-de-lis  **  florencee,"  the  natural 
flower  of  a  lily  issues  instead  of  the  seeded  stalk.  This  figure  formed 
the  arms  of  the  city  of  Florence. 

Fleurs-de-lis,  like  all  other  Royal  emblems,  are  frequently  to  be  met 
with  in  the  arms  of  towns,  e.g.  in  the  arms  of  Lancaster,  Maryborough, 
Wakefield,  and  Great  Torrington.  The  arms  of  Wareham  afford  an 
instance  of  fleurs-de-lis  reversed,  and  the  Corporate  Seals  of  Liskeard 
and  Tamworth  merit  reproduction,  did  space  permit,  from  the  designs  of 
the  fleurs-de-lis  which  there  appear.  One  cannot  leave  the  fleur-de-lis 
without  referring  to  one  curious  development  of  it,  viz.  the  leopard's 
face  jessant-de-lis  (Fig.  332),  a  curious  charge  which  undoubtedly 
originated  in  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Cantelupe.  This  charge  is  not 
uncommon,  though  by  no  means  so  usual  as  the  leopard's  face. 
Planch^  considers  that  it  was  originally  derived  from  the  fleur-de-lis, 
the  circular  boss  which  in  early  representations  so  often  figures  as  the 
centre  of  the  fleur-de-lis,  being  merely  decorafed  with,  the  leopard's  face. 
One  can  follow  Planch^  a  bit  further  by  imagining  that  this  face  need 
not  necessarily  be  that  of  a  leopard,  for  at  a  certain  period  all  deco- 
rative art  was  crowded  with  grotesque  masks  whenever  opportunity 
offered.  The  leopard's  face  jessant-de-lis  is  now  represented  as  a 
leopard's  face  with  the  lower  part  of  a  fleur-de-lis  issuing  from  the 
mouth,  and  the  upper  part  rising  from  behind  the  head.     Instances  of 


2/6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

this  charge  occur  as  early  as  the  thirteenth  century  as  the  arms  of  the 
Cantelupe  family,  and  Thomas  de  Cantelupe  having  been  Bishop  of 
Hereford  1275  to  1282,  the  arms  of  that  See  have  since  been  three 
leopards'  faces  jessant-de-lis,  the  distinction  being  that  in  the  arms  of 
the  See  ot  Hereford  the  leopards'  faces  are  reversed. 

The  origin  may  perhaps  make  itself  apparent  when  we  remember 
that  the  earliest  form  of  the  name  was  Cantelowe.  Is  it  not  probable 
that  "  Hons' "  faces  {i.e,  head  de  leo)  may  have  been  suggested  by  the 
name  ?  Possibly,  however,  wolf-heads  may  have  been  meant,  suggested 
by  lupusy  or  by  the  same  analogy  which  gives  us 
wolf-heads  or  wolves  upon  the  arms  of  Low  and 
Lowe. 

Fruit — ^the  remaining  division  of  those  charges 
which  can  be  classed  as  belonging  to  the  vege- 
table kingdom — must  of  necessity  be  but  briefly 
dealt  with. 

Grapes  perhaps  cannot  be  easily  distinguished 
from  vines  (to  which  refer,  page  264),  but  the  arms 
of  Bradway  of  Potscliff,  co.  Gloucester  f'^  Argent, 

Fig.  495. — Pomegranate.  ,  ,ii  ^i  i  ir 

a  chevron  gules  between  three  bunches  of  grapes 
proper  "]  and  of  Viscountess  Beaconsfield,  the  daughter  of  Captain  John 
Viney  Evans  [^'  Argent,  a  bunch  of  grapes  stalked  and  leaved  proper, 
between  two  flaunches  sable,  each  charged  with  a  boar's  head  argent "] 
are  instances  in  point. 

Apples  occur  in  the  arms  of  Robert  Applegarth  (Edward  III.  Roll) 
[*<  Argent,  three  apples  slipped  gules "]  and  *^  Or,  a  chevron  between 
three  apples  gules  "  is  the  coat  of  a  family  named  Southbey. 

Pears  occur  in  the  arms  of  Allcroft,  of  Stokesay  Castle,  Perrins, 
Perry,  Perryman,  and  Pirie. 

Oranges  are  but  seldom  met  with  in  British  heraldry,  but  an  instance 
occurs  in  the  arms  of  Lord  Polwarth,  who  bears  over  the  Hepburn 
quarterings  an  inescutcheon  azure,  an  orange  slipped  and  surmounted 
by  an  imperial  crown  all  proper.  This  was  an  augmentation  conferred 
by  King  William  III.,  and  a  very  similar  augmentation  (in  the  ist  and 
4th  quarters,  azure,  three  oranges  slipped  proper  within  an  orle  of 
thistles  or)  was  granted  to  Livingstone,  Viscount  Teviot. 

The  Pomegranate  (Fig.  495),  which  dimidiated  w^ith  a  rose  was 
one  of  the  badges  of  Queen  Mary,  is  not  infrequently  met  with. 

The  Pineapple  in  heraldry  is  nearly  always  the  fir-cone.  In  the 
arms  of  Perring,  Bart.  [^^  Argent,  on  a  chevron  engrailed  sable  between 
three  pineapples  (fir-cones)  pendent  vert,  as  many  leopards'  faces  of 
the  first.  Crest :  on  a  mount  a  pineapple  (fir-cone)  vert"],  and  in  the 
crest   of    Parkyns,   Bart.  [^'  Out   of  a   ducal   coronet   or,  a   pineapple 


TREES,   LEAVES,    FRUITS,   AND    FLOWERS     277 

proper "],  and  also  in  the  arms  of  Pyne  [''  Gules,  a  chevron  ermine 
between  three  pineapples  or  "]  and  Parkin-Moore,  the  fruit  is  the  lir 
or  pine  cone.  Latterly  the  Hkelihood  of  confusion  has  led  to  the 
general  use  of  the  term  *^  pine-cone  "  in  such  cases,  but  the  ancient 
description  was  certainly  <<  pineapple/'  The  arms  of  John  Apperley, 
as  given  in  the  Edward  III.  Roll,  are:  "Argent,  a  chevron  gules 
between  three  pineapples  (fir-cones)  vert,  slipped  or." 

The  real  pineapple  of  the  present  day  does,  however,  occur,  e.g. 
m  the  arms  of  Benson,  of  Lutwyche,  Shropshire  ["Argent,  on  waves 
of  the  sea,  an  old  English  galley  all  proper,  on  a 
chief  wavy  azure  a  hand  couped  at  the  wrist,  sup- 
porting on  a  dagger  the  scales  of  Justice  between 
two  pineapples  erect  or,  leaved  vert.  Mantling 
azure  and  argent.  Crest:  upon  a  wreath  of  the 
colours,  a  horse  caparisoned,  passant,  proper,  on 
the  breast  a  shield  argent,  charged  with  a  pineapple 
proper.     Motto  :  ^  Leges  arma  tenent  sanctas  '  "]. 

Bean-Pods  occur  in  the  arms  of  Rise  of  Tre- 
wardreva,  co.  Cornwall  ["Argent,  a  chevron  gules 
between  three  bean-pods  vert"],  and  Papworth  ^uppedtritTed. 
mentions  in  the  arms  of  Messarney  an  instance  of 
cherries  ["  Or,  a  chevron  per  pale  gules  and  vert  between  three  cherries 
of  the  second  slipped  of  the  third  "].  Elsewhere,  however,  the  charges 
on  the  shield  of  this  family  are  termed  apples.  Strawberries  occur  in 
the  arms  and  crest  of  Hollist,  and  the  arms  of  Duffield  are :  "  Sable,  a 
chevron  between  three  cloves  or."  The  arms  of  the  Grocers*  Livery 
Company,  granted  in  1531-1532,  are:  "Argent,  a  chevron  gules 
between  nine  cloves,  three,  three  and  three."  The  arms  of  Garwynton 
are  stated  to  be  :  "  Sable,  a  chevron  between  three  heads  of  garlick 
pendent  argent,"  but  another  version  gives  the  charges  as  pomegranates. 
"  Azure,  a  chevron  between  three  gourds  pendent,  slipped  or  "  is  a  coat 
attributed  to  Stukele,  but  here  again  there  is  uncertainty,  as  the  charges 
are  sometimes  quoted  as  pears.  The  arms  of  Bonefeld  are  :  "  Azure,  a 
chevron  between  three  quinces  or."  The  arms  of  Alderberry  are 
naturally :  "  Argent,  three  branches  of  alder-berries  proper."  The 
arms  of  Haseley  of  Suffolk  are  :  "  Argent,  a  fess  gules,  between  three 
hazel-nuts  or,  stalks  and  leaves  vert."  Papworth  also  mentions  the 
arms  of  Tarsell,  viz. :  "  Or,  a  chevron  sable,  between  three  hazel-nuts 
erect,  slipped  gules."  It  would,  however,  seem  more  probable  that 
these  charges  are  really  teazles. 

The  fruit  of  the  oak — the  Acorn  (Fig.  496) — has  already  been 
incidentally  referred  to,  but  other  instances  occur  in  the  arms  of 
Baldwin,  Stable,  and  Huth. 


278     A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Wheat  and  other  grain  is  constantly  met  with  in  British  armory. 
The  arms  of  Bigland  [**  Azure,  two  ears  of  big  wheat  erect  in  fess  and 
bladed  or]  and  of  Cheape  are  examples,  and  others  occur  in  the  arms 
of  Layland-Barratt,  Cross,  and  Rye  [^' Gules,  on  a  bend  argent,  between 
two  ears  of  rye,  stalked,  leaved,  and  slipped  or,  three  crosses  cramponn^ 
sable  "]. 

Garbsy  as  they  are  invariably  termed  heraldically,  are  sheaves,  and 
are  of  very  frequent  occurrence.  The  earliest  appearance  of  the  garb 
(Fig.  497)  in  English  heraldry  is  on  the  seal  of  Ranulph,  Earl  of 
Chester,  who  died  in  1232.  Garbs  therefrom  became  identified  with 
the  Earldom  of  Chester,  and  subsequently  <^  Azure, 
three  garbs  or  "  became  and  still  remain  the  terri- 
torial or  possibly  the  sovereign  coat  of  that  earl- 
dom. Garbs  naturally  figure,  therefore,  in  the 
arms  of  many  families  who  originally  held  land  by 
feudal  tenure  under  the  Earls  of  Chester,  e.g.  the 
families  of  Cholmondeley  [''  Gules,  in  chief  two 
helmets  in  profile  argent,  and  in  base  a  garK  vert "] 
and  Kevilioc  ['^  Azure,  six  garbs,  three,  two,  and 
^    ^  one   or "].      Grosvenor    ['^  Azure,    a   garb    or  "1    is 

Fig.  497.— Garb.  n  x   j  j.t  it  -i  i 

usually  quoted  as  another  example,  and  possibly 
correctly,  but  a  very  interesting  origin  has  been  suggested  by  Mr. 
W.  G.  Taunton  in  his  work  "The  Tauntons  of  Oxford,  by  One  of 
Them  "  :— 

*'  I  merely  wish  to  make  a  few  remarks  of  my  own  that  seem  to 
have  escaped  other  writers  on  genealogical  matters. 

"  In  the  first  place.  Sir  Gilbert  le  Grosvenor,  who  is  stated  to  have 
come  over  with  William  of  Normandy  at  the  Conquest,  is  described  as 
nephew  to  Hugh  Lupus,  Earl  of  Chester  ;  but  Hugh  Lupus  was  himself 
nephew  to  King  William.  Now,  William  could  not  have  been  very  old 
w^hen  he  overthrew  Harold  at  Hastings.  It  seems,  therefore,  rather  im- 
probable that  Sir  Gilbert  le  Grosvenor,  who  was  his  nephew's  nephew, 
could  actually  have  fought  with  him  at  Hastings,  especially  when 
William  lived  to  reign  for  twenty-one  years  after,  and  was  not  very 
old  when  he  died. 

'^The  name  Grosvenor  does  not  occur  in  any  of  the  versions  of 
the  Roll  of  Battle  Abbey.  Not  that  any  of  these  versions  of  this  cele- 
brated Roll  are  considered  authentic  by  modern  critics,  who  say  that 
many  names  were  subsequently  added  by  the  monks  to  please  ambitious 
parvenus.  The  name  Venour  is  on  the  Roll,  however,  and  it  is  just 
possible  that  this  Venour  was  the  Grosvenor  of  our  quest.  The  addition 
of  *  Gros '  would  then  be  subsequent  to  his  fattening  on  the  spoils  of 
the  Saxon  and  cultivating  a  corporation.      '  Venour  '  means  hunter,  and 


TREES,   LEAVES,   FRUITS,   AND   FLOWERS     279 

*  Gros '  means  fat.  Gilbert's  nncle,  Hugh  Lupus,  was,  we  know,  a  fat 
man  ;  in  fact,  he  was  nicknamed  '  Hugh  the  Fat/  The  Grosvenors 
of  that  period  probably  inherited  obesity  from  their  relative,  Hugh 
Lupus,  therefore,  and  the  fable  that  they  were  called  Grosvenor  on 
account  of  their  office  of  ^  Great  Huntsman  '  to  the  Dukes  of  Normandy 
is  not  to  be  relied  on. 

'^We  are  further  on  told  by  the  old  family  historians  that  when 
Sir  Robert  Grosvenor  lost  the  day  in  that  ever-memorable  controversy 
with  Sir  Richard  le  Scrope,  Baron  of  Bolton,  concerning  the  coat  of 
arms — 'Azure,  a  bend  or' — borne  by  both  families,  Sir  Robert  Gros- 
venor took  for  his  arms  one  of  the  garbs  of  his  kinsman,  the  Earl  of 
Chester. 

"  It  did  not  seem  to  occur  to  these  worthies  that  the  Earl  of  Chester, 
who  was  their  ancestor's  uncle,  never  bore  the  garbs  in  his  arms,  but 
a  wolf's  head. 

"  It  is  true  that  one  or  two  subsequent  Earls  of  Chester  bore  garbs, 
but  these  Earls  were  far  too  distantly  connected  with  the  Grosvenors 
to  render  it  likely  that  the  latter  would  borrow  their  new  arms  from 
this  source. 

"  It  is  curious  that  there  should  have  been  in  this  same  county  of 
Chester  a  family  of  almost  identical  name  also  bearing  a  garb  in  their 
arms,  though  their  garb  was  surrounded  by  three  bezants. 

"The  name  of  this  family  was  Grasvenor,  or  Gravenor,  and,  more- 
over, the  tinctures  of  their  arms  were  identical  with  those  of  Grosvenor. 
It  is  far  more  likely,  therefore,  that  the  coat  assumed  by  Sir  Robert 
after  the  adverse  decision  of  the  Court  of  Chivalry  was  taken  from  that 
of  Grasvenor,  or  Gravenor,  and  that  the  two  families  were  known  at 
that  time  to  be  of  common  origin,  although  their  connection  with  each 
other  has  subsequently  been  lost. 

*'  In  French  both  gros  and  gms  mean  fat,  and  we  have  both  forms 
in  Grosvenor  and  Grasvenor. 

"  A  chief  huntsman  to  Royalty  wOuld  have  been  Grandvenor,  not 
Grosvenor  or  Grasvenor. 

<*A11  these  criticisms  of  mine,  however,  only  affect  the  origin  of 
the  arms,  and  not  the  ancient  and  almost  Royal  descent  of  this  illustrious 
race.  Hugh  Lupus,  Earl  of  Chester,  was  a  son  of  the  Duke  of  Brittany, 
as  is  plainly  stated  in  his  epitaph. 

**  This  connection  of  uncle  and  nephew,  then,  between  '  Hugh  the 
Fat '  and  Gilbert  Grosvenor  implies  a  maternal  descent  from  the  Dukes 
of  Brittany  for  the  first  ancestor  of  the  Grosvenor  family. 

*'  In  virtue  of  their  descent  from  an  heiress  of  the  house  of  Grosvenor, 
it  is  only  necessary  to  add  the  Tauntons  of  Oxford  are  Grosvenors, 
heraldically  speaking,  and  that  quartering  so  many  ancient  coats  through 


28o     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  Tanners  and  the  Grosvenors  with  our  brand-new  grant  is  Hke 
putting  old  wine  into  new  bottles. 

'*  Hugh  Lupus  left  no  son  to  succeed  him,  and  the  subsequent 
descent  of  the  Earldom  of  Chester  was  somewhat  erratic.  So  I  think 
there  is  some  point  in  my  arguments  regarding  the  coat  assumed  by 
Sir  Robert  Grosvenor  of  Hulme." 

Though  a  garb,  unless  quoted  otherwise,  is  presumed  to  be  a  sheaf  of 
wheat,  the  term  is  not  so  confined.  The  garbs  in  the  arms  of  Comyn, 
which  figure  as  a  quartering  in  so  many  Scottish  coats,  are  really  of 
cummin,  as  presumably  are  the  garbs  in  the  arms  of  Cummins.  When 
a  garb  is  ^'  banded  "  of  a  different  colour  this  should  be  stated,  and 
Elvin  states  that  it  may  be  ^'  eared  "  of  a  different  colour,  though  I 
confess  I  am  aware  of  no  such  instance. 

^^  Argent,  two  bundles  of  reeds  in  fess  vert,"  is  the  coat  of  Janssen  of 
Wimbledon,  Surrey  (Bart.,  extinct),  and  a  bundle  of  rods  occurs  in  the 
arms  of  Evans,  and  the  crest  of  Harris,  though  in  this  latter  case  it  is 
termed  a  faggot. 

Reeds  also  occur  in  the  crest  of  Reade,  and  the  crest  of  Middlemore 
["  On  a  wreath  of  colours,  a  moorcock  amidst  grass  and  reeds  proper  "] 
furnishes  another  example. 

Bulrushes  occur  in  the  crest  of  Billiat,  and  in  the  arms  of  Scott 
["Argent,  on  a  mount  of  bulrushes  in  base  proper,  a  bull  passant  sable, 
a  chief  pean,  billett^  or  "]. 

6*^55  is  naturally  presumed  on  the  mounts  vert  which  are  so  con- 
stantly met  with,  but  more  definite  instances  can  be  found  in  the  arms 
of  Sykes,  HuUey,  and  Hill. 


CHAPTER   XIX 


INANIMATE    OBJECTS 


IN  dealing  with  those  charges  which  may  be  classed  under  the  above 
description  one  can  safely  say  that  there  is  scarcely  an  object 
under  the  sun  which  has  not  at  some  time  or  other  been  intro- 
duced into  a  coat  of  arms  or  crest.  One  cannot  usefully  make  a  book 
on  armory  assume  the  character  of  a  general  encyclopaedia  of  useful 
knowledge,  and  reference  will  only  be  made  in  this  chapter  to  a 
limited  number,  including  those  which  from  frequent  usage  have 
obtained  a  recognised  heraldic  character.  Mention 
may,  at  the  outset,  be  made  of  certain  letters  of 
the  alphabet.  Instances  of  these  are  scarcely 
common,  but  the  family  of  Kekitmore  may  be 
adduced  as  bearing  '^  Gules,  three  S's  or,"  while 
Bridlington  Priory  had  for  arms :  '^  Per  pale, 
sable  and  argent,  three  B's  counterchanged." 
The  arms  of  Rashleigh  are  :  ^*  Sable,  a  cross  or, 
between  in  the  first  quarter  a  Cornish  chough 
argent,  beaked  and  legged  gules  ;  in  the  second 
a  text  % ;  in  the  third  and  fourth  a  crescent  all 
argent."  Corporate  arms  (in  England)  afford  an  instance  of  alpha- 
betical letters  in  the  case  of  the  B's  on  the  shield  of  Bermondsey. 

The  Anchor  (Fig.  498). — This  charge  figures  very  largely  in  English 
armory,  as  may,  perhaps,  be  looked  for  when  it  is  remembered  that 
maritime  devices  occur  more  frequently  in  sea-board  lands  than  in 
continents.  The  arms  of  the  town  of  Musselburgh  are  :  '*  Azure,  three 
anchors  in  pale,  one  in  the  chief  and  two  in  the  flanks  or,  accompanied 
with  as  many  mussels,  one  in  the  dexter  and  one  in  the  sinister  chief 
points,  and  the  third  in  base  proper."  The  Comtes  de  St.  Cricq,  with 
"  Argent,  two  anchors  in  saltire  sable,  on  a  chief  three  mullets  or,"  will 
be  an  instance  in  point  as  to  France. 

Anvils, — These  are  occasionally  met  with,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
arms  of  a  family  of  the  name  of  Walker,  who  bear  :  ^<  Argent,  on  a 
chevron  gules,  between   two  anvils  in   chief  and   an  anchor   in  base 

sable,  a  bee  between  two  crescents  or.     Mantling  gules  and  argent. 

281 


Fig.  498.— Anchor. 


282     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Crest :  upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  on  a  mount  within  a  wreathed 
serpent  a  dove  all  statant  proper." 

Arches,  castles,  towers,  and  turrets  may  be  exemplified,  amongst 
others,  by  the  following. 

Instances  of  Castles  and  Towers  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Carlyon 
and  Kelly,  and  of  the  former  fractured  castles  will  be  found  in  the  shield 
of  Willoughby  quartered  by  Bertie  ;  while  an  example  of  a  quadrangular 
castle  may  be  seen  in  the  arms  of  Rawson.  The  difference  between  a 
Castle  (Fig.  499)  and  a  Tower  (Fig.  500)  should  be  carefully  noticed, 
and  though  it  is  a  distinction  but  little  observed  in  ancient  days  it  is 


^,n  m 

\^\  'i=y 

1—1=  T     l-i 

P:|        1 =rt 

-i^ 

^  S=l^ 

^^ 

•• 

\       3^^S^ 

; 

\      ^1mRT= 

/ 

\     rl^^^r^ 

/ 

Fig.  499. — Castle. 


Fig.  500. — Tower. 


Fig.  501. — Tower  triple- 
towered. 


now  always  adhered  to.  When  either  castle  or  tower  is  surmounted 
by  smaller  towers  (as  Fig.  501)  it  is  termed  "triple-towered." 

An  instance  of  a  Fortification  as  a  charge  occurs  in  the  shield  of 
Sconce  :  "  Azure,  a  fortification  (sconce)  argent,  masoned  sable,  in  the 
dexter  chief  point  a  mullet  of  six  points  of  the  second." 

Gabions  were  hampers  filled  w^ith  earth,  and  were  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  fortifications  and  earthworks.  They  are  of  occasional 
occurrence  in  English  armory  at  any  rate,  and  may  be  seen  in  the 
shields  of  Christie  and  of  Goodfellow. 

The  arms  of  Banks  supply  an  instance  of  Arches,  Mention  may 
here  perhaps  be  made  of  William  Arches,  who  bore  at  the  siege  of 
Rouen  :  ^<  Gules,  three  double  arches  argent."  The  family  of  Leth- 
bridge  bear  a  bridge,  and  this  charge  figures  in  a  number  of  other 
coats. 

An  Abbey  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Maitland  of  Dundrennan  ['' Argent, 
the  ruins  of  an  old  abbey  on  a  piece  of  ground  all  proper  "],  and  a 
monastery  in  that  of  McLarty  [''Azure,  the  front  of  an  ancient  monas- 
tery argent "].  A  somewhat  isolated  instance  of  a  Temple  occurs  in 
the  shield  of  Templer.  1 

A  curious  canting  grant  of  arms  may  be  seen  in  that  to  the  town 
of  Eccles,  in  w^hich  the  charge  is  an  Ecclesiastical  Btiilditjg,  and  similar 


INANIMATE  OBJECTS  283 

though  somewhat  unusual  charges  figure  also  in  the  quartering  for 
Chappel  [''  Per  chevron  or  and  azure,  in  chief  a  mullet  of  six  points 
between  two  crosses  patee  of  the  last,  and  in  base  the  front  elevation 
of  a  chapel  argent "],  borne  by  Brown-Westhead. 

Arrows  are  very  frequently  found,  and  the  arms  of  Hales  supply 
one  of  the  many  examples  of  this  charge,  while  a  bow — without 
the  arrows — may  be  instanced  in  the  shield  of 
Bowes :  "  Ermine,  three  bows  bent  and  stringed 
palewise  in  fess  proper." 

Arrow-Heads  and  Pheons  are  of  common  usage, 
and  occur  in  the  arms  of  Foster  and  many  other 
families.  Pheons,  it  may  be  noticed  in  passing,  are 
arrow-heads  with  an  inner  engrailed  edge  (Fig.  502), 
while  when  depicted  without  this  peculiarity  they 
are  termed  ''broad  arrows"  (Fig.  503).  This  is 
not  a  distinction  very  stringently  adhered  to. 

Charges   associated  with    warfare  and  military 
defences   are   frequently  to   be   found   both   in   English   and   foreign 
heraldry. 

Battle- Axes  (Fig.  504),  for  example,  may  be  seen  in  the  shield  of 
Firth  and  in  that  of  Renty  in  Artois,  which  has :  *'  Argent,  three 
doloires,  or  broad-axes,  gules,  those  in  chief  addorsed."     In  blazoning 


Fig.  502.— Pheon. 


Fig.  503.— Broad  arrow.  Fig.  504.— Battle-axe.  Fig.  505.— Caltrap, 


a  battle-axe  care  should  be  taken  to  specify  the  fact  if  the  head  is  of 
a  different  colour,  as  is  frequently  the  case. 

The  somewhat  infrequent  device  of  a  Battering- Ram  is  seen  in  the 
arms  of  Bertie,  who  bore :  '^  Argent,  three  battering-rams  fesswise  in 
pale  proper,  armed  and  garnished  azure." 

An  instrument  of  military  defence  consisting  of  an  iron  frame  of  four 
points,  and  called  a  Caltrap  (Fig.  50  5)or  Galtrap  (and  sometimes  a  Cheval 
trap,  from  its  use  of  impeding  the  approach  of  cavalry),  is  found  in  the 
arms  of  Trappe  [''  Argent,  three  caltraps  sable  "],  Gilstrap  and  other 
families  ;  while  French  armory  supplies  us  with  another  example  in 


284     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  case  of  the  family  of  Guetteville  de  Guenonville,  who  bore  for 
arms  :  ^'  D'argent,  sem^e  de  chausse-trapes  de  sable."  Caltraps  are 
also  strewn  upon  the  compartment  upon  which  the  supporters  to  the 
arms  of  the  Earl  of  Perth  are  placed. 

As  the  well-known  badge  of  the  Royal  House  of  Tudor,  the 
Portcullis  (Fig.  506)  is  familiar  to  any  one  conversant  with  Henry  VII.'s 
Chapel  at  Westminster  Abbey,  but  it  also  appears  as  a  charge  in  the 
arms  of  the  family  of  Wingate  ['*  Gules,  a  portcullis  and  a  chief 
embattled  or"],, where  it  forms  an  obvious  pun  on  the  earliest  form 
of  the  name,  viz.  Windygate,  whilst  it  figures  also  as  the  crest  of  the 
Dukes  of   Beaufort  [''A  portcullis   or,  nailed   azure,  chained  of    the 


Fig.  ;o6. — Portcullis. 


Fig.  507. — Beacon. 


Fig.  508.— Grenade. 


first "].  The  disposition  of  the  chains  is  a  matter  always  left  to  the 
discretion  of  the  artist. 

Examples  of  Beacons  (Fig.  507)  are  furnished  by  the  achievements 
of  the  family  of  Compton  and  of  the  town  of  Wolverhampton,  k  fire 
chest  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Critchett  {vide  p.  261). 

Chains  are  singularly  scarce  in  armory,  and  indeed  nearly  wholly 
absent  as  charges^  usually  occurring  where  they  do  as  part  of  the  crest. 
The  English  shield  of  Anderton,  it  is  true,  bears :  ''  Sable,  three  chains 
argent;"  while  another  one  (Duppa  de  Uphaugh)  has:  Quarterly, 
I  and  4,  a  lion's  paw  couped  in  fess  between  two  chains  or,  a  chief 
nebuly  of  the  last,  thereon  two  roses  of  the  first,  barbed  and  seeded 
proper  (for  Duppa)  ;  2  and  3,  party  fess  azure  and  sable,  a  trident 
fesswise  or,  between  three  turbots  argent  (for  Turbutt)."  In  Continental 
heraldry,  however,  chains  are  more  frequently  met  with.  Principal 
amongst  these  cases  maybe  cited  the  arms  of  Navarre  (^' Gules,  a  cross 
saltire  and  double  orle  of  chains,  linked  together  or  "),  while  many 
other  instances  are  found  in  the  armories  of  Southern  France  and 
of  Spain. 

Bombs  or  Grenades  (Fig.  508),  for  Heraldry  does  not  distinguish, 
figure  in  the  shields  of  Vavasseur,  Jervoise,  Boycott,  and  many  other 
families. 


INANIMATE    OBJECTS  285 

Among  the  more  recent  grants  Cannon  have  figured,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Filter  arms  and  in  those  of  the  burgh  of  Portobello  ;  while  an 
earlier  counterpart,  in  the  form  of  a  culverin,  forms  the  charge  of  the 
Leigh  family  :  ^'  Argent,  a  culverin  in  fess  sable." 

The  Column  appears  as  a  crest  in  the  achievement  of  Coles.  Be- 
tween two  cross  crosslets  it  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Adam  of  Maryburgh 
['^Vert,  a  Corinthian  column  with  capital    and  base  in   pale  proper, 


Fig.  509. — Scaling  ladder.         FiG.  510. — Lance  or  javelin. 


Fig.  511. — Tilting-spear. 


between  two  cross  crosslets  fitchee  in  fess  or  "],  while  the  arms  of  the 
See  of  Sodor  and  Man  are  blazoned  :  ''  Argent,  upon  a  pedestal  the 
Virgin  Mary  with  her  arms  extended  between  two  pillars,  in  the 
dexter  hand  a  church  proper,  in  base  the  arms  of  Man  in  an 
escutcheon."  Major,  of  Suffolk,  bears :  ^^  Azure, 
three  Corinthian  columns,  each  surmounted  by 
a  ball,  two  and  one  argent."  It  is  necessary  to 
specify  the  kind  of  column  in  the  blazon. 

Scaling'Ladders  (Fig.   509)  (viz.  ordinary-shaped 
ladders  with  grapnels  affixed  to  the  tops)  are   to  be 
seen  in  the   English  coats  of   D'Urban  and   Lloyd, 
while    the   Veronese    Princes    della   Scala   bore    the    Fig.   512. 
ordinary  ladder ;  ''  Gules,  a  ladder  of  four  steps  in       William       Shake- 

J  '    .  *  speare  the  poet  (<•/. 

pale  argent."  A  further  instance  of  this  form  of  1616):  Or,  on  a 
the  charge  occurs  in  the  Swiss  shield  of  Laiterberg :  sp\"aV'onhe''fieir 
^'  Argent,  two  ladders  in  saltire  gules." 

Spears  and  Spear-Heads  are  to  be  found  in  the  arms  of  niany  families 
both  in  England,  Wales,  and  abroad  ;  for  example,  in  the  arms  of 
Amherst  and  Edwards.  Distinction  must  be  drawn  between  the 
lance  or  javelin  (Fig.  510)  and  the  heraldic  tilting-spear  (Fig.  511), 
particularly  as  the  latter  is  always  depicted  w^ith  the  sharp  point  for 
warfare  instead  of  the  blunted  point  which  was  actually  used  in  the 
tournament.  The  Shakespeare  arms  (Fig.  512)  are:  '^  Or,  on  a  bend 
sable  a  tilting-spear  of  the  field,"  while  "Azure,  a  lance  or  enfiled 


286    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

at  its  point  by  an  annulet  argent "  represents  the  French  family  of 
Danby. 

Spurs  (Fig.  513)  occur  in  coat  armour  as  such  in  the  arms  of 
Knight  and  Harben,  and  also  occasionally  *' winged  "  (Fig.  514),  as  in 
the  crest  of  Johnston. 

Spur-Rowels,  or  Spur-Revels^  are  to  be  met  with  under  that  name,  but 
they  are,  and  are  more  often  termed,  ''  mullets  of  five  points  pierced." 

Examples  of  Stirrups  are  but  infrequent,  and  the  best-known  one  (as 
regards  English  armory)  is  that  of  Scudamore,  while  the  Polish  Counts 
Brzostowski  bore  :  '*  Gules,  a  stirrup  argent,  within  a  bordure  or." 

Stones  are  even  more  rare,  though  a  solitary  example  may  be 
quoted  in  the  arms  of  Staniland  :  Per  pale  or  and  vert,  a  pale  counter- 
changed,  three  eagles  displayed  two  and  one,  and  as  many  flint-stones 
one  and  two  all   proper.     The    "vigilance"    of   the   crane  has  been 


Fig.  513.— Spur. 


Fig.  5 14. — Winged  spur. 


Fig.  515. — Sword. 


already  alluded  to  on  page  247.  The  mention  of  stones  brings  one  to 
the  kindred  subject  of  Catapults*  These  engines  of  war,  needless  to 
say  on  a  very  much  larger  scale  than  the  object  which  is  nowadays 
associated  with  the  term,  were  also  known  by  the  name  balistce,  and  also 
by  that  of  swepe.  Their  occurrence  is  very  infrequent,  but  for  that 
very  reason  one  may,  perhaps,  draw  attention  to  the  arms  of  the 
(English)  family  of  Magnall :  "  Argent,  a  swepe  azure,  charged  with  a 
stone  or." 

Swordsy  differing  in  number,  position,  and  kind  are,  perhaps,  of  this 
class  of  charge  the  most  numerous.  A  single  sword  as  a  charge  may 
be  seen  in  the  shield  of  Dick  of  Wicklow,  and  Macfie,  and  a  sword 
entwined  by  a  serpent  in  that  of  Mackesy.  A  flaming  sword  occurs  in 
the  arms  of  Haddocks  and  Lewis.  Swords  frequently  figure,  too, 
in  the  hands  or  paws  of  supporters,  accordingly  as  the  latter  are 
human  figures  or  animals,  w^hilst  they  figure  as  the  "  supporters " 
themselves  in  the  unique  case  of  the  French  family  of  Bastard, 
whose  shield  is  cottised  by  *^  two  swords,  point  in  base."  The 
heraldic  sword   is  represented  as  Fig.   515,   the  blade  of  the   dagger 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  287 

being   shorter   and   more    pointed.      The    scymitar   follows    the   form 
depicted  in  Fig.  516. 

A  Seax  is  the  term  employed  to  denote  a  curved  scimitar,  or 
falchion,  having  a  notch  at  the  back  of  the  blade  (Fig.  517).  In 
heraldry  the  use  of  this  last  is  fairly  frequent,  though  generally,  it 
must  be  added,  in  shields  of  arms  of  doubtful 
authority.  As  such  they  are  to  be  seen,  amongst 
others,  in  the  reputed  arms  of  Middlesex,  and 
owing  to  this  origin  they  were  included  in  the 
grant  of  arms  to  the  town  of  Ealing.  The  sabre 
and  the  cutlass  when  so  blazoned  follow  their  utili- 
tarian patterns. 

Torches  or  Firebrands  are  depicted  in  the  arms 
and  crest  of  Gillman  and  Tyson. 

Barnacles  (or  Breys) — horse  curbs — occur  in 
some  of  the  earlier  coats,  as  in  the  arms  of  Wyatt 
[^'  Gules,  a  barnacle  argent "],  while  another  family  of  the  same  name 
(or,  possibly,  Wyot)  bore  :  "  Per  fess  gules  and  azure  (one  or)  three 
barnacles  argent "]. 

Bells  are  well  instanced  in  the  shield  of  Porter,  and  the  poet 
Wordsworth  bore :  '^  Argent,  three  bells  azure."  It  may  be  noted  in 
passing  that  in  Continental  armory  the  clapper  is  frequently  of  a  different 


Fig.  516. — Scymitar. 


Fig.  517.— Seax. 


Fig.  518.— Church-bell. 


Fig.  519.— Hawk's  bell. 


tincture  to  that  of  the  bell,  as,  for  instance,  ^'  D' Azure,  a  la  cloche 
d'argent,  butaille  [viz.  with  the  clapper]  de  sable  " — the  arms  of  the 
Comtes  de  Bellegarse.  A  bell  is  assumed  to  be  a  church-bell 
(Fig.  518)  unless  blazoned  as  a  hawk's  bell  (Fig.  519). 

Bridle-Bits  are  of  very  infrequent  use,  though  they  may  be  seen  in 
the  achievement  of  the  family  of  Milner. 

The  Torse  (or  wreath  surmounting  the  helm)  occasionally  figures 
as  a  charge,  for  example,  in  the  arms  of  Jocelyn  and  Joslin. 

The  Buckle  is  a  charge  which  is  of  much  more  general  use  than 
some  of  the  foregoing.      It  appears  very  frequently  both  in  English 


288     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

and  foreign  heraldry — sometimes  oval-shaped  (Fig.  520),  circular 
(Fig.  521),  or  square  (Fig.  522),  but  more  generally  lozenge-shaped 
(Fig.  523),  especially  in  the  case  of  Continental  arms.  A  some- 
what curious  variation  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the  Prussian  Counts 
Wallenrodt,  which  are:  << Gules,  a  lozenge-shaped  buckle  argent,  the 
tongue  broken  in  the  middle."  It  is,  of  course,  purely  an  artistic 
detail  in  all  these  buckles  whether  the  tongue  is 
attached  to  a  crossbar,  as  in  Figs.  520  and  521, 
or  not,  as  in  Figs.  522  and  523.  As  a  badge  the 
buckle  is  used  by  the  Pelhams,  Earls  of  Chichester 
and  Earls  of  Yarborough,  and  a  lozenge-shaped 
arming  buckle  is  the  badge  of  Jerningham. 

Clips  (covered)  appear  in  the  Butler  arms,  and 
derived  therefrom  in  the  arms  of  the  town  of  War- 
rington. Laurie,  of  Maxwelltown,  bear  :  **  Sable, 
a  cup  argent,  issuing  therefrom  a  garland  between 
two  laurel-branches  all  proper,"  and  similar  arms  are 
registered  in  Ireland  for  Lowry.  The  Veronese  family  of  Bicchieri 
bear :  *'  Argent,  a  fess  gules  between  three  drinking-glasses  half-filled 
with  red  wine  proper."  An  uncovered  cup  occurs  in  the  arms  of 
Fox,  derived  by  them  from  the  crest  of  Croker,  and  another  instance 
occurs  in  the  arms  of  a  family  of  Smith.  In  this  connection  we  may 
note  in  passing  the  rare  use  of  the  device  of  a  Vase^  which  forms  a 


Fig.  520. — Oval  buckle. 


< 

.    n 

\ 

I 

^ 

Fig.  521. — Circular 
buckle. 


Fig.  522. — Square 
buckle. 


Fig.   523. — Lozenge- 
shaped  buckle. 


charge  in  the  coat  of  the  town  of  Burslem,  whilst  it  is  also  to  be 
met  with  in  the  crest  of  the  family  of  Doulton  :  ''  On  a  wreath  of 
the  colours,  .a  demi-lion  sable,  holding  in  the  dexter  paw  a  cross 
crosslet  or,  and  resting  the  sinister  upon  an  escutcheon  charged  with 
a  vase  proper."  The  motto  is  perhaps  well  worth  recording  ;  ''  Le 
beau  est  la  splendeur  de  vrai." 

The  arms  of  both  the  city  of  Dundee  and  the  University  of 
Aberdeen  afford  instances  of  a  Pot  of  LilieSy  and  Bowls  occur  in  the  arms 
of  Bolding. 


H 

CO 

W 

u 
12; 

IS 
o 

< 
w 


Q 
O 

< 


INANIMATE    OBJECTS  289 

Though  blazoned  as  a  Cauldron^  the  device  occurring  in  the  crest 
of  De  la  Rue  may  be  perhaps  as  fittingly  described  as  an  open  bowl, 
and  as  such  may  find  a  place  in  this  classification  :  ^<  Between  two 
olive-branches  vert  a  cauldron  gules,  fired  and  issuant  therefrom  a 
snake  nowed  proper."  The  use  of  a  Pitcher  occurs  in  the  arms  of 
Bertrand  de  Monbocher,  who  bore  at  the  siege  of  Carlaverock : 
^'  Argent,  three  pitchers  sable  (sometimes  found  gules)  within  a  bordure 
sable  bezants  ; "  and  the  arms  of  Standish  are  :  ^'  Sable,  three  standing 
dishes  argent." 

The  somewhat  singular  charge  of  a  Chart  appears  in  the  arms  of 
Christopher,  and  also  as  the  crest  of  a  Scottish  family  of  Cook. 


S^ 

I  ill    illllil  j 

Fig.  524. — Chess-rook. 


Fig.  525. — Crescent. 


Fig.  526. — Increscent. 


Chess-Rooks  (Fig.  524)  are  somewhat  favourite  heraldic  devices, 
and  are  to  be  met  with  in  a  shield  of  Smith  and  the  arms  of  Rocke 
of  Clungunford. 

The  Crescent  (Fig.  525)  figures  largely  in  all  armories,  both  as  a 
charge  and  (in  English  heraldry)  as  a  difference. 

Variations,  too,  of  the  form  of  the  crescent  occur,  such  as  when 
the  horns  are  turned  to  the  dexter  (Fig.  526),  when  it  is  termed  ^^  a 
crescent  increscent,"  or  simply  "  an  increscent,"  or  when  they  are 
turned  to  the  sinister — when  it  is  styled  ^Mecrescent "  (Fig.  527).  An 
instance  of  the  crescent  ^'  reversed  "  may  be  seen  in  the  shield  of  the 
Austrian  family  of  Puckberg,  whose  blazon  was:  ^< Azure,  three  crescents, 
those  in  chief  addorsed,  that  in  base  reversed."  In  English  *^  difference 
marks  "  the  crescent  is  used  to  denote  the  second  son,  but  under  this 
character  it  will  be  discussed  later. 

Independently  of  its  use  in  conjunction  with  ecclesiastical  armory, 
the  Crosier  (Fig.  528)  is  not  widely  used  in  ordinary  achievements.  It 
does  occur,  however,  as  a  principal  charge,  as  in  the  arms  of  the  Irish 
family  of  Crozier  and  in  the  arms  of  Benoit  (in  Dauphiny)  ["  Gules,  a 
pastoral  staff  argent "],  while  it  forms  part  of  the  crest  of  Alford. 
The  term  <'  crosier "  is  synonymous  with  the  pastoral  or  episcopal 
staff,  and  is  independent  of  the  cross  which  is  borne  before  (and  not  by) 

T 


290     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Archbishops  and  MetropoUtans.  The  use  of  pastoral  staves  as  charges 
is  also  to  be  seen  in  the  shield  of  Were,  while  MacLaurin  of  Dreghorn 
bears  :  '^  Argent,  a  shepherd's  crook  sable."  The  Palmers  Staff  (Fig.  529) 
has  been  introduced  into  many  coats  of  arms  for  families  having  the 
surname  of  Palmer,  as  has  also  the  palmer's  wallet. 

Cushions,  somewhat  strangely,  form  the  charges  in  a  number  of 
British  shields,  occurring,  for  example,  in  the  arms  of  Brisbane,  and 
on  the  shield  of  the  Johnstone  family.  In  Scottish  heraldry,  indeed, 
cushions  appear  to  have  been  of  very  ancient  (and  general)  use,  and 


Fig.  527.— Decrescent. 


Fig.  528. — Crosier,  or 
pastoral  staff. 


Fig.  529. — Palmer's 

staf£ 


Fig.  530.— Shuttle. 


Fig.  531. — Woolpack. 


Fig.  532. — Escarbuncle. 


are  frequently  to  be  met  with.  The  Earls  of  Moray  bore  :  '*  Argent, 
three  cushions  lozengewise  within  a  double  tressure  flory-counterfiory 
gules,"  but  an  English  example  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Hutton. 

The  Distaff,  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  origin  of  the  lozenge  upon 
which  a  lady  bears  her  arms,  is  seldom  seen  in  heraldry,  but  the  family 
of  Body,  for  instance,  bear  one  in  chief,  and  three  occur  in  the  arms  of 
a  family  of  Lees. 

The  Shuttle  (Fig.  530)  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Shuttleworth,  and  in 
those  of  the  town  of  Leigh,  while  the  shield  of  the  borough  of  Pudsey 
affords  an  illustration  of  shuttles  in  conjunction  with  a  woolpack 
(Fig.  531). 

The  Escarbuncle  (Fig.  532)  is  an  instance  of  a  charge  having  so 
developed  by  the  evolution  of  an  integral  part  of  the  shield  itself.     In 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  291 

ancient  warfare  shields  were  sometimes  strengthened  by  being  bound 
with  iron  bands  radiating  from  the  centre,  and  these  bands,  from  the 
shape  they  assumed,  became  in  course  of  time  a  charge  in  themselves 
under  the  term  escarbuncle. 

The  crest  of  the  Fanmakers'  Company  is  :  ^^  A  hand  couped  proper 
holding  2^  fan  displayed,"  while  the  chief  charge  in  the  arms  is  '<.  .  .a 
fan  displayed  .  .  .  the  sticks  gules."  This,  however,  is  the  only  case 
I  can  cite  of  this  object. 

The  Fasces  (Fig.  533),  emblematic  of  the  Roman  magisterial 
office,  is  very  frequently  introduced  in  grants  of  arms  to  Mayors  and 
Lord  Mayors,  which  no  doubt  accounts  for  its  appearance  in  the  arms 
of  Durning-Lawrence,  Knill,  Evans,  and  Spokes. 

An  instance  of  Fetterlocks  (Fig.  534)  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Kirkwood, 
and  also  in  the  coat  of  Lockhart  and  the  crest  of  Wyndham.     A  chain 


Fig.  533. — Fasces. 


Fig.  534. — Fetterlock. 


Fig.  535. — Fleam. 


is  often  substituted  for  the  bow  of  the  lock.  The  modern  padlock  has 
been  introduced  into  the  grant  of  arms  to  the  town  of  Wolverhampton. 

KeySf  the  emblem  of  St.  Peter,  and,  as  such,  part  of  the  insignia  of 
His  Holiness  the  Pope,  occur  in  many  ecclesiastical  coats,  the  arms  of 
the  Fishmongers'  Livery  Company,  and  many  families. 

Flames  of  Fire  are  not  frequently  met  with,  but  they  are  to  be 
found  in  the  arms  of  Baikie,  and  as  crests  they  figure  in  the  achieve- 
ments of  Graham- Wigan,  and  also  in  conjunction  with  keys  in  that  of 
Flavel.  In  connection  with  certain  other  objects  flames  are  common 
enough.  The  phoenix  always  issues  from  flames,  and  a  salamander  is 
always  in  the  midst  of  flames  (Fig.  437).  The  flaming  sword,  a  device, 
by  the  way,  included  in  the  recent  grant  to  Sir  George  Lewis,  Bart., 
has  been  already  alluded  to,  as  has  also  the  flaming  brand.  A  notable 
example  of  the  torch  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Sir  William  Gull,  Bart,  no 
doubt  an  allusion  (as  is  his  augmentation)  to  the  skill  by  which  he 
kept  the  torch  of  life  burning  in  the  then  Prince  of  Wales  during  his 
serious  illness  in  187 1.  A  flaming  mountain  occurs  as  the  crest  of 
several  families  of  the  name  of  Grant. 


292     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

A  curious  instrument  now  known  nearly  exclusively  in  connection 
with  its  use  by  farriers,  and  termed  a  Fleam  (Fig.  535),  occurs  on  the 
chief  of  the  shield  of  Moore.  A  fleam,  however,  is  the  ancient  form  and 
name  of  a  surgeon's  lancet,  and  some  connection  with  surgery  may  be 
presumed  when  it  occurs.  It  is  one  of  the  charges  in  the  arms  recently 
granted  to  Sir  Frederick  Treves,  Bart. 

Furison. — This  singular  charge  occurs  in  the  shield  of  Black,  and 
also  in  that  of  Steel.  Furisons  were  apparently  the  instruments  by 
which  fire  was  struck  from  flint  stones. 

Charges  in  connection  with  music  and  musical  instruments  do  not 
occur  very  frequently,  though  the  heraldic  use  of  the  Clarion  (Fig.  536) 
and  the  Harp  may  perhaps  be  mentioned.     The  bugle-horn  (Fig.  537) 


\ 

11  III 

1 

/ 

Fig.  536. — Clarion. 


Fig.  537. — Bugle-horn. 


Fig.  538. — Bugle-horn 
stringed. 


also  occurs  <' stringed  "  (Fig.  538),  and  when  the  bands  round  it  are 
of  a  different  colour  it  is  termed  *'  veruled "  or  ^^  virolled "  of  that 
colour. 

The  Human  Hearty  which  should  perhaps  have  been  more  correctly 
referred  to  in  an  earher  chapter,  is  a  charge  which  is  well  known  in 
heraldry,  both  English  and  foreign.  Perhaps  the  best  known  examples 
of  the  heart  ensigned  with  a  crown  is  seen  in  the  shields  of  Douglas 
and  Johnstone.  The  legend  which  accounts  for  the  appearance  of 
this  charge  in  the  arms  of  Douglas  is  too  well  known  to  need 
repetition. 

Ingots  of  silver  occur  in  the  shield  of  the  borough  of  St.  Helens, 
whilst  the  family  of  WooUan  go  one  better  by  bearing  ingots  of  gold. 

A  Maunch  (Fig.  539),  which  is  a  well-known  heraldic  term  for  the 
sleeve,  is,  as  it  is  drawn,  scarcely  recognisable  as  such.  Nevertheless 
its  evolution  can  be  clearly  traced.  The  maunch — which,  of  course, 
as  a  heraldic  charge,  originated  in  the  knightly  *'  favour  "  of  a  lady's 
sleeve — was  borne  from  the  earliest  periods  in  different  tinctures  by 
the  three  historic  families  of  Conyers,  Hastings,  and  Wharton.  Other 
garments  have  been  used  as  heraldic  charges  ;  gloves  in  the  arms  of 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  293 

Fletcher  and  Barttelot  ;  stockings  in  the  arms  of  Hose  ;  a  boot  in  the 
crest  of  Hussy,  and  a  hat  in  the  arms  of  Huth.  Armour  is  frequently 
met  with,  a  cuirass  appearing  in  the  crest  of  Somers,  helmets  in  the 
arms  of  Salvesen,  Trayner,  Roberton,  and  many  other  families,  gauntlets 
(Fig.  540),  which  need  to  be  specified  as  dexter  or  sinister,  in  the  arms 
of  Vane  and  the  crest  of  Burton,  and  a  morion 
(Fig.  541)  in  the  crest  of  Pixley.  The  Garter  is, 
of  course,  due  to  that  Order  of  knighthood  ;  and 
the  Blue  Mantle  of  the  same  Order,  besides  giving 
his  title  to  one  of  the  Pursuivants  of  Arms,  who 
uses  it  as  his  badge,  has  also  been  used  as  a 
charge. 

The  Mill-rind  or  Fer-de-moline  is,  of  course,  as 
its  name  implies,  the  iron  from  the  centre  of  a 
grindstone.  It  is  depicted  in  varying  forms,  more 
or  less  recognisable  as  the  real  thing  (Fig.  542). 


Fig.  539. — Maunch. 


Mirrors  occur  almost  exclusively  in  crests  and  in  connection  with 
mermaids,  who,  as  a  general  rule,  are  represented  as  holding  one  in  the 
dexter  hand  with  a  comb  in  the  sinister.  Very  occasionally,  however, 
mirrors  appear  as  charges,  an  example  being  that  of  the  Counts  Spiegel 
zum  Desenberg,  who  bore  :  ^*  Gules,  three  round  mirrors  argent  in 
square  frames  or." 

Symbols  connected  with  the  Sacred  Passion — other  than  the  cross 
itself — are  not  of  very  general  use  in  armory,  though  there  are  instances 


Fig.  540.— Gauntlet. 


Fig.  541. — Morion. 


Fig.  542. — Mill-rind. 


of  the  Passion-Nails  being  used,  as,  for  example,  in  the  shield  of  Procter 
viz. :  "  Or,  three  passion-nails  sable." 

PeltSy  or  Hides,  occur  in  the  shield  of  Pilter,  and  the  Fleece  has  been 
mentioned  under  the  division  of  Rams  and  Sheep. 

Plummets  (or  Sinkers  used  by  masons)  form  the  charges  in  the  arms 
of  Jennings. 

An  instance  of  a  Pyramid  is  met  with  in  the  crest  of  Malcolm, 
Bart.,  and  an  Obelisk  in  that  of  the  town  of  Todmorden. 


Fig.  543. — Lymphad, 
sail  furled. 


294     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  shield  of  Crookes  affords  an  example  of  two  devices  of  very 
rare  occurrence,  viz.  a  Prism  and  a  Radiometer. 

Water,  lakes,  ships,  &c.,  are  constantly  met  with  in  armory,  but  a 
few  instances  must  suffice.  The  various  methods  of  heraldically  de- 
picting water  have  been  already  referred  to  (pages  88  and  151). 

Three  Wells  figure  in  the  arms  of  Hodsoll,  and  a  masoned  well  in 
that  of  Camberwell.  The  shields  of  Stourton  and  Mansergh  supply 
instances  of  heraldic  Fountains^  whilst  the  arms 
of  Brunner  and  of  Franco  contain  Fountains  of 
the  ordinary  kind.  A  Tarn^  or  Lochj  occurs  in 
the  shield  of  the  family  of  Tarn,  while  Lord  Loch 
bears  :  '*  Or,  a  saltire  engrailed  sable,  between  in 
fess  two  swans  in  water  proper,  all  within  a 
bordure  vert." 

The  use  of  Ships  may  be  instanced  by  the  arms 
of  many  families,  while  a  Galley  or  Lymphad 
(Fig. .  543)  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Campbell, 
Macdonald,  Galbraith,  Macfie,  and  numerous  other 
families,  and  also  in  the  arms  of  the  town  of  Oban. 
Another  instance  of  a  coat  of  arms  in  which  a  galley  appears  will 
be  found  in  the  arms  recently  granted  to  the  burgh  of  Alloa,  while 
the  towns  of  Wandsworth  and  Lerwick  each  afford  instances  of  a 
Dragon  Ship,     The  Prow  of  a  Galley  appears  in  the  arms  of  Pitcher, 

A  modern  form  of  ship  in  the  shape  of  a  Yacht  may  be  seen  in  the 
arms  of  Ryde  ;  while  two  Scottish  famihes  afford  instances  of  the  use 
of  the  Ark,  ^'  Argent,  an  ark  on  the  waters  proper, 
surmounted  of  a  dove  azure,  bearing  in  her  beak 
an  olive-branch  vert,"  are  the  arms  borne  by 
Gellie  of  Blackford ;  and  "  Argent,  an  ark  in  the 
sea  proper,  in  chief  a  dove  azure,  in  her  beak  a 
branch  of  olive  of  the  second,  within  a  bordure 
of  the  third  "  are  quoted  as  the  arms  of  Primrose 
Gailliez  of  Chorleywood.  Lastly,  w^e  may  note  the 
appropriate  use  of  a  Steamer  in  the  arms  of  Barrow- 
in-Furness.  The  curious  figure  of  the  lion  dimi- 
diated with  the  hulk  of  a  ship  which  is  met  with 
in  the  arms  of  several  of  the  towns  of  the  Cinque  Ports  has  been 
referred  to  on  page  182. 

Clouds  form  part  of  the  arms  of  Leeson,  which  are  :  ^'  Gules,  a  chief 
nebuly  argent,  the  rays  of  the  sun  issuing  therefrom  or." 

The  Rainbow  (Fig.  544),  though  not  in  itself  a  distinctly  modern 
charge,  for  it  occurs  in  the  crest  of  Hope,  has  been  of  late  very 
frequently  granted  as  part  of  a  crest.      Instances  occur  in  the  crest   of 


Fig.  544. — Rainbow. 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  295 

the  family  of  Pontifex,  and  again  in  that  of  Thurston,  and  of  Wigan. 
Its  use  as  a  part  of  a  crest  is  to  be  deprecated,  but  in  these  days  of 
complicated  armory  it  might  very  advantageously  be  introduced  as  a 
charge  upon  a  shield. 

An  unusual  device,  the  Thunderbolt,  is  the  crest  of  Carnegy.  The 
arms  of  the  German  family  of  Donnersperg  very  appropriately  are  : 
^'  Sable,  three  thunderbolts  or  issuing  from  a  chief  nebuly  argent,  in 
base  a  mount  of  three  coupeaux  of  the  second."  The  arms  of  the 
town  of  Blackpool  furnish  an  instance  of  a  thunderbolt  in  dangerous 
conjunction  with  windmill  sails. 

Stars,  a  very  common  charge,  may  be  instanced  as  borne  under 
that  name  by  the  Scottish  shield  of  Alston.  There  has,  owing  to  their 
similarity,  been  much  confusion  between  stars,  estoiles,  and  mullets.  The 
difficulty  is  increased  by  the  fact  that  no  very  definite  lines  have  ever 


Fig.  545.— Estoile. 


Fig.  546.— Mullet  (Scottish 
star). 


Fig.  547. — Mullet  pierced 
(Scottish  spur-revel). 


been  followed  officially.  In  England  stars  under  that  name  are  practi- 
cally unknown.  When  the  rays  are  w^avy  the  charge  is  termed  an 
estoile,  but  when  they  are  straight  the  term  mullet  is  used.  That  being 
so,  these  rules  follow :  that  the  estoile  is  never  pierced  (and  from  the 
accepted  method  of  depicting  the  estoile  this  would  hardly  seem  very 
feasible),  and  that  unless  the  number  of  points  is  specified  there  will  be 
six  (see  Fig.  545).  Other  numbers  are  quite  permissible,  but  the  number 
of  points  (more  usually  in  an  estoile  termed  '^  rays  ")  must  be  stated. 
The  arm  of  Hobart,  for  example,  are :  <<  Sable,  an  estoile  of  eight  rays 
or,  between  two  flaunches  ermine."  An  estoile  of  sixteen  rays  is  used 
by  the  town  of  Ilchester,  but  the  arms  are  not  of  any  authority. 
Everything  with  straight  points  being  in  England  a  mullet,  it  naturally 
follows  that  the  English  practice  permits  a  mullet  to  be  plain  (Fig.  546) 
or  pierced  (Fig.  547).  Mullets  are  occasionally  met  with  pierced  of  a 
colour  other  than  the  field  they  are  charged  upon.  According  to  the 
English  practice,  therefore,  the  mullet  is  not  represented  as  pierced 
unless  it  is  expressly  stated  to  be  so.    The  mullet  both  in  England  and 


296     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

Scotland  is  of  five  points  unless  a  greater  number  are  specified.  But 
mullets  pierced  and  unpierced  of  six  (Fig.  548)  or  eight  points  (Fig.  549) 
are  frequent  enough  in  English  armory. 

The  Scottish  practice  differs,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  it  is  more 
correct  than  the  English,  though,  strange  to  say,  more  complicated.  In 
Scottish  armory  they  have  the  estoile,  the  star,  and  the  mullet  or  the  spur- 
revel.  As  to  the  estoile,  of  course,  their  practice  is  similar  to  the  English. 
But  in  Scotland  a  straight-pointed  charge  is  a  mullet  if  it  be  pierced,  and 
a  star  if  it  be  not.  As  a  mullet  is  really  the  *'  molette  "  or  rowel  of  a 
spur,  it  certainly  could  not  exist  as  a  fact  unpierced.  Nevertheless  it  is 
by  no  means  stringently  adhered  to  in  that  country,  and  they  make 
confusion  worse  confounded  by  the  frequent  use  of  the  additional 
name  of  *'  spur-rowel,"  or  *'  spur-revel  "  for  the  pierced  mullet.  The 
mullet  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Vere,  and  was  also  the  badge  of  that 


Fig.  548. — Mullet  of  six 
points. 


Fig.  549.— Mullet  of  eight 
points. 


Fig.  550. — Sua  in 
splendour. 


family.  The  part  this  badge  once  played  in  history  is  well  known. 
Had  the  De  Veres  worn  another  badge  on  that  fatal  day  the  course  of 
English  history  might  have  been  changed. 

The  six-pointed  mullet  pierced  occurs  in  the  arms  of  De  Clinton.     ' 
The  Sun  in  Splendour — (Fig.   550)  always  so  blazoned — is  never 
represented  without  the  surrounding  rays,  but  the  human  face  is  not 
essential  though  usual  to  its  heraldic  use.     The  rays  are  alternately  ^ 
straight  and  wavy,  indicative  of  the  light  and  heat  we  derive  therefrom, 
a  typical  piece  of  genuine  symbolism.      It  is  a  charge  in  the  arms  of 
Hurst,  Pearson,  and  many  other  families  ;   and  a  demi-sun  issuing  in 
base  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Davies  (Plate  VI.)  and  of  Westworth.    The 
coat  of  Warde-Aldam  affords  an  example  of  the  Rays  of  the  sun  alone. 
A  Scottish  coat,  that  of  Baillie  of  Walstoun,  has  "Azure,  the  moon 
in  her  complement,  between  nine  mullets  argent,  three,  two,  three  and 
one."     The  term  *'  in  her  complement "  signifies  that  the  moon  is  full, 
but  with  the  moon  no  rays  are  shown,  in  this  of  course  differing  from 
the  sun  in  splendour.     The  face  is  usually  represented  in  the  full  moon. 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  297 

and  sometimes  in  the  crescent  moon,  but  the  crescent  moon  must  not 
be  confused  with  the  ordinary  heraldic  crescent. 

In  concluding  this  class  of  charges,  we  may  fitly  do  so  by  an  allusion 
to  the  shield  of  Sir  William  Herschel,  with  its  appropriate  though  clumsy 
device  of  a  Telescope. 

As  may  be  naturally  expected,  the  insignia  of  sovereignty  are  of 
very  frequent  occurrence  in  all  armories,  both  English  and  foreign. 
Long  before  the  days  of  heraldry,  some  form  of  decoration  for  the 
head  to  indicate  rank  and  power  had  been  in  vogue  amongst,  it  is 
hardly  too  much  to  say,  all  nations  on  the  earth.  As  in  most  things. 
Western  nations  have  borrowed  both  ideas,  and  added  developments 
of  those  ideas,  from  the  East,  and  in  traversing  the  range  of  armory, 
where  crowns  and  coronets  appear  in  modern  Western  heraldry,  we 
find  a  large  proportion  of  these  devices  are  studiously  and  of  purpose 
delineated  as  being  Eastern. 

With  crowns  and  coronets  as  symbols  of  rank  I  am  not  now,  of 
course,  concerned,  but  only  with  those  cases  which  may  be  cited  as 
supplying  examples  where  the  different  kinds  of  crowns  appear  either 
as  charges  on  shields,  or  as  forming  parts  of  crests. 

Crowns,  in  heraldry,  may  be  differentiated  under  the  Royal  or  the 
Imperial,  the  Eastern  or  antique,  the  Naval,  and  the  Mural,  which  with 
the  Crowns  Celestial,  Vallery  and  Palisado  are  all  known  as  charges. 
Modern  grants  of  crowns  of  Eastern  character  in  connection  with 
valuable  service  performed  in  the  East  by  the  recipient  may  be  instanced; 
e.g.  by  the  Eastern  Crown  in  the  grant  to  Sir  Abraham  Roberts,  G.C.B., 
the  father  of  Field-Marshal  Earl  Roberts,  K.G. 

In  order  of  antiquity  one  may  best  perhaps  at  the  outset  allude  to 
the  arms  borne  by  the  seaport  towns  of  Boston,  and  of  Kingston-on- 
Hull  (or  Hull,  as  the  town  is  usually  called),  inasmuch  as  a  tradition 
has  it  that  the  three  crowns  which  figure  on  the  shield  of  each  of  these 
towns  originate  from  a  recognised  device  of  merchantmen,  who,  travel- 
ling in  and  trading  with  the  East  and  likening  themselves  to  the  Magi, 
in  their  Bethlehem  visit,  adopted  these  crowns  as  the  device  or  badge  of 
their  business.  The  same  remarks  may  apply  to  the  arms  of  Cologne  : 
'^  Argent,  on  a  chief  gules,  three  crowns  or." 

From  this  fact  (if  the  tradition  be  one)  to  the  adoption  of  the  same 
device  by  the  towns  to  which  these  merchants  traded  is  not  a  far  step. 

One  may  notice  in  passing  that,  unlike  what  from  the  legend  one 
would  expect,  these  crowns  are  not  of  Eastern  design,  but  of  a  class 
wholly  connected  with  heraldry  itself.  The  legend  and  device,  however, 
are  both  much  older  than  these  modern  minutiae  of  detail. 

The  Archbishopric  of  York  has  the  well-known  coat:  ** Gules,  two 
keys  in  saltire  argent,  in  chief  a  regal  crown  proper." 


298     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  reputed  arms  of  St.  Etheldreda;  who  was  both  Queen,  and 
also  Abbess  of  Ely,  find  their  perpetuation  in  the  arms  of  that  See, 
which  are  :  "  Gules,  three  ducal  (an  early  form  of  the  Royal)  crowns 
or  ; "  while  the  recently-created  See  of  St.  Alban's  affords  an  example 
of  a  celestial  crown  :  ''  Azure,  a  saltire  or,  a  sword  lin  pale  proper ;  in 
chief  a  celestial  crown  of  the  second."  The  Celestial  Crown  is  to  be 
observed  in  the  arms  of  the  borough  of  Kensington  and  as  a  part  of 
the  crest  of  Dunbar.  The  See  of  Bristol  bears :  ^'  Sable,  three  open 
crowns  in  pale  or."  The  Royal  or  Imperial  Crown  occurs  in  the  crest 
of  Eye,  while  an  Imperial  Crown  occurs  in  the  crests  of  Robertson, 
Wolfe,  and  Lane. 

The  family  of  Douglas  affords  an  instance  of  a  crown  ensigning 
a  human  heart.  The  arms  of  Toledo  afford  another  case  in  point, 
being:  *^  Azure,  a  Royal  crown  or"  (the  cap. being  gules). 

Antique  Crowns — as  such — appear  in  the  arms  of  Eraser  and  also  in 
the  arms  of  Grant. 

The  crest  of  the  Marquess  of  Ripon  supplies  an  unusual  variation, 
inasmuch  as  it  issues  from  a  coronet  composed  of  fleurs-de-lis. 

The  other  chief  emblem  of  sovereignty — the  Sceptre — is  occasionally 
met  with,  as  in  the  Whitgreave  crest  of  augmentation. 

The  Marquises  of  Mun  bear  the  Imperial  orb  :  "  Azure,  an  orb 
argent,  banded,  and  surmounted  by  the  cross  or."  The  reason  for  the 
selection  of  this  particular  charge  in  the  grant  of  arms  [Azure,  on  a 
fess  or,  a  horse  courant  gules,  between  three  orbs  gold,  banded  of  the 
third]  to  Sir  H.  E,  Moss,  of  the  Empire  Theatre  in  Edinburgh  and  the 
London  Hippodrome,  will  be  readily  guessed. 

Under  the  classification  of  tools  and  implements  the  Pick  may  be 
noted,  this  being  depicted  in  the  arms  of  Mawdsley,  Moseley,  and 
Pigott,  and  a  pick  and  shovel  in  the  arms  of  Hales. 

The  arms  of  Crawshay  supply  an  •  instance  of  a  Plough — a  charge 
which  also  occurs  in  the  arms  of  Waterlow  and  the  crest  of  Provand, 
but  is  otherwise  of  very  infrequent  occurrence. 

In  English  armory  the  use  of  Scythes,  or,  as  they  are  sometimes 
termed,  Sneds,  is  but  occasional,  though,  as  was  only  to  be  expected, 
this  device  appears  in  the  Sneyd  coat,  as  follows  :  *'  Argent,  a  scythe, 
the  blade  in  chief,  the  sued  in  bend  sinister  sable,  in  the  fess  point  a 
fleur-de-lis  of  the  second."  In  Poland  the  Counts  Jezierski  bore : 
"  Gules,  two  scythe-blades  in  oval,  the  points  crossing  each  other 
argent,  and  the  ends  in  base  tied  together  or,  the  whole  surmounted 
in  chief  by  a  cross-patriarchal-patee,  of  which  the  lower  arm  on  the 
sinister  side  is  wanting." 

Two  sickles  appear  in  the  arms  of  Shearer,  while  the  Hungerford 
crest   in   the    case   of    the    Holdich-Hungerford    family   is   blazoned : 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  299 

'<  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  pepper  garb  of  the  first  between  two 
sickles  erect  proper."     The  sickle  was  the  badge  of  the  Hungerfords. 
A  Balance  forms  one  of  the  charges  of  the  Scottish  Corporation  of 
the   Dean  and  Faculty  of    Advocates  :    ^^  Gules,  a 
balance   or,    and  a   sword    argent   in   saltire,    sur- 
mounted of   an  escutcheon  of  the  second,  charged 
with    a    lion    rampant    within    a    double    tressure 
flory  counterflory  of  the  first,"  but  it  is  a  charge 
of    infrequent  appearance.      It  also  figures  in  the 
arms  of  the  Institute  of  Chartered  Accountants. 

Bannerman  of  Elsick  bears  a  Banner  for  arms : 
"  Gules,  a  banner  displayed  argent  and  thereon 
on  a  canton  azure  a  saltire  argent  as  the  badge 
of  Scotland." 

^00^5    are    frequently     made     use     of.       The 
arms  of   Rylands,   the  family  to  whose  generosity  Manchester   owes 
the    Rylands    Library,    afford    a    case    in    point,    and    such    charges 

■      ^    {-M^i pTn-l    occur    in   the   arms   of   the    Universities    of   both 

S)  cSS_^Q_S_3     ^x^o^<^  ^"<^  Cambridge,  and  in  many  other  uni- 
versity and  collegiate  achieve- 
ments. 

Buckets  and  Water-bougets 
(Fig.  551)  can  claim  a  wide 
use.  In  English  armory  Pem- 
berton  has  three  buckets,  and 
water-bougets  appear  in  the 
Fig.  S52^-Arms  of  Henry    well-known  arms  of  Bourchier 

Bourchier,  barl  or  bssex, 

Water  -  bougets, 


Fig.  551. — Water- 
bouget. 


m^  \0k  DP  DP- 


K.G. :  Quarterly,  i  and     (Fig.    552). 


4,  argent,  a  cross  en- 
grailed gules,  between 
four  water-bougets  sable 
(for  Bourchier) ;  2  and  3, 
gules,  billette  or,  a  fess 
argent  (for  Lou  vain). 
(From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  553. — Escallop. 


which  are  really  the  old  form 

of  water-bucket,   were  leather 

bags  or  bottles,  two  of  which  were  carried  on  a 

stick    over   the    shoulder.       The    heraldic    water- 

bouget  represents  the  pair. 
For  an  instance  of  the  heraldic  usage  of  the  Comb  the  case  of 
the  arms  of  Ponsonby,  Earls  of  Bessborough,  may  be  cited.     Combs 
also  figure  in  the  delightfully  punning  Scottish  coat  for  Rocheid. 

Generally,  however,  when  they  do  occur  in  heraldry  they  represent 
combs  for  carding  wool,  as  in  the  shield  of  Tunstall :  ^^  Sable,  three 
wool-combs  argent,"  w^hile  the  Russian  Counts  Anrep-Elmpt  use :  ''  Or, 
a  comb  in  bend  azure,  the  teeth  downwards." 

Escallops  (Fig.  553)  rank  as  one  of  the  most  widely  used  heraldic 
charges  in  all  countries.  They  figured  in  early  days  outside  the  limits 
of  heraldry  as  the  badge  of  pilgrims  going  to  the  Holy  Land,  and  may 


300     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

be  seen  on  the  shields  of  many  famihes  at  the  period  of  the  Crusades. 
Many  other  families  have  adopted  them,  in  the  hope  of  a  similar  inter- 
pretation being  applied  to  the  appearance  of  them  in  their  own  arms. 


Fig.  554.— Arms  of  Hammersmith  :  Party 
per  pale  azure  and  gules,  on  a  chevron 
between  two  cross  crosslets  in  chief  and 
an  escallop  in  base  argent,  three  horse- 
shoes of  the  first.  Crest :  on  a  wreath 
of  the  colours,  upon  the  battlements  of  a 
tower,  two  hammers  in  saltire  all  proper. 
Motto:  "  Spectemur  agendo." 


^i<^-  555-— Arms  of  the  Great  Central  Rail- 
way :  Argent,  on  a  cross  gules,  voided  of 
the  field,  between  two  wings  in  chief  sable 
and  as  many  daggers  erect  in  base  of  the 
second,  in  the  fess  point  a  morion  winged 
of  the  third,  on  a  chief  also  of  the  second 
a  pale  of  the  first,  thereon  eight  arrows 
saltirewise  banded  also  of  the  third,  be- 
tween on  the  dexter  side  three  bendlets 
enhanced  and  on  the  sinister  a  fleur-de-lis 
or.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a 
representation  of  the  front  of  a  locomotive 
engine  proper,  between  two  wings  or*  [The 
grant  is  dated  February  25,  1 898.  ] 


Indeed,  so  numerous  are  the  cases  in  which  they  occur  that  a  few 
representative  ones  must  suffice. 

They  will  be  found  in  the  arms  of  the  Lords  Dacre,  who  bore  : 
'*  Gules,  three  escallops  argent  ; "  and  an  escallop  argent  was  used 
by  the  same  family  as  a  badge.  The  Scottish  family  of  Pringle,  of 
Greenknowe,  supplies  an  instance  in  :  ^^  Azure,  three  escallops 
or  within  a  bordure  engrailed  of  the  last ; "  while  the  Irish  Earls 
of  Bandon  bore  :  '^  Argent,  on  a  bend  azure  three  escallops  of  the 
field." 


INANIMATE   OBJECTS  301 

Hammers  figure  in  the  crests  of  Hammersmith  (Fig.  554)  and  of 
Swindon  (Plate  VI.),  and  a  hammer  is  held  in  the  claw  of  the  demi- 
dragon  which  is  the  crest  of  Fox-Davies  of  Coalbrookdale,  co.  Salop 
(Plate  VI.). 

A  Lantern  is  a  charge  on  the  shield  of  Cowper,  and  the  arms  of 
the  town  of  Hove  afford  an  absolutely  unique  in- 
stance of  the  use  of  Leg-Irons. 

Three  towns — Eccles,  Bootle,  and  Ramsgate — 
supply  cases  in  their  arms  in  which  a  Lighthouse  is 
depicted,  and  this  charge  would  appear,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained,  not  only  to  be  restricted  to 
English  armory,  but  to  the  three  towns  now 
named. 

Locomotives  appear  in  the  arms  of  Swindon 
(Plate     VI.)     and     the     Great     Central     Railway 

(Fig.  555). 

Of  a  similar  industrial  character  is  the  curious 
coat  of  arms  granted  at  his  express  wish  to  the  late  Mr.  Samson  Fox 
of  Leeds  and  Harrogate,  which  contains  a  representation  of  the 
Corrugated  Boiler- Flue  which  formed  the  basis  of  his  fortune. 

An  instance  of  the  use  of  a  Sand-Glass  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the 
Scottish   family   of    Joass   of    Collinwort,   which   are   thus   blazoned : 


Fig.  556. — Catherine 
wheel. 


Fig.  557. — Staple. 


Fig.  558. — Hawk's  Lure. 


Fig.  559.— Fylfot. 


"  Vert,  a  sand-glass  running  argent,  and  in  chief  the  Holy  Bible 
expanded  proper." 

A  Scottish  corporation,  too,  supplies  a  somewhat  unusual  charge, 
that  of  Scisso7^s :  "Azure,  a  pair  of  scissors  or"  (Incorporation  of 
Tailors  of  Aberdeen)  ;  though  a  Swabian  family  (by  name  Jungingen) 
has  for  its  arms  :  "  Azure,  a  pair  of  scissors  open,  blades  upwards  argent." 

Barrels  and  Casks,  which  in  heraldry  are  always  known  as  tuns, 
naturally  figure  in  many  shields  where  the  name  lends  itself  to  a  pun, 
as  in  the  arms  of  Bolton. 

Wheels  occur  in  the  shields  of  Turner  ['^  Argent,  gutte-de-sang,  a 


302     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

wheel  of  eight  spokes  sable,  on  a  chief  wavy  azure,  a  dolphin  naiant 
of  the  first "]  and  Carter,  and  also  in  the  arms  of  Gooch.  The  Catherine 
Wheel  (Fig.  556),  however,  is  the  most  usual  heraldic  form.  The 
Staple  (Fig.  557)  and  the  Hawk^s  Lure  (Fig.  558)  deserve  mention, 
and  I  will  wind  up  the  list  of  examples  with  the  Fylfot  (Fig.  559); 
which  no  one  knows  the  meaning  or  origin  of. 

The  list  of  heraldic  charges  is  very  far,  indeed,  from  being 
exhausted.  The  foregoing  must,  however,  suffice  ;  but  those  who  are 
curious  to  pursue  this  branch  of  the  subject  further  should  examine 
the  arms,  both  ancient  and  modern,  of  towns  and  trade  corporations. 


CHAPTER    XX 

THE    HERALDIC    HELMET 

SINCE  one's  earliest  lessons  in  the  rules  of  heraldry,  we  have 
been  taught,  as  one  of  the  fundamental  laws  of  the  achievement, 
that  the  helmet  by  its  shape  and  position  is  indicative  of  rank  ; 
and  we  early  learnt  by  rote  that  the  esquire's  helmet  was  of  steel,  and 
was  placed  in  profile,  with  the  visor  closed  :  the  helmet  of  the  knight 
and  baronet  was  to  be  open  and  affronts  ;  that  the  helmet  of  the  peer 
must  be  of  silver,  guarded  by  grilles  and  placed  in  profile  ;  and  that 
the  royal  helmet  was  of  gold,  with  grilles,  and  affronte.  Until  recent 
years  certain  stereotyped  forms  of  the  helmet  for  these  varying  cir- 
cumstances were  in  use,  hideous  alike  both  in  the  regularity  of  their 
usage  and  the  atrocious  shapes  into  which  they  had  been  evolved. 
These  regulations,  like  some  other  adjuncts  of  heraldic  art,  are  com- 
paratively speaking  of  modern  'origin.  Heraldry  in  its  earlier  and 
better  days  knew  them  not,  and  they  came  into  vogue  about  the 
Stuart  times,  when  heraldic  art  was  distinctly  on  the  wane.  It  is 
puzzling  to  conceive  a  desire  to  stereotype  these  particular  forms,  and 
we  take  it  that  the  fact,  which  is  undoubted,  arose  from  the  lack  of 
heraldic  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  artists,  who,  having  one  form 
before  them,  which  they  were  assured  was  correct,  under  the  circum- 
stances simply  reproduced  this  particular  form  in  facsimile  time  after 
time,  not  knowing  how  far  they  might  deviate  and  still  remain  correct. 
The  knowledge  of  heraldry  by  the  heraldic  artist  was  the  real  point 
underlying  the  excellence  of  mediaeval  heraldic  art,  and  underlying  the 
excellence  of  much  of  the  heraldic  art  in  the  revival  of  the  last  few 
years.  As  it  has  been  often  pointed  out,  in  olden  times  they  '^  played  " 
with  heraldry,  and  therein  lay  the  excellence  of  that  period.  The  old 
men  knew  the  lines  within  which  they  could  **  play,"  and  knew  the 
laws  which  they  could  not  transgress.  Their  successors,  ignorant  of 
the  laws  of  arms,  and  afraid  of  the  hidden  meanings  of  armory,  had 
none  but  the  stereotyped  lines  to  follow.  The  result  was  bad.  Let 
us  first  consider  the  development  of  the  actual  helmet,  and  then  its 
application  to  heraldic  purposes  will  be  more  readily  followed. 

To  the  modern  mind,  which  grumbles  at  the  weight  of  present-day 

303 


304     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

head  coverings,  it  is  often  a  matter  of  great  wonder  how  the  knights 
of  ancient  days  managed  to  put  up  with  the  heavy  weight  of  the  great 
iron  hehnet,  with  its  wooden  or  leather  crest.  A  careful  study  of 
ancient  descriptions  of  tournaments  and  warfare  will  supply  the  clue  to 
the  explanation,  which  is  simply  that  the  helmet  was  very  seldom 
worn.  For  ceremonial  purposes  and  occasions  it  was  carried  by  a  page, 
and  in  actual  use  it  was  carried  slung  at  the  saddle-bow,  until  the  last 
moment,  when  it  was  donned  for  action  as  blows  and  close  contact 
became  imminent.  Then,  by  the  nature  of  its  construction,  the  weight 
was  carried  by  the  shoulders,  the  head  and  neck  moving  freely  within 
necessary  limits  inside.  All  this  will  be  more  readily  apparent,  when 
the  helmet  itself  is  considered.  Our  present-day  ideas  of  helmets — 
their  shape,  their  size,  and  their  proportions — are  largely  taken  from 
the  specimens  manufactured  (not  necessarily  in  modern  times)  for 
ceremonial  purposes  ;  e,g.  for  exhibition  as  insignia  of  knighthood.  By 
far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  genuine  helmets  now  to  be  seen  were 
purposely  made  (certainly  at  remote  dates)  not  for  actual  use  in  battle 
or  tournament,  but  for  ceremonial  use,  chiefly  at  funerals.  Few,  indeed, 
are  the  examples  still  existing  of  helmets  which  have  been  actually  used 
in  battle  or  tournament.  Why  there  are  so  few  remaining  to  us,  when 
every  person  of  position  must  necessarily  have  possessed  one  throughout 
the  Plantagenet  period,  and  probably  at  any  rate  to  the  end  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII.,  is  a  mystery  which  has  puzzled  many  people — 
for  helmets  are  not,  like  glass  and  china,  subject  to  the  vicissitudes  of 
breakage.  The  reason  is  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  at  that 
period  they  were  so  general,  and  so  little  out  of  the  common,  that 
they  possessed  no  greater  value  than  any  other  article  of  clothing  ;  and 
whilst  the  J  real  helmet,  lacking  a  ceremonial  value,  was  not  preserved, 
the  sham  ceremonial  helmet  of  a  later  period,  possessing  none  but  a 
ceremonial  value,  was  preserved  from  ceremonial  to  ceremonial,  and 
has  been  passed  on  to  the  present  day.  But  a  glance  at  so  many  of 
these  helmets  which  exist  will  plainly  show  that  it  was  quite  impossible 
for  any  man's  head  to  have  gone  inside  them,  and  the  sculptured 
helmets  of  what  may  seem  to  us  uncouth  shape  and  exaggerated  size, 
which  are  occasionally  to  be  found  as  part  of  a  monumental  elBgy,  are 
the  size  and  shape  of  the  helmets  that  were  worn  in  battle.  This 
accounts  for  the  much  larger-sized  helmets  in  proportion  to  the  size 
of  shield  which  will  be  found  in  heraldic  emblazonments  of  the 
Plantagenet  and  Tudor  periods.  The  artists  of  those  periods  were 
accustomed  to  the  sight  of  real  helmets,  and  knew  and  drew  the  real 
proportion  which  existed  between  the  fighting  helmet  and  the  fighting 
shield.  Artists  of  Stuart  and  Georgian  days  knew  only  the  ceremonial 
helmet,  and  consequently  adopted  and  stereotyped  its  impossible  shape, 


Fig.  560. 


Fig.  562. 


Fig.  561. 


THE   HERALDIC    HELMET  305 

and    equally    impossible    size.       Victorian    heraldic    artists,    ignorant 
alike  of  the  actual  and  the  ceremonial,  reduced  the  size  even  further, 
and  until  the  recent  revulsion  in  heraldic  art,  with  its  reversion  to  older 
types,   and    its    copying    of    older 
examples,  the  helmets  of  heraldry 
had   reached   the  uttermost  limits 
of  absurdity. 

The  recent  revival  of  heraldry 
is  due  to  men  with  accurate  and 
extensive  knowledge,  and  many 
recent  examples  of  heraldic  art 
well  compare  with  ancient  types. 
One  happy  result  of  this  revival  is 
a  return  to  older  and  better  types 
of  the  helmet.  But  it  is  little  use 
discarding  the  *'  heraldic  "  helmet 
of  the  stationer's  shop  unless  a 
better  and  more  accurate  result 
can  be  shown,  so  that  it  will  be 
well  to  trace  in  detail  the  progress 
of  the  real  helmet  from  earliest 
times. 

In  the  Anglo-Saxon  period  the 
common  helmet  was  merely  a  cap  of  leather,  often  four-cornered, 
and  with  a  serrated  comb  (Figs.  560  and  561),  but  men  of  rank 
had  a  conical  one  of   metal  (Fig.  562),  which  was  frequently  richly 


Fig.  563. 


Fig.  564. 


Fig.  565. 


Fig.  566. 


gilt.  About  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  a  small  piece,  of 
varying  breadth,  called  a  '^  nasal,"  was  added  (Fig.  563),  which,  with 
a  quilted  or  gamboised  hood,  or  one  of  mail,  well  protected  the 
face,  leaving  little  more  than  the  eyes  exposed  ;  and  in  this  form  the 
helmet  continued  in  general  use  until  towards  the  end  of  the  twelfth 
century,  when  we  find  it  merged  into  or  supplanted  by  the  ^^  chapelle- 

U 


3o6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

de-fer/'  which  is  first  mentioned  in  documents  at  this  period,  and 
was  shaped  like  a  flat-topped,  cylindrical  cap.  This,  however,  was 
soon  enlarged  so  as  to  cover  the  whole  head  (Fig.  564),  an  opening 
being   left   for  the   features,    which   were   sometimes  protected  by   a 


Fig.  567. 


Fig.  568 


Fig.  569.— Painted  "  Pot- 
Helmet,"  c.  1241. 


movable  '^ ventaille,"  or  a  visor,  instead  of  the  ''nasal."  This 
helmet  (which  was  adopted  by  Richard  I.,  who  is  also  sometimes 
represented  with  a  conical  one)  was  the  earliest  form  of  the  large  war 

and  tilting  "  heaume "  (or  helm),  which 
was  of  great  weight  and  strength,  and 
often  had  only  small  openings  or  slits 
for  the  eyes  (Figs.  565  and  566).  These 
eyepieces  were  either  one  wide  slit  or  two, 
one  on  either  side.  The  former  was,  how- 
ever, sometimes  divided  into  two  by  an 
ornamental  bar  or  buckle  placed  across. 
It  was  afterwards  pointed  at  the  top,  and 
otherwise  slightly  varied  in  shape,  but  its 
general  form  appears  to  have  been  the  same 
until  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century 
(Figs.  567,  568).  This  type  of  helmet  is 
usually  known  as  the  ''  pot-shaped."  The 
helmets  themselves  were  sometimes  painted, 
^';?'^vVm^°^"^^'"'^v^'^T^^^   and  Fig.  569  represents  an  instance  which 

iLtieit  of  Hemrich  von  Veldeke.  c>    o    y        r 

is  painted  in  green  and  white  diagonal 
stripes.  The  illustration  is  from  a  parchment  MS.  of  about  1241 
now  in  the  Town  Library  of  Leipzic.  Fig.  570  shows  another 
German  example  of  this  type,  being  taken  from  the  Eneit  of  Heinrich 
von  Veldeke,  a  MS.  now  in  the  Royal  Library  in  Berlin,  belonging 
to  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century.  The  crest  depicted  in  this  case, 
a  red  lion,  must  be  one  of  the  earliest  instances  of  a  crest.     These 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  307 

are  the  helmets  which  we  find  on  early  seals  and  effigies,  as  will  be 
seen  from  Figs.  571-574. 

The  cylindrical  or  '<  pot-shaped  "  helmet  of  the  Plantagenets,  how- 
ever, disappears  in  the  latter  part  of  the  thirteenth  century,  when  we 
first  find  mention  of  the  *^  bascinet  "  (from  Old  French  for  a  basin),  Figs. 


Fig.  571. — Helmet  of  Hamelin,  Earl  of 
Surrey  and  Warenne  {d.  1202).  (From 
MS.  Cott.,  Julius,  C.  vii.) 


Fig.  572.— From  the  seal  of  Richard  de 
Clare,  Earl  of  Gloucester  and  Hertford 
{d.  1262). 


Fig.  573, — From  the  seal  of  John  de  War- 
enne, Earl  of  Surrey  {d.  1305). 


Fig.  574.— From  the  seal  (1315)  of  John 
de  Bretagne,  Earl  of  Richmond. 


575-579.  This  was  at  first  merely  a  hemispherical  steel  cap,  put  over 
the  coif  of  mail  to  protect  the  top  of  the  head,  when  the  knight  wished 
to  be  relieved  from  the  weight  of  his  large  helm  (which  he  then  slung 
at  his  back  or  carried  on  his  saddlebow),  but  still  did  not  consider  the 
mail  coif  sufficient  protection.  It  soon  became  pointed  at  the  top,  and 
gradually  lower  at  the  back,  though  not  so  much  as  to  protect  the  neck. 
In  the  fourteenth  century  the  mail,  instead  of  being  carried  over 
the  top  of  the  head,  was  hung  to  the  bottom  rim  of  the  helmet,  and 


3o8     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

spread  out  over  the  shoulders,  overlapping  the  cuirass.  This  was 
called  the  "camail/*  or  '<  curtain  of  mail,"  It  is  shown  in  Figs. 
576  and  577   fastened   to  the  bascinet  by  a  lace  or  thong   passing 

through  staples. 

The  large  helm,  which  through- 
out the  fourteenth  century  was  still 
worn  over  the  bascinet,  did  not  fit 
down  closely  to  the  cuirass  (though 
it  may  have  been  fastened  to  it  with 
a  leather  strap),  its  bottom  curve 
not  being  sufficiently  arched  for  that 
purpose  ;  nor  did  it  wholly  rest  on 
the  shoulders,  but  was  probably 
wadded  inside  so  as  to  fit  closely 
to  the  bascinet. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  actual  helm 
previous  to  the  fourteenth  century 
exists,  and  there  are  very  few  of 
that  period  remaining.  In  that  of 
the  Black  Prince  at  Canterbury 
(Fig.  271)  the  lower,  or  cylindrical, 
portion  is  composed  of  a  front  and 
back  piece,  riveted  together  at  the 
sides,  and  this  was  most  likely  the  usual  form  of  construction  ;  but  in 
the  helm  of  Sir  Richard  Pembridge  (Figs.  580  and  581)  the  three  pieces 
(cylinder,  conical  piece,  and  top  piece)  of  which  it  is  formed  are  fixed 
with  nails,  and  are  so  welded  together  that  no  trace 
of  a  join  is  visible.  The  edges  of  the  metal,  turned 
outwards  round  the  ocularium,  are  very  thick,  and  the 
bottom  edge  is  rolled  inwards  over  a  thick  wire,  so 
as  not  to  cut  the  surcoat.  There  are  many  twin  holes 
in  the  helmet  for  the  aiglets,  by  which  the  crest  and 
lambrequin  were  attached,  and  in  front,  near  the 
bottom,  are  two  +  shaped  holes  for  the  T  bolt,  which 
was  fixed  by  a  chain  to  the  cuirass. 

The  helm  of  Sir  Richard  Hawberk  (Figs.  582  and 
583),  who  died  in  141 7,  is  made  of  five  pieces,  and  is  very  thick 
and  heavy.  It  is  much  more  like  the  later  form  adapted  for  jousting, 
and  was  probably  only  for  use  in  the  tilt-yard  ;  but,  although  more 
firmly  fixed  to  the  cuirass  than  the  earlier  helm,  it  did  not  fit  closely 
down  to  it,  as  all  later  helms  did. 

Singularly  few  examples  of    the    pot-helmet    actually  exist.     The 
'<Linz"  example  (Figs.  584  and  585),  which  is  now  in  the  Francisco- 


FiG.  577. 


Fig.  578. 


Fig.  579. 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  309 

Carolinum  Museum  at  Linz,  was  dredged  out  of  the  Traun,  and  is  un- 
fortunately very  much  corroded  by  rust.  The  fastening-place  for  the 
crest,  however,  is  well  preserved.  The  example  belongs  to  the  first 
half  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  so-called   "  Pranker-Helm "  (Fig.   586),  from  the  chapter  of 
Seckau,  now  in  the  collection  of  armour  in  the  Historical  Court  Museum 


Fig.  580. 


Fig.  581. 


Fig.  582. 


Fig.  583. 


at  Vienna,  and  belonging  to  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
could  only  have  been  used  for  tournaments.  It  is  made  of  four  strong 
hammered  sheets  of  iron  1-2  millimetres  thick,  with  other  strengthening 
plates  laid  on.  The  helmet  by  itself  weighs  5  kilogrammes  357 
grammes. 


(Side.) 


(Top.) 


Figs.  584  and  585.— The  "  Linz"  Pot-Helmet. 


310     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  custom  of  wearing  the  large  helm  over  the  bascinet  being 
clumsy  and  troublesome,  many  kinds  of  visor  were  invented,  so  as  to 
dispense  with  the  large  helm,  except  for  jousting,  two  of  which  are 
represented  in  Figs.  575  and  579.  In  the  first  a  plate  shaped 
somewhat  to  the  nose  was  attached  to  the  part  of  the  camail  which 

covered  the  mouth. 
This  plate,  and  the  mail 
mouth-guard,  when  not 
in  use,  hung  downwards 
towards  the  breast ;  but 
when  in  use  it  was  drawn 
up  and  attached  to  a 
staple  or  locket  on  the 
iront  of  the  bascinet. 
This  fashion,  however, 
does  not  appear  to  have 
been  adopted  in  Eng- 
land, but  was  peculiar 
to  Germany,  Austria,  &c. 
None  of  these  contriv- 
ances seem  to  have  been  very  satisfactory,  but  towards  the  end  of  the 
fourteenth  century  the  large  and  salient  beaked  visor  was  invented 
(Fig.  587).  It  was  fixed  to  hinges  at  the  sides  of  the  bascinet  with 
pins,  and  was  removable  at  will.  A  high  collar  of  steel  was  next 
added  as  a  substitute  for  the  camail.  This  form  of  helmet  remained 
in  use  during  the  first  half  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  and  the  large  helm,  which  was  only 
used  for  jousting,  took  a  different  form,  or 
rather  several  different  forms,  which  may  be 
divided  into  three  kinds.  In  this  connection 
it  should  be  remembered  that  the  heavy 
jousting  helmet  to  which  the  crest  had  rela- 
tion was  probably  never  used  in  actual  war- 
fare. The  first  was  called  a  bascinet,  and 
was  used  for  combats  on  foot.  It  had  an 
almost  spherical  crown-piece,  and  came  right  down  to  the  cuirass,  to 
which  it  was  firmly  fixed,  and  was,  like  all  large  helms  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  large  enough  for  the  wearer  to  move  his  head  about  freely 
inside.  The  helm  of  Sir  Giles  Capel  (Fig.  588)  is  a  good  specimen 
of  this  class  ;  it  has  a  visor  of  great  thickness,  in  which  are  a  great 
number  of  holes,  thus  enabling  the  wearer  to  see  in  every  direc- 
tion. The  *^  barbute,"  or  ovoid  bascinet,  with  a  chin-piece  riveted  to 
it,  was  somewhat  like  this  helm,  and  is  often  seen  on  the  brasses  of 


Fig.  587. 


Fig.  586.— Pranker-Helm. 


Fig.  591. — German  Tiliin^  Armour,  1480,  from  the 
Collection  in  the  Museum  at  Vienna. 


Fig.  592. — Tihini;;- Helmet  of 
Sir  John  Gostwick,  1541. 


Fig.  588. 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  311 

1 430- 1 45 o  ;    the  chin-piece   retaining   the    name   of  '<  barbute,"  after 

the  bascinet  had  gone  out  of  fashion. 

The  second  kind  of  large  helm  used  in  the  fifteenth  century  was 

the    ^^  jousting  -  helm/'    which    was    of    great 

strength,    and    firmly    fixed    to    the     cuirass. 

One  from  the  Brocas   Collection  (Figs.    589 

and    590,    date    about    1500)   is    perhaps   the 

grandest  helm  in  existence.      It  is  formed  of 

three    pieces     of     different     thicknesses    (the 

front    piece    being    the    thickest),    which    are 

fixed   together    with    strong   iron    rivets   with 

salient  heads  and  thin  brass  caps  soldered  to 

them.      The    arrangements    for    fixing    it    in 

front    and    behind     are    very    complete    and 

curious. 

The  manner  in  which  the  helmet  was  con- 
nected with  the  rest  of  the  armour  is  shown 

in    Fig.    591,    which    is    a    representation    of 

a     German    suit    of    tilting    armour    of    the 

period   about    1480,  now  in  the  collection  of   armour   at   the   Royal 

Museum  in  Vienna. 

Of  the  same  character,  but  of  a  somewhat 
different  shape,  is  the  helmet  (Fig.  592)  of 
Sir  John  Gostwick,  who  died  in  1541,  which 
is  now  in  Willington  Church,  Bedfordshire. 
The  illustration  here  given  is  taken  from 
the  Porifolioy  No.  33.  The  visor  opening 
on  the  right  side  of  the  helmet  is  evidently 
taken  from  an  Italian  model. 

The  third  and  last  kind  of  helm  was  the 
<^  tournament  helm,"  and  was  similar  to  the 
first  kind,  and  also  called  a  *^  bascinet "  ;  but 
the  visor  was  generally  barred,  or,  instead  of 
a  movable  visor,  the  bars  were  riveted  on  the 
helm,  and  sometimes  the  face  was  only  pro- 
tected by  a  sort  of  wire-work,  like  a  fencing- 
mask.  It  was  only  used  for  the  tourney  or 
melee,  when  the  weapons  were  the  sword  and 
mace. 

The  '^  chapelle-de-fer,"  which  was  in  use 
in    the  ,  thirteenth,   fourteehth,    and    fifteenth 

centuries, '  was    a    light    iron    head-piece,    with   a    broad,    flat    brim, 

somewhat  turned  down.     Fig.   593  represents  one  belonging  to  the 


Fig.  589. 


Fig.  590. 


Fig.  593. 


312     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  which  is  one  of  the  few  remaining,  and 
is  delicately  forged  in  one  piece  of  thin,  hard  steel. 

During  the  fourteenth  century  a  new  kind  of  helmet  arose,  called 
in  England  the  "  sallad,"  or  <<  sallet."     The  word  appears  to  have  two 

derivations,  each  of  which  was  applied  to 
a  different  form  of  head-piece.  First,  the 
Italian  *^  celata "  (Fig.  594),  which  seems 
originally  to  have  been  a  modification  of 
the  bascinet.  Second,  the  German  ^'schal- 
lern,"  the  form  of  which  was  probably  sug- 
gested by  the  chapelle-de-fer.  Both  of  these 
were  called  by  the  French 
"salade,"  whence  our  Eng- 
lish ^^  sallad."  The  celata 
came  lower  down  than  the 
bascinet,  protected  the  back 
and  sides  of  the  neck,  and, 
closing  round  the  cheeks, 
often  left  only  the  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth  exposed.  A  standard  of 
mail  protected  the  neck  if  required.  In  the  fifteenth  century  the 
celata  ceased  to  be  pointed  at  the  summit,  and  was  curved  outwards 
at  the  nape  of  the  neck,  as  in  Fig.  595. 

The  "  schallern  "  (from  shakf  a  shell,  or  bowl),  was  really  a  helmet 
and  visor  in  one  piece ; 
it  had  a  slit  for  the 
eyes,  a  projecting 
brim,  and  a  long  tail, 
and  was  completed 
by  a  chin-piece,  or 
'^bavier  "  (Eng.  '^  bea- 
ver"), which  was 
strapped  round  the 
neck.  Fig.  596  shows 
a  German  sallad  and 
a  Spanish  beaver. 
The  sallad  was  much 
used  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  during  the  latter  half  of  which  it  often  had  a  visor,  as  in  one 
from  Rhodes  (Fig.  597),  which  has  a  spring  catch  on  the  right  side 
to  hold  the  visor  in  place  when  down.  The  rivets  for  its  lining-cap 
have  large,  hollow,  twisted  heads,  which  are  seldom  found  on  exist- 
ing sallads,  though  often  seen  in  sculpture. 

The  schale,  schallern  (schekrn),  or  sallad,  either  with  or  without  a 


Fig.  594. 


Fig.  595. 


Fig.  596. 


Fig.  597. 


THE   HERALDIC   HELMET  313 

visor,  is  very  seldom  seen  in  heraldic  use.     An  instance,  however,  in 

which  it  has  been  made  use  of  heraldically  will  be  found  in  Fig.  598, 

which  is  from  a 
pen  and  ink  draw- 
ing in  the  Fest- 
Buck  of  Paulus 
Kel,  a  MS.  now  in 
the  Royal  Library 
at  Munich.  This 
shows  the  schal- 
lern  with  the  slit 
for  seeing  through, 
and  the  fixed  neck- 

guafd.     The  "  bart,"  '^  baviere,"  or  beaver,  for  the  protection  of  the 

under  part  of  the  face,  is  also  visible.     It  is  not  joined  to  the  helmet. 

The   helmet    bears    the    crest 

of   Bavaria,   the    red-crow^ned 

golden  lion  of  the  Palatinate 

within  the  wings  of  the  curi- 
ously disposed  Bavarian  tinc- 
tures.    Fig.  599  (p.  316)  is  a 

very  good  representation  of  a 

schallern  dating  from  the  latter 

part  of  the  fifteenth  century, 

with     a     sliding     neck-guard. 

It    is    reproduced    from    the 

Deufscher  Heroldf  1892,  No.  2. 
Until  almost  the  middle  of 

the  fifteenth  century  all  hel- 
mets fitted  on  the  top  of  the 

head,  or  were  put  right  over  ; 

but   about    1440    the    Itahans 

made  a  great  improvement  by 

inventing    the    ^'  armet,"    the 

lower  part    of  which   opened 

out  w^ith  hinges,  so  that  when 

put  on  it  enclosed  the  head, 

fitting  closely  round  the  lower 

part  of  it,  while  its  weight  was 

borne  by  the   steel  collar,  or 

'^gorget."      The  Italian  armet 

had  a  roundel  or  disc  to  protect  the  opening  at  the  back  of  the  neck, 

and  a  bavier   strapped   on    in  front  to  cover  the  joining  of  the  two 


Fig.  598. — Schallern,  with  Crest  of  Bavaria  (Duke 
Ludwig  of  Bavaria,  1449). 


314     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

cheek-pieces.  The  earher  armets,  Hke  the  beaked  bascinet,  had  a 
camail  attached  by  a  row  of  staples  (Fig.  600),  which  was  continued 
later,  but  then  fixed  either  to  a  metal  band  or  leather  strap  and 
riveted  to  the  base  of  the  armet.  This  form  of  helmet  was  not  in 
common  use  in  England  until  about  1500. 

Fig.  600  shows  the  earliest  form  of  Italian  armet,  with  a  reinforc- 
ing-piece  on  the  forehead,  and  a  removable  visor.  Date  1 450-1 480. 
Fig.  601  represents  an  armet  of  very  fine  form  (probably  Italian), 
which  is  a  nearer  approach  to  the  close-helmet  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  as  the  visor  cannot  be  removed,  and  the  eye-slit  is  in  the 
visor,  instead  of  being  formed  by  the  space  between  it  and  the  crown- 
piece,  and  there  is  also  no  reinforcing-piece  in  the  crown.  Date 
1 480-1 500.  Fig.  602  is  still  more  like  the  sixteenth-century  helmet, 
for  it  opens  down  the  sides  instead  of  down  the  chin  and  back,  and  the 
same  pivot  which  secures  the  visor  also  serves  as  a  hinge  for  the  crown 
and  chin-piece.  The  small  mentonniere,  or  bavier,  is  equal  on  both 
sides,  but  it  was  often  of  less  extent  on  the  right.     Date  about  1500. 

Fig.  603  shows  a  German  fluted  helmet,  of  magnificent  form  and 
workmanship,  which  is  partly  engraved  and  gilded.  Date  15 10-1525. 
It  opens  down  the  chin,  like  the  early  armets,  but  the  tail-piece  of  the 
crown  is  much  broader.  The  skill  shown  in  the  forging  of  the  crown" 
and  the  fluting  of  the  twisted  comb  is  most  remarkable,  and  each  rivet 
for  the  lining-strap  of  the  cheek-pieces  forms  the  centre  of  an  en- 
graved six-leaved  rose.  A  grooved  rim  round  the  bottom  of  the 
helmet  fitted  closely  on  a  salient  rim  at  the  top  of  the  steel  gorget  or 
hause  col,  so  that  when  placed  on  its  gorget  and  closed,  it  could  not 
be  wrenched  off,  but  could  yet  be  moved  round  freely  in  a  horizontal 
direction.  The  gorget  being  articulated,  the  head  could  also  be  raised 
or  lowered  a  little,  but  not  enough  to  make  this  form  of  joint  very 
desirable,  and  a  looser  kind  was  soon  substituted. 

Fig.  604  shows  what  is  perhaps  the  most  perfect  type  of  close 
helmet.  The*  comb  is  much  larger  than  was  the  custom  at  an  earlier 
date,  and  much  resembles  those  of  the  morions  of  this  period.  The 
visor  is  formed  of  two  separate  parts  ;  the  upper  fits  inside  the  lower, 
and  could  be  raised  to  facilitate  seeing  without  unfixing  the  lower 
portion.  It  is  engraved  with  arabesques,  and  is  probably  Italian. 
Date  1 550-1 570.  Fig.  605  is  an  English  helmet,  half-way  between 
a  close  helmet  and  a  "  burgonet."  It  is  really  a  **  casque,"  with 
cheek-pieces  to  meet  in  front.  The  crown-piece  is  joined  down  the 
middle  of  the  comb.  This  helmet  was  probably  made  for  the  Earl 
of  Leicester.     Date  about  1590. 

The  word  ^*  burgonet "  first  appeared  about  the  beginning  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  described  a  form  of  helmet  like  the  *'  celata,"  and 


THE   HERALDIC    HELMET  315 

called  by  that  name  in  Italy,     It  was  completed  by  a  <<  buffe/'  or  chin- 
piece,  similar  to  the  bavier. 

During  this  century  the  '^  morion/'  really  an  improved  "  chapelle- 


FiG.  603. 


Fig.  604. 


Fig.  605. 


de-fer,"  was  much  in  use.  It  had  a  curved  top,  surmounted  by  a  comb, 
and  a  broad,  turned-up  brim,  and  was  often  elaborately  engraved  and 
gilt.  The  *<  cabasset "  was  a  similar  head- 
piece, but  had  a  peaked  top,  surmounted  by 
a  small  spike  turned  backwards,  and  generally 
a  flatter,  narrower  brim  than  the  morion. 
These  three  forms  of  helmet  were  all  called 
casques. 

The  barred  or  grilled  helmet  owed  its 
introduction  to  tournaments  with  swords  and 
clubs,  which  necessitated  better  opportunities 
of  vision  than  the  earlier  tilting-helm  afforded, 
sufficient  though  that  was  for  encounters  with 
the  tilting-spear.  The  earliest  form  of  this 
type  of  helmet  will  be  seen  in  Fig.  606, 
which  is  termed  a  ^<  grid-iron "  helmet,  de- 
veloping shortly  afterwards  into  the  form  of  Fig.  607,  which  has  a 
lattice-work  visor.     The  former  figure,  the  *'  grid-iron "  helmet,  is  a 


Fig.  606.— "  Grid-iron  "  Helmet 
(fifteenth  century). 


3i6     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

representation  taken  from  an  original  now  in  the  possession  of  Count 
Hans  Wilczek,  of  Vienna.  Fig.  607,  the  helmet  with  the  latticed  visor, 
is  from  an  example  in  the  German  National  Museum  at  Niirnberg. 
Neither  of  these  types  of  helmet  appears  to  have  been  regularly  adopted 
into  heraldic  art.  Indeed  they  are  seldom,  if  ever,  to  be  found  in 
heraldic  emblazonment.  For  pictorial  and  artistic  purposes  they  seem 
to  be  entirely  supplanted  in  paintings,  in  seals,  and  in  sculpture  by  the 
^'  grilled  "  helmet  or  "  buckler."  Whether  this  helmet,  as  we  find  it 
depicted  in  paintings  or  on  seals,  was  ever  really  worn  in  battle  or 
tournament  seems  very  doubtful,  and  no  actual  instance  appears  to  have 
been  preserved.  On  the  other  hand,  the  so-called  *'  Prankhelme " 
(pageant  helmet)  bucklers,  frequently  made  of  gilded  leather  and  other 
materials,  are  extant  in  some  number.  It  is  evident  from  their  nature, 
however,  that  they  can  only  have  been  used  for  ceremonial  or  decora- 
tive purposes. 

Fig.  608  shows  one  of  these  buckled  **  pageant "  helmets  surmounted 
by  the  crest  of  the  Margraviate  of  Burgau.  Fig.  609  shows  another 
of  these  pageant  helmets,  with  the  crest  of  Austria  (ancient)  or  of  Tyrol. 
These  were  borne,  with  many  others  of  the  same  character,  in  the 
pageant  of  the  funeral  procession  of  the  Emperor  Frederick  III.  (IV.) 
in  1493.  The  helmets  were  made  of  leather,  and  gilded,  the  two  crests 
being  carved  out  of  boards  and  painted.  The  Burgau  wings,  which 
are  inclined  very  far  forward,  are  :  *'  Bendy  of  six  argent  and  gules, 
charged  with  a  pale  or."  In  their  normal  position  the  wings  are  borne 
upright.  The  second  crest,  which  is  86  cm.  in  height,  is  black,  and 
adorned  on  the  outside  with  eared  pegs  4  cm,  long,  from  which  gold 
linden-leaves  hang.  These  helmets  and  crests,  which  were  formerly  in 
St.  Stephen's  Cathedral,  are  now  in  the  Vienna  Historical  Museum. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  workmanship 
became  inferior,  and  beauty  of  line  was  no  longer  sought  after.  Shortly 
afterwards  helmets  ceased  to  be  worn  outside  the  regular  army,  and 
with  the  subsequent  evolution  of  military  head  coverings  heraldry  has 
no  concern. 

As  a  part  of  a  heraldic  achievement  the  helmet  is  not  so  old  as  the 
shield.  It  was  not  until  the  introduction  of  the  crest  that  any  one 
thought  of  depicting  a  helmet  with  a  shield. 

A  careful  and  attentive  examination  of  the  early  "  Rolls  of  Arms," 
and  of  seals  and  other  ancient  examples  of  heraldic  art  and  handicraft, 
will  at  once  make  it  plainly  apparent  that  the  helmets  then  heraldic- 
ally  depicted  were  in  close  keeping  and  of  the  style  actually  in  use 
for  warfare,  joust,  or  tournament  at  the  period.  This  is  particularly 
noticeable  in  the  helmets  on  the  stall  plates  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Garter  in  St.  George's  Chapel  at  Windsor.     The  helms  on  the  early 


Fig.  599. — Schallern  (end  of  fifteenth  century). 


Fig.  607. — Helmet,  with  Latticed  Visor  (end  of 
fifteenth  century). 


OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


I 


THE   HERALDIC    HELMET  317 

stall  plates,  though  far  from  being  identical  in  shape,  all  appear  to  be 
of  the  same  class  or  type  of  tilting-helm  drawn  in  profile.  Amongst 
the  early  plates  only  one  instance  (Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  elected 
1475)  can  be  found  of  the  barred  helmet.  This  is  the  period  when 
helmets  actually  existed  in  fact,  and  were  actually  used,  but  at  the  end 


Fig.  608. — Pageant  Helmet,  with  the  Crest  of  Burgau. 


Fig.  609. — Pageant  Helmet,  with  the  Crest 
of  Austria  (ancient)  or  Tyrol. 


of  the  sixteenth  and  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  centuries,  when 
the  helmet  was  being  fast  relegated  to  ceremonial  usage  and  pictorial 
emblazonment,  ingenious  heralds  began  to  evolve  the  system  by  which 
rank  and  degree  were  indicated  by  the  helmet. 

Before  proceeding  to  consider  British  rules  concerning  the  heraldic 
helmet,  it  may  be  well  to  note  those  which  have  been  accepted  abroad. 
In  Germany  heraldry  has  known  but  two  classes  of  helmet,  the  open 
helmet  guarded  by  bars  (otherwise  buckles  or  grilles),  and  the  closed 


■ 


31 8     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

or  '*  visored  "  helmet.  The  latter  was  the  helmet  used  by  the  newly 
ennobled,  the  former  by  the  older  families  of  higher  position,  it  being 
originally  held  that  only  those  families  whose  birth  qualified  them  to 
tilt  were  permitted  to  use  this  buckled  helmet.  Tournaments  were  of 
course  always  conducted  on  very  strict  lines.  Woodward  reprints  in 
his  ^*  Treatise  on  Heraldry "  the  *'  Tourney  Regulations  for  the  Ex- 
posure of  Arms  and  Crest,  drawn  up  by  Rene,  Duke  of  Anjou,  King 
of  Sicily  and  Jerusalem,"  from  Menetrier's  VOrigin  des  Armoiries.  The 
rules  to  be  complied  with  are  there  set  out.  Fig.  12  herein  is  a  repre- 
sentation of  a  *^  Helmschau,"  where  the  examination  of  the  crests  is  being 
carried  on.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  therein  that  the  whole  of  the 
helmets  without  exception  have  the  grilles.  Germany  was  perhaps  the 
earliest  country  to  fall  from  grace  in  the  matter,  for  towards  the  end 
of  the  fifteenth  century  the  buckled  helmet  is  found  with  the  arms  of 
the  lower  Briefadels  (those  ennobled  by  patent),  and  the  practice  con- 
tinued despite  the  violent  protests  of  the  tournament  families,  who 
considered  their  prerogative  had  been  infringed.  The  closed  helmet 
consequently  sank  gradually  in  Germany  to  the  grade  of  a  mere 
burgess's  helmet,  and  as  such  became  of  little  account,  although  in 
former  times  it  had  been  borne  by  the  proudest  houses. 

Similarly  in  France  the  ^^  buckled  "  helmet  was  considered  to  be 
reserved  for  the  military  noblesse,  and  newly  ennobled  families  were 
denied  its  use  until  the  third  generation,  when  they  became  bons  gentil- 
hommes.  Woodward  states  that  when  ^' in  1372  Charles  V.  conferred 
on  the  bourgeoisie  of  Paris  the  right  to  use  armorial  bearings,  it  was 
strenuously  denied  that  they  could  use  the  timbred  helm.  In  1568  an 
edict  of  Charles  IX.  prohibited  the  use  of  armoiries  timbrees  to  any  who 
were  not  noble  by  birth."  The  grilles  of  the  helmet  produced  with 
the  old  French  heralds  the  opportunity  of  a  minutiae  of  rule  which, 
considering  the  multitude  of  rules  fathered,  rightly  or  wrongly,  upon 
British  heraldry,  we  may  be  devoutly  happy  never  reached  our  shores. 
They  assigned  different  numbers  of  grilles  to  different  ranks,  but  as 
the  writers  differ  as  to  the  varying  numbers,  it  is  probable  that  such 
rules  were  never  officially  accepted  even  in  that  country.  In  France 
the  rule  was  much  as  in  this  country,  a  gold  helmet  for  the  Sovereign, 
silver  for  princes  and  great  nobles,  steel  for  the  remainder.  It  is 
curious  that  though  the  timbred  helm  was  of  course  known  in  England 
whilst  the  controversy  as  to  its  heraldic  use  was  raging  in  France  and 
Germany,  no  heraldic  use  of  it  whatever  occurs  till  the  beginning  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  From  Royalty  to  the  humblest  gentleman, 
all  used  for  heraldic  purposes  the  closed  or  visored  helms. 

The  present  rules  concerning  helmets  which  hold  in  Great  Britain 
are  that  the  helmet  of  the  Sovereign  and  the  Royal  princes  of  this 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  319 

country  shall  be  of  gold,  placed  in  an  affronts  position,  and  shall  have 
grilles.  The  helmet  of  a  peer  shall  be  of  silver,  shall  be  placed  in 
profile,  and  shall  have  golden  grilles,  frequently  stated  to  be  five  in 
number,  a  detail  not  stringently  adhered  to.  The  helmet  of  a  knight 
or  baronet  shall  be  of  steel,  placed  full-faced,  and  shall  be  open  ; 
whilst  the  helmet  of  an  esquire  or  gentleman  shall  be  of  steel  and  in 
profile,  with  the  visor  closed.  Within  these  Hmits  considerable  latitude 
is  allowed,  and  even  in  official  grants  of  arms,  which,  as  far  as  em- 
blazonment goes,  are  very  much  of  a  stereotyped  style,  actual  un- 
varying adherence  to  a  particular  pattern  is  not  insisted  upon. 

The  earliest  instance  amongst  the  Garter  plates  in  which  a  helmet 
with  grilles  is  used  to  denote  the  rank  of  a  peer  is  the  stall  plate  of 
Lord  Knollys  in  16 15.  In  the  Visitations  but  few  instances  can  be 
found  in  which  the  arms  of  peers  are  included.  Peers  were  not  com- 
pelled to  attend  and  enter  their  arms  and  pedigrees  at  Visitations, 
doubtless  owing  to  the  fact  that  no  Garter  King  of  Arms  ever  made 
a  Visitation,  whilst  it  has  been  the  long-asserted  prerogative  of  Garter 
to  deal  with  peers  and  their  arms  by  himself.  At  the  same  time,  how- 
ever, there  are  some  number  of  instances  of  peers'  arms  and  pedigrees 
in  the  Visitation  Books,  several  occurring  in  the  1587  Visitation  of 
Yorkshire.  In  these  cases  the  arms  of  peers  are  set  out  with  supporters 
and  mottoes,  but  there  is  no  difference  between  their  helmets  and  what 
we  should  now  term  the  helmet  of  an  esquire  or  gentleman.  This  is 
all  the  more  curious  because  neither  helmet  nor  motto  is  found  in  the 
tricks  given  of  the  arms  of  commoners.  Consequently  one  may  with 
certainty  date  the  introduction  of  the  helmet  with  grilles  as  the  distin- 
guishing mark  of  a  peer  in  this  country  between  the  years  1587  and 
16 15.  The  introduction  of  the  open  full-faced  helmet  as  indicative 
of  knight  or  baronet  is  known  to  date  from  about  the  period  of  the 
Restoration. 

Whilst  these  fixed  rules  as  to  helmets  are  still  scrupulously  adhered 
to  by  English  heralds,  Lyon  King  of  Arms  would  seem  to  be  inclined 
to  let  them  quietly  lapse  into  desuetude,  and  the  emblazonment  of  the 
arms  of  Sir  George  Duff-Sutherland-Dunbar,  Bart.,  in  the  Lyon  Register 
at  the  recent  rematriculation  of  his  arms,  affords  an  instance  in  which 
the  rules  have  been  ignored. 

Some  of  the  objections  one  hears  raised  to  official  heraldry  will 
not  hold  water  when  all  facts  are  known  ;  but  one  certainly  thinks 
that  those  who  object  to  the  present  helmet  and  its  methods  of  usage 
have  ample  reason  for  such  remarks  as  one  frequently  sees  in  print 
upon  the  subject.  To  put  it  mildly,  it  is  absolutely  ridiculous  to  see 
a  helmet  placed  affronts,  and  a  lion  passant  looking  out  over  the  side 
of  it ;  or  to  see  a  helmet  in  profile  with  the  crest  of  a  man's  head 


320     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

affronts  placed  above  it,  and  as  a  consequence  also  peeping  over  the 
side.  The  necessity  for  providing  a  resting-place  for  the  crest  other 
than  unoccupied  space  has  also  led  to  the  ridiculous  practice  of  de- 
picting the  wreath  or  torse  in  the  form  of  a  straight  bar  balanced  upon 
the  apex  of  the  helmet.  The  rule  itself  as  to  the  positions  of  helmets 
for  the  varying  ranks  is  officially  recognised,  and  the  elaboration  of 
the  rule  with  regard  to  the  differing  metals  of  the  Royal  helmet  and 
the  helmets  of  peers  and  knights  and  baronets  is  officially  followed  ; 
though  the  supposed  regulation,  w^hich  requires  that  the  helmet  of  an 
esquire  or  gentleman  shall  be  of  steel  alone  is  not,  inasmuch  as  the 
helmet  painted  upon  a  grant  is  always  ornamented  with  gold. 

These  rules  in  England  only  date  from  the  times  of  the  Stuarts,  and 
they  cannot  be  said  to  be  advantageous  from  any  point  of  view ;  they 
are  certainly  distinctly  harmful  from  the  artistic  standpoint.  It  is 
plainly  utterly  impossible  to  depict  some  crests  upon  a  profile  helmet, 
and  equally  impossible  to  display  others  upon  an  affronte  helmet.  In 
Scotland  the  crests  do  not  afford  quite  such  a  regular  succession  of 
glaring  examples  for  ridicule  as  is  the  case  in  England.  No  need  is 
recognised  in  Scotland  for  necessarily  distinguishing  the  crest  of  one 
family  from  that  of  another,  though  proper  differences  are  rigidly 
adhered  to  with  regard  to  the  coats  of  arms.  Nevertheless,  Scotland 
provides  us  with  many  crests  which  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  actually 
carry  on  an  actual  helmet,  and  examples  of  this  kind  can  be  found 
in  the  rainbow  which  floats  above  the  broken  globe  of  the  Hopes, 
and  the  coronets  in  space  to  which  the  hand  points  in  the  crest  of  the 
family  of  Dunbar  of  Boath,  with  many  other  similar  absurdities. 

In  England  an  equal  necessity  for  difference  is  insisted  upon  in  the 
crest  as  is  ever3'where  insisted  upon  with  regard  to  the  coat  of  arms  ; 
and  in  the  time  of  the  late  Garter  King  of  Arms,  it  was  rapidly  becoming 
almost  impossible  to  obtain  a  new  crest  which  has  not  got  a  row  of  small 
objects  in  front  of  it,  or  else  two  somethings,  one  on  either  side.  (Things, 
however,  have  now  considerably  improved.)  If  a  crest  is  to  be  depicted 
between  two  ostrich  feathers,  for  example,  it  stands  to  reason  that  the 
central  object  should  be  placed  upon  the  centre  of  the  helmet,  whilst  the 
ostrich  feathers  would  be  one  on  either  side — that  is,  placed  in  a  position 
slightly  above  the  ears.  Yet,  if  a  helmet  is  to  be  rigidly  depicted  in 
profile,  with  such  a  crest,  it  is  by  no  means  inconceivable  that  the  one 
ostrich  feather  at  the  one  side  would  hide  both  the  other  ostrich  feather 
and  the  central  object,  leaving  the  crest  to  appear  when  properly 
depicted  (for  example,  if  photographed  from  a  profile  view  of  an  actual 
helmet)  as  a  single  ostrich  feather.  Take,  for  instance,  the  Sievier 
crest,  which  is  an  estoile  between  two  ostrich  feathers.  If  that  crest 
were  properly  depicted  upon  a  profile  helmet,  the  one  ostrich  feather 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  321 

would  undoubtedly  hide  everything  else,  for  it  is  hardly  likely  that 
the  estoile  would  be  placed  edge-forwards  upon  an  actual  helmet ;  and 
to  properly  display  it,  it  ought  to  take  its  place  upon  an  affronts 
helmet.  Under  the  present  rules  it  would  be  officially  depicted  with 
the  estoile  facing  the  side,  one  ostrich  feather  in  front  over  the  nose, 
and  the  other  at  the  back  of  the  head,  which  of  course  reduces  it  to 
an  absurdity.  To  take  another  example,  one  might  instance  the  crest 
of  Sir  William  Crookes.  It  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  a  helmet 
would  ever  have  been  borne  into  a  tournament  surmounted  by  an 
elephant  looking  out  over  the  side  ;  it  would  most  certainly  have  had 
its  head  placed  to  the  front ;  and  yet,  because  Sir  William  Crookes  is 
a  knight,  he  is  required  to  use  an  affronts  helmet,  with  a  crest  which 
most  palpably  was  designed  for  use  in  profile.  The  absurd  position 
which  has  resulted  is  chiefly  due  to  the  position  rules  and  largely  a 
consequence  of  the  hideous  British  practice  (for  no  other  nation  has 
ever  adopted  it)  of  depicting,  as  is  so  often  done,  a  coat  of  arms  and 
crest  without  the  intervening  helmet  and  mantling  ;  though  perhaps 
another  cause  may  have  had  its  influence.  I  allude  to  the  fact  that 
an  animal's  head,  for  example,  in  profile,  is  considered  quite  a  different 
crest  to  the  same  animal's  head  when  placed  affronts  ;  and  so  long  as 
this  idea  holds,  and  so  long  as  the  rules  concerning  the  position  of 
the  helmet  exist,  for  so  long  shall  we  have  these  glaring  and  ridi- 
culous anomalies.  And  whilst  one  generation  of  a  family  has  an 
affronte  helmet  and  another  using  the  same  crest  may  have  a 
profile  one,  it  is  useless  to  design  crests  specifically  to  fit  the  one  or 
the  other. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Eve,  who  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
heraldic  artists  of  the  present  time,  has  adopted  a  plan  in  his  work 
which,  whilst  conforming  with  the  rules  to  which  I  have  referred, 
has  reduced  the  peculiarities  resulting  from  their  observance  to  a 
minimum.  His  plan  is  simple,  inasmuch  as,  with  a  crest  which  is 
plainly  affronts  and  has  to  be  depicted  upon  a  profile  helmet,  he 
slightly  alters  the  perspective  of  each,  twisting  round  the  helmet, 
which,  whilst  remaining  slightly  in  profile,  more  nearly  approaches 
the  affronts  position,  and  bringing  the  crest  slightly  round  to  meet  it. 
In  this  way  he  has  obtained  some  very  good  results  from  awkward 
predicaments.  Mr.  Joseph  Foster,  in  his  ^^  Peerage  and  Baronetage," 
absolutely  discarded  all  rules  affecting  the  position  of  the  helmet ; 
and  though  the  artistic  results  may  be  excellent,  his  plan  cannot 
be  commended,  because  whilst  rules  exist  they  ought  to  be  adhered 
to.  At  the  same  time,  it  must  be  frankly  admitted  that  the  laws  of 
position  seem  utterly  unnecessary.  No  other  country  has  them — 
they  are,  as  has  been  shown,  impracticable  from  the  artistic  stand- 

X 


322     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

point  ;  and  there  can  be  very  little  doubt  that  it  is  highly  desirable 
that  they  should  be  wholly  abolished. 

It  is  quite  proper  that  there  should  be  some  means  of  distinction, 
and  it  would  seem  well  that  the  helmet  with  grilles  should  be  reserved 
for  peers.  In  this  we  should  be  following  or  closely  approximating 
to  the  rules  observed  formerly  upon  the  Continent,  and  if  all  questions 
of  position  are  waived  the  only  difficulty  which  remains  is  the  helmet 
of  baronets  and  knights.  The  full-faced  open  helmet  is  ugly  in  the 
extreme — anything  would  be  preferable  (except  an  open  helmet  in 
profile),  and  probably  it  would  be  better  to  wipe  out  the  rule  on  this 
point  as  well.  Knights  of  any  Order  have  the  circle  of  that  order 
within  which  to  place  their  shields,  and  baronets  have  the  augmenta- 
tions of  their  rank  and  degree.  The  knight  bachelor  would  be  the 
only  one  to  suffer.  The  gift  of  a  plain  circlet  around  the  shield  or 
(following  the  precedent  of  a  baronet),  a  spur  upon  a  canton  or 
inescutcheon,  could  easily  remove  any  cause  of  complaint. 

But  whilst  one  may  think  it  well  to  urge  strongly  the  alteration  of 
existing  rules,  it  should  not  be  considered  permissible  to  ignore  rules 
which  undoubtedly  do  exist  whilst  those  rules  remain  in  force. 

The  helmets  of  knights  and  baronets  and  of  esquires  and  gentlemen, 
in  accordance  with  present  official  practice,  are  usually  ornamented 
with  gold,  though  this  would  not  appear  to  be  a  fixed  and  unalter- 
able rule. 

When  two  or  more  crests  need  to  be  depicted,  various  expedients 
are  adopted.  The  English  official  practice  is  to  paint  one  helmet  only, 
and  both  the  crests  are  detached  from  it.  The  same  plan  was  formerly 
adopted  in  Scotland.  The  dexter  crest  is  naturally  the  more  important 
and  the  principal  one  in  each  case.  By  using  one  helmet  only  the 
necessity  of  turning  the  dexter  crest  to  face  the  sinister  is  obviated. 

The  present  official  method  adopted  in  England  of  depicting  three 
crests  is  to  use  one  helmet  only,  and  all  three  crests  face  to  the  dexter. 
The  centre  one,  which  is  placed  on  the  helmet,  is  the  principal  or  first 
crest,  that  on  the  dexter  side  the  second,  and  the  one  on  the  sinister 
the  third. 

In  Germany,  the  land  of  many  crests  (no  less  than  thirteen  were 
borne  above  the  shield  of  the  Margraves  of  Brandenburg-Anspach), 
there  has  from  the  earliest  times  been  a  fixed  invariable  practice  of 
never  dissociating  a  crest  from  the  helmet  which  supported  it,  and 
consequently  one  helmet  to  every  crest  has  long  been  the  only  recog- 
nised procedure.  In  the  United  Kingdom  duplication  of  crests 
is  quite  a  modern  practice.  Amongst  the  Plantagenet  Garter  plates 
there  is  not  a  single  example  to  be  found  of  a  coat  of  arms  with  more 
than  a  single  crest,  and  there  is  no  ancient  British  example  of  more 


THE    HERALDIC    HELMET  323 

than  one  helmet  which  can  be  referred  to  for  guidance.  The  custom 
originated  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  in  Germany. 
This  point  is  more  fully  dealt  with  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  con- 
sideration of  crests,  but  it  may  be  here  noted  that  in  Austria  a  knight 
may  place  two  and  a  baron  three  helmets  over  his  shield.  The 
Continental  practice  is  as  follows :  ^'  When  the  number  of  the  helms 
is  even,  they  are  arranged  so  that  all  look  inwards  towards  the  centre 
line  of  the  escutcheon,  half  being  turned  to  the  dexter,  half  to  the 
sinister.  If  the  number  be  uneven,  the  principal  helm  is  placed  in  the 
centre  affronte,  the  others  with  their  crests  being  turned  towards  it  ; 
thus,  some  face  to  the  dexter,  some  to  the  sinister.  The  crests  are 
always  turned  with  the  helmets.  In  Scandinavia  the  centre  helm  is 
affronte  ;  the  others,  with  their  crests,  are  often  turned  outwards. 

English  officialism,  whilst  confining  its  own  emblazonments  to  one 
helmet  only,  has  never  sought  to  assert  that  the  use  of  two  or  more 
was  either  incorrect  or  faulty  heraldry,  and  particularly  in  these  later 
days  of  the  revival  of  heraldic  art  in  this  country,  all  heraldic  artists, 
following  the  German  example,  are  inclined  to  give  each  crest  its  own 
helmet.  This  practice  has  been  adopted  during  the  last  few  years  by 
Lyon  King  of  Arms,  and  now  all  paintings  of  arms  in  Lyon  Register 
which  have  two  crests  have  the  same  number  of  helmets.  Some  of 
the  Bath  stall  plates  in  Henry  VIL's  chapel  in  Westminster  Abbey  also 
display  two  helmets. 

When  two  helmets  are  used,  it  has  been  customary,  still  following 
the  German  model,  to  turn  them  to  face  each  other,  except  in  the 
cases  of  the  full-faced  helmets  of  a  knight  or  baronet,  and  (with  the 
same  exception)  when  three  helmets  have  been  employed  the  outer 
ones  have  been  placed  to  face  the  centre,  whilst  the  centre  one  has 
been  placed  in  profile,  as  would  be  the  case  were  it  standing  alone. 
But  the  multiplication  of  English  crests  in  number,  all  of  which  as 
granted  are  required  to  differ,  has  naturally  resulted  in  the  stereotyping 
of  points  of  difference  im  attitude,  &c.,  and  the  inevitable  consequence 
is  unfortunately  that  without  sacrificing  this  character  of  differentiation 
it  is  impossible  to  allow  the  English  heraldic  artist  the  same  latitude 
and  freedom  of  disposition  with  regard  to  crests  that  his  German 
confrere  enjoys.  These  remarks  apply  solely  to  English  and  Irish 
crests,  for  Scottish  practices,  requiring  no  differentiation  in  the  crests, 
have  left  Scottish  crests  simple  and  unspoiled.  In  England  the  result 
is  that  to  '^  play  "  with  the  position  of  a  crest  frequently  results  in  an 
entire  alteration  of  its  character,  and  consequently,  as  there  is  nothing 
whatever  in  the  nature  of  a  law  or  of  a  rule  to  the  contrary,  it  is  quite 
as  usual  to  now  find  that  two  profile  helmets  are  both  placed  to  face 
the  dexter,  as  placed  to  face  each  other.     Another  point  seems  also  in 


324     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

England  to  have  been  lost  sight  of  in  borrowing  our  methods  from 
Germany.  They  hold  themselves  at  liberty  to,  and  usually  do^  make 
all  their  charges  on  the  shield  face  to  the  centre.  This  is  never  done  in 
England;  where  all  face  to  the  dexter.  It  seems  therefore  to  me  an 
anomaly  to  apply  one  rule  to  the  shield  and  another  to  the  helmet, 
and  personally  I  prefer  that  both  helmets  and  all  charges  should  face 
the  dexter. 

In  British  heraldry  (and  in  fact  the  rule  is  universal)  no  woman 
other  than  a  reigning  Sovereign  is  permitted  to  surmount  her  arms  by 
a  helmet.  Woodward  states  that  ^^  Many  writers  have  denied  the  right 
of  ecclesiastics  (and,  of  course,  of  women)  to  the  use  of  helmet  and 
crest.  Spener,  the  great  German  herald,  defends  their  use  by  ecclesi- 
astics, and  says  that,  in  Germany  at  any  rate,  universal  custom  is 
opposed  to  the  restriction.  There  the  prelates,  abbots,  and  abbesses, 
who  held  princely  fiefs  by  mihtary  tenure,  naturally  retained  the  full 
knightly  insignia." 

In  official  English  heraldry,  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  confirma- 
tion and  a  certain  amount  of  contradiction  of  this  supposed  rule  which 
denies  a  helmet  to  an  ecclesiastic.  A  grant  of  arms  to  a  clergyman  at 
the  present  day,  and  at  all  times  previously,  after  the  granting  of  crests 
had  become  usual,  contains  the  grant  of  the  crest  and  the  emblazon- 
ment shows  the  helmet.  But  the  grant  of  arms  to  a  bishop  is  different. 
The  emblazonment  of  the  arms  is  surmounted  by  a  mitre,  and  the 
crest  is  depicted  in  the  body  of  the  patent  away  from  and  distinct  from 
the  emblazonment  proper  in  the  margin.  But  the  fact  that  a  crest  is 
granted  proves  that  there  is  not  any  disability  inherent  in  the  ecclesi- 
astic which  debars  him  from  the  possession  of  the  helmet  and  crest, 
and  the  rule  which  must  be  deduced,  and  which  really  is  the  definite 
and  accepted  rule,  is  that  a  mitre  cannot  be  displayed  together  with  a 
helmet  or  crest.  It  must  be  one  or  other,  and  as  the  mitre  is  indicative 
of  the  higher  rank,  it  is  the  crest  and  helmet  which  are  discarded. 

There  are  few  rules  in  heraldry  to  which  exceptions  cannot  be 
found,  and  there  is  a  painting  now  preserved  in  the  College  of  Arms, 
which  depicts  the  arms  of  the  Bishop  of  Durham  surmounted  by  a 
helmet,  that  in  its  turn  being  surmounted  by  the  mitre  of  episcopal 
rank.  But  the  Bishopric  of  Durham  was,  in  addition  to  its  episcopal 
character,  a  temporal  Palatinate,  and  the  arms  of  the  Bishops  of  that 
See  therefore  logically  present  many  differences  and  exceptions  from 
established  heraldic  rules. 

The  rules  with  regard  to  the  use  of  helmets  for  the  coats  of  arms 
of  corporate  bodies  are  somewhat  vague  and  vary  considerably.  All 
counties,  cities,  and  towns,  and  all  corporate  bodies  to  whom  crests 
have  been  granted  in  England,  have  the  ordinary  closed  profile  helmet 


THE   HERALDIC    HELMET  325 

of  an  esquire  or  gentleman.  No  grant  of  a  crest  has  as  yet  been 
made  to  an  English  university,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  say  that  no 
helmet  would  be  allowed,  or  if  it  were  allowed  what  it  would  be. 

For  some  reason  the  arms  of  the  City  of  London  are  always  depicted 
with  the  helmet  of  a  peer,  but  as  the  crest  is  not  officially  recorded, 
the  privilege  necessarily  has  no  official  sanction  or  authority. 

In  Scotland  the  helmet  painted  upon  a  grant  of  arms  to  town  or 
city  is  always  the  open  full-faced  helmet  of  a  knight  or  baronet.  But 
in  the  grant  of  arms  to  a  county,  where  it  includes  a  crest,  the  helmet 
is  that  of  an  esquire,  which  is  certainly  curious. 

In  Ireland  no  helmet  at  all  was  painted  upon  the  patent  granting 
arms  to  the  city  of  Belfast,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  a  crest  was  included 
in  the  grant,  and  the  late  Ulster  King  of  Arms  informed  me  he 
would  not  allow  a  helmet  to  any  impersonal  arms. 

Care  should  be  taken  to  avoid  errors  of  anachronism  when  depicting 
helmet  and  shield.  The  shapes  of  these  should  bear  some  approximate 
relation  to  each  other  in  point  of  date.  It  is  preferable  that  the  helmet 
should  be  so  placed  that  its  lower  extremity  reaches  somewhat  over 
the  edge  of  the  shield.  The  inclined  position  of  the  shield  in  emblazon- 
ment is  borrowed  from  the  natural  order  of  things,  because  the  shield 
hanging  by  its  chain  or  shield-strap  (the  guige),  which  was  so  balanced 
that  the  shield  should  most  readily  fall  into  a  convenient  position  when 
slung  on  the  rider's  shoulders,  would  naturally  retain  its  equilibrium 
only  in  a  slanting  direction. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
THE  CREST 

IF  uncertainty  exists  as  to  the  origin  of  armS;  it  is  as  nothing  to 
the  huge  uncertainty  that  exists  concerning  the  beginnings  of 
the  crest.  Most  wonderful  stories  are  told  concerning  it  ;  that 
it  meant  this  and  meant  the  other,  that  the  right  to  bear  a  crest  was 
confined  to  this  person  or  the  other  person.  But  practically  the 
whole  of  the  stories  of  this  kind  are  either  wild  imagination  or  con- 
jecture founded  upon  insufficient  facts. 

The  real  facts — which  one  may  as  well  state  first  as  a  basis  to  work 
upon — are  very  few  and  singularly  unconvincing,  and  are  useless  as 
original  data  from  which  to  draw  conclusions. 

First  of  all  we  have  the  definite,  assured,  and  certain  fact  that  the 
earliest  known  instance  of  a  crest  is  in  1198,  and  we  find  evidence  of 
the  use  of  arms  before  that  date. 

The  next  fact  is  that  we  find  infinitely  more  variation  in  the  crests 
used  by  given  families  than  in  the  arms,  and  that  whilst  the  variations 
in  the  arms  are  as  a  rule  trivial,  and  not  affecting  the  general  design 
of  the  shield,  the  changes  in  the  crest  are  frequently  radical,  the  crest 
borne  by  a  family  at  one  period  having  no  earthly  relation  to  that 
borne  by  the  same  family  at  another. 

Again,  we  find  that  though  the  occasional  use  of  a  crest  can  (by 
isolated  instances)  be  taken  back,  as  already  stated,  to  a  fairly  early 
period,  the  use  of  crests  did  not  become  general  until  very  much  later. 

Another  fact  is  that,  except  perhaps  in  the  persons  of  sovereigns, 
there  is  no  official  instance,  nor  any  other  authentic  instance  of  import- 
ance, in  which  a  crest  appears  ever  to  have  been  used  by  a  woman 
until  these  recent  and  unfortunate  days  when  unofficial  examples  can 
be  found  of  the  wildest  ignorance  of  all  armorial  rules. 

The  foregoing  may  be  taken  as  gei]^ral  principles  which  no 
authentic  instance  known  can  be  said  to  reTute. 

Bearing  these  in  mind,  let  us  now  see  what  other  results  can  be 
obtained  by  deduction  from  specific  instances. 

The  earliest  form  in  which  anything  can  be  found  in  the  nature  of 
a  crest  is  the  lion  upon  the  head-dress   of  Geoffrey,  Count   of  Anjou 

(Fig.  28).     This  has  been  already  referred  to. 

326 


THE    CREST  327 

The  helmet  of  PhiUppe  D' Alsace,  Count  of  Flanders  {c.  1181),  has 
painted  upon  the  side  the  same  figure  of  a  lion  which  appears  upon 
his  shield. 

What  is  usually  accepted  as  the  earliest  authenticated  instance  of 
a  regular  crest  is  that  afforded  by  the  Great  Seal  of  King  Richard  I. 
of  England;  which  shows  over  the  helmet  a  lion  passant  painted  upon 
the  fan-shaped  ornament  which  surmounts  the  helmet. 

If  one  accepts — as  most  people  nowadays  are  inclined  to  do — the 
Darwinian  theory  of  evolution;  the  presumption  is  that  the  develop- 
ment of  the  human  being,  through  various  intermediate  links  including 
the  ape,  can  be  traced  back  to  those  cell-like  formations  which  are  the 
most  ^'original"  types  of  life  which  are  known  to  us.  At  the  same 
time  one  is  hardly  disposed  to  assert  that  some  antediluvian  jellyfish 
away  back  in  past  ages  was  the  first  human  being.  By  a  similar,  but 
naturally  more  restricted  argument,  one  cannot  accept  these  paintings 
upon  helmets,  nor  possibly  can  one  accept  paintings  upon  the  fan-like 
ornaments  which  surmounted  the  helmet,  as  examples  of  crests.  The 
rudiments  and  origin  of  crests  doubtless  they  were.  Crests  they 
were  not. 

We  must  go  back,  once  again,  to  the  bed-rock  of  the  peacock- 
popinjay  vanity  ingrained  in  human  nature.  The  same  impulse  which 
nowadays  leads  to  the  decoration  of  the  helmets  of  the  Life  Guards 
with  horsehair  plumes  and  regimental  badges,  the  cocked  hats  of  field- 
marshals  and  other  officers  with  waving  plumes,  the  kepis  of  commis- 
sionaires, and  the  smasher  hats  of  Colonial  irregulars  wdth  cocks'  feathers, 
the  hat  of  the  poacher  and  gamekeeper  with  a  pheasant's  feather,  led 
unquestionably  to  the  ^Mecoration  "  of  the  helmets  of  the  armoured 
knights  of  old.  The  matter  was  just  a  combination  of  decoration  and 
vanity.  At  first  (Fig.  569)  they  frequently  painted  their  helmets,  and  as 
with  the  gradual  evolution  and  crystallisation  of  armory  a  certain 
form  of  decoration  (the  device  upon  his  shield)  became  identified  with 
a  certain  person,  that  particular  device  was  used  for  the  decoration  of 
the  helmet  and  painted  thereupon. 

Then  it  was  found  than  a  fan-shaped  erection  upon  the  helmet 
improved  its  appearance,  and,  without  adding  greatly  to  its  weight, 
advantaged  it  as  a  head  protection  by  attracting  the  blow  of  an 
opponent's  sword,  and  lessening  or  nullifying  its  force  ere  the  blow 
reached  the  actual  crowMi-^lates  of  the  helmet.  Possibly  in  this  we 
see  the  true  origin  (as  in  the  case  of  the  scalloped  edges  of  the 
mantling)  of  the  serrated  border  which  'appears  upon  these  fan-shaped 
erections.  But  this  last  suggestion  is  no  more  than  a  conjecture  of 
my  own,  and  may  not  be  correct,  for  human  nature  has  always  had  a 
weakness  for  decoration,  and  ever  has  been  agreeable  to  pay  the  extra 


328     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

penny  in  the  '^  tuppence  "  for  the  coloured  or  decorated  variety.  The 
many  instances  which  can  be  found  of  these  fan-shaped  ornaments 
upon  helmets  in  a  perfectly  undecorated  form  leads  me  to  unhesitat- 
ingly assert  that  they  originated  not  as  crests,  nor  as  a  vehicle  for  the 
display  of  crests,  but  as  an  integral  and  protective  part  of  the  helmet 
itself.  The  origin  of  the  crest  is  due  to  the  decoration  of  the  fan.  The 
derivation  of  the  word  "  crest/'  from  the  Latin  crista^  a  cock's  comb, 
should  put  the  supposition  beyond  any  doubt.  ' 

Disregarding  crests  of  later  grant  or  assumption,  one  can  assert 
with  confidence  that  a  large  proportion  of  those — particularly  in  German 


Fig.  6io. — From  the  seal 
(1301)  of  Richard  Fitz- 
Alan,  Earl  of  Arundel. 


Fig.  611. — From  the  seal  (1301) 
of  Humphrey  de  Bohm,  Earl 
of  Hereford. 


Fig.  612. — From  the  seal 
(1305)  of  Edward  of  Car- 
narvon, Prince  of  Wales. 


armory,  where  they  are  so  frequent — which  we  now  find  blazoned  or 
depicted  as  wings  or  plumes,  carrying  a  device,  are  nothing  more  than 
developments  of  or  derivatives  from  these  fan-shaped  ornaments. 

These  fans  being  (from  other  reasons)  in  existence,  of  course,  and 
very  naturally,  were  painted  and  decorated,  and  equally  of  course  such 
decoration  took  the  form  of  the  particular  decoration  associated  with 
the  owner,  namely,  the  device  upon  the  shield.  It  seems  to  me,  and 
for  long  has  so  seemed,  essentially  strange  that  no  specialist  authority, 
writing  upon  armory,  has  noticed  that  these  "  fans  "  (as  I  will  call  them) 
are  really  a  part,  though  possibly  only  a  decorative  part,  of  the  helmet 
itself.  There  has  always  in  these  matters  been  far  too  great  a  tendency 
on  the  part  of  writers  to  accept  conclusions  of  earlier  authorities  ready 
made,  and  to  simply  treat  these  fans  as  selected  and  chosen  crests. 
Figs.  6.1 0-6 1 2   are   instances  of  helmets  having  these  fans,     All  are 


THE   CREST  ^29 

taken  from  seals,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  the  actual  fans  upon 
the  seal  helmets  had  some  device  painted  upon  them  which  it  was 
impossible  by  reason  of  the  size  to  represent  upon  the  seal.  As  has 
been  already  stated,  the  great  seal  of  Richard  I.  does  show  a  lion 
painted  on  the  fan. 

There  are  many  examples  of  the  heraldic  development  of  these' fans, 
— for  their  use  obtained  even  in  this  country  long  after  the  real 
heraldic  crest  had  an  assured  footing — and  a  typical  example  occurs 
in  Fig.  613,  but  probably  the  best-known  instance,  one  which  has 
been  often  illustrated,  is  that  from  the  effigy  of  Sir  Geoffrey  de  Luttrell 


Fig.    613. — Arms    cf   the  family    of 

Schaler  (Basle) :    Gules,  a  bend  of 

lozenges  argent.     (From  the  Zurich 
Roll  of  Arms.) 


Fig.  614. — Modern  reverse  of  the  Common 
Seal  of  the  City  of  London  (1539). 


(c.  1340),  which  shows  a  fan  of  this  character  upon  which  the  entire 
Luttrell  arms  are  depicted. 

A  much  later  instance  in  this  country  will  be  found  in  the  seal 
(dated  1539)  of  the  City  of  London,  which  shows  upon  the  helmet  one 
of  these  fan-shaped  ornaments,  charged  with  the  cross  of  the  City  arms 
(Fig.  614). 

The  arms  of  the  City  of  London  are  recorded  in  the  College  of 
Arms  (Vincent)  without  a  crest  (and  by  the  way  without  supporters) 
and  this  seal  affords  a  curious  but  a  very  striking  and  authentic  instance 
of  the  extreme  accuracy  of  the  records  of  the  College  of  Arms.  There 
being  no  crest  for  the  City  of  London  at  the  time  of  the  preparation 
of  this  seal,  recourse  was  had  to  the  ancient  practice  of  depicting  the 
whole  or  a  part  (in  this  case  a  part)  of  the  device  of  the  shield  upon  a 
fan  surmounting  the  helmet.  In  course  of  time  this  fan,  in  the  case 
of  London,  as  in  so  many  other  cases,  has  through  ignorance  been 


330     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

converted  or  developed  into  a  wing,  but  the  *'  rays  "  of  the  fan  in  this 
instance  are  preserved  in  the  ^'  rays  "  of  the  dragon's  wing  (charged 
with  a  cross)  which  the  crest  is  now  supposed  to  be. 

Whilst  dealing  with  the  arms  of  London,  one  of  the  favourite 
"  flaring "  examples  of  ancient  but  unrecorded  arms  often  mentioned 
as  an  instance  in  which  the  Records  of  the  College  of  Arms  are  at 
fault,  perhaps  I  may  be  pardoned  for  adding  that  the  shield  is  recorded. 
The  crest  and  supporters  are  not.  The  seeming  omission  as  to  the 
crest  is  explained  above.  The  real  supporters  of  the  City  of  London, 
to  which  a  claim  by  user  could  (even  now)  be  established  (they  are  two 
lions,  not  dragons),  had,  with  the  single  exception  of  their  use  upon 
the  Mayor's  seal,  which  use  is  continued  to  the  present  day,  been 
practically  discarded.  Consequently  the  lions  as  supporters  remained 
unclaimed,  and  therefore  are  not  recorded. 

The  supporters  now  used  (two  dragons)  are  raw  new  adornments, 
of  which  no  example  can  be  found  before  the  seventeenth  century. 
Those  naturally,  being  *^  assumed "  without  authority  at  so  recent  a 
date,  are  not  recorded,  which  is  yet  another  testimony  to  the  impartial 
accuracy  of  the  Heralds'  College  Records. 

The  use  of  the  fan-crest  has  long  been  obsolete  in  British  armory, 
in  which  it  can  hardly  ever  be  said  to  have  had  a  very  great  footing, 
unless  such  use  was  prevalent  in  the  thirteenth  century  ;  but  it  still 
survives  in  Germany  at  the  present  day,  where,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
many  of  these  fans  have  now  degenerated  into  reduplications  of  the 
arms  upon  wings  or  plumes  of  feathers,  other  crests  to  a  considerable 
number  are  still  displayed  upon  "  fans." 

Many  of  the  current  practices  in  British  armory  are  the  culmina- 
tion of  long-continued  ignorance.  Some,  mayhap,  can  be  allowed  to 
pass  without  comment,  but  others  deserve  at  any  rate  their  share  of 
criticism  and  remark.  Amongst  such  may  be  included  the  objection- 
able practice,  in  the  grants  of  so  many  modern  crests,  of  making  the 
crest  itself  a  shield  carrying  a  repetition  of  the  arms  or  some  other 
device,  or  of  introducing  in  the  crest  an  escutcheon.  To  the  resusci- 
tation of  these  ^'  fan  "  repetitions  of  the  shield  device  there  is  not,  and 
cannot  be,  any  objection.  One  would  even,  in  these  days  of  the 
multiplication  of  differentiated  crests,  recommend  this  as  a  relief  from 
the  abominable  rows  of  assorted  objects  nowadays  placed  (for  the 
purposes  of  differentiation)  in  front  of  so  many  modern  crests.  One 
would  gladly  see  a  reversion  to  the  German  development  (from  this 
source)  of  wings  charged  with  the  arms  or  a  part  of  the  armorial 
device  ;  but  one  of  the  things  a  new  grantee  should  pray  to  be 
delivered  from  is  an  escutcheon  of  any  sort,  shape,  or  form  in  the 
crest  assigned  to  him. 


THE   CREST  331 

To  return,  however,  to  the  ''  fans  "  upon  the  early  helmets.  Many 
of  the  examples  which  have  come  down  to  us  show  the  fan  of  a  rather 
diminutive  height,  but  (in  the  form  of  an  arc  of  a  much  enlarged  circle) 
projected  far  forward  beyond  the  front  of  the  helmet,  and  carried 
far  back,  apparently  as  a  safeguard  from  blows  which  would  other- 
wise descend  upon  the  neck.  (A  survival  of  the  fan,  by  the  way,  may 
perhaps  be  found  in  the  dragoon  helmets  of  the  time  of  the  Peninsular 
War,  in  the  firemen's  helmets  of  to-day,  and  in  the  helmets  now  worn 
by  different  regiments  in  the  Italian  army.)  The  very  shape  of  these 
fans  should  prove  they  were  originally  a  protective  part  of  the  helmet. 
The  long  low  shape,  however,  did  not,  as  a  general  circumstance,  lend 
itself  to  its  decoration  by  a  duplication  thereupon  of  the  whole  of  the 
arms.  Consequently  these  fans  will  nearly  always  be  found  simply 
adorned  with  one  figure  from  the  shield.  It  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  we  are  now  dealing  with  a  period  in  armory  when  the  charges 
upon  the  shield  itself  were  very  much,  as  far  as  number  and  position 
are  concerned,  of  an  indeterminate  character.  If  they  were  indeter- 
minate for  the  shield,  it  evidences  that  there  cannot  have  been  any 
idea  of  a  necessity  to  repeat  the  whole  of  the  device  upon  the  fan. 
As  there  was  seldom  room  or  opportunity  for  the  display  of  the  whole 
device,  we  invariably  find  that  these  fan  decorations  were  a  duplication 
of  a  distinctive  part,  but  not  necessarily  the  whole  of  the  device  ;  and 
this  device  was  disposed  in  the  most  suitable  position  which  the  shape 
of  the  fan  would  accommodate.  Herein  is  the  explanation  of  the  fact 
that  whilst  the  arms  of  Percy,  Talbot,  and  Mowbray  were  all,  in  vary- 
ing tinctures,  a  lion  rampant,  the  crest  in  each  case  was  a  lion  passant 
or  statant.  In  short,  the  fan  did  not  lend  itself  to  the  representation  of 
a  lion  rampant,  and  consequently  there  is  no  early  instance  of  such 
a  crest.  Perhaps  the  insecurity  of  a  large  and  heavy  crest  balanced 
upon  one  leg  may  be  an  added  reason. 

The  next  step  in  the  evolution  of  the  crest,  there  can  be  little 
doubt,  was  the  cutting  of  the  fan  into  the  outline  of  the  crest,  and 
though  I  know  of  no  instance  of  such  a  crest  on  any  effigy,  there  can 
be  no  reasonable  doubt  on  the  point,  if  a  little  thought  is  given  to  the 
matter.  Until  a  very  much  later  period,  we  never  find  in  any  heraldic 
representation  that  the  helmet  or  crest  are  represented  in  an  affronts 
position.  Why  ?  Simply  because  crests  at  that  period  were  merely 
profile  representations. 

In  later  days,  when  tournament  crests  were  made  of  leather,  the 
weight  even  of  these  was  very  considerable,  but  for  tournament  pur- 
poses that  weight  could  be  endured.  Half-a-dozen  courses  down  the 
barriere  would  be  a  vastly  different  matter  to  a  whole  day  under  arms 
in  actual  battle.     Now  a  crest  cut  out  from  a  thin  plate  of  metal  set 


k 


332     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

on  edge  would  weigh  but  little.  But  perhaps  the  strongest  proof  of 
all  is  to  be  found  in  the  construction  of  so  many  German  crests,  which 
are  adorned  down  the  back  with  a  fan. 

Now  it  is  hardly  likely,  if  the  demi-lion  in  relief  had  been  the 
earliest  form,  that  the  fan  would  have  been  subsequently  added  to  it. 
The  fan  is  nothing  more  than  the  remains  of  the  original  fan-shaped 
ornament  left  when  the  crest,  or  most  likely  only  the  front  outhne  of 
it,  had  been  cut  out  in  profile  from  the  fan.  We  have  no  instance 
until  a  very  much  later  period  of  a  crest  which  could  not  be  depicted  in 
profile,  and  in  the  representations  of  crests  upon  seals  we  have  no 
means  of  forming  a  certain  judgment  that  these  representations  are 
not  of  profile  crests,  for  the  very  nature  of  the  craft  of  seal-engraving 
would  lead  the  engraver  to  add  a  certain  amount  of  relief,  even  if  this 
did  not  actually  exist.  It  is  out  of  the  question  to  suppose,  by  reason 
of  their  weight,  that  crests  were  made  in  metal.  But  if  made  of 
leather,  as  were  the  tournament  crests,  what  protection  did  the  crest 
add  to  the  helmet  ?  The  fact  that  wreaths  and  coronets  did  not  come 
into  use  at  the  earliest  advent  of  crests  is  confirmatory  evidence  of  the 
fact  that  modelled  crests  did  not  exist,  inasmuch  as  the  fan  prolonged 
in  front  and  prolonged  behind  was  narrowed  at  its  point  of  contact 
with  the  helmet  into  such  a  diminished  length  that  it  was  compara- 
tively easy  to  slip  the  mantling  by  means  of  a  slit  over  the  fan,  or 
even  drape  it  round  it. 

Many  of  the  old  illustrations  of  tournaments  and  battles  which 
have  come  down  to  us  show  no  crests  on  the  helmets,  but  merely 
plumes  of  feathers  or  some  fan-shaped  erection.  Consequently  it  is  a 
fairly  safe  conclusion  that  for  the  actual  purposes  of  warfare  modelled 
crests  never  had  any  real  existence,  or,  if  they  had  any  such  existence, 
that  it  was  most  limited.  Modelled  crests  were  tournament  crests. 
The  crests  that  were  used  in  battle  must  have  been  merely  cut  out  in 
profile  from  the  fan.  Then  came  the  era,  in  Plantagenet  times,  of  the 
tournament.  We  talk  glibly  about  tournaments,  but  few  indeed  really 
know  much  about  them.  Trial  by  combat  and  the  real  tournament 
a  Voutrance  seldom  occurred,  and  though  trial  by  combat  remained 
upon  the  statute-book  until  the  59  Geo.  III.,  it  was  seldom  invoked. 
Tournaments  w^ere  chiefly  in  the  nature  of  athletic  displays,  taking  the 
place  of  our  games  and  sports,  and  inasmuch  as  they  contributed  to 
the  training  of  the  soldier,  were  held  in  the  high  repute  that  polo,  for 
example,  now  enjoys  amongst  the  upper  and  military  classes.  Added 
to  this,  the  tournament  was  the  essential  climax  of  ceremony  and  cere- 
monial, and  in  all  its  details  was  ordered  by  such  strict  regulations, 
rules,  and  supervision  that  its  importance  and  its  position  in  the  public 
and  ofticial  estimate  was  far  in  advance  of  its  present-day  equivalents. 


THE   CREST  333 

The  joust  was  fought  with  tilting-spears,  the  *^ tourney"  with 
swords.  The  rules  and  regulations  for  jousts  and  tournaments  drawn 
up  by  the  High  Constable  of  England  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  show 
clearly  that  in  neither  was  contemplated  any  risk  of  life. 

In  the  tourney  the  swords  were  blunted  and  without  points,  but 
the  principal  item  was  always  the  joust,  which  was  fought  with  tilting- 
spears  and  shields.  Many  representations  of  the  tourney  show  the 
participants  without  shields.  The  general  ignorance  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  the  tilt  was  run  is  very  widespread.  A  strong  barrier  was 
erected  straight  down  the  centre  of  the  lists,  and  the  knights  were 
placed  one  on  either  side,  so  that  by  no  possible  chance  could  the 
two  horses  come  into  contact.  Those  who  will  read  Mallory's  '<  Morte 
d'Arthur  "  carefully — bearing  in  mind  that  Mallory  described  legendary 
events  of  an  earlier  period  clothed  in  the  manners  and  customs  of  his 
own  day  (time  of  Edward  IV.),  and  made  no  attempt  to  reproduce  the 
manners  and  customs  and  real  atmosphere  of  the  Arthurian  times, 
which  could  have  had  no  relation  to  the  manners  and  proceedings 
which  Sir  Thomas  Mallory  employs  in  telling  his  legends — will  notice 
that,  when  it  came  to  jousting,  some  half-dozen  courses  would  be  all 
that  were  run  between  contending  knights.  In  fact  the  tournament 
rules  above  referred  to  say,  for  the  tourney,  that  two  blows  at  passage 
and  ten  at  the  joining  ought  to  suffice.  The  time  which  this  would 
occupy  would  not  exceed  the  period  for  which  any  man  could  easily 
sustain  the  weight  of  a  modelled  crest. 

Another  point  needs  to  be  borne  in  mind.  The  result  of  a  joust 
depended  upon  the  points  scored,  the  highest  number  being  gained  for 
the  absolute  unhorsing  of  an  opponent.  This,  however,  happened 
comparatively  seldom,  and  points  or  "spears"  were  scored  for  the 
lances  broken  upon  an  opponent's  helmet,  shield,  or  body,  and  the 
points  so  scored  were  subject  to  deduction  if  the  opponent's  horse 
were  touched,  and  under  other  circumstances.  The  head  of  the 
tilting-spear  which  was  used  was  a  kind  of  rosette,  and  heraldic  repre- 
sentations are  really  incorrect  in  adding  a  point  when  the  weapon  is 
described  as  a  tilting-spear.  Whilst  a  fine  point  meeting  a  wooden 
shield  or  metal  armour  would  stick  in  the  one  or  glance  off  the  other, 
and  neither  result  in  the  breaking  of  the  lance  nor  in  the  unhorsing  of 
the  opponent,  a  broad  rosette  would  convey  a  heavy  shock.  But  to 
effect  the  desired  object  the  tilting-spear  would  need  to  meet  resistance, 
and  little  would  be  gained  by  knocking  off  an  opponent's  ornamental 
crest.  Certainly  no  prize  appears  to  have  been  allotted  for  the  per- 
formance of  this  feat  (which  always  attracts  the  imagination  of  the 
novelist),  whilst  there  was  for  striking  the  "sight"  of  the  helmet. 
Consequently  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  from  the  protection  to 


334     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  helmet  which  the  fan  of  earher  date  afforded,  and  the  tendency  of 
ceremonial  led  to  the  use  in  tournaments  of  helmets  and  elaborate 
crests  which  were  not  those  used  in  battle.  The  result  is  that  we  find 
these  tournament  or  ceremonial  crests  were  of  large  and  prominent 
size,  and  were  carved  in  wood,  or  built  up  of  leather.  But  I  firmly 
believe  that  these  crests  were  used  only  for  ceremonial  and  tournament 
purposes,  and  were  never  actually  worn  in  battle.  That  these  modelled 
crests  in  relief  are  the  ones  that  we  find  upon  effigies  is  only  natural, 
and  what  one  would  expect,  inasmuch  as  a  man's  efBgy  displayed  his 
garments  and  accoutrements  in  the  most  ornate  and  honourable  form. 
The  same  idea  exists  at  the  present  day.  The  subjects  of  modern' 
effigies  and  modern  portraits  are  represented  in  robes,  and  with  insignia 


Fig.  615. — Crest  of  Roger  de 
Quincey,  Earl  of  Winchester 
(d.  1264).     (From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  616.— Crest  of  Thomas,  Earl 
of  Lancaster.  (From  his  seal, 
1301.) 


which  are  seldom  if  ever  worn,  and  which  sometimes  even  have  no 
existence  in  fact.  In  the  same  way  the  ancient  effigies  are  the 
representations  of  the  ceremonial  dress  and  not  the  everyday  garb  of 
those  for  whom  they  stand.  But  even  allowing  all  the  foregoing,  it 
must  be  admitted  that  it  is  from  these  ceremonial  or  tournament 
helmets  and  crests  that  the  heraldic  crest  has  obtained  its  importance, 
and  herein  lies  the  reason  of  the  exaggerated  size  of  early  heraldic 
crests,  and  also  the  unsuitability  of  some  few  for  actual  use.  Tourna- 
ments were  flourishing  in  the  Plantagenet,  Yorkist,  and  Lancastrian 
periods,  and  ended  with  the  days  of  the  Tudor  dynasty  ;  and  the 
Plantagenet  period  witnessed  the  rise  of  the  ceremonial  and  heraldic 
crest.  But  in  the  days  when  crests  had  any  actual  existence  they 
were  made  to  fit  the  helmet,  and  the  crests  in  Figs.  615-618  show 
crests  very  much  more  naturally  disposed  than  those  of  later  periods. 


THE   CREST  335 

Crests  appear  to  have  come  into  wider  and  more  general  use  in  Ger- 
many at  an  earlier  period  than  is  the  case  in  this  country,  for  in  the 
early  part  of  the  thirteenth  century  seals  are  there  to  be  met  with 
having  only  the  device  of  helmet  and  crest  thereupon,  a  proof  that 
the  ^'  oberwappen  "  (helmet  and  crest)  was  then  considered  of  equal 
or  greater  value  than  the  shield. 

The  actual  tournament  crests  were  made  of  light  material,  paste- 
board, cloth,  or  a  leather  shell  over  a  wood  or  wire  framework  filled 
with  tow,  sponge,  or  sawdust.  Fig.  271,  which  shows  the  shield, 
helmet,  and  crest  of  the  Black  Prince  undoubtedly  contemporary, 
dating  from  1376,  and  now  remaining  in  Canterbury  Cathedral,  is 
made  of  leather  and  is  a  good  example  of  an  actual  crest,  but  even 


Fig.   617.— Crest   of  William  de  Fig.    618. — Crest  of  Thomas  de    Mowbray, 

Montagu,     Earl    of    Salisbury  Earl   of    Nottingham,    and   Earl    Marshal. 

{d.  I344).     (From  his  seal.)  (From   a  drawing  of  his   seal,  1389  :  MS 

Cott.,  Julius,  C.  vii.) 

this,  there  can  be  little  doubt,  was  never  carried  in  battle  or  tourna- 
ment, and  is  no  more  than  a  ceremonial  crest  made  for  the  funeral 
pageant. 

The  heraldic  wings  which  are  so  frequently  met  with  in  crests  are 
not  the  natural  wings  of  a  bird,  but  are  a  development  from  the  fan, 
and  in  actual  crests  were  made  of  wooden  or  basket-work  strips,  and 
probably  at  an  earlier  date  were  not  intended  to  represent  wings,  but 
were  mere  pieces  of  wood  painted  and  existing  for  the  display  of  a 
certain  device.  Their  shape  and  position  led  to  their  transition  into 
^'  wings,"  and  then  they  were  covered  with  dyed  or  natural-coloured 
feathers.  It  was  the  art  of  heraldic  emblazonment  which  ignored  the 
practical  details,  that  first  copied  the  wing  from  nature. 

Actual  crests  were  fastened  to   the  helmets  they  surmounted  by 


336     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

means  of  ribbons,  straps,  laces  (which  developed  later  into  the  fillet 
and  torse),  or  rivets,  and  in  Germany  they  were  ornamented  with 
hanging  and  tinkling  metal  leaves,  tiny  bells,  buffalo  horns,  feathers, 
and  projecting  pieces  of  wood,  which  formed  vehicles  for  still  further 
decorative  appendages. 

Then  comes  the  question,  what  did  the  crest  signify  ?  Many  have 
asserted  that  no  one  below  the  rank  of  a  knight  had  the  right  to  use 
a  crest  ;  in  fact  some  writers  have  asserted,  and  doubtless  correctly  as 
regards  a  certain  period,  that  only  those  who  were  of  tournament 
rank  might  assume  the  distinction,  and  herein  lies  another  confirmation 
of  the  supposition  that  crests  had  a  closer  relation  to  the  tournament 
than  to  the  battlefield. 

Doubts  as  to  a  man's  social  position  might  disqualify  him  from 
participation  in  a  tournament — hence  the  ''  helme-schau  "  previously 
referred  to — but  they  certainly  never  relieved  him  from  the  obligations 
of  warfare  imposed  by  the  tenure  under  which  he  held  his  lands. 
There  is  no  doubt,  how^ever,  that  whatever  the  regulation  may  have 
been — and  there  seems  little  chance  of  our  ever  obtaining  any  real 
knowledge  upon  the  point — the  right  to  display  a  crest  was  an 
additional  privilege  and  honour,  something  extra  and  beyond  the  right 
to  a  shield  of  arms.  For  how  long  any  such  supposition  held  good 
it  is  difficult  to  say,  for  whilst  we  find  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourteenth 
century  that  all  the  great  nobles  had  assumed  and  were  using  crests, 
and  whilst  there  is  but  one  amongst  the  Plantagenet  Garter  plates 
without  a  crest  where  a  helmet  has  been  represented  above  the  shield, 
we  also  find  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  lesser  landed  gentry  bore  arms, 
but  made  no  pretension  to  a  crest.  The  lesser  gentry  were*  bound  to 
fight  in  war,  but  not  necessarily  in  the  tournament.  Arms  were  a 
necessity  of  warfare,  crests  were  not.  This  continued  to  be  the  case 
till  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  for  we  find  that  at  one  of  the 
Visitations  no  crests  whatever  are  inserted  with  the  arms  and  pedigrees 
of  the  families  set  out  in  the  Visitation  Book,  and  one  is  probably 
justified  in  assuming  that  w^hilst  this  state  of  feeling  and  this  idea  existed, 
the  crest  was  highly  thought  of,  and  valued  possibly  beyond  the  shield 
of  arms,  for  with  those  of  that  rank  of  life  which  aspired  to  the  display 
of  a  crest  the  right  to  arms  would  be  a  matter  of  course.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  in  Stuart  days  the 
granting  of  crests  to  ancient  arms  became  a  widespread  practice. 
Scores  upon  scores  of  such  grants  can  be  referred  to,  and  I  have 
myself  been  led  to  the  irresistible  conclusion  that  the  opportunity 
afforded  by  the  grant  of  a  crest  was  urged  by  the  heralds  and  officers 
of  arms,  in  order  to  give  them  the  opportunity  of  confirming  and 
recording  arms  which   they  knew   needed  such  confirmation   to    be 


PLATE  VI. 


THE  ARMS  OF  FOX-DAVIES. 


THE  ARMS  OF  DRAKE. 


THE  ARMS  OF  DODGE. 


THE  ARMS  OF  SWINDON. 


THE   CREST  337 

rendered  legal,  without  giving  offence  to  those  who  had  borne  these 
arms  merely  by  strength  of  user  for  some  prolonged  but  at  the  same 
time  insufficient  period  to  confer  an  unquestioned  right.  That  has 
always  seemed  to  me  the  obvious  reason  which  accounts  for  these 
numberless  grants  of  crests  to  apparently  existing  arms,  which  arms 
are  recited  and  emblazoned  in  the  patents,  because  there  are  other 
grants  of  crests  which  can  be  referred  to,  though  these  are  singularly 
few  in  number,  in  which  the  arms  are  entirely  ignored.  But  as  none 
of  these  grants,  which  are  of  a  crest  only,  appear  to  have  been  made 
to  families  whose  right  to  arms  was  not  absolutely  beyond  question 
or  dispute,  the  conclusion  above  recited  appears  to  be  irresistible. 
The  result  of  these  numerous  grants  of  crests,  which  I  look  upon  as 
carrying  greater  importance  in  the  sense  that  they  were  also  confirma- 
tions of  the  arms,  resulted  in  the  fact  that  the  value  and  dignity  of  the 
crest  slowly  but  steadily  declined,  and  the  cessation  of  tournaments 
and,  shortly  afterwards,  the  marked  decline  in  funereal  pageantry  no 
doubt  contributed  largely  to  the  same  result.  Throughout  the  Stuart 
period  instances  can  be  found,  though  not  very  frequently,  of  grants 
of  arms  without  the  grant  of  a  crest  being  included  in  the  patent  ; 
but  the  practice  was  soon  to  entirely  cease,  and  roughly  speaking 
one  may  assert  that  since  the  beginning  of  the  Hanoverian  dynasty 
no  person  has  ever  been  granted  arms  without  the  corresponding 
grant  of  a  crest,  if  a  crest  could  be  properly  borne  with  the  arms. 
Now  no  crest  has  ever  been  granted  where  the  right  to  arms  has  not 
existed  or  been  simultaneously  conferred,  and  therefore,  whilst  there 
are  still  many  coats  of  arms  legally  in  existence  without  a  crest,  a 
crest  cannot  exist  without  a  coat  of  arms,  so  that  those  people,  and 
they  are  many,  who  vehemently  assert  a  right  to  the  "  crest  of  their 
family,"  whilst  admitting  they  have  no  right  to  arms,  stand  self-con- 
victed heraldically  both  of  having  spoken  unutterable  rubbish,  and  of 
using  a  crest  to  which  they  can  have  no  possible  right.  One  exception, 
and  one  only,  have  I  ever  come  across  to  the  contrary,  and  very 
careful  inquiry  can  bring  me  knowledge  of  no  other.  That  crest  is 
the  crest  of  a  family  of  Buckworth,  now  represented  by  Sir  Charles 
Buckworth-Herne-Soame,  Bart.  This  family  at  the  time  of  the  Visita- 
tions exhibited  a  certain  coat  of  arms  and  crest.  The  coat  of  arms, 
which  doubtless  interfered  with  the  rights  of  some  other  family,  was 
respited  for  further  proof ;  but  the  crest,  which  did  not,  appears  to 
have  been  allowed,  and  as  nothing  further  was  done  with  regard  to 
the  arms,  the  crest  stood,  whilst  the  arms  were  bad.  But  even  this 
one  exception  has  long  since  been  rectified,  for  when  the  additional 
name  and  arms  of  Soame  were  assumed  by  Royal  License,  the  arms 
which  had  been  exhibited  and  respited  were  (with  the  addition  of  an 

Y 


338     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

ermine  spot  as  a  charge  upon  the  chevron)  granted  as  the  arms  of 
Buckworth  to  be  borne  quarterly  with  the  arms  of  Soame. 

With  the  cessation  of  tournaments,  we  get  to  the  period  which 
some  writers  have  stigmatised  as  that  of  *'  paper  "  heraldry.  That  is 
a  reference  to  the  fact  that  arms  and  crests  ceased  to  be  painted  upon 
shields  or  erected  upon  helmets  that  enjoyed  actual  use  in  battle  and 
tournament.  Those  who  are  so  ready  to  decry  modern  heraldry  forget 
that  from  its  very  earliest  existence  heraldry  has  always  had  the  same 
significance  as  a  symbol  of  rank  and  social  position  which  it  now  enjoys 
and  which  remains  undiminished  in  extent,  though  doubtless  less 
potent  in  effect.  They  forget  also  that  from  the  very  earliest  period 
armory  had  three  uses — viz.  its  martial  use,  its  decorative  usC;  and  its 
use  as  a  symbol  of  ownership.  The  two  latter  uses  still  remain  in 
their  entirety,  and  whilst  that  is  the  case,  armory  cannot  be  treated  as 
a  dead  science. 

But  with  the  cessation  of  tournaments  the  decorative  became  the 
chief  use  of  arms,  and  the  crest  soon  ceased  to  have  that  distinctive 
adaptability  to  the  purpose  of  a  helmet  ornament.  Up  to  the  end  of 
the  Tudor  period  crests  had  retained  their  original  simplicity.  Animals' 
heads  and  animals  passant,  human  heads  and  demi-animals,  comprised 
the  large  majority  of  the  early  crests.  Scottish  heraldry  in  a  marked 
degree  has  retained  the  early  simplicity  of  crests,  though  at  the  expense 
of  lack  of  distinction  between  the  crests  of  different  families.  German 
heraldry  has  to  a  large  extent  retained  the  same  character  as  has 
Scottish  armory,  and  though  many  of  the  crests  are  decidedly  elabo- 
rated, it  is  noticeable  that  this  elaboration  is  never  such  as  to  render  the 
crest  unsuitable  for  its  true  position  upon  a  helmet. 

In  England  this  aspect  of  the  crest  has  been  almost  entirely  lost 
sight  of,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  crests  in  modern  English 
grants  are  utterly  unsuitable  for  use  in  relief  upon  an  actual  helmet. 
Our  present  rules  of  position  for  a  helmet,  and  our  unfortunate  stereo- 
typed form  of  wreath,  are  largely  to  blame,  but  the  chief  reason  is  the 
definite  English  rule  that  the  crests  of  separate  English  families  must 
be  differentiated  as  are  the  arms.  No  such  rule  holds  good  in  Scotland, 
hence  their  simple  crests. 

Whether  the  rule  is  good  or  bad  it  is  difficult  to  say.  When  all 
the  pros  and  cons  have  been  taken  into  consideration,  the  whole  dis- 
cussion remains  a  matter  of  opinion,  and  whilst  one  dislikes  the  Scottish 
idea  under  which  the  same  identical  crest  can  be  and  regularly  is 
granted  to  half-a-dozen  people  of  as  many  different  surnames,  one 
objects  very  considerably  to  the  typical  present-day  crest  of  an  English 
grant  of  arms.  Whilst  a  collar  can  be  put  round  an  animal's  neck, 
and  whilst  it  can  hold  objects  in  its  mouth  or  paws,  it  does  seem 


THE   CREST  339 

ridiculous  to  put  a  string  of  varied  and  selected  objects  ^'  in  front " 
of  it,  when  these  plainly  would  only  be  visible  from  one  side,  or  to 
put  a  crest  ^'between  "  objects  if  these  are  to  be  represented  "fore  and 
aft/'  one  toppling  over  the  brow  of  the  wearer  of  the  helmet  and  the 
other  hanging  down  behind. 

The  crests  granted  by  the  late  Sir  Albert  Woods,  Garter,  are  the 
crying  grievance  of  modern  English  heraldry,  and  though  a  large 
proportion  are  far  greater  abortions  than  they  need  be,  and  though 
careful  thought  and  research  even  yet  will  under  the  present  regime 
result  in  the  grant  of  at  any  rate  a  quite  unobjectionable  crest,  never- 
theless we  shall  not  obtain  a  real  reform,  or  attain  to  any  appreciable 
improvement,  until  the  "  position  "  rule  as  to  helmets  is  abolished. 
Some  of  the  crests  mentioned  hereunder  are  typical  and  awful  examples 
of  modern  crests. 

Crest  of  Bellasis  of  Marton,  Westmoreland  :  A  mount  vert,  thereon  a  lion 
couchant  guardant  azure,  in  front  of  a  tent  proper,  lined  gules. 

Crest  of  Hermon  of  Preston,  Lancashire,  and  Wyfold  Court,  Checkendon, 
Oxon.  :  In  front  of  two  palm-trees  proper,  a  lion  couchant  guardant  erminois,  resting 
the  dexter  claw  upon  a  bale  of  cotton  proper.     Motto  :  "  Fido  non  timeo." 

Crest  of  James  Harrison,  Esq.,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law  :  In  front  of  ademi-lion 
rampant  erased  or,  gorged  with  a  collar  gemelle  azure,  and  holding  between  the 
paws  a  wreath  of  oak  proper,  three  mascles  interlaced  also  azure.  Motto  :  "  Pro 
rege  et  patria." 

Crest  of  Colonel  John  Davis,  F.S.A.,  of  Bifrons,  Hants :  A  lion's  head  erased 
sable,  charged  with  a  caltrap  or,  upon  two  swords  in  saltire  proper,  hilted  and 
pommelled  also  or.     Motto  :  '*  Ne  tentes,  aut  perfice." 

Crest  of  the  late  Sir  Saul  Samuel,  Bart,  K.C.M.G. :  Upon  a  rock  in  front  of 
three  spears,  one  in  pale  and  two  in  saltire,  a  wolf  current  sable,  pierced  in  the 
breast  by  an  arrow  argent,  flighted  or.     Motto  :  "  A  pledge  of  better  times." 

Crest  of  Jonson  of  Kennal  Manor,  Chislehurst,  Kent :  In  front  of  a  dexter  arm 
embowed  in  armour  proper,  the  hand  also  proper,  grasping  a  javelin  in  bend  sinister, 
pheoned  or,  and  entiled  with  a  chaplet  of  roses  gules,  two  branches  of  oak  in 
saltire  vert. 

Crest  of  C.  E.  Lamplugh,  Esq. :  In  front  of  a  cubit  arm  erect  proper,  encircled 
about  the  wrist  with  a  wreath  of  oak  and  holding  in  the  hand  a  sword  also  proper, 
pommel  and  hilt  or,  an  escutcheon  argent,  charged  with  a  goat's  head  couped  sable. 
Mottoes  :  "  Through,"  and  "  Providentia  Dei  stabiliuntur  familiae." 

Crest  of  Glasford,  Scotland  :  "  Issuing  from  clouds  two  hands  conjoined  grasp- 
ing a  caducous  ensigned  with  a  cap  of  liberty,  all  between  two  cornucopias  all 
proper.     Motto  :  "  Prisca  fides." 

We  now  come  to  the  subject  of  the  inheritance  of  crests,  concern- 
ing which  there  has  been  much  difference  of  opinion. 

It  is  very  usually  asserted  that  until  a  comparatively  recent  date 
crests  were  not  hereditary,  but  were  assumed,  discarded,  and  changed 
at  pleasure.  Like  many  other  incorrect  statements,  there  is  a  certain 
modicum  of  truth  in  the  statement,  for  no  doubt  whilst  arms  themselves 


340     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

had  a  more  or  less  shifting  character,  crests  were  certainly  not  "  fixed  " 
to  any  greater  extent. 

But  I  think  no  one  has  as  yet  discovered,  or  at  any  rate  brought  into 
notice,  the  true  facts  of  the  case,  or  the  real  position  of  the  matter, 
and  I  think  I  am  the  first  to  put  into  print  what  actually  were  the 
rules  which  governed  the  matter.  The  rules,  I  believe,  were  un- 
doubtedly these  : — 

Crests  were,  save  in  the  remote  beginning  of  things  heraldic, 
definitely  hereditary.  They  were  hereditary  even  to  the  extent  (and 
herein  lies  the  point  which  has  not  hitherto  been  observed)  that  they 
were  transmitted  by  an  heiress.  Perhaps  this  heritabihty  was  limited 
to  those  cases  in  which  the  heiress  transmitted  the  de  facto  headship  of 
her  house.  We,  judging  by  present  laws,  look  upon  the  crest  as  a  part 
of  the  one  heraldic  achievement  inseparable  from  the  shield.  What 
proof  have  we  that  in  early  times  any  necessary  connection  between  arms 
and  crest  existed  ?  We  have  none.  The  shield  of  arms  was  one  inherit- 
ance, descending  by  known  rules.  The  crest  was  another,  but  a  separate 
inheritance,  descending  equally  through  an  heir  or  coheir-general. 
The  crest  was,  as  an  inheritance,  as  separate  from  the  shield  as  were  the 
estates  then.  The  social  conditions  of  life  prevented  the  possibility  of 
the  existence  or  inheritance  of  a  crest  where  arms  did  not  exist.  But 
a  man  inheriting  several  coats  of  arms  from  different  heiress  ancestresses 
could  marshal  them  all  upon  one  shield,  and  though  we  find  the  heir 
often  made  selection  at  his  pleasure,  and  marshalled  the  arms  in  various 
methods,  the  determination  of  which  was  a  mere  matter  of  arbitrary 
choice,  he  could,  if  he  wished,  use  them  all  upon  one  shield.  But  he 
had  but  one  helmet,  and  could  use  and  display  but  one  crest.  So  that, 
if  he  had  inherited  two,  he  was  forced  to  choose  which  he  would 
use,  though  he  sometimes  tried  to  combine  two  into  one  device.  It  is 
questionable  if  an  instance  can  be  found  in  England  of  the  regular 
display  of  two  helmets  and  crests  together,  surmounting  one  shield, 
before  the  eighteenth  century,  but  there  are  countless  instances  of  the 
contemporary  but  separate  display  of  two  different  crests,  and  the 
Visitation  Records  afford  us  some  number  of  instances  of  this  tacit 
acknowledgment  of  the  inheritance  of  more  than  one  crest. 

The  patent  altering  or  granting  the  Mowbray  crest  seems  to  me 
clear  recognition  of  the  right  of  inheritance  of  a  crest  passing  through 
an  heir  female.  This,  however,  it  must  be  admitted,  may  be  really  no 
more  than  a  grant,  and  is  not  in  itself  actual  evidence  that  any  crest 
had  been  previously  borne.  My  own  opinion,  however,  is  that  it  is 
fair  presumptive  evidence  upon  the  point,  and  conveys  an  alteration 
and  not  a  grant. 

The  translation  of  this  Patent  (Patent  Roll  339,  17  Ric.  II.  pt.  i, 


THE   CREST  341 

memb.  2)  is  as  follows  :  ''  The  King  to  all  to  whom;  &c.;  Greeting, 
Know  that  whereas  our  well-beloved  and  faithful  kinsman,  Thomas, 
Earl-Marshal  and  Earl  of  Nottingham,  has  a  just  hereditary  title  to 
bear  for  his  crest  a  leopard  or  with  a  white  label;  which  should  be  of 
right  the  crest  of  our  eldest  son  if  we  had  begotten  a  son.  We,  for 
this  consideration,  have  granted  for  us  and  our  heirs  to  the  said  Thomas 
and  his  heirs  that  for  a  difference  in  this  crest  they  shall  and  may  bear 
a  leopard,  and  in  place  of  a  label  a  crown  argent,  without  hindrance 
from  us  or  our  heirs  aforesaid. — In  witness,  &c.  Witness  the  King  at 
Westminster,  the  12th  day  of  January  [17  Ric.  II.].  By  writ  of  Privy 
Seal." 

Cases  will  constantly  be  found  in  which  the  crests  have  been 
changed.  I  necessarily  totally  exclude  from  consideration  crests  which 
have  been  changed  owing  to  specific  grants,  and  also  changes  due  to 
the  discarding  of  crests  which  can  be  shown  to  have  been  borne  with- 
out right.  Changes  in  crests  must  also  be  disregarded  where  the 
differences  in  emblazonment  are  merely  differences  in  varying  designs 
of  the  same  crest.  Necessarily  from  none  of  these  instances  can  a  law 
of  inheritance  be  deduced.  But  if  other  changes  in  the  crests  of  im- 
portant families  be  considered,  I  think  it  will  be  very  evident  that 
practically  the  whole  of  these  are  due  to  the  inheritance  through 
heiresses  or  ancestresses  of  an  alternative  crest.  It  can  be  readily 
shown  that  selection  played  an  important  part  in  the  marshalling  of 
quarterings  upon  an  escutcheon,  and  where  important  quarterings 
were  inherited  they  are  as  often  as  not  found  depicted  in  the  first 
quarter.  Thus  the  Howards  have  borne  at  different  periods  the 
wings  of  Howard  ;  the  horse  of  Fitzalan  ;  and  the  Royal  crest 
granted  to  the  Mowbrays  with  remainder  to  the  heir  general  ;  and 
these  crests  have  been  borne,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  Garter  plates, 
quite  irrespective  of  what  the  surname  in  use  may  have  been.  Conse- 
quently it  is  very  evident  the  crests  were  considered  to  be  inherited 
with  the  representation  of  the  different  families.  The  Stourton  crest 
was  originally  a  stag's  head,  and  is  to  be  seen  recorded  in  one  of  the 
Visitations,  and  upon  the  earliest  seal  in  existence  of  any  member  of 
the  family.  But  after  the  inheritance  through  the  heiress  of  Le  Moyne, 
the  Le  Moyne  crest  of  the  demi-monk  was  adopted.  The  Stanleys, 
Earls  of  Derby,  whatever  their  original  crest  may  have  been,  inherited 
the  well-known  bird  and  bantling  of  the  family  of  Lathom.  The  Talbot 
crest  was  originally  a  talbot,  and  this  is  still  so  borne  by  Lord  Talbot 
of  Malahide  :  it  was  recorded  at  the  Visitation  of  Dublin  ;  but  the  crest 
at  present  borne  by  the  Earls  of  Shrewsbury  is  derived  from  the  arms 
inherited  by  descent  from  Gwendolin,  daughter  of  Rhys  ap  Griffith. 
The  Nevill  crest  was  a  bull's  head  as  it  is  now  borne  by  the  Marquess 


342     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  Abergavenny,  and  as  it  will  be  seen  on  the  Garter  plate  of  William 
Nevill,  Lord  Fauconberg.  An  elder  brother  of  Lord  Fauconberg  had 
married  the  heiress  of  the  Earl  of  Salisbury,  and  was  summoned  to 
Parliament  in  her  earldom.  He  quartered  her  arms,  which  appear 
upon  his  Garter  plate  and  seal,  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters  of  his 
shield,  and  adopted  her  crest.  A  younger  son  of  Sir  Richard  Nevill, 
Earl  of  Salisbury,  bore  the  same  crest  differenced  by  two  annulets 
conjoined,  which  was  the  difference  mark  added  to  the  shield.  The 
crest  of  Bourchier  was  a  soldan's  head  crowned,  and  with  a  pointed 
cap  issuing  from  the  crown,  but  when  the  barony  of  Bourchier  passed 
to  the  family  of  Robsart,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  Garter  plate  of  Sir 
Lewis  Robsart,  Lord  Bourchier,  the  crest  of  Bourchier  was  adopted 
with  the  inheritance  of  the  arms  and  Barony  of  Bourchier. 

I  am  aware  of  no  important  case  in  English  heraldry  where  the 
change  has  been  due  to  mere  caprice,  and  it  would  seem  therefore 
an  almost  incontrovertible  assertion  that  changes  were  due  to  inherit- 
ance, and  if  that  can  be  established  it  follows  even  more  strongly 
that  until  the  days  when  armory  was  brought  under  rigid  and  official 
control,  and  even  until  a  much  later  date,  say  up  to  the  beginning 
of  the  Stuart  period,  crests  were  heritable  through  heiresses  equally 
with  quarterings.  The  fact  that  we  find  comparatively  few  changes 
considering  the  number  of  crests  in  existence  is  by  no  means  a 
refutation  of  this  theory,  because  a  man  had  but  one  helmet,  and  was 
forced  therefore  to  make  a  selection.  Unless,  therefore,  he  had  a 
very  strong  inclination  it  would  be  more  likely  that  he  would  select 
the  crest  he  was  used  to  than  a  fresh  one.  I  am  by  no  means  certain 
that  to  a  limited  extent  the  German  idea  did  not  hold  in  England. 
This  was,  and  is,  that  the  crest  had  not  the  same  personal  character 
that  was  the  case  with  the  arms,  but  was  rather  attached  to  or  an 
appanage  of  the  territorial  fief  or  lordship.  By  the  time  of  the 
Restoration  any  idea  of  the  transmission  of  crests  through  heiresses 
had  been  abandoned.  We  then  find  a  Royal  License  necessary  for  the 
assumption  of  arms  and  crests.  Since  that  date  it  has  been  and  at  the 
present  time  it  is  stringently  held,  and  is  the  official  rule,  that  no  woman 
can  bear  or  inherit  a  crest,  and  that  no  woman  can  transmit  a  right  to 
one.  Whilst  that  is  the  official  and  accepted  interpretation  of  heraldic 
law  upon  the  point,  and  whilst  it  cannot  now  be  gainsaid,  it  cannot, 
however,  be  stated  that  the  one  assertion  is  the  logical  deduction  of 
the  other,  for  whilst  a  woman  cannot  inherit  a  lordship  of  Parliament, 
she  undoubtedly  can  transmit  one,  together  with  the  titular  honours, 
the  enjoyment  of  which  is  not  denied  to  her. 

In  Scotland  crests  have  always  had  a  very  much  less  important 
position  than   in   England.     There  has  been  little  if  any  continuity 


THE   CREST  343 

with  regard  to  them,  and  instances  of  changes  for  which  caprice  would 
appear  to  be  the  only  reason  are  met  with  in  the  cases  of  a  large 
proportion  of  the  chief  families  in  that  kingdom.  To  such  a  wide- 
spread extent  has  the  permissive  character  been  allowed  to  the  crest, 
that  many  cases  will  be  found  in  which  each  successive  matriculation 
for  the  head  of  the  house,  or  for  a  cadet,  has  produced  a  change  in 
the  crest,  and  instances  are  to  be  found  where  the  different  crests 
are  the  only  existing  differences  in  the  achievements  of  a  number  of 
cadets  of  the  same  family.  At  the  present  time,  little  if  any  objection 
is  ever  made  to  an  entire  and  radical  change  in  the  crest — if  this  is 
wished  at  the  time  of  a  rematriculation — and  as  far  as  I  can  gather 
such  changes  appear  to  have  always  been  permitted.  Perhaps  it  may 
be  well  here  to  point  out  that  this  is  not  equivalent  to  permission  to 
change  the  crest  at  pleasure,  because  the  patent  of  matriculation  until 
it  is  superseded  by  another  is  the  authority,  and  the  compulsory 
authority,  for  the  crest  which  is  to  be  borne.  In  Germany  the  crest 
has  an  infinitely  greater  importance  than  is  the  case  with  ourselves, 
but  it  is  there  considered  in  a  large  degree  a  territorial  appanage,  and 
it  is  by  no  means  unusual  in  a  German  achievement  to  see  several 
crests  surmounting  a  single  coat  of  arms.  In  England  the  Royal 
coat  of  arms  has  really  three  crests,  although  the  crests  of  Scotland 
and  Ireland  are  seldom  used,  which,  it  may  be  noted,  are  all  in  a 
manner  territorial  ;  but  the  difference  of  idea  with  which  crests  are 
regarded  in  Germany  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  the  King 
of  Saxony  has  five,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin  five, 
the  Grand  Duke  of  Saxe-Meiningen  six,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Saxe- 
Altenburg  seven,  the  Duke  of  Anhalt  seven,  the  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg 
and  Gotha  six,  the  Prince  of  Schwartzburg-Sondershausen  six,  the 
Prince  of  Schwartzburg-Rudolstadt  six,  the  Prince  of  Waldeck-Pyrmont 
five,  the  Prince  of  Lippe  five,  the  Duke  of  Brunswick  five,  and  instances 
can  be  quoted  of  sixteen  and  seventeen.  Probably  Woodward  is 
correct  when  he  says  that  each  crest  formerly  denoted  a  noble  fief, 
for  which  the  proprietor  had  a  right  to  vote  in  the  '^  circles  "  of  the 
Empire,  and  he  instances  the  Margraves  of  Brandenburg-Anspach, 
who  were  entitled  to  no  less  than  thirteen  crests.  In  France  the  use 
of  crests  is  not  nearly  so  general  as  in  England  or  Germany.  In 
Spain  and  Portugal  it  is  less  frequent  still,  and  in  Italy  the  use  of 
a  crest  is  the  exception. 

The  German  practice  of  using  horns  on  either  side  of  the  crest, 
which  the  ignorance  of  English  heralds  has  transformed  into  the 
proboscides  of  elephants,  is  dealt  with  at  some  length  on  page  214. 
The  horns,  which  are  termed  buffalo's  or  bull's  horns  until  the  middle 
of  the  thirteenth  century,  were  short  and  thick-set.     It  is  difficult  to 


344     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

say  at  what  date  these  figures  came  to  be  considered  as  heraldic  crests^ 
for  as  mere  helmet  ornaments  they  probably  can  be  traced  back  very 
far  beyond  any  proof  of  the  existence  of  armory.  In  the  fourteenth 
century  we  find  the  horns  curved  inwards  like  a  sickle,  but  later  the 
horns  are  found  more  erect,  the  points  turning  outwards,  slimmer 
in  shape,  and  finally  they  exhibit  a  decidedly  marked  double  curve. 
Then  the  ends  of  the  horns  are  met  with  open,  like  a  trumpet,  the  fact 
which  gave  rise  to  the  erroneous  idea  that  they  represented  elephants' 
trunks.  The  horns  became  ornamented  with  feathers,  banners,  branches 
of  leaves,  balls,  &c.,  and  the  orifices  garnished  with  similar  adornments. 

In  England,  crests  are  theoretically  subject  to  marks  of  cadency 
and  difference.  This  is  not  the  case,  however,  in  any  other  country. 
In  Germany,  in  cases  where  the  crests  reproduce  the  arms,  any  mark 
of  cadency  with  which  the  arms  are  distinguished  will  of  course  be 
repeated  ;  but  in  German  heraldry,  doubtless  owing  to  the  territorial 
nature  of  the  crest,  a  change  in  the  crest  itself  is  often  the  only  mark 
of  distinction  between  different  branches  of  the  same  family,  and  in 
Siebmacher's  Wappenbuch  thirty-one  different  branches  of  the  Zorn 
family  have  different  crests,  which  are  the  sole  marks  of  difference 
in  the  achievements. 

But  though  British  crests  are  presumed  to  be  subject  to  the  re- 
cognised marks  of  cadency,  as  a  matter  of  fact  it  is  very  seldom  indeed 
that  they  are  ever  so  marked,  with  the  exception  that  the  mark  used 
(usually  a  cross  crosslet)  to  signify  the  lack  of  blood  relationship  when 
arms  are  assumed  under  a  Royal  License,  is  compulsory.  Marks  of 
distinction  added  to  signify  illegitimacy  are  also  compulsory  and  per- 
petual. What  these  marks  are  will  be  dealt  with  in  a  subsequent 
chapter  upon  the  subject.  How  very  seldom  a  mark  of  difference  is 
added  to  a  crest  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  with  the  exception 
of  labels,  chiefly  upon  the  Royal  crest,  one  crest  only  amongst  the 
Plantagenet  Garter  plates  is  differenced,  that  one  being  the  crest  of 
John  Neville,  Lord  Montague.  Several  crests,  however,  which  are 
not  Royal,  are  differenced  by  similar  labels  to  those  which  appear  upon 
the  shields  ;  but  when  we  find  that  the  difference  marks  have  very 
much  of  a  permissive  character,  even  upon  the  shield,  it  is  not  likely 
that  they  are  perpetuated  upon  the  crest,  where  they  are  even  less 
desirable.  The  arms  of  Cokayne,  as  given  in  the  funeral  certificate  of 
Sir  William  Cokayne,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  show  upon  the  shield 
three  crescents,  sable,  or,  and  gules,  charged  one  upon  the  other,  the 
Lord  Mayor  being  the  second  son  of  a  second  son  of  Cokayne  of 
Sturston,  descending  from  William,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Cokayne  of 
Ashborne.  But,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  three  difference  marks  are 
charged  upon  the  shield  (one  of  the  quarterings  of  which,  by  the  way, 


THE   CREST  345 

has  an  additional  mark),  the  crest  itself  is  only  differenced  by  one 
crescent.  These  difference  marks,  as  applied  to  arms,  are  in  England 
(the  rules  in  Scotland  are  utterly  distinct)  practically  permissive,  and 
are  never  enforced  against  the  wish  of  the  bearer  except  in  one 
circumstance.  If,  owing  to  the  grant  of  a  crest  or  supporters,  or  a 
Royal  License,  or  any  similar  opportunity,  a  formal  exemplification  of 
the  arms  is  entered  on  the  books  of  the  College  of  Arms,  the  opportunity 
is  generally  taken  to  add  such  mark  of  cadency  as  may  be  necessary  ; 
and  no  certificate  would  be  officially  issued  to  any  one  claiming  arms 
through  that  exemplification  except  subject  to  the  mark  of  cadency 
therein  depicted.  In  such  cases  as  these  the  crest  is  usually  differenced, 
because  the  necessity  for  an  exemplification  does  not  often  occur,  except 
owing  to  the  establishment  of  an  important  branch  of  the  family,  which  is 
likely  to  continue  as  a  separate  house  in  the  future,  and  possibly  to\ 
rival  the  importance  of  the  chief  of  the  name.  Two  examples  will  \ 
show  my  meaning.  The  crest  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford  is  a  goat  statant  I 
argent,  armed  or.  When  hJarl  Kussell,  the  third  son  of  the  sixth  Duke  [ 
of  Bedford,  was  so  created,  tne  arms,  crest,  and  supporters  were  charged  I 
with  a  mullet  argent.  When  the  first  Lord  Ampthill,  who  was  the  \ 
third  son  of  the  father  of  the  ninth  Duke  of  Bedford,  was  so  created, 
the  arms  of  Russell,  with  the  crest  and  supporters,  were  also  charged 
with  mullets,  these  being  of  different  tinctures  from  those  granted  to 
Earl  Russell.  The  crest  of  the  Duke  of  Westminster  is  a  talbot  statant 
or.  The  first  Lord  Stalbridge  was  the  second  son  of  the  Marquess  of 
Westminster.  His  arms,  crest,  and  supporters  were  charged  with  a 
crescent.  Lord  Ebury  was  the  third  son  of  the  first  Marquess  of 
Westminster.  His  arms,  crest,  and  supporters  were  charged  with  a 
mullet.  In  cases  of  this  kind  the  mark  of  difference  upon  the  crest 
would  be  considered  permanent  ;  but  for  ordinary  purposes,  and  in 
ordinary  circumstances,  the  rule  may  be  taken  to  be  that  it  is  not 
necessary  to  add  the  mark  of  cadency  to  a  crest,  even  when  it  is  added 
to  the  shield,  but  that,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  not  incorrect  to  do  so. 

Crests  must  nowadays  always  be  depicted  upon  either  a  wreath, 
coronet,  or  chapeau  ;  but  these,  and  the  rules  concerning  them,  will 
be  considered  in  a  more  definite  and  detailed  manner  in  the  separate 
chapters  in  which  those  objects  are  discussed. 

Crests  are  nowadays  very  frequently  used  upon  livery  buttons. 
Such   a  usage  is  discussed  at  some  length  in  the  chapter  on  badges. 

When  two  or  more  crests  are  depicted  together,  and  when,  as  is 
often  the  case  in  England,  the  wreaths  are  depicted  in  space,  and 
without  the  intervening  helmets,  the  crests  always  all  face  to  the 
dexter  side,  and  the  stereotyped  character  of  English  crests  perhaps 
more  than  any  other  reason,  has  led  of  late  to  the  depicting  of  English 


/ 


346     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

helmets  all  placed  to  face  in  the  same  direction  to  the  dexter  side. 
But  if,  as  will  often  be  found,  the  two  helmets  are  turned  to  face  each 
other,  the  crests  also  must  be  turned. 

Where  there  are  two  crests,  the  one  on  the  dexter  side  is  the  first 
and  the  one  on  the  sinister  side  is  the  second.  When  there  are  three, 
the  centre  one  comes  first,  then  the  one  on  the  dexter  side,  then  the 
one  on  the  sinister.  When  there  are  four  crests,  the  first  one  is  the 
dexter  of  the  two  inner  ones  ;  the  second  is  the  sinister  inner  one  ; 
the  third  is  the  dexter  outer,  and  the  fourth  the  sinister  outer.  When 
there  are  five  (and  I  know  of  no  greater  number  in  this  country),  they 
run  as  follows  :  (i)  centre,  (2)  dexter  inner,  (3)  sinister  inner,  (4) 
dexter  outer,  (5)  sinister  outer. 

A  very  usual  practice  in  official  emblazonments  in  cases  of  three 
crests  is  to  paint  the  centre  one  of  a  larger  size,  and  at  a  slightly  lower 
level,  than  the  others.  In  the  case  of  four,  Nos.  i  and  2  would  be  of 
the  same  size,  Nos.  3  and  4  slightly  smaller,  and  slightly  raised. 

It  is  a  very  usual  circumstance  to  see  two  or  more  crests  displayed 
in  England,  but  this  practice  is  of  comparatively  recent  date.  How 
recent  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  in  Scotland  no  single 
instance  can  be  found  before  the  year  1809  in  which  two  crests  are 
placed  above  the  same  shield.  Scottish  heraldry,  however,  has  always 
been  purer  than  English,  and  the  practice  in  England  is  much  more 
ancient,  though  I  question  if  in  England  any  authentic  official  ex- 
emplification can  be  found  before  1700.  There  are,  however,  many 
cases  in  the  Visitation  Books  in  which  two  crests  are  allowed  to  the 
same  family,  but  this  fact  does  not  prove  the  point,  because  a  Visita- 
tion record  is  merely  an  official  record  of  inheritance  and  possession, 
and  not  necessarily  evidence  of  a  regulation  permitting  the  simultaneous 
display  of  more  than  one.  It  is  of  course  impossible  to  use  two  sets  of 
supporters  with  a  single  shield,  but  there  are  many  peers  who  are 
entitled  to  two  sets  ;  Lord  Ancaster,  I  believe,  is  entitled  to  three  sets. 
But  an  official  record  in  such  a  case  would  probably  emblazon  both 
sets  as  evidence  of  right,  by  painting  the  shield  twice  over. 

During  the  eighteenth  century  we  find  many  instances  of  the  grant 
of  additional  crests  of  augmentation,  and  many  exemplifications  under 
Royal  License  for  the  use  of  two  and  three  crests.  Since  that  day 
the  correctness  of  duplicate  crests  has  never  been  questioned,  where 
the  right  of  inheritance  to  them  has  been  established.  The  right  of 
inheritance  to  two  or  more  crests  at  the  present  time  is  only  officially 
allowed  in  the  following  cases. 

If  a  family  at  the  time  of  the  Visitations  had  two  crests  recorded 
to  them,  these  would  be  now  allowed.  If  descent  can  be  proved  from 
a  family  to  whom  a  certain  crest  was  allowed,  and  also  from  ancestors 


THE   CREST  347 

at  an  earlier  date  who  are  recorded  as  entitled  to  bear  a  different  crest, 
the  two  would  be  allowed  unless  it  was  evident  that  the  later  crest 
had  been  granted,  assigned,  or  exemplified  in  lien  of  the  earlier  one. 
Two  crests  are  allowed  in  the  few  cases  which  exist  where  a  family 
has  obtained  a  grant  of  arms  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  they  were 
then  entitled  to  bear  arms  and  crest  of  an  earlier  date  to  which  the 
right  has  been  subsequently  proved,  but  on  this  point  it  should  be 
remarked  that  if  a  right  to  arms  is  known  to  exist  a  second  grant  in 
England  is  point-blank  refused  unless  the  petition  asks  for  it  to  be 
borne  instead  of,  and  in  lieu  of,  the  earlier  one :  it  is  then  granted  in 
those  terms. 

To  those  who  think  that  the  Heralds'  College  is  a  mere  fee-grabbing 
institution,  the  following  experience  of  an  intimate  friend  of  mine  may 
be  of  interest.  In  placing  his  pedigree  upon  record  it  became  evident 
that  his  descent  was  not  legitimate,  and  he  therefore  petitioned  for  and 
obtained  a  Royal  License  to  bear  the  name  and  arms  of  the  family 
from  which  he  had  sprung.  But  the  illegitimacy  was  not  modern,  and 
no  one  would  have  questioned  his  right  to  the  name  which  all  the  other 
members  of  the  family  bear,  if  he  had  not  himself  raised  the  point  in 
order  to  obtain  the  ancient  arms  in  the  necessarily  differenced  form. 
The  arms  had  always  been  borne  with  some  four  or  five  quarterings 
and  with  two  crests,  and  he  was  rather  annoyed  that  he  had  to  go 
back  to  a  simple  coat  of  arms  and  single  crest.  He  obtained  a  grant 
for  his  wife,  who  was  an  heiress,  and  then,  with  the  idea  of  obtaining 
an  additional  quartering  and  a  second  crest,  he  conceived  the  brilliant 
idea — for  money  was  of  no  object  to  him — of  putting  his  brother 
forward  as  a  petitioner  for  arms  to  be  granted  to  him  and  his  descen- 
dants and  to  the  other  descendants  of  his  father,  a  grant  which  would 
of  course  have  brought  in  my  friend.  He  moved  heaven  and  earth 
to  bring  this  about,  but  he  was  met  with  the  direct  statement  that 
two  grants  of  arms  could  not  be  made  to  the  same  man  to  be  borne 
simultaneously,  and  that  if  he  persisted  in  the  grant  of  arms  to  his 
brother,  his  own  name,  as  being  then  entitled  to  bear  arms,  would  be 
specifically  exempted  from  the  later  grant,  and  the  result  was  that  this 
second  grant  was  never  made. 

In  Scotland,  where  re-matriculation  is  constantly  going  on,  two 
separate  matriculations  to  the  same  line  would  not  confer  the  right  to 
two  crests,  inasmuch  as  the  last  matriculation  supersedes  everything 
which  has  preceded  it.  But  if  a  cadet  matriculates  a  different  crest, 
and  subsequently  succeeds  to  the  representation  under  an  earlier  matri- 
culation, he  legally  succeeds  to  both  crests,  and  incidentally  to  both 
coats  of  arms.  As  a  matter  of  ordinary  practice,  the  cadet  matricula- 
tion   is    discarded.     A    curious    case,    however,    occurs    when    after 


348     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

matriculation  by  a  cadet  there  is  a  later  matriculation  behind  it,  by 
some  one  nearer  the  head  of  the  house  to  which  the  first-mentioned 
cadet  succeeds  ;  in  which  event  selection  must  be  brought  into  play, 
when  succession  to  both  occurs.  But  the  selection  lies  only  between 
the  two  patents,  and  not  from  varied  constituent  parts. 

Where  as  an  augmentation  an  additional  crest  is  granted,  as  has 
been  the  case  in  many  instances,  of  course  a  right  to  the  double  crest 
is  thereby  conferred,  and  a  crest  of  augmentation  is  not  granted  in 
lieu,  but  in  addition. 

A  large  number  of  these  additional  crests  have  been  granted  under 
specific  warrants  from  the  Crown,  and  in  the  case  of  Lord  Gough,  two 
additional  crests  were  granted  as  separate  augmentations  and  under 
separate  patents.  Lord  Kitchener  recently  received  a  grant  of  an 
additional  crest  of  augmentation.  There  are  also  a  number  of  grants 
on  record,  not  officially  ranking  as  augmentations,  in  which  a  second 
crest  has  been  granted  as  a  memorial  of  descent  or  office,  &c. 

The  other  cases  in  which  double  and  treble  crests  occur  are  the 
results  of  exemplifications  following  upon  Royal  Licenses  to  assume 
name  and  arms.  As  a  rule,  when  an  additional  surname  is  adopted  by 
Royal  License,  the  rule  is  that  the  arms  adopted  are  to  be  borne  in  ad- 
dition to  those  previously  in  existence  ;  and  where  one  name  is  adopted 
instead  of  another  the  warrant  very  frequently  permits  this,  and  at  the 
same  time  permits  or  requires  the  new  arms  to  be  borne  quarterly  with 
those  previously  possessed,  and  gives  the  right  to  two  crests.  But  in 
cases  where  names  and  arms  are  assumed  by  Royal  License  the  arms 
and  crest  or  crests  are  in  accoi  dance  with  the  patent  of  exemplifica- 
tion, which,  no  matter  what  its  terms  (for  some  do  not  expressly  exclude 
any  prior  rights),  is  always  presumed  to  supersede  everything  which 
has  gone  before,  and  to  be  the  authority  by  which  the  subsequent  bear- 
ing of  arms  is  regularised  and  controlled.  Roughly  speaking,  under  a 
Royal  License  one  generally  gets  the  right  to  one  crest  for  every  sur- 
name, and  if  the  original  surname  be  discarded,  in  addition  a  crest  for 
every  previous  surname.  Thus  Mainwaring-EUerker-Onslow  has  three 
crests,  Wyndham-Campbell-PleydelUBouverie  has  four,  and  the  last 
Duke  of  Buckingham  and  Chandos,  who  held  the  record,  had  one  for 
each  of  his  surnames,  namely,  Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos- 
Grenville.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  there  are  one  or  two  excep- 
tions which  it  is  difficult  to  explain.  The  Marquess  of  Bute  for  some 
reason  or  other  obtained  a  grant,  in  the  year  1822,  of  the  crest  of 
Herbert.  The  original  Lord  Liverpool  obtained  a  grant  of  an  additional 
crest,  possibly  an  augmentation,  and  his  representative.  Lord  Hawkes- 
bury,  afterwards  created  Earl  of  Liverpool,  for  some  reason  or  other 
which  I  am  quite  at  a  loss  to  understand,  obtained  a  grant  of  a  crest 


THE   CREST  349 

very  similar  to  that  of  Lord  Liverpool  to  commemorate  the  representa- 
tion which  had  devolved  upon  him.  He  subsequently  obtained  a  grant 
of  a  third  crest,  this  last  being  of  augmentation.  Sir  Charles  Young, 
Garter  King  of  Arms,  obtained  the  grant  of  a  second  crest,  and  a 
former  Marquess  of  Camden  did  the  same  thing  ;  Lord  Swansea  is 
another  recent  case,  and  though  the  right  of  any  person  to  obtain  the 
grant  of  a  second  crest  is  not  officially  admitted,  and  is  in  fact  strenuously 
denied,  I  cannot  for  the  life  of  me  see  how  in  the  face  of  the  foregoing 
precedents  any  such  privilege  can  be  denied.  Sir  William  Woods  also 
obtained  the  grant  of  a  second  crest  when  he  was  Garter,  oblivious  of 
the  fact  that  he  had  not  really  established  a  right  to  arms.  Those  he 
used  were  certainly  granted  in  Lyon  Office  to  a  relative,  but  no  matricu- 
lation of  them  in  his  own  name  was  ever  registered. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

CROWNS  AND  CORONETS 

THE  origin  of  the  crown  or  coronet  is,  of  course,  to  be  met  with 
in  the  diadem  and  fillet.  In  one  of  the  Cantor  Lectures  de- 
livered by  Mr.  Cyril  Davenport,  F.S.A.,  in  February  1902,  on 
*'The  History  of  Personal  Jewellery  from  Prehistoric  Times,"  he 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  the  development  of  the  diadem,  and 
the  following  extracts  are  from  the  printed  report  of  his  lecture  : — 

^'  The  bandeau  or  fillet  tied  round  the  head  was  probably  first  used 
to  keep  long  hair  from  getting  into  the  eyes  of  primitive  man. 
Presently  it  became  specialised,  priests  wearing  one  pattern  and 
fighting  men  another. 

*'  The  soft  band  which  can  be  seen  figured  on  the  heads  of  kings 
in  early  coins,  is  no  doubt  a  mark  of  chieftainship.  This  use  of  a  band, 
of  special  colour,  to  indicate  authority,  probably  originated  in  the  East. 
It  was  adopted  by  Alexander  the  Great,  who  also  used  the  diadem  of 
the  King  of  Persia.  Justinian  says  that  Alexander's  predecessors  did 
not  wear  any  diadem.  Justinian  also  tells  us  that  the  diadems  then 
worn  were  of  some  soft  material,  as  in  describing  the  accidental 
wounding  of  Lysimachus  by  Alexander,  he  says  that  the  hurt  was 
bound  up  by  Alexander  with  his  own  diadem.  This  was  considered  a 
lucky  omen  for  Lysimachus,  who  actually  did  shortly  afterwards 
become  King  of  Thrace. 

''  In  Egypt  diadems  of  particular  shape  are  of  very  ancient  use. 
There  were  crowns  for  Upper  and  Lower  Egypt,  and  a  combination  of 
both  for  the  whole  country.  They  were  also  distinguished  by  colour. 
The  Uraeus  or  snake  worn  in  the  crowns  and  head-dresses  of  the 
Pharaohs  was  a  symbol  of  royalty.  Representations  of  the  Egyptian 
gods  always  show  them  as  wearing  crowns. 

*'  In  Assyrian  sculptures  deities  and  kings  are  shown  wearing 
diadems,  apparently  bands  of  stuff  or  leather  studded  with  discs  of 
repousse  work.  Some  of  these  discs,  detached,  have  actually  been 
found.  Similar  discs  were  plentifully  found  at  Mycenae,  which  were 
very  likely  used  in  a  similar  way.  Some  of  the  larger  ornamental 
head-dresses  worn  by  Assyrian  kings  appear  to  have  been  conical- 
shaped  helmets,  or  perhaps  crowns  ;  it  is  now  difficult  to  say  which, 

350 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  351 

because  the  material  of  which  they  were  made  cannot  be  ascertained. 
If  they  were  of  gold,  they  were  probably  crowns,  like  the  wonderful 
openwork  golden  Scythian  head-dress  found  at  Kertch,  but  if  of  an 
inferior  metal  they  may  have  been  only  helmets. 

"At  St.  Petersburg  there  is  a  beautiful  ancient  Greek  diadem 
representing  a  crown  of  olive.  An  Etruscan  ivy  wreath  of  thin  gold, 
still  encircling  a  bronze  helmet,  is  in  the  British  Museum. 

"  Justinian  says  that  Morimus  tried  to  hang  himself  with  the  diadem, 
evidently  a  ribbon-like  bandeau,  sent  to  him  by  Mithridates.  The 
Roman  royal  diadem  was  originally  a  white  ribbon,  a  wreath  of  laurel 
was  the  reward  of  distinguished  citizens,  while  a  circlet  of  golden 
leaves  was  given  to  successful  generals.  ^ 

"  Caesar  consistently  refused  the  royal  white  diadem  which  Antony 
offered  him,  preferring  to  remain  perpetual  dictator.  One  of  his 
partisans  ventured  to  crown  Caesar's  bust  with  a  coronet  of  laurel  tied 
with  royal  white  ribbon,  but  the  tribunes  quickly  removed  it  and 
heavily  punished  the  perpetrator  of  the  offence. 

"  During  the  Roman  Empire  the  prejudice  against  the  white 
bandeau  remained  strong.  The  emperors  dared  not  wear  it.  Caligula 
wished  to  do  so,  but  was  dissuaded  on  being  told  that  such  a  proceeding 
might  cost  his  life.  Eliogabalus  used  to  wear  a  diadem  studded  with 
precious  stones,  but  it  is  not  supposed  to  have  indicated  rank,  but  only 
to  have  been  a  rich  lady's  parure,  this  emperor  being  fond  of  dressing 
himself  up  as  a  woman.  Caracalla,  who  took  Alexander  the  Great  as 
his  model  as  far  as  possible,  is  shown  on  some  of  his  coins  wearing  a 
diadem  of  a  double  row  of.  pearls,  a  similar  design  to  which  was  used 
by  the  kings  of  Parthia.  On  coins  of  Diocletian,  there  shows  a  double 
row  of  pearls,  sewn  on  a  double  band  and  tied  in  a  knot  at  the  back. 

"  Diadems  gradually  closed  in  and  became  crowns,  and  on  Byzan- 
tine coins  highly  ornate  diadems  can  be  recognised,  and  there  are 
many  beautiful  representations  of  them  in  enamels  and  mosaics,  as 
well  as  a  few  actual  specimens.  At  Ravenna,  in  mosaic  work  in  the 
church  of  San  Vitale,  are  crowned  portraits  of  Justinian  and  his 
Empress  Theodosia  ;  in  the  enamel  portrait  of  the  Empress  Irene  in 
the  Pal  d'Oro  at  Venice,  can  be  seen  a  beautiful  jewelled  crown  with 
hinged  plaques,  and  the  same  construction  is  used  on  the  iron  crown 
of  Lombardy,  the  sacred  crown  of  Hungary,  and  the  crown  of  Charle- 
magne, all  most  beautiful  specimens  of  jewellers'  work. 

"  On  the  plaques  of  the  crown  of  Constantine  Monomachos  are 
also  fine  enamel  portraits  of  himself  and  his  queen  Zoe,  wearing 
similar  crowns.  The  cataseistas,  or  jewelled  chains,  one  over  each 
ear  and  one  at  the  back,  which  occur  on  all  these  crowns,  may  be  the 
survival  of  the  loose  ends  of  the  tie  of  the  original  fillet. 


352     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

'<  In  later  times  of  Greece  and  Rome,  owing  to  the  growth  of 
republican  feeling  the  diadem  lost  its  political  significance,  and  was 
relegated  to  the  ladies. 

<<  In  the  Middle  Ages  the  diadem  regained  much  of  its  earlier 
significance,  and  ceased  to  be  only  the  simple  head  ornament  it  had 
become.  Now  it  became  specialised  in  form,  reserved  as  an  emblem 
of  rank.  The  forms  of  royal  crowns  and  diadems  is  a  large  and 
fascinating  study,  and  where  original  examples  do  not  now  exist,  the 
development  can  often  be  followed  in  sculpture,  coins,  or  seals. 
Heraldry  now  plays  an  important  part.  Diadems  or  circlets  gradually 
give  way  to  closed  crowns,  in  the  case  of  sovereigns  possessing  inde- 
pendent authority." 

But  to  pass  to  the  crown  proper,  there  is  no  doubt  that  from  the 
earliest  times  of  recorded  history  crowns  have  been  a  sign  and  emblem 
of  sovereignty.  It  equally  admits  of  no  doubt  that  the  use  of  a  crown 
or  coronet  was  by  no  means  exclusive  to  a  sovereign,  but  whilst  our 
knowledge  is  somewhat  curtailed  as  to  the  exact  relation  in  which 
great  overlords  and  nobles  stood  to  their  sovereign,  it  is  difficult  to 
draw  with  any  certainty  or  exactitude  definitive  conclusions  of  the 
symbolism  a  crown  or  coronet  conveyed.  Throughout  Europe  in  the 
eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth,  and  well  into  the  fourteenth  centuries, 
the  great  territorial  lords  enjoyed  and  exercised  many — in  fact  most — 
of  the  attributes  of  sovereignty,  and  in  England  especially,  where  the 
king  was  no  more  than  the  first  amongst  his  peers,  the  territorial  earls 
were  in  much  the  position  of  petty  sovereigns.  It  is  only  natural, 
therefore,  that  we  should  find  them  using  this  emblem  of  sovereignty. 
But  what  we  do  find  in  England  is  that  a  coronet  or  fillet  was 
used,  apparently  without  let  or  hindrance,  by  even  knights.  It  is, 
however,  a  matter  for  thought  as  to  whether  many  of  these  fillets 
were  not  simply  the  turban  or  '<  puggaree  "  folded  into  the  shape  of 
a  fillet,  but  capable  of  being  unrolled  if  desired.  What  the  object 
of  the  wholesale  wearing  of  crowns  and  coronets  was,  it  is  difficult 
to  conjecture. 

The  development  of  the  crown  of  the  English  sovereigns  has  been 
best  told  by  Mr.  Cyril  Davenport  in  his  valuable  work  on  ^^  The  English 
Regalia"  (Kegan  Paul,  Trench,  Triibner  &  Co.).  Mr.  Davenport, 
whose  knowledge  on  these  matters  is  probably  unequalled,  may  best 
be  allowed  to  tell  the  story  in  his  own  words,  he  and  his  publishers 
having  very  kindly  permitted  this  course  to  be  taken  : — 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS 


353 


THE    CROWN    OF    GREAT    BRITAIN 

By  Cyril  Davenport,  F.S.A. 

*'  Crowns  appear  to  have  been  at  an  early  period  worn  by  kings  in 
battle,  in  order  that  they  might  be  easily  recognised  ;  and  although  it 
is  quite  possible  that  this  outward  sign  of  sovereignty  may  have  marked 
the  wearer  as  being  entitled  to  special  protection  by  his  own  men,  it  is 
also  likely  that  it  was  often  a  dangerous  sign  of  importance.  Upon 
the  authority  of  their  coins,  the  heads  of  the  early  British  kings  were 
adorned  with  variously  formed  fillets  and  ornamental  wreaths.  Helmets 
are  also  evidently  intended  to  be  shown,  and  on  some  of  the  coins  of 
Athelstan  the  helmet  bears  upon  it  a  crown  of  three  raised  points, 
with  a  single  pearl  at  the  top  of  each  (Fig.  619).  Other  coins  bear 
the  crown  with  the  three  raised  points  without  the  helmet  (Fig.  620). 
This  crown  of  three  points,  bearing  sometimes  one  and  sometimes  three 
pearls  at  the  top  of  each,  continued  to 
be  used  by  all  the  sole  monarchs  until 
Canute,  on  whose  head  a  crown  is 
shown  in  which  the  three  points  de- 
velop into  three  clearly-marked  trefoils 
(Fig.  621).  On  the  great  seal  of 
Edward  the  Confessor  the  king  is 
wearing  an  ornamental  cap,  which  is 
described  by  Mr.  Wyon  in  his  book 
about  the  Great  Seals  as  bearing  a 
crown  with  three  points  trefoiled  ;  but  the  impressions  of  this  Great 
Seal  that  I  have  been  able  to  see  are  so  indistinct  in  this  particular 
that  I  do  not  feel  justified  in  corroborating  his  opinion.  On  some  of 
the  coins,  however,  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  an  arched  crown  is  very 
clearly  shown,  and  this  crown  has  depending  from  it,  on  each  side, 
tassels  with  ornamental  ends  (Fig.  622). 

'^  In  the  list  of  the  English  regalia  which  were  destroyed  under  the 
Commonwealth  in  1649  i^  found  an  item  of  great  interest,  viz.  'a  gold 
wyer  work  crown  with  little  bells,'  which  is  there  stated  to  have  belonged 
to  King  Alfred,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  first  English  king  for 
whom  the  ceremony  of  coronation  was  used  ;  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
on  several  of  the  crowns  on  coins  and  seals,  from  the  time  of  Edward 
the  Confessor  until  Henry  I.,  little  tassels  or  tags  are  shown  which 
may  indeed  represent  little  bells  suspended  by  a  ribbon. 

*'  On  King  Alfred's  own  coins  there  is  unfortunately  nothing  which 
can  be  recognised  as  a  crown. 


Fig.  621. 


Fig.  622. 


rf.o°'?.gg°Oo. 


ooooooo 


o°r 


d?o 


-?p 


354     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

"On  the  coins  of  Henry  II.  a  crown  is  shown  with  arches,  appar- 
ently intended  to  be  jewelled,  as  is  also  the  rim.  There  are  also 
tassels  with  ornamental  ends  at  the  back  of  the  crown  (Fig.  623). 

"  William  I.  on  his  Great  Seal  wears  a  crown  with  three  points,  at 

the  top  of  each  of  which  are  three 
pearls  (Fig.  624),  and  on  some  of 
his  coins  a  more  ornamental  form 
of  crown  occurs  having  a  broad 
Fig.  624.  jewelled  rim   and  two  arches,  also 

apparently  jewelled,  and  at  each 
side  are  two  pendants  with  pearl 
ends  (Fig.  625).  William  II.  on 
his  Great  Seal  has  a  crown  with 
Fig.  626.  ^^^  points  (Fig.  626),  the  centre 

one  being  slightly  bigger  than  the 
single  pearl.     At  each  side  of  the 


<? 


£=LJ 


Fig.  623. 


4        h 


Fig.  625. 


others,  and  at  the  top  of  each  a 

crown  are  pendants  having  three  pearls  at  the  ends. 

^*  On  some  of  the  coins  of  Stephen  a  pretty  form  of  crown  is  seen. 
It  has  three  fleurs-de-lis  and  two  jewelled  arches  (Fig.  627).  The 
arches  disappear  from  this  time 
until  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  On 
the  Great  Seal  of  Henry  I.  the  king 
wears   a   simple    crown    with    three 


r^^^z:^ 


iM 


Fig.  627. 


Fig.  628. 


fleurs-de-lis    points,    and    two    pen- 
dants   each    with    three     pearls    at 
the  ends  (Fig.  628),  and  after  this  the  pendants  seem  to  have  been 
discontinued. 

"On  the  first  Great  Seal  of  Henry  III.  a  crown  with  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  is  shown  surmounting  a  barred  helmet  (Fig.  629),  and  Edward  I. 
wore  a  similar  crown  with  three  fleurs-de-lis,  but 
having  supplementary  pearls  between  each  (Fig. 
630),  and  this  form  lasted  for  a  long  time,  as  modi- 
fications of  it  are  found  on  the  coins  of  all  the  kings 
till  Henry  VII.  On  the  third  Great  Seal  of  Edward 
IV.  the  king  wears  a  crown  with  five  fleurs-de-lis, 
the  centre  one  being  larger  than  the  others,  and 
the  crown  is  arched  and  has  at  the  top  an  orb  and 
cross  (Fig.  631).  Henry  VI.  on  his  first  seal  for 
foreign  affairs,  on  which  occurs  the  English  shield, 
uses  above  it  a  crown  with  three  crosses-patee  and 
between  each  a  pearl  (Fig.  632),  this  being  the  first 
distinct  use  of  the  cross-patee  on  the  English  crown  ;  and  it  probably 
was  used  here  in  place  of  the  fleurs-de-lis  hitherto  worn  in  order  to 


Fig.  629. 


Fig.  630. 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  355 

make  a  clear  distinction  between  it  and  the  French  crown,  which  has 
the  fleurs-de-lis  only  and  surmounts  the  coat  of  arms  of  that  country. 
The  king  himself  wears  an  arched  crown,  but  the  impressions  are  so 
bad  that  the  details  of  it  cannot  be  followed. 

'^  Henry  VII.  on  his  Great  Seal  uses  as  ornaments  for  the  crown, 
crosses-pat^e  alternately  with  fleurs-de-lis,  and  also  arches  with  an  orb 
and  cross  at  the  top  (Fig.  633)  and,  on  some  of  his 
coins,  he  reverts  to  the  three  fleurs-de-lis  with  points 
between  them,  arches  being  still  used,  with  the  orb  and 
cross  at  the  top  (Fig.  634).  An  ornamental  form  of 
crown  bearing  five  ornamental  leaves  alternately  large 
and   small,   with   arches,   orb,    and   cross   at   the    top  ^^*   ^^' 

(Fig.  635),  occurs  on  the  shillings  of  Henry  VII.     On     ^      ^ 
the  crowns  of  Henry  VIII.,  as  well  as  upon  his  Great      ci— — i:^ 
Seals,  the  alternate  crosses-pat6e  and  fleurs-de-lis  are  p 

found  on  the  rim  of  the  crown,  which  is  arched,  and 
has  an  orb  and  cross  at  the  top,  and  this  is  the  form  that  has  remained 
ever  since  (Fig.  636).  So  we  may  consider  that  the  growth  of  the 
ornament  on  the  rim  of  the  crown  has  followed  a  regular  sequence 
from  the  points  with  one  pearl  at  the  top,  of  -^thelstan,  to  the  trefoil 
of  Canute  ;  the  arches  began  with  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  the 
centre  trefoil  turned  into  the  cross-pat^e  of  Henry  VI.     The  fact  that 


Fig.  633.  Fig.  634.  Fig.  635.  Fig.  636. 

the  remaining  trefoils  turned  eventually  into  fleurs-de-lis  is  only,  I 
think,  a  natural  expansion  of  form,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  had 
anything  to  do  with  the  French  fleur-de-lis,  which  was  adopted  as  an 
heraldic  bearing  for  an  entirely  different  reason.  The  Royal  coat  of 
arms  of  England  did  bear  for  a  long  time  in  one  of  its  quarterings 
the  actual  fleurs-de-lis  of  France,  and  this,  no  doubt,  has  given  some 
reason  to  the  idea  that  the  fleurs-de-lis  on  the  crown  had  also  some- 
thing to  do  with  France  ;  but  as  a  matter  of  fact  they  had  existed  on 
the  crown  of  England  long  anterior  to  our  use  of  them  on  the  coat  of 
arms,  as  well  as  remaining  there  subsequently  to  their  discontinuance 
on  our  Royal  escutcheon. 

'^  The  cross-pat^e  itself  may  possibly  have  been  evolved  in  a  some- 
what similar  way  from  the  three  pearls  of  William  I.,  as  we  often  find  the 
centre  trefoil,  into  which,  as  we  have  seen,  these  three  points  eventually 


356     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

turned,  has  a  tendency  to  become  larger  than  the  others,  and  this 
difference  has  been  easily  made  more  apparent  by  squaring  the  ends 
of  the  triple  leaf.  At  the  same  time  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the 
cross-pat^e  was  actually  used  on  the  sceptre  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  so 
it  is  just  possible  it  may  have  had  some  specially  English  significance. 

"  I  have  already  mentioned  that  as  well  as  the  official  crown  of 
England,  which  alone  I  have  just  been  describing,  there  has  often  been 
a  second  or  State  crown,  and  this,  although  it  has  in  general  design 
followed  the  pattern  of  the  official  crown,  has  been  much  more  elabo- 
rately ornamented,  and  in  it  has  been  set  and  reset  the  few  historic 
gems  possessed  by  our  nation.  The  fact  that  these  State  crowns  have 
in  turn  been  denuded  of  their  jewels  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the  old 
settings  of  some  of  them  still  exist. 

"  Charles  II. 's  State  Crown  is  figured  in  Sir  Edward  Walker's 
account  of   his   coronation,  but  the   illustration   of   it   is  of   such   an 


Fig.  637. 


Fig.  639. 


Fig.  640. 


elementary  character  that  little  reliance  can  be  placed  on  it ;  the  actual 
setting  of  this  crown,  however — which  was  the  one  stolen  by  Colonel 
Blood  on  May  13,  1671 — is  now  the  property  of  Lord  Amherst  of 
Hackney,  and  the  spaces  from  which  the  great  ruby  and  the  large 
sapphire — both  of  which  are  now  in  King  Edward's  State  crown — have 
been  taken  are  clearly  seen  (  Fig.  637).  James  II.'s  State  Crown,  which 
is  very  accurately  figured  in  Sandford's  account  of  his  coronation,  and 
pieces  of  which  are  still  in  the  Tower,  also  had  this  great  ruby  as  its 
centre  ornament  (Fig.  638).  In  Sir  George  Nayler's  account  of  the 
coronation  of  George  IV.  there  is  a  figure  of  his  so-called  '  new  crown,' 
the  arches  of  which  are  composed  of  oak-leaf  sprays  with  acorns,  and 
the  rim  adorned  with  laurel  sprays  (Fig.  639).  The  setting  of  this 
crown  also  belongs  to  Lord  Amherst  of  Hackney,  and  so  does  another 
setting  of  a  small  State  queen's  crown,  the  ownership  of  which  is 
doubtful.  William  IV.  appears  to  have  had  a  very  beautiful  State 
crown,  with  arches  of  laurel  sprays  and  a  cross  at  the  top  with  large 
diamonds.  It  is  figured  in  Robson's  '  British  Herald,'  published  in  1830 
(Fig.  640). 

"There  is  one  other  crown  of  great  interest,  which,  since  the  time 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  357 

of  James  Sixth  of  Scotland  and  First  of  England,  forms  part  of  our 
regalia.  This  is  the  crown  of  Scotland,  and  is  the  most  ancient  piece 
of  State  jewellery  of  which  we  can  boast. 

<<  Edward  I.,  after  his  defeat  of  John  BaHol  in  1296,  carried  off  the 
crown  of  Scotland  to  England,  and  Robert  Bruce  had  another  made 
for  himself.  This  in  its  turn,  after  Bruce's  defeat  at  Methven,  fell  into 
Edward's  hands.  Another  crown  seems  to  have  been  made  for  Bruce 
in  1 3 14,  when  he  was  established  in  the  sovereignty  of  Scotland  after 
Bannockburn,  and  the  present  crown  probably  consists  largely  of  the 
material  of  the  old  one,  and  most  likely  follows  its  general  design.  It 
has,  however,  much  French  work  about  it,  as  well  as  the  rougher  gold 
work  made  by  Scottish  jewellers,  and  it  seems  probable  that  the  crown, 
as  it  now  is,  is  a  reconstruction  by  French  workmen,  made  under  the 
care  and  by  order  of  James  V.  about  1540.  It  was  with  this  crown 
that  Queen  Mary  was  crowned  when  she  was  nine  months  old. 

"  In  1 66 1  the  Scottish  regalia  were  considered  to  be  in  danger  from 
the  English,  and  were  sent  to  Dunnottar  Castle  for  safety.  From  1707 
until  18 1 8  they  were  locked  up  in  a  strong  chest  in  the 
Crown-Room  of  Edinburgh  Castle,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
in  whose  presence  the  box  was  opened,  wrote  an  account 
of  them  in  18 10.  The  crown  consists  of  a  fillet  of  gold 
bordered  with  flat  wire.  Upon  it  are  twenty-two  large 
stones  set  at  equal  distances,  i,e,  nine  carbuncles,  four  fig.  641. 
jacinths,  four  amethysts,  two  white  topazes,  two  crystals 
with  green  foil  behind  them,  and  one  topaz  with  yellow  foil.  Behind 
each  of  these  gems  is  a  gold  plate,  with  bands  above  and  below  of 
white  enamel  with  black  spots,  and  between  each  stone  is  a  pearl. 
Above  the  band  are  ten  jewelled  rosettes  and  ten  fleurs-de-lis  alter- 
nately, and  between  each  a  pearl.  Under  the  rosettes  and  fleurs-de- 
lis  are  jewels  of  blue  enamel  and  pearls  alternately.  The  arches  have 
enamelled  leaves  of  French  work  in  red  and  gold  upon  them,  and  the 
mount  at  the  top  is  of  blue  enamel  studded  with  gold  stars.  The  cross 
at  the  top  is  black  enamel  with  gold  arabesque  patterns  ;  in  the  centre 
is  an  amethyst,  and  in  this  cross  and  in  the  corners  are  Oriental  pearls 
set  in  gold.  At  the  back  of  the  cross  are  the  letters  I.  R.  V.  in  enamel- 
work.  On  the  velvet  cap  are  four  large  pearls  in  settings  of  gold  and 
enamel  (Fig.  641). 

^^  Generally,  the  Scottish  work  in  gold  is  cast  solid  and  chased,  the 
foreign  work  being  thinner  and  repousse.  Several  of  the  diamonds  are 
undoubtedly  old,  and  are  cut  in  the  ancient  Oriental  fashion  ;  and 
many  of  the  pearls  are  Scottish.  It  is  kept  in  Edinburgh  Castle  with 
the  rest  of  the  Scottish*  regalia.  None  of  the  other  pieces  at  all  equal 
it  in  interest,  as  with  the  exception  of  the  coronation  ring  of  Charles  I. 


358      A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

they  are  of  foreign  workmanship,  or,  at  all  events,  have  been  so 
altered  that  there  is  little  or  no  original  work  left  upon  them." 

Very  few  people  are  aware,  when  they  speak  of  the  crown  of 
England,  that  there  are  two  crowns.  The  one  is  the  official  crown, 
the  sign  and  symbol  of  the  sovereigns  of  England.  This  is  known  by 
the  name  of  St.  Edward's  Crown,  and  is  never  altered  or  changed.  As 
to  this  Mr.  Cyril  Davenport  writes : — 

<*  St.  Edward's  crown  was  made  for  the  coronation  of  Charles  II.  in 
1662,  by  Sir  Robert  Vyner.  It  was  ordered  to  be  made  as  nearly  as 
possible  after  the  old  pattern,  and  the  designs  of  it  that  have  been  already 
mentioned  as  existing  in  the  works  of  Sir  Edward  Walker  and  Francis 
Sandford  show  that  in  a  sensual  form  it  was  the  same  as  now  ;  indeed, 
the  existing  crown  is  in  all  probability  mainly  composed  of  the  same 
materials  as  that  made  by  Sir  Robert.  The  crown  consists  of  a  rim 
or  circlet  of  gold,  adorned  with  rosettes  of  precious  stones  surrounded 
with  diamonds,  and  set  upon  enamel  arabesques  of  white  and  red. 
The  centre  gems  of  these  rosettes  are  rubies,  emeralds,  and  sapphires. 
Rows  of  large  pearls  mark  the  upper  and  lower  edges  of  the  rim,  from 
which  rise  the  four  crosses-pat^e  and  four  fleurs-de-lis  alternately, 
adorned  with  diamonds  and  other  gems.  The  gem  clusters  upon  the 
crosses  are  set  upon  enamel  arabesques  in  white  and  red,  of  similar 
workmanship  to  that  upon  the  rim.  From  the  tops  of  the  crosses  rise  two 
complete  arches  of  gold  crossing  each  other,  and  curving  deeply  down- 
wards at  the  point  of  intersection.  The  arches  are  considered  to  be 
the  mark  of  independent  sovereignty.  They  are  edged  with  rows  of 
large  pearls,  and  have  gems  and  clusters  of  gems  upon  them  set  in 
arabesques  of  red  and  white,  like  those  upon  the  crosses.  From  the 
intersection  of  the  arches  springs  a  mound  of  gold,  encircled  by  a  fillet 
from  which  rises  a  single  arch,  both  of  which  are  ornamented  with 
pearls  and  gems.  On  the  top  of  the  arch  is  a  cross-pat^e  of  gold,  set 
in  which  are  coloured  gems  and  diamonds.  At  the  top  of  the  cross  is 
a  large  spheroidal  pearl,  and  from  each  of  the  side  arms,  depending 
from  a  little  gold  bracelet,  is  a  beautifully  formed  pear-shaped  pearl. 
The  crown  is  shown  in  the  Tower  with  the  crimson  velvet  cap,  turned 
up  with  miniver,  which  would  be  worn  with  it. 

"  This  crown  is  very  large,  but  whether  it  is  actually  worn  or  not 
it  would  always  be  present  at  the  coronation,  as  it  is  the  ^  official ' 
crown  of  England." 

St.  Edward's  crown  is  the  crown  supposed  to  be  heraldically  re- 
presented when  for  State  or  official  purposes  the  crown  is  represented 
over  the  Royal  Arms  or  other  insignia.  In  this  the  fleurs-de-lis  upon 
the  rim  are  only  half  fleurs-de-lis.  This  detail  is  scrupulously  adhered 
to,  but  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria  many  of  the  other  details 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  359 

were  very  much  ''  at  the  mercy  "  of  the  artist.  Soon  after  the  accession 
of  King  Edward  VII.  the  matter  was  brought  under  consideration,  and 
the  opportunity  afforded  by  the  issue  of  a  War  Office  Sealed  Pattern 
of  the  Royal  Crown  and  Cypher  for  use  in  the  army  was  taken 
advantage  of  to  notify  his  Majesty's  pleasure,  that  for  official  purposes 
the  Royal  Crown  should  be  as  shown  in  Fig.  642,  which  is  a  repro- 
duction of  the  War  Office  Sealed  Pattern  already  mentioned.  It  should 
be  noted  that  whilst  the  cap  of  the  real  crown  is  of  purple  velvet,  the  cap 
of  the  heraldic  crown  is  always  represented  as  of  crimson. 

The  second  crown  is  what  is  known  as  the  ^'  Imperial  State  Crown." 
This  is  the  one  which  is  actually  worn,  and  which  the  Sovereign  after 
the  ceremony  of  his  coronation  wears  in  the  procession  from  the  Abbey. 
It  is  also  carried  before  the  Sovereign  at  the  opening  of  Parliament. 
Whilst  the  gems  which  are  set  in  it  are  national  property,  the  crown 
is  usually  remade  for  each  successive 
sovereign.  The  following  is  Mr.  Daven- 
port's description  of  Queen  Victoria's 
State  Crown  : — 

'*  This  beautiful  piece  of  jewellery  was 
made  by  Roundell  &  Bridge  in  1838. 
Many  of  the  gems  in  it  are  old  ones 
reset,  and  many  of  them  are  new.  The 
entire  weight  of  the  crown  is  39  ozs. 
5  dwts.  It  consists  of  a  circlet  of  open 
work  in  silver,  bearing  in  the  front 
the    great   sapphire    from    the   crown    of  ^      ,       ^     ,  ^ 

^,       ?        T  r  1  •    1  L  .11^  Fi<^-  642.— Royal  Crown. 

Charles    II.    which    was     bequeathed    to 

George  III.  by  Cardinal  York,  with  other  Stuart  treasure.  At  one 
end  this  gem  is  partly  pierced.  It  is  not  a  thick  stone,  but  it  is  a  fine 
colour.  Opposite  to  the  large  sapphire  is  one  of  smaller  size.  The 
remainder  of  the  rim  is  filled  in  with  rich  jewel  clusters  having  alter- 
nately sapphires  and  emeralds  in  their  centres,  enclosed  in  ornamental 
borders  thickly  set  with  diamonds.  These  clusters  are  separated  from 
each  other  by  trefoil  designs  also  thickly  set  with  diamonds.  The  rim 
is  bordered  above  and  below  with  bands  of  large  pearls,  129  in  the 
lower  row,  and  1 1 2  in  the  upper.  [The  crown  as  remade  for  King 
Edward  VII.  now  has  139  pearls  in  the  lower  row,  and  122  in  the 
upper.]  Above  the  rim  are  shallow  festoons  of  diamonds  caught  up 
between  the  larger  ornaments  by  points  of  emeralds  encircled  with 
diamonds,  and  a  large  pearl  above  each.  On  these  festoons  are  set 
alternately  eight  crosses-patee,  and  eight  fleurs-de-lis  of  silver  set  with 
gems.  The  crosses-pat^e  are  thickly  set  with  brilliants,  and  have  each 
an  emerald  in  the  centre,  except  that  in  front  of  the  crown,  which 


360     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

contains  the  most  remarkable  jewel  belonging  to  the  regalia.  This  is 
a  large  spinal  ruby  of  irregular  drop-like  form,  measuring  about  2  ins. 
in  length,  and  is  highly  polished  on  what  is  probably  its  natural  sur- 
face, or  nearly  so.  Its  irregular  outline  makes  it  possible  to  recognise 
the  place  that  it  has  formerly  occupied  in  the  older  State  crowns,  and 
it  seems  always  to  have  been  given  the  place  of  honour.  It  is  pierced 
after  an  Oriental  fashion,  and  the  top  of  the  piercing  is  filled  with  a 
supplementary  ruby  set  in  gold.  Don  Pedro,  King  of  Castille  in  1367, 
murdered  the  King  of  Granada  for  the  sake  of  his  jewels,  one  of  which 
was  this  stone,  and  Don  Pedro  is  said  to  have  given  it  to  Edward  the 
Black  Prince  after  the  battle  of  Najera,  near  Vittoria,  in  the  same  year. 
After  this,  it  is  said  to  have  been  worn  by  Henry  V.  in  his  crown 
at  Agincourt  in  14 15,  when  it  is  recorded  that  the  King's  life  was  saved 
from  the  attack  of  the  Due  D'Alengon,  because  of  the  protection 
afforded  him  by  his  crown,  a  portion  of  which,  however,  was  broken 
off.  It  may  be  confidently  predicted  that  such  a  risk  of  destruction 
is  not  very  likely  to  happen  again  to  the  great  ruby. 

^^-In  the  centre  of  each  of  the  very  ornamental  fleurs-de-lis  is  a 
ruby,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  ornamentation  on  them  is  composed  of 
rose  diamonds,  large  and  small.  From  each  of  the  crosses-pat^e,  the 
upper  corners  of  which  have  each  a  large  pearl  upon  them,  rises  an 
arch  of  silver  worked  into  a  design  of  oak-leaves  and  acorn-cups. 
These  leaves  and  cups  are  all  closely  encrusted  with  a  mass  of  large 
and  small  diamonds,  rose  brilliant,  and  table-cut ;  the  acorns  them- 
selves formed  of  beautiful  drop-shaped  pearls  of  large  size.  From  the 
four  points  of  intersection  of  the  arches  at  the  top  of  the  crown  depend 
large  egg-shaped  pearls.  From  the  centre  of  the  arches,  which  slope 
slightly  downwards,  springs  a  mound  with  a  cross-pat^e  above  it.  The 
mound  is  ornamented  all  over  with  close  lines  of  brilliant  diamonds, 
and  the  fillet  which  encircles  it,  and  the  arch  which  crosses  over  it, 
are  both  ornamented  with  one  line  of  large  rose-cut  diamonds  set 
closely  together.  The  cross-pat^e  at  the  top  has  in  the  centre  a  large 
sapphire  of  magnificent  colour  set  openly.  The  outer  lines  of  the  arms 
of  the  cross  are  marked  by  a  row  of  small  diamonds  close  together 
and  in  the  centre  of  each  arm  is  a  large  diamond,  the  remaining  spaces 
being  filled  with  more  small  diamonds.  The  large  sapphire  in  the 
centre  of  this  cross  is  said  to  have  come  out  of  the  ring  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  which  was  buried  with  him  in  his  shrine  at  Westminster, 
and  the  possession  of  it  is  supposed  to  give  to  the  owner  the  power  of 
curing  the  cramp.  If  this  be  indeed  the  stone  which  belonged  to 
St.  Edward,  it  was  probably  recut  in  its  present  form  of  a  ^  rose '  for 
Charles  II.,  even  if  not  since  his  time. 

"  Not  counting  the  large  ruby  or  the  large  sapphire,  this  crown 


Fig.  643. — Queen  Alexandra's  Coronation  Crown. 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  361 

contains  :  Four  rubies,  eleven  emeralds,  sixteen  sapphires,  277  pearls, 
2783  diamonds.  [As  remade  for  King  Edward  VII.  the  crown  now 
has  297  pearls  and  2818  diamonds.] 

^'The  large  ruby  has  been  valued  at  ^110,000. 

"  When  this  crown  has  to  take  a  journey  it  is  provided  with  a 
little  casket,  lined  with  white  velvet,  and  having  a  sliding  drawer  at  the 
bottom,  with  a  boss  on  which  the  crown  fits  closely,  so  that  it  is  safe 
from  slipping.  The  velvet  cap  turned  up  with  miniver,  with  which  it 
is  worn,  is  kept  with  it." 

This  crown  has  been  recently  remade  for  King  Edward  VII.,  but 
has  not  been  altered  in  any  essential  details.  The  cap  of  the  real 
crown  is  of  purple  velvet. 

Fig.  643  represents  the  crown  of  the  Queen  Consort  with  which 
Queen  Alexandra  was  crowned  on  August  9,  1902.  It  will  be  noticed 
that,  unlike  the  King's  crowns,  this  has  eight  arches.  The  circlet 
which  forms  the  base  is  i|  inches  in  height.  The  crown  is  entirely 
composed  of  diamonds,  of  which  there  are  3972,  and  these  are  placed 
so  closely  together  that  no  metal  remains  visible.  The  large  diamond 
visible  in  the  illustration  is  the  famous  Koh-i-noor.  Resting  upon  the 
rim  are  four  crosses-pat^e,  and  as  many  fleurs-de-hs,  from  each  of 
which  springs  an  arch.  As  a  matter  of  actual  fact  the  crown  was 
made  for  use  on  this  one  occasion  and  has  since  been  broken  up. 

There  is  yet  another  crown,  probably  the  one  with  which  we  are 
most  familiar.  This  is  a  small  crown  entirely  composed  of  diamonds  : 
and  the  earliest  heraldic  use  which  can  be  found  of  it  is  in  the  design 
by  Sir  Edgar  Boehm  for  the  1887  Jubilee  coinage.  Though  effective 
enough  when  worn,  it  does  not,  from  its  small  size,  lend  itself  effec- 
tively to  pictorial  representation,  and  as  will  be  remembered,  the 
design  of  the  1887  coinage  was  soon  abandoned.  This  crown  was 
made  at  the  personal  expense  of  Queen  Victoria,  and  under  her  in- 
structions, owing  to  the  fact  that  her  late  Majesty  found  her  **  State  " 
crown  uncomfortable  to  wear,  and  too  heavy  for  prolonged  or  general 
use.  It  is  understood,  also,  that  the  Queen  found  the  regulations  con- 
cerning its  custody  both  inconvenient  and  irritating.  During  the  later 
part  of  her  reign  this  smaller  crown  was  the  only  one  Queen  Victoria 
ever  wore.  By  her  will  the  crown  was  settled  as  an  heirloom  upon 
Queen  Alexandra,  to  devolve  upon  future  Queens  Consort  for  the  time 
being.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  in  the  future  this 
crown  may  come  to  be  regarded  as  a  part  of  the  national  regalia,  and 
it  is  as  well,  therefore,  to  reiterate  the  remark,  that  it  was  made  at  the 
personal  expense  of  her  late  Majesty,  and  is  to  no  extent  and  in  no 
way  the  property  of  the  nation. 


362     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 


CORONETS    OF    RANK 


Fig.  644. — Coronet  of  Thomas 
FitzAlan,  Earl  of  Arundel. 
(From  his  monument  in 
Arundel  Church,  141 5.) 


In  Spite  of  various  Continental  edicts,  the  heraldic  use  of  coronets 
of    rank,    as   also   their  actual   use,    seems   elsewhere   than   in   Great 

Britain  to  be  governed  by  no  such  strict 
regulations  as  are  laid  down  and  conformed 
to  in  this  country.  For  this  reason,  no  less 
than  for  the  greater  interest  these  must 
necessarily  possess  for  readers  in  this  coun- 
try, English  coronets  will  first  claim  our 
attention.  It  has  been  already  observed  that 
coronets  or  jewelled  fillets  are  to  be  found 
upon  the  helmets  even  of  simple  knights  from 
the  earliest  periods.  They  probably  served 
no  more  than  decorative  purposes,  unless 
these  fillets  be  merely  turbans,  or  suggestions 
thereof.  As  late  as  the  fifteenth  century  there 
appears  to  have  been  no  regularised  form,  as  will  be  seen  from 
Fig.  644,  which  represents  the  coronet  as  shown  upon  the  effigy  of 
Thomas  FitzAlan,  Earl  of  Arundel,  in  Arundel  Church  (141 5).  A 
very  similar  coronet  surmounts  the  head-dress 
of  the  effigy  of  Beatrice,  Countess  of  Arundel, 
at  the  same  period.  In  his  will,  Lionel,  Duke 
of  Clarence  (1368),  bequeaths  <'two  golden 
circles,"  with  one  of  which  he  was  created 
Duke.  It  is  of  interest  to  compare  this  with 
Fig.  645,  which  represents  the  crown  of  ^^^^^^^^^^^  F 
King  Henry  IV.  as  represented  on  his  effigy. 
Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel,  in  his  will  (Decem- 
ber 5,  1375),  leaves  his  "melieure  coronne  " 
to  his  eldest  son  Richard,  his  ^'  second 
melieure  coronne  "  to  his  daughter  Joan,  and 
his  "tierce  coronne"  to  his  daughter  Alice. 
Though  not  definite  proof  of  the  point,  the  fact 
that  the  earl  distributes  his  coronets  amongst  pi^.g^^^crownofKingiienry 
his  family  irrespective  of  the  fact  that  the  I  v.  (i399-.i4i3)-.  (From  his 
earldom  (of  which  one  would  presume  the  St"eTburVcatIedmL)^^^^^^' 
coronets  to  be  a  sign)  would  pass  to  his  son, 

would  seem  to  show  that  the  wearing  of  a  coronet  even  at  that  date 
was  merely  indicative  of  high  nobility  of  birth,  and  not  of  the  posses- 
sion of  a  substantive  Parliamentary  peerage.      In  spite  of  the  variations 


Fig.  646. — Coronet  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales. 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  363 

in  form,  coronets  were,  however,  a  necessity.  When  both  dukes  and 
earls  were  created  they  were  invested  with  a  coronet  in  open  ParHa- 
ment.  As  time  went  on  the  coronet,  however,  gradually  came  to  be 
considered  the  sign  of  the  possession  of  a  peerage,  and  was  so  borne  ; 
but  it  was  not  until  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  that  coronets  were 
definitely  assigned  by  Royal  Warrant  (February  19,  1660)  to  peers 
not  of  the  Blood  Royal.  Before  this  date  a  coronet  had  not  (as  has 
been  already  stated)  been  used  heraldically 
or  in  fact  by  barons,  who,  both  in  armorial 
paintings  and  in  Parliament,  had  used  a  plain 
crimson  cap  turned  up  with  white  fur. 

The  coronet  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  is 
exactly  like  the  official  (St,  Edward's)  crown, 
except  that  instead  of  two  intersecting  arches 
it  has  only  one.  An  illustration  of  this  is 
given  in  Fig.  646  (this  being  the  usual  form 
in  which  it  is  heraldically  depicted).  It 
should  be  noticed,  however,  that  this  coronet 
belongs  to  the  prince  as  eldest  son  of  the 
Sovereign  and  heir-apparent  to  the  Throne,  and  not  as  Prince  of 
Wales.  It  was  assigned  by  Royal  Warrant  9th  February,  13  Charles  II. 
The  coronet  of  the  Princess  of  Wales,  as  such,  is  heraldically,  the 
same  as  that  of  her  husband. 

The  coronets  of  the  sons  and  daughters  or  brothers  and  sisters  of 
a  sovereign  of  Great  Britain  (other  than  a  Prince  of  Wales)  is  as  in 
Fig.  647,  that  is,  the  circlet  being  identical  with  that  of  the  Royal 
Crown,  and  of  the  Prince  of  Wales'  coronet,  but 
without  the  arch.  This  was  also  assigned  in  the 
warrant  of  9th  February,  13  Charles  II.  Offici- 
ally this  coronet  is  described  as  being  composed 
of  crosses-pat^e  and  fleurs-de-lis  alternately. 

The  grandchildren  of  a  sovereign  being  sons 
and  daughters  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  or  of 
other  sons  of  the  sovereign,  have  a  coronet  in 
which  strawberry  leaves  are  substituted  for  the 
two  outer  crosses-patee  appearing  at  the  edges 
of  the  coronet,  which  is  officially  described  as  composed  of  crosses- 
patee,  fleurs-de-lis,  and  strawberry  leaves. 

Princes  of  the  English  Royal  Family,  being  sons  of  younger  sons 
of  a  sovereign,  or  else  nephews  of  a  sovereign  being  sons  of  brothers 
of  a  sovereign,  and  having  the  rank  and  title  of  a  duke  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  have  a  coronet  composed  alternately  of  crosses-pat^e  and 
strawberry  leaves,  the  latter  taking  the  place  of  the  fleurs-de-lis  upon 


Fig.  647. — Coronet  of  the 
younger  children  of  the 
Sovereign. 


364     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  circlet  of  the  Royal  Crown.  This  coronet  was  also  assigned  in  the 
warrant  of  9th  February,  13  Charles  II. 

It  will  be  observed  by  those  who  compare  one  heraldic  book  with 
another  that  I  have  quoted  these  rules  differently  from  any  other  work 
upon  the  subject.  A  moment's  thought,  however,  must  convince  any 
one  of  the  accuracy  of  my  version.  It  is  a  cardinal  rule  of  armory 
that  save  for  the  single  circumstance  of  attainder  no  man's  armorial 
insignia  shall  be  degraded.  Whilst  any  man's  status  may  be  increased, 
it  cannot  be  lessened.  Most  heraldic  books  quote  the  coronet  of 
crosses-pat^e,  fleurs-de-lis,  and  strawberry  leaves  as  the  coronet  of  the 
^'  grandsons  "  of  the  sovereign,  whilst  the  coronet  of  crosses-pat^e  and 
strawberry  leaves  is  stated  to  be  the  coronet  of  '*  nephews  "  or  cousins 
of  the  sovereign.  Such  a  state  of  affairs  would  be  intolerable,  because 
it  would  mean  the  liability  at  any  moment  to  be  degraded  to  the  use 
of  a  less  honourable  coronet.  Take,  for  example,  the  case  of  Prince 
Arthur  of  Connaught.  During  the  lifetime  of  Queen  Victoria,  as  a 
grandson  of  the  sovereign  he  would  be  entitled  to  the  former,  whereas 
as  soon  as  King  Edward  ascended  the  throne  he  would  have  been 
forced  to  relinquish  it  in  favour  of  the  more  remote  form. 

The  real  truth  is  that  the  members  of  the  Royal  Family  do  not 
inherit  these  coronets  as  a  matter  of  course.  They  technically  and 
in  fact  have  no  coronets  until  these  have  been  assigned  by  Royal 
Warrant  with  the  arms.  When  such  warrants  are  issued,  the  coronets 
assigned  have  up  to  the  present  time  conformed  to  the  above  rules. 
I  am  not  sure  that  the  "  rules  "  now  exist  in  any  more  potent  form 
than  that  up  to  the  present  time  those  particular  patterns  happen  to 
have  been  assigned  in  the  circumstances  stated.  But  the  warrants 
(though  they  contain  no  hereditary  limitation)  certainly  contain  no 
clause  limiting  their  operation  to  the  lifetime  of  the  then  sovereign, 
which  they  certainly  would  do  if  the  coronet  only  existed  whilst  the 
particular  relationship  continued. 

The  terms  "  grandson  of  the  sovereign "  and  "  nephew  of  the 
sovereign,"  which  are  usually  employed,  are  not  correct.  The  coronets 
only  apply  to  the  children  of  princes.  The  children  of  princesses,  who 
are  undoubtedly  included  in  the  terms  ^*  grandson "  and  ^^  nephew," 
are  not  technically  members  of  the  Royal  Family,  nor  do  they  inherit 
either  rank  or  coronet  from  their  mothers. 

By  a  curious  fatality  there  has  never,  since  these  Royal  coronets 
were  differentiated,  been  any  male  descendant  of  an  English  sovereign 
more  remotely  related  than  a  nephew,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Dukes  of  Cumberland.  Their  succession  to  the  throne  of  Hanover 
renders  them  useless  as  a  precedent,  inasmuch  as  their  right  to  arms 
and  coronet  must  be  derived  from  Hanover  and  its  laws,  and   not 


CROWNS    AND    CORONETS  365 

from  this  country.  The  Princess  Frederica  of  Hanover,  however, 
uses  an  English  coronet  and  the  Royal  Arms  of  England,  presumably 
preferring  her  status  as  a  princess  of  this  country  to  whatever  de  jure 
Hanoverian  status  might  be  claimed.  It  is  much  to  be  wished  that 
a  Royal  Warrant  should  be  issued  to  her  which  would  decide  the 
point — at  present  in  doubt — as  to  what  degree  of  relationship  the 
coronet  of  the  crosses-pat^e  and  strawberry  leaves  is  available  for, 
or  failing  that  coronet  what  the  coronet  of  prince  or  princess  of  this 
country  might  be,  he  or  she  not  being  child,  grandchild,  or  nephew 
or  niece  of  a  sovereign. 

The  unique  use  of  actual  coronets  in  England  at  the  occasion  of 
each  coronation  ceremony  has  prevented  them  becoming  (as  in  so 
many  other  countries)  mere  pictured  heraldic  details.  Consequently 
the  instructions  concerning  them  which  are  issued  prior  to  each 
coronation  will  be  of  interest.  The  following  is  from  the  London 
Gazette  of  October  i,  1901  : — 

"Earl  Marshal's  Office, 
Norfolk  House,  St.  James's  Square,  S.W., 
October  i,  1901. 

"The  Earl  Marshal's  Order  concerning  the  Robes,  Coronets,  &c., 
which  are  to  be  worn  by  the  Peers  at  the  Coronation  of  Their  Most 
Sacred  Majesties  King  Edward  the  Seventh  and  Queen  Alexandra. 

"  These  are  to  give  notice  to  all  Peers  who  attend  at  the  Corona- 
tion of  Their  Majesties,  that  the  robe  or  mantle  of  the  Peers  be  of 
crimson  velvet,  edged  with  miniver,  the  cape  furred  with  miniver  pure, 
and  powdered  with  bars  or  rows  of  ermine  (/>.  narrow  pieces  of  black 
fur),  according  to  their  degree,  viz.  r 

*'  Barons,  two  rows. 

"  Viscounts,  two  rows  and  a  half. 

"  Earls,  three  rows. 

"  Marquesses,  three  rows  and  a  half. 

"  Dukes,  four  rows. 

*'  The  said  mantles  or  robes  to  be  worn  over  full  Court  dress, 
uniform,  or  regimentals. 

"  The  coronets  to  be  of  silver-gilt  ;  the  caps  of  crimson  velvet 
turned  up  with  ermine,  with  a  gold  tassel  on  the  top  ;  and  no  jewels 
or  precious  stones  are  to  be  set  or  used  in  the  coronets,  or  counterfeit 
pearls  instead  of  silver  balls. 

"  The  coronet  of  a  Baron  to  have,  on  the  circle  or  rim,  six  silver 
balls  at  equal  distances. 

"  The  coronet  of  a  Viscount  to  have,  on  the  circle,  sixteen  silver 
balls. 


366     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

'*The  coronet  of  an  Earl  to  have,  on  the  circle,  eight  silver  balls, 
raised  upon  points,  with  gold  strawberry  leaves  between  the  points. 

•^<The  coronet  of  a  Marquess  to  have,  on  the  circle,  four  gold 
strawberry  leaves  and  four  silver  balls  alternately,  the  latter  a  little 
raised  on  points  above  the  rim. 

"  The  coronet  of  a  Duke  to  have,  on  the  circle,  eight  gold  straw- 
berry leaves. 

"  By  His  Majesty's  Command, 

"  Norfolk,  Earl  Marshal,'* 


"Earl  Marshal's  Office, 
Norfolk  House,  St.  James's  Square,  S.W., 
October  i,  1901. 

"The  Earl  Marshal's  Order  concerning  the  Robes,  Coronets,  &c., 
which  are  to  be  worn  by  the  Peeresses  at  the  Coronation  of  Their 
Most  Sacred  Majesties  King  Edward  the  Seventh  and  Queen  Alexandra. 

"These  are  to  give  notice  to  all  Peeresses  who  attend  at  the 
Coronation  of  Their  Majesties,  that  the  robes  or  mantles  appertaining 
to  their  respective  ranks  are  to  be  worn  over  the  usual  full  Court 
dress. 

"That  the  robe  or  mantle  of  a  Baroness  be  of  crimson  velvet,  the 
cape  whereof  to  be  furred  with  miniver  pure,  and  powdered  with  two 
bars  or  rows  of  ermine  {ue,  narrow  pieces  of  black  fur)  ;  the  said 
mantle  to  be  edged  round  with  miniver  pure  2  inches  in  breadth,  and 
the  train  to  be  3  feet  on  the  ground  ;  the  coronet  to  be  according  to 
her  degree — viz.  a  rim  or  circle  with  six  pearls  (represented  by  silver 
balls)  upon  the  same,  not  raised  upon  points. 

"That  the  robe  or  mantle  of  a  Viscountess  be  like  that  of  a 
Baroness,  only  the  cape  powdered  with  two  rows  and  a  half  of  ermine, 
the  edging  of  the  mantle  2  inches  as  before,  and  the  train  ij  yards  ; 
the  coronet  to  be  according  to  her  degree — viz.  a  rim  or  circle  with 
pearls  (represented  by  silver  balls)  thereon,  sixteen  in  number,  and 
not  raised  upon  points. 

"That  the  robe  or  mantle  of  a  Countess  be  as  before,  only  the 
cape  powdered  with  three  rows  of  ermine,  the  edging  3  inches  in 
breadth,  and  the  train  ij  yards  ;  the  coronet  to  be  composed  of  eight 
pearls  (represented  by  silver  balls)  raised  upon  points  or  rays,  with 
small  strawberry  leaves  between,  above  the  rim. 

"  That  the  robe  or  mantle  of  a  Marchioness  be  as  before,  only  the 
cape  powdered  with  three  rows  and  a  half  of  ermine,  the  edging 
4  inches  in  breadth,  the  train  ij  yards  ;  the  coronet  to  be  composed 
of  four  strawberry  leaves  and  four  pearls  (represented  by  silver  balls) 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  367 

raised  upon  points  of  the  same  height  as  the  leaves,  alternately,  above 
the  rim. 

"That  the  robe  or  mantle  of  a  Duchess  be  as  before,  only  the 
cape  powdered  with  four  rows  of  ermine,  the  edging  5  inches  broad, 
the  train  2  yards ;  the  coronet  to  be  composed  of  eight  strawberry 
leaves,  all  of  equal  height,  above  the  rim. 

'<  And  that  the  caps  of  all  the  said  coronets  be  of  crimson  velvet, 
turned  up  with  ermine,  with  a  tassel  of  gold  on  the  top. 

"  By  His  Majesty's  Command, 

"  Norfolk,  Earl  Marshall 


Fig.  648. 


The  Coronation  Robe  of  a  peer  is  not  identical  with  his  Parliamen- 
tary Robe  of  Estate.  This  latter  is  of  fine  scarlet  cloth,  lined  with 
taffeta.  The  distinction  between  the  degrees  of 
rank  is  effected  by  the  guards  or  bands  of  fur. 
The  robe  of  a  duke  has  four  guards  of  ermine 
at  equal  distances,  with  gold  lace  above  each 
guard  and  tied  up  to  the  left  shoulder  by  a 
white  riband.  The  robe  of  a  marquess  has 
four  guards  of  ermine  on  the  right  side,  and 
three  on  the  left,  with  gold  lace  above  each 
guard  and  tied  up  to  the  left  shoulder  by  a 
white  riband.  An  earl's  robe  has  three  guards 
of  ermine  and  gold  lace.  The  robes  of  a  viscount 
and  baron  are  identical,  each  having  two  guards 
of  plain  white  fur. 

By  virtue  of  various  warrants  of  Earls  Mar- 
shal, duly  recorded  in  the  College  of  Arms,  the 
use  or  display  of  a  coronet  of  rank  by  any 
person  other  than  a  peer  is  stringently  for- 
bidden. This  rule,  unfortunately,  is  too  often 
ignored  by  many  eldest  sons  of  peers,  who  use  peerage  titles  by 
courtesy. 

The  heraldic   representations   of  these   coronets   of  rank   are   as 
follows : — 

The  coronet  of  a  duke  shows  five  strawberry  leaves  (Fig.  648).    This 
coronet  should  not  be  confused  with  the  ducal  crest  coronet. 

The  coronet  of  a  marquess  shows  two  balls  of  silver  technically 
known  as  "  pearls,"  and  three  strawberry  leaves  (Fig.  649). 

The  coronet  of  an  earl  shows  five  ''  pearls  "  raised  on  tall  spikes, 
alternating  with  four  strawberry  leaves  (Fig.  650), 


Fig.  649. 


368     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

The  coronet  of  a  viscount  shows  nine  ^'pearls,"  all  set  closely 
together,  directly  upon  the  circlet  (Fig.  651). 

The  coronet  of  a  baron  shows  four  "  pearls "  upon  the  circlet 
(Fig.  652).  This  coronet  was  assigned  by  Royal  Warrant,  dated 
7th  August,  12  Charles  II.,  to  Barons  of  England,  and  to  Barons  of 
Ireland  by  warrant  16th  May,  5  James  II. 

All  coronets  of  degree  actually,  and  are  usually  represented  to, 
enclose  a  cap  of  crimson  velvet,  turned  up  with  ermine.     None  of 


Fig.  650. 


Fig.  651. 


Fig.  652. 


them  are  permitted  to  be  jewelled,  but  the  coronet  of  a  duke,  marquess, 
earl,  or  viscount  is  chased  in  the  form  of  jewels.  In  recent  times, 
however,  it  has  become  very  usual  for  peers  to  use,  heraldically,  for 
more  informal  purposes  a  representation  of  the  circlet  only,  omitting 
the  cap  and  the  ermine  edging. 

The  crown  or  coronet  of  a  king  of  arms  (Fig.  653)  is  of  silver-gilt 
formed  of  a  circlet,  upon  which  is  inscribed  part  of  the  first  verse  of 
the  51st  Psalm,  viz. ;  "Miserere  mei  Deus  secundum  magnam  miseri- 
cordiam  tuam."    The  rim  is  surmounted  with  sixteen 
leaves,  in  shape  resembling  the  oak-leaf,  every  alter- 
nate one  being  somewhat  higher  than  the  rest,  nine 
of   which   appear   in   the    profile   view   of   it    or    in 
heraldic    representations.       The    cap    is    of   crimson 
Fig-.  653.— The  Crown  satin,  closed  at  the  top  by  a  gold  tassel  and  turned 

of  a  King  of  Arms.  -,,  .  r       j        o 

up  With  ermine. 

Anciently,  the  crown  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  was,  in  shape,  an 
exact  replica  of  the  crown  of  the  King  of  Scotland,  the  only  difference 
being  that  it  was  not  jewelled. 

Coronets  of  rank  are  used  very  indiscriminately  on  the  Continent, 
particularly  in  France  and  the  Low  Countries.  Their  use  by  no 
means  implies  the  same  as  with  us,  and  frequently  indicates  little  if 
anything  beyond  mere  ^^  noble  "  birth. 

The  Mauerkrone  [mural  crown]  (Fig.  654)  is  used  in  Germany 
principally  as  an  adornment  to  the  arms  of  towns.  It  is  borne  with 
three,  four,  or  five  battlemented  towers.     The  tincture,  likewise,  is  not 


CROWNS   AND   CORONETS  369 

always  the  same :  gold,  silver,  red,  or  the  natural  colour  of  a  wall 
being  variously  employed.  Residential  [ue.  having  a  royal  residence] 
and  capital  towns  usually  bear  a  Mauerkrone  with  five  towers,  large 
towns  one  with  four  towers,  smaller  towns  one  with  three.  Strict 
regulations  in  the  matter  do  not  yet  exist.  It  should  be  carefully 
noted  that  this  practice 
is  peculiar  to  Germany 
and  is  quite  incorrect  in 
Great  Britain. 

The  Naval  Crown 
[Schiffskrone]  (Fig.  655), 
on  the  circlet  of  which 
sails  and  sterns  of  ships  are  alternately  introduced,  is  very  rarely  used 
on  the  Continent.  With  us  it  appears  as  a  charge  in  the  arms  of  the 
towns  of  Chatham,  Ramsgate,  Devonport,  &c.  The  Naval  Coronet, 
however,  is  more  properly  a  crest  coronet,  and  as  such  will  be  more 
fully  considered  in  the  next  chapter.  It  had,  however,  a  limited  use 
as  a  coronet  of  rank  at  one  time,  inasmuch  as  the  admirals  of  the 
United  Provinces  of  the  Netherlands  placed  a  crown  composed  of 
prows  of  ships  above  their  escutcheons,  as  may  be  seen  from  various 
monuments. 


Fig.  654. — Mauerkrone. 


Fig.  655.— Naval 
crown. 


2  A 


CHAPTER   XXIII 
CREST    CORONETS    AND    CHAPEAUX 

THE  present  official  rules  are  that  crests  must  be  upon,  or  must 
issue  from,  a  wreath  (or  torse),  a  coronet,  or  a  chapeau.  It  is 
not  at  the  pleasure  of  the  wearer  to  choose  which  he  will, 
one  or  other  being  specified  and  included  in  the  terms  of  the  grant. 
If  the  crest  have  a  lawful  existence,  one  or  other  of  them  will  un- 
changeably belong  to  the  crest,  of  which  it  now  is  considered  to  be 
an  integral  part. 

In  Scotland  and  Ireland,  Lyon  King  of  Arms  and  Ulster  King  of 
Arms  have  always  been  considered  to  have,  and  still  retain,  the  right 
to  grant  crests  upon  a  chapeau  or  issuing  from  a  crest.  But  the 
power  is  (very  properly)  exceedingly  sparingly  used  ;  and,  except  in 
the  cases  of  arms  and  crests  matriculated  in  Lyon  Register  as  of 
ancient  origin  and  in  use  before  1672,  or  ^'confirmed"  on  the  strength 
of  user  by  Ulster  King  of  Arms,  the  ordinary  ducal  crest  coronet  and 
the  chapeau  are  not  now  considered  proper  to  be  granted  in  ordinary 
cases. 

Since  about  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  rules 
which  follow  have  been  very  definite,  and  have  been  very  rigidly 
adhered  to  in  the  English  College  of  Arms. 

Crests  issuing  from  the  ordinary  "ducal  crest  coronet"  are  not 
now  granted  under  any  circumstances.  The  chapeau  is  only  granted 
in  the  case  of  a  grant  of  arms  to  a  peer,  a  mural  coronet  is  only 
granted  to  officers  in  the  army  of  the  rank  of  general  or  above,  and 
the  naval  coronet  is  only  granted  to  officers  in  his  Majesty's  Royal 
Navy  of  the  rank  of  admiral  and  above.  An  Eastern  coronet  is  now 
only  granted  in  the  case  of  those  of  high  position  in  one  or  other  of 
the  Imperial  Services,  who  have  served  in  India  and  the  East. 

The   granting   of   crests   issuing   from   the   other    forms   of    crest 

coronets,  the  "  crown-vallary "  and  the  "  crown  palisado,"  is  always 

discouraged,  but  no  rule  exists  denying  them  to  applicants,  and  they 

are  to   be  obtained   if   the   expectant   grantee   is   sufficiently  patient, 

importunate,  and  pertinacious.     Neither  form  is,  however,  particularly 

ornamental,  and  both  are  of  modern  origin. 

370 


? 


CREST    CORONETS    AND    CHAPEAUX       371 

There  is  still  yet  another  coronet;  the  *'  celestial  coronet."  This 
is  not  unusual  as  a  charge,  but  as  a  coronet  from  which  a  crest 
issues  I  know  of  no  instance,  nor  am  I  aware  of  what  rules,  if  any, 
govern  the  granting  of  it. 

Definite  rank  coronets  have  been  in  times  past  granted  for  use  as 
crest  coronets,  but  this  practice,  the  propriety  of  which  cannot  be 
considered  as  other  than  highly  questionable,  has  only  been  pursued, 
even  in  the  more  lax  days  which  are  past,  on  rare  and  very  exceptional 
occasions,  and  has  long  since  been  definitely  abandoned  as  improper. 

In  considering  the  question  of  crest  coronets,  the  presumption  that 
they  originated  from  coronets  of  rank  at  once  jumps  to  the  mind. 
This  is  by  no  means  a  foregone  conclusion.  It  is  difficult  to  say  what 
is  the  earliest  instance  of  the  use  of  a  coronet  in  this  country  as  a 
coronet  of  rank.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  coronet  of  a  baron 
had  no  existence  whatever  until  it  was  called  into  being  by  a  warrant 
of  Charles  II.  after  the  Restoration,  and  that  differentiated  coronets 
for  the  several  ranks  in  the  Peerage  are  not  greatly  anterior  in  date, 
the  question  becomes  distinctly  complicated.  From  certainly  the  reign 
of  Edward  the  Confessor  the  kings  of  England  had  worn  crowns,  and 
the  great  territorial  earls,  who  it  must  be  remembered  occupied  a 
position  akin  to  that  of  a  petty  sovereign  (far  beyond  the  mere  high 
dignity  of  a  great  noble  at  the  present  day),  from  an  early  period 
wore  crowns  or  coronets  not  greatly  differing  in  appearance  from  the 
crown  of  the  king.  But  the  Peerage  as  such  certainly  neither  had 
nor  claimed  the  technical  right  to  a  coronet  as  a  mark  of  their  rank, 
in  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries.  But  coronets  of  a  kind 
were  used,  as  can  be  seen  from  early  effigies,  long  before  the  use  of 
crests  became  general.  But  these  coronets  were  merely  in  the  nature 
of  a  species  of  decoration  for  the  helmet,  many  of  them  far  more 
closely  resembling  a  jewelled  torse  than  a  coronet.  Parker  in  his 
"Glossary  of  Terms  used  in  Heraldry"  probably  correctly  represents 
the  case  when  he  states:  "From  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  coronets 
of  various  forms  were  w^orn  (as  it  seems  indiscriminately)  by  princes, 
dukes,  earls,  and  even  knights,  but  apparently  rather  by  way  of 
ornament  than  distinction,  or  if  for  distinction,  only  (like  the  collar 
of  SS)  as  a  mark  of  gentiHty.  The  helmet  of  Edward  the  Black 
Prince,  upon  his  effigy  at  Canterbury,  is  surrounded  with  a  coronet 
totally  different  from  that  subsequently  assigned  to  his  rank." 

The  instance  quoted  by  Parker  might  be  amplified  by  countless 
others,  but  it  may  here  with  advantage  be  pointed  out  that  the  great 
helmet  (or,  as  this  probably  is,  the  ceremonial  representation  of  it) 
suspended  above  the  Prince's  tomb  (Fig.  271)  has  no  coronet,  and 
the  crest  is  upon  a  chapeau.     Of  the  fourteen  instances  in  the  Plan- 


372     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

tagenet  Garter  plates  in  which  the  torse  appears,  twelve  were  peers  of 
England,  one  was  a  foreign  count,  and  one  only  a  commoner.  On 
the  other  hand,  of  twenty-nine  whose  Garter  plates  show  crests  issuing 
from  coronets,  four  are  foreigners,  seven  are  commoners,  and  eighteen 
were  peers.  The  coronets  show  very  great  variations  in  form  and 
design,  but  such  variations  appear  quite  capricious,  and  to  carry  no 
meaning,  nor  does  it  seem  probable  that  a  coronet  of  gules  or  of 
azure,  of  which  there  are  ten,  could  represent  a  coronet  of  rank. 
The  Garter  plate  of  Sir  William  De  la  Pole,  Earl  of  (afterwards  Duke 
of)  Suffolk,  shows  his  crest  upon  a  narrow  black  fillet.  Consequently, 
whatever  may  be  the  conclusion  as  to  the  wearing  of  coronets  alone, 
it  would  seem  to  be  a  very  certain  conclusion  that  the  heraldic  crest 
coronet  bore  no  relation  to  any  coronet  of  rank  or  to  the  right  to 
wear  one.  Its  adoption  must  have  been  in  the  original  instance,  and 
probably  even  in  subsequent  generations,  a  matter  of  pure  fancy  and 
inclination.  This  is  borne  out  by  the  fact  that  whilst  the  Garter  plate 
of  Sir  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,  shows  his  crest  upon  a  torse, 
his  effigy  represents  it  issuing  from  a  coronet. 

Until  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  the  Royal  crest,  both  in  the  case 
of  the  sovereign  and  all  the  other  members  of  the  Royal  Family,  is 
always  represented  upon  a  chapeau  or  cap  of  dignity.  The  Great 
Seal  of  Edward  VI.  shows  the  crest  upon  a  coronet,  though  the 
present  form  of  crown  and  crest  were  originated  by  Queen  Elizabeth. 
In  depicting  the  Royal  Arms,  it  is  usual  to  omit  one  of  the  crowns, 
and  this  is  always  done  in  the  official  warrants  controlling  the  arms. 
One  crown  is  placed  upon  the  helmet,  and  upon  this  crown  is  placed 
the  crest,  but  theoretically  the  Royal  achievement  has  two  crowns, 
inasmuch  as  one  of  the  crowns  is  an  inseparable  part  of  the  crest. 
Probably  the  finest  representation  of  the  Royal  crest  which  has  ever 
been  done  is  the  design  for  one  of  the  smaller  bookplates  for  the 
Windsor  Castle  Library.  This  was  executed  by  Mr.  Eve,  and  it  would 
be  impossible  to  imagine  anything  finer.  Like  the  rest  of  the  Royal 
achievement,  the  Royal  crest  is  of  course  not  hereditary,  and  conse- 
quently it  is  assigned  by  a  separate  Royal  Warrant  to  each  male 
member  of  the  Royal  Family,  and  the  opportunity  is  then  taken  to 
substitute  for  the  Royal  crown,  which  is  a  part  of  the  sovereign's  crest, 
a  coronet  identical  with  whatever  may  be  assigned  in  that  particular 
instance  as  the  coronet  of  rank.  In  the  case  of  Royal  bastards  the 
crest  has  always  been  assigned  upon  a  chapeau. 

The  only  case  which  comes  to  one's  mind  in  which  the  Royal 
crown  has  (outside  the  sovereign)  been  allowed  as  a  crest  coronet  is 
the  case  of  the  town  of  Eye. 

The  Royal  crown  of  Scotland  is  the  crest  coronet  of  the  sovereign's 


CREST   CORONETS   AND   CHAPEAUX      373 

crest  for  the  kingdom  of  Scotland.  This  crest,  together  with  the  crest 
of  Ireland,  is  never  assigned  to  any  member  of  the  Royal  Family 
except  the  sovereign.  The  crest  of  Ireland  (which  is  on  a  wreath  or 
and  azure)  is  by  the  way  confirmatory  evidence  that  the  crowns  in  the 
crests  of  Scotland  and  England  have  a  duplicate  and  separate  existence 
apart  from  the  crown  denoting  the  sovereignty  of  the  realm. 

The  ordinary  crest  coronet  or,  as  it  is  usually  termed  in  British 
heraldry,  the  ^^  ducal  coronet "  (Ulster,  however,  describes  it  officially 
as  "  a  ducal  crest  coronet "),  is  quite  a  separate  matter  from  a  duke's 
coronet  of  rank.  Whilst  the  coronet  of  a  duke  has  upon  the  rim  five 
strawberry  leaves  visible  when  depicted,  a  ducal  coronet  has  only  three. 
The  "ducal  coronet"  (Fig.  656)  is  the  conventional  '^regularised" 
development  of  the  crest  coronets  employed  in  early  times. 

Unfortunately  it  has  in  many  instances  been  depicted  of  a  much 
greater  and  very  unnecessary  width,  the  result  being  inartistic  and 
allowing  unnecessary  space  between  the  leaves,  and  at  the  same  time 
leaving  the  crest  and  coronet  with  little  circum- 
ferential relation.  It  should  be  noted  that  it  is 
quite  incorrect  for  the  rim  of  the  coronet  to  be 
jewelled  in  colour  though  the  outline  of  jewelling 

is  indicated.  Fig.  656.-Ducal  coronet. 

Though   ducal   crest   coronets    are   no    longer 
granted  (of  course  they  are  still  exemplified  and  their  use  permitted 
where  they  have  been  previously  granted),  they  are  of  very  frequent 
occurrence  in  older  grants  and  confirmations. 

It  is  quite  incorrect  to  depict  a  cap  (as  in  a  coronet  of  rank)  in  a 
crest  coronet,  which  is  never  more  than  the  metal  circlet,  and  conse- 
quently it  is  equally  incorrect  to  add  the  band  of  ermine  below  it 
which  will  sometimes  be  seen. 

The  Coronet  of  a  duke  has  in  one  or  two  isolated  cases  been  granted 
as  a  crest  coronet.  In  such  a  case  it  is  not  described  as  a  duke's 
coronet,  but  as  a  *'  ducal  coronet  of  five  leaves."  It  so  occurs  in  the 
case  of  Ormsby-Hamilton. 

The  colour  of  the  crest  coronet  must  be  stated  in  the  blazon. 
Crest  coronets  are  of  all  colours,  and  will  be  sometimes  found  bearing 
charges  upon  the  rim  (particularly  in  the  cases  of  mural  and  naval 
coronets).  An  instance  of  this  will  be  seen  in  the  case  of  Sir  John  W. 
Moore,  and  of  Mansergh,  the  label  in  this  latter  case  being  an  unalter- 
able charge  and  not  the  difference  mark  of  an  eldest  son.  Though 
the  tincture  of  the  coronet  ought  to  appear  in  the  blazon,  nevertheless  it 
is  always  a  fair  presumption  (when  it  is  not  specified)  that  it  is  of  gold, 
coronets  of  colours  being  very  much  less  frequently  met  with.  On 
this  point  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  some  of  the  cases  where 


374     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  crest  coronet  is  figured  upon  an  early  Garter  plate  as  of  colour, 
it  is  now  borne  gold  by  the  present  descendants  of  the  family.  For 
example  on  the  Garter  plate  of  Sir  Walter  Hungerford,  Lord  Hunger- 
ford,  the  crest  [*^  A  garb  or,  between  two  silver  sickles  "]  issues  from 
a  coronet  azure.  The  various  Hungerford  families  now  bear  it  "or." 
The  crest  upon  the  Garter  plate  of  Sir  Humphrey  Stafford,  Duke 
of  Buckingham  ['*  A  demi-swan  argent,  beaked  gules "],  issues  from 
a  coronet  gules.  This  crest  as  it  is  now  borne  by  the  present  Lord 
Stafford  is  :  "  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  per  pale  gules  and  sable,"  &c. 

Another  instance  of  coloured  coronets  will  be  found  in  the  crest 
of  Nicholson,  now  borne  by  Shaw.^ 

Probably,  however,  the  most  curious  instance  of  all  will  be  found 
in  the  case  of  a  crest  coronet  of  ermine,  of  which  an  example  occurs 
in  the  Gelre  "Armorial." 

A  very  general  misconception — which  will  be  found  stated  in 
practically  every  text-book  of  armory — is  that  when  a  crest  issues 
from  a  coronet  the  wreath  must  be  omitted.  There  is  not  and  never 
has  been  any  such  rule.  The  rule  is  rather  to  the  contrary.  Instances 
where  both  occur  are  certainly  now  uncommon,  and  the  presence  of  a 
wreath  is  not  in  present-day  practice  considered  to  be  essential  if  a 
coronet  occurs,  but  the  use  or  absence  of  a  wreath  when  the  crest 
issues  from  a  coronet  really  depends  entirely  upon  the  original  grant. 
If  no  wreath  is  specified  with  the  coronet,  none  will  be  used  or  needed, 
but  if  both  are  granted  both  should  be  used.  An  instance  of  the  use 
of  both  will  be  found  on  the  Garter  Stall  plate  of  Sir  Walter  Devereux, 
Lord  Ferrers.  The  crest  (a  talbot's  head  silver)  issues  from  a  coronet 
or,  which  is  placed  upon  a  torse  argent  and  sable.  Another  instance 
will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  grant  of  the  crest  of  Hanbury. 

A  quite  recent  case  was  the  grant  by  Sir  Bernard  Burke,  Ulster 
King  of  Arms,  of  a  crest  to  Sir  Richard  Quain,  Bart.,  the  blazon  of 
which  was:  "On  a  wreath  argent  and  azure,  and  out  of  a  mural 
coronet  proper  a  demi-lion  rampant  or,  charged  on  the  shoulder  with 
a  trefoil  slipped  vert,  and  holding  between  the  paws  a  battle-axe  also 
proper,  the  blade  gold." 

Other  instances  are  the  crests  of  Hamilton  of  Sunningdale  and 
Tarleton. 

Another  instance  will  be  found  in  the  grant  to  Ross-of-Bladensburg. 
Possibly  this  blazon  may  be  a  clerical  error  in  the  engrossment,  because 
it  will  be  noticed  that  the  wreath  does  not  appear  in  the  emblazonment 
(Plate  II.). 

I  wonder  how  many  of  the  officers  of  arms  are  aware  of  the  exist- 

*  Out  of  a  ducal  coronet  gules,  a  lion's  head  ermine  (Nicholson). 


CREST    CORONETS   AND    CHAPEAUX       375 

ence  of  a  warrant,  dated  in  1682,  issued  by  the  Deputy  Earl-Marshal 
to  the  Companies  of  Painters,  Stainers,  and  Coachmakers,  forbidding 
them  to  paint  crests  which  issue  out  of  ducal  coronets  without  putting 
them  upon  "  wreaths  of  their  colours."  The  wording  of  the  warrant 
very  plainly  shows  that  at  that  date  a  wreath  was  always  painted  below^ 
a  crest  coronet.  The  warrant,  however,  is  not  so  worded  that  it  can 
be  accepted  as  determining  the  point  for  the  future,  or  that  it  would 
override  a  subsequent  grant  of  a  crest  in  contrary  form.  But  it  is 
evidence  of  what  the  law  then  was. 

No  crest  is  now  granted  without  either  wreath,  coronet,  or  chapeau. 

An  instance  of  the  use  of  the  coronet  of  a  marquess  as  a  crest 
coronet  will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  Bentinck  crest.^ 

There  are  some  number  of  instances  of  the  use  of  an  earl's  coronet 
as  a  crest  coronet.  Amongst  these  may  be  mentioned  the  crests  of 
Sir  Alan  Seton  Steuart,  Bart.  [^'  Out  of  an  earl's  coronet  a  dexter  hand 
grasping  a  thistle  all  proper "],  that  granted  to  Cassan  of  Sheffield 
House,  Ireland  [^'  Issuant  from  an  earl's  coronet  proper,  a  boar's  head 
and  neck  erased  or,  langued  gules "],  James  Christopher  Fitzgerald 
Kenney,  Esq.,  Dublin  ['^  Out  of  an  earl's  coronet  or,  the  pearls  argent, 
a  cubit  arm  erect  vested  gules,  cuffed  also  argent,  the  hand  grasping  a 
roll  of  parchment  proper  "],  and  Davidson  [''  Out  of  an  earl's  coronet 
or,  a  dove  rising  argent,  holding  in  the  beak  a  wheat-stalk  bladed  and 
eared  all  proper  "]. 

I  know  of  no  crest  which  issues  from  the  coronet  of  a  viscount,  but 
a  baron's  coronet  occurs  in  the  case  of  Forbes  of  Pitsligo  and  the 
cadets  of  that  branch  of  the  family :  **  Issuing  out  of  a  baron's  coronet 
a  dexter  hand  holding  a  scimitar  all  proper." 

Foreign  coronets  of  rank  have  sometimes  been  granted  as  crest 
coronets  in  this  country,  as  in  the  cases  of  the  crests  of  Sir  Francis 
George  Manningham  Boileau,  Bart.,  Norfolk  [''  In  a  nest  or,  a  pelican 
in  her  piety  proper,  charged  on  the  breast  with  a  saltire  couped  gules, 
the  nest  resting  in  a  foreign  coronet "],  Henry  Chamier,  Esq.,  Dublin 
[''  Out  of  a  French  noble  coronet  proper,  a  cubit  arm  in  bend  vested 
azure,  charged  with  five  fleurs-de-lis  in  saltire  or,  cuffed  ermine,  holding 
in  the  hand  a  scroll,  and  thereon  an  open  book  proper,  garnished 
gold "],  John  Francis  Charles  Fane  De  Salis,  Count  of  the  Holy 
Roman  Empire  ['^  i.  Out  of  a  marquis'  coronet  or,  a  demi-woman 
proper,  crowned  or,  hair  flowing  down  the  back,  winged  in  place  of 
arms  and  from  the  armpits  azure  ;  2.  out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  an 
eagle  displayed  sable,  ducally  crowned  also  or ;  3.  out  of  a  ducal 
coronet  a  demi-lion  rampant  double-queued  and  crowned  with  a  like 

^  Crest  of  Bentinck  :  Out  of  a  marquess's  coronet  proper,  two  arms  counter-embowed,  vested 
gules,  on  the  hands  gloves  or,  and  in  each  hand  an  ostrich  feather  argent. 


3/6    A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

coronet  all  or,  brandishing  a  sword  proper,  hilt  and  pommel  of  the 
first,  the  lion  cottised  by  two  tilting-spears  of  the  same,  from  each  a 
banner  paly  of  six  argent  and  gules,  fringed  also  or  "],  and  Mahony, 
Ireland  ['*  Out  of  the  coronet  of  a  Count  of  France  a  dexter  arm  in 
armour  embowed  grasping  in  the  hand  a  sword  all  proper,  hilt  and 
pommel  or,  the  blade  piercing  a  fleur-de-lis  of  the  last "]. 

A  curious  crest  coronet  will  be  found  with  the  Sackville  crest. 
This  is  composed  of  fleurs-de-lis  only,  the  blazon  of  the  crest  being : 
*'  Out  of  a  coronet  composed  of  eight  fleurs-de-lis  or,  an  estoile  of 
eight  points  argent." 

A  curious  use  of  coronets  in  a  crest  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of 
Sir  Archibald  Dunbar,  Bart.  ["  A  dexter  hand  apaum^e  reaching  at  an 
astral  crown  proper  "]  and  Sir  Alexander  James  Dun- 
bar, Bart.  ['^  A  dexter  hand  apaumee  proper  reaching 
to  two  earls'  coronets  tied  together  "]. 

Next    after    the    ordinary  'Mucal    coronet"  the 

one   most    usually   employed   is   the   mural   coronet 

Fig.  657.— Mural      (Fig.  657),  which  is  composed  of  masonry.     Though 

it    may    be    and    often   is   of    an   ordinary    heraldic 

tincture,  it  will  usually  be  found  '^proper."     An  exception  occurs  in 

the  case  of  the  crest   of  Every-Halstead  [*'  Out  of  a  mural  coronet 

chequy  or  and  azure,  a  demi-eagle  ermine  beaked  or."] 

Care  should  be  taken  to  distinguish  the  mural  crown  from  the 
*'  battlements  of  a  tower."  This  originated  as  a  modern  ^'  fakement  " 
and  is  often  granted  to  those  who  have  been  using  a  mural  coronet, 
and  desire  to  continue  within  its  halo,  but  are  not  qualified  to  obtain  in 
their  own  persons  a  grant  of  it.  It  should  be  noticed  that  the  battle- 
ments of  a  tower  must  always  be  represented  upon  a  wreath.  Its 
facility  for  adding  a  noticeable  distinction  to  a  crest  has,  however,  in 
these  days,  when  it  is  becoming  somewhat  difficult  to  introduce  differ- 
ences in  a  stock  pattern  kind  of  crest,  led  to  its  very  frequent  use  in 
grants  during  the  last  hundred  years. 

Care  should  also  be  taken  to  distinguish  between  the  "  battlements 
of  a  tower "  and  a  crest  issuing  from  **  a  castle,"  as  in  the  case  of 
Harley  ;  <^  a  tower,"  as  in  that  of  Boyce  ;  and  upon  the  "  capital  of  a 
column,"  as  in  the  crests  of  Cowper-Essex  and  Pease. 

Abroad,  e,g,  in  the  arms  of  Paris,  it  is  very  usual  to  place  a  mural 
crown  over  the  shield  of  a  town,  and  some  remarks  upon  the  point 
will  be  found  on  page  368.  This  at  first  sight  may  seem  an  appropriate 
practice  to  pursue,  and  several  heraldic  artists  have  followed  it  and  advo- 
cate it  in  this  country.  But  the  correctness  of  such  a  practice  is,  for 
British  purposes,  strongly  and  emphatically  denied  officially,  and  whilst 
we  reserve  this  privilege  for  grants  to   certain  army  officers  of  high 


CREST   CORONETS   AND   CHAPEAUX       377 

rank,  it  does  not  seem  proper  that  it  should  be  available  for  casual 
and  haphazard  assumption  by  a  town  or  city.  That  being  the  case,  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  practice  is  not  permissible  in  British 
armory. 

The  naval  coronet  (Fig.  658),  though  but  seldom  granted  now, 
was  very  popular  at  one  time.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
and  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  centuries,  naval  actions  were  con- 
stantly being  fought,  and  in  a  large  number  of  cases  where  the  action 
of  the  officer  in  command  was  worthy  of  high  praise  and  reward, 
part  of  such  reward  was  usually  an  augmentation  of  arms.  Very 
frequently  it  is  found  that  the  crest  of  augmentation  issued  from  a 
naval  coronet.  This  is,  as  will  be  seen,  a  curious 
figure  composed  of  the  sail  and  stern  of  a  ship 
repeated  and  alternating  on  the  rim  of  a  circlet. 
Sometimes  it  is  entirely  gold,  but  usually  the  sails 
are  argent.  An  instance  of  such  a  grant  of  aug-  p^^.  6^8.— Naval 
mentation  will  be  found  in  the  crest  of  augmenta-  crown, 

tion  for  Brisbane  and  in  a  crest  of  augmentation 
granted  to  Sir  Philip  Bowes  Broke  to  commemorate 
his  glorious  victory  in  the  Shannon  over  the  Ameri- 
can ship  Chesapeake, 

Any  future  naval  grant  of  a  crest  of  augmenta- 
tion would  probably  mean,  that  it  would  be  granted  ^'  cnjwn. 
issuing  out  of  a  naval  coronet,  but  otherwise  the 
privilege  is  now  confined  to  those  grants  of  arms  in  which  the 
patentee  is  of  the  rank  of  admiral.  Instances  of  its  use  will  be  found 
in  the  crests  of  Schomberg  and  Farquhar,  and  in  the  crest  of  Dakyns 
of  Derbyshire  :  <^  Out  of  a  naval  coronet  or,  a  dexter  arm  embowed 
proper,  holding  in  the  hand  a  battle-axe  argent,  round  the  wrist  a 
ribbon  azure."  The  crest  of  Dakyns  is  chiefly  memorable  for  the 
curious  motto  which  accompanies  it  ;  ^^  Strike,  Dakyns,  the  devil's  in 
the  hempe,"  of  which  no  one  knows  the  explanation. 

Why  a  naval  crown  was  recently  granted  as  a  badge  to  a  family 
named  Vickers  (Plate  VIII.)  I  am  still  wondering. 

The  crest  of  Lord  St.  Vincent  [^^  Out  of  a  naval  coronet  or, 
encircled  by  a  wreath  of  oak  proper,  a  demi-pegasus  argent,  maned 
and  hoofed  of  the  first,  winged  azure,  charged  on  the  wing  with  a 
fleur-de-lis  gold  "]  is  worthy  of  notice  owing  to  the  encircling  of  the 
coronet,  and  in  some  number  of  cases  the  circlet  of  the  coronet  has 
been  made  use  of  to  carry  the  name  of  a  captured  ship  or  of  a  naval 
engagement. 

The  Eastern  Coronet  (Fig.  659)  is  a  plain  rim  heightened  with 
spikes.     Formerly  it  was  granted  without  restriction,  but  now,  as  has 


3/8     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

been  already  stated,  it  is  reserved  for  those  of  high  rank  who  have  served 
in  India  or  the  East.  An  instance  occurs,  for  example,  in  the  crest  of 
Rawlinson,  Bart.  [^*  Sable,  three  swords  in  pale  proper,  pommels  and 
hilts  or,  two  erect,  points  upwards,  between  them  one,  point  down- 
wards, on  a  chief  embattled  of  the  third  an  antique  crown  gules. 
Crest :  out  of  an  Eastern  crown  or,  a  cubit  arm  erect  in  armour,  the 
hand  grasping  a  sword  in  bend  sinister,  and  the  wrist  encircled  by  a 
laurel  wreath  proper  "]. 

Of  identically  the  same  shape  is  what  is  known   as  the  '^Antique 

Coronet."      It  has  no  particular  meaning,  and  though  no  objection  is 

made   to    granting   it    in    Scotland  and    Ireland,    it  is  not  granted  in 

England.      Instances  in  which  it  occurs  under  such 

a  description  will  be  found  in  the  cases  of  Lanigan 

O'Keefe  and  Matheson. 

The    Crown    Vallary    or   Vallary    Coronet    (Fig. 

660)    and    the    Palisado    Coronet    (Fig.    661)    were 

Fig.  66a— Crown      undoubtedly  originally  the  same,  but  now  the  two 

ary.  forms  in  which  it  has  been  depicted  are  considered 

to  be   different  coronets.     Each    has   the    rim,  but 

the  vallary  coronet  is  now  heightened  only  by  pieces 

of    the   shape  of    vair,   whilst   the   palisado    coronet 

is  formed  by  high  "  palisadoes "  affixed  to  the  rim. 

These   two   are  the  only  forms  of  coronet  granted 

Fig.  661.— Palisado     j-q     ordinary     and     undistinguished     applicants     in 

crown.  •'  °  ^^ 

England. 

The  circlet  from  the  crown  of  a  king  of  arms  has  once  at  least 
been  granted  as  a  crest  coronet,  this  being  in  the  case  of  Rogers 
Harrison. 

In  a  recent  grant  of  arms  to  Gee,  the  crest  has  no  wreath,  but 
issues  from  ^^  a  circlet  or,  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  gules."  The 
circlet  is  emblazoned  as  a  plain  gold  band. 


THE    CHAPEAU 

Some  number  of  crests  will  be  found  to  have  been  granted  to  be 
borne  upon  a  *^  chapeau  "  in  lieu  of  wreath  or  coronet.  Other  names 
for  the  chapeau,  under  which  it  is  equally  well  known,  are  the  ^*  cap  of 
maintenance  "  or  "  cap  of  dignity." 

There  can  be  very  little  doubt  that  the  heraldic  chapeau  combines 
two  distinct  origins  or  earlier  prototypes.  The  one  is  the  real  cap  of 
dignity,  and  the  other  is  the  hat  or  "  capelot "  which  covered  the  top 
of  the  helm  before  the  mantling  was  introduced,  but  from  which  the 


CREST  CORONETS   AND   CHAPEAUX       379 

lambrequin  developed.  The  curious  evolution  of  the  chapeau  from 
the  *^  capelot,"  which  is  so  marked  and  usual  in  Germany,  is  the  tall 
conical  hat,  often  surmounted  by  a  tuft  or  larger  plume  of  feathers, 
and  usually  employed  in  German  heraldry  as  an  opportunity  for  the 
repetition  of  the  livery  colours,  or  a  part  of,  and  often  the  whole 
design  of,  the  arms.  But  it  should  at  the  same  time  be  noticed  that 
this  tall,  conical  hat  is  much  more  closely  allied  to  the  real  cap  of 
maintenance  than  our  present  crest  "  chapeau." 

Exactly  what  purpose  the  real  cap  of  maintenance  served,  or  of 
what  it  was  a  symbol,  remains  to  a  certain  extent  a  matter  of  mystery. 
The  "  Cap  of  Maintenance  " — a  part  of  the  regalia  borne  before  the  sove- 
reign at  the  State  opening  of  Parliament  (but  not  at  a  coronation)  by 
the  Marquesses  of  Winchester,  the  hereditary  bearers  of  the  cap  of 
maintenance — bears,  in  its  shape,  no  relation  to  the  heraldic  chapeau. 
The  only  similarity  is  its  crimson 
colour  and  its  lining  of  ermine.  It 
is  a  tall,  conical  cap,  and  is  carried 
on  a  short  staff. 

Whilst  crest  coronets  in  early 
days  appear  to  have  had  little  or  no 
relation  to  titular  rank,  there  is  no 
doubt  whatever  that  caps  of  dignity 
had.  Long  before,  a  coronet  was 
assigned  to  the  rank  of  baron  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.  ;  all  barons  had 
their  caps  of  dignity,  of  scarlet  lined 
with  white  fur  ;  and  in  the  old  pedi- 
grees a  scarlet  cap  with  a  gold  tuft 
or  tassel  on  top  and  a  lining  of  fur 
will  be  found  painted  above  the  arms 
of  a  baron.  This  fact,  the  fact  that 
until  after  Stuart  days  the  chapeau  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
allowed  or  granted  to  others  than  peers,  the  fact  that  it  is  now 
reserved  for  the  crests  granted  to  peers,  the  fact  that  the  velvet 
cap  is  a  later  addition  both  to  the  sovereign's  crown  and  to  the 
coronet  of  a  peer,  and  finally  the  fact  that  the.  cap  of  maintenance  is 
borne  before  the  sovereign  only  in  the  precincts  of  Parliament,  would 
seem  to  indubitably  indicate  that  the  cap  of  maintenance  was  insepar- 
ably connected  with  the  lordship  and  overlordship  of  Parliament  vested 
in  peers  and  in  the  sovereign.  In  the  crumpled  and  tasselled  top  of 
the  velvet  cap,  and  in  the  ermine  border  visible  below  the  rim,  the 
high  conical  form  of  the  cap  of  maintenance  proper  can  be  still  traced 
in  the  cap  of  a  peer's  coronet,  and  that  the  velvet  cap  contained  in 


Fig.  662.— The  Crown  of  King  Charles  IT. 


380     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  crown  of  the  sovereign  and  in  the  coronet  of  a  peer  is  the  survival 
of  the  old  cap  of  dignity  there  can  be  no  doubt.  This  is  perhaps 
even  more  apparent  in  Fig.  662,  which  shows  the  crown  of  King 
Charles  II.,  than  in  the  representations  of  the  Royal  crown  which  we 
are  more  accustomed  to  see.  The  present  form  of  a  peer's  coronet  is 
undoubtedly  the  conjoining  of  two  separate  emblems  of  his  rank. 
The  cap  of  maintenance  or  dignity,  however,  as  represented  above  the 
arms  of  a  baron,  as  above  referred  to,  was  not  of  this  high,  conical 
shape.      It  was  much  flatter. 

The  high,  conical,  original  shape  is,  however,  preserved  in  many 
of  the  early  heraldic  representations  of  the  chapeau,  as  will  be  noticed 
from  an  examination  of  the  ancient  Garter  plates  or  from  a  reference 
to  Fig.  271,  which  shows  the  helmet  with  its  chapeau-borne  crest  of 
Edward  the  Black  Prince. 

Of  the  chapeaux  upon  which  crests  are  represented  in  the  early 
Garter  plates  the  following  facts  may  be  observed.  They  are  twenty 
in  number  of  the  eighty-six  plates  reproduced  in  Mr.  St.  John  Hope's 
book.  It  should  be  noticed  that  until  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.  the  Royal  crest  of  the  sovereign  was  always  depicted  upon  a 
chapeau  gules,  lined  with  ermine.     Of  the  twenty  instances  in  which 

the  chapeau  appears,  no  less  than  twelve  are 
representations  of  the  Royal  crest,  borne  by 
closely  allied  relatives  of  the  sovereign,  so 
^^^^^?  that  we  have  only  eight  examples  from  which 
to  draw  deductions.  But  of  the  twenty  it 
apeau,  should  be  pointed  out  that  nineteen  are  peers, 
and  the  only  remaining  instance  (Sir  John  Grey,  K.G.)  is  that  of  the 
eldest  son  and  heir  apparent  of  a  peer,  both  shield  and  crest  being  in 
this  case  boldly  marked  with  the  '^  label "  of  an  eldest  son.  Conse- 
quently it  is  a  safe  deduction  that  whatever  may  have  been  the  regula- 
tions and  customs  concerning  the  use  of  coronets,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  down  to  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century  the  use  of  a  chapeau 
marked  a  crest  as  that  of  a  peer.  Of  the  eight  non-Royal  examples 
one  has  been  repainted,  and  is  valueless  as  a  contemporary  record.  Of 
the  remaining  seven,  four  are  of  the  conventional  gules  and  ermine. 
One  only  has  not  the  ermine  lining,  that  being  the  crest  of  Lord  Fanhope. 
It  is  plainly  the  Royal  crest  ^differenced "  (he  being  of  Royal  but 
illegitimate  descent),  and  probably  the  argent  in  lieu  of  ermine  lining 
is  one  of  the  intentional  marks  of  distinction.  The  chapeau  of  Lord 
Beaumont  is  azure,  sem6-de-lis,  lined  ermine,  and  that  of  the  Earl  of 
Douglas  is  azure  lined  ermine,  this  being  in  each  case  in  conformity 
With  the  mantling.  Whilst  the  Beaumont  family  still  use  this  curiously 
coloured  chapeau  with  their  crest,  the  Douglas  crest  is  now  borne  (by 


CREST    CORONETS    AND    CHAPEAUX       381 

the  Duke  of  Hamilton)  upon  one  of  ordinary  tinctures.  Chapeaux, 
other  than  of  gules  lined  ermine,  are  but  rarely  met  with,  and  unless 
specifically  blazoned  to  the  contrary  a  cap  of  maintenance  is  always 
presumed  to  be  gules  and  ermine. 

About  the  Stuart  period  the  granting  of  crests  upon  chapeaux  to 
others  than  peers  became  far  from  unusual,  and  the  practice  appears  to 
have  been  frequently  adopted  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Some  of  these  crest  chapeaux,  however,  were  not  of  gules.  An 
instance  of  this  kind  will  be  found  in  the  grant  in  1667  to  Sir  Thomas 
Davies,  then  one  of  the  sheriffs  of  the  City  of  London,  but  afterwards 
(in  1677)  Lord  Mayor.  The  crest  granted  was  :  *'  On  a  chapeau  sable, 
turned  up  or,  a  demi-lion  rampant  of  the  last."  The  reason  for  the 
grant  at  that  date  of  such  a  simple  crest  and  the  even  more  astonishingly 
simple  coat  of  arms  ["  Or,  a  chevron  between  three  mullets  pierced 
sable  "]  has  always  been  a  mystery  to  me. 

The  arms  of  Lord  Lurgan  (granted  or  confirmed  1840)  afford 
another  instance  of  a  chapeau  of  unusual  colour,  his  crest  being : 
"  Upon  a  chapeau  azure  turned  up  ermine,  a  greyhound  statant  gules, 
collared  or." 

There  are  some  number  of  cases  in  which  peers  whose  ancestors 
originally  bore  their  crests  upon  a  wreath  have  subsequently  placed 
them  upon  a  chapeau.  The  Stanleys,  Earls  of  Derby,  are  a  case  in 
point,  as  are  also  the  Marquesses  of  Exeter.  The  latter  case  is  curious, 
because  although  they  have  for  long  enough  so  depicted  their  crest, 
they  only  comparatively  recently  (within  the  last  few  years)  obtained 
the  necessary  authorisation  by  the  Crown. 

At  the  present  time  the  official  form  of  the  chapeau  is  as  in  Fig. 
663,  with  the  turn  up  split  at  the  back  into  two  tails.  No  such  form 
can  be  found  in  any  early  representation,  and  most  heraldic  artists 
have  now  reverted  to  an  earlier  type. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  the  cap  of  maintenance,  reference 
should  be  made  to  another  instance  of  a  curious  heraldic  headgear 
often,  but  quite  incorrectly^  styled  a  "  cap  of  maintenance."  This  is  the 
fur  cap  invariably  used  over  the  shields  of  the  cities  of  London, 
Dublin,  and  Norwich.  There  is  no  English  official  authority  whatever 
for  such  an  addition  to  the  arms,  but  there  does  appear  to  be  some 
little  official  recognition  of  it  in  Ulster's  Office  in  the  case  of  the  city 
of  Dublin.  The  late  Ulster  King  of  Arms,  however,  informed  me 
that  he  would,  in  the  case  of  Dublin,  have  no  hesitation  what- 
ever in  certifying  the  right  of  the  city  arms  to  be  so  displayed 
(Plate  VII.). 

In  the  utter  absence  of  anything  in  the  nature  of  a  precedent,  it  is 
quite  unlikely  that  the  practice  will  be  sanctioned  in  England.     The 


382     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

hat  used  is  a  flat-topped;  brown  fur  hat  of  the  shape  depicted  with  the 
arms  of  the  City  of  Dublin.  It  is  merely  (in  London)  a  part  of  the 
official  uniform  or  livery  of  the  City  sword-bearer.  It  does  not  even 
appear  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  costume  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  it 
must  always  remain  a  mystery  why  it  was  ever  adopted  for  heraldic 
use.  But  then  the  chain  of  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  is  generally 
called  a  Collar  of  SS.  Besides  this  the  City  of  London  uses  a  Peer's 
helmet,  a  bogus  modern  crest,  and  even  more  modern  bogus  sup- 
porters, so  a  few  other  eccentricities  need  not  in  that  particular  instance 
cause  surprise. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
THE  MANTLING  OR  LAMBREQUIN 

THE  mantling  is  the  ornamental  design  which  in  a  representa- 
tion of  an  armorial  achievement  depends  from  the  helmet, 
falling  away  on  either  side  of  the  escutcheon.  Many  authori- 
ties have  considered  it  to  have  been  no  more  than  a  fantastic  series  of 
flourishes,  devised  by  artistic  minds  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  orna- 
mentation and  affording  an  artistic  opportunity  of  filling  up  unoccupied 
spaces  in  a  heraldic  design.  There  is  no  doubt  that  its  readily  apparent 
advantages  in  that  character  have  greatly  led  to  the  importance  now 
attached  to  the  mantling  in  heraldic  art.  But  equally  is  it  certain  that 
its  real  origin  is  to  be  traced  elsewhere. 

The  development  of  the  heraldry  of  to-day  was  in  the  East  during 
the  period  of  the  Crusades,  and  the  burning  heat  of  the  Eastern  sun 
upon  the  metal  helmet  led  to  the  introduction  and  adoption  of  a  textile 
covering,  which  would  act  in  some  way  as  a  barrier  between  the  two. 
It  was  simply  in  fact  and  effect  a  primeval  prototype  of  the  ^^  puggaree  " 
of  Margate  and  Hindustan.  It  is  plain  from  all  early  representations 
that  originally  it  was  short,  simply  hanging  from  the  apex  of  the 
helmet  to  the  level  of  the  shoulders,  overlapping  the  textile  tunic  or 
"  coat  of  arms,"  but  probably  enveloping  a  greater  part  of  the  helmet, 
neck,  and  shoulders  than  we  are  at  present  (judging  from  pictorial 
representations)  inclined  to  believe. 

Adopted  first  as  a  protection  against  the  heat,  and  perhaps  also  the 

rust  which  would  follow  damp,  the   lambrequin   soon  made  evident 

another  of  its  advantages,  an  advantage  to  which  we  doubtless  owe  its 

perpetuation  outside  Eastern  warfare  in  the  more  temperate  climates 

of  Northern  Europe  and  England.     Textile  fabrics  are  peculiarly  and 

remarkably  deadening  to  a  sword-cut,  to  which  fact  must  be  added  the 

facility  with   which  such   a  weapon  would  become  entangled  in  the 

hanging  folds  of  cloth.     The  hacking  and  hewing  of  battle  would  show 

itself  plainly  upon  the  lambrequin  of  one  accustomed  to  a  prominent 

position  in  the  forefront  of  a  fight,  and  the  honourable  record  implied 

by  a  ragged  and  slashed  lambrequin  accounts  for  the  fact  that  we  find 

at  an  early  period  after  their  introduction  into  heraldic  art,  that  mantlings 

383 


384     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

are  depicted  cut  and  "  torn  to  ribbons."  This  opportunity  was  quickly 
seized  by  the  heraldic  artist,  who  has  always,  from  those  very  earliest 
times  of  absolute  armorial  freedom  down  to  the  point  of  greatest  and 
most  regularised  control,  been  allowed  an  entire  and  absolute  discretion 
in  the  design  to  be  adopted  for  the  mantling.  Hence  it  is  that  we 
find  so  much  importance  is  given  to  it  by  heraldic  artists,  for  it  is  in 
the  design  of  the  mantling,  and  almost  entirely  in  that  opportunity, 
that  the  personal  character  and  abilities  of  the  artist  have  their  greatest 
scope.  Some  authorities  have,  however,  derived  the  mantling  from  the 
robe  of  estate,  and  there  certainly  has  been  a  period  in  British  armory 
when  most  lambrequins  found  in  heraldic  art  are  represented  by  an 
unmutilated  cloth,  suspended  from  and  displayed  behind  the  armorial 
bearings  and  tied  at  the  upper  corners.  In  all  probability  the  robes  of 
estate  of  the  higher  nobility,  no  less  than  the  then  existing  and  peremp- 
torily enforced  sumptuary  laws,  may  have  led  to  the  desire  and  to  the 
attempt,  at  a  period  when  the  actual  lambrequin  was  fast  disappearing 
from  general  knowledge,  to  display  arms  upon  something  which  should 
represent  either  the  parliamentary  robes  of  estate  of  a  peer,  or  the 
garments  of  rich  fabric  which  the  sumptuary  laws  forbade  to  those 
of  humble  degree.  To  this  period  undoubtedly  belongs  the  term 
'<  mantling,"  which  is  so  much  more  frequently  employed  than  the 
word  lambrequin,  which  is  really — from  the  armorial  point  of  view — 
the  older  term. 

The  heraldic  mantling  was,  of  course,  originally  the  representation 
of  the  actual  **  capeline  ".  or  textile  covering  worn  upon  the  helmet, 
but  many  early  heraldic  representations  are  of  mantlings  which  are  of 
skin,  fur,  or  feathers,  being  in  such  cases  invariably  a  continuation  of 
the  crest  drawn  out  and  represented  as  the  lambrequin.  When  the 
crest  was  a  part  of  the  human  figure,  the  habit  in  which  that  figure 
was  arrayed  is  almost  invariably  found  to  have  been  so  employed. 
The  Garter  plate  of  Sir  Ralph  Bassett,  one  of  the  Founder  Knights, 
shows  the  crest  as  a  black  boar's  head,  the  skin  being  continued  as 
the  sable  mantling. 

Some  Sclavonic  families  have  mantlings  of  fur  only,  that  of  the 
Hungarian  family  of  Chorinski  is  a  bear  skin,  and  countless  other  in- 
stances can  be  found  of  the  use  by  German  families  of  a  continuation 
of  the  crest  for  a  mantling.  This  practice  affords  instances  of  many 
curious  mantlings,  this  in  one  case  in  the  Zurich  Wappenrolle  being 
the  scaly  skin  of  a  salmon.  The  mane  of  the  lion,  the  crest  of  Mertz, 
and  the  hair  and  beard  of  the  crests  of  Bohn  and  Landschaden,  are 
similarly  continued  to  do  duty  for  the  mantling.  This  practice  has 
never  found  great  favour  in  England,  the  cases  amongst  the  early 
Garter  plates  where  it  has  been  followed  standing  almost  alone.     In  a 


PLATE  VII. 


THE  ARMS  OF  SOUTHAMPTON. 


THE  ARMS  OF  DUBLIN. 


THE   MANTLING   OR   LAMBREQUIN       385 

manuscript  (M.  3,  676)  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  now  in  the  College 
of  Arms,  probably  dating  from  about  1506,  an  instance  of  this  character 
can  be  found,  however.  It  is  a  representation  of  the  crest  of  Stourton 
(Fig.  664)  as  it  was  borne  at  that  date,  and  was  a  black  Benedictine 
demi-monk  proper  holding  erect  in  his  dexter  hand  a  scourge.  Here 
the  proper  black  Benedictine  habit  (it  has  of  later  years  been  corrupted 
into  the  russet  habit  of  a  friar)  is  continued  to  form  the  mantling. 

By  what  rules  the  colours  of  the  mantlings  were  decided  in  early 
times  it  is  impossible  to  say.  No  rules  have  been  handed  down  to  us 
—  the  old  heraldic 
books  are  silent  on 
the  point  —  and  it 
seems  equally  hope- 
less to  attempt  to 
deduce  any  from 
ancient  armorial  ex- 
amples. The  one 
fact  that  can  be  stated 
with  certainty  is  that 
the  rules  of  early  days, 
if  there  were  any, 
are  not  the  rules 
presently  observed. 
Some  hold  that  the 
colours  of  the  mant- 
ling were  decided  by 
the  colours  of  the 
actual  livery  in  use 
as   distinct   from   the 

"livery  colours"  of  the  arms.  It  is  difficult  to  check  this  rule, 
because  our  knowledge  of  the  liveries  in  use  in  early  days  is  so 
meagre  and  limited  ;  but  in  the  few  instances  of  which  we  now  have 
knowledge  we  look  in  vain  for  a  repetition  of  the  colours  worn  by  the 
retainers  as  liveries  in  the  mantlings  used.  The  fact  that  the  livery 
colours  are  represented  in  the  background  of  some  of  the  early 
Garter  plates,  and  that  in  such  instances  in  no  single  case  do  they 
agree  with  the  colours  of  the  mantling,  must  certainly  dissipate  once 
and  for  all  any  such  supposition  as  far  as  it  relates  to  that  period. 

A  careful  study  and  analysis  of  early  heraldic  emblazonment,  how- 
ever, reveals  one  point  as  a  dominating  characteristic.  That  is,  that 
where  the  crest,  by  its  nature,  lent  itself  to  a  continuation  into  the 
mantling  it  generally  was  so  continued.  This  practice,  which  was 
almost  universal  upon  the  Continent,  and  is  particularly  to  be  met  with 

2  B 


Fig.  664.— The  Crest  of  Stourton. 


386     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

in  German  heraldry,  though  seldom  adopted  in  England,  certainly  had 
some  weight  in  English  heraldry.  In  the  recently  published  repro- 
ductions of  the  Plantagenet  Garter  plates  eighty-seven  armorial  achieve- 
ments are  included.  Of  these,  in  ten  instances  the  mantlings  are  plainly 
continuations  of  the  crests,  being  ''  feathered  "  or  in  unison.  Fifteen 
of  the  mantlings  have  both  the  outside  and  the  inside  of  the  principal 
colour  and  of  the  principal  metal  of  the  arms  they  accompany,  though 
in  a  few  cases,  contrary  to  the  present  practice,  the  metal  is  outside, 
the  lining  being  of  the  colour.  Nineteen  more  of  the  mantlings  are 
of  the  principal  colour  of  the  arms,  the  majority  (eighteen)  of  these 
being  lined  with  ermine.  No  less  than  forty-nine  are  of  some  colour 
lined  with  ermine,  but  thirty-four  of  these  are  of  gules  lined  ermine, 
and  in  the  large  majority  of  cases  in  these  thirty-four  instances  neither 
the  gules  nor  the  ermine  are  in  conformity  with  the  principal  colour 
and  metal  (what  we  now  term  the  ^Mivery  colours")  of  the  arms.  In 
some  cases  the  colours  of  the  mantling  agree  with  the  colours  of  the 
crest,  a  rule  which  will  usually  be  found  to  hold  good  in  German 
heraldry.  The  constant  occurrence  of  gules  and  ermine  incline  one 
much  to  believe  that  the  colours  of  the  mantling  were  not  decided  by 
haphazard  fancy,  but  that  there  was  some  law — possibly  in  some  way 
connected  with  the  sumptuary  laws  of  the  period — which  governed  the 
matter,  or,  at  any  rate,  which  greatly  limited  the  range  of  selection. 
Of  the  eighty-seven  mantlings,  excluding  those  which  are  gules  lined 
ermine,  there  are  four  only  the  colours  of  which  apparently  bear  no 
relation  whatever  to  the  colours  of  the  arms  or  the  crests  appearing 
upon  the  same  Stall  plate.  In  some  number  of  the  plates  the  colours 
certainly  are  taken  from  a  quartering  other  than  the  first  one,  and  in 
one  at  least  of  the  four  exceptions  the  mantling  (one  of  the  most  curious 
examples)  is  plainly  derived  from  a  quartering  inherited  by  the  knight 
in  question  though  not  shown  upon  the  Stall  plate.  Probably  a  closer 
examination  of  the  remaining  three  instances  would  reveal  a  similar 
reason  in  each  case.  That  any  law  concerning  the  colours  of  their 
mantlings  was  enforced  upon  those  concerned  would  be  an  unwarrant- 
able deduction  not  justified  by  the  instances  under  examination,  but 
one  is  clearly  justified  in  drawing  from  these  cases  some  deductions  as 
to  the  practice  pursued.  It  is  evident  that  unless  one  was  authorised 
by  the  rule  or  reason  governing  the  matter — whatever  such  rule  or  reason 
may  have  been — in  using  a  mantling  of  gules  and  ermine,  the  dominat- 
ing colour  (not  as  a  rule  the  metal)  of  the  coat  of  arms  (or  of  one  of 
the  quarterings),  or  sometimes  of  the  crest  if  the  tinctures  of  arms  and 
crest  were  not  in  unison,  decided  the  colour  of  the  mantling.  That 
there  was  some  meaning  behind  the  mantlings  of  gules  lined  with 
ermine  there  can  be  little  doubt,  for  it  is  noticeable  that  in  a  case  in 


THE   MANTLING    OR    LAMBREQUIN       387 

which  the  colours  of  the  arms  themselves  are  gules  and  ermine,  the 
mantling  is  of  gules  and  argent,  as  by  the  way  in  this  particular  case 
is  the  chapeau  upon  which  the  crest  is  placed.  But  probably  the 
reason  which  governed  these  mantlings  of  gules  lined  with  ermine,  as 
also  the  ermine  linings  of  other  mantlings,  must  be  sought  outside  the 
strict  limits  of  armory.  That  the  colours  of  mantlings  are  repeated  in 
different  generations,  and  in  the  plates  of  members  of  the  same  family, 
clearly  demonstrates  that  selection  was  not  haphazard. 

Certain  of  these  early  Garter  plates  exhibit  interesting  curiosities  in 
the  mantlings  : — 

1.  Sir  William  Latimer,  Lord  Latimer,  K.G.,  c.  1361-1381.  Arms: 
gules  a  cross  patonce  or.  Crest :  a  plume  of  feathers  sable,  the  tips 
or.      Mantling  gules  with  silver  vertical  stripes,  lined  with  ermine. 

2.  Sir  Bermond  Arnaud  de  Presac,  Soudan  de  la  Tran,  K.G., 
1380-/05^  1384.  Arms;  or,  a  lion  rampant  double-queued  gules. 
Crest:  a  Midas'  head  argent.  Mantling  sable,  lined  gules,  the  latter 
veined  or. 

3.  Sir  Simon  Felbrigge,  K.G.,  1 397-1 442.  Arms:  or,  a  lion 
rampant  gules.  Crest:  out  of  a  coronet  gules,  a  plume  of  feathers 
ermine.  Mantling  ermine,  lined  gules  (evidently  a  continuation  of  the 
crest). 

4.  Sir  Reginald  Cobham,  Lord  Cobham,  K.G.,  1352-1361.  Arms: 
gules,  on  a  chevron  or,  three  estoiles  sable.  Crest :  a  soldan's  head 
sable,  the  brow  encircled  by  a  torse  or.  Mantling  sable  (evidently  a 
continuation  of  the  crest),  lined  gules. 

5.  Sir  Edward  Cherleton,  Lord  Cherleton  of  Powis,  K.G.,  1406-7 
to  1420-1.  Arms:  or,  a  lion  rampant  gules.  Crest:  on  a  wreath 
gules  and  sable,  two  lions'  gambs  also  gules,  each  adorned  on  the 
exterior  side  with  three  demi-fleurs-de-lis  issuing  argent,  the  centres 
thereof  or.  Mantling  :  on  the  dexter  side,  sable  ;  on  the  sinister  side, 
gules  ;  both  lined  ermine. 

6.  Sir  Hertong  von  Clux,  K.G.,  1421-1445  or  6.  Arms:  argent, 
a  vine  branch  couped  at  either  end  in  bend  sable.  Crest :  out  of  a 
coronet  or,  a  plume  of  feathers  sable  and  argent.  Mantling :  on  the 
dexter  side,  azure  ;   on  the  sinister,  gules  ;  both  lined  ermine. 

7.  Sir  Miles  Stapleton,  K.G.  (Founder  Knight,  died  1364).  Arms: 
argent,  a  lion  rampant  sable.  Crest :  a  soldan's  head  sable,  around 
the  temples  a  torse  azure,  tied  in  a  knot,  the  ends  flowing.  Mantling 
sable  (probably  a  continuation  of  the  crest),  lined  gules. 

8.  Sir  Walter  Hungerford,  Lord  Hungerford  and  Heytesbury, 
K.G.,  1421-1449.  Arms:  sable,  two  bars  argent,  and  in  chief  three 
plates.  Crest :  out  of  a  coronet  azure  a  garb  or,  enclosed  by  two 
sickles  argent.     Mantling  (within  and  without) :  dexter,  barry  of  six 


388     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

ermine  and  gules  ;  sinister,  barry  of  six  gules  and  ermine.  (The 
reason  of  this  is  plain.  The  mother  of  Lord  Hungerford  was  a 
daughter  and  coheir  of  Hussey.  The  arms  of  Hussey  are  variously 
given :  "  Barry  of  six  ermine  and  gules,"  or  ^^  Ermine,  three  bars 
gules.") 

9.  Sir  Humphrey  Stafford,  Earl  of  Stafford,  1429-1460.  Arms: 
or,  a  chevron  gules.  Crest :  out  of  a  coronet  gules,  a  swan's  head 
and  neck  proper,  beaked  gules,  between  two  wings  also  proper. 
Mantling  :  the  dexter  side,  sable  ;  the  sinister  side,  gules  ;  both  lined 
ermine.  Black  and  gules,  it  may  be  noted,  were  the  livery  colours  of 
Buckingham,  an  earldom  which  had  devolved  upon  the  Earls  of 
Stafford. 

10.  Sir  John  Grey  of  Ruthin,  K.G.,  1 436-1 439.  Arms  :  quarterly, 
I  and  4,  barry  of  six  argent  and  azure,  in  chief  three  torteaux  ;   2  and 

3,  quarterly  i.  and  iiii.,  or,  a  maunch  gules  ;  ii.  and  iii.,  barry  of  eight 
argent  and  azure,  an  orle  of  ten  martlets  gules  ;  over  all  a  label  of 
three  points  argent.  Crest :  on  a  chapeau  gules,  turned  up  ermine, 
a  wyvern  or,  gorged  with  a  label  argent.  Mantling  or,  lined 
ermine. 

11.  Sir  Richard  Nevill,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  K.G.,  1436-1460. 
Arms  :  quarterly,  i  and  4,  quarterly  i.  and  iiii.,  argent,  three  lozenges 
conjoined  in  fess  gules  ;  ii.  and  iii.,  or,  an  eagle  displayed  vert ;  2  and  3, 
gules,  a  saltire  argent,  a  label  of  three  points  compony  argent  and  azure. 
Crest :  on  a  coronet,  a  griffin  sejant,  with  wings  displayed  or.  Mant- 
ling :  dexter  side,  gules  ;  the  sinister,  sable  ;  both  lined  ermine. 

12.  Sir  Gaston  de  Foix,  Count  de  Longueville,  &c.,  K.G.,  1438- 
1458.  Arms:  quarterly,  i  and  4,  or,  three  pallets  gules;  2  and  3, 
or,  two  cows  passant  in  pale  gules,  over  all  a  label  of  three  points, 
each  point  or,  on  a  cross  sable  five  escallops  argent.  Crest :  on  a 
wreath  or  and  gules,  a  blackamoor's  bust  with  ass's  ears  sable,  vested 
paly  or  and  gules,  all  between  two  wings,  each  of  the  arms  as  in  the 
first  quarter.      Mantling  paly  of  or  and  gules,  lined  vert. 

13.  Sir  Walter  Blount,  Lord  Mountjoye,  K.G.,  147 2-1 474.  Arms  : 
quarterly,  i.  argent,  two  wolves  passant  in  pale  sable,  on  a  bordure 
also  argent  eight  saltires  couped  gules  (for  Ayala) ;  2.  or,  a  tower 
(?  gules)  (for  Mountjoy) ;  3.  barry  nebuly  or  and  sable  (for  Blount) ; 

4.  vair6  argent  and  gules  (for  Gresley).  Crest :  out  of  a  coronet  two 
ibex  horns  or.  Mantling  sable,  lined  on  the  dexter  side  with  argent, 
and  on  the  sinister  with  or. 

14.  Frederick,  Duke  of  Urbino.     Mantling  or,  lined  ermine. 

In  Continental  heraldry  it  is  by  no  means  uncommon  to  find  the 
device  of  the  arms  repeated  either  wholly  or  in  part  upon  the  mantling. 
In  reference  to  this  the  ^'Tournament  Rules"  of  Ren6,  Duke  of  Anjou, 


THE    MANTLING    OR    LAMBREQUIN       389 

throw   some   light   on   the   point.      These   it   may   be   of   interest   to 
quote  : — 

"  Vous  tous  Princes,  Seigneurs,  Barons,  Cheualiers,  et  Escuyers,  qui  auez  intention 
de  tournoyer,  vous  estes  tenus  vous  rendre  es  heberges  le  quartrieme  jour 
deuan  le  jour  du  Tournoy,  pour  faire  de  vos  Blasons  fenestres,  sur  payne  de 
non  estre  receus  audit  Tournoy.  Les  armes  seront  celles-cy.  Le  tymbre  doit 
estre  sur  vne  piece  de  cuir  boiiilly,  la  quelle  doit  estre  bien  faultree  d'vn  doigt 
d'espez,  ou  plus,  par  le  dedans  :  et  doit  contenir  la  dite  piece  de  cuir  tout  le 
sommet  du  heaulme,  et  sera  couuerte  la  dite  piece  du  lambrequin  armoye  des 
armes  de  celuy  qui  le  portera,  et  sur  le  dit  lambrequin  au  plus  haut  du 
sommet,  sera  assis  le  dit  Tymbre,  et  autour  d'iceluy  aura  vn  tortil  des  couleurs 
que  voudra  le  Tournoyeur. 

"  Item,  et  quand  tous  les  heaulmes  seront  ainsi  mis  et  ordonnez  pour  les  departir, 
viendront  toutes  Dames  et  Damoiselles  et  tout  Seigneurs,  Cheualiers,  et 
Escuyers,  en  les  visitant  d'vn  bout  a  autre,  la  present  les  Juges,  qui  meneront 
trois  ou  quatre  tours  les  Dames  pour  bien  voir  et  visiter  les  Tymbres,  et  y 
aura  vu  Heraut  ou  poursuivant,  qui  dira  aux  Dames  selon  Tendroit  ou  elles 
seront,  le  nom  de  ceux  k  qui  sont  les  Tymbres,  afin  que  s'il  en  a  qui  ait  des 
Dames  medit,  et  elles  touchent  son  Tymbre,  qu'il  soit  le  lendemain  pour 
recommande."     (Menetrier,  BOrigine  des  Armoiries^  pp.  79-81.) 

Whilst  one  can  call  to  mind  no  instance  of  importance  of  ancient 
date  where  this  practice  has  been  followed  in  this  country,  there  are 
one  or  two  instances  in  the  Garter  plates  which  approximate  closely 
to  it.  The  mantling  of  John,  Lord  Beaumont,  is  azure,  sem6-de-lis 
(as  the  field  of  his  arms),  lined  ermine.  Those  of  Sir  John  Bourchier, 
Lord  Berners,  and  of  Sir  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex,  are  of 
gules,  billette  or,  evidently  derived  from  the  quartering  for  Louvaine 
upon  the  arms,  this  quartering  being  :  ^^  Gules,  billette  and  a  fess  or." 

According  to  a  MS.  of  Vincent,  in  the  College  of  Arms,  the 
Warrens  used  a  mantling  chequy  of  azure  and  or  with  their  arms. 

A  somewhat  similar  result  is  obtained  by  the  mantling,  ^'  Gules, 
sem6  of  lozenges  or,"  upon  the  small  plate  of  Sir  Sanchet  Dabriche- 
court.  The  mantling  of  Sir  Lewis  Robessart,  Lord  Bourchier,  is  ; 
'<  Azure,  bezante,  lined  argent." 

"  The  azure  mantling  on  the  Garter  Plate  of  Henry  V.,  as  Prince 
of  Wales,  is  <  sem6  of  the  French  golden  fleurs-de-lis/  .  .  .  The 
Daubeny  mantling  is  *sem6  of  mullets.'  On  the  brass  of  Sir  John 
Wylcote,  at  Tew,  the  lambrequins  are  chequy.  .  .  .  On  the  seals  of 
Sir  John  Bussy,  in  1391  and  1407,  the  manthngs  are  barry,  the  coat 
being  ^  argent,  three  bars  sable.' " 

There  are  a  few  cases  amongst  the  Garter  plates  in  which  badges 
are  plainly  and  unmistakably  depicted  upon  the  mantlings.  Thus,  on 
the  lining  of  the  mantling  on  the  plate  of  Sir  Henry  Bourchier  (elected 
1452)  will  be  found  water-bougets,  which  are  repeated  on  a  fillet  round 
the  head  of  the  crest.     The  Stall  plate  of  Sir  John  Bourchier,   Lord 


390     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Berners,  above  referred  to  (elected  1459),  is  lined  with  silver  on  the 
dexter  side,  sem6  in  the  upper  part  with  water-bougets,  and  in  the 
lower  part  with  Bourchier  knots.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  mant- 
ling the  knots  are  in  the  upper  part,  and  the  water-bougets  below. 
That  these  badges  upon  the  mantling  are  not  haphazard  artistic  decora- 
tion is  proved  by  a  reference  to  the  monumental  effigy  of  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  in  Little  Easton  Church,  Essex.  The  differing  shapes  of  the 
helmet,  and  of  the  coronet  and  the  mantling,  and  the  different  repre- 
sentation of  the  crest,  show  that,  although  depicted  in  his  Garter  robes, 
upon  his  effigy  the  helmet,  crest,  and  mantling  upon  which  the  earl's 
head  there  rests,  and  the  representations  of  the  same  upon  the  Garter 
plate,  are  not  slavish  copies  of  the  same  original  model.  Nevertheless 
upon  the  effigy,  as  on  the  Garter  plate,  we  find  the  outside  of  the 
mantling  '^  seme  of  billets,"  and  the  inside  *^  seme  of  water-bougets." 
Another  instance  amongst  the  Garter  plates  will  be  found  in  the  case 
of  Viscount  Lovell,  whose  mantling  is  strewn  with  gold  padlocks. 

Nearly  all  the  mantlings  on  the  Garter  Stall  plates  are  more  or  less 
heavily  "  veined "  with  gold,  and  many  are  heavily  diapered  and 
decorated  with  floral  devices.  So  prominent  is  some  of  this  floral 
diapering  that  one  is  inclined  to  think  that  in  a  few  cases  it  may  possibly 
be  a  diapering  with  floral  badges.  In  other  cases  it  is  equally  evidently 
no  more  than  a  mere  accessory  of  design,  though  between  these  two 
classes  of  diapering  it  would  be  by  no  means  easy  to  draw  a  line  of 
distinction.  The  veining  and  ^^  heightening  "  of  a  mantling  with  gold 
is  at  the  present  day  nearly  always  to  be  seen  in  elaborate  heraldic 
painting. 

From  the  Garter  plates  of  the  fourteenth  century  it  has  been  shown 
that  the  colours  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  mantlings  approximated 
in  early  days  to  the  colours  of  the  arms.  The  popularity  of  gules, 
however,  was  then  fast  encroaching  upon  the  frequency  of  appearance 
which  other  colours  should  have  enjoyed  ;  and  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
in  grants  and  other  paintings  of  arms,  the  use  of  a  mantling  of  gules 
had  become  practically  universal.  In  most  cases  the  mantling  of 
"  gules,  doubled  argent "  forms  an  integral  part  of  the  terms  of  the 
grant  itself,  as  sometimes  do  the  '^  gold  tassels  "  which  are  so  frequently 
found  terminating  the  mantHngs  of  that  and  an  earlier  period.  This 
custom  continued  through  the  Stuart  period,  and  though  dropped 
officially  in  England  during  the  eighteenth  century  (when  the  mantling 
reverted  to  the  livery  colours  of  the  arms,  and  became  in  this  form  a 
matter  of  course  and  so  understood,  not  being  expressed  in  the  wording 
of  the  patent),  it  continued  in  force  in  Lyon  Office  in  Scotland  until 
the  year  1890,  when  the  present  Lyon  King  of  Arms  (Sir  James  Balfour 
Paul)  altered  the  practice,  and,  as  had  earlier  been  done  in  England, 


THE    MANTLING   OR   LAMBREQUIN       391 

ordered  that  all  future  Scottish  mantlings  should  be  depicted  in  the 
livery  colours  of  the  arms,  but  in  Scotland  the  mantlings,  though  now 
following  the  livery  colours,  are  still  included  in  the  terms  of  the  grant, 
and  thereby  stereotyped.  In  England,  in  an  official  ^^  exemplification  " 
at  the  present  day  of  an  ancient  coat  of  arms  {e.g.  in  an  exemplification 
following  the  assumption  of  name  and  arms  by  Royal  License),  the 
mantling  is  painted  in  the  livery  colours,  irrespective  of  any  ancient 
patent  in  which  ^'  gules  and  argent "  may  have  been  granted  as  the 
colour  of  the  mantling.  Though  probably  most  people  will  agree  as 
to  the  expediency  of  such  a  practice,  it  is  at  any  rate  open  to  criticism 
on  the  score  of  propriety,  unless  the  new  mantling  is  expressed  in  terms 
in  the  new  patent.  This  would  of  course  amount  to  a  grant  overriding 
the  earlier  one,  and  w^ould  do  all  that  was  necessary  ;  but  failing  this, 
there  appears  to  be  a  distinct  hiatus  in  the  continuity  of  authority. 

Ermine  linings  to  the  mantling  were  soon  denied  to  the  undis- 
tinguished commoner,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  early  Garter 
plates,  it  would  be  difficult  to  point  to  an  instance  of  their  use.  The 
mantlings  of  peers,  however,  continued  to  be  lined  with  ermine,  and 
English  instances  under  official  sanction  can  be  found  in  the  Visitation 
Books  and  in  the  Garter  plates  until  a  comparatively  recent  period. 
In  fact  the  relegation  of  peers  to  the  ordinary  livery  colours  for  their 
mantlings  is,  in  England,  quite  a  modern  practice.  In  Scotland,  how- 
ever, the  mantlings  of  peers  have  always  been  lined  with  ermine,  and 
the  present  Lyon  continues  this  whilst  usually  making  the  colours  of 
the  outside  of  the  mantlings  agree  with  the  principal  colour  of  the 
arms.  This,  as  regards  the  outer  colour  of  the  mantling,  is  not  a  fixed 
or  stereotyped  rule,  and  in  some  cases  Lyon  has  preferred  to  adopt  a 
mantling  of  gules  lined  with  ermine  as  more  comformable  to  a  peer's 
Parliamentary  Robe  of  Estate. 

In  the  Deputy  Earl-Marshal's  warrant  referred  to  on  page  375  are 
some  interesting  points  as  to  the  mantling.  It  is  recited  that  ^*  some 
pecsons  under  y^  degree  of  y*"  Nobilitie  of  this  Realme  doe  cause 
Ermins  to  be  Depicted  upon  ye  Lineings  of  those  Mantles  which  are 
used  with  their  Armes,  and  also  that  there  are  some  that  have  lately 
caused  the  Mantles  of  their  Armes  to  be  painted  like  Ostrich  feathers 
as  tho'  they  were  of  some  peculiar  and  superior  degree  of  Honor," 
and  the  warrant  commands  that  these  points  are  to  be  rectified. 

The  Royal  mantling  is  of  cloth  of  gold.  In  the  case  of  the  sovereign 
and  the  Prince  of  Wales  it  is  lined  with  ermine,  and  for  other  members 
of  the  Royal  Family  it  is  lined  with  argent.  Queen  Elizabeth  was  the 
first  sovereign  to  adopt  the  golden  mantling,  the  Royal  tinctures  before 
that  date  (for  the  mantling)  being  gules  lined  ermine.  The  mantling 
of  or  and  ermine  has,  of  course,  since  that  date  been  rigidly  denied  to 


392     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

all  outside  the  Royal  Family.  Two  instances,  however,  occur  amongst 
the  early  Garter  plates,  viz.  Sir  John  Grey  de  Ruthyn  and  Frederick, 
Duke  of  Urbino.  It  is  sometimes  stated  that  a  mantling  of  or  and 
ermine  is  a  sign  of  sovereignty,  but  the  mantling  of  our  own  sovereign 
is  really  the  only  case  in  which  it  is  presently  so  used. 

In  Sweden,  as  in  Scotland,  the  colours  of  the  mantling  are  specified 
in  the  patent,  and,  unlike  our  own,  are  often  curiously  varied. 

The  present  rules  for  the  colour  of  a  mantling  are  as  follows  in 
England  and  Ireland  : — 

1.  That  with  ancient  arms  of  which  the  grant  specified  the  colour, 

where  this  has  not  been  altered  by  a  subsequent  exemplifica- 
tion, the  colours  must  be  as  stated  in  the  grant,  i.e,  usually 
gules,  lined  argent. 

2.  That  the  mantling  of  the  sovereign  and  Prince  of  Wales  is  of 

cloth  of  gold,  lined  with  ermine. 

3.  That  the  mantling  of  other  members  of  the   Royal  Family  is  of 

cloth  of  gold  lined  with  argent. 

4.  That  the  mantlings  of  all  other  people  shall  be  of  the  livery 

colours. 
The  rules  in  Scotland  are  now  as  follows  : 

1.  That  in  the  cases  of  peers  whose  arms  were  matriculated  before 

1890  the  mantling  is  of  gules  lined  with  ermine  (the  Scottish 
term  for  "  lined  "  is  *'  doubled  "). 

2.  That  the  mantlings  of  all  other  arms  matriculated  before  1890 

shall  be  of  gules  and  argent. 

3.  That  the  mantlings  of  peers  whose  arms  have  been  matriculated 

since  1890  shall  be  either  of  the  principal  colour  of  the  arms, 
lined  with  ermine,  or  of  gules  lined  ermine  (conformably  to 
the  Parliamentary  Robe  of  Estate  of  a  peer)  as  may  happen 
to  have  been  matriculated. 

4.  That  the  mantlings  of  all  other  persons  whose  arms  have  been 

matriculated  since  1890  shall  be  of  the  livery  colours,  unless 
other  colours  are,  as  is  occasionally  the  case,  specified  in  the 
patent  of  matriculation. 
Whether  in   Scotland  a  person  is  entitled  to  assume  of  his  own 
motion  an   ermine  lining  to  his  mantling  upon  his  elevation  to  the 
peerage,  without  a  rematriculation  in  cases  where  the  arms  and  mant- 
ling have  been  otherwise  matriculated  at  an  earlier  date,  or  whether  in 
England  any  peer  may  still  line  his  mantling  with  ermine,  are. points  on 
which  one  hesitates  to  express  an  opinion. 

When  the  mantling  is  of  the  livery  colours  the  following  rules 
must  be  observed.  The  outside  must  be  of  some  colour  and  the  lining 
of  some  metal.     The  colour  must  be  the  principal  colour  of  the  arms. 


THE    MANTLING    OR    LAMBREQUIN       393 

i.e.  the  colour  of  the  field  if  it  be  of  colour,  or  if  it  is  of  metal,  then  the 
colour  of  the  principal  ordinary  or  charge  upon  the  shield.  The 
metal  will  be  as  the  field,  if  the  field  is  of  metal,  or  if  not,  it  will  be 
as  the  metal  of  the  principal  ordinary  or  charge.  In  other  words,  it 
should  be  the  same  tinctures  as  the  wreath. 

If  the  field  is  party  of  colour  and  metal  {i.e,  per  pale  barry, 
quarterly,  &c.),  then  that  colour  and  that  metal  are  *^  the  livery  colours." 
If  the  field  is  party  of  two  colours  the  principal  colour  {i.e,  the  one  first 
mentioned  in  the  blazon)  is  taken  as  the  colour  and  the  other  is  ignored. 
The  mantling  is  not  made  party  to  agree  with  the  field  in  British 
heraldry,  as  would  be  the  case  in  Germany.  If  the  field  is  of  a  fur, 
then  the  dominant  metal  or  colour  of  the  fur  is  taken  as  one  component 
part  of  the  *<  livery  colours,"  the  other  metal  or  colour  required  being 
taken  from  the  next  most  important  tincture  of  the  field.  For  ex- 
ample, "  ermine,  a  fess  gules "  has  a  mantling  of  gules  and  argent, 
whilst  **  or,  a  chevron  ermines  "  would  need  a  mantling  of  sable  and 
or.  The  mantling  for  **  azure,  a  lion  rampant  erminois "  would  be 
azure  and  or.  But  in  a  coat  showing  fur,  metal,  and  colour,  some- 
times the  fur  is  ignored.  A  field  of  vair  has  a  mantling  argent  and 
azure,  but  if  the  charge  be  vair  the  field  will  supply  the  one,  i.e,  either 
colour  or  metal,  whilst  the  vair  supplies  whichever  is  lacking.  Except 
in  the  cases  of  Scotsmen  who  are  peers  and  of  the  Sovereign  and  Prince 
of  Wales,  no  fur  is  ever  used  nowadays  in  Great  Britain  for  a  mantling. 

In  cases  where  the  principal  charge  is  "proper,"  a  certain  discretion 
must  be  used.  Usually  the  heraldic  colour  to  which  the  charge 
approximates  is  used.  For  example,  "  argent,  issuing  from  a  mount 
in  base  a  tree  proper,"  &c.,  would  have  a  mantling  vert  and  argent. 
The  arms  "  or,  three  Cornish  choughs  proper,"  or  "  argent,  three  negroes' 
heads  couped  proper,"  would  have  mantlings  respectively  sable  and  or 
and  sable  and  argent.  Occasionally  one  comes  across  a  coat  which 
supplies  an  '^  impossible"  mantling,  or  which  does  not  supply  one  at  all. 
Such  a  coat  would  be  "  per  bend  sinister  ermine  and  erminois,  a  lion 
rampant  counterchanged."  Here  there  is  no  colour  at  all,  so  the 
mantling  would  be  gules  and  argent.  "Argent,  three  stags  trippant 
proper  "  would  have  a  mantling  gules  and  argent.  A  coat  of  arms  with 
a  landscape  field  would  also  probably  be  supplied  (in  default  of  a 
chief,  e.g.  supplying  other  colours  and  tinctures)  with  a  mantling  gules 
and  argent.  It  is  quite  permissible  to  "  vein "  a  mantling  with  gold 
lines,  this  being  always  done  in  official  paintings. 

In  English  official  heraldry,  where,  no  matter  how  great  the 
number  of  crests,  one  helmet  only  is  painted,  it  naturally  follows  that 
one  mantling  only  can  be  depicted.  This  is  always  taken  from  the 
livery  colours  of  the  chief  {i.e,  the  first)  quartering  or  sub-quartering. 


394     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

In  Scottish  patents  at  the  present  day  in  which  a  helmet  is  painted 
for  each  crest  the  manthngs  frequently  vary,  being  in  each  case  in  accord- 
ance with  the  livery  colours  of  the  quartering  to  which  the  crest 
belongs.  Consequently  this  must  be  accepted  as  the  rule  in  cases  where 
more  than  one  helmet  is  shown. 

In  considering  the  fashionings  of  mantlings  it  must  be  remembered 
that  styles  and  fashions  much  overlap,  and  there  has  always  been  the 
tendency  in  armory  to  repeat  earlier  styles.  Whilst  one  willingly 
concedes  the  immense  gain  in  beauty  by  the  present  reversion  in 
heraldic  art  to  older  and  better,  and  certainly  more  artistic  types, 
there  is  distinctly  another  side  to  the  question  which  is  strangely  over- 
looked by  those  who  would  have  the  present-day  heraldic  art  slavishly 
copied  in  all  minutiae  of  detail,  and  even  (according  to  some)  in  all 
the  crudity  of  draughtmanship  from  examples  of  the  earliest  periods. 

Hitherto  each  period  of  heraldic  art  has  had  its  own  peculiar  style 
and  type,  each  within  limits  readily  recognisable.  Whether  that  style 
and  type  can  be  considered  when  judged  by  the  canons  of  art  to  be 
good  or  bad,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  each  style  in  its  turn  has 
approximated  to,  and  has  been  in  keeping  with,  the  concurrent  decora- 
tive art  outside  and  beyond  heraldry,  though  it  has  always  exhibited 
a  tendency  to  rather  lag  behind.  When  all  has  been  said  and  done 
that  can  be,  heraldry,  in  spite  of  its  symbolism  and  its  many  other 
meanings,  remains  but  a  form  of  decorative  art ;  and  therefore  it  is 
natural  that  it  should  be  influenced  by  other  artistic  ideas  and  other 
manifestations  of  art  and  accepted  forms  of  design  current  at  the 
period  to  which  it  belongs.  For,  from  the  artistic  point  of  view,  the 
part  played  in  art  by  heraldry  is  so  limited  in  extent  compared  with 
the  part  occupied  by  other  forms  of  decoration,  that  one  would  natur- 
ally expect  heraldry  to  show  the  influence  of  outside  decorative  art  to 
a  greater  extent  than  decorative  art  as  a  whole  would  be  likely  to 
show  the  influence  of  heraldry.  In  our  present  revulsion  of  mind  in 
favour  of  older  heraldic  types,  we  are  apt  to  speak  of  "  good "  or 
^^bad"  heraldic  art.  But  art  itself  cannot  so  be  divided,  for  after  all 
allowances  have  been  made  for  crude  workmanship,  and  when  bad  or 
imperfect  examples  have  been  eliminated  from  consideration  (and  given 
always  necessarily  the  essential  basis  of  the  relation  of  line  to  curve 
and  such  technical  details  of  art),  who  on  earth  is  to  judge,  or  who  is 
competent  to  say,  whether  any  particular  style  of  art  is  good  or  bad  ? 
No  one  from  preference  executes  speculative  art  which  he  knows  whilst 
executing  it  to  be  bad.  Most  manifestations  of  art,  and  peculiarly  of 
decorative  art,  are  commercial  matters  executed  with  the  frank  idea  of 
subsequent  sale,  and  consequently  with  the  subconscious  idea,  true 
though  but  seldom  acknowledged,  of  pleasing  that  public  which  will 


THE    MANTLING    OR    LAMBREQUIN       395 

have  to  buy.  Consequently  the  ultimate  appeal  is  to  the  taste  of  the 
public,  for  art,  if  it  be  not  the  desire  to  give  pleasure  by  the  represen- 
tation of  beauty,  is  nothing.  Beauty,  of  course,  must  not  necessarily 
be  confounded  with  prettiness  ;  it  may  be  beauty  of  character.  The 
result  is,  therefore,  that  the  decorative  art  of  any  period  is  an  indication 
of  that  which  gives  pleasure  at  the  moment,  and  an  absolute  reflex  of 
the  artistic  wishes,  desires,  and  tastes  of  the  cultivated  classes  to  whom 
executive  art  must  appeal.  At  every  period  it  has  been  found  that 
this  taste  is  constantly  changing,  and  as  a  consequence  the  examples 
of  decorative  art  of  any  period  are  a  reflex  only  of  the  artistic  ideas 
current  at  the  time  the  work  was  done. 

At  all  periods,  therefore,  even  during  the  early  Victorian  period, 
which  we  are  now  taught  and  believe  to  be  the  most  ghastly  period 
through  which  English  art  has  passed,  the  art  in  vogue  has  been  what 
the  public  have  admired,  and  have  been  ready  to  pay  for,  and  most 
emphatically  what  they  have  been  taught  and  brought  up  to  consider 
good  art.  In  early  Victorian  days  there  was  no  lack  of  educated 
people,  and  because  they  liked  the  particular  form  of  decoration 
associated  with  their  period,  who  is  justified  in  saying  that,  because 
that  peculiar  style  of  decoration  is  not  acceptable  now  to  ourselves, 
their  art  was  bad,  and  worse  than  our  own  ?  If  throughout  the  ages 
there  had  been  one  dominating  style  of  decoration  equally  accepted 
at  all  periods  and  by  all  authorities  as  the  highest  type  of  decorative 
art,  then  we  should  have  some  standard  to  judge  by.  Such  is  not 
the  case,  and  we  have  no  such  standard,  and  any  attempt  to  arbitrarily 
create  and  control  ideas  between  given  parallel  lines  of  arbitrary  thought, 
when  the  ideas  are  constantly  changing,  is  impossible  and  undesirable. 
Who  dreams  of  questioning  the  art  of  Benvenuto  Cellini,  or  of  describ- 
ing his  craftsmanship  as  other  than  one  of  the  most  vivid  examples  of 
his  period,  and  yet  what  had  it  in  keeping  with  the  art  of  the  Louis 
XVI.  period,  or  the  later  art  of  William  Morris  and  his  followers? 
Widely  divergent  as  are  these  types,  they  are  nevertheless  all  accepted 
as  the  highest  expressions  of  three  separate  types  of  decorative  art. 
Any  one  attempting  to  compare  them,  or  to  rank  these  schools  of 
artistic  thought  in  order  of  superiority,  would  simply  be  laying  them- 
selves open  to  ridicule  unspeakable,  for  they  would  be  ranked  by  the 
highest  authorities  of  different  periods  in  different  orders,  and  it  is  as 
impossible  to  create  a  permanent  standard  of  art  as  it  is  impossible  to 
ensure  a  permanence  of  any  particular  public  taste.  The  fact  that 
taste  changes,  and  as  a  consequence  that  artistic  styles  and  types  vary, 
is  simply  due  to  the  everlasting  desire  on  the  part  of  the  public  for 
some  new  thing,  and  their  equally  permanent  appreciation  of  novelty 
of  idea  or  sensation.     That  master-minds  have  arisen  to  teach,  and 


396  A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO  HERALDRY 
that  they  have  taught  with  some  success  their  own  particular  brand 
of  art  to  the  pubHc,  would  seem  rather  to  argue  against  the  foregoing 
ideas  were  it  not  that,  when  the  master-mind  and  the  dominating 
influence  are  gone,  the  public,  desiring  as  always  change  and  novelty, 
are  ready  to  fly  to  any  new  teacher  and  master  who  can  again  afford 
them  artistic  pleasure.  The  influence  of  William  Morris  in  household 
decoration  is  possibly  the  most  far-reaching  modern  example  of  the 
influence  of  a  single  man  upon  the  art  of  his  period  ;  but  master-mind 
as  was  his,  and  master-craftsman  as  he  was,  it  has  needed  but  a  few 
years  since  his  death  to  start  the  undoing  of  much  that  he  taught. 
After  the  movement  initiated  by  Morris  and  carried  further  by  the 
Arts  and  Crafts  Society,  which  made  for  simplicity  in  structural  design 
as  well  as  in  the  decoration  of  furniture,  we  have  now  fallen  back 
upon  the  flowery  patterns  of  the  early  Victorian  period,  and  there  is 
hardly  a  drawing-room  in  fashionable  London  where  the  chairs  and 
settees  are  not  covered  with  early  Victorian  chintzes. 

Artistic  authorities  may  shout  themselves  hoarse,  but  the  fashion 
having  been  set  in  Mayfair  will  be  inevitably  followed  in  Suburbia,  and 
we  are  doubtless  again  at  the  beginning  of  the  cycle  of  that  curious 
manifestation  of  domestic  decorative  art  which  was  current  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century.  It  is,  therefore,  evident  that  it  is  futile 
to  describe  varying  types  of  art  of  varying  periods  as  good  or  bad,  or 
to  differentiate  between  them,  unless  some  such  permanent  basis  of 
comparison  or  standard  of  excellence  be  conceded.  The  differing 
types  must  be  accepted  as  no  more  than  the  expression  of  the  artistic 
period  to  which  they  belong.  That  being  so,  one  cannot  help  thinking 
that  the  abuse  which  has  been  heaped  of  late  (by  unthinking  votaries 
of  Plantagenet  and  Tudor  heraldry)  upon  heraldic  art  in  the  seven- 
teenth, eighteenth,  and  nineteenth  centuries  has  very  greatly  over- 
stepped the  true  proportion  of  the  matter.  Much  that  has  been  said 
is  true,  but  what  has  been  said  too  often  lacks  proportion.  There  is 
consequently  much  to  be  said  in  favour  of  allowing  each  period  to 
create  its  own  style  and  type  of  heraldic  design,  in  conformity  with  the 
ideas  concerning  decorative  art  which  are  current  outside  heraldic 
thought.  This  is  precisely  what  is  not  happening  at  the  present  time,  even 
with  all  our  boasted  revival  of  armory  and  armorial  art.  The  tendency 
at  the  present  time  is  to  slavishly  copy  examples  of  other  periods.  There 
is  another  point  which  is  usually  overlooked  by  the  most  blatant 
followers  of  this  school  of  thought.  What  are  the  ancient  models 
which  remain  to  us  ?  The  early  Rolls  of  Arms  of  which  we  hear  so 
much  are  not,  and  were  never  intended  to  be,  examples  of  artistic 
execution.  They  are  merely  memoranda  of  fact.  It  is  absurd  to 
suppose  that  an  actual  shield  was  painted  with  the  crudity  to  be  met 


THE   MANTLING    OR   LAMBREQUIN      397 

with  in  the  Rolls  of  Arms.  It  is  equally  absurd  to  accept  as  unim- 
peachable models.  Garter  plates,  seals,  or  architectural  examples  unless 
the  purpose  and  medium — wax,  enamel,  or  stone — in  which  they  are 
executed  is  borne  in  mind,  and  the  knowledge  used  with  due  discrimi- 
nation. Mr.  Eve,  without  slavishly  copying,  originally  appears  to  have 
modelled  his  work  upon  the  admirable  designs  and  ideas  of  the  ^^  little 
masters  "  of  German  art  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries.  He 
has  since  progressed  therefrom  to  a  distinctive  and  very  excellent  style 
of  his  own,  Mr.  Graham  Johnson  models  his  work  upon  Plantagenet 
and  Tudor  examples.  The  work  of  Pere  Anselm,  and  of  Pugin,  the  first 
start  towards  the  present  ideas  of  heraldic  art,  embodying  as  it  did  so 
much  of  the  beauty  of  the  older  work  whilst  possessing  a  character  of 
its  own,  and  developing  ancient  ideals  by  increased  beauty  of  execution, 
has  placed  their  reputation  far  above  that  of  others,  who,  following  in 
their  footsteps,  have  not  possessed  their  abilities.  But  with  regard  to 
most  of  the  heraldic  design  of  the  present  day  as  a  whole  it  is  very 
evident  that  we  are  simply  picking  and  choosing  tit-bits  from  the  work  of 
bygone  craftsmen,  and  copying,  more  or  less  slavishly,  examples  of  other 
periods.  This  makes  for  no  advance  in  design  either  in  its  character 
or  execution,  nor  will  it  result  in  any  peculiarity  of  style  which  it  will 
be  possible  in  the  future  to  identify  with  the  present  period.  Our 
heraldry,  like  our  architecture,  though  it  may  be  dated  in  the  twentieth 
century,  will  be  a  heterogeneous  collection  of  isolated  specimens  of 
Gothic,  Tudor,  or  Queen  Anne  style  and  type,  which  surely  is  as 
anachronistic  as  we  consider  to  be  those  Dutch  paintings  which  re- 
present Christ  and  the  Apostles  in  modern  clothes. 

Roughly  the  periods  into  which  the  types  of  mantlings  can  be 
divided,  when  considered  from  the  standpoint  of  their  fashioning,  are 
somewhat  as  follows.  There  is  the  earliest  period  of  all,  when  the 
mantling  depicted  approximated  closely  if  it  was  not  an  actual  repre- 
sentation of  the  capelote  really  worn  in  battle.  Examples  of  this  will 
be  found  in  the  Armorial  de  Gelre  and  the  Zurich  Wappenrolle,  As  the 
mantling  worn  lengthened  and  evolved  itself  into  the  lambrequin,  the 
mantling  depicted  in  heraldic  art  was  similarly  increased  in  size, 
terminating  in  the  long  mantle  drawn  in  profile  but  tasselled  and  with 
the  scalloped  edges,  a  type  which  is  found  surviving  in  some  of  the 
early  Garter  plates.  This  is  the  transition  stage.  The  next  definite 
period  is  when  we  find  the  mantling  depicted  on  both  sides  of  the 
helmet  and  the  scalloped  edges  developed,  in  accordance  with  the 
romantic  ideas  of  the  period,  into  the  slashes  and  cuts  of  the  bold  and 
artistic  mantlings  of  Plantagenet  armorial  art. 

Slowly  decreasing  in  strength,  but  at  the  same'  time  increasing  in 
elaboration,  this  mantling  and  type  continued  until  it  had  reached  its 


398     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

highest  pitch  of  exuberant  elaboration  in  Stuart  and  early  Georgian 
times.  Side  by  side  with  this  over-elaboration  came  the  revulsion  to  a 
Puritan  simplicity  of  taste  which  is  to  be  found  in  other  manifestations 
of  art  at  the  same  time,  and  which  made  itself  evident  in  heraldic 
decoration  by  the  use  as  mantling  of  the  plain  uncut  cloth  suspended 
behind  the  shield.  Originating  in  Elizabethan  days,  this  plain  cloth 
was  much  made  use  of,  but  towards  the  end  of  the  Stuart  period  came 
that  curious  evolution  of  British  heraldry  which  is  peculiar  to  these 
countries  alone.  That  is  the  entire  omission  of  both  helmet  and 
mantling.  How  it  originated  it  is  difficult  to  understand,  unless  it  be 
due  to  the  fact  that  a  large  number,  in  fact  a  large  proportion,  of 
English  families  possessed  a  shield  only  and  neither  claimed  nor  used 
a  crest,  and  that  consequently  a  large  number  of  heraldic  represen- 
tations give  the  shield  only.  It  is  rare  indeed  to  find  a  shield  sur- 
mounted by  helmet  and  mantling  when  the  former  is  not  required  to 
support  a  grest.  At  the  same  time  we  find,  among  the  official  records 
of  the  period,  that  the  documents  of  chief  importance  were  the  Visita- 
tion Books.  In  these,  probably  from  motives  of  economy  or  to  save 
needless  draughtsmanship,  the  trouble  of  depicting  the  helmet  and 
mantling  was  dispensed  with,  and  the  crest  is  almost  universally  found 
depicted  on  the  wreath,  which  is  made  to  rest  upon  the  shield,  the 
helmet  being  omitted.  That  being  an  accepted,  official  way  of  repre- 
senting an  achievement,  small  wonder  that  the  public  followed,  and 
we  find  as  a  consequence  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  bookplates 
during  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries  had  no  helmet  or 
mantling  at  all,  the  elaboration  of  the  edges  of  the  shield,  together  with 
the  addition  of  decorative  and  needless  accessories  bearing  no  relation 
to  the  arms,  fulfilling  all  purposes  of  decorative  design.  It  should  also 
be  remembered  that  from  towards  the  close  of  the  Stuart  period  onward, 
England  was  taking  her  art  and  decoration  almost  entirely  from  Con- 
tinental sources,  chiefly  French  and  Italian.  In  both  the  countries 
the  use  of  crests  was  very  limited  indeed  in  extent,  and  the  elimination 
of  the  helmet  and  mantling,  and  the  elaboration  in  their  stead  of  the 
edges  of  the  shield,  we  probably  owe  to  the  effort  to  assimilate  French 
and  Italian  forms  of  decoration  to  English  arms.  So  obsolete  had 
become  the  use  of  helmet  and  mantling  that  it  is  difficult  to  come  across 
examples  that  one  can  put  forward  as  mantlings  typical  of  the  period. 

Helmets  and  mantlings  were  of  course  painted  upon  grants  and 
upon  the  Stall  plates  of  the  knights  of  the  various  orders,  but  whilst 
the  helmets  became  weak,  of  a  pattern  impossible  to  wear,  and  small 
in  size,  the  mantling  became  of  a  stereotyped  pattern,  and  of  a  design 
poor  and  wooden  according  to  our  present  ideas. 

Unofficial  heraldry  had  sunk  to  an  even  lower  style  of  art,  and 


Fig.  665. — Carriage  Panel  of  Georgiana,  Marchioness 
of  Cholmondeley. 


or  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


THE   MANTLING   OR   LAMBREQUIN       399 

the  regulation  heraldic  stationer's  types  of  shield,  mantling,  and  helmet 
are  awe-inspiring  in  their  ugliness. 

The  term  '^mantle"  is  sometimes  employed,  but  it  would  seem 
hardly  quite  correctly,  to  the  parliamentary  robe  of  estate  upon  which 
the  arms  of  a  peer  of  the  realm  were  so  frequently  depicted  at  the 
end  of  the  eighteenth  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  centuries. 
Its  popularity  is  an  indication  of  the  ever-constant  predilection  for 
something  which  is  denied  to  others  and  the  possession  of  which  is  a 
matter  of  privilege.  Woodward,  in  his  ^'Treatise  on  Heraldry,"  treats 
of  and  dismisses  the  matter  in  one  short  sentence :  *'  In  England  the 
suggestion  that  the  arms  of  peers  should  be  mantled  with  their  Parlia- 
ment robes  was  never  generally  adopted."  In  this  statement  he  is 
quite  incorrect,  for  as  the  accepted  type  in  one  particular  opportunity 
of  armorial  display  its  use  was  absolutely  universal.  The  opportunity 
in  question  was  the  emblazonment  of  arms  upon  carriage  panels.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  and  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth 
centuries  armorial  bearings  were  painted  of  some  size  upon  carriages, 
and  there  were  few  such  paintings  executed  for  the  carriages,  chariots, 
and  state  coaches  of  peers  that  did  not  appear  upon  a  background  of 
the  robe  of  estate.  With  the  modern  craze  for  ostentatious  unosten- 
tation  (the  result,  there  can  be  little  doubt,  in  this  respect  of  the 
wholesale  appropriation  of  arms  by  those  without  a  right  to  bear  these 
ornaments),  the  decoration  of  a  peer's  carriage  nowadays  seldom 
shows  more  than  a  simple  coronet,  or  a  coroneted  crest,  initial,  or 
monogram  ;  but  the  State  chariots  of  those  who  still  possess  them 
almost  all,  without  exception,  show  the  arms  emblazoned  upon  the 
robe  of  estate.  The  Royal  and  many  other  State  chariots  made  or 
refurbished  for  the  recent  coronation  ceremonies  show  that,  when  an 
opportunity  of  the  fullest  display  properly  arises,  the  robe  of  estate  is 
not  yet  a  thing  of  the  past.  Fig.  665  is  from  a  photograph  of  a 
carriage  panel,  and  shows  the  arms  of  a  former  Marchioness  of  Chol- 
mondeley  displayed  in  this  manner.  Incidentally  it  also  shows  a 
practice  frequently  resorted  to,  but  quite  unauthorised,  of  taking  one 
supporter  from  the  husband's  shield  and  the  other  (when  the  wife  was 
an  heiress)  from  the  arms  of  her  family.  The  arms  are  those  of 
Georgiana  Charlotte,  widow  of  George  James,  first  Marquess  of  Chol- 
mondeley,  and  younger  daughter  and  coheir  of  Peregrine,  third  Duke 
of  Ancaster.  She  became  a  widow  in  1827  and  died  in  1838,  so  the 
panel  must  have  been  painted  between  those  dates.  The  arms  shown 
are  :  *'  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  gules,  in  chief  two  esquires'  helmets  proper, 
and  in  base  a  garb  or  (for  Cholmondeley)  ;  2.  gules,  a  chevron  between 
three  eagles'  heads  erased  argent  ;  3.  or,  on  a  fesse  between  two 
chevrons   sable,  three   cross   crosslets   or   (for  Walpole),   and   on   an 


400     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

escutcheon  of  pretence  the  arms  of  Bertie,  namely :  argent,  three 
battering-rams  fesswise  in  pale  proper,  headed  and  garnished  azure." 
The  supporters  shown  are  :  *^  Dexter,  a  griffin  sable,  armed,  winged, 
and  membered  or  (from  the  Cholmondeley  achievement) ;  sinister,  a 
friar  vested  in  russet  with  staff  and  rosary  or  "  (one  of  the  supporters 
belonging  to  the  Barony  of  Willoughby  D'Eresby,  to  which  the 
Marchioness  of  Cholmondeley  in  her  own  right  was  a  coheir  until 
the  abeyance  in  the  Barony  was  determined  in  favour  of  her  elder 
sister). 

^^  In  later  times  the  arms  of  sovereigns — the  German  Electors,  &c. 
— were  mantled,  usually  with  crimson  velvet  fringed  with  gold,  lined 
with  ermine,  and  crowned ;  but  the  mantling  armoy6  was  one  of  the 
marks  of  dignity  used  by  the  Pairs  de  France,  and  by  Cardinals  resident 
in  France  ;  it  was  also  employed  by  some  great  nobles  in  other 
countries.  The  mantling  of  the  Princes  and  Dukes  of  Mirandola  was 
chequy  argent  and  azure,  lined  with  ermine.  In  France  the  mantling 
of  the  Chancelier  was  of  cloth  of  gold  ;  that  of  Presidents,  of  scarlet, 
lined  with  alternate  strips  of  ermine  and  petit  gris.  In  France, 
Napoleon  I.,  who  used  a  mantling  of  purple  seme  of  golden  bees, 
decreed  that  the  princes  and  grand  dignitaries  should  use  an  azure 
mantling  thus  sem6  ;  those  of  Dukes  were  to  be  plain,  and  lined  with 
vair  instead  of  ermine.  In  1817  a  mantling  of  azure,  fringed  with 
gold  and  lined  with  ermine,  was  appropriated  to  the  dignity  of  Pair  de 
France." 

The  pavilion  is  a  feature  of  heraldic  art  which  is  quite  unknown 
to  British  heraldry,  and  one  can  call  to  mind  no  single  instance  of  its 
use  in  this  country  ;  but  as  its  use  is  very  prominent  in  Germany  and 
other  countries,  it  cannot  be  overlooked.  It  is  confined  to  the  arms 
of  sovereigns,  and  the  pavilion  is  the  tent-like  erection  within  which 
the  heraldic  achievement  is  displayed.  The  pavilion  seems  to  have 
originated  in  France,  where  it  can  be  traced  back  upon  the  Great 
Seals  of  the  kings  to  its  earliest  form  and  appearance  upon  the  seal  of 
Louis  XI.  In  the  case  of  the  Kings  of  France,  it  was  of  azure  sem^- 
de-lis  or.  The  pavilion  used  with  the  arms  of  the  German  Emperor 
is  of  gold  seme  alternately  of  Imperial  crowns  and  eagles  displayed 
sable,  and  is  lined  with  ermine.  The  motto  is  carried  on  a  crimson 
band,  and  it  is  surmounted  by  the  Imperial  crown,  and  a  banner  of 
the  German  colours  gules,  argent,  and  sable.  The  pavilion  used  by 
the  German  Emperor  as  King  of  Prussia  is  of  crimson,  sem^  of  black 
eagles  and  gold  crowns,  and  the  band  which  carries  the  motto  is  blue. 
The  pavilions  of  the  King  of  Bavaria  and  the  Duke  of  Baden,  the 
King  of  Saxony,  the  Duke  of  Hesse,  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg- 
Schwerin,  the  Duke    of    Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach,  the  Duke  of    Saxe- 


THE    MANTLING   OR   LAMBREQUIN      401 

Meiningen-Hildburghausen,    the    Duke    of    Saxe-Altenburg,    and    the 
Duke  of  Anhalt  are  all  of  crimson. 

In  German  heraldry  a  rather  more  noticeable  distinction  is  drawn 
than  with  ourselves  between  the  lambrequin  (Helmdecke)  and  the  mantle 
(Helmmarttef),  This  more  closely  approximates  to  the  robe  of  estate, 
though  the  helmmantel  has  not  in  Germany  the  rigid  significance  of 
peerage  degree  that  the  robe  of  estate  has  in  this  country.  The 
German  helmmantel  with  few  exceptions  is  always  of  purple  lined  with 
ermine,  and  whilst  the  mantel  always  falls  directly  from  the  coronet 
or  cap,  the  pavilion  is  arranged  in  a  dome-like  form  which  bears  the 
crown  upon  its  summit.  The  pavilion  is  supposed  to  be  the  invention 
of  the  Frenchman  Philip  Moreau  (1680),  and  found  its  way  from 
France  to  Germany,  where  both  in  the  Greater  and  Lesser  Courts  it 
was  enthusiastically  adopted.  Great  Britain,  Austria-Hungary,  Spain, 
Portugal,  and  Wiirtemberg  are  the  only  Royal  Arms  in  which  the 
pavilion  does  not  figure. 


2  C 


CHAPTER   XXV 

THE    TORSE,    OR    WREATH 

THE  actual  helmet,  from  the  very  earliest  heraldic  representations 
which  have  come  down  to  us,  would  sometimes  appear  not  to 
have  had  any  mantling,  the  crest  being  affixed  direct  to  the  (then) 
flat  top  of  the  helmet  in  use.  But  occasional  crests  appear  very  early  in 
the  existence  of  "ordered"  armory,  and  at  much  about  the  same  time  we 
find  the  *^  textile  "  covering  of  the  helmet  coming  into  heraldic  use.  In 
the  earliest  times  we  find  that  frequently  the  crest  itself  was  continued 
into  the  mantling.  But  where  this  was  not  possible,  the  attaching  of 
the  crest  to  the  helmet  when  the  mantling  intervened  left  an  unsightly 
joining.  The  unsightliness  very  soon  called  forth  a  remedy.  At  first 
this  remedy  took  the  form  of  a  coronet  or  a  plain  fillet  or  ribbon 
round  the  point  of  juncture,  sometimes  with  and  sometimes  without 
the  ends  being  visible.  If  the  ends  were  shown  they  were  represented 
as  floating  behind,  sometimes  with  and  sometimes  without  a  represen- 
tation of  the  bow  or  knot  in  which  they  were  tied.  The  plain  fillet 
still  continued  to  be  used  long  after  the  torse  had  come  into  recog- 
nised use.  The  consideration  of  crest  coronets  has  been  already 
included,  but  with  regard  to  the  wreath  an  analysis  of  the  Plantagenet 
Garter  plates  will  afford  some  definite  basis  from  which  to  start 
deduction. 

Of  the  eighty-six  achievements  reproduced  in  Mr.  St.  John  Hope's 
book,  five  have  no  crest.  Consequently  we  have  eighty-one  examples 
to  analyse.  Of  these  there  are  ten  in  which  the  crest  is  not  attached 
to  the  lambrequin  and  helmet  by  anything  ^perceptible,  eight  are 
attached  with  fillets  of  varying  widths,  twenty-one  crests  are  upon 
chapeaux,  and  twenty-nine  issue  from  coronets.  But  at  no  period 
governed  by  the  series  is  it  possible  that  either  fillet,  torse,  chapeau, 
or  coronet  was  in  use  to  the  exclusion  of  another  form.  This  remark 
applies  more  particularly  to  the  fillet  and  torse  (the  latter  of  which 
undoubtedly  at  a  later  date  superseded  the  former),  for  both  at  the 
beginning  and  at  the  end  of  the  series  referred  to  we  find  the  fillet 
and  the  wreath  or  torse,  and  at  both  periods  we  find  crests  without 
either  coronet,  torse,  chapeau,  or  fillet.  The  fillet  must  soon  after- 
wards (in  the  fifteenth  century)  have  completely  fallen  into  desuetude. 

402 


THE  TORSE,   OR   WREATH  403 

The  torse  was  so  small  and  unimportant  a  matter  that  upon  seals  it 
would  probably  equally  escape  the  attention  of  the  engraver  and  the 
observer,  and  probably  there  would  be  little  to  be  gained  by  a  syste- 
matic hunt  through  early  seals  to  discover  the  date  of  its  introduction, 
but  it  will  be  noticed  that  no  wreaths  appear  in  some  of  the  early 
Rolls.  General  Leigh  says,  "In  the  time  of  Henry  the  Fifth,  and 
long  after,  no  man  had  his  badge  set  on  a  wreath  under  the  degree 
of  a  knight.  But  that  order  is  worn  away."  It  probably  belongs  to 
the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  its 
twisted  shape  was  an  evolution  from  the  plain  fillet  suggested  by  the 
turban  of  the  East.  We  read  in  the  old  romances,  in  Mallory's 
"  Morte  d' Arthur  "  and  elsewhere,  of  valiant  knights  who  in  battle  or 
tournament  wore  the  favour  of  some  lady,  or  even  the  lady's  sleeve, 
upon  their  helmets.  It  always  used  to  be  a  puzzle  to  me  how  the 
sleeve  could  have  been  worn  upon  the  helmet,  and  I  wonder  how 
many  of  the  present-day  novelists,  who  so  glibly  make  their  knightly 
heroes  of  olden  time  wear  the  "  favours  "  of  their  lady-lovers,  know 
how  it  was  done  ?  The  favour  did  not  take  the  place  of  the  crest. 
A  knight  did  not  lightly  discard  an  honoured,  inherited,  and  known 
crest  for  the  sake  of  wearing  a  favour  only  too  frequently  the  mere 
result  of  a  temporary  flirtation  ;  nor  to  wear  her  colours  could  he 
at  short  notice  discard  or  renew  his  lambrequin,  surcoat,  or  the 
housings  and  trappings  of  his  horse.  He  simply  took  the  favour — 
the  colours,  a  ribbon,  or  a  handkerchief  of  the  lady,  as  the  case 
might  be — and  twisted  it  in  and  out  or  over  and  over  the  fillet 
which  surrounded  the  joining-place  of  crest  and  helmet.  To  put 
her  favour  on  his  helmet  was  the  work  of  a  moment.  The  wearing 
of  a  lady's  sleeve,  which  must  have  been  an  honour  greatly  prized, 
is  of  course  the  origin  of  the  well-known  "  maunch,"  the  solitary 
charge  in  the  arms  of  Conyers,  Hastings,  and  Wharton.  Doubtless  the 
sleeve  twined  with  the  fillet  would  be  made  to  encircle  the  base  of 
the  crest,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  wide  hanging  mouth  of  the 
sleeve  might  have  been  used  for  the  lambrequin.  The  dresses  of 
ladies  at  that  period  were  decorated  with  the  arms  of  their  families, 
so  in  each  case  would  be  of  the  "  colours  "  of  the  lady,  so  that  the 
sleeve  and  its  colours  would  be  quickly  identified,  as  it  was  no  doubt 
usually  intended  they  should  be.  The  accidental  result  of  twining  a 
favour  in  the  fillet,  in  conjunction  with  the  pattern  obviously  sug- 
gested by  the  turban  of  the  East,  produced  the  conventional  torse  or 
wreath.  As  the  conventional  slashings  of  the  lambrequin  hinted  at 
past  hard  fighting  in  battle,  so  did  the  conventional  torse  hint  at  past 
service  to  and  favour  of  ladies,  love  and  war  being  the  occupations  of 
the  perfect  knight  of  romance.     How  far  short  of  the  ideal  knight  of 


404     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

romance  the  knight  of  fact  fell,  perhaps  the  frequent  bordures  and 
batons  of  heraldry  are  the  best  indication.  At  first,  as  is  evident  from 
the  Garter  plates,  the  colours  of  the  torse  seem  to  have  had  little  or 
no  compulsory  relation  to  the  "  livery  colours  "  of  the  arms.  The 
instances  to  be  gleaned  from  the  Plantagenet  Garter  plates  which 
have  been  reproduced  are  as  follows  : — . 

Sir  John  Bourchier,  Lord  Bourchier.  Torse :  sable  and  vert. 
Arms  :  argent  and  gules. 

Sir  John  Grey,  Earl  of  Tankerville.  Torse  :  vert,  gules,  and  argent. 
Arms :  gules  and  argent. 

Sir  Lewis  Robsart,  Lord  Bourchier.  Torse  :  azure,  or,  and  sable. 
Arms  :  vert  and  or.  [The  crest,  derived  from  his  wife  (who  was  a 
daughter  of  Lord  Bourchier)  is  practically  the  same  as  the  one  first 
quoted.     It  will  be  noticed  that  the  torse  differs.] 

Sir  Edward  Cherleton,  Lord  Cherleton  of  Powis.  Torse :  gules 
and  sable.     Arms  :  or  and  gules. 

Sir  Gaston  de  Foix,  Count  de  Longueville.  Torse :  or  and  gules. 
Arms  :  or  and  gules. 

Sir  William  Nevill,  Lord  Fauconberg.  Torse  :  argent  and  gules. 
Arms :  gules  and  argent. 

Sir  Richard  Wydville,  Lord  Rivers.  Torse  :  vert.  Arms :  argent 
and  gules. 

Sir  Henry  Bourchier,  Earl  of  Essex.  Torse  ;  sable  and  vert.  Arms  : 
argent  and  gules.     [This  is  the  same  crest  above  alluded  to.] 

Sir  Thomas  Stanley,  Lord  Stanley.  Torse  :  or  and  azure.  Arms  : 
or  and  azure. 

Sir  John  Bourchier,  Lord  Berners.  Torse  :  gules  and  argent.  Arms: 
argent  and  gules.     [This  is  the  same  crest  above  alluded  to.] 

Sir  Walter  Devereux,  Lord  Ferrers.  Torse  :  argent  and  sable. 
Arms  :  argent  and  gules.  [The  crest  really  issues  from  a  coronet  upon 
a  torse  in  a  previous  case,  this  crest  issues  from  a  torse  only.] 

Sir  Francis  Lovel,  Viscount  Lovel.  Torse  :  azure  and  or.  Arms ; 
or  and  gules. 

Sir  Thomas  Burgh,  Lord  Burgh.  Torse  :  azure  and  sable.  Arms  : 
azure  and  ermine. 

Sir  Richard  Tunstall,  K.G.  Torse :  argent  and  sable.  Arms : 
sable  and  argent. 

I  can  suggest  no  explanation  of  these  differences  unless  it  be,  which 
is  not  unlikely,  that  they  perpetuate  *'  favours "  worn  ;  or  perhaps  a 
more  likely  supposition  is  that  the  wreath  or  torse  was  of  the  ^^  family 
colours,"  as  these  were  actually  worn  by  the  servants  or  retainers  of 
each  person.  If  this  be  not  the  case,  why  are  the  colours  of  the  wreath 
termed  the  livery  colours  ?     At  the  present  time  in  an  English  or  Irish 


THE   TORSE,   OR   WREATH  405 

grant  of  arms  the  colours  are  not  specified,  but  the  crest  is  stated  to 
be  <'  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours."  In  Scotland,  however,  the  crest 
is  granted  in  the  following  words  :  "  and  upon  a  wreath  of  his  liveries 
is  set  for  crest."  Consequently,  I  have  very  little  doubt,  the  true  state 
of  the  case  is  that  originally  the  wreath  was  depicted  of  the  colours  of 
the  livery  which  was  worn.  Then  new  families  came  into  prominence 
and  eminence,  and  had  no  liveries  to  inherit.  They  were  granted  arms 
and  chose  the  tinctures  of  their  arms  as  their  **  colours,"  and  used 
these  colours  for  their  personal  liveries.  The  natural  consequence 
would  be  in  such  a  case  that  the  torse,  being  in  unison  with  the  livery, 
was  also  in  unison  with  the  arms.  The  consequence  is  that  it  has 
become  a  fixed,  unalterable  rule  in  British  heraldry  that  the  torse  shall 
be  of  the  principal  metal  and  of  the  principal  colour  of  the  arms.  I 
know  of  no  recent  exception  to  this  rule,  the  latest,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  being  a  grant  in  the  early  years  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
This,  it  is  stated  in  the  patent,  was  the  regranting  of  a  coat  of  foreign 
origin.  Doubtless  the  formality  of  a  grant  was  substituted  for  the 
usual  registration  in  this  case,  owing  to  a  lack  of  formal  proof  of 
a  right  to  the  arms,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  peculiarities  of 
the  foreign  arms,  as  they  had  been  previously  borne,  were  preserved  in 
the  grant.  The  peculiarity  in  this  case  consisted  of  a  torse  of  three 
tinctures.  The  late  Lyon  Clerk  once  pointed  out  to  me,  in  Lyon 
Register,  an  instance  of  a  coat  there  matriculated  with  a  torse  of  three 
colours,  but  I  unfortunately  made  no  note  of  it  at  the  time.  Wood- 
ward alludes  to  the  curious  chequy  wreath  on  the  seals  of  Robert 
Stewart,  Duke  of  Albany,  in  1389.  This  appears  to  have  been  repeated 
in  the  seals  of  his  son  Murdoch. 

The  wreath  of  Patrick  Hepburn  appears  to  be  of  roses  in  the 
Gelre  **  Armorial,"  and  a  careful  examination  of  the  plates  in  this 
volume  will  show  many  curious  Continental  instances  of  substitutes 
for  the  conventional  torse.  Though  by  no  means  peculiar  to  British 
heraldry,  there  can  be  no  manner  of  doubt  that  the  wreath  in  the 
United  Kingdom  has  obtained  a  position  of  legalised  necessity  and 
constant  usage  and  importance  which  exists  in  no  other  country. 

As  has  been  already  explained,  the  torse  should  fit  closely  to  the 
crest,  its  object  and  purpose  being  merely  to  hide  the  joining  of  crest 
and  helmet.  Unfortunately  in  British  heraldry  this  purpose  has  been 
ignored.  Doubtless  resulting  first  from  the  common  practice  of  de- 
picting a  crest  upon  a  wreath  and  without  a  helmet,  and  secondly 
from  the  fact  that  many  English  crests  are  quite  unsuitable  to  place 
on  a  helmet,  in  fact  impossible  to  affix  by  the  aid  of  a  wreath  to  a 
helmet,  and  thirdly  from  our  ridiculous  rules  of  position  for  a  helmet, 
which  result    in  the  crest   being   depicted  (in   conjunction   with   the 


4o6     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

representation  of  the  helmet)  in  a  position  many  such  crests  never 
could  have  occupied  on  any  helmet,  the  effect  has  been  to  cause  the 
wreath  to  lose  its  real  form,  which  encircled  the  helmet,  and  to  become 
considered  as  no  more  than  a  straight  support  for  and  relating  only 
to  the  crest.  When,  therefore,  the  crest  and  its  supporting  basis  is 
transferred  from  indefinite  space  to  the  helmet,  the  support,  which 
is  the  torse,  is  still  represented  as  a  flat  resting-place  for  the  crest,  and 
it  is  consequently  depicted  as  a  straight  and  rigid  bar,  balanced  upon 
the  apex  of  the  helmet.  This  is  now  and  for  long  has  been  the  only 
accepted  official  way  of  depicting  a  wreath  in  England.  Certainly 
this  is  an  ungraceful  and  inartistic  rendering,  and  a  rendering  far 
removed  from  any  actual  helmet  wreath  that  can  ever  have  been 
actually  borne.  Whilst  one  has  no  wish  to  defend  the  *^  rigid  bar," 
which  has  nothing  to  recommend  it,  it  is  at  the  same  time  worth  while 
to  point  out  that  the  heraldic  day  of  actual  helmets  and  actual  usage 
is  long  since  over,  never  to  be  revived,  and  that  our  heraldry  of  to-day 
is  merely  decorative  and  pictorial.  The  rigid  bar  is  none  other  than 
a  conventionalised  form  of  the  actual  torse,  and  is  perhaps  little  more 
at  variance  with  the  reality  than  is  our  conventionalised  method  of 
depicting  a  lambrequin.  Whilst  this  conventional  torse  remains  the 
official  pattern,  it  is  hopeless  to  attempt  to  banish  such  a  method  of 
representation :  but  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  happily,  will  have  none  of  it 
in  his  official  register  or  on  his  patents,  and  few  heraldic  artists  of  any 
repute  now  care  to  so  design  or  represent  it.  As  always  officially 
painted  it  must  consist  of  six  links  alternately  of  metal  and  colour 
(the  "  livery  colours "  of  the  arms),  of  which  the  metal  must  be  the 
first  to  be  shown  to  the  dexter  side.  The  torse  is  now  supposed  to  be 
and  represented  as  a  skein  of  coloured  silk  intertwined  with  a  gold  or 
silver  cord. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 
SUPPORTERS 

IN  this  country  a  somewhat  fictitious  importance  has  become 
attached  to  supporters,  owing  to  their  almost  exclusive  reservation 
to  the  highest  rank.  The  rules  which  hold  at  the  moment  will 
be  recited  presently,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  originally  they 
were  in  this  country  little  more  than  mere  decorative  and  artistic 
appendages,  being  devised  and  altered  from  time  to  time  by  different 
artists  according  as  the  artistic  necessities  of  the  moment  demanded. 
The  subject  of  the  origin  of  supporters  has  been  very  ably  dealt  with 
in  "  A  Treatise  on  Heraldry  "  by  Woodward  and  Burnett,  and  with  all 
due  acknowledgment  I  take  from  that  work  the  subjoined  extract : — 

<^  Supporters  are  figures  of  living  creatures  placed  at  the  side  or 
sides  of  an  armorial  shield,  and  appearing  to  support  it.  French 
writers  make  a  distinction,  giving  the  name  of  Supports  to  animals,  real 
or  imaginary,  thus  employed  ;  while  human  figures  or  angels  similarly 
used  are  called  Tenants,  Trees,  and  other  inanimate  objects  which 
are  sometimes  used,  are  called  Souttens. 

^'  Menetrier  and  other  old  writers  trace  the  origin  of  supporters 
to  the  usages  of  the  tournaments,  where  the  shields  of  the  combatants 
were  exposed  for  inspection,  and  guarded  by  their  servants  or  pages 
disguised  in  fanciful  attire  :  '  C'est  des  Tournois  qu'est  venu  cet  usage 
parce  que  les  chevaliers  y  faisoient  porter  leurs  lances,  et  leurs  ^cus, 
par  des  pages,  et  des  valets  de  pied,  deguisez  en  ours,  en  lions,  en  mores, 
et  en  sauvages'  {Usage  des  Armoiriesy  p.  1 19). 

^'  The  old  romances  give  us  evidence  that  this  custom  prevailed  ; 
but  I  think  only  after  the  use  of  supporters  had  already  arisen  from 
another  source. 

'^  There  is  really  little  doubt  now  that  Anstis  was  quite  correct 
when,  in  his  Aspilogiay  he  attributed  the  origin  of  supporters  to  the 
invention  of  the  engraver,  who  filled  up  the  spaces  at  the  top  and  sides 
of  the  triangular  shield  upon  a  circular  seal  with  foliage,  or  with 
fanciful  animals.  Any  good  collection  of  mediaeval  seals  will  strengthen 
this  conviction.  For  instance,  the  two  volumes  of  Laing's  *  Scottish 
Seals '  afford  numerous  examples   in  which  the  shields  used  in  the 

thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries  were  placed  between  two  creatures 

407 


4o8     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

resembling  lizards  or  dragons.   (See  the  seal  of  Alexander  de  Balliol, 
1295. — Laing,  ii.  74.) 

**  The  seal  of  John,  Duke  of  Normandy,  eldest  son  of  the  King  of 
France,  before  13 16  bears  his  arms  (France-Ancient,  a  bordtire  gules) 
between  two  lions  rampant  away  from  the  shield,  and  an  eagle  with 
expanded  wings  standing  above  it.  The  secretum  of  Isabelle  de  Flandres 
{c,  1308)  has  her  shield  placed  between  three  lions,  each  charged  with 
a  bend  (Vree,  Gen,  Com,  Flanr,,  Plates  XLIIL,  XLIV.,  XCIl).  In  1332 
Aymon  of  Savoy  places  his  arms  (Savoy,  with  a  label)  between  a  winged 
lion  in  chief  and  a  lion  without  wings  at  either  side.  Later,  on  the  seal 
of  Amadeus  VI.,  a  lion's  head  between  wings  became  the  crest  of  Savoy. 
In  1332  Amadeus  bears  Savoy  on  a  lozenge  between  in  chief  two 
eagles,  in  base  two  lions.  (CiBRARiO,  Nos.  61,  64  ;  and  GuiCHENON, 
tome  i.  No.  130.)  In  Scotland  the  shield  of  Reginald  Crav^ford  in 
1 292  is  placed  between  two  dogs,  and  surmounted  by  a  fox;  in  the  same 
year  the  paly  shield  of  Reginald,  Earl  of  Athole,  appears  between  two 
lions  in  chief  and  as  many  griffins  in  flanks. — Laing,  i.  210,  761. 

*^The  seal  of  Humbert  II.,  Dauphin  de  Viennois  in  1349,  is  an 
excellent  example  of  the  fashion.  The  shield  of  Dauphiny  is  in  the 
centre  of  a  quatrefoil.  Two  savages  mounted  on  griffins  support  its 
flanks  ;  on  the  upper  edge  an  armed  knight  sits  on  a  couchant  lion, 
and  the  space  in  base  is  filled  by  a  human  face  between  two  wingless 
dragons.  The  spaces  are  sometimes  filled  with  the  Evangelistic  sym- 
bols, as  on  the  seal  of  Yolante  de  Flandres,  Countess  of  Bar 
(c,  1340).  The  seal  of  Jeanne,  Dame  de  Plasnes,  in  1376  bears 
her  arms  en  banniere  a  quatrefoil  supported  by  two  kneeling  angels,  a 
demi-angel  in  chief,  and  a  lion  couchant  guardant  in  base." 

Corporate  and  other  seals  afford  countless  examples  of  the  inter- 
stices in  the  design  being  filled  with  the  figures  similar  to  those  from 
which  in  later  days  the  supporters  of  a  family  have  been  deduced. 
But  I  am  myself  convinced  that  the  argument  can  be  carried 
further.  Fanciful  ornamentation  or  meaningless  devices  may  have 
first  been  made  use  of  by  seal  engravers,  but  it  is  very  soon  found 
that  the  badge  is  in  regular  use  for  this  purpose,  and  we  find  both 
animate  and  inanimate  badges  employed.  Then  where  this  is  possible 
the  badge,  if  animate,  is  made  to  support  the  helmet  and  crest,  and,  later 
on,  the  shield,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  the  badge  was  in  fact  acting 
as  a  supporter  long  before  the  science  of  armory  recognised  that 
existence  of  supporters. 

Before  passing  to  supporters  proper,  it  may  be  well  to  briefly  allude 
to  various  figures  which  are  to  be  found  in  a  position  analogous  to 
that  of  supporters.     The  single  human  figure  entire,  or  in  the  form 


SUPPORTERS  409 

of  a  demi-figure  appearing-  above  the  shield,  is  very  frequently  to  be 
met  with,  but  the  addition  of  such  figures  was  and  remains  purely  artisiic, 
and  I  know  of  no  single  instance  in  British  armory  where  one  figure, 
animate  or  inanimate,  has  ever  existed  alone  in  the  character  of  a  single 
supporter,  and  as  an  integral  part  of  the  heritable  armorial  achieve- 
ment. Of  course  I  except  those  figures  upon  which  the  arms  of 
certain  families  are  properly  displayed.  These  will  be  presently 
alluded  to,  but  though  they  are  certainly  exterior  ornaments,  I  do  not 
think  they  can  be  properly  classed  as  supporters  unless  to  this  term  is 
given  some  elasticity,  or  unless  the  term  has  some  qualifying  remarks  of 
reservation  added  to  it.  There  are,  however,  many  instances  of  armorial 
ensigns  depicted,  and  presumably  correctly,  in  the  form  of  banners 
supported  by  a  single  animal,  but  it  will  always  be  found  that  the 
single  animal  is  but  one  of  the  pair  of  duly  allocated  supporters.  Many 
instances  of  arms  depicted  in  this  manner  will  be  found  in  "  Prince 
Arthur's  Book."  The  same  method  of  display  was  adopted  in  some 
number  of  cases,  and  with  some  measure  of  success,  in  Foster's 
"  Peerage."  Single  figures  are  very  frequently  to  be  met  with  in 
German  and  Continental  heraldry,  but  on  these  occasions,  as  with 
ourselves,  the  position  they  occupy  is  merely  that  of  an  artistic  accessory, 
and  bears  no  inseparable  relation  to  the  heraldic  achievement.  The 
single  exception  to  the  foregoing  statement  of  which  I  am  aware  is 
to  be  found  in  the  arms  of  the  Swiss  Cantons.  These  thirteen  coats 
are  sometimes  quartered  upon  one  shield,  but  when  displayed  separately 
each  is  accompanied  by  a  single  supporter.  Zurich,  Lucerne,  Uri, 
Unter-Walden,  Glarus,  and  Basle  all  bear  the  supporter  on  the  dexter 
side  ;  Bern,  Schweig,  Zug,  Freiburg,  and  Soluthurn  on  the  sinister. 
Schafhausen  (a  ram)  and  Appenzell  (a  bear)  place  their  supporters  in 
full  aspect  behind  the  shield. 

On  the  corbels  of  Gothic  architecture,  shields  of  arms  are  frequently 
supported  by  Angels,  which,  however,  cannot  generally  be  regarded  as 
heraldic  appendages — being  merely  supposed  to  indicate  that  the 
owners  have  contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  fabric.  Examples  of 
this  practice  will  be  found  on  various  ecclesiastical  edifices  in,  Scotland, 
and  among  others  at  Melrose  Abbey,  St.  Giles',  Edinburgh,  and  the 
church  of  Seton  in  East  Lothian.  An  interesting  instance  of  an 
angel  supporting  a  shield  occurs  on  the  beautiful  seal  of  Mary  of 
Gueldres,  Queen  of  James  IL  (1459);  ^"^  ^^e  Privy  Seal  of  David  IL, 
a  hundred  years  earlier,  exhibits  a  pretty  design  of  an  escutcheon 
charged  with  the  ensigns  of  Scotland,  and  borne  by  two  arms  issuing 
from  clouds  above,  indicative  of  Divine  support.^ 

^  Plate  XI.  Fig.  lo,  Laing's  "  Catalogue,"  No.  29.  At  each  side  of  the  King's  seated  figure  on 
the  counter-seal  of  Robert  II.  (1386)  the  arms  of  Scotland  are  supported  from  behind  ])y  a  skeleton 
within  an  embattled  buttress  ("Catalogue,"  No.  34). 


4IO     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Of  instances  of  single  objects  from  which  shields  are  found  de- 
pending or  supported  the  *'  Treatise  on  Heraldry  "  states  : — 

^^  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  usage  by  which  on  vesica-shaped 
shields  ladies  of  high  rank  are  represented  as  supporting  with  either 
hand  shields  of  arms.  From  this  probably  arose  the  use  of  a  single 
supporter.  Marguerite  de  Courcelles  in  1284,  and  Alix  de 
Verdun  in  131 1,  bear  in  one  hand  a  shield  of  the  husband's  arms,  in 
the  other  one  of  their  own.  The  curious  seal  of  Muriel,  Countess  of 
Stratherne,  in  1284,  may  be  considered  akin  to  these.  In  it  the 
shield  is  supported  partly  by  a  falcon,  and  partly  by  a  human  arm 
issuing  from  the  sinister  side  of  the  vesica^  and  holding  the  falcon  by 
the  jesses  (Laing,  i.  764).  The  early  seal  of  Boleslas  III.,  King  of 
Poland,  in  1255,  bears  a  knight  holding  a  shield  charged  with  the 
Polish  eagle  (Vossberg,  Die  Siegel  des  Mittelalters),  In  1283  the  seal  of 
Florent  of  Hainault  bears  a  warrior  in  chain  mail  supporting  a 
shield  charged  with  a  lion  impaling  an  eagle  dimidiated. 

•  •.••••• 

^' On  the  seal  of  Humphrey  de  Bohun  in  1322  the  guige  is  held 
by  a  swan,  the  badge  of  the  Earls  of  Hereford  ;  and  in  1356  the 
shield  of  the  first  Earl  of  Douglas  is  supported  by  a  lion  whose  head 
is  covered  by  the  crested  helm,  a  fashion  of  which  there  are  many 
examples.  A  helmed  lion  holds  the  shield  of  Magnus  I.,  Duke  of 
Brunswick,  in  1326. 

*••••••  . 

"On  the  seal  of  Jean,  Due  de  Berri,  in  1393  the  supporter  is  a 
helmed  swan  (compare  the  armorial  slab  of  Henry  of  Lancaster,  in 
BouTELL,  Plate  LXXIX.).  Jean  IV.,  Comte  d'ALENgoN  (1408),  has  a 
helmed  lion  sejant  as  supporter.  In  1359  a  signet  of  Louis  van  Male, 
Count  of  Flanders,  bears  a  lion  sejant,  helmed  and  crested,  and 
mantled  with  the  arms  of  Flanders  between  two  small  escutcheons  of 
Nevers,  or  the  county  of  Burgundy  [<<  Azure,  billetty,  a  lion  rampant 
or  "],  and  Rethel  ["  Gules,  two  heads  of  rakes  fesswise  in  pale  or  "]. 

•  ..  .  •  •  •  . 

^<  A  single  lion  sejant,  helmed  and  crested,  bearing  on  its  breast  the 
quartered  arms  of  Burgundy  between  two  or  three  other  escutcheons, 
was  used  by  the  Dukes  up  to  the  death  of  Charles  the  Bold  in  1475. 
In  LiTTA's  splendid  work,  Famtglie  celebri  ItalianejihQ  BuONAROTTi  arms 
are  supported  by  a  brown  dog  sejant,  helmed,  and  crested  with  a  pair 
of  dragon's  wings  issuing  from  a  crest-coronet.  On  the  seal  of 
Thomas  Holland,  Earl  of  Kent,  in  1380  the  shield  is  buckled  round 
the  neck  of  the  white  hind  lodged,  the  badge  of  his  half-brother, 
Richard  II.  Single  supporters  were  very  much  in  favour  in  the 
thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries,  and  the  examples  are  numerous. 


SUPPORTERS  411 

Charles,  Dauphin  de  Viennois  (c,  1355),  has  his  shield  held  by  a 
single  dolphin.  In  1294  the  seal  of  the  Dauphin  jEAN,  son  of  Hum- 
bert I.,  bears  the  arms  of  Dauphine  pendent  from  the  neck  of  a  griffon. 
The  shields  of  arms  of  Bertrand  de  BricquebeC;  in  1325  ;  Pierre 
DE  TouRNEBU;  in  1339  ;  of  Charles,  Count  of  Alen^on,  in  1356  ; 
and  of  Oliver  de  Clisson  in  1397,  are  all  supported  by  a  warrior 
who  stands  behind  the  shield.  In  England  the  seal  of  Henry  Percy, 
first  Earl,  in  1346,  and  another  in  1345,  have  similar  representations. 

'^  On  several  of  our  more  ancient  seals  only  one  supporter  is  repre- 
sented, and  probably  the  earliest  example  of  this  arrangement  occurs 
on  the  curious  seal  of  William,  first  Earl  of  Douglas  (c.  1356),  where 
the  shield  is  supported  from  behind 
by  a  lion  '  sejant,'  with  Ins  head  in  the 
hehnety  which  is  surmounted  by  the 
crest. 

"  On  the  seal  of  Archibald,  fourth 
Earl  of  Douglas  {c,  141 8),  the  shield 
is  held,  along  with  a  club,  in  the  right 
hand  of  a  savage  ered^  who  bears  a 
helmet  in  his  left  ;  while  on  that  of 
William,  eighth  Earl  (1446),  a  kneeling 
savage  holds  a  club  in  his  right  hand, 
and  supports  a  couch<§  shield  on  his 
left  arm." 

An  example  reproduced  from  Jost 
Amman's  Wappen  und  Statnmhiichy  pub- 
lished at  Frankfurt,  1589,  will  be  found 
in  Fig.  666.  In  this  the  figure  partakes  more  of  the  character  of 
a  shield  guardian  than  a  shield  supporter.  The  arms  are  those  ot 
<^  Sigmund  Hagelshaimer,"  otherwise  "  Helt,"  living  at  Niirnberg.  The 
arms  are  "  Sable,  on  a  bend  argent,  an  arrow  gules."  The  crest  is 
the  head  and  neck  of  a  hound  sable,  continued  into  a  mantling  sable, 
lined  argent.  The  crest  is  charged  with  a  pale  argent,  and  thereupon 
an  arrow  as  in  the  arms,  the  arrow-head  piercing  the  ear  of  the  hound. 

Seated  figures  as  supporters  are  rare,  but  one  occurs  in  Fig.  667, 
which  shows  the  arms  of  the  Vohlin  family.  They  bear  :  '<  Argent,  on 
a  fesse  sable,  three  '  P's '  argent."  The  wings  which  form  the  crest  are 
charged  with  the  same  device.  This  curious  charge  of  the  three  letters 
is  explained  in  the  following  saying : — 

"  Piper  Peperit  Pecuniam, 
Pecunia  Peperit  Pompam, 
Pompa  Peperit  Pauperiem, 
Pauperics  Peperit  Pietatem." 


Fig.  6(y6. — Arms  of  Sigmund 
Hagelshaimer. 


412     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

There  are,  however,  certain  exceptions  to  the  British  rule  that  there 
can  be  no  single  supporters,  if  the  objects  upon  which  shields  of  arms 
are  displayed  are  accepted  as  supporters.  It  was  always  customary  to 
display  the  arms  of  the  Lord  High  Admiral  on  the  sail  of  the  ship. 
In  the  person  of  King  William  IV.,  before  he  succeeded  to  the  throne, 
the  office  of  Lord  High  Admiral  was  vested  for  a  short  time,  but  it  had 
really  fallen  into  desuetude  at  an  earlier  date  and  has  not  been  revived 
again,  so  that  to  all  intents  and  purposes  it  is  now  extinct,  and  this 
recognised  method  of  depicting  arms  is  consequently  also  extinct. 
But  there  is  one  other  case  which  forms  a  unique  instance  which  can 
be  classified  with  no  others.  The  arms  of  Campbell  of  Craignish  are 
always  represented  in  a  curious  manner,  the  gyronny  coat  of  Campbell 
appearing  on  a  shield  displayed  in  front  of  a  lymphad  (Plate  II.). 
What  the  origin  of  this  practice  is  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  ;  probably 
it  merely  originated  in  the  imaginative  ideas  of  an  artist  when  making  a 
seal  for  that  family,  artistic  reasons  suggesting  the  display  of  the  gyronny 
arms  of  Campbell  in  front  of  the  lymphad  of  Lome.  The  family, 
however,  seem  to  have  universally  adopted  this  method  of  using  their 
arms,  and  in  the  year  1875,  when  Campbell  of  Inverneil  matriculated 
in  Lyon  Register,  the  arms  were  matriculated  in  that  form.  I  know  of 
no  other  instance  of  any  such  coat  of  arms,  and  this  branch  of  the 
Ducal  House  of  Campbell  possesses  armorial  bearings  which,  from  the 
official  standpoint,  are  absolutely  unique  from  one  end  of  Europe  to 
the  other. 

In  Germany  the  use  of  arms  depicted  in  front  of  the  eagle  displayed, 
either  single-headed  or  double-headed,  is  very  far  from  being  unusual. 
Whatever  may  have  been  its  meaning  originally  in  that  country,  there 
is  no  doubt  that  now  and  for  some  centuries  past  it  has  been  accepted 
as  meaning,  or  as  indicative  of,  princely  rank  or  other  honours  of  the 
Holy  Roman  Empire.  But  I  do  not  think  it  can  always  have  had 
that  meaning.  About  the  same  date  the  Earl  of  Menteith  placed  his 
shield  on  the  breast  of  an  eagle,  as  did  Alexander,  Earl  of  Ross,  in 
1338;  and  in  1394  w^e  find  the  same  ornamentation  in  the  seal  of 
Euphemia,  Countess  of  Ross.  The  shield  of  Ross  is  borne  in  her  case 
on  the  breast  of  an  eagle,  while  the  arms  of  Leslie  and  Comyn  appear 
on  its  displayed  wings.  On  several  other  Scottish  seals  of  the  same 
era,  the  shield  is  placed  on  the  breast  of  a  displayed  eagle,  as  on  those 
of  Alexander  Abernethy  and  Alexander  Cumin  of  Buchan  (1292),  and 
Sir  David  Lindsay,  Lord  of  Crawford.  English  heraldry  supplies  several 
similar  examples,  of  which  we  may  mention  the  armorial  insignia  of 
Richard,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  brother  of  Henry  III.,  and  of  the  ancient 
family  of  Latham,  in  the  fourteenth  century.  A  curious  instance  of  a 
shield  placed  on  the  breast  of  a  hawk  is  noticed  by  Hone  in  his  "  Table 


Fig.  ^^J. — Arms  of  Vohlin  of  Augsberg. 


SUPPORTERS  413 

Book,"  viz.  the  arms  of  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Stoke-Lyne,  in  the 
county  of  Oxford.  It  appears  therefrom  that  when  Charles  I.  held 
his  Parliament  at  Oxford,  the  offer  of  knighthood  was  gratefully 
declined  by  the  then  Lord  of  Stoke-Lyne,  who  merely  requested,  and 
obtained,  the  Royal  permission  to  place  the  arms  of  his  family  upon 
the  breast  of  a  hawk,  which  has  ever  since  been  employed  in  the 
capacity  of  single  supporter.  What  authority  exists  for  this  statement 
it  is  impossible  to  ascertain,  and  one  must  doubt  its  accuracy,  because 
in  England  at  any  rate  no  arms,  allocated  to  any  particular  territorial 
estate,  have  ever  received  official  recognition. 

In  later  years,  as  indicative  of  rank  in  the  Holy  Roman  Empire, 
the  eagle  has  been  rightly  borne  by  the  first  Duke  of  Marlborough  and 
by  Henrietta  his  daughter,  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  but  the  use  of 
the  eagle  by  the  later  Dukes  of  Marlborough  would  appear  to  be 
entirely  without  authority,  inasmuch  as  the  princedom,  created  in  the 
person  of  the  first  duke,  became  extinct  on  his  death.  -  His  daughters, 
though  entitled  of  right  to  the  courtesy  rank  of  princess  and  its 
accompanying  privilege  of  the  right  to  use  the  eagle  displayed  behind 
their  arms,  could  not  transmit  it  to  their  descendants  upon  whom  the 
title  of  Duke  of  Marlborough  was  specially  entailed  by  English  Act  of 
Parliament. 

The  Earl  of  Denbigh  and  several  members  of  the  Fielding  family 
have  often  made  use  of  it  with  their  arms,  in  token  of  their  supposed 
descent  from  the  Counts  of  Hapsburg,  which,  if  correct,  would  ap- 
parently confer  the  right  upon  them.  This  descent,  however,  has  been 
much  questioned,  and  in  late  years  the  claim  thereto  would  seem  to  have 
been  practically  dropped.  The  late  Earl  Cowper,  the  last  remaining 
Prince  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire  in  the  British  Peerage,  was  entitled 
to  use  the  double  eagle  behind  his  shield,  being  the  descendant  and 
representative  of  George  Nassau  Clavering  Cowper,  third  Earl  Cowper, 
created  a  Prince  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire  by  the  Emperor  Joseph  II., 
the  patent  being  dated  at  Vienna,  31st  January  1778,  and  this  being 
followed  by  a  Royal  Licence  from  King  George  III.  to  accept  and  bear 
the  title  in  this  country. 

There  are  some  others  who  have  the  right  by  reason  of  honours  of 
lesser  rank  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  and  amongst  these  may  be 
mentioned  Lord  Methuen,  who  bears  the  eagle  by  Royal  Warrant 
dated  4th  April  1775.  Sir  Thomas  Arundel,  who  served  in  the 
Imperial  army  of  Hungary,  having  in  an  engagement  with  the  Turks 
near  Strignum  taken  their  standard  with  his  own  hands,  was  by 
Rodolph  II.  created  Count  of  the  Empire  to  hold  for  him  and  the 
heirs  of  his  body  for  ever,  dated  at  Prague  14th  December  1595.  This 
patent,  of  course,  means  that  every  one  of  his  descendants  in  the  male 


414    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

line  has  the  rank  of  a  Count  of  the  Empire,  and  that  every  daughter 
of  any  such  male  descendant  is  a  Countess,  but  this  does  not  confer 
the  rank  of  count  or  countess  upon  descendants  of  the  daughters.  It 
was  this  particular  patent  of  creation  that  called  forth  the  remark  from 
Queen  Elizabeth  that  she  would  not  have  her  sheep  branded  by  any 
foreign  shepherd,  and  we  believe  that  this  patent  was  the  origin  of  the 
rule  translated  in  later  times  {temp,  George  IV.)  into  a  definite  Royal 
Warrant,  requiring  that  no  English  subject  shall,  without  the  express 
Royal  Licence  of  the  Sovereign  conveyed  in  writing,  accept  or  wear 
any  foreign  title  or  decoration.  No  Royal  Licence  was  subsequently 
obtained  by  the  Arundel  family,  who  therefore,  according  to  British 
law,  are  denied  the  use  of  the  privileged  Imperial  eagle.  Outside 
those  cases  in  which  the  double  eagle  is  used  in  this  country  to 
denote  rank  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  the  usage  of  the  eagle 
displayed  behind  the  arms  or  any  analogous  figure  is  in  British  heraldry 
most  limited. 

One  solitary  authoritative  instance  of  the  use  of  the  displayed  eagle 
is  found  in  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  city  of  Perth.  These  arms  are 
recorded  in  Lyon  Register,  having  been  matriculated  for  that  Royal 
Burgh  about  the  year  1672.  The  official  blazon  of  the  arms  is  as 
follows  :  ^^  Gules  ane  holy  lambe  passant  regardant  staff  and  cross 
argent,  with  the  banner  of  St.  Andrew  proper,  all  within  a  double 
tressure  counter-flowered  of  the  second,  the  escutcheon  being  sur- 
mounted on  the  breast  of  ane  eagle  with  two  necks  displayed  or.  The 
motto  in  ane  Escroll,  '  Pro  Rege  Lege  et  Grege.' " 

Another  instance  of  usage,  though  purely  devoid  of  authority, 
occurs  in  the  case  of  a  coat  of  arms  set  up  on  one  of  the  panels  in 
the  Hall  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  In  this  case  the  achievement  is  displayed 
on  the  breast  of  a  single-headed  eagle.  What  reason  led  to  its  usage 
in  this  manner  I  am  quite  unaware,  and  I  have  not  the  slightest  reason 
for  supposing  it  to  be  authentic.  The  family  of  Stuart-Menteith  also 
place  their  arms  upon  a  single-headed  eagle  displayed  gules,  as  was 
formerly  to  be  seen  in  Debrett's  Peerage,  but  though  arms  are  matri- 
culated to  them  in  Lyon  Register,  this  particular  adornment  forms  no 
part  thereof,  and  it  has  now  disappeared  from  the  printed  Peerage 
books.  The  family  of  Britton  have,  however,  recently  recorded  as  a 
badge  a  double-headed  eagle  displayed  ermine,  holding  in  its  claws 
an  escutcheon  of  their  arms  (Plate  VIII.). 

Occasionally  batons  or  wands  or  other  insignia  of  office  are  to 
be  found  in  conjunction  with  armorial  bearings,  but  these  will  be 
more  fully  dealt  with  under  the  heading  of  Insignia  of  Office.  Before 
dealing  with  the  usual  supporters,  one  perhaps  may  briefly  allude  to 
*'  inanimate  "  supporters. 


SUPPORTERS  415 

Probably  the  most  curious  instance  of  all  will  be  found  in  the 
achievement  of  the  Earls  of  Errol  as  it  appears  in  the  MS.  of  Sir 
David  Lindsay.  In  this  two  ox-yokes  take  the  place  of  the  supporters. 
The  curious  tradition  which  has  been  attached  to  the  Hay  arms  is 
quoted  as  follows  by  Sir  James  Balfour  Paul,  Lyon  King  of  Arms, 
in  his  "  Heraldry  in  relation  to  Scottish  History  and  Art,"  who 
writes :  ^'  Take  the  case  of  the  well-known  coat  of  the  Hays,  and  hear 
the  description  of  its  origin  as  given  by  Nisbet :  <  In  the  reign  of 
Kenneth  III.,  about  the  year  980,  when  the  Danes  invaded  Scotland, 
and  prevailing  in  the  battle  of  Luncarty,  a  country  Scotsman  with  his 
two  sons,  of  great  strength  and  courage,  having  rural  weapons,  as  the 
yokes  of  their  plough,  and  such  plough  furniture,  stopped  the  Scots 
in  their  flight  in  a  certain  defile,  and  upbraiding  them  with  cowardice, 
obliged  them  to  rally,  who  with  them  renewed  the  battle,  and  gave  a 
total  overthrow  to  the  victorious  Danes  ;  and  it  is  said  by  some,  after 
the  victory  was  obtained,  the  old  man  lying  on  the  ground,  wounded 
and  fatigued,  cried,  '^  Hay,  Hay,"  which  word  became  a  surname  to 
his  posterity.  He  and  his  sons  being  nobilitate,  the  King  gave  him 
the  aforesaid  arms  (argent,  three  escutcheons  gules)  to  intimate  that  the 
father  and  the  two  sons  had  been  luckily  the  three  shields  of  Scotland, 
and  gave  them  as  much  land  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie  as  a  falcon  did 
fly  over  without  lighting,  which  having  flown  a  great  way,  she  lighted 
on  a  stone  there  called  the  Falcon  Stone  to  this  day.  The  circum- 
stances of  which  story  is  not  only  perpetuated  by  the  three  escutcheons, 
but  by  the  exterior  ornaments  of  the  achievement  of  the  family  of 
Errol  ;  having  for  crest,  on  a  wreath,  a  falcon  proper  ;  for  supporters 
two  men  in  country  habits,  holding  the  oxen-yokes  of  a  plough  over 
their  shoulders  ;  and  for  motto,  "  Serva  jugum."  ' 

"  Unfortunately  for  the  truth  of  this  picturesque  tale  there  are 
several  reasons  which  render  it  utterly  incredible,  not  the  least  being 
that  at  the  period  of  the  supposed  battle  armorial  bearings  were  quite 
unknown,  and  could  not  have  formed  the  subject  of  a  royal  gift.  Hill 
Burton,  indeed,  strongly  doubts  the  occurrence  of  the  battle  itself,  and 
says  that  Hector  Boece,  who  relates  the  occurrence,  must  be  under 
strong  suspicion  of  having  entirely  invented  it.  As  for  the  origin  of 
the  name  itself,  it  is,  as  Mr.  Cosmo  Innes  points  out  in  his  work  on 
^  Scottish  Surnames,'  derived  from  a  place  in  Normandy,  and  neither  it 
nor  any  other  surname  occurred  in  Scotland  till  long  after  the  battle 
of  Luncarty.  I  have  mentioned  this  story  in  some  detail,  as  it  is  a 
very  typical  specimen  of  its  class  ;  but  there  are  others  like  unto  it, 
often  traceable  to  the  same  incorrigible  old  liar,  Hector  Boece." 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  ox-yoke  was  a  badge  of  the  Hays,  Earls 
of  Errol,  and  a  reference  to  the  variations  of  the  original  arms,  crest, 


41 6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

and  supporters  of  Hay  will  show  how  the  changes  have  been  rung  on 
the  shields,  falcon,  ox-yokes,  and  countrymen  of  the  legend. 

Another  instance  is  to  be  found  in  the  arms  of  the  Mowbray  family 
as  they  were  at  one  time  depicted  with  an  ostrich  feather  on  either 
side  of  the  shield  (Fig.  675,  p.  465),  and  at  first  one  might  be  inclined 
to  class  these  amongst  the  inanimate  supporters.  The  Garter  plate, 
however,  of  John  Beaufort,  Duke  of  Somerset,  probably  supplies  the 
key  to  the  whole  matter,  for  this  shows  not  only  the  ostrich  feathers 
but  also  supporters  of  the  ordinary  character  in  their  usual  position. 
From  the  last-mentioned  instance,  it  is  evident  the  ostrich  feathers  can 
be  only  representations  of  the  badge,  their  character  doubtless  being 
peculiarly  adaptable  to  the  curious  position  they  occupy.  They  are  of 
course  the  same  in  the  case  of  the  Mowbray  arms,  and  doubtless  the 
ox-yoke  of  the  Earl  of  Errol  is  similarly  no  more  than  a  badge. 

A  most  curious  instance  of  supporters  is  to  be  found  in  the  case  of 
the  arms  of  Viscount  Montgomery.  This  occurs  in  a  record  of  them 
in  Ulster's  Office,  where  the  arms  appear  without  the  usual  kind  of 
supporters,  but  represented  with  an  arm  in  armour,  on  either  side 
issuing  from  clouds  in  base,  the  hands  supporting  the  shield. 

When  supporters  are  inanimate  objects,  the  escutcheon  is  said  to 
be  cottised^ — a  term  derived  from  the  French  word  cote  (a  side) — in 
contradistinction  to  supported.  An  old  Scottish  term  for  supporters 
was  ^*  bearers." 

Amongst  other  cases  where  the  shield  is  cottised  by  inanimate 
objects  may  be  mentioned  the  following.  The  Breton  family  of 
**  Bastard  "  depict  their  shield  cottised  by  two  swords,  with  the  points 
in  base.  The  Marquises  Alberti  similarly  use  two  lighted  flambeaux, 
and  the  Dalzells  (of  Binns)  the  extraordinary  device  of  a  pair  of  tent- 
poles.  Whether  this  last  has  been  officially  sanctioned  I  am  unaware. 
The  "  Pillars  of  Hercules  "  used  by  Charles  V.  are,  perhaps,  the  best 
known  of  this  group  of  supporters.  In  many  cases  (notably  foreign) 
the  supporters  appear  to  have  gradually  receded  to  the  back  of  the 
shield,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Comte  d'Erps,  Chancellor  of  Brabant, 
where  two  maces  (or)  are  represented  saltirewise  behind  the  shield. 
Generally,  however,  this  variation  is  found  in  conjunction  with  purely 
official  or  corporate  achievements. 

A  curious  example  of  inanimate  supporters  occurs  on  the  English 
seal  of  William,  Lord  Botreaux  (1426),  where,  on  each  side  of  a  couche 
shield  exhibiting  a  griffin  ^^  segreant "  and  surmounted  by  a  helmet  and 
crest,  a  buttress  is  quaintly  introduced,  in  evident  allusion  to  the  owner's 
name.  A  somewhat  similar  arrangement  appears  on  the  Scottish  seal 
of  William  Ruthven  (1396),  where  a  tree  growing  from  a  mount  is 
placed  on  each  side  of  the  escutcheon.     Another  instance  is  to  be 


SUPPORTERS  417 

found  in  the  seal  of  John  de  Segrave,  where  a  garb  is  placed  on  either 
side  of  the  shield.  Perhaps  mention  should  here  be  made  of  the  arms 
(granted  in  1826)  of  the  National  Bank  of  Scotland,  the  shield  of  which 
is  "  surrounded  with  two  thistles  proper  disposed  in  orle." 

Heraldic  supporters  as  such,  or  badges  occupying  the  position  and 
answering  the  purpose  of  supporters,  and  not  merely  as  artistic  acces- 
sories, in  England  date  from  the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
Very  restricted  in  use  at  first,  they  later  rapidly  became  popular,  and 
there  were  few  peers  who  did  not  display  them  upon  their  seals.  For 
some  reason,  however,  very  few  indeed  appear  on  the  early  Garter 
plates.  It  is  a  striking  fact  that  by  far  the  larger  number  of  the  ancient 
standards  display  as  the  chief  device  not  the  arms  but  one  of  the  sup- 
porters, and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  in  this  fact  we  have  further 
confirmation  of  my  belief  that  the  origin  of  supporters  is  found  in 
the  badge. 

Even  after  the  use  of  two  supporters  had  become  general,  a  third 
figure  is  often  found  placed  behind  the  shield,  and  forms  a  connecting 
link  with  the  old  practice  of  filling  the  void  spaces  on  seals,  to  which 
we  have  already  referred.  On  the  seal  of  William  Sterling,  in  1292, 
two  lions  rampant  support  the  shield  in  front  of  a  tree.  The  shield  on 
the  seal  of  Oliver  Rouillon,  in  1376,  is  supported  by  an  angel,  and 
by  two  demi-lions  couchant-guardant  in  base.  That  of  Pierre  Avoir, 
in  1378,  is  held  by  a  demi-eagle  above  the  shield,  and  by  two  mermaids. 
On  many  ancient  seals  the  supporters  are  disposed  so  that  they  hold 
the  crested  helm  above  a  couche  shield. 

The  counter-seals  of  Rudolf  IV.,  Archduke  of  Austria,  in  1359  and 
1362,  afford  instances  in  which  a  second  set  of  supporters  is  used  to 
hold  up  the  crested  helm.  The  shield  of  Austria  is  supported  by  two 
lions,  on  whose  volets  are  the  arms  of  Hapsburg  and  Pfirt  ;  the 
crested  helm  (coroneted,  and  having  a  panache  of  ostrich  feathers)  is 
also  held  by  two  lions,  whose  volets  are  charged  with  the  arms  of 
Stiria,  and  of  Carinthia  (Hueber,  Austria  Illustratay  tab.  xviii.). 

In  1372  the  seal  of  Edmund  Mortimer  represents  his  shield  hang- 
ing from  a  rose-tree,  and  supported  by  two  lions  couchant  (of  March), 
whose  heads  are  covered  by  coroneted  helmets  with  a  panache  (azure) 
as  crest. 

Boutell  directs  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  shield  of  Edmund 
DE  Arundel  (i 301-13 26)  is  placed  between  similar  helms  and 
panaches,  without  the  supporting  beasts  (^<  Heraldry :  Historical  and 
Popular,"  pp.  271-418). 

Crested  supporters  have  sometimes  been  misunderstood,  and 
quoted  as  instances  of  double  supporters — for  instance,  by  Lower, 
''Curiosities  of  Heraldry,"  who  gives  (p.  144)  a  cut  from  the  achieve- 

2  D 


41 8     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

ment  of  the  French  D'Albrets  as  ^^  the  most  singular  supporters, 
perhaps,  in  the  whole  circle  of  heraldry."  These  supporters  are  two 
lions  couchant  (or),  each  helmed,  and  crested  with  an  eagle  au  vol 
leve.  These  eagles  certainly  assist  in  holding  the  shield,  but  the  lions 
are  its  true  supporters  ;  nor  is  this  arrangement  by  any  means  unique. 
The  swans  which  were  used  as  supporters  by  Jean,  Due  de  Berri,  in 
1386,  are  each  mounted  upon  a  bear.  Two  wild  men,  each  a  cheval 
on  a  lion,  support  the  escutcheons  of  Gerard  D'Harchies  (1476)  and 
of  Nicole  de  Giresme  (1464).  Two  lions  sejant,  helmed  and  crested 
(the  crest  is  a  human  head  with  the  ears  of  an  ass)  were  the  supporters 
of  Arnaud  D'Albrey  in  1368. 

Scotland,  which  is  the  home  of  curiosities  of  heraldry,  gives  us  at 
least  two  instances  of  the  use  of  supporters  which  must  be  absolutely 
unique — that  is,  the  surcharging  of  an  escutcheon  with  an  inescutcheon, 
to  the  latter  of  which  supporters  are  attached.  The  first  instance 
occurs  in  the  cases  of  Baronets  of  Nova  Scotia,  a  clause  appearing  in 
all  the  earlier  patents  which  ordained  "  that  the  Baronets,  and  their 
heirs-male,  should,  as  an  additament  of  honour  to  their  armorial  ensigns, 
bear,  either  on  a  canton  or  inescutcheon,  in  their  option,  the  ensign 
of  Nova  Scotia,  being  argenty  a  cross  of  St.  Andrew  azure  (the  badge 
of  Scotland  counterchanged),  charged  with  an  inescutcheon  of  the 
Royal  Arms  of  Scotland,  supported  on  the  dexter  by  the  Royal  unicorn, 
and  on  the  sinister  by  a  savage,  or  wild  man,  proper  ;  and  for  crest, 
a  branch  of  laurel  and  a  thistle  issuing  from  two  hands  conjoined,  the 
one  being  armed,  the  other  naked  ;  with  the  motto,  '^  Munit  haec  et 
altera  vincit."  The  incongruity  of  these  exterior  ornaments  within 
a  shield  of  arms  is  noticed  by  Nisbet,  who  informs  us,  however,  that 
they  are  very  soon  removed.  In  the  year  1629,  after  Nova  Scotia 
was  sold  to  the  French,  the  Baronets  of  Scotland,  and  their  heirs- 
male,  were  authorised  by  Charles  I.  "to  wear  and  carry  about  their 
necks,  in  all  time  coming,  an  orange-tawny  silk  ribbon,  whereon 
shall  be  pendent,  in  a  scutcheon  argenty  a  saltire  azurey  thereon 
an  inescutcheon,  of  the  arms  of  Scotland,  with  an  Imperial  crown 
above  the  sci^tcheon  and  encircled  with  this  motto :  *  Fax  mentis 
honestae  gloria.' "  According  to  the  same  authority,  this  badge 
was  never  much  used  "  about  their  necks,"  but  was  carried,  by  way 
of  canton  or  inescutcheon,  on  their  armorial  bearings,  without  the 
motto,  and,  of  course,  since  then  the  superimposed  supporters  have 
been  dropped. 

The  same  peculiarity  of  supporters  being  surcharged  upon  a  shield 
will  be  found,  however,  in  the  matriculation  (1795)  to  Cumming-Gordon 
of  Altyre.  These  arms  are  depicted  on  Plate  III.  In  this  the  entire 
achievement  (arms,  crest,  motto,  and  supporters)  of  Gordon  of  Gordon 


SUPPORTERS  419 

is   placed    upon    an    inescutcheon    superimposed   over   the    arms    of 
Gumming. 

In  Scotland  the  arms,  and  the  arms  only,  constitute  the  mark  of 
a  given  family,  and  whilst  due  difference  is  made  in  the  respective 
shields,  no  attempt  is  made  as  regards  crest  or  supporters  to  impose 
any  distinction  between  the  figures  granted  to  different  families  even 
where  no  blood  relationship  exists.  The  result  is  that  whilst  the  same 
crests  and  supporters  are  duplicated  over  and  over  again,  they  at  any 
rate  remain  in  Scotland  simple,  graceful,  and  truly  heraldic,  even  when 
judged  by  the  most  rigid  mediaeval  standard.  They  are,  of  course,  neces- 
sarily of  no  value  whatever  for  identification.  In  England  the  simpHcity 
is  relinquished  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  and  it  is  held  that  equivalent 
differentiation  must  be  made,  both  in  regard  to  the  crests  and  the 
supporters,  as  is  made  between  the  shields  of  different  families.  The 
result  as  to  modern  crests  is  truly  appalling,  and  with  supporters  it  is 
almost  equally  so,  for  by  their  very  nature  it  is  impossible  to  design 
adequate  differences  for  crests  and  supporters,  as  can  readily  be  done  in 
the  charges  upon  a  shield,  without  creating  monstrosities.  With  regret 
one  has  to  admit  that  the  dangling  shields,  the  diapered  chintz-like 
bodies,  and  the  fasces  and  other  footstools  so  frequently  provided  for 
modern  supporters  in  England  would  seem  to  be  pedantic,  unnecessary, 
and  inartistic  strivings  after  a  useless  ideal. 

f  In  England  the  right  to  bear  supporters  is  confined  to  those  to 
whom  they  have  been  granted  or  recorded,  but  such  grant  or  record 
is  very  rigidly  confined  to  peers,  to  Knights  of  the  Garter,  Thistle,  and 
St.  Patrick,  and  to  Knights  Grand  Cross,  or  Knights  Grand  Com- 
manders (as  the  case  may  be)  of  other  Orders.  Before  the  Order  of 
the  Bath  was  divided  into  classes.  Knights  of  the  Bath  had  supporters. 
As  by  an  unwritten  but  nowadays  invariably  accepted  law,  the  Orders 
of  the  Garter,  Thistle,  and  St.  Patrick  are  confined  to  members  of  the 
peerage,  those  entitled  to  claim  (upon  their  petitioning)  a  grant  of  sup- 
porters in  England  are  in  practice  limited  to  peers  and  Knights  Grand 
Cross  or  Knights  Grand  Commanders.  In  the  cases  of  peers,  the  grant 
is  always  attached  to  a  particular  peerage,  the  "  remainder "  in  the 
limitations  of  the  grant  being  to  '^  those  of  his  descendants  upon  whom 
the  peerage  may  devolve,"  or  some  other  words  to  this  effect.  In  the 
cases  of  life  peers  and  Knights  Grand  Cross  the  grant  has  no  hereditary 
limitation,  and  the  right  to  the  supporters  is  personal  to  the  grantee. 
There  is  nothing  to  distinguish  the  supporters  of  a  peer  from  those  of 
a  Knight  Grand  Cross.  Baronets  of  England,  Ireland,  Great  Britain, 
and  the  United  Kingdom  as  such  are  not  entitled  to  claim  grants  of 
supporters,  but  there  are  some  number  of  cases  in  which,  by  special 
favour  of  the  sovereign,  specific  Royal  Warrants  have  been  issued — 


420     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

either  as  marks  of  favour  or  as  augmentations  of  honour — conveying 
the  pleasure  of  the  sovereign  to  the  kings  of  arms,  and  directing  the 
latter  to  grant  supporters — to  descend  with  the  baronetcy.  Of  the 
cases  of  this  nature  the  following  may  be  quoted :  Guise  (Royal  War- 
rant, dated  July  12,  1863),  Prevost  (Royal  Warrant,  October  1816), 
Guinness,  now  Lord  Ardilaun  (Royal  Warrant,  dated  April  15,  1867), 
Halford  (Royal  Warrant,  May  i9,i827),Otway  (Royal  Warrant,  June  10, 
1845),  and  Laking.  These,  of  course,  are  exceptional  marks  of  favour 
from  the  sovereign,  and  this  favour  in  at  least  two  instances  has  been 
extended  to  untitled  families.  In  18 15  Mr.  George  Watson-Taylor, 
an  especial  intimate  of  the  then  Prince  Regent,  by  Royal  Warrant 
dated  September  28,  18 15,  was  granted  the  following  supporters  :  ^'  On 
either  side  a  leopard  proper,  armed  and  langued  gules,  collared  and 
chained  or."  A  more  recent  instance,  and,  with  the  exception  of  an 
Irish  case  presently  to  be  referred  to,  the  only  other  one  within 
the  knowledge  of  the  writer,  is  the  case  of  the  Speke  ^  arms.  It  is 
recited  in  the  Royal  Warrant,  dated  July  26,  1867,  that  Captain  John 
Hanning  Speke  "  was  by  a  deplorable  accident  suddenly  deprived  of 
his  life  before  he  had  received  any  mark  of  our  Royal  favour  "  in  con- 
nection with  the  discovery  of  the  sources  of  the  Nile.  The  Warrant 
goes  on  to  recite  the  grant  to  his  father,  William  Speke,  of  Jordans, 
CO.  Somerset,  of  the  following  augmentations  to  his  original  arms 
(argent,  two  bars  azure)  namely :  on  a  chief  a  representation  of  flow- 
ing water  superinscribed  with  the  word  ^<  Nile,"  and  for  a  crest  of 
honourable  augmentation  a  ^'  crocodile,"  also  the  supporters  following 
— that  is  to  say,  on  the  dexter  side  a  crocodile,  and  on  the  sinister  side 
a  hippopotamus.  Some  number  of  English  baronets  have  gone  to  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  obtaining  grants  of  supporters  in  Lyon  Office  ; 
for  example  Sir  Christopher  Baynes,  by  grant  dated  June  10,  1805, 
obtained  two  savages,  wreathed  about  the  temples  and  loins,  each  hold- 
ing a  club  over  the  exterior  shoulder.  It  is  very  doubtful  to  what 
extent  such  grants  in  Scotland  to  domiciled  Englishmen  can  be  upheld. 
Many  other  baronets  have  at  one  time  or  another  assumed  supporters 
without  any  official  warrant  or  authority  in  consequence  of  certain 
action  taken  by  an  earlier  committee  of  the  baronetage,  but  cases  of 
this  kind  are  slowly  dropping  out  of  the  Peerage  books,  and  this,  com- 

^  Armorial  bearings  of  William  Speke,  Esq. :  Argent,  two  bars  azure,  overall  an  eagle  displayed 
with  two  heads  gules,  and  as  an  honourable  augmentation  (granted  by  Royal  Licence,  dated  July 
26,  1867,  to  commemorate  the  discoveries  of  the  said  John  Hanning  Speke),  a  chief  azure,  thereon 
a  representation  of  flowing  water  proper,  superinscribed  with  the  word  "Nile "in  letters  gold. 
Upon  the  escutcheon  is  placed  a  helmet  befitting  his  degree,  with  a  mantling  azure  and  argent  ; 
and  for  his  crests  :  i.  (of  honourable  augmentation)  upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  crocodile  proper  ; 
2.  upon  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  a  porcupine  proper  ;  and  as  a  further  augmentation  for  supporters 
(granted  by  Royal  Licence  as  above  to  the  said  William  Speke,  Esq.,  for  and  during  his  life) — on 
the  dexter  side,  a  crocodile ;  and  on  the  sinister  side,  a  hippopotamus,  both  proper  ;  with  the 
motto,  "  Super  sethera  virtus." 


SUPPORTERS  421 

billed  with  the  less  ostentatious  taste  of  the  present  day  in  the  depicting 
of  armorial  bearings  upon  carriages  and  elsewhere,  is  slowly  but  steadily 
reducing  the  use  of  supporters  to  those  who  possess  official  authority 
for  their  display. 

Another  fruitful  origin  of  the  use  of  unauthorised  supporters  at 
the  present  day  lies  in  the  fact  that  grants  of  supporters  personal  to 
the  grantee  for  his  life  only  have  been  made  to  Knights  Grand  Cross 
or  to  life  peers  in  cases  where  a  hereditary  title  has  been  subsequently 
conferred.  The  limitations  of  the  grant  of  supporters  having  never 
been  extended,  the  grant  has  naturally  expired  with  the  death  of  the 
life  honour  to  which  the  supporters  were  attached. 

In  addition  to  these  cases  there  is  a  very  Hmited  number  of  families 
which  have  always  claimed  supporters  by  prescriptive  right,  amongst 
whom  may  be  mentioned  Tichborne  of  Tichborne  (two  lions  guardant 
gules),  De  Hoghton  of  Hoghton  (two  bulls  argent),  Scroope  of  Danby 
(tw^o  choughs),  and  Stapylton.  Concerning  such  cases  it  can  only 
be  said  that  in  England  no  official  sanction  has  ever  been  given  to 
such  use,  and  no  case  exists  of  any  official  recognition  of  the  right 
of  an  untitled  family  to  bear  supporters  to  their  arms  save  those  few 
exceptional  cases  governed  by  specific  Royal  Warrants.  In  many 
cases,  notably  Scroope,  Luttrel,  Hilton,  and  Stapylton,  the  supporters 
have  probably  originated  in  their  legitimate  adoption  at  an  early 
period  in  connection  with  peerage  or  other  titular  distinction,  and  have 
continued  inadvertently  in  use  when  the  titular  distinctions  to  which 
they  belonged  have  ceased  to  exist  or  have  devolved  upon  other  families. 
Possibly  their  use  in  some  cases  has  been  the  result  of  a  claim  to  de 
jure  honours.  The  cases  where  supporters  are  claimed  "  by  prescriptive 
right "  are  few  indeed  in  England,  and  need  not  be  further  considered. 

Whilst  the  official  laws  in  Ireland  are,  and  have  apparently  always 
been,  the  same  as  in  England,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  heads  of  the 
different  septs  assert  a  claim  to  the  right  to  use  supporters.  On 
this  point  Sir  Bernard  Burke,  Ulster  King  of  Arms,  wrote :  *'  No 
registry  of  supporters  to  an  Irish  chieftain  appears  in  Ulster's  Office, 
in  right  of  his  chieftaincy  only,  and  without  the  honour  of  peerage, 
nor  does  any  authority  to  bear  them  exist."  But  nevertheless  ^^The 
O'Donovan  "  uses,  dexter,  a  lion  guardant,  and  sinister,  a  griffin  ;  '^The 
O'Gorman  "  uses,  dexter,  a  lion,  and  sinister,  a  horse  ;  "The  O'Reilly  " 
uses  two  lions  or.'  "The  O'Connor  Don,"  however,  is  in  the  unique 
position  of  bearing  supporters  by  unquestionable  right,  inasmuch  as  the 
late  Queen  Victoria,  on  the  occasion  of  her  last  visit  to  Dublin,  issued 
her  Royal  Warrant  conferring  the  right  upon  him.  The  supporters 
granted  to  him  were  "  two  lions  rampant  gules,  each  gorged  with  an 
antique  crown,  and  charged  on  the  shoulder  with  an  Irish  harp  or." 


422     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  right  to  bear  supporters  in  Scotland  is  on  a  widely  different 
basis  from  that  in  any  other  country.  As  in  England  and  Ireland, 
peers  and  Knights  Grand  Cross  are  permitted  to  obtain  grants  of  these 
distinctions.  But  outside  and  beyond  these  there  are  many  other 
families  who  bear  them  by  right.  At  the  official  inquiry  concerning 
the  Lyon  Office,  the  Lyon-Depute,  Mr.  George  Tait,  put  in  a  Note 
of  Persons  whom  he  considered  might  lawfully  bear  supporters 
under  Scottish  Heraldic  Law.  The  following  is  the  text  of  the  note 
in  question  : — 

"  Note  of  Persons  who  are  considered  by  George  Tait,  Esq.,  Lyon- 
Depute,  to  be  entitled  to  supporters,  furnished  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  Inquiry  by  their  desire,  intimated  to  him  at  his 
examination  this  day,  June  27,  1821. 

**  I.  Peers, — By  immemorial  usage,  Peers  have  right  to  supporters, 
and  supporters  are  commonly  inserted  in  modern  patents  of  Peerage. 
This  includes  Peeresses  in  their  own  right. 

^'  2.  Ancient  Usage, — Those  private  gentlemen,  and  the  lawful  heirs- 
male  of  their  bodies,  who  can  prove  immemorial  usage  of  carrying 
supporters,  or  a  usage  very  ancient,  and  long  prior  to  the  Act  1672, 
are  entitled  to  have  their  supporters  recognised,  it  being  presumed 
that  they  received  them  from  lawful  authority,  on  account  of  feats 
of  valour  in  battle  or  in  tournament,  or  as  marks  of  the  Royal  favour 
(see  Murray  of  Touchadanis  Casey  June  24,  1778). 

"  3.  Barons. — Lawful  heirs-male  of  the  bodies  of  the  smaller  Barons, 
who  had  the  full  right  of  free  barony  (not  mere  freeholders)  prior  to 
1587,  when  representation  of  the  minor  Barons  was  fully  established, 
upon  the  ground  that  those  persons  were  Barons,  and  sat  in  Parliament 
as  such,  and  were  of  the  same  as  the  titled  Barons.  Their  right  is 
recognised  by  the  writers  on  heraldry  and  antiquities.  Persons  having 
right  on  this  ground,  will  almost  always  have  established  it  by  ancient 
usage,  and  the  want  of  usage  is  a  strong  presumption  against  the  right. 

^'  4.  Chiefs, — Lawful  heirs-male  of  Chiefs  of  tribes  or  clans  which 
had  attained  power,  and  extensive  territories  and  numerous  members 
at  a  distant  period,  or  at  least  of  tribes  consisting  of  numerous  families 
of  some  degree  of  rank  and  consideration.  Such  persons  will  in 
general  have  right  to  supporters,  either  as  Barons  (great  or  small)  or 
by  ancient  usage.  When  any  new  claim  is  set  up  on  such  a  ground, 
it  may  be  viewed  with  suspicion,  and  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  to 
establish  it,  chiefly  from  the  present  state  of  society,  by  which  the  traces 
of  clanship,  or  the  patriarchal  state,  are  in  most  parts  of  the  country 
almost  obliterated  ;  and  indeed  it  is  very  difficult  to  conceive  a  case 


SUPPORTERS  423 

in  which  a  new  claim  of  that  kind  could  be  admitted.     Mr.  Tait  has 
had  some  such  claims,  and  has  rejected  them. 

*^  5.  Royal  Commissions, — Knights  of  the  Garter  and  Bath,  and  any 
others  to  whom  the  King  may  think  proper  to  concede  the  honour  of 
supporters. 

^^  These  are  the  only  descriptions  of  persons  who  appear  to  Mr. 
Tait  to  be  entitled  to  supporters. 

'<An  idea  has  gone  abroad,  that  Scots  Baronets  are  entitled  to 
supporters  ;  but  there  is  no  authority  for  this  in  their  patents,  or  any 
good  authority  for  it  elsewhere.  And  for  many  years  subsequent  to 
1672,  a  very  small  portion  indeed  of  their  arms  which  are  matriculated 
in  the  Lyon  Register,  are  matriculated  with  supporters  ;  so  small  as 
necessarily  to  lead  to  this  inference,  that  those  whose  arms  are  entered 
with  supporters  had  right  to  them  on  other  grounds,  e.g.  ancient  usage, 
chieftainship,  or  being  heirs  of  Barons.  The  arms  of  few  Scots 
Baronets  are  matriculated  during  the  last  fifty  or  sixty  years ;  but  the 
practice  of  assigning  supporters  gradually  gained  ground  during  that 
time,  or  rather  the  practice  of  assigning  supporters  to  them,  merely  as 
such,  seems  to  have  arisen  during  that  period  ;  and  it  appears  to  Mr. 
Tait  to  be  an  erroneous  practice,  which  he  would  not  be  warranted 
in  following. 

^'  British  Baronets  have  also,  by  recent  practice,  had  supporters 
assigned  to  them,  but  Mr.  Tait  considers  the  practice  to  be  unwarranted  ; 
and  accordingly,  in  a  recent  case,  a  gentleman,  upon  being  created 
a  Baronet,  applied  for  supporters  to  the  King — having  applied  to  Mr. 
Tait,  and  been  informed  by  him  that  he  did  not  conceive  the  Lord 
Lyon  entitled  to  give  supporters  to  British  Baronets. 

^*  No  females  (except  Peeresses  in  their  own  right)  are  entitled  to 
supporters,  as  the  representation  of  families  is  only  in  the  male  line. 
But  the  widows  of  Peers,  by  courtesy,  carry  their  arms  and  supporters  ; 
and  the  sons  of  Peers,  using  the  lower  titles  of  the  peerage  by  courtesy, 
also  carry  the  supporters  by  courtesy. 

*'  Mr.  Tait  does  not  know  of  any  authority  for  the  Lord  Lyon 
having  a  discretionary  power  of  granting  supporters,  and  understands 
that  only  the  King  has  such  a  power. 

"  Humbly  submitted  by 

(Signed)  "  G.  Tait." 


Though  this  statement  would  give  a  good  general  idea  of  the 
Scottish  practice,  its  publication  entails  the  addition  of  certain  qualify- 
ing remarks.  Supporters  are  most  certainly  not  '^  commonly  inserted 
in  modern  patents  of  peerage."  Supporters  appertaining  to  peerages 
are  granted  by  special  and  separate  patents.     These  to  English  subjects 


424     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

are  now  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  Garter  alone.  In  the  event  of  a 
grant  following  upon  the  creation  of  an  Irish  peerage,  the  patent  of 
supporters  would  be  issued  by  Ulster  King  of  Arms.  But  it  is  com- 
petent to  Lyon  King  of  Arms  to  matriculate  the  arms  of  Scottish  peers 
with  supporters,  or  to  grant  these  to  such  as  may  still  be  without  them. 
Both  Lyon  and  Ulster  would  appear  to  have  the  right  to  grant  sup- 
porters to  Peers  of  the  United  Kingdom  who  are  heraldically  their 
domiciled  subjects.  With  regard  to  the  second  paragraph  of  Mr.  Tait's 
memorandum,  there  will  be  few  families  within  its  range  who  will  not 
be  included  within  the  range  of  the  paragraph  which  follows,  and  the 
presumption  would  rather  be  that  the  use  of  supporters  by  an  untitled 
family  originated  in  the  right  of  barony  than  in  any  mythical  grant 
following  upon  mythical  feats  of  valour. . 

Mr.  Tait,  however,  is  clearly  wrong  in  his  statement  that  ''no 
females  (except  peeresses  in  their  own  right)  are  entitled  to  supporters." 
They  have  constantly  been  allowed  to  the  heir  of  line,  and  their  devolu- 
tion through  female  heirs  must  of  necessity  presuppose  the  right  thereto 
of  the  female  heir  through  whom  the  inheritance  is  claimed.  A  recent 
case  in  point  occurs  with  regard  to  the  arms  of  Hunter-Weston, 
matriculated  in  1880,  Mrs.  Hunter-Weston  being  the  heir  of  line 
of  Hunter  of  Hunterston.  Widows  of  peers,  providing  they  have 
arms  of  their  own  to  impale  with  those  of  their  husbands,  cannot  be 
said  to  only  bear  the  supporters  of  their  deceased  husbands  by  courtesy. 
With  them  it  is  a  matter  of  right.  The  eldest  sons  of  peers  bearing 
courtesy  titles  most  certainly  do  not  bear  the  supporters  of  the  peerage 
to  which  they  are  heirs.  Even  the  far  more  generally  accepted 
''  courtesy  "  practice  of  bearing  coronets  is  expressly  forbidden  by  an 
Earl-Marshal's  Warrant. 

Consequently  it  may  be  asserted  that  the  laws  concerning  the  use 
of  supporters  in  Scotland  are  as  follows :  In  the  first  place,  no 
supporters  can  be  borne  of  right  unless  they  have  been  the  subject 
of  formal  grant  or  matriculation.  The  following  classes  are  entitled  to 
obtain,  upon  payment  of  the  necessary  fees,  the  grant  or  matriculation  of 
supporters  to  themselves,  or  to  themselves  and  their  descendants  accord- 
ing as  the  case  may  be  :  (i)  Peers  of  Scotland,  and  other  peers  who  are 
domiciled  Scotsmen.  (2)  Knights  of  the  Garter,  Knights  of  the  Thistle, 
and  Knights  of  St.  Patrick,  being  Scotsmen,  are  entitled  as  such  to  obtain 
grants  of  supporters  to  themselves  for  use  during  life,  but  as  these 
three  orders  are  now  confined  to  members  of  the  peerage,  the  sup- 
porters used  would  be  probably  those  appertaining  to  their  peerages, 
and  it  is  unlikely  that  any  further  grants  for  life  will  be  made  under 
these  circumstances.  (3)  Knights  of  the  Bath  until  the  revision  of  the 
order  were  entitled  to  obtain  grants  of  supporters  to  themselves  for 


SUPPORTERS  425 

use  during  their  lifetimes,  and  there  are  many  instances  in  the  Lyon 
Register  where  such  grants  have  been  made.  (4)  Knights  Grand  Cross 
of  the  Bath,  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George,  and  of  the  Royal  Victorian 
Order,  and  Knights  Grand  Commanders  of  the  Orders  of  the  Star  of 
India,  and  of  the  Indian  Empire,  are  entitled  to  obtain  grants  of  sup- 
porters for  use  during  their  lifetimes.  (5)  The  lawful  heirs  of  the 
minor  barons  who  had  the  full  right  of  free  barony  prior  to  1587  may 
matriculate  supporters  if  they  can  show  their  ancestors  used  them,  or 
may  now  obtain  grants.  Though  practically  the  whole  of  these  have 
been  at  some  time  or  other  matriculated  in  Lyon  Register,  there  still 
remain  a  few  whose  claims  have  never  been  officially  adjudicated  upon. 
For  example,  it  is  only  quite  recently  that  the  ancient  Swinton  sup- 
porters have  been  formally  enrolled  on  the  official  records  (Plate  IV.).) 
(6)  There  are  certain  others,  being  chiefs  of  clans  and  the  heirs  of  those 
to  whom  grants  have  been  made  in  times  past,  who  also  have  the  right, 
but  as  no  new  claim  is  likely  to  be  so  recognised  in  the  future,  it 
may  be  taken  that  these  are  confined  to  those  cases  which  have  been 
already  entered  in  the  Lyon  Register. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  executive  of 
Lyon  Otece  had  fallen  into  great  disrepute.  The  office  of  Lyon  King 
of  Arms  had  been  granted  to  the  Earls  of  Kinnoul,  who  had  contented 
themselves  with  appointing  deputies  and  drawing  fees.  The  whole 
subject  of  armorial  jurisdiction  in  Scotland  had  become  lax  to  the  last 
degree,  and  very  many  irregularities  had  crept  in.  One,  and  probably 
the  worst  result,  had  been  the  granting  of  supporters  in  many  cases 
where  no  valid  reason  other  than  the  payment  of  fees  could  be  put 
forward  to  warrant  the  obtaining  of  such  a  privilege.  And  the  result 
was  the  growth  and  acceptance  of  the  fixed  idea  that  it  was  within  the 
power  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  to  grant  supporters  to  any  one  whom  he 
might  choose  to  so  favour.  Consequently  many  grants  of  supporters 
were  placed  upon  the  records,  and  many  untitled  families  of  Scotland 
apparently  have  the  right  under  these  patents  of  grant  to  add  supporters 
to  their  arms.  Though  it  is  an  arguable  matter  whether  the  Lord 
Lyon  was  justified  in  making  these  grants,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that, 
so  long  as  they  remain  upon  the  official  register,  and  no  official  steps 
are  taken  to  cancel  the  patents,  they  must  be  accepted  as  existing  by 
legal  right.  Probably  the  most  egregious  instance  of  such  a  grant  is 
to  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  grant  to  the  first  baronet  of  the  family 
of  Antrobus,  who  on  purchasing  the  estate  of  Rutherford,  the  seat  of 
the  extinct  Lords  Rutherford,  obtained  from  the  then  Lyon  King  of 
Arms  a  grant  of  the  peerage  supporters  carried  by  the  previous  owners 
of  the  property. 

With  regard  to  the  devolution  of  Scottish  supporters,   the   large 


426     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

proportion  of  those  registered  in  Lyon  Office  are  recorded  in  the  terms 
of  some  patent  which  specifies  the  limitations  of  their  descent,  so  that 
there  are  a  comparatively  small  number  only  concerning  which  there 
can  be  any  uncertainty  as  to  whom  the  supporters  will  descend  to. 
The  difficulty  can  only  arise  in  those  cases  in  which  the  arms  are 
matriculated  with  supporters  as  borne  by  ancient  usage  in  the  early 
years  of  the  Lyon  Register,  or  in  the  cases  of  supporters  still  to  be 
matriculated  on  the  same  grounds  by  those  families  who  have  so  far 
failed  to  comply  with  the  Act  of  1672.  Whilst  Mr.  Tait,  in  his  memo- 
randum which  has  been  previously  quoted,  would  deny  the  right  of 
inheritance  to  female  heirs,  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  in  many 
cases  such  heirs  have  been  allowed  to  succeed  to  the  supporters  of 
their  families.  Taking  supporters  as  an  appanage  of  right  of  barony 
(either  greater  or  lesser),  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  greater  baronies, 
and  consequently  the  supporters  attached  to  them,  devolved  upon  heirs 
female,  and  upon  the  heir  of  line  inheriting  through  a  female  ancestor  ; 
and,  presumably,  the  same  considerations  must  of  necessity  hold  good 
with  regard  to  those  supporters  which  are  borne  by  right  of  lesser 
barony,  for  the  greater  and  the  lesser  were  the  same  thing,  differing 
only  in  degree,  until  in  the  year  1587  the  lesser  barons  were  relieved 
of  compulsory  attendance  in  Parliament.  At  the  same  time  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  the  headship  of  a  family  must  rest  with  the  heir  male, 
and  consequently  it  would  seem  that  in  those  cases  in  which  the 
supporters  are  borne  by  right  of  being  head  of  a  clan  or  chief  of  a 
name,  the  right  of  inheritance  would  devolve  upon  the  heir  male. 
There  must  of  necessity  be  some  cases  in  which  it  is  impossible  to 
determine  whether  the  supporters  were  originally  called  into  being  by 
right  of  barony  or  because  of  chieftainship,  and  the  consequence  has 
been  that  concerning  the  descent  of  the  supporters  of  the  older  untitled 
families  there  has  been  no  uniformity  in  the  practice  of  Lyon  Office, 
and  it  is  impossible  from  the  precedents  which  exist  to  deduce  any 
certain  and  unalterable  rule  upon  the  point.  Precedents  exist  in.  each 
case,  and  the  well-known  case  of  Smith-Cunningham  and  Dick-Cunning- 
ham, which  is  often  referred  to  as  settling  the  point,  did  nothing  of  the 
kind,  inasmuch  as  that  judgment  depended  upon  the  interpretation  of 
a  specific  Act  of  Parliament,  and  was  not  the  determination  of  a  point 
of  heraldic  law.  The  case,  however,  afforded  the  opportunity  to  Lord 
Jeffrey  to  make  the  following  remarks  upon  the  point  (see  p.  355, 
Seton) : — 

**  If  I  may  be  permitted  to  take  a  common-sense  view,  I  should  say 
that  there  is  neither  an  inflexible  rule  nor  a  uniform  practice  in  the 
matter.  There  may  be  cases  where  the  heir  of  line  will  exclude  the 
heir  male,  and  there  may  be  cases  where  the  converse  will  be  held.     In 


SUPPORTERS  427 

my  opinion  the  common-sense  rule  is  that  the  chief  armorial  dignities 
should  follow  the  more  substantial  rights  and  dignities  of  the  family. 
If  the  heir  male  succeed  to  the  title  and  estates^  I  think  it  reasonable  thai  he 
should  also  succeed  to  the  armorial  bearings  of  the  head  of  the  house.  I 
would  think  it  a  very  difficult  proposition  to  establish  that  the  heir  of 
line,  when  denuded  of  everything  else,  was  still  entitled  to  retain  the 
barren  honours  of  heraldry.     But  I  give  no  opinion  upon  that  point." 

Mr.  Seton,  in  his  ^<  Law  and  Practice  of  Heraldry  in  Scotland/' 
sums  up  the  matter  of  inheritance  in  these  words  (see  p.  357):  "As 
already  indicated,  however,  by  one  of  the  learned  Lords  in  his  opinion 
on  the  case  of  Cuninghame,  the  practice  in  the  matter  in  question  has 
been  far  from  uniform  :  and  accordingly  we  are  very  much  dis- 
posed to  go  along  with  his  relative  suggestion,  that  *  the  chief  armorial 
dignities  should  follow  the  more  substantial  rights  and  dignities  of  the 
family '  ;  and  that  when  the  latter  are  enjoyed  by  the  female  heir  of 
line,  such  heir  should  also  be  regarded  as  fairly  entitled  to  claim  the 
principal  heraldic  honours." 

The  result  has  been  in  practice  that  the  supporters  of  a  family 
have  usually  been  matriculated  to  whoever  has  carried  on  the  name  and 
line  of  the  house,  unless  the  supporters  in  question  have  been  governed 
by  a  specific  grant,  the  limitations  of  which  exist  to  be  referred  to  , 
but  in  cases  where  both  the  heir  of  line  and  the  heir  male  have  been  left 
in  a  prominent  position,  the  difficulty  of  decision  has  in  many  cases  been 
got  over  by  allowing  supporters  to  both  of  them.  The  most  curious 
instance  of  this  within  our  knowledge  occurs  with  regard  to  the  family 
of  Chisholm. 

Chisholm  of  Erchless  Castle  appears  undoubtedly  to  have  succeeded 
as  head  and  chief  of  his  name — ''  The  Chisholm  " — about  the  end  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  As  such  supporters  were  carried,  namely  : 
'<  On  either  side  a  savage  wreathed  about  the  head  and  middle  with 
laurel,  and  holding  a  club  over  his  exterior  shoulder." 

At  the  death  of  Alexander  Chisholm — ^'The  Chisholm" — 7th 
February  1793,  the  chieftainship  and  the  estates  passed  to  his  half- 
brother  William,  but  his  heir  of  line  was  his  only  child  Mary,  who 
married  James  Gooden  of  London.  Mrs.  Mary  Chisholm  or  Gooden 
in  1827  matriculated  the  undifferenced  arms  of  Chisholm  [^*  Gules,  a 
boar's  head  couped  or  "],  without  supporters,  but  in  183 1  the  heir  male 
also  matriculated  the  same  undifferenced  arms,  in  this  case  with  sup- 
porters. 

The  chieftainship  of  the  Chisholm  family  then  continued  with  the 
male  line  until  the  death  of  Duncan  Macdonell  Chisholm — "The 
Chisholm" — in  1859,  when  his  only  sister  and  heir  became  heir  of 
line  of  the  later  chiefs.     She  was  then  Jemima  Batten,  and  by  Royal 


428     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Licence  in  that  year  she  and  her  husband  assumed  the  additional  sur- 
name of  Chisholm,  becoming  Chisholm-Batten,  and,  contrary  to  the 
English  practice  in  such  cases,  the  arms  of  Chisholm  alone  were  matricu- 
lated in  i860  to  Mrs.  Chisholm-Batten  and  her  descendants.  These 
once  again  were  the  undifferenced  coat  of  Chisholm,  viz.  :  <<  Gules,  a 
boar's  head  couped  or."  Arms  for  Batten  have  since  been  granted  in 
England,  the  domicile  of  the  family  being  English,  and  the  arms  of  the 
present  Mr.  Chisholm-Batten,  though  including  the  quartering  for 
Chisholm,  is  usually  marshalled  as  allowed  in  the  College  of  Arms 
by  English  rules. 

Though  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  subsequent 
rematriculation  in  favour  of  the  heir  male  who  succeeded  as  ''The 
Chisholm,"  the  undifferenced  arms  were  also  considered  to  have 
devolved  upon  him  together  with  the  supporters.  On  the  death  of  the 
last  known  male  heir  of  the  family,  Roderick  Donald  Matheson  Chis- 
holm, The  Chisholm,  in  1887,  Mr.  James  Chisholm  Gooden-Chisholm 
claimed  the  chieftainship  as  heir  of  line,  and  in  that  year  the  Gooden- 
Chisholm  arms  were  again  rematriculated.  In  this  case  supporters 
were  added  to  the  again  undifferenced  arms  of  Chisholm,  but  a  slight 
alteration  in  the  supporters  was  made,  the  clubs  being  reversed  and 
placed  to  rest  on  the  ground. 

Amongst  the  many  other  untitled  Scottish  families  who  rightly 
bear  supporters,  may  be  mentioned  Gibsone  of  Pentland,  Barclay  of 
Urie,  Barclay  of  Towie,  Drummond  of  Meggirich,  Maclachlan  of  that 
Ilk,  "Cluny  "  Macpberson,  Cunninghame,  and  Brisbane  of  that  Ilk. 

Armorial  matters  in  the  Channel  Islands  present  a  very  unsatis- 
factory state  of  affairs.  There  never  appears  to  have  been  any 
Visitation,  and  the  arms  of  Channel  Island  families  which  officially 
pass  muster  must  be  confined  to  those  of  the  very  few  famiUes  (for 
example,  De  Carteret,  Dobr^e,  and  Tupper)  who  have  found  it  neces- 
sary or  advisable  on  their  own  initiative  to  register  their  arms  in  the 
official  English  sources.  In  none  of  these  instances  have  supporters 
been  allowed,  nor  I  believe  did  any  of  these  families  claim  to  use 
them,  but  some  (Lempri^re,  De  Saumerez,  and  other  families)  assert 
the  possession  of  such  a  distinction  by  prescriptive  right.  If  the  right 
to  supporters  be  a  privilege  of  peerage,  or  if,  as  in  Scotland,  it  anciently 
depended  upon  the  right  of  free  barony,  the  position  of  these  Channel 
Island  families  in  former  days  as  seignorial  lords  was  much  akin. 
But  it  is  highly  improbable  that  the  right  to  bear  supporters  in  such 
cases  will  ever  be  officially  recognised,  and  the  case  of  De  Saumerez, 
in  which  the  supporters  were  bedevilled  and  regranted  to  descend 
with  the  peerage,  will  probably  operate  as  a  decisive  precedent  upon 
the  point  and  against  such  a  right.     There  are  some  number  of  families 


SUPPORTERS  429 

of  foreign  origin  who  bear  supporters  or  claim  them  by  the  assertion 
of  foreign  right.  Where  this  right  can  be  estabUshed  their  use  has 
been  confirmed  by  Royal  Licence  in  this  country  in  some  number  of 
cases  ;  for  example,  the  cases  of  Rothschild  and  De  Salis.  In  other 
cases  (for  example,  the  case  of  Chamier)  no  official  record  of  the  sup- 
porters exists  with  the  record  of  the  arms,  and  presumably  the  foreign 
right  to  the  supporters  could  not  have  been  established  at  the  time  of 
registration. 

With  regard  to  impersonal  arms,  the  right  to  supporters  in  England 
is  not  easy  to  define.  In  the  case  of  counties,  crests  and  supporters 
are  granted  if  the  county  likes  to  pay  for  them. 

In  the  case  of  towns,  the  rule  in  England  is  that  an  ordinary 
town  may  not  have  supporters  but  that  a  city  may,  and  instances  are 
numerous  where  supporters  have  been  granted  upon  the  elevation  of 
a  town  to  the  dignity  of  a  city.  Birmingham,  Sheffield,  and  Nottingham 
are  all  recent  instances  in  point.  This  rule,  however,  is  not  abso- 
lutely rigid,  and  an  exception  may  be  pointed  to  in  the  case  of 
Liverpool,  the  supporters  being  granted  in  1797,  and  the  town  not 
being  created  a  city  until  a  subsequent  date.  In  Scotland,  where,  of 
course,  until  quite  recently  supporters  were  granted  practically  to 
anybody  who  chose  to  pay  for  them,  a  grant  will  be  found  for  the 
county  of  Perth  dated  in  1800,  in  which  supporters  were  included. 
But  as  to  towns  and  cities  it  is  no  more  than  a  matter  of  fees,  any 
town  in  Scotland  eligible  for  arms  being  at  liberty  to  obtain  supporters 
also  if  they  are  desired.  In  grants  of  arms  to  corporate  bodies  it  is 
difficult  to  draw  the  line  or  to  deduce  any  actual  rule.  In  23rd  of 
Henry  VIII.  the  Grocers'  Livery  Company  were  granted  "two  griffins 
per  fess  gules  and  or,"  and  many  other  of  the  Livery  Companies 
have  supporters  to  their  arms.  Others,  for  no  apparent  reason,  are 
without  them.  The  "  Merchant  Adventurers'  Company  or  Hamburg 
Merchants  "  have  supporters,  as  had  both  the  old  and  the  new  East 
India  Companies.  The  arms  of  Jamaica  and  Cape  Colony  and  of  the 
British  North  Borneo  Company  have  supporters,  but  on  the  other 
hand  no  supporters  were  assigned  to  Canada  or  to  any  of  its  provinces. 
In  Ireland  the  matter  appears  to  be  much  upon  the  same  footing  as 
in  England,  and  as  far  as  impersonal  arms  are  concerned  it  is  very 
difficult  to  say  what  the  exact  rule  is,  if  this  is  to  be  deduced  from 
known  cases  and  past  precedents. 

Probably  the  freedom — amounting  in  many  cases  to  great  laxity 
— with  which  in  English  heraldic  art  the  positions  and  attitudes  of 
supporters  are  changed,  is  the  one  point  in  which  English  heraldic  art 
has  entirely  ignored  the  trammels  of  conventionalised  officialism. 
There  must  be  in  this  country  scores  of  entrance  gates  where  each 


430     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

pillar  of  the  gateway  is  surmounted  by  a  shield  held  in  the  paws  of  a 
single  supporter,  and  the  Governmental  use  of  the  Royal  supporters 
in  an  amazing  variety  of  attitudes,  some  of  which  are  grossly  un- 
heraldic,  has  not  helped  towards  a  true  understanding.  The  reposeful 
attitude  of  watchful  slumber  in  which  the  Royal  lion  and  unicorn  are 
so  often  depicted,  may  perhaps  be  in  the  nature  of  submission  to  the 
Biblical  teaching  of  Isaiah  that  the  lion  shall  lie  down  with  the  lamb 
(and  possibly  therefore  also  with  the  unicorn),  in  these  times  of  peace 
which  have  succeeded  those  earlier  days  when  "the  lion  beat  the 
unicorn  round  and  round  the  town." 

In  official  minds,  however,  the  sole  attitude  for  the  supporters  is 
the  rampant,  or  as  near  an  approach  to  it  as  the  nature  of  the  animal 
will   allow.     A   human  being,  a  bird,  or  a  fish  naturally  can  hardly 


Fig.  668. — The  Arms  used  by  Kilmarnock,  Ayrshire  :  Azure,  a  fess  chequy 
gules  and  argent.  Crest  :  a  dexter  hand  raised  in  benediction.  Supporters  : 
on  either  side  a  squirrel  sejant  proper. 


adopt  the  attitude.  In  Scotland,  the  land  of  heraldic  freedom,  various 
exceptions  to  this  can  be  found.  Of  these  one  can  call  to  mind  the 
arms  used  by  the  town  of  Kilmarnock  (Fig.  668),  in  which  the 
supporters,  "  squirrels  proper,"  are  depicted  always  as  sejant.  These 
particular  creatures,  however,  would  look  strange  to  us  in  any  other 
form.  These  arms  unfortunately  have  never  been  matriculated  as 
the  arms  of  the  town  (being  really  the  arms  of  the  Boyd  family,  the 
attainted  Earls  of  Kilmarnock),  and  consequently  can  hardly  as  yet 
be  referred  to  as  a  definite  precedent,  because  official  matriculation 
might  result  in  a  similar  "  happening  "  to  the  change  which  was  made 
in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Inverness.  In  all  representations  of  the 
arms  of  earlier  date  than  the  matriculation,  the  supporters,  (dexter) 


SUPPORTERS  431 

a  camel  and  (sinister)  an  elephant,  are  depicted  statant  on  either  side 
of  the  shield;  no  actual  contact  being  made  between  the  escutcheon 
and  the  supporters.  But  in  1900,  when  in  a  belated  compliance 
with  the  Act  of  1672  the  armorial  bearings  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of 
Inverness  were  matriculated,  the  position  was  altered  to  that  more 
usually  employed  for  supporters. 

The  supporters  always  used  by  Sir  John  Maxwell  Stirling-Maxwell 
of  Pollok  are  two  lions  sejant  guardant.  These,  as  appears  from  an 
old  seal,  were  in  use  as  far  back  as  the  commencement  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  but  the  supporters  officially  recorded  for  the  family  are  two 
apes.  In  English  armory  one  or  two  exceptional  cases  may  be 
noticed  ;  for  example,  the  supporters  of  the  city  of  Bristol,  which  are  : 
^^  On  either  side,  on  a  mount  vert,  a  unicorn  sejant  or,  armed,  maned, 
and  unguled  sable."  Another  instance  will  be  found  in  the  supporters 
of  Lord  Rosmead,  which  are:  ^^  On  the  dexter  side  an  ostrich  and  on 
the  sinister  side  a  kangaroo,  both  regardant  proper."  From  the  nature 
of  the  animal,  the  kangaroo  is  depicted  sejant. 

Supporters  in  Germany  date  from  the  same  period  as  with  our- 
selves, being  to  be  met  with  on  seals  as  far  back  as  1276.  At  first 
they  were  similarly  purely  artistic  adjuncts,  but  they  have  retained  much 
of  this  character  and  much  of  the  purely  permissive  nature  in  Germany 
to  the  present  day.  It  was  not  until  about  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  that  supporters  were  granted  or  became  hereditary  in 
that  country.  Grants  of  supporters  can  be  found  in  England  at  an 
earlier  date,  but  such  grants  were  isolated  in  number.  Nevertheless 
supporters  had  become  hereditary  very  soon  after  they  obtained  a 
regularly  heraldic  (as  opposed  to  a  decorative)  footing.  Their  use, 
however,  was  governed  at  that  period  by  a  greater  freedom  as  to 
alteration  and  change  than  was  customary  with  armory  in  general. 
Supporters  were  an  adjunct  of  the  peerage,  and  peers  were  not  subject 
to  the  Visitations.  With  his  freedom  from  arrest,  his  high  social 
position,  and  his  many  other  privileges  of  peerage,  a  peer  was  ^^  too 
big  "  a  person  formerly  to  accept  the  dictatorial  armorial  control  which 
the  Crown  enforced  upon  lesser  people.  Short  of  treason,  a  peer  in 
any  part  of  Great  Britain  for  most  practical  purposes  of  social  life  was 
above  the  ordinary  law.  In  actual  fact  it  was  only  the  rights  of  one 
peer  as  opposed  to  the  rights  of  another  peer  that  kept  a  Lord  of 
Parliament  under  any  semblance  of  control.  When  the  great  lords  of 
past  centuries  could  and  did  raise  armies  to  fight  the  King  a  peer  was 
hardly  likely  to,  nor  did  he,  brook  much  interference. 

Of  the  development  of  supporters  in  Germany  Strohl  writes : — 

*'  Only  very  late,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
were  supporters  granted  as  hereditary,  but  they  appear  in  the  arms  of 


432     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

burghers  in  the  first  half  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  the  arms  of 
many  towns  also  possess  them  as  decorative  adjuncts. 

^^  The  first  supporters  were  human  figures,  generally  portraits  of  the 
arms-bearers  themselves  ;  then  women,  young  men,  and  boys,  so-called 
Schildbuben,  In  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  century  animals 
appear  :  lions,  bears,  stags,  dogs,  griffins,  &c.  In  the  fifteenth  century 
one  frequently  encounters  angels  with  richly  curling  hair,  saints  (patrons 
of  the  bearer  or  of  the  town),  then  later,  nude  wild  men  and  women 
{Waldmenschen)  thickly  covered  with  hair,  with  garlands  round  their 
loins  and  on  their  heads.  The  thick,  hairy  covering  of  the  body 
in  the  case  of  women  is  only  to  be  met  with  in  the  very  beginning. 
Later  the  endeavour  was  to  approach  the  feminine  ideal  as  nearly  as 
possible,  and  only  the  garlands  were  retained  to  point  out  the  origin 
and  the  home  of  these  figures. 

"At  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  and  in  the  sixteenth  century,  there 
came  into  fashion  lansquenets,  huntsmen,  pretty  women  and  girls,  both 
clothed  and  unclothed."  Speaking  of  the  present  day,  and  from  the 
executive  standpoint,  he  adds  : — 

"  Supporters,  with  the  exception  of  flying  angels,  should  have  a 
footing  on  which  they  can  stand  in  a  natural  manner,  whether  it  be 
grass,  a  pedestal,  a  tree,  or  line  of  ornament,  and  to  place  them  upon 
a  ribbon  of  a  motto  is  less  suitable  because  a  thin  ribbon  can  hardly 
give  the  impression  of  a  sufficiently  strong  support  for  the  invariably 
heavy-looking  figures  of  the  men  or  animals.  The  supporters  of  the 
shield  may  at  the  same  time  be  employed  as  bearers  of  the  helmets. 
They  bear  the  helmets  either  over  the  head  or  hold  them  in  their 
hands.  Figures  standing  near  the  shield,  but  not  holding  or  supporting 
it  in  any  way,  cannot  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word  be  designated 
supporters  ;  such  figures  are  called  Schildwdchter  (shield- watchers  or 
guardians). 

HUMAN    FIGURES    AS    SUPPORTERS 

Of  all  figures  employed  as  supporters  probably  human  beings  are 
of  most  frequent  occurrence,  even  when  those  single  and  double  figures 
referred  to  on  an  earlier  page,  which  are  not  a  real  part  of  the  heraldic 
achievement,  are  excluded  from  consideration.  The  endless  variety 
of  different  figures  perhaps  gives  some  clue  to  the  reason  of  their 
frequent  occurrence. 

Though  the  nude  human  figure  appears  (male)  upon  the  shield  of 
Dalziel  and  (female)  in  the  crest  of  Ellis  (Agar-EUis,  formerly  Viscount 
Clifden),  one  cannot  call  to  mind  any  instance  of  such  an  occurrence 
in   the   form   of   supporters,  though   possibly   the   supporters   of  the 


,r,     V    O 

(U    O-'O 

o  A  *— ' 
&^° 


1-1  C/3^ 


^  ii    i3 

o  ^  ti 

j_,  (u  o 

..  «^ 

"  ^  c 


OJ  ■>-  — 


SUPPORTERS  433 

Glaziers'  Livery  Company  ["  Two  naked  boys  proper,  each  holding 
a  long  torch  inflamed  of  the  last "]  and  of  the  Joiners'  Livery  Company 
['*  Two  naked  boys  proper,  the  dexter  holding  in  his  hand  an  emble- 
matical female  figure,  crowned  with  a  mural  coronet  sable,  the  sinister 
holding  in  his  hand  a  square  "]  might  be  classed  in  such  a  character. 
Nude  figures  in  armory  are  practically  always  termed  "  savages,"  or 
occasionally  *'  woodmen "  or  ''  wildmen,"  and  garlanded  about  the 
loins  with  foliage.  '  ^ 

With  various  adjuncts — clubs,  banners,  trees,  branches,  &c. — 
Savages  will  be  found  as  the  supporters  of  the  arms  of  the  German 
Emperor,  and  in  the  sovereign  arms  of  Brunswick,  Denmark,  Schw^arz- 
burg-Sondershausen,  and  Rudolstadt,  as  well  as  in  the  arms  of  the 
kingdom  of  Prussia.  They  also  appear  in  the  arms  of  the  kingdom  of 
Greece,  though  in  this  case  they  should  perhaps  be  more  properly 
described  as  figures  of  Hercules. 

In  British  armory — amongst  many  other  families — two  savages  are 
the  supporters  of  the  Marquess  of  Ailesbury,  Lord  Calthorpe,  Viscount 
de  Vesci,  Lord  Elphinstone,  the  Earl  of  Elgin  and  Kincardine,  the 
Duke  of  Fife,  Earl  Fitzwilliam  (each  holding  in  the  exterior  hand  a 
tree  eradicated).  Lord  Kinnaird,  the  Earl  of  Morton  ;  and  amongst 
the  baronets  who  possess  supporters,  Menzies,  Douglas  of  Carr,  and 
Williams-Drummond  have  on  either  side  of  their  escutcheons  a 
^<  savage."  Earl  Poulett  alone  has  both  man  and  woman,  his  sup- 
porters being  :  "  Dexter,  a  savage  man  ;  sinister,  a  savage  woman, 
both  wreathed  with  oak,  all  proper."  As  some  one  remarked  on  seeing 
a  realistic  representation  of  this  coat  of  arms  by  Catton,  R.A.,  the 
blazon  might  more  appropriately  have  concluded  ''  all  improper." 

Next  after  savages,  the  most  favourite  variety  of  the  human  being 
adopted  as  a  supporter  is  the  Man  in  Armour. 

Even  as  heraldic  and  heritable  supporters  angels  are  not  uncommon, 
and  are  to  be  met  with  amongst  other  cases  in  the  arms  of  the  Marquess 
of  Waterford,  the  Earl  of  Dudley,  and  Viscount  Dillon. 

It  is  rare  to  find  supporters  definitely  stated  to  represent  any  specific 
person,  but  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  Arbroath  (Fig.  669)  the  sup- 
porters are  ^*  Dexter  :  *  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,'  and  sinister,  a  Baron  of 
Scotland."  Another  instance,  again  from  Scotland,  appears  in  a  most 
extraordinary  grant  by  the  Lyon  in  1816  to  Sir  Jonathan  Wathen 
Waller,  Bart.,  of  Braywick  Lodge,  co.  Berks,  and  of  Twickenham, 
CO.  Middlesex.  In  this  case  the  supporters  were  two  elaborately 
<*  harnessed "  ancient  warriors,  ^<  to  commemorate  the  surrender  of 
Charles,  Duke  of  Orleans,  at  the  memorable  battle  of  Agincourt  (that 
word  being  the  motto  over  the  crest)  in  the  year  141 5,  to  Richard 
Waller  of  Groombridge  in  Kent,  Esq.,  from  which   Richard  the  said 

2  E 


434     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Sir  Jonathan  Wathen  Waller  is,  according  to  the  tradition  of  his  family, 
descended."  This  pedigree  is  set  out  in  Burke's  Peerage,  which  assigns 
as  arms  to  this  family  the  old  coat  of  Waller  of  Groombridge,  with  the 
augmented  crest,  viz. :  "  On  a  mount  vert,  a  walnut-tree  proper,  and 
pendent  therefrom  an  escutcheon  of  the  arms  of  France  with  a  label 
of  three  points  argent."  Considerable  doubt,  however,  is  thrown  upon 
the  descent  by  the  fact  that  in  1814,  when  Sir  Jonathan  (then  Mr. 
Phipps)  obtained  a  Royal  Licence  to  assume  the  name  and  arms  of 
Waller,  a  very  different  and  much  bedevilled  edition  of  the  arms  and 
not  the  real  coat  of  Waller  of  Groombridge  was  exemplified  to  him. 
These  supporters  (the  grant  was  quite  ultra  vires,  Sir  Jonathan  being  a 
domiciled  Englishman)  do  not  appear  in  any  of  the  Peerage  books, 
and  it  is  not  clear  to  what  extent  they  were  ever  made  use  of,  but  in  a 
painting  which  came  under  ray  notice  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  in  his 
surcoat  of  France,  could  be  observed  handing  his  sword  across  the 
front  of  the  escutcheon  to  Mr.  (or  Sir)  Richard  Waller.  The  sup- 
porters of  the  Needlemakers'  Company  are  commonly  known  as  Adam 
and  Eve,  and  the  motto  of  the  Company  [^'They  sewed  fig-leaves 
together  and  made  themselves  aprons"]  bears  this  supposition  out. 
The  blazon,  however,  is  :  '^  Dexter,  a  man  ;  sinister,  a  woman,  both 
proper,  each  wreathed  round  the  waist  with  leaves  of  the  last,  in  the 
woman's  dexter  hand  a  needle  or."  The  supporters  of  the  Earl  of 
Aberdeen  are,  <^  dexter  an  Earl  and  sinister  a  Doctor  of  Laws,  both 
in  their  robes  all  proper." 

Highlanders  in  modern  costume  figure  as  supporters  to  the  arms 
of  Maconochie-Wellwood,  and  in  more  ancient  garb  in  the  case  of 
Cluny  Macpherson,  and  soldiers  in  the  uniforms  of  every  regiment, 
and  savages  from  every  clime,  have  at  some  time  or  other  been  pressed 
into  heraldic  service  as  supporters  ;  but  a  work  on  Armory  is  not  a 
handbook  on  costume,  military  and  civil,  nor  is  it  an  ethnographical 
directory,  which  it  would  certainly  become  if  any  attempt  were  to  be 
made  to  enumerate  the  different  varieties  of  men  and  women,  clothed 
and  unclothed,  which  have  been  used  for  the  purposes  of  supporters. 


ANIMALS    AS    SUPPORTERS 

When  we  turn  to  animals  as  supporters,  we  at  once  get  to  a  much 
wider  range,  and  but  little  can  be  said  concerning  them  beyond  stating 
that  though  usually  rampant,  they  are  sometimes  sejant,  and  may  be 
guardant  or  regardant.  One  may,  however,  append  examples  of  the 
work  of  different  artists,  which  will  doubtless  serve  as  models,  or  pos- 
sibly may  develop  ideas  in  other  artists.     The  Lion  naturally  first  claims 


SUPPORTERS  435 

one's  attention.  Fig.  670  shows  an  interesting  and  curious  instance 
of  the  use  of  a  single  Hon  as  a  supporter.  This  is  taken  from  a  draw- 
ing in  the  possession  of  the  town  Hbrary  at  Breslau  {Heroldy  1888, 
No.  i),  and  represents  the  arms  of  Dr.  Heinrich  Rubische,  Physician 
to  the  King  of  Hungary  and  Bohemia.  The  arms  are,  *^  per  fesse/' 
the  chief  argent,  a  *'  point "  throughout  sable,  charged  with  a  lion's 
face,  holding  in  the  jaws  an  annulet,  and  the  base  also  argent  charged 


P'iG.  670. — Arms  of  Dr.  Heinrich  Rubische 

with  two  bars  sable.  The  mantling  is  sable  and  argent.  Upon  the 
helmet  as  crest  are  two  buffalo's  horns  of  the  colours  of  the  shield, 
and  between  them  appears  (apparently  as  a  part  of  the  heritable  crest) 
a  lion's  face  holding  an  annulet  as  in  the  arms.  This,  however,  is  the 
face  of  the  lion,  which,  standing  behind  the  escutcheon,  is  employed 
as  the  supporter,  though  possibly  it  is  intended  that  it  should  do  double 
duty.  This  employment  of  one  animal  to  serve  a  double  armorial 
purpose  is  practically  unknown  in  British  armory,  except  possibly  in 
a  few  early  examples  of  seals,  but  in  German  heraldry  it  is  very  far 
from  being  uncommon. 


436     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Winged  lions  are  not  very  usual,  but  they  occur  as  the  supporters 
of  Lord  Braye  :  *<  On  either  side  a  lion  guardant  or,  winged  vair."  A 
winged  lion  is  also  one  of  the  supporters  (the  dexter)  of  Lord  Lecon- 
field,  but  this,  owing  to  the  position  of  the  wings,  is  quite  unique.  The 
blazon  is  :  '^  A  lion  with  wings  inverted  azure,  collared  or."  Two  lions 
rampant  double-queued,  the  dexter  or,  the  sinister  sable,  are  the  sup- 
porters of  the  Duke  of  Portland,  and  the  supporters  of  both  the  Earl 
of  Feversham  and  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  afford  instances  of  lions 
crowned  with  a  coronet,  and  issuing  therefrom  a  plume  of  ostrich 
feathers. 

Sea-lions  will  be  found  as  supporters  to  the  arms  of  Viscount 
Falmouth  [^*  Two  sea-lions  erect  on  their  tails  argent,  gutt^-de-l'armes  "], 
and  the  Earl  of  Howth  bears  :  *'  Dexter,  a  sea-lion  as  in  the  crest  ; 
sinister,  a  mermaid  proper,  holding  in  her  exterior  hand  a  mirror." 

The  heraldic  tiger  is  occasionally  found  as  a  supporter,  and  an 
instance  occurs  in  the  arms  of  the  Marquess  of  Dufferin  and  Ava.  It 
also  occurs  as  the  sinister  supporter  of  the  Duke  of  Leeds,  and  of  the 
Baroness  Darcy  de  Knayth,  and  was  the  dexter  supporter  of  the  Earls 
of  Holderness.  Two  heraldic  tigers  are  the  supporters  both  of  Sir 
Andrew  Noel  Agnew,  Bart.,  and  of  the  Marquess  of  Anglesey.  Of 
recent  years  the  natural  tiger  has  taken  its  place  in  the  heraldic 
menagerie,  and  instances  of  its  appearance  will  be  found  in  the  arms 
of  Sir  Mortimer  Durand,  and  as  one  of  the  supporters  of  the  arms  of 
the  city  of  Bombay.  When  occurring  in  heraldic  surroundings  it  is 
always  termed  for  distinction  a  "  Bengal  tiger,"  and  two  Royal  Bengal 
tigers  are  the  supporters  of  Sir  Francis  Outram,  Bart. :  *^  On  either 
side  a  Royal  Bengal  tiger  guardant  proper,  gorged  with  a  wreath  of 
laurel  vert,  and  on  the  head  an  Eastern  crown  or." 

The  grifHn  is  perhaps  the  next  most  favourite  supporter.  Male 
griffins  are  the  supporters  of  Sir  George  John  Egerton  Dashwood  : 
'^  On  either  side  a  male  gryphon  argent,  gorged  with  a  collar  flory 
counterflory  gules." 

A  very  curious  supporter  is  borne  by  Mr.  Styleman  Le  Strange. 
Of  course,  as  a  domiciled  English  commoner,  having  no  Royal  Licence 
to  bear  supporters,  his  claim  to  these  additions  would  not  be  recog- 
nised, but  their  use  no  doubt  originated  in  the  fact  that  he  represents 
the  lines  of  several  coheirships  to  different  baronies  by  writ,  to  some 
one  of  which,  no  doubt,  the  supporters  may  have  at  some  time  belonged. 
The  dexter  supporter  in  question  is  '^  a  stag  argent  with  a  lion's  fore- 
paws  and  tail,  collared." 

The  supporters  recently  granted  to  Lord  Milner  are  two  '*  springbok," 
and  the  same  animal  (an  ''  oryx  "  or  "  springbok  ")  is  the  sinister  sup- 
porter of  the  arms  of  Cape  Colony. 


SUPPORTERS  437 

Goats  are  the  supporters  of  the  Earl  of  Portsmouth  (who  styles  his 
"  chamois  or  wild  goats "),  of  Lord  Bagot  and  Lord  Cranworth,  and 
they  occur  in  the  achievements  of  the  Barony  of  Ruthven  and  the 
Marquess  of  Normanby.  The  supporters  of  Viscount  Southwell  are 
two  **  Indian  "  goats. 

Rams  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  de  Ramsey  and  Lord  Sherard. 
A  ram  is  also  one  of  the  supporters  attached  to  the  Barony  of  Ruthven, 
and  one  of  the  supporters  used  by  the  town  of  New  Galloway.  These 
arms,  however,  have  never  been  matriculated,  which  on  account  of 
the  curious  charge  upon  the  shield  is  very  much  to  be  regretted. 

The  supporters  of  Lord  Mowbray  and  Stourton  afford  an  example 
of  a  most  curious  and  interesting  animal.  Originally  the  Lords  Stourton 
used  two  antelopes  azure,  but  before  the  seventeenth  century  these  had 
been  changed  to  two  "  sea-dogs."  When  the  abeyance  of  the  Barony 
of  Mowbray  was  determined  in  favour  of  Lord  Stourton  the  dexter 
supporter  was  changed  to  the  Hon  of  Mowbray,  but  the  sinister  sup- 
porter still  remained  a  "sea-dog." 

The  horse  and  the  pegasus  are  constantly  met  with  supporting  the 
arms  of  peers  and  others  in  this  country.  A  bay  horse  regardant 
figures  as  the  dexter  supporter  of  the  Earl  of  Yarborough,  and  the 
horses  which  support  the  shield  of  Earl  Cowper  are  very  specifi- 
cally detailed  in  the  official  blazon  :  "  Two  dun  horses  close  cropped 
(except  a  tuft  upon  the  withers)  and  docked,  a  large  blaze  down 
the  face,  a  black  list  down  the  back,  and  three  white  feet,  viz.  the 
hind-feet  and  near  fore-foot."  Lord  Joicey  has  two  Shetland  ponies 
and  Lord  Winterstoke  has  "two  horses  sable,  maned,  tailed,  and 
girthed  or." 

The  arms  of  the  City  of  London  are  always  used  with  dragons  for 
supporters,  but  these  supporters  are  not  officially  recorded.  The  arms 
of  the  City  of  London  are  referred  to  at  greater  length  elsewhere  in 
these  pages.  The  town  of  Appleby  uses  dragons  with  wings  expanded 
(most  fearsome  creatures),  but  these  are  not  official,  nor  are  the 
"  dragons  sejant  addorsed  gules,  each  holding  an  ostrich  feather  argent 
affixed  to  a  scroll  "  which  some  enterprising  artist  designed  for  Cheshire. 
Dragons  will  be  found  as  supporters  to  the  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Ennis- 
killen.  Lord  St.  Oswald,  the  Earl  of  Castlestuart,  and  Viscount 
Arbuthnot.  The  heraldic  dragon  is  not  the  only  form  of  the 
creature  now  known  to  armory.  The  Chinese  dragon  was  granted  to 
Lord  Gough  as  one  of  his  supporters,  and  it  has  since  also  been 
granted  as  a  supporter  to  Sir  Robert  Hart,  Bart. 

Wyverns  are  the  supporters  of  the  Earl  of  Meath  and  Lord  Burgh- 
clere,  and  the  sinister  supporter  of  both  Lord  Raglan  and  Lord 
Lyveden. 


438     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Dundee  are  quite  unique.  The 
official  blazon  runs :  '^  Azure,  a  pott  of  growing  lillies  argent,  the 
escutcheon  being  supported  by  two  dragons,  their  tails  nowed  together 
underneath  vert,  with  this  word  in  an  escroll  above  a  lilie  growing  out 
of  the  top  of  the  shield  as  the  former,  '  Dei  Donum.' "  Though 
blazoned  as  dragons,  the  creatures  are  undoubtedly  wyverns. 

Wyverns  when  figuring  as  supporters  are  usually  represented 
standing  on  the  one  claw  and  supporting  the  shield  with  the  other, 
but  in  the  case  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  whose  supporters  are 
two  wyverns,  these  are  generally  represented  sejant  erect,  supporting 
the  shield  with  both  claws.  This  position  is  also  adopted  for  the 
wyvern  supporters  of  Sir  Robert  Arbuthnot,  Bart.,  and  the  Earl  of 
Eglinton. 

Two  cockatrices  are  the  supporters  of  Lord  Donoughmore,  the 
Earl  of  Westmeath,  and  Sir  Edmund  Nugent,  Bart.,  and  the  dexter 
supporter  of  Lord  Lanesborough  is  also  a  cockatrice. 

The  basilisk  is  the  same  creature  as  the  cockatrice,  and  in  the  arms 
of  the  town  of  Basle  (German  Basel),  is  an  example  of  a  supporter 
blazoned  as  a  basilisk.  The  arms  are  :  ^'  Argent,  a  crosier  sable."  The 
supporter  is  a  basilisk  vert,  armed  and  jelloped  gules. 

The  supporters  of  the  Plasterers'  Company,  which  were  granted 
with  the  arms  (January  15,  1556),  are:  ^'Two  opinaci  (figures  very 
similar  to  griffins)  vert  pursted  (?  purfled)  or,  beaked  sable,  the  wings 
gules."     The  dexter  supporter  of  the  arms  of  Cape  Colony  is  a  *'  gnu." 

The  zebra,  the  giraffe,  and  the  okapi  are  as  yet  unclaimed  as  sup- 
porters, though  the  giraffe,  under  the  name  of  the  camelopard,  figures 
in  some  number  of  cases  as  a  crest,  and  there  is  at  least  one  instance 
(Kemsley)  of  a  zebra  as  a  crest.  The  ass,  though  there  are  some 
number  of  cases  in  which  it  appears  as  a  crest  or  a  charge,  does  not 
yet  figure  anyw^here  as  a  supporter,  nor  does  the  mule.  The  hyena, 
the  sacred  cow  of  India,  the  bison,  the  giant-sloth,  and  the  armadillo 
are  all  distinctive  animals  which  still  remain  to  be  withdrawn  from  the 
heraldic  "  lucky  bag "  of  Garter.  The  mythical  human-faced  winged 
bull  of  Egyptian  mythology,  the  harpy,  and  the  female  centaur  would 
lend  themselves  well  to  the  character  of  supporters. 

Robertson  of  Struan  has  no  supporters  matriculated  with  his  arms, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  say  for  what  length  of  time  the  supporters  now  in 
use  have  been  adopted.  But  he  is  chief  of  his  name,  and  the  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  minor  barons,  so  that  there  is  no  doubt  that 
supporters  would  be  matriculated  to  him  if  he  cared  to  apply.  Those 
supporters  in  use,  viz.  "  Dexter,  a  serpent  ;  sinister,  a  dove,  the  heads 
of  each  encircled  with  rays,"  must  surely  be  no  less  unique  than  is  the 
strange  compartment,  ^'a  wild  man  lying  in  chains,"  which  is  borne 


SUPPORTERS  4^9 

below  the  arms  of  Struan  Robertson,  and  which  was  granted  to  his 
ancestor  in  145 1  for  arresting  the  murderers  of  King  James  I. 

The  supporters  belonging  to  the  city  of  Glasgow  ^  are  also  unique, 
being  two  salmon,  each  holding  a  signet-ring  in  the  mouth. 

The  supporters  of  the  city  of  Waterford,  though  not  recorded  in 
Ulster's  Office,  have  been  long  enough  in  use  to  ensure  their  official 
'^  confirmation "  if  a  request  to  this  effect  were  to  be  properly  put 
forward.  They  are,  on  the  dexter  side  a  lion,  and  on  the  sinister  side 
a  dolphin.  Two  dolphins  azure,  finned  or,  are  the  supporters  of  the 
Watermen  and  Lightermen's  Livery  Company,  and  were  granted  1655. 


BIRDS   AS    SUPPORTERS 

Whilst  eagles  are  plentiful  as  supporters,  nevertheless  if  eagles  are 
eliminated  the  proportion  of  supporters  which  are  birds  is  not  great. 

A  certain  variety  and  differentiation  is  obtained  by  altering  the 
position  of  the  wings,  noticeably  in  regard  to  eagles,  but  these  differ- 
ences do  not  appear  to  be  by  any  means  closely  adhered  to  by  artists 
in  pictorial  representations  of  armorial  bearings. 

Fig.  671  ought  perhaps  more  properly  to  have  been  placed  amongst 
those  eagles  which,  appearing  as  single  figures,  carry  shields  charged 
upon  the  breast,  but  in  the  present  case,  in  addition  to  the  shield 
charged  upon  it  in  the  usual  manner,  it  so  palpably  supports  the  two 
other  escutcheons,  that  we  are  tempted  to  include  it  amongst  definite 
supporters.  The  figure  represents  the  arms  of  the  free  city  of  Niirn- 
berg,  and  the  design  is  reproduced  from  the  title-page  of  the  German 
edition  of  Andreas  Vesili's  Anatomia,  printed  at  Nurnberg  in  1537. 
The  eagle  is  that  of  the  German  Empire,  carrying  on  its  breast  the 
impaled  arms  of  Castile  and  Austria.  The  shields  it  supports  may 
now  be  said  both  to  belong  to  Nurnberg.  The  dexter  shield,  which  is 
the  coloured  seal  device  of  the  old  Imperial  city,  is  :  ^' Azure,  a  harpy 
(in  German  frauenadler  or  maiden  eagle)  displayed  and  crowned  or." 
The  sinister  shield  (which  may  more  properly  be  considered  the  real 
arms  of  Nurnberg)  is:  ^^  Per  pale  or,  a  double-headed  Imperial  eagle 
displayed,  dimidiated  with  bendy  of  six  gules  and  argent." 

*  Arms  of  Glasgow  :  Argent,  on  a  mount  in  base  vert  an  oak-tree  proper,  the  stem  at  the  base 
thereof  surmounted  by  a  salmon  on  its  back  also  proper,  with  a  signet-ring  in  its  mouth  or,  on  the 
top  of  the  tree  a  redbreast,  and  in  the  sinister  fess  point  an  ancient  hand-bell,  both  also  proper. 
Above  this  shield  is  placed  a  suitable  helmet,  with  a  mantling  gules,  doubled  argent ;  and  issuing 
from  a  wreath  of  the  proper  liveries  is  set  for  crest,  the  half-length  figure  of  St.  Kentigern  affronte, 
vested  and  mitred,  his  right  hand  raised  in  the  act  of  benediction,  and  having  in  his  left  hand  a 
crosier,  all  proper.  On  a  compartment  below  the  shield  are  placed  for  supporters,  two  salmon 
proper,  each  holding  in  its  mouth  a  signet-ring  or,  and  in  an  escroll  entwined  with  the  compart- 
ment this  motto,  "  Let  Glasgow  flourish." 


440    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

The  supporters  of  Lord  Amherst  of  Hackney  are  two  Herons :  "  On 
either  side  a  heron  proper,  collared  or." 

The  city  of  Calcutta,  to  which  arms  and  supporters  were  granted 


Fig.  671. — The  Arms  of  Niirnberg. 

in  1896,  has  for  its  supporters  Adjutant  Birdsy  which  closely  approximate 
to  storks.  Two  woodpeckers  have  recently  been  granted  as  the 
supporters  of  Lord   Peckover. 


CHAPTER    XXVII 

THE    COMPARTMENT 

A  COMPARTMENT  is  anything  depicted  below  the  shield  as  a 
foothold  or  resting-place  for  the  supporters,  or  indeed  for  the 
•  shield  itself.  Sometimes  it  is  a  fixed  part  of  the  blazon  and 
a  constituent  part  of  the  heritable  heraldic  bearings.  At  other  times 
it  is  a  matter  of  mere  artistic  fancy,  and  no  fixed  rules  exist  to  regulate 
or  control  nor  even  to  check  the  imagination  of  the  heraldic  artist. 
The  fact  remains  that  supporters  must  have  something  to  stand  upon, 
and  if  the  blazon  supplies  nothing,  the  discretion  of  the  artist  is  allowed 
considerable  laxity. 

On  the  subject  of  compartments  a  great  deal  of  diversity  of  opinion 
exists.  There  is  no  doubt  that  in  early  days  and  early  examples 
supporters  were  placed  to  stand  upon  some  secure  footing,  but  with 
the  decadence  of  heraldic  art  in  the  seventeenth  century  came  the 
introduction  of  the  gilded  *^  freehand  copy  "  scroll  with  which  we  are 
so  painfully  familiar,  which  one  writer  has  aptly  termed  the  heraldic 
gas-bracket.  Arising  doubtless  from  and  following  upon  the  earlier 
habit  of  balancing  the  supporters  upon  the  unstable  footing  afforded 
by  the  edge  of  the  motto  scroll,  the  "  gas-bracket "  was  probably 
accepted  as  less  open  to  objection.  It  certainly  was  not  out  of  keeping 
with  the  heraldic  art  of  the  period  to  which  it  owed  its  evolution,  or 
with  the  style  of  armorial  design  of  which  it  formed  a  part.  It  still 
remains  the  -accepted  and  '^official"  style  and  type  in  England,  but 
Scotland  and  Ireland  have  discarded  it,  and  ''  compartments  "  in  those 
countries  are  now  depicted  of  a  nature  requiring  less  gymnastic  ability 
on  the  part  of  the  animals  to  which  they  afford  a  foothold.  The  style 
of  compartment  is  practically  always  a  matter  of  artistic  taste  and 
design.  With  a  few  exceptions  it  is  always  entirely  disregarded  in  the 
blazon  of  the  patent,  and  the  necessity  of  something  for  the  supporters 
to  stand  upon  is  as  much  an  understood  thing  as  is  the  existence  of  a 
shield  whereon  the  arms  are  to  be  displayed.  But  as  the  shape  of  the 
shield  is  left  to  the  fancy  of  the  artist,  so  is  the  character  of  the 
compartment,  and  the  Lyon  Register  nowadays  affords  examples  of 
achievements  where  the  supporters  stand  on  rocks  and  flowery  mounds 

441 


442     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

or  issue  from  a  watery  abiding-place.     The  example  set  by  the  Lyon 
Register  has  been  eagerly  followed  by  most  heraldic  artists. 

It  is  a  curious  commentary  upon  the  heraldic  art  of  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  and  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  centuries  that  whilst 
the  gymnastic  capabilities  of  animals  were  admitted  to  be  equal  to 
''  tight-rope '"  exhibitions  of  balancing  upon  the  ordinary  scroll,  these 
feats  were  not  considered  practicable  in  the  case  of  human  beings,  for 
whom  little  square  platforms  were  always  provided.     Fig.  672,  which 

represents  the  sinister  supporter  of 
Lord  Scarsdale  (viz.  the  figure  of 
Liberality  represented  by  a  woman 
habited  argent,  mantled  purpure,  hold- 
ing a  cornucopia  proper)  shows  the 
method  by  which  platform  accom- 
modation was  provided  for  human 
figures  when  acting  as  supporters. 

At  the  same  time  this  greater  free- 
dom of  design  may  occasionally  lead 
to  mistakes  in  relation  to  English 
supporters  and  their  compartments. 
Following  upon  the  English  practice 
already  referred  to  of  differentiating 
the  supporters  of  different  families, 
it  has  apparently  been  found  necessary 
in  some  cases  to  place  the  supporters 
to  stand  upon  a  definite  object,  which 
object  is  recited  in  the  blazon  and 
becomes  an  integral  and  unchange- 
able portion  of  the  supporter.  Thus 
Lord  Torrington's  supporters  are  each 
placed  upon  dismounted  ships'  guns  ['^  Dexter,  an  heraldic  antelope 
ermine,  horned,  tusked,  maned  and  hoofed  or,  standing  on  a  ship 
gun  proper  ;  sinister,  a  sea-horse  proper,  on  a  like  gun "],  Lord 
Hawke's^  dexter  supporter  rests  his  sinister  foot  upon  a  dolphin, 
and  Lord  Herschell's  supporters  each  stand  upon  a  fasces  ['^  Sup- 
porters :  on  either  side  a  stag  proper,  collared  azure,  standing 
on  a  fasces  or "].  The  supporters  of  Lord  Iveagh  each  rest  a 
hind  -  foot  upon  an  escutcheon  ['^  Supporters :  on  either  side  a 
stag  gules,  attired  and  collared  gemel  or,  resting  the  inner  hoof  on 
an  escutcheon  vert  charged  with  a  lion  rampant  of  the  second "], 
whilst    the    inner    hind-foot    of    each    of    Lord    Burton's    supporters 

^  Supporters  of  Lord  Ha wke  :  Dexter,  Neptune,  his  mantle  of  a  sea-green  colour,  edged  argent, 
crowned  with  an  Eastern  coronet  or,  his  dexter  arm  erect,  darting  downwards  his  trident  sable, 
headed  silver,  resting  his  sinister  foot  on  a  dolphin,  also  sable ;  sinister  a  sea-horse  or,  sustaining  in 
his  forefins  a  banner  argent  the  staff  broken  proper. 


THE    COMPARTMENT  443 

rests  upon  a  stag's  head  caboshed  proper.     Probably  absurdity  could 


Fig.  673. — Arms  of  Cape  Town  :  Or,  an  anchor  erect  sable,  stock  proper,  from  the  ring  a  riband  flowing 
azure,  and  suspended  therefrom  an  escocheon  gules  charged  with  three  annulets  6f  the  field  ;  and  for 
the  crest,  on  a  wreath  of  the  colours,  upon  the  battlements  of  a  tower  proper,  a  trident  in  bend 
dexter  or,  surmounted  by  an  anchor  and  cable  in  bend  sinister  sable. 


I 


go  no  further.      But  in  the  case  of  the  supporters  granted   to   Cape 
own  (Fig.  673),  the  official  blazon  runs  as  follows  :  <*  On  the  dexter 


444     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

side,  standing  on  a  rock,  a  female  figure  proper,  vested  argent,  mantle 
and  sandals  azure,  on  her  head  an  estoile  radiated  or,  and  supporting 
with  her  exterior  hand  an  anchor  also  proper ;  and  on  the  sinister 
side,  standing  on  a  like  rock,  a  lion  rampant  guardant  gules."  In  this 
case  it  will  be  seen  that  the  rocks  form  an  integral  part  of  the 
supporters,  and  are  not  merely  an  artistic  rendering  of  the  com- 
partment. The  illustration,  which  was  made  from  an  official 
drawing  supplied  from  the  Heralds'  College,  shows  the  curious  way 
in  which  the  motto  scroll  is  made  to  answer  the  purpose  of  the  com- 
partment. 

Occasionally  the  compartment  itself — as  a  thing  apart  from  the 
supporters — receives  attention  in  the  blazon,  e,g,  in  the  case  of  the 
arms  of  Baron  de  Worms,  which  are  of  foreign  origin,  recorded  in 
this  country  by  Royal  Warrant.  His  supporters  are  :  '^  On  a  bronze 
compartment,  on  either  side  a  lion  gold,  collared  and  chained  or,  and 
pendent  from  the  compartment  a  golden  scroll,  thereon  in  letters  gules 
the  motto,  '  Vinctus  non  victus.' " 

In  the  Royal  Arms  of  the  United  Kingdom  the  motto  "  Dieu  et 
mon  Droit  "  is  required  to  be  on  the  compartment  below  the  shield, 
and  thereon  the  Union  Badge  of  the  Rose,  Thistle,  and  Shamrock  en- 
grafted on  the  same  stem. 

The  city  of  Norwich  is  not  officially  recognised  as  having  the 
right  to  supporters,  and  doubtless  those  in  use  have  originated  in  the 
old  artistic  custom,  previously  referred  to,  of  putting  escutcheons  of 
arms  under  the  guardianship  of  angels.  They  may  be  so  deciphered 
upon  an  old  stone  carving  upon  one  of  the  municipal  buildings  in 
that  city.  The  result  has  been  that  two  angels  have  been  regularly 
adopted  as  the  heraldic  supporters  of  the  city  arms.  The  point  that 
renders  them  worthy  of  notice  is  that  they  are  invariably  represented 
each  standing  upon  its  own  little  pile  of  clouds. 

The  arms  of  the  Royal  Burgh  of  Montrose  (Forfarshire)  afford  an 
official  instance  of  another  variety  in  the  way  of  a  compartment,  which 
is  a  fixed  matter  of  blazon  and  not  depending  upon  artistic  fancy. 
The  entry  in  Lyon  Register  is  as  follows  : — 

*'  The  Royal  Burgh  of  Montrose  gives  for  Ensignes  Armorial  1, 
Argent,  a  rose  gules.  The  shield  adorned  with  helmet,  mantling,  and 
wreath  suteable  thereto.  And  for  a  crest,  a  hand  issuing  from  a 
cloud  and  reaching  down  a  garland  of  roses  proper,  supported  by  two 
mermaids  aryseing  from  the  sea  proper.  The  motto,  '  Mare  ditat  Rosa 
decorat.'  And  for  a  revers.  Gules,  St.  Peter  on  the  cross  proper, 
with  the  keyes  hanging  at  his  girdle  or.  Which  Arms,  &c.,  Ext. 
December  i6,  1694." 

An  English  example  may  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of 


THE   COMPARTMENT  445 

Boston/  which  are  depicted  with  the  supporters  (again  two  mermaids, 
rising  from  the  sea,  though  to  what  extent  the  sea  is  a  fixed  and  un- 
changeable part  of  the  achievement  in  this  case  is  less  a  matter  of 
certainty. 

Probably  of  all  the  curious  ^'  supporters  "  to  be  found  in  British 
armory,  those  of  the  city  of  Southampton  (Plate  VII.)  must  be  admitted 
to  be  the  most  unusual.  As  far  as  the  actual  usage  of  the  arms  by  the 
corporation  is  concerned,  one  seldom  if  ever  sees  more  than  the  simple 
shield  employed.  This  bears  the  arms  :  ''  Per  fess  gules  and  argent, 
three  roses  counterchanged."  But  in  the  official  record  of  the  arms  in 
one  of  the  Visitation  books  a  crest  is  added,  namely :  '<  Upon  a  mount 
vert,  a  double  tower  or,  and  issuing  from  the  upper  battlements  thereof 
a  demi-female  affronts  proper,  vested  purpure,  crined  and  crowned 
with  an  Eastern  coronet  also  or,  holding  in  her  dexter  hand  a  sword 
erect  point  upwards  argent,  pommel  and  hilt  of  the  second,  and  in  her 
sinister  hand  a  balance  sable,  the  pans  gold.  The  shield  in  the  Visita- 
tion book  rests  upon  a  mount  vert,  issuing  from  waves  of  the  sea,  and 
thereupon  placed  on  either  side  of  the  escutcheon  a  ship  of  two  masts 
at  anchor,  the  sails  furled  all  proper,  the  round  top  or,  and  from  each 
masthead  flying  a  banner  of  St.  George,  and  upon  the  stern  of  each 
vessel  a  lion  rampant  or,  supporting  the  escutcheon." 

From  the  fact  that  in  England  the  compartment  is  so  much  a 
matter  of  course,  it  is  scarcely  ever  alluded  to,  and  the  term  "  Com- 
partment "  is  practically  one  peculiar  to  Scottish  heraldry.  It  does 
not  appear  to  be  a  very  ancient  heraldic  appendage,  and  was  probably 
found  to  be  a  convenient  arrangement  when  shields  were  depicted  erect 
instead  of  couche,  so  as  to  supply  a  resting-place  (or  standpoint)  for 
the  supporters.  In  a  few  instances  the  compartment  appears  on 
seals  with  couche  shields,  on  which,  however,  the  supporters  are 
usually  represented  as  resting  on  the  sides  of  the  escutcheon,  and  bearing 
up  the  helmet  and  crest,  as  already  mentioned.  Sir  George  Mackenzie 
conjectures  that  the  compartment  ^*  represents  the  bearer's  land  and 
territories,  though  sometimes  (he  adds)  it  is  bestowed  in  recompense 
of  some  honourable  action."  Thus  the  Earls  of  Douglas  are  said  to 
have  obtained  the  privilege  of  placing  their  supporters  with  a  pale  of 
wood  wreathed,  because  the  doughty  lord,  in  the  reign  of  King  Robert 
the  Bruce,  defeated  the  English  in  Jedburgh  Forest,  and  <^  caused 
wreathe  and  impale,"  during  the  night,  that  part  of  the  wood  by  which 
he  conjectured  they  might  make  their  escape.  Such  a  fenced  com- 
partment appears  on  the  seal  of  James  Douglas,  second  Earl  of 
Angus,    '^Dominus   de  Abernethie  et  Jed  worth   Forest"   (1434),  on 


*  Arms  of  Boston  :  Sable,  three  coronets  composed  of  crosses  patt6  and  fleurs-de-lis  in  pale  or. 
Crest :  A  woolpack  charged  with  a  ram  couchant  all  proper,  ducally  crowned  azure. 


I 


446     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

that  of  George  Douglas,  fourth  Earl  (1459),  and  also  on  those  of 
several  of  his  successors  in  the  earldom  (1511-1617).  A  still  earlier 
example,  however,  of  a  compartment  ^<  representing  a  park  with  trees, 
&c.,  enclosed  by  a  wattled  fence,"  occurs  on  the  seal  of  Walter 
Stewart,  Earl  of  Atholl  {c,  1430),  where  the  escutcheon  is  placed  in 
the  entrance  to  the  park  between  two  trees.  Nisbet  refers  to  a  se*al  of 
William,  first  Earl  of  Douglas  (1377),  exhibiting  a  single  supporter  (a 
lion)  ^^  sitting  on  a  compartment  like  to  a  rising  ground,  with  a  tree 
growing  out  of  it,  and  seme  of  hearts,  mullets,  and  cross  crosslets," 
these  being  the  charges  of  Douglas  and  Mar  in  the  escutcheon. 

According  to  Sir  George  Mackenzie,  these  compartments  were 
usually  allowed  only  to  sovereign  princes  ;  and  he  further  informs  us 
that,  besides  the  Douglases,  he  knows  of  no  other  subject  in  Britain, 
except  the  Earl  of  Perth,  whose  arms  stand  upon  a  compartment.  In 
the  case  of  the  Perth  family,  the  compartment  consists  of  a  green  hill 
or  mount,  sem6  of  caltraps  ^  (or  cheval-traps),  with  the  relative  motto, 
*^  Gang  warily,"  above  the  achievement.  <'  Albeit  of  late,"  says  Mac- 
kenzie, "  compartments  are  become  more  common,  and  some  families 
in  Scotland  have  some  creatures  upon  which  their  achievement  stands, 
as  the  Laird  of  Dundas,  whose  achievement  has  for  many  hundreds  of 
years  stood  upon  a  salamander  in  flames  proper  (a  device  of  the  kings 
of  France),  and  Robertson  of  Struan  has  a  monstrous  man  lying  under 
the  escutcheon  chained,  which  was  given  him  for  his  taking  the 
murderer  of  James  I.  .  .  ."  Such  figures,  however,  as  Nisbet  remarks, 
cannot  properly  be  called  compartments,  having  rather  the  character 
of  devices  ;  while,  in  the  case  of  the  Struan  achievement,  the  chained 
man  would  be  more  accurately  described  as  ^^  an  honourable  supporter." 
Sir  George  Mackenzie  engraves  "  the  coat  of  Denham  of  ould,"  viz.  a 
stag's  head  ^^  caboshed,"  below  a  shield  couch^  charged  with  three 
lozenges,  or  fusils,  conjoined  in  bend.  In  like  manner,  Nisbet  repre- 
sents the  crest  and  motto  of  the  Scotts  of  Thirlstane,  ^*  by  way  of 
compartment,"  below  the  escutcheon  of  Lord  Napier,  and  a  blazing 
star,  with  the  legend  <^  Luceo  boreale,"  under  that  of  Captain  Robert 
Seton,  of  the  family  of  Meldrum  ;  while  in  the  case  of  the  illumination 
which  accompanies  the  latest  entry  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Lyon 
Register  (1804),  relative  to  the  arms  of  John  Hepburn  Belshes  of 
Invermay,  the  trunk  of  an  oak-tree  sprouting  forth  anew  is  placed  on  a 
compartment  under  the  shield,  with  the  motto,  ^'  Revirescit." 

Two  other  instances  of  regular  compartments  are  mentioned  by 
Nisbet,  viz.  those  carried  by  the  Macfarlanes  of  that  Ilk  and  the 
Ogilvies  of  Innerquharity.     The  former  consists  of  a  wavy  representa- 

*  The  caltrap  was  an  instrument  thrown  on  the  ground  to  injure  the  feet  of  horses,  and  con- 
sisted of  four  iron  spikes,  of  which  one  always  pointed  upwards. 


THE   COMPARTMENT  447 

tion  of  Loch  Sloy,  the  gathering-place  of  the  clan,  which  word  is  also 
inscribed  on  the  compartment  as  their  cri-de-guerre  or  slogan  ;  while 
the  latter  is  a  ^'  green  hill  or  rising  terrace/'  on  which  are  placed  two 
serpents,  ^^  nowed/'  spouting  fire,  and  the  motto,  "  Terrena  pericula 
sperno."  For  some  of  the  foregoing  instances  I  am  indebted  to  Seton's 
well-known  '^  Law  and  Practice  of  Heraldry  in  Scotland." 


CHAPTER  XXVIIl 
MOTTOES 

TO  the  uninitiated,  the  subject  of  the  motto  of  a  family  has  a  far 
greater  importance  than  is  conceded  to  it  by  those  who  have 
spent  any  time  in  the  study  of  armory.  Perhaps  it  may  clear 
the  ground  if  the  rules  presently  in  force  are  first  recited.  It  should 
be  carefully  observed  that  the  status  of  the  motto  is  vastly  different  in 
England  and  in  other  countries.  Except  in  the  cases  of  impersonal 
arms  (and  not  always  then),  the  motto  is  never  mentioned  or  alluded 
to  in  the  terms  of  the  patent  in  a  grant  of  arms  in  England  ;  conse- 
quently they  are  not  a  part  of  the  ^'  estate "  created  by  the  Letters 
Patent,  though  if  it  be  desired  a  motto  will  always  be  painted  below 
the  emblazonment  in  the  margin  of  the  patent.  Briefly  speaking,  the 
position  in  England  with  regard  to  personal  armorial  bearings  is  that 
mottoes  are  not  hereditary.  No  one  is  compelled  to  bear  one,  nor  is  any 
authority  needed  for  the  adoption  of  a  motto,  the  matter  is  left  purely 
to  the  personal  pleasure  of  every  individual ;  but  if  that  person  elects 
to  use  a  motto,  the  officers  of  arms  are  perfectly  willing  to  paint  any 
motto  he  may  choose  upon  his  grant,  and  to  add  it  to  the  record  of  his 
arms  in  their  books.  There  is  no  necessity  expressed  or  implied  to  use 
a  motto  at  all,  nor  is  the  slightest  control  exercised  over  the  selection 
or  change  of  mottoes,  though,  as  would  naturally  be  expected,  the 
officers  of  arms  would  decline  to  record  to  any  private  person  any 
motto  which  might  have  been  appropriated  to  the  sovereign  or  to  any 
of  the  orders  of  knighthood.  In  the  same  way  no  control  is  exercised 
over  the  position  in  which  the  motto  is  to  be  carried  or  the  manner 
in  which  it  is  to  be  displayed. 

In  Scotland,  however,  the  matter  is  on  an  entirely  different  footing. 
The  motto  is  included  within  the  terms  of  the  patent,  and  is  conse- 
quently made  the  subject  of  grant.  It  therefore  becomes  inalienable 
and  unchangeable  without  a  rematriculation,  and  a  Scottish  patent 
moreover  always  specifies  the  position  in  which  the  motto  is  to  be 
carried.  This  is  usually  ^*  in  an  escroll  over  the  same  "  {i.e.  over  the 
crest),  though  occasionally  it  is  stated  to  be  borne  on  "  a  compartment 
below  the  arms."     The  matter  in  Ireland  is  not  quite  the  same   as   in 

448 


MOTTOES  449 

either  Scotland  or  England.  Sometimes  the  motto  is  expressed  in  the 
patent — in  fact  this  is  now  the  more  usual  alternative — but  the  rule  is 
not  universal,  and  to  a  certain  extent  the  English  permissiveness  is 
recognised.  Possibly  the  subject  can  be  summed  up  in  the  remark 
that  if  any  motto  has  been  granted  or  is  recorded  with  a  particular 
coat  of  arms  in  Ireland,  it  is  expected  that  that  shall  be  the  motto  to 
be  made  use  of  therewith. 

As  a  general  practice  the  use  of  mottoes  in  England  did  not  become 
general  until  the  eighteenth  century — in  fact  there  are  very  few,  if 
any,  grants  of  an  earlier  date  on  which  a  motto  appears.  The 
majority,  well  on  towards  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
had  no  motto  added,  and  many  patents  are  still  issued  without  such 
an  addition.  With  rare  exceptions,  no  mottoes  are  to  be  met  with 
in  the  Visitation  books,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  at  the  time  of  the 
Visitations  the  motto  was  considered  to  be  essentially  a  part  of  the 
armorial  bearings.  The  one  or  two  exceptions  which  I  have  met  with 
where  mottoes  are  to  b*e  found  on  Visitation  pedigrees  are  in  every 
case  the  arms  of  a  peer.  There  are  at  least  two  such  in  the  Yorkshire 
Visitation  of  1587,  and  probably  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  that  the 
majority  of  peers  at  that  period  had  begun  to  make  use  of  these 
additions  to  their  arms.  Unfortunately  we  have  no  exact  means  of 
deciding  the  point,  because  peers  were  not  compelled  to  attend  a 
Visitation,  and  there  are  but  few  cases  in  which  the  arms  or  pedigree 
of  a  peer  figure  in  the  Visitation  books.  In  isolated  cases  the  use  of 
a  motto  can,  however,  be  traced  back  to  an  even  earlier  period. 
There  are  several  instances  to  be  met  with  upon  the  early  Garter  plates. 

Many  writers  have  traced  the  origin  of  mottoes  to  the  *^  slogan  "  or 
war-cry  of  battle,  and  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  instances  can 
be  found  in  which  an  ancient  war-cry  has  become  a  family  motto. 
For  example,  one  can  refer  to  the  Fitzgerald  *'  Crom-a-boo  "  :  other 
instances  can  be  found  amongst  some  of  the  Highland  families,  but 
the  fact  that  many  well-known  war-cries  of  ancient  days  never  became 
perpetuated  as  mottoes,  and  also  the  fact  that  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  mottoes,  even  at  a  much  earlier  period  than  the  present 
day,  cannot  by  any  possibility  have  ever  been  used  for  or  have  origi- 
nated with  the  purposes  of  battle-cries,  inclines  me  to  believe  that  such 
a  suggested  origin  for  the  motto  in  general  is  without  adequate  founda- 
tion. There  can  be  little  if  any  connection  between  the  war-cry  as 
such  and  the  motto  as  such.  The  real  origin  would  appear  to  be 
more  correctly  traced  back  to  the  badge.  As  will  be  found  explained 
elsewhere,  the  badge  was  some  simple  device  used  for  personal  and 
household  purposes  and  seldom  for  war,  except  by  persons  who  used 
the  badge  of  the  leader  they  followed.     No  man  wore  his  own  badge 

2  F 


450     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE    TO    HERALDRY 

in  battle.  It  generally  partook  of  the  nature  of  what  ancient  writers 
would  term  **  a  quaint  conceit,"  and  much  ingenuity  seems  to  have 
been  expended  in  devising  badges  and  mottoes  which  should  at  the 
same  time  be  distinctive  and  should  equally  be  or  convey  an  index  or 
suggestion  of  the  name  and  family  of  the  owner.  Many  of  these 
badges  are  found  in  conjunction  with  words,  mottoes,  and  phrases, 
and  as  the  distinction  between  the  badge  in  general  and  the  crest  in 
general  slowly  became  less  apparent,  they  eventually  in  practice  became 
interchangeable  devices,  if  the  same  device  did  not  happen  to  be  used 
for  both  purposes.  Consequently  the  motto  from  the  badge  became 
attached  to  the  crest,  and  was  thence  transferred  to  its  present  con- 
nection with  the  coat  of  arms.  Just  as  at  the  present  time  a  man 
may  and  often  does  adopt  a  maxim  upon  which  he  will  model  his  life, 
some  pithy  proverb,  or  some  trite  observation,  without  any  question  or 
reference  to  armorial  bearings — so,  in  the  old  days,  when  learning  was 
less  diffuse  and  when  proverbs  and  sayings  had  a  wider  acceptance 
and  vogue  than  at  present,  did  many  families  and  many  men  adopt 
for  their  use  some  form  of  words.  We  find  these  words  carved  on 
furniture,  set  up  on  a  cornice,  cut  in  stone,  and  embroidered  upon 
standards  and  banners,  and  it  is  to  this  custom  that  we  should  look  for 
the  beginning  of  the  use  of  mottoes.  But  because  such  words  were  after- 
wards in  later  generations  given  an  armorial  status,  it  is  not  justifiable 
to  presume  such  status  for  them  from  their  beginnings.  The  fact  that 
a  man  put  his  badges  on  the  standard  that  he  carried  into  battle,  and 
with  his  badges  placed  the  mottoes  that  thereto  belonged,  has  led  many 
people  mistakenly  to  believe  that  these  mottoes  were  designed  for  war- 
cries  and  for  use  in  battle.  That  was  not  the  case.  In  fact  it  seems 
more  likely  that  the  bulk  of  the  standards  recorded  in  the  books  of 
the  heralds  which  show  a  motto  were  never  carried  in  battle. 

With  regard  to  the  mottoes  in  use  at  the  moment,  some  of  course 
can  be  traced  to  a  remote  period,  and  many  of  the  later  ones  have 
interesting  legends  connected  therewith.  Of  mottoes  of  this  char- 
acter may  be  instanced  the  ''  Jour  de  ma  vie  "  of  West,  which  was 
formerly  the  motto  of  the  La  Warr  family,  adopted  to  commemorate 
the  capture  of  the  King  of  France  at  the  battle  of  Poictiers.  There 
are  many  other  mottoes  of  this  character,  amongst  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  *^  Grip  fast "  of  the  Leslies,  the  origin  of  which  is  well 
known.  But  though  many  mottoes  relate  to  incidents  in  the  remote 
past,  true  or  mythical,  the  motto  and  the  incident  are  seldom  con- 
temporary. Nothing  would  be  gained  by  a  recital  of  a  long  list  of 
mottoes,  but  I  cannot  forbear  from  quoting  certain  curious  examples 
which  by  their  very  weirdness  must  excite  curiosity  as  to  their  origin. 
A  family  of  Martin  used  the  singular  words,  ''  He  who  looks  at  Martin's 


MOTTOES  45 1 

ape,  Martin's  ape  shall  look  at  him,"  whilst  the  Curzons  use,  '*  Let 
Ciirzon  hold  what  Curzon  helde."  The  Cranston  motto  is  still  more 
grasping,  being,  ^^  Thou  shalt  want  ere  I  want  ; "  but  probably  the 
motto  of  the  Dakyns  is  the  most  mysterious  of  all,  *'  Strike  Dakyns, 
the  devil's  in  the  hempe."  The  motto  of  Corbet,  "  Deus  pascit  corvos," 
evidently  alludes  to  the  raven  or  ravens  (corby  crows)  upon  the  shield. 
The  mottoes  of  Trafford,  '*  Now  thus,"  and  *'  Gripe  griffin,  hold  fast ; " 
the  curious  Pilkington  motto,  "  Pilkington  Pailedown,  the  master  mows 
the  meadows  ;"  and  the  "  Serva  jugum"  of  Hay  have  been  the  founda- 
tion of  many  legends.  The  "  Fuimus "  of  the  Bruce  family  is  a 
pathetic  allusion  to  the  fact  that  they  were  once  kings,  but  the  majority 
of  ancient  mottoes  partake  rather  of  the  nature  of  a  pun  upon  the 
name,  which  fact  is  but  an  additional  argument  towards  the  supposi- 
tion that  the  motto  has  more  relation  to  the  badge  than  to  any  other 
part  of  the  armorial  bearings.  Of  mottoes  which  have  a  punning 
character  may  be  mentioned  ''  Mon  Dieu  est  ma  roche,"  which  is  the 
motto  of  Roche,  Lord  Fermoy  ;  **  Cavendo  tutus,"  which  is  the  motto 
of  Cavendish  ;  ^*  Forte  scutum  salus  ducum,"  which  is  the  motto  of 
Fortescue  ;  ^'  Set  on,"  which  is  the  motto  of  Seton  ;  "  Da  fydd  "  of  Davies, 
and  ^<  Ver  non  semper  viret,"  the  well-known  pun  of  the  Vernons. 
Another  is  the  apocryphal  ''  Quid  rides "  which  Theodore  Hook 
suggested  for  the  wealthy  and  retired  tobacconist.  This  punning 
character  has  of  late  obtained  much  favour,  and  wherever  a  name 
lends  itself  to  a  pun  the  effort  seems  nowadays  to  be  made  that  the 
motto  shall  be  of  this  nature.  Perhaps  the  best  pun  which  exists  is 
to  be  found  in  the  motto  of  the  Barnard  family,  who,  with  arms 
'*  Argent,  a  bear  rampant  sable,  muzzled  or,"  and  crest  **  A  demi- 
bear  as  in  the  arms,"  use  for  the  motto,  '^  Bear  and  Forbear,"  or 
in  Latin,  as  it  is  sometimes  used,  *'  Fer  et  perfer."  Others  that  may 
be  alluded  to  are  the  '*  What  I  win  I  keep  "  of  Winlaw  ;  the  "  Libertas  " 
of  Liberty  ;  the  "  Ubi  crux  ibi  lux "  of  Sir  William  Crookes  ;  the 
*'  Bear  thee  well "  of  Bardwell  ;  the  '^  Gare  le  pied  fort "  of  Bedford  ; 
the  "  Gare  la  bete  "  of  Garbett  ;  and  the  *^  Cave  Deus  videt "  of  Cave. 
Other  mottoes — and  they  are  a  large  proportion — are  of  some  saintly 
and  Religious  tendency.  However  desirable  and  acceptable  they  may 
be,  and  however  accurately  they  may  apply  to  the  first  possessor, 
they  sometimes  are  sadly  inappropriate  to  later  and  more  degenerate 
successors. 

In  Germany,  a  distinction  appears  to  be  drawn  between  their 
"  Wahlspriiche  "  (i.e.  those  which  are  merely  dictated  by  personal  choice) 
and  the  *'  armorial  mottoes  "  which  remained  constantly  and  heritably 
attached  to  the  armorial  bearings,  such  as  the  "  Gott  mit  uns  "  ('<  God 
with  us  ")  of  Prussia  and  the  *'  Nihil  sine  Deus  "  of  Hohenzollern. 


452     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE    TO    HERALDRY 

The  Initial  or  Riddle  Mottoes  appear  to  be  peculiar  to  Germany. 
Well-known  examples  of  these  curiosities  are  the  ^'W.  G.  W."  (/>. 
"  Wie  Gott  will  "— ''  As  God  wills  "),  or  "  W.  D.  W."  {ue.  "  Wie  du 
willst  " — *'  As  thou  wilt  "),  which  are  both  frequently  to  be  met  with. 
The  strange  but  well-known  alphabet  or  vowel-motto  ^<  A.  E.  I.  O.  V  " 
of  the  Emperor  Frederick  III.  has  been  variously  translated,  "  Aquila 
Electa  Juste  Omnia  Vincit "  ("  The  chosen  eagle  vanquishes  all  by 
right "),  ''  Aller  Ehren  1st  Oesterrich  Voll "  {''  Austria  is  full  of  every 
honour "),  or  perhaps  with  more  likelihood,  <'  Austria  Est  Imperare 
Orbe  Universo  "  ("All  the  earth  is  subject  to  Austria"). 

The  cri-de-guerrcy  both  as  a  heraldic  fact  and  as  an  armorial  term, 
is  peculiar,  and  exclusively  so,  to  British  and  French  heraldry.  The 
national  cri-de-guerre  of  France,  "  Montjoye  Saint  Denis,"  appeared 
above  the  pavilion  in  the  old  Royal  Arms  of  France,  and  probably  the 
English  Royal  motto,  '*  Dieu  et  mon  Droit,"  is  correctly  traced  to  a 
similar  origin.  A  distinction  is  still  made  in  modern  heraldry  between 
the  cri'de-guerre  and  the  motto,  inasmuch  as  it  is  considered  that  the 
former  should  always  of  necessity  surmount  the  crest.  This  is  very 
generally  adhered  to  in  Scotland  in  the  cases  where  both  a  motto  and 
a  cri-de-guerre  (or,  as  it  is  frequently  termed  in  that  country,  a  "  slogan  ") 
exist,  the  motto,  contrary  to  the  usual  Scottish  practice,  being  then 
placed  below  the  shield.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  general  knowledge 
of  this  fact  will  not,  however,  result  in  the  description  of  every  motto 
found  above  a  crest  as  a  cri-de-guerre y  and  certainly  the  concentrated 
piety  now  so  much  in  favour  in  England  for  the  purposes  of  a  motto 
can  be  quite  fitly  left  below  the  shield. 

Artists  do  not  look  kindly  on  the  motto  for  decorative  purposes. 
It  has  been  usually  depicted  in  heraldic  emblazonment  in  black  letters 
upon  a  white  scroll,  tinted  and  shaded  with  pink,  but  with  the  present 
revival  of  heraldic  art,  it  has  become  more  general  to  paint  the  motto 
ribbon  in  conformity  with  the  colour  of  the  field,  the  letters  being  often 
shown  thereon  in  gold.  The  colour  and  shape  of  the  motto  ribbon, 
however,  are  governed  by  no  heraldic  laws,  and  except  in  Scottish 
examples  should  be  left,  as  they  are  purely  unimportant  accessories  of 
the  achievement,  wholly  at  the  discretion  of  the  artist. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

BADGES 

THE  exact  status  of  the  badge  in  this  country,  to  which  it  is 
peculiar,  has  been  very  much  misunderstood.  This  is  probably 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  evolution  of  the  badge  was  gradual,  and 
that  its  importance  increased  unconsciously.  Badges  do  not  formerly 
appear  to  have  ever  been  made  the  subjects  of  grants,  and  the  instances 
which  can  be  referred  to  showing  their  control,  or  attempted  control,  by 
the  Crown  in  past  times  are  very  rare  indeed.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
Crown  seems  to  have  perhaps  purposely  ignored  them.  They  are  not, 
as  we  know  them,  found  in  the  earliest  times  of  heraldry,  unless  we 
are  to  presume  their  existence  from  early  seals,  many  of  which  show 
isolated  charges  taken  from  the  arms  ;  for  if  in  the  cases  where  such 
charges  appear  upon  the  seals  we  are  to  accept  those  seals  as  proofs  of 
the  contemporary  existence  of  those  devices  as  heraldic  badges,  we 
should  often  be  led  into  strange  conclusions. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  these  isolated  devices  which  are  met  with 
were  not  only  a  part  of  the  arms,  but  in  many  cases  the  origin  of  the 
arms.  Devices  possessing  a  more  or  less  personal  and  possessive 
character  occur  in  many  cases  before  record  of  the  arms  they  later  de- 
veloped into  can  be  traced.  This  will  be  noticed  in  relation  to  the  arms 
of  Swinton,  to  which  reference  is  made  elsewhere.  If  these  are  badges, 
then  badges  go  back  to  an  earlier  date  than  arms.  Such  devices  occur 
many  centuries  before  such  a  thing  as  a  shield  of  arms  existed. 

The  Heraldic  BadgCy  as  we  know  //,  came  into  general  use  about 
the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  that  is,  the  heraldic  badge  as  a  separate 
matter  having  a  distinct  existence  in  addition  to  concurrent  arms,  and 
having  at  the  same  time  a  distinctly  heraldic  character.  But  long 
before  that  date,  badges  are  found  with  an  allied  reference  to' a  parti- 
cular person,  which  very  possibly  are  rightly  included  in  any  enumera- 
tion of  badges.  Of  such  a  character  is  the  badge  of  the  broom  plant, 
which  is  found  upon  the  tomb  of  Geoffrey,  Count  of  Anjou,  from 
which  badge  the  name  of  the  Plantagenet  dynasty  originated  (Plan- 
tagenet,  by  the  way,  was  never  a  personal  surname,  but  was  the  name 
of  the  dynasty). 

453 


454     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  at  that  early  period  there  existed  much 
if  indeed  any  opportunity  for  the  use  of  heraldic  badges.  At  the  same 
time,  as  far  back  as  the  reign  of  Richard  I. — and  some  writers  would 
take  examples  of  a  still  more  remote  period — these  badges  must  have 
been  occasionally  depicted  upon  banners,  for  Richard  I.  appears  to 
have  had  a  dragon  upon  one  of  his  banners. 

These  banner  decorations,  which  at  a  later  date  have  been  often 
accepted  as  badges,  can  hardly  be  quite  properly  so  described,  for  there 
are  many  cases  where  no  other  proof  of  usage  can  be  found,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  many  such  are  instances  of  no  more  than  banners 
prepared  for  specific  purposes ;  and  the  record  of  such  and  such  a 
banner  cannot  necessarily  carry  proof  that  the  owner  of  the  banner 
claimed  or  used  the  objects  depicted  thereupon  as  personal  badges. 
If  they  are  to  be  so  included  some  individuals  must  have  revelled  in  a 
multitude  of  badges. 

But  the  difficulty  in  deciding  the  point  very  greatly  depends  upon 
the  definition  of  the  badge  ;  and  if  we  are  to  take  the  definition 
according  to  the  manner  of  acceptance  and  usage  at  the  period  when 
the  use  of  badges  was  greatest,  then  many  of  the  earliest  cannot  be 
taken  as  coming  within  the  limits. 

In  later  Plantagenet  days,  badges  were  of  considerable  importance, 
and  certain  characteristics  are  plainly  marked.  They  were  never  worn 
by  the  owner — in  the  sense  in  which  he  carried  his  shield,  or  bore  his 
crest ;  they  were  his  sign-mark  indicative  of  ownership  ;  they  were 
stamped  upon  his  belongings  in  the  same  way  in  which  Government 
property  is  marked  with  the  broad  arrow,  and  they  were  worn  by  his 
servants.  They  were  worn  not  only  by  his  retainers,  but  very  probably 
were  also  worn  more  or  less  temporarily  by  adherents  of  his  party  if 
he  were  big  enough  to  lead  a  party  in  the  State.  At  all  times  badges 
had  very  extensive  decorative  use. 

There  was  never  any  fixed  form  for  the  badge  ;  there  was  never 
any  fixed  manner  of  usage.  I  can  find  no  fixed  laws  of  inheritance, 
no  common  method  of  assumption.  In  fact  the  use  of  a  badge,  in  the 
days  when  everybody  who  was  anybody  possessed  arms,  was  quite 
subsidiary  to  the  arms,  and  very  much  akin  to  the  manner  in  which 
nowadays  monograms  are  made  use  of.  At  the  same  time  care  must 
be  taken  to  distinguish  the  "  badge  "  from  the  ^^  rebus,"  and  also  from 
the  temporary  devices  which  we  read  about  as  having  been  so  often 
adopted  for  the  purpose  of  the  tournament  when  the  combatant  desired 
his  identity  to  be  concealed.  Modern  novelists  and  poets  give  us 
plenty  of  illustrations  of  the  latter  kind,  but  proof  of  the  fact  even  that 
they  were  ever  adopted  in  that  form  is  by  no  means  easy  to  find, 
though  their  professedly  temporary  nature  of  course  militates  against 


BADGES  455 

the  likelihood  of  contemporary  record.  The  rebus  had  never  an  heraldic 
status,  and  it  had  seldom  more  than  a  temporary  existence.  A  fanciful 
device  adopted  (we  hear  of  many  such  instances)  for  the  temporary 
purpose  of  a  tournament  could  generally  be  so  classed,  but  the  rebus 
proper  has  some  device,  usually  a  pictorial  rendering  of  the  name  of 
the  person  for  whom  it  stood.  In  such  a  category  would  be  included 
printers'  and  masons'  marks,  but  probably  the  definition  of  Dr. 
Johnson  of  the  word  rebus,  as  a  word  represented  by  a  picture,  is  as 
good  a  definition  and  description  as  can  be  given.  The  rebus  in  its 
nature  is  a  different  thing  from  a  badge,  and  may  best  be  described  as 
a  pictorial  signature,  the  most  frequent  occasion  for  its  use  being  in 
architectural  surroundings,  where  it  was  constantly  introduced  as  a  pun 
upon  some  name  which  it  was  desired  to  perpetuate.  The  best-known 
and  perhaps  the  most  typical  and  characteristic  rebus  is  that  of  Islip, 
the  builder  of  part  of  Westminster  Abbey.  Here  the  pictured  punning 
representation  of  his  name  had  nothing  to  do  with  his  armorial  bearings 
or  personal  badge  ;  but  the  great  difficulty,  in  dealing  with  both 
badges  and  rebuses,  is  the  difficulty  of  knowing  which  is  which,  for 
very  frequently  the  same  or  a  similar  device  was  used  for  both  purposes. 
Parker,  in  his  glossary  of  heraldic  terms,  gives  several  typical  examples 
of  rebuses  which  very  aptly  illustrate  their  status  and  meaning.  At 
Lincoln  College  at  Oxford,  and  on  other  buildings  connected  with 
Thomas  Beckynton,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  will  be  found  carved 
the  rebus  of  a  beacon  issuing  from  a  tun.  This  is  found  in  conjunction 
with  the  letter  T  for  his  Christian  name,  Thomas.  Now  this  design  was 
not  his  coat  of  arms,  and  was  not  his  crest,  nor  was  it  his  badge. 
Another  rebus  which  is  found  at  Canterbury  shows  an  ox  and  the 
letters  N,  E,  as  the  rebus  of  John  Oxney.  A  rebus  which  indicates 
Thomas  Conyston,  Abbot  of  Cirencester,  which  can  be  found  in 
Gloucester  Cathedral,  is  a  comb  and  a  tun,  and  the  printer's  mark  of 
Richard  Grifton,  which  is  a  good  example  of  a  rebus  and  its  use,  was 
a  tree,  or  graft,  growing  on  a  tun.  In  none  of  these  cases  are  the 
designs  mentioned  on  any  part  of  the  arms,  crest,  or  badge  of  the 
persons  mentioned.  Rebuses  of  this  character  abound  on  all  our 
ancient  buildings,  and  their  use  has  lately  come  very  prominently  into 
favour  in  connection  with  the  many  allusive  bookplates,  the  design 
of  which  originates  in  some  play  upon  the  name.  The  words  **  device," 
'^  ensign,"  and  "  cognisance  "  have  no  definite  heraldic  meaning,  and 
are  used  impartially  to  apply  to  the  crest,  the  badge,  and  sometimes  to 
the  arms  upon  the  shield,  so  that  they  may  be  eliminated  from  con- 
sideration. There  remains  therefore  the  crest  and  the  badge  between 
which  to  draw  a  definite  line  of  distinction.  The  real  difference  lay 
in  the  method  of  use,  though  there  is  usually  a  difference  of  form, 


456     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

recognisable  by  an  expert,  but  difficult  to  put  into  words.  The  crest 
was  the  ornament  upon  the  helmet,  seldom  if  ever  actually  worn,  and 
never  used  except  by  the  person  to  whom  it  belonged.  The  badge, 
on  the  other  hand,  was  never  placed  upon  the  helmet,  but  was  worn 
by  the  servants  and  retainers,  and  was  used  right  and  left  on  the 
belongings  of  the  owner  as  a  sign  of  his  ownership.  So  great  and 
extensive  at  one  period  was  the  use  of  these  badges,  that  they  were  far 
more  generally  employed  than  either  arms  or  crest,  and  whilst  the 
knowledge  of  a  man's  badge  or  badges  would  be  everyday  knowledge 
and  common  repute  throughout  the  kingdom,  few  people  would  know 
that  man's  crest,  fewer  still  would  ever  have  seen  it  worn. 

It  is  merely  an  exaggeration  of  the  difficulty  that  we  are  always  in 
uncertainty  whether  any  given  device  was  merely  a  piece  of  decoration 
borrowed  from  the  arms  or  crest,  or  whether  it  had  continued  usage  as 
a  badge.  In  the  same  way  many  families  who  had  never  used  crests, 
but  who  had  used  badges,  took  the  opportunity  of  the  Visitations  to  re- 
cord their  badges  as  crests.  A  notable  example  of  the  subsequent  record 
of  a  badge  as  a  crest  is  met  with  in  the  Stourton  family.  Their  crest, 
originally  a  buck's  head,  but  after  the  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Le 
Moigne,  a  demi-monk,  can  be  readily  substantiated,  as  can  their  badge  of 
the  drag  or  sledge.  At  one  of  the  Visitations,  however,  a  cadet  of  the 
Stourton  family  recorded  the  sledge  as  a  crest.  Uncertainty  also  arises 
from  the  lack  of  precision  in  the  diction  employed  at  all  periods,  the 
words  badge,  device,  and  crest  having  so  often  been  used  interchangeably. 

Another  difficulty  which  is  met  with  in  regard  to  badges  is  that, 
with  the  exception  of  the  extensive  records  of  the  Royal  badges  and 
some  other  more  or  less  informal  lists  of  badges  of  the  principal  per- 
sonages at  different  periods,  badges  were  never  a  subject  of  official 
record,  and  whilst  it  is  difficult  to  determine  the  initial  point  as  to 
whether  any  particular  device  is  a  badge  or  not,  the  difficulty  of 
deducing  rules  concerning  badges  becomes  practically  impossible,  and 
after  most  careful  consideration  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
there  were  never  any  hard  and  fast  rules  relating  to  badges,  that  they 
were  originally  and  were  allowed  to  remain  matters  of  personal  faincy, 
and  that  although  well-known  cases  can  be  found  where  the  same  badge 
has  been  used  generation  after  generation,  those  cases  may  perhaps  be 
the  exception  rather  than  the  rule.  Badges  should  be  considered  and 
accepted  in  the  general  run  as  not  being  matters  of  permanence,  and 
as  of  little  importance  except  during  the  time  from  about  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.  to  about  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  Their  principal  use 
upon  the  clothes  of  the  retainers  came  to  an  end  by  the  creation  of  the 
standing  army,  the  beginning  of  which  can  be  traced  to  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII.,  and  as  badges  never  had  any  ceremonial  use  to  perpetuate  ^ 


BADGES  457 

their  status,  their  importance  almost  ceased  altogether  at  that  period 
except  as  regards  the  Royal  family. 

Speaking  broadly,  regularised  and  recorded  heraldic  control  as  a 
matter  of  operative  fact  dates  little  if  any  further  back  than  the  end  of 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  consequently  badges  originally  do  not  appear 
to  have  been  taken  much  cognisance  of  by  the  Heralds.  Their  actual 
use  from  that  period  onwards  rapidly  declined,  and  hence  the  absence 
of  record. 

Though  the  use  of  badges  has  become  very  restricted,  there  are 
still  one  or  two  occasions  on  which  badges  are  used  as  badges,  in  the 
style  formerly  in  vogue.  Perhaps  the  case  which  is  most  familiar  is  the 
broad  arrow  which  is  used  to  mark  Government  stores.  It  is  a  curious 
commentary  upon  heraldic  officialdom  and  its  ways  that  though  this 
is  the  only  badge  which  has  really  any  extensive  use,  it  is  not  a  Crown 
badge  in  any  degree.  Although  this  origin  has  been  disputed  it  is 
said  to  have  originated  in  the  fact  that  one  of  the  Sydney  family, 
when  Master  of  the  Ordnance,  to  prevent  disputes  as  to  the  stores  for 
which  he  was  responsible,  marked  everything  with  his  private  badge 
of  the  broad  arrow,  and  this  private  badge  has  since  remained  in  con- 
stant use.  One  wonders  at  what  date  the  officers  of  His  Majesty  will 
observe  that  this  has  become  one  of  His  Majesty's  recognised  badges, 
and  will  include  it  with  the  other  Royal  badges  in  the  warrants  in  which 
they  are  recited.  Already  more  than  two  centuries  have  passed  since 
it  first  came  into  use,  and  either  they  should  represent  to  the  Government 
that  the  pheon  is  not  a  Crown  mark,  and  that  some  recognised  Royal 
badge  should  be  used  in  its  place,  or  else  they  should  place  its  status 
upon  a  definite  footing. 

Another  instance  of  a  badge  used  at  the  present  day  in  the  ancient 
manner  is  the  conjoined  rose,  thistle,  and  shamrock  which  is  embroidered 
front  and  back  upon  the  tunics  of  the  Beefeaters  and  the  Yeomen  of  the 
Guard.  The  crowned  harps  which  are  worn  by  the  Royal  Irish  Con- 
stabulary are  another  instance  of  the  kind,  but  though  a  certain  number 
of  badges  are  recited  in  the  warrant  each  time  any  alteration  or  declara- 
tion of  the  Royal  Arms  occurs,  their  use  has  now  become  very  limited. 
Present  badges  are  the  crowned  rose  for  England,  the  crowned  thistle 
for  Scotland,  and  the  crowned  trefoil  and  the  crowned  harp  for  Ireland  ; 
whilst  for  the  Union  there  is  the  conjoined  rose,  thistle,  and  shamrock 
under  the  crown,  and  the  crowned  shield  which  carries  the  device  of 
the  Union  Jack.  The  badge  of  Wales,  which  has  existed  for  long 
enough,  is  the  uncrowned  dragon  upon  a  mount  vert,  and  the  crowned 
cyphers,  one  within  and  one  without  the  Garter,  are  also  depicted  upon 
the  warrant.  These  badges,  which  appear  on  the  Sovereign's  warrant, 
are  never  assigned  to  any  other  member  of  the  Royal  Family,  of  whom 


458     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  Prince  of  Wales  is  the  only  one  who  rejoices  in  the  possession  of 
officially  assigned  badges.  The  badge  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  Sove- 
reign, as  such,  and  not  as  Prince  of  Wales,  is  the  plume  of  three 
ostrich  feathers,  enfiled  with  the  circlet  from  his  coronet.  Recently 
an  additional  badge  (on  a  mount  vert,  a  dragon  passant  gules,  charged 
on  the  shoulder  with  a  label  of  three  points  argent)  has  been  assigned 
to  His  Royal  Highness.  This  action  was  taken  with  the  desire  to  in 
some  way  gratify  the  forcibly  expressed  wishes  of  Wales,  and  it  is 
probable  that,  the  precedent  having  been  set,  it  will  be  assigned  to  all 
those  who  may  bear  the  title  of  Prince  of  Wales  in  future. 

The  only  instances  I  am  personally  aware  of  in  which  a  real  badge 
of  ancient  origin  is  still  worn  by  the  servants  are  the  cases  of  the  state 
liveries  of  the  Earl  of  Yarborough,  whose  servants  wear  an  embroidered 
buckle,  and  of  Lord  Mowbray  and  Stourton,  whose  servants  wear  an 
embroidered  sledge.  The  family  of  Daubeney  of  Cote  still  bear  the 
old  Daubeney  badge  of  the  pair  of  bat's  wings  ;  Lord  Stafford  still 
uses  his  *'  Stafford  knot."  I  believe  the  servants  of  Lord  Braye  still 
wear  the  badge  of  the  hemp-brake,  and  those  of  the  Earl  of 
Loudoun  wear  the  Hastings  maunch  ;  and  doubtless  there  are  a  few 
other  instances.  When  the  old  families  were  becoming  greatly  reduced 
in  number,  and  the  nobility  and  the  upper  classes  were  being  recruited 
from  families  of  later  origin,  the  wearing  of  badges,  like  so  much  else 
connected  with  heraldry,  became  lax  in  its  practice. 

The  servants  of  all  the  great  nobles  in  ancient  days  appear  to  have 
worn  the  badges  of  their  masters  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  use  of 
the  royal  badge  by  the  Yeomen  of  the  Guard,  although  sometimes 
the  badge  was  embroidered  upon  the  sleeve  ;  and  the  wearing  of  the 
badge  by  the  retainers  is  the  chief  and  principal  use  to  which  badges 
were  anciently  put.  Nisbet  alludes  on  this  point  to  a  paragraph 
from  the  Act  for  the  Order  of  the  Riding  of  Parliament  in  1681,  which 
says  that  "the  noblemen's  lacqueys  may  have  over  their  liveries  velvet 
coats  with  their  badges,  ue.  their  crests  and  mottoes  done  on  plate,  or 
embroidered  on  the  back  and  breast  conform  to  ancient  custom."  A 
curious  survival  of  these  plates  is  to  be  found  in  the  large  silver  plaques 
worn  by  so  many  bank  messengers.  Badges  appear,  however,  to  have 
been  frequently  depicted  sem6  upon  the  lambrequins  of  armorial 
achievements,  as  will  be  seen  from  many  of  the  old  Garter  plates  ;  but 
here,  again,  it  is  not  always  easy  to  distinguish  between  definite  badges 
and  artistic  decoration,  nor  between  actual  badges  in  use  and  mere 
appropriately  selected  charges  from  the  shield. 

The  water-bougets  of  Lord  Berners,  the  knot  of  Lord  Stafford, 
popularly  known  as  "  the  Stafford  knot "  ;  the  Harington  fret  ;  the 
ragged  staff  or  the  bear  and  the  ragged  staff  of  Lord  Warwick  (this 


BADGES  459 

being  really  a  conjunction  of  two  separate  devices)  ;  the  Rose  of 
England,  the  Thistle  of  Scotland,  and  the  sledge  of  Stourton,  the 
hemp-brake  of  Lord  Braye  wherever  met  with  are  readily  recognised 
as  badges,  but  there  are  many  badges  which  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish 
from  crests,  and  even  some  which  in  all  respects  would  appear  to  be 
more  correctly  regarded  as  coats  of  arms. 

It  is  a  point  worthy  of  consideration  whether  or  not  a  badge  needs 
a  background  ;  here,  again,  it  is  a  matter  most  difficult  to  determine, 
but  it  is  singular  that  in  any  matter  of  record  the  badge  is  almost  in- 
variably depicted  upon  a  background,  either  of  a  standard  or  a  mantling, 
or  upon  the  *^  field  "  of  a  roundel,  and  it  may  well  be  that  their  use  in 
such  circumstances  as  the  two  cases  first  mentioned  may  have  only  been 
considered  correct  when  the  colour  of  the  mantling  or  the  standard 
happened  to  be  the  right  colour  for  the  background  of  the  badge. 

Badges  are  most  usually  met  with  in  stained  glass  upon  roundels 
of  some  colour  or  colours,  and  though  one  would  hesitate  to  assert  it 
as  an  actual  fact,  there  are  many  instances  which  would  lead  one  to 
suppose  that  the  background  of  a  badge  was  usually  the  livery  colour 
or  colours  of  its  then  owner,  or  of  the  family  from  which  it  was 
originally  inherited.  Certain  is  it  that  there  are  very  few  contemporary 
instances  of  badges  which,  when  emblazoned,  are  not  upon  the  known 
livery  colours  ;  and  if  this  fact  be  accepted,  then  one  is  perhaps 
justified  in  assuming  all  to  be  livery  colours,  and  we  get  at  once  a 
ready  explanation  on  several  points  which  have  long  puzzled  anti- 
quaries. The  name  of  Edward  *<  the  Black  Prince "  has  often  been 
a  matter  of  discussion,  and  the  children's  history  books  tell  us  that 
the  nickname  originated  from  the  colour  of  his  armour.  This  may 
be  true  enough,  but  as  most  armour  would  be  black  when  it  was  un- 
polished, and  as  most  armour  was  either  polished  or  dull,  the  proba- 
bilities are  not  very  greatly  in  its  favour.  Though  there  can  be  found 
instances,  it  was  not  a  usual  custom  for  any  one  to  paint  his  armour 
red  or  green.  Even  if  the  armour  of  the  prince  were  enamelled 
black  it  would  be  so  usually  hidden  by  his  surcoat  that  he  is  hardly 
likely  to  have  been  nicknamed  from  it.  It  seems  to  me  far  more 
probable  that  black  was  the  livery  colour  of  the  Black  Prince,  and 
that  his  own  retainers  and  followers  wore  the  livery  of  black.  If  that 
were  the  case,  one  understands  at  once  how  he  would  obtain  the 
nickname.  The  nickname  is  doubtless  contemporary.  A  curious 
confirmation  of  my  supposition  is  met  with  in  the  fact  that  his  shield 
for  peace  was  :  *^  Sable,  three  ostrich  feathers  two  and  one,  the  quill 
of  each  passing  through  a  scroll  argent."  There  we  get  the  undoubted 
badge  of  the  ostrich  feather,  which  was  originally  borne  singly,  depicted 
upon  his  livery  colour — black. 


46o     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  badges  represented  in  Prince  Arthur's  Book  in  the  College  of 
Arms  (an  important  source  of  our  knowledge  upon  the  subject)  are 
all  upon  backgrounds  ;  and  the  curious  divisions  of  the  colours  on  the 
backgrounds  would  seem  to  show  that  each  badge  had  its  own  back- 
ground, several  badges  being  only  met  with  upon  the  same  ground 
when  that  happens  to  be  the  true  background  belonging  to  them.  But 
in  attempting  to  deduce  rules,  it  should  be  remembered  that  in  all  and 
every  armorial  matter  there  was  greater  laxity  of  rule  at  the  period  of 
the  actual  use  of  arms  as  a  reality  of  life  than  it  was  possible  to  permit 
when  the  multiplication  of  arms  as  paper  insignia  made  regulation 
necessary  and  more  restrictive  ;  so  that  an  occasional  variation  from 
any  deduction  need  not  necessarily  vitiate  the  conclusion,  even  in  a 
matter  exclusively  relating  to  the  shield.  How  much  more,  then, 
must  we  remain  in  doubt  when  dealing  with  badges  which  appear  to 
have  been  so  largely  a  matter  of  personal  caprice. 

It  is  a  striking  comment  that  of  all  the  badges  presently  to  be 
referred  to  of  the  Stafford  family,  each  single  one  is  depicted  upon  a 
background.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  of  the  eighteen  ^'  badges  " 
exemplified  as  belonging  to  the  family  of  Stafford,  nine  are  upon 
parti-coloured  fields.  This  is  not  an  unreasonable  proportion  if  the 
fields  are  considered  to  be  the  livery  colours  of  the  families  from  whom 
the  badges  were  originally  derived,  but  it  is  altogether  out  of  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  shields  in  any  roll  of  arms  which  would  have 
the  field  party  per  pale,  or  party  in  any  other  form  of  division.  With 
the  exception  of  the  second  badge,  which  is  on  a  striped  background 
of  green  and  white,  all  the  party  backgrounds  are  party  per  pale, 
which  was  the  most  usual  way  of  depicting  a  livery  in  the  few  records 
which  have  come  down  to  us  of  the  heraldic  use  of  livery  colours,  and 
of  the  eighteen  badges,  no  less  than  eight  are  upon  a  parti-coloured 
field  of  which  the  dexter  is  sable  and  the  sinister  gules.  Scarlet  and 
black  are  known  to  have  been  the  livery  colours  of  Edward  Stafford, 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  who  was  beheaded  in  152 1.  The  arms  of  the 
town  of  Buckingham  are  on  a  field  per  pale  sable  and  gules. 

With  regard  to  the  descent  of  badges  and  the  laws  which  govern 
their  descent  still  less  is  known.  The  answer  to  the  question,  *'  How 
did  badges  descend  ? "  is  simple :  '*  Nobody  knows."  One  can  only 
hazard  opinions  more  or  less  pious,  of  more  or  less  value.  It  is 
distinctly  a  point  upon  which  it  is  risky  to  be  dogmatic,  and  we  must 
wait  for  the  development  which  will  follow  the  recent  revival  of  the 
granting  of  standards.  As  cases  occur  for  decision  precedents  will  be 
found  and  disclosed.  Whilst  the  secrecy  of  the  records  of  the  College 
of  Arms  is  so  jealously  preserved  it  is  impossible  to  speak  definitely 
at  present,  for  an  exact  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  exact  and 


BADGES  461 

authoritative  instances  of  fact  is  necessary  before  a  decision  can  be 
definitely  put  forward.  Unless  some  officer  of  arms  will  carefully 
collate  the  information  which  can  be  gleaned  from  the  records  in  the 
College  of  Arms  which  are  relevant  to  the  subject,  it  does  not  seem 
likely  that  our  knowledge  will  advance  greatly. 

The  grant  of  supporters  to  the  Earl  of  Stafford,  as  under,  is  worthy 
of  attention. 

*'  To  all  and  singular  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  John 
Anstis  Esq""  Garter  principal  King  of  Arms,  sends  greeting,  Whereas 
his  late  Majesty  King  James  the  Second  by  Letters  Patents  under  the 
Great  Seal,  did  create  Henry  Stafford  Howard  to  be  Earl  of  Stafford, 
to  have  and  hold  the  same  to  him  and  the  heirs  males  of  his  body  ; 
and  for  default  thereof  to  John  and  Francis  his  Brothers  and  the  heirs 
males  of  their  bodies  respectively,  whereby  the  said  Earldom  is  now 
legally  vested  in  the  right  Hon^^*  William  Stafford  Howard  Son  and  Heir 
of  the  said  John;  And  in  regard  that  y*"  said  Henry  late  Earl  of  Stafford 
omitted  to  take  any  Grant  of  Supporters,  which  the  Peers  of  this  Realm 
have  an  indisputable  Right  to  use  and  bear,  the  right  Hon^^^  Henry 
Bowes  Howard  Earl  of  Berkshire  Deputy  (with  the  Royal  Approbation) 
of  his  Grace  Thomas  Howard  Duke  of  Norfolk  Earl  Marshall  and 
Hereditary  Marshall  of  England  hath  been  pleased  to  direct  me  to 
grant  to  the  said  right  Hon^'^  William  Stafford  Howard  Earl  of  Stafford 
the  Supporters  formerly  granted  to  y*'  late  Viscount  Stafford,  Grand- 
father to  the  said  Earl  ;  as  also  to  order  me  to  cause  to  be  depicted 
in  the  Margin  of  my  said  Grant  y*  Arms  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock 
Duke  of  Gloucester  quartered  with  the  Arms  of  the  said  Earl  of  Stafford, 
together  with  the  Badges  of  the  said  Noble  Family  of  Stafford  :  Now 
these  presents  Witness  that  according  to  the  consent  of  the  said  Earl 
of  Berkshire  signified  under  his  Lordship's  hand  and  seal  I  do  by  the 
Authority  and  power  annexed  to  my  Office  hereby  grant  and  assign  to 
y*"  said  Right  Honourable  William  Stafford  Howard  Earl  of  Stafford, 
the  following  Supporters  which  were  heretofore  borne  by  the  late  Lord 
Viscount  Stafford,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  Dexter  side  a  Lion  Argent, 
and  on  the  Sinister  Side  a  Swan  surgiant  Argent  Gorged  with  a  Ducal 
Coronet  per  Pale  Gules  and  sable  beaked  and  membered  of  the  Second  ; 
to  be  used  and  borne  at  all  times  and  upon  all  occasions  by  the  said 
Earl  of  Stafford  and  the  heirs  males  of  his  body,  and  such  persons  to 
whom  the  said  Earldom  shall  descend  according  to  the  Law  and  Practice 
of  Arms  without  the  let  or  interruption  of  any  Person  or  Persons  what- 
soever. And  in  pursuance  of  the  Warrant  of  the  said  Earl  of  Berkshire, 
The  Arms  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock  Duke  of  Gloucester,  as  the  same 
are  on  a  Plate  remaining  in  the  Chapel  of  S^  George  within  y*  Castle 
of  Windsor,  set  up  there  for  his  Descendant  the  Duke  of  Buckingham 


462     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

are  depicted  in  the  margin,  and  quartered  in  such  place  and  manner 
as  the  same  were  formerly  borne  by  the  Staffords  Dukes  of  Bucking- 
ham; together  with  Eighteen  badges  belonging  to  the  said  most  ancient 
and  illustrious  Family  of  Stafford,  as  the  same  are  represented  in  a 


Fig.  674. — The  Stafford  Badges  as  exemplified  in  1720  to 
William  Stafford  Howard,  Earl  of  Stafford. 


Manuscript  remaining  in  the  College  of  Arms  (Fig.  674).  In  Witness 
whereof  I  the  said  Garter  have  hereto  subscribed  my  Name  and  affixed 
the  Seal  of  my  Office  this  First  Day  of  August  Anno  Domini  1720. 

''John  Anstis  Garter 

"  Principal  King  of  Arms." 


BADGES  463 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  this 
exemplification  the  Royal  Arms  are  displayed  before  those  of  Stafford. 
On  the  face  of  it,  the  document — as  far  as  it  relates  to  the  badges — 
is  no  more  than  a  certificate  or  exemplification,  in  which  case  it  is 
undoubted  evidence  that  badges  descend  to  the  heir-general  as  do 
quarterings  ;  but  there  is  the  possibility  that  the  document  is  a  re-grant 
in  the  nature  of  an  exemplification  following  a  Royal  Licence,  or  a 
re-grant  to  remove  uncertainty  as  to  the  attainder.  And  if  the  docu- 
ment— as  far  as  its  relation  to  the  badges  goes — has  any  of  the  character 
of  a  grant,  it  can  have  but  little  value  as  evidence  of  the  descent  of 
badges.  It  is  remarkable  that  it  is  absolutely  silent  as  to  the  future 
destination  of  the  badges.  The  real  fact  is  that  the  whole  subject  of  the 
descent  and  devolution  of  badges  is  shrouded  in  mystery.  Each  of  the 
badges  (Fig.  674)  is  depicted  within  a  circle  adorned  with  a  succession 
of  Stafford  knots,  as  is  shown  in  the  one  instance  at  the  head.  Five 
of  these  badges  appear  upon  a  well-known  portrait  of  Edward,  Duke 
of  Buckingham.  The  fact  that  some  of  these  badges  are  really  crests 
depicted  upon  wreaths  goes  far  as  an  authority  for  the  use  of  a  crest 
upon  livery  buttons  for  the  purposes  of  a  badge. 

In  ancient  days  all  records  seemed  to  point  to  the  fact  that  badges 
were  personal,  and  that  though  they  were  worn  by  the  retainers,  they 
were  the  property  of  the  head  of  the  family,  rather  than  (as  the  arms) 
of  the  whole  family,  and  though  the  information  available  is  meagre 
to  the  last  degree,  it  would  appear  probable  that  in  all  cases  where 
their  use  by  other  members  of  the  family  than  the  head  of  the  house 
can  be  proved,  the  likelihood  is  that  the  cadets  would  render  feudal 
service  and  would  wear  the  badge  as  retainers  of  the  man  whose 
standard  they  followed  into  battle,  so  that  we  should  expect  to  find  the 
badge  following  the  same  descent  as  the  peerage,  together  with  the 
lands  and  liabilities  which  accompanied  it.  This  undoubtedly  makes 
for  the  inheritance  of  a  badge  upon  the  same  line  of  descent  as  a 
barony  by  writ,  and  such  a  method  of  inheritance  accounts  for  the 
known  descent  of  most  of  the  badges  heraldically  familiar  to  us. 
Probably  we  shall  be  right  in  so  accepting  it  as  the  ancient  rule  of 
inheritance.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  a  careful  examination  of  the 
^'  Book  of  Standards,"  now  preserved  in  the  College  of  Arms,  provides 
several  examples  charged  with  marks  of  cadency.  But  here  again 
one  is  in  ignorance  whether  this  is  an  admission  of  inheritance  by 
cadets,  or  whether  the  cases  should  be  considered  as  grants  of 
differenced  versions  to  cadets.  This  then  gives  us  the  badge,  the 
property  in  and  of  which  would  descend  to  the  heir-general  (and 
perhaps  also  to  cadets),  whilst  it  would  be  used  (if  there  were  no 
inherited  right)  in  token  of  allegiance  or  service,  actual,  quasi-actual, 


464     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

or  sentimental,  by  the  cadets  of  the  house  and  their  servants  ;  for 
whilst  the  use  of  the  cockade  is  a  survival  of  the  right  to  be  waited 
on  and  served  by  a  soldier  servant,  the  use  of  a  badge  by  a  cadet  may 
be  a  survival  and  reminder  of  the  day  when  (until  they  married 
heiresses  and  continued  or  founded  other  families)  the  cadets  of  a 
house  owed  and  gave  military  service  to  the  head  of  their  own  family, 
and  in  return  were  supported  by  him. 

From  the  wording  of  the  recent  grants  of  badges  I  believe  the 
intention,  however,  is  that  the  badge  is  to  descend  of  right  to  all  of 
those  people  on  whom  a  right  to  it  would  devolve  if  it  were  a 
quartering. 

The  use  of  badges  having  been  so  limited,  the  absence  of  rule  and 
regulation  leaves  it  very  much  a  matter  of  personal  taste  how  badges, 
where  they  exist,  shall  be  heraldically  depicted,  and  perhaps  it  is  better 
to  leave  their  manner  of  display  to  artistic  requirements.  The  most 
usual  place,  when  depicted  in  conjunction  with  an  achievement,  is  on 
either  side  of  the  crest,  and  they  may  well  be  placed  in  that  position. 
Where  they  exist,  however,  they  ought  undoubtedly  to  be  continued 
in  use  upon  the  liveries  of  the  servants,  and  the  present  practice  is 
for  them  to  be  placed  on  the  livery  buttons,  and  embroidered  upon 
the  epaulettes  or  on  the  sleeves  of  state  liveries.  Undoubtedly  the 
former  practice  of  placing  the  badge  upon  the  servants'  livery  is  the 
precursor  of  the  present  vogue  of  placing  crests  upon  livery  buttons, 
and  many  heraldic  writers  complain  of  the  impropriety  of  placing  the 
crest  in  such  a  position.  I  am  not  sure  that  I  myself  may  not  have 
been  guilty  in  this  way ;  but  when  one  bears  in  mind  the  number  of 
cases  in  which  the  badge  and  the  crest  are  identical,  and  when,  as  in 
the  above  instance,  devices  which  are  undoubtedly  crests  are  exempli- 
fied as  and  termed  badges,  even  as  such  being  represented  upon  wreaths, 
and  even  in  that  form  granted  upon  standards,  whilst  in  other  cases 
the  action  has  been  the  reverse,  it  leaves  one  under  the  necessity  of 
being  careful  in  making  definite  assertions. 

Having  dealt  with  the  laws  (if  there  ever  were  any)  and  the  practice 
concerning  the  use  and  display  of  badges  in  former  days,  it  will  be  of 
interest  to  notice  some  of  those  which  were  anciently  in  use. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  badge  of  the  ostrich  feathers,  now 
borne  exclusively  by  the  heir-apparent  to  the  throne.  The  old 
legend  that  the  Black  Prince  won  the  badge  at  the  battle  of  Crecy  by 
the  capture  of  John,  King  of  Bohemia,  together  with  the  motto  *^  Ich 
dien,"  has  been  long  since  exploded.  Sir  Harris  Nicolas  brought  to 
notice  the  fact  that  among  certain  pieces  of  plate  belonging  to  Queen 
Philippa  of  Hainault  was  a  large  silver-gilt  dish  enamelled  with  a  black 
escutcheon  with  ostrich  feathers,   *^  vuo  scuch  nigro  cum  pennis   de 


BADGES  465 

ostrich/'  and  upon  the  strength  of  that,  suggested  that  the  ostrich 
feather  was  probably  originally  a  badge  of  the  Counts  of  Hainault 
derived  from  the  County  of  Ostrevaus,  a  title  which  was  held  by  their 
eldpst  sons.  The  suggestion  in  itself  seems  probable  enough  and  may 
be  correct,  but  it  would  not  account  for  the  use  of  the  ostrich  feathers 
by  the  Mowbray  family,  who  did  not  descend  from  the  marriage  of 
Edward  III.  and  Philippa  of  Hainault.  Contemporary  proof  of  the  use 
of  badges  is  often 
difficult  to  find.  The 
Mowbrays  had  many 
badges,  and  certainly 
do  not  appear  to 
have  made  any  very 
extensive  use  of  the 
ostrich  feathers.  But 
there  seems  to  be 
very  definite  autho- 
rity for  the  existence 
of  the  badge.  There 
is  in  one  of  the  re- 
cords of  the  College 
of  Arms  (R.  22,  67), 
which  is  itself  a  copy 
of  another  record, 
the  following  state- 
ment : — 

"  The  discent  of 
Mowbray  written  at 
length  in  lattin  from 
the   Abby   booke  of 

newborOUgh wherein     Fig.   675.— The  arms  granted  by  King  Richard   II.    to   Thomas 
"P;.-!-.       ^       rtoii/a      +r^  ^6  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  showing  the  ostrich  feather 

Kicn       2      gaue      10  badges. 

Thomas    Duke    of 

norff.  &  Erie  Marshall  the  armes  of  Saint  Edward  Confessor  in  theis 

words : 

<^  Et  dedit  eidem  Thome  ad  pertandum  in  sigillo  et  vexillo  quo 
arma  S''  Edwardi.  Idcirco  arma  bipartata  portavit  scil'  't  Sci  Edwardi 
et  domini  marcialis  angliae  cum  duabus  pennis  strutionis  erectis  et  super 
crestam  leonem  et  duo  parva  scuta  cum  leonibus  et  utraq'  parto  pre- 
dictorum  armorum." 

Accompanying  this  is  a  rough-tricked  sketch  of  the  arms  upon 
which  the  illustration  (Fig.  675)  has  been  based.  Below  this  extract 
in  the  College  Records  is  written  in  another  hand  :  **  I  find  this  then 

2  G 


466     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

in  ye  chancell  window  of  Effingham  by  Bungay  in  the  top  of  the  cot 
window  with  Mowbraye  &  Segrave  on  the  side  in  glass  there." 

Who  the  writer  was  I  am  unaware.  He  appends  a  further  sketch 
to  his  note,  which  sHghtly  differs.  No  helmet  or  crest  is  shown,  and 
the  central  shield  has  only  the  arms  of  Brotherton.  The  feathers 
which  flank  it  are  both  enfiled  below  the  shield  by  one  coronet. 
Of  the  smaller  shields  at  the  side,  the  dexter  bears  the  arms  of 
Mowbray  and  the  sinister  those  of  Segrave.  Possibly  the  Mowbrays, 
as  recognised  members  of  the  Royal  Family,  bore  the  badge  by 
subsequent  grant  and  authorisation  and  not  on  the  simple  basis  of 
inheritance. 

An  ostrich  feather  piercing  a  scroll  was  certainly  the  favourite  badge 
of  the  Black  Prince  and  so  appears  on  several  of  his  seals,  and  tripli- 
cated it  occurs  on  his  ''  shield  of  peace  "  (Fig.  478),  which,  set  up  under 
the  instructions  in  his  will,  still  remains  on  his  monument  in  Canterbury 
Cathedral.  The  arms  of  Sir  Roger  de  Clarendon,  the  illegitimate  son 
of  the  Black  Prince,  were  derived  from  this  '^  shield  for  peace,"  which  I 
take  it  was  not  really  a  coat  of  arms  at  all,  but  merely  the  badge  of  the 
Prince  depicted  upon  his  livery  colour,  and  which  might  equally  have 
been  displayed  upon  a  roundle.  In  the  form  of  a  shield  bearing  three 
feathers  the  badge  occurs  on  the  obverse  of  the  second  seal  of  Henry  IV. 
in  141 1.  A  single  ostrich  feather  with  the  motto  ^^  Ich  dien  "  upon  the 
scroll  is  to  be  seen  on  the  seal  of  Edward,  Duke  of  York,  who  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Agincourt  in  141 5.  Henry  IV.  as  Duke  of  Lancaster 
placed  on  either  side  of  his  escutcheon  an  ostrich  feather  with  a  garter 
or  belt  carrying  the  motto  "  Sovereygne "  twined  around  the  feather, 
John  of  Gaunt  used  the  badge  with  a  chain  laid  along  the  quill,  and 
Thomas,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  used  it  with  a  garter  and  buckle  instead 
of  the  chain  ;  whilst  John  Beaufort,  Duke  of  Somerset,  placed  an 
ostrich  feather  on  each  side  of  his  shield,  the  quills  in  his  case  being 
compony  argent  and  azure,  like  the  bordure  round  his  arms. 

There  is  a  note  in  Harl.  MS.  304,  folio  12,  which,  if  it  be  strictly 
accurate,  is  of  some  importance.  It  is  to  the  effect  that  the  ^^  feather 
silver  with  the  pen  gold  is  the  King's,  the  ostrich  feather  pen  and  all 
silver  is  the  Prince's  (J,e,  the  Prince  of  Wales),  and  the  ostrich  feather 
gold  the  pen  ermine  is  the  Duke  of  Lancaster's."  That  statement 
evidently  relates  to  a  time  when  the  three  were  in  existence  contempo- 
raneously, i.e,  before  the  accession  of  Henry  IV.  In  the  reign  of 
Richard  II.  there  was  no  Prince  of  Wales.  During  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.  from  1376  onwards,  Richard,  afterwards  Richard  II.,  was 
Prince  of  Wales,  and  John  of  Gaunt  was  Duke  of  Lancaster  (so  cr. 
1362).  But  John  of  Gaunt  used  the  feather  in  the  form  above  stated, 
and  to  find  a  Duke  of  Lancaster  before  John  of  Gaunt  we  must  go 


Fig.  676. — Seal  of  King  James  II.  for  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 


BADGES  467 

back  to  before  1360,  when  we  have  Edward  III.  as  King,  the  Black 
Prince  as  Prince,  and  Henry  of  Lancaster  (father-in-law  of  John  of 
Gaunt)  as  Duke  of  Lancaster.  He  derived  from  Henry  III.,  and  like 
the  Mowbrays  had  no  blood  descent  from  Philippa  of  Hainault.  A 
curious  confirmation  of  my  suggestion  that  black  was  the  livery  colour 
of  the  Black  Prince  is  found  in  the  fact  that  there  was  in  a  window  in 
St.  Dunstan's  Church,  London,  within  a  wreath  of  roses  a  roundle  per 
pale  sanguine  and  azure  (these  being  unquestionably  livery  colours),  a 
plume  of  ostrich  feathers  argent,  quilled  or,  enfiled  by  a  scroll  bearing 
the  words  "  Ich  dien."  Above  was  the  Prince's  coronet  and  the  letters 
E.  &  P.,  one  on  each  side  of  the  plume.  This  was  intended  for 
Edward  VI.,  doubtless  being  erected  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  The 
badge  in  the  form  in  which  we  know  it,  i.e,  enfiled  by  the  princely 
coronet,  dates  from  about  the  beginning  of  the  Stuart  dynasty,  since 
when  it  appears  to  have  been  exclusively  reserved  for  the  eldest  son  and 
heir-apparent  to  the  throne.  At  the  same  time  the  right  to  the  display 
of  the  badge  w^ould  appear  to  have  been  reserved  by  the  Sovereign,  and 
Woodward  remarks  : — 

^'  On  the  Privy  Seals  of  our  Sovereigns  the  ostrich  feather  is  still 
employed  as  a  badge.  The  shield  of  arms  is  usually  placed  between 
two  lions  sejant  guardant  addorsed,  each  holding  the  feather.  On  the 
Privy  Seal  of  Henry  VIII.  the  feathers  are  used  without  the  Hons,  and 
this  was  the  case  on  the  majority  of  the  seals  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 
On  the  reverse  of  the  present  seal  of  the  Duchy  the  feathers  appear  to 
be  ermine." 

Fig.  676  shows  the  seal  of  James  II.  for  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster. 
The  seal  of  the  Lancashire  County  Council  shows  a  shield  supported 
by  two  talbots  sejant  addorsed,  each  supporting  in  the  exterior  paw  an 
ostrich  feather  sem^-de-lis.  It  is  possible  that  the  talbots  may  be 
intended  for  lions  and  the  fleurs-de-lis  for  ermine  spots.  The  silver 
swan,  one  of  the  badges  of  King  Henry  V.,  was  used  also  by  Henry  IV. 
It  was  derived  from  the  De  Bohuns,  Mary  de  Bohun  being  the  wife 
of  Henry  IV.  From  the  De  Bohuns  it  has  been  traced  to  the  Mande- 
villes.  Earls-  of  Essex,  who  may  have  adopted  it  to  typify  their  descent 
from  Adam  Fitz  Swanne,  temp.  Conquest.  Fig.  33  on  the  same  plate  is 
the  white  hart  of  Richard  II.  Although  some  have  traced  this  badge 
from  the  white  hind  used  as  a  badge  by  Joan,  the  Fair  Maid  of  Kent, 
the  mother  of  Richard  II.,  it  is  probably  a  device  punning  upon  his 
name,  ^'Rich-hart."  Richard  II.  was  not  the  heir  of  his  mother.  The 
heir  was  his  half-brother,  Thomas  Holand,  Earl  of  Kent,  who  dtd  use 
the  badge  of  the  hind,  and  perhaps  the  real  truth  is  that  the  Earl  of 
Kent  having  the  better  claim  to  the  hind,  Richard  was  under  the 
necessity  of   making  an  alteration  which  the  obvious   pun  upon  his 


468     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

name  suggested.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  crest  of  Ireland  originated 
therefrom.  The  stag  in  this  case  was  undoubtedly  ''  lodged  "  in  the 
earliest  versions,  and  I  have  been  much  interested  in  tracing  the  steps 

by  which  the  springing  attitude 
has  developed  owing  to  the  copy- 
ing of  badly  drawn  examples. 

Amongst  the  many  Royal 
and  other  badges  in  this  country 
there  are  some  of  considerable 
interest.  Fig.  677  represents 
the  famous  badge  of  the  ^'broom- 
cod  "  or  *'  planta  genista/'  from 
which  the  name  of  the  dynasty 
was  derived.     It  appears  to  have 


Fig.  677. — Badge  of 
King  Henry  II. 


Fig.  678.— Badge  of 
Edward  IV. 


been  first  used  by  King  Henry  II.,  though  it  figures  in  the  decora- 
tion of  the  tomb  of  Geoffrey,  Count  of  Anjou.  ^*  Peascod  "  Street  in 
Windsor  of  course  derives  its  name  therefrom. 
The  well-known  badges  of  the  white  and  red 
roses  of  York  and  Lancaster  have  been  already 
referred  to,  and  Fig.  678,  the  well-known  device 
of  the  "  rose-en-soliel "  used  by  King  Edward 
IV.,  was  really  a  combination  of  two  distinct 
badges,  viz.  '*  the  blazing  sun  of  York "  and 
the  "  white  rose  of  York."  The  rose  again 
appears  in  679,  here  dimidiated  with  the 
pomegranate  of  Catharine  of  Aragon.  This 
is  taken  from  the  famous  Tournament  Roll 
(now  in  the  College  of  Arms),  which  relates  to  '''Set^r?- vnT'Td  uthfrlnt 
the  Tournament,  13th  and  14th   of  February      of  Aragon.    (From  the  West- 

,  it-xii_i_-j.i-i--r»-  TT  minster  Tournament  Roll.) 

15 10,  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  Prmce  Henry. 

Richard  I.,  John,   and   Henry   III.   are   all   said  to   have  used  the 

device  of  the  crescent  and 
star  (Fig.  680).  Henry  VII. 
is  best  known  by  his  two 
badges  of  the  crowned  port- 
cullis and  the  "sun-burst" 
(Fig.  681).  The  suggested 
origin  of  the  former,  that  it 
Fig.  681.— Two  badges  of  Henry  was  a  pun  on  the  name 
VII     viz.   the    '« sun-burst"  Tudor  (/>.  two-door)  is  con- 

and  the  crowned  portculhs.  ^  ,,       ,,  ,,..,. 

hrmed  by  the  motto  '^  Altera 
securitas"  which  was  used  with  it,  but  at  the  same  time  is  rather 
vitiated  by  the  fact  that  it  was  also  used  by  the  Beauforts,  who   had 


Fig.  680.— Badge  of 
Richard  I. 


Fig.  682.— Badge 
of  the  Duke  of 
Suffolk. 


BADGES  469 

no  Tudor  descent.  Save  a  very  tentative  remark  hazarded  by  Wood- 
ward, no  explanation  has  as  yet  been  suggested  for  the  sun-burst. 
My  own  strong  conviction,  based  on  the  fact  that  this  particular 
badge  was  principally  used  by  Henry  VII.,  who  was 
always  known  as  Henry  of  Windsor,  is  that  it  is 
nothing  more  than  an  attempt  to  pictorially  represent 
the  name  *'  Windsor  "  by  depicting  <^  winds  "  of  "  or." 
The  badge  is  also  attributed  to  Edward  III.,  and  he, 
like  Henry  VII.,  made  his  principal  residence  at  Windsor. 
Edward  IV.  also  used  the  white  lion  of  March  (whence 
is  derived  the  shield  of  Ludlow ;  '<  Azure,  a  lion 
couchant  guardant,  between  three  roses  argent,"  Lud- 
low being  one  of  the  fortified  towns  in  the  Welsh 
Marches),  and  the  black  bull  which,  though  often 
termed  ^' of  Clarence,"  is  generally  associated  with  the  Duchy  of 
Cornwall.  Richard  III.,  as  Duke  of  Gloucester,  used  a  white  boar. 
The  Earl  of  Northumberland  used  a  silver  crescent  ;  the  Earl  of 
Douglas,  a  red  hart  ;  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  a  golden 
pack-horse  with  collar  and  traces ;  Lord  Hastings 
bore  as  badge  a  black  bull's  head  erased,  gorged 
with  a  coronet  ;  Lord  Stanley,  a  golden  griffin's  leg, 
erased  ;  Lord  Howard,  a  white  lion  charged  on  the 
shoulder  with  a  blue  crescent  ;  Sir  Richard  Dun- 
FiG.  683.— Badge  of  Stable  adopted  a  white  cock  as  a  badge  ;  Sir  John 
Thomas   Howard,   Savage,  a   silvcr  unicorn's   head  erased  :    Sir  Simon 

Duke  of  Norfolk.       , ,       ^  ,  - 

Montford,    a    golden   lily ;    Sir   William   Gresham,   a 
green  grasshopper. 

Two  curious  badges  are  to  be  seen  in  Figs.  682  and  683.  The 
former  is  an  ape's  clog  argent,  chained  or,  and  was  used  by  William 
de  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk  (^.  1450). 
Fig.  683,  ^^  a  salet  silver  "  (MS.  Coll.  of 
Arms,  2nd  M.  16),  is  the  badge  of 
Thomas  Howard,  Duke  of  Norfolk  {d. 
1524).  Various  families  used  knots  of  Fic 684.— Stafford 
different  design,  of  which  the  best 
known  is  the  Stafford  knot  (Fig.  684). 
The  wholesale  and  improper  appro- 
priation of  this  badge  with  a  territorial 
application  has  unfortunately  caused  it 
to  be  very  generally  referred  to  as  a 
''  Staffordshire  "  knot,  and  that  it  was  the  personal  badge  of  the  Lords 
Stafford  is  too  often  overlooked.  Other  badge  knots  are  the  Wake 
or  Ormonde  knot  (Fig.  685),  the  Bourchier  knot  (Fig.  686),  and  the 
Heneage  knot  (Fig.  687). 


Fig.  685.— Wake 
or  Ormonde  Knot. 


Fig.  686.— Bour- 
chier Knot. 


Fig.  687.— Hene- 
age Knot. 


470     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  personal  badges  of  the  members  of  the  Royal  Family  continued 
in  use  until  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  but  from  that  time  forward  the 
Royal  badges  obtained  a  territorial  character  ;  the  rose  of  England, 
the  thistle  of  Scotland,  and  the  shamrock  of  Ireland.  To  these  popular 
consent  has  added  the  lotus-flower  for  India,  the  maple  for  Canada, 
and  in  a  lesser  degree  the  wattle  or  mimosa  for  Australia  ;  but  at 
present  these  lack  any  official  confirmation.  The  two  first  named, 
nevertheless,  figured  on  the  Coronation  Invitation  Cards. 


CHAPTER   XXX 

HERALDIC    FLAGS,    BANNERS,    AND    STANDARDS 

WHEN  it  comes  to  the  display  of  flags,  the  British-born 
individual  usually  makes  a  hash  of  the  whole  business,  and 
flies  either  the  Sovereign's  personal  coat  of  arms,  which 
really  should  only  be  made  use  of  over  a  residence  of  the  Sovereign 
when  the  Sovereign  is  actually  there,  or  flown  at  sea  when  the  Sovereign 
is  on  board  ;  or  else  he  uses  the  national  flag,  colloquially  termed  the 
^'  Union  Jack,"  which,  strictly  speaking,  and  as  a  matter  of  law,  ought 
never  to  be  made  use  of  on  land  except  over  the  residence  of  the 
Sovereign  in  his  absence,  or  on  a  fortress  or  other  Government 
building.  But  recently  an  official  answer  has  been  given  in  Parlia- 
ment, declaring  what  is  presumably  the  pleasure  of  His  Majesty  to 
the  effect  that  the  Union  Jack  is  the  National  Flag,  and  may  be 
flown  as  such  on  land  by  any  British  subject.  If  this  is  the  intention 
of  the  Crown,  it  is  a  pity  that  this  permission  has  not  been  embodied 
in  a  Royal  warrant. 

The  banner  of  St.  George,  which  is  a  white  flag  with  a  plain  red 
cross  of  St.  George  throughout,  is  now  appropriated  to  the  Order  of 
the  Garter,  of  which  St.  George  is  the  patron  saint,  though  I  am  by 
no  means  inclined  to  assert  that  it  would  be  incorrect  to  make  use 
of  it  upon  a  church  which  happened  to  be  specifically  placed  under 
the  patronage  of  St.  George. 

The  white  ensign,  which  is  a  white  flag  bearing  the  cross  of 
St.  George  and  in  the  upper  quarter  next  to  the  staff  a  reproduction 
of  the  Union  device,  belongs  to  the  Royal  Navy,  and  certain  privileged 
individuals  to  whom  the  right  has  been  given  by  a  specific  warrant. 
The  blue  ensign,  which  is  a  plain  blue  flag  with  the  Union  device  on 
a  canton  in  the  upper  corner  next  the  staff,  belongs  to  the  Royal  Naval 
Reserve  ;  and  the  red  ensign,  which  is  the  same  as  the  former,  except 
that  a  red  flag  is  substituted  for  the  blue  one,  belongs  to  the  ships  of 
the  merchant  service.  These  three  flags  have  been  specifically  called 
into  being  by  specific  warrants  for  certain  purposes  which  are  stated 
in  these  warrants,  and  these  purposes  being  wholly  connected  with  the 
sea,  neither  the  blue,  the  red,  nor  the  white  ensign  ought  to  be  hoisted 
on  land  by  anybody.     Of  course  there  is  no  penalty  for  doing  so  on 

471 


472     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

land,  though  very  drastic  penalties  can  be  enforced  for  misuse  of  these 
ensigns  on  the  water,  a  step  which  is  taken  frequently  enough.  For 
a  private  person  to  use  any  one  of  these  three  flags  on  land  for  a 
private  purpose,  the  only  analogy  which  I  can  suggest  to  bring  home 
to  people  the  absurdity  of  such  action  would  be  to  instance  a  private 
person  for  his  own  private  pleasure  adopting  the  exact  uniform  of 
some  regiment  whenever  he  might  feel  inclined  to  go  bathing  in  the 
sea.  If  he  were  to  do  so,  he  would  find  under  the  recent  Act  that  he 
had  incurred  the  penalty,  which  would  be  promptly  enforced,  for 
bringing  His  Majesty's  uniform  into  disrepute.  It  is  much  to  be 
wished  that  the  penalties  exacted  for  the  wrongful  display  of  these 
flags  at  sea  should  be  extended  to  their  abuse  on  shore. 

The  development  of  the  Union  Jack  and  the  warrants  relating  to 
it  are  dealt  with  herein  by  the  Rev.  ].  R.  Crawford,  M.A.,  in  a  subse- 
quent chapter,  and  I  do  not  propose  to  further  deal  with  the  point, 
except  to  draw  attention  to  a  proposal,  which  is  very  often  mooted, 
that  some  change  or  addition  to  the  Union  Jack  should  be  made  to 
typify  the  inclusion  of  the  colonies. 

But  to  begin  with,  what  is  the  Union  Jack  ?  Probably  most 
would  be  inclined  to  answer,  *'  The  flag  of  the  Empire."  It  is  nothing 
of  the  kind.  It  is  in  a  way  stretching  the  definition  to  describe  it  as 
the  King's  flag.  Certainly  the  design  of  interlaced  crosses  is  a  badge 
of  the  King's,  but  that  badge  is  of  a  later  origin  than  the  flag. 

The  flag  itself  is  the  fighting  emblem  of  the  Sovereign,  which  the 
Sovereign  has  declared  shall  be  used  by  his  soldiers  or  sailors  for 
fighting  purposes  under  certain  specified  circumstances.  That  it  is 
used,  even  officially,  in  all  sorts  of  circumstances  with  which  the  King's 
warrants  are  not  concerned  is  beside  the  matter,  for  it  is  to  the  Royal 
Warrants  that  one  must  refer  for  the  theory  of  the  thing. 

Now  let  us  go  further  back,  and  trace  the  '^  argent,  a  cross  gules,"  the 
part  which  is  England's  contribution  to  the  Union  Jack,  which  itself  is  a 
combination  of  the  "  crosses  "  of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew,  and  St.  Patrick. 
The  theory  of  one  is  the  theory  of  the  three,  separately  or  conjoined. 

"  Argent,  a  cross  gules  "  was  never  the  coat  of  arms  of  England 
(except  under  the  Commonwealth,  when  its  use  for  armorial  purposes 
may  certainly  be  disregarded),  and  the  reason  it  came  to  be  regarded 
as  the  flag  of  England  is  simply  and  solely  because  fighting  w^as  always 
done  under  the  supposed  patronage  of  some  saint,  and  England  fought, 
not  under  the  arms  of  England,  but  under  the  flag  of  St.  George,  the 
patron  saint  of  England  and  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter.  The  battle- 
cry  *'  St.  George  for  Merrie  England  ! "  is  too  well  known  to  need 
more  than  the  passing  mention.  Scotland  fought  under  St.  Andrew  ; 
Ireland,  by  a  similar  analogy,  had  for  its  patron  saint  St.  Patrick  (if 


HERALDIC   FLAGS,   BANNERS,  STANDARDS     473 

indeed  there  was  a  Cross  of  St.  Patrick  before  one  was  needed  for  the 
Union  flag,  which  is  a  very  doubtful  point),  and  the  Union  Jack  was 
not  the  combination  of  three  territorial  flags,  but  the  combination  of 
the  recognised  emblems  of  the  three  recognised  saints,  and  though 
England  claimed  the  sovereignty  of  France,  and  for  that  reason 
quartered  the  arms  of  France,  no  Englishman  bothered  about  the 
patronage  of  St.  Denis,  and  the  emblem  of  St.  Denis  was  never  flown 
in  this  country.  The  fact  that  no  change  was  ever  made  in  the  flag 
to  typify  Hanover,  whilst  Hanover  duly  had  its  place  upon  the  arms, 
proves  that  the  flag  was  recognised  to  be,  and  allowed  to  remain,  the 
emblem  of  the  three  patron  saints  under  whose  patronage  the  British 
fought,  and  not  the  badge  of  any  sovereignty  or  territorial  area.  If 
the  colonies  had  already  any  saint  of  their  own  under  whose  patronage 
they  had  fought  in  bygone  days,  or  in  whose  name  they  wished  to 
fight  in  the  future,  there  might  be  reason  for  including  the  emblem  of  thai 
saint  upon  the  fighting  flag  of  the  Empire  ;  but  they  have  no  recognised 
saintly  patrons,  and  they  may  just  as  well  fight  for  our  saints  as  choose 
others  for  themselves  at  so  late  a  day  ;  but  having  a  flag  which  is  a 
combination  of  the  emblems  of  three  saints,  and  which  contains  nothing 
that  is  not  a  part  of  those  emblems,  to  make  any  addition  heraldic 
or  otherwise  to  it  now  would,  in  my  opinion,  be  best  expressed  by  the 
following  illustration.  Imagine  three  soldiers  in  full  and  complete 
uniform,  one  English,  one  Scottish,  and  one  Irish,  it  being  desired  to 
evolve  a  uniform  that  should  be  taken  from  all  three  for  use  by  a  Union 
regiment.  A  tunic  from  one,  trousers  from  another,  and  a  helmet 
from  a  third,  might  be  blended  into  a  very  effective  and  harmonious 
composite  uniform.  Following  the  analogy  of  putting  a  bordure, 
which  is  not  the  emblem  of  a  saint,  round  the  recognised  emblems  of 
the  three  recognised  saints,  and  considering  it  to  be  in  keeping  because 
the  bordure  was  heraldic  and  the  emblems  heraldic,  one  might  argue, 
that  because  a  uniform  was  clothing  as  was  also  a  ballet-dancer's  skirt, 
therefore  a  ballet-dancer's  skirt  outside  the  whole  would  be  in  keeping 
with  the  rest  of  the  uniform.  For  myself  I  should  disHke  any  addition 
to  the  Union  device,  as  much  as  we  should  deride  the  donning  of  tulle 
skirts  outside  their  tunics  and  trousers  by  the  brigade  of  Guards. 

The  flag  which  should  float  from  a  church  tower  should  have  no 
more  on  it  than  the  recognised  ecclesiastical  emblems  of  the  saint  to 
whom  it  is  dedicated  :  the  keys  of  St.  Peter,  the  wheel  of  St.  Catherine, 
the  sword  of  St.  Paul,  the  cross  and  martlets  of  St.  Edmund,  the  lily  of 
St.  Mary,  the  emblem  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  or  whatever  the  emblem  may 
be  of  the  saint  in  question.  (The  alternative  for  a  church  is  the  banner 
of  St.  George,  the  patron  saint  of  the  realm.)  The  flags  upon  public 
buildings  should  bear  the  arms  of  the  corporate  bodies  to  whom  those 


474     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

buildings  belong.  The  flag  to  be  flown  by  a  private  person,  as  the  law 
now  stands,  should  bear  that  person's  private  arms,  if  he  has  any,  and 
if  he  has  not  he  should  be  content  to  forego  the  pleasures  arising  from 
the  use  of  bunting.  A  private  flag  should  be  double  its  height  in 
length.     The  entire  surface  should  be  occupied  by  the  coat  of  arms. 

These  flags  of  arms  are  banners^  and  it  is  quite  a  misnomer  to  term 
the  banner  of  the  Royal  Arms  the  Royal  Standard.  The  flags  of 
arms  hung  over  the  stalls  of  the  Knights  of  the  Garter,  St.  Patrick, 
and  the  former  Knights  of  the  Bath  are  properly,  and  are  always 
termed  banners.  The  term  standard  properly  refers  to  the  long  taper- 
ing flag  used  in  battle,  and  under  which  an  overlord  mustered  his 
retainers  in  battle.  This  did  not  display  his  armorial  bearings.  Next 
to  the  staff  usually  came  the  cross  of  St.  George,  which  was  depicted, 
of  course,  on  a  white  field.  This  occupied  rather  less  than  one- 
third  of  the  standard.  The  remainder  of  the  standard  was  of  the 
colour  or  colours  of  the  livery,  and  thereupon  was  represented  all 
sorts  of  devices,  usually  the  badges  and  sometimes  the  crest.  The 
motto  was  usually  on  transverse  bands,  which  frequently  divided  the 
standard  into  compartments  for  the  different  badges.  These  mottoes 
from  their  nature  are  not  war-cries,  but  undoubtedly  relate  and  belong 
to  the  badges  with  which  they  appear  in  conjunction.  The  whole 
banner  was  usually  fringed  with  the  livery  colours,  giving  the  effect 
of  a  bordure  compony.  The  use  of  standards  does  not  seem,  except 
for  the  ceremonial  purposes  of  funerals,  to  have  survived  the  Tudor 
period,  this  doubtless  being  the  result  of  the  creation  of  the  standing 
army  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  The  few  exotic  standards,  e,g,t 
remaining  from  the  Jacobite  rebellion,  seldom  conform  to  the  old 
patterns,  but  although  the  shape  is  altered,  the  artistic  character  largely 
remains  in  the  regimental  colours  of  the  present  day  with  their  assorted 
regimental  badges  and  scrolls  with  the  names  of  battle  honours. 

With  the  recent  revival  of  the  granting  of  badges  the  standard 
has  again  been  brought  into  use  as  the  vehicle  to  carry  the  badge 
(Plate  VIII.).  The  arms  are  now  placed  next  the  staff,  and  upon  the 
rest  of  the  field  the  badge  is  repeated  or  alternated  with  the  crest. 
Badges  and  standards  are  now  granted  to  any  person  already  possess- 
ing a  right  to  arms  and  willing  to  pay  the  necessary  fees. 

The  armorial  use  of  the  banner  in  connection  with  the  display  of 
heraldic  achievements  is  very  limited  in  this  country.  In  the  case  of 
the  Marquess  of  Dufferin  and  Ava  the  banner  or  flag  is  an  integral 
and  unchangeable  part  of  the  heraldic  supporters,  and  in  Ross-of- 
Bladensburg,  e.g.,  it  is  similarly  an  integral  part  of  the  crest.  In 
the  warrant  of  augmentation  granted  to  H.M.  Queen  Victoria 
Eugenie  of  Spain  on  her  marriage,  banners   of   the  Royal  Arms  of 


PLATE  VIll, 


STANDARD  OF  SCOTT-GATTY. 


HERALDIC  FLAGS,  BANNERS,  STANDARDS     475 

England  were  placed  in  the  paws  of  her  supporters.  Other  cases 
where  arms  have  been  depicted  on  banners  are  generally  no  more 
than  matters  of  artistic  design  ;  but  in  the  arms  of  Scotland  as  matri- 
culated in  Lyon  Register  for  King  Charles  II.  the  supporters  are 
accompanied  by  banners,  the  dexter  being  of  the  arms  of  Scotland, 
and  the  sinister  the  banner  of  St.  Andrew.  These  banners  possess 
rather  a  different  character,  and  approach  very  closely  to  the  German 
use.  The  same  prac- 
tice has  been  fol- 
lowed in  the  seals  of 
the  Duchy  of  Lan- 
caster, inasmuch  as 
on  the  obverse  of  the 
seal  of  George  IV. 
and  the  seal  of  Queen 
Victoria  the  Royal 
supporters  hold  ban- 
ners of  the  arms  of 
England  and  of  the 
Duchy  {i.e.  England, 
a  label  for  difference). 
James  I.  on  his  Great 
Seal  had  the  banners 
of  Cadwallader  (azure, 
a  cross  patte  fitch^ 
or)  and  King  Edgar 
(azure,  a  cross  pat- 
once  between  four 
martlets  or),  and  on 
the  Great  Seal  of  Charles  I.  the  dexter  supporter  holds  a  banner  of 
St.  George,  and  the  sinister  a  banner  of  St.  Andrew. 

Of  the  heraldic  use  of  the  banner  in  Germany  Strohl  writes : — 

"The  banner  appears  in  a  coat  of  arms,  either  in  the  hands  or 
paws  of  the  supporters  (Fig.  688),  also  set  up  behind  the  shield,  or  the 
pavilion,  as,  for  instance,  in  the  larger  achievement  of  his  Majesty  the 
German  Emperor,  in  the  large  achievement  of  the  kingdom  of  Prussia, 
of  the  dukedom  of  Saxe-Altenburg,  and  further  in  the  Arms  of  State 
of  Italy,  Russia,  Roumania,  &c. 

"  Banners  on  the  shield  as  charges,  or  on  the  helmet  as  a  crest, 
are  here,  of  course,  not  in  question,  but  only  those  banners  which 
serve  as  PrachistUcke  (appendages  of  magnificence). 

"  The  banners  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries  are  long  and 
narrow,  and  frequently  run  in  stripes,  like  battlements.      However,  in 


Fig.  688. — "  Middle  "  arms  of  the  Duchy  of  Saxe-Altenburg.- 
(From  Strohl's  Deutsche  WappetiroUe.) 


476     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  second  half  of  the  thirteenth  century  flags  were  also  to  be  met 
with,  with  the  longer  side  attached  to  the  stick.  Later  on  the  banners 
became  more  square,  and  show  on  the  top  a  long  strip,  generally  of 
another  colour,  the  Schwenkel  (i.e.  something  that  flourishes),  waves  to 
and  fro.  To  bear  a  red  Schwenkel  was  a  special  privilege,  similar  to 
the  right  of  sealing  with  red  wax. 

"  The  ecclesiastical  banner  has  three  points,  and  is  provided  with 
rings  on  the  top  in  order  that  it  may  be  fastened  to  the  stick  by  them, 
in  an  oblique  position. 

"  The  banner  always  represents  the  field  of  the  shield,  and  assumes 
accordingly  its  tincture.  The  charges  of  the  shield  should  be  placed 
upon  the  banner  without  the  outline  of  a  shield,  and  the  edge  against 
the  flag-staff  is  considered  the  dexter  ;  it  follows  from  this  that  the 
figure  must  be  turned  towards  it. 

<<  For  instance,  if  the  shield  bear  the  following  arms,  argent  an 
eagle  gules,  the  same  figure,  suited  to  the  size  of  the  flag»  appears  on 
the  banner,  with  its  head  turned  towards  the  staff.  If  it  be  wished  to 
represent  only  the  colours  of  the  arms  upon  the  flag,  that  of  the  charge 
is  placed  above,  and  that  of  the  field  below.  Thus,  for  example,  the 
Prussian  flag  is  black  and  white,  corresponding  to  the  black  eagle  on 
the  silver  field ;  the  flag  of  Hohenzollern  is  white  and  black,  corre- 
sponding to  their  coat  of  arms,  quartered  silver  and  black,  because  in 
the  latter  case,  so  soon  as  a  heraldic  representation  is  available,  from 
the  position  of  the  coloured  fields,  the  correct  order  of  the  tinctures  is 
determined. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
MARKS    OF    CADENCY 

THE  manner  in  which  cadency  is  indicated  in  heraldic  emblazon- 
ment forms  one  of  the  most  important  parts  of  British  armory, 
but  our  own  intricate  and  minutely  detailed  systems  are  a 
purely  British  development  of  armory.  I  do  not  intend  by  the  fore- 
going remark  to  assert  that  the  occasional  use,  or  even,  as  in  some 
cases,  the  constant  use  of  altered  arms  for  purposes  of  indicating 
cadency  is  unknown  on  the  Continent,  because  different  branches  of 
one  family  are  constantly  found  using,  for  the  purposes  of  distinction, 
variations  of  the  arms  appertaining  to  the  head  of  their  house  ;  in  France 
especially  the  bordure  has  been  extensively  used,  but  the  fact  never- 
theless remains  that  in  no  other  countries  is  there  found  an  organised 
system  or  set  of  rules  for  the  purpose.  Nor  is  this  idea  of  the 
indication  of  cadency  wholly  a  modern  development,  though  some, 
in  fact  most,  of  the  rules  presently  in  force  are  no  doubt  a  result  of 
modern  requirements,  and  do  not  date  back  to  the  earliest  periods  of 
heraldry  in  this  country. 

The  obligation  of  cadet  lines  to  difference  their  arms  was  recognised 
practically  universally  in  the  fourteenth  century  ;  and  when,  later,  the 
systematic  use  of  differencing  seemed  in  danger  of  being  ignored,  it 
was  made  the  subject  of  specific  legislation.  In  the  treatise  of  Zypoeus, 
de  Notitia  juris  Belgici,  lib.  xii.,  quoted  also  in  Menetrier,  Recherches  du 
Blazon^  p.  218,  we  find  the  following : — 

<'  Ut  secundo  et  ulterius  geniti,  quinimo  primogeniti  vivo  patre, 
integra  insignia  non  gerant,  sed  aliqua  nota  distincta,  ut  perpetuo  linae 
dignosci  possint,  et  ex  qua  quique  descendant,  donee  anteriores 
defecerint.  Exceptis  Luxenburgis  et  Gueldris,  quibus  non  sunt  ii 
mores."      (The  exception  is  curious.) 

The  choice  of  these  brisures,  as  marks  of  difference  are  often  termed, 
was,  however,  left  to  the  persons  concerned  ;  and  there  is,  consequently, 
a  great  variety  of  differences  or  differentiation  marks  which  seem  to 
have  been  used  for  the  purpose.  The  term  "  brisure "  is  really 
French,  whilst  the  German  term  for  these  marks  is  *^  Beizeichen." 

British  heraldry,  on  the  contrary,  is  remarkable  for  its  use  of  two 

477 


478     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

distinct  sets  of  rules — the  English  and  the  Scottish — the  Irish  system 
being  identical  with  the  former. 

To  understand  the  question  of  cadency  it  is  necessary  to  revert  to 
the  status  of  a  coat  of  arms  in  early  periods.  In  the  first  chapter  we 
dealt  with  the  origin  of  armory ;  and  in  a  subsequent  chapter  with  the 
status  of  a  coat  of  arms  in  Great  Britain,  and  it  will  therefrom  have 
been  apparent  that  arms,  and  a  right  to  them,  developed  in  this 
country  as  an  adjunct  of,  or  contemporaneously  with,  the  extension  of 
the  feudal  system.  Every  landowner  was  at  one  time  required  to  have 
his  seal — presumably,  of  arms — and  as  a  result  arms  were  naturally 
then  considered  to  possess  something  of  a  territorial  character.  I  do 
not  by  this  mean  to  say  that  the  arms  belonged  to  the  land  and  were 
transferable  with  the  sale  and  purchase  thereof.  There  never  was  in 
this  country  a  period  at  which  such  an  idea  held  ;  nor  were  arms 
originally  entirely  personal  or  individual.  They  belonged  rather  to  a 
position  half-way  between  the  two.  They  were  the  arms  of  a  given 
family,  originating  because  that  family  held  land  and  accepted  the 
consequent  responsibilities  thereto  belonging,  but  the  arms  appertained 
for  the  time  being  to  the  member  of  that  family  who  owned  the  land, 
and  that  this  is  the  true  idea  of  the  former  status  of  a  coat  of  arms  is 
perhaps  best  evidenced  by  the  Grey  and  Hastings  controversy,  which 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  Court  of  Chivalry  for  several  years  prior  to 
14 10.  The  decision  and  judgment  in  the  case  gave  the  undifferenced 
arms  of  Hastings  to  the  heir-general  (Grey  de  Ruthyn),  the  heir-male 
(Sir  Edward  Hastings)  being  found  only  capable  of  bearing  the  arms 
of  Hastings  subject  to  some  mark  of  difference. 

This  case,  and  the  case  of  Scrope  and  Grosvenor,  in  which  the 
king's  award  was  that  the  bordure  was  not  sufficient  difference  for  a 
stranger  in  blood,  being  only  the  mark  of  a  cadet,  show  clearly  that 
the  status  of  a  coat  of  arms  in  early  times  was  that  in  its  undifferenced 
state  it  belonged  to  one  person  only  for  the  time  being,  and  that  person 
the  head  of  the  family,  though  it  should  be  noted  that  the  term  '^  Head 
of  th^  Family  "  seems  to  have  been  interpreted  into  the  one  who  held 
the  lands  of  the  family — whether  he  were  heir-male  or  heir-general 
being  apparently  immaterial. 

This  much  being  recognised,  it  follows  that  some  means  were 
needed  to  be  devised  to  differentiate  the  armorial  bearings  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  family.  Of  course  the  earliest  definite 
instances  of  any  attempt  at  a  systematic  "  differencing  "  for  cadency 
which  can  be  referred  to  are  undoubtedly  those  cases  presented  by  the 
arms  of  the  younger  members  of  the  Royal  Family  in  England.  These 
cases,  however,  it  is  impossible  to  take  as  precedents.  Royal  Arms 
have  always,  from  the  very  earliest  times,  been  a  law  unto  themselves, 


MARKS   OF    CADENCY  479 

subject  only  to  the  will  of  the  Sovereign,  and  it  is  neither  safe  nor 
correct  to  deduce  precedents  to  be  applied  to  the  arms  of  subjects  from 
proved  instances  concerning  the  Royal  Arms. 

Probably,  apart  from  these,  the  earliest  mark  of  cadency  which  is 
to  be  met  with  in  heraldry  is  the  label  (Fig.  689)  used  to  indicate  the 
eldest  son,  and  this  mark  of  difference  dates  back  far  beyond  any 
other  regularised  methods  applicable  to  "  younger  "  sons.  The  German 
name  for  the  label  is  <<  Turnierkragen,"  i.e.  Tournament  Collar,  which 
may  indicate  the  origin  of  this  curious  figure.  Probably  the  use  of 
the  label  can  be  taken  back  to  the  middle  or  early  part  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  but  the  opportunity  and  necessity  of  marking  the  arms  of  the 
heir-apparent  temporarily,  he  having  the  expectation  of  eventually 
succeeding  to  the  undifferenced  arms,  is  a  very  different  matter  to  the 
other  opportunities  for  the  use  of  marks  of  cadency.  The  lord  and 
his  heir  were  the  two  most  important  members  of  the  family,  and  all 
others  sunk  their  identity  in  their  position  in  the  household  of  their 
chief  unless  they  were  established  by  marriage,  or  otherwise,  in  lord- 
ships of  their  own,  in  which  cases  they  are  usually  found  to  have 
preferred  the  arms  of  the 
family  from  whom  they 
inherited     the     lordships 

they  enjoyed;  and   their  Fig.  689.-The  label, 

identities  being  to  such  a  large  extent  overlooked,  the  necessity  for 
any  system  of  marking  the  arms  of  a  younger  son  was  not  so  early 
apparent  as  the  necessity  for  marking  the  arms  of  the  heir. 

The  label  does  not  appear  to  have  been  originally  confined  exclu- 
sively to  the  heir.  It  was  at  first  the  only  method  of  differencing 
known,  and  it  is  not  therefore  to  be  wondered  at  that  we  find  that  it 
was  frequently  used  by  other  cadets,  who  used  it  with  no  other 
meaning  than  to  indicate  that  they  were  not  the  Head  of  the  House. 
It  has,  consequently,  in  some  few  cases  [for  example,  in  the  arms  of 
Courtenay  (Fig.  246),  Babington,  and  Barrington]  become  stereotyped 
as  a  charge,  and  is  continuously  and  unchangeably  used  as  such, 
whereas  doubtless  it  may  have  been  no  more  originally  than  a  mere 
mark  of  cadency.  The  label  was  originally  drawn  with  its  upper  edge 
identical  with  the  top  of  the  shield  (Fig.  520),  but  later  its  position  on 
the  shield  was  lowered.  The  number  of  points  on  the  label  was  at 
first  without  meaning,  a  five-pointed  label  occurring  in  Fig.  690  and 
a  seven-pointed  one  in  Fig.  235. 

In  the  Roll  of  Caerlaverock  the  label  is  repeatedly  referred  to. 
Of  Sir  Maurice  de  Berkeley  it  is  expressly  declared  that 

" .  .  .  un  label  de  asur  avoit, 
Force  qe  ces  peres  vivoit." 


fij^^nnTSmi 


Cott. 


480     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

Sir  Patrick  Dunbar,  son  of  the  Earl  of  Lothian  {ue.  of  March), 
then  bore  arms  similar  to  his  father,  with  the  addition  of  a  label 
''azure."  On  the  other  hand,  Sir  John  de  SegrAve  is  said  to  bear 
his  deceased  father's  arms  undifferenced,  while  his  younger  brother 
Nicholas  carries  them  with  a  label  ''  gules  "  ;  and 
in  the  case  of  Edmund  de  Hastings  the  label  is 
also  assigned  to  a  younger  brother.  Further  proof 
of  its  being  thus  borne  by  cadets  is  furnished  by 
the  evidence  in  the  Grey  and  Hastings  contro- 
versy in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  from  which  it 
appeared  that  the  younger  line  of  the  Hastings 
family  had  for  generations  differenced  the  paternal 
coat  by  a  label  of  three  points  ;  and,  as  various 
^'d;  LaVEaTl%tS  knights  and  esquires  had  deposed  to  this  label 
coin  (^.  1240):  Quar-  being  the  cognisance  of  the  nearest  heir,  it  was 
bendsabierandakM  argued  that  the  defendant's  ancestors  would  not 
have  borne  their  arms  in  this  way  had  they  not 
been  the  reputed  next  heirs  of  the  family  of  the 
Earl  of  Pembroke.  The  label  will  be  seen  in  Figs.  690,  691,  and  692, 
though  its  occurrence  in  the  last  case  in  each  of  the  quarters  is  most  un- 
usual. The  argent  label  on  the  arms  for  the  Sovereignty  of  Man  is  a 
curious  confirmation  of  the  reservation  of  an  argent  label  for  Royalty. 

William  Ruthven, 
Provost  of  Perth,  eldest 
son  of  the  Master  of 
Ruthven,  bore  a  label 
of  four  points  in  1503. 
Two  other  instances  may 
be  noticed  of  a  label 
borne  by  a  powerful 
younger  brother.     One  is 

Walter  Stewart,  Earl  Fig.  691— Arms  of  John  de  la 
of  Menteith,  the  fourth 
High  Steward,  in  1292  ; 
and  we  find  the  label 
again  on  the  seal  of  his 
son  Alexander  Stewart, 
Earl  of  Menteith. 

At  Caerlaverock,  H  enry 
of  Lancaster,  brother  and  successor  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Lancaster — 

"  Portait  les  armes  son  frere 
Au  beau  bastoun  sans  label," 

ue,  he  bore  the  Royal  Arms,  differenced  by  a  bendlet  **  azure." 


argent.       (MS. 
Nero,  D.  i.) 


Pole,  Earl  of  Lincoln  (son 
of  John,  Duke  of  Suffolk), 
d.  1487  :  Quarterly,  i  and 
4,  azure,  a  fess  between  three 
leopards'  faces  or ;  2  and  3, 
per  fess  gules  and  argent,  a 
lion  rampant  queue  fourche 
or,  armed  and  langued  azure, 
over  all  a  label  argent.  (From 
his  seal.) 


Fig.  692. — Arms  of  Wil- 
liam Le  Scrope,  Earl 
of  Wiltes  {d.  1399)  : 
Quarterly,  i  and  4,  the 
arms  of  the  Isle  of 
Man,  a  label  argent ; 
2  and  3,  azure,  a  bend 
or,  a  label  gules.  ( From 
Willement's  Roll,  six- 
teenth century.) 


MARKS  OF  CADENCY  481 

Jane  Fentoun,  daughter  and  heir-apparent  of  Walter  Fentoun 
of  Baikie,  bore  a  label  in  1448,  and  dropped  it  after  her  father's 
death.  This  is  apparently  an  instance  quite  unique.  I  know  of  no 
other  case  where  the  label  has  been  used  by  a  woman  as  a  mark 
of  difference. 

In  France  the  label  was  the  chief  recognised  mode  of  difference, 
though  the  bend  and  the  bordure  are  frequently  to  be  met  with. 

In  Germany,  Spener  tells  us  that  the  use  of  the  label,  though 
occasional,  was  not  infrequent :  *'  Sicuti  in  Gallia  vix  alius  discerni- 
culorum  modus  frequentior  est,  ita  rariora  exempla  reperimus  in 
Germania,"  and  he  gives  a  few  examples,  though  he  is  unable  to  assign 
the  reason  for  its  assumption  as  a  hereditary  bearing.  The  most  usual 
method  of  differencing  in  Germany  was  by  the  alteration  of  the 
tinctures  or   by   the   alteration  of   the  charges.      As   an   example   of 


Fig.  693.— 
Parteneck. 


Fig.  694. — 
Cammer. 


Fig.  695. — 
Cammerberg. 


Fig.  696. — 
Hilgertshauser. 


Fig.  697. — 
Massenhauser. 


the  former  method,  the  arms  of  the  Bavarian  family  of  Parteneck  may 
be  instanced  (Figs.  693  to  697),  all  representing  the  arms  of  different 
branches  of  the  same  family. 

Next  to  the  use  of -the  label  in  British  heraldry  came  the  use  of 
the  bordure,  and  the  latter  as  a  mark  of  cadency  can  at  any  rate 
be  traced  back  as  a  well-established  matter  of  rule  and  precedent  as 
far  as  the  Scrope  and  Grosvenor  controversy  in  the  closing  years 
of  the  fourteenth  century. 

At  the  period  when  the  bordure  as  a  difference  is  to  be  most 
frequently  met  with  in  English  heraldry,  it  never  had  any  more 
definite  status  or  meaning  than  a  sign  that  the  bearer  was  not  the  head 
of  the  house,  though  one  cannot  but  think  that  in  many  cases  in  which 
it  occurs  its  significance  is  a  doubt  as  to  legitimate  descent,  or  a  doubt 
of  the  probability  of  an  asserted  descent.  In  modern  English  practice 
the  bordure  as  a  difference  for  cadets  only  continues  to  be  used  by 
those  whose  ancestors  bore  it  in  ancient  times.  Its  other  use  as  a 
modern  mark  of  illegitimacy  is  dealt  with  in  the  chapter  upon  marks 
of  illegitimacy,  but  the  curious  and  unique  Scottish  system  of  cadency 
bordures  will  be  presently  referred  to. 

In  Germany  of  old  the  use  of  the  bordure  as  a  difference  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  very  frequent,  but  it  is  now  used  to  distinguish 

2  H 


482     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  arms  of  the  Crown  Prince.  In  Itahan  heraldry,  although  differ- 
ences are  known,  there  is  no  system  whatever.  In  Spain  and 
Portugal  marks  of  cadency,  in  our  sense  of  the  word,  are  almost 
unknown,  but  nevertheless  the  bordure,  especially  as  indicating  descent 
from  a  maternal  ancestor,  is  very  largely  employed.  The  most 
familiar  instance  is  afforded  by  the  Royal  Arms  of  Portugal,  in  which 
the  arms  of  Portugal  are  surrounded  by  a  **  bordure  "  of  Castile. 

Differencing,  however,  had  become  a  necessity  at  an  earlier  period 
than  the  period  at  which  we  find  an  approach  to  the  systematic  usage 
of  the  label,  bordure,  and  bend,  but  it  should  be  noticed  that  those 
who  wished,  and  needed,  to  difference  were  those  younger  members  of 
the  family  who  by  settlement,  or  marriage,  had  themselves  become 
lords  of  other  estates,  and  heads  of  distinct  houses.  For  a  man  must 
be  taken  as  a  **  Head  of  a  House  "  for  all  intents  and  purposes  as  soon  as 
by  his  possession  of  lands  *'  held  in  chief  "  he  became  himself  liable  to 
the  Crown  to  provide  stated  military  service,  and  as  a  consequence 
found  the  necessity  for  a  banner  of  arms,  under  which  his  men  could 
be  mustered.  Now  having  these  positions  as  overlords,  the  inducement 
was  rather  to  set  up  arms  for  themselves  than  to  pose  merely  as  cadets 
of  other  families,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  at  the 
earliest  period,  differencing,  for  the  above  reason,  took  the  form  of  and 
was  meant  as  a  change  in  the  arms.  It  was  something  quite  beyond 
and  apart  from  the  mere  condition  of  a  right  to  recognised  arms,  with 
an  indication  thereupon  that  the  hearer  was  not  the  person  chiefly  en- 
titled to  the  display  of  that  particular  coat.  We  therefore  find  cadets 
bearing  the  arms  of  their  house  with  the  tincture  changed,  with  sub- 
sidiary charges  introduced,  or  with  some  similar  radical  alteration  made. 
Such  coats  should  properly  be  considered  essentially  of^J^^r^w/  coats,  merely 
indicating  in  their  design  a  given  relationship  rather  than  as  the  same 
coat  regularly  differenced  by  rule  to  indicate  cadency.  For  instance,  the 
three  original  branches  of  the  Conyers  family  bear  :  ^^  Azure,  a  maunch 
ermine  ;  azure,  a  maunch  or  ;  azure,  a  maunch  ermine  debruised  by  a 
bendlet  gules."  The  coat  differenced  by  the  bend,  of  course,  stands  self- 
confessed  as  a  differenced  coat,  but  it  is  by  no  means  certain,  nor  is  it 
known  whether  <^  azure,  a  maunch  ermine,"  or  **  azure,  a  maunch  or  " 
indicates  the  original  Conyers  arms,  for  the  very  simple  reason  that  it 
is  now  impossible  to  definitely  prove  which  branch  supplies  the  true 
head  of  the  family.  It  is  known  that  a  wicked  uncle  intervened,  and 
usurped  the  estates  to  the  detriment  of  the  nephew  and  heir,  but 
whether  the  uncle  usurped  the  arms  with  the  estates,  or  whether  the 
heir  changed  his  arms  when  settled  on  the  other  lands  to  which  he 
migrated,  there  is  now  no  means  of  ascertaining. 

Similarly  we  find  the  Darcy  arms  [<'  Argent,  three  cinquefoils  gules," 


MARKS   OF   CADENCY  483 

which  is  probably  the  oldest  form];  <'  Argent,  crusuly  and  three  cinque- 
foils  gules,"  and  ^^  Azure,  crusuly  and  three  cinquefoils  argent,"  and 
countless  instances  can  be  referred  to  where,  for  the  purpose  of  indi- 
cating cadency,  the  arms  of  a  family  were  changed  in  this  manner. 
This  reason,  of  which  there  can  be  no  doubt,  supplies  the  origin  and 
the  excuse  for  the  custom  of  assigning  similar  arms  when  the  descent 
is  but  doubtful.  Similarity  originally,  though  it  may  indicate  consan- 
guinity, was  never  intended  to  be  proof  thereof. 

The  principal  ancient  methods  of  alteration  in  arms,  which  nowa- 
days are  apparently  accepted  as  former  modes  of  differencing  merely 
to  indicate  cadency,  may  perhaps  be  classified  into :  («)  Change  of 
tincture ;  {b)  the  addition  of  small  charges  to  the  field,  or  to  an 
ordinary  ;  {c)  the  addition  of  a  label  or  {d)  of  a  canton  or  quarter  ;  (e) 
the  addition  of  an  inescutcheon  ;  (/)  the  addition  (or  change)  of  an 
ordinary  ;  {g)  the  changing  of  the  lines  of  partition  enclosing  an 
ordinary,  and  perhaps  also  {h)  diminishing  the  number  of  charges  ; 
(/)  a  change  of  some  or  all  of  the  minor  charges.  At  a  later  date 
came  {j)  the  systematic  use  of  the  label,  the  bordure,  and  the  bend  ; 
and  subsequently  {k)  the  use  of  the  modern  systems  of  "  marks  of 
cadency."  Perhaps,  also,  one  should  include  (/)  the  addition  of  quar- 
terings,  the  use  of  {m)  augmentations  and  official  arms,  and  {n)  the 
escutcheon  en  surlout^  indicating  a  territorial  and  titular  lordship,  but 
the  three  last-mentioned,  though  useful  for  distinction  and  frequently 
obviating- the  necessity  of  other  marks  of  cadency,  did  not  originate 
with  the  theory  or  necessities  of  differencing,  and  are  not  properly 
marks  of  cadency.  At  the  same  time,  the  warning  should  be  given 
that  it  is  not  safe  always  to  presume  cadency  when  a  change  of  tincture 
or  other  slight  deviation  from  an  earlier  form  of  the  arms  is  met  with. 
Many  families  when  they  exhibited  their  arms  at  the  Visitations  could 
not  substantiate  them,  and  the  heralds,  in  confirming  arms,  frequently 
deliberately  changed  the  tinctures  of  many  coats  they  met  with,  to 
introduce  distinction  from  other  authorised  arms. 

Practically  contemporarily  with  the  use  of  the  bordure  came  the 
use  of  the  bend,  then  employed  for  the  same  purpose.  In  the  Armorial 
de  Gelrey  one  of  the  earliest  armorials  now  in  existence  which  can  be 
referred  to,  the  well-known  coat  of  Abernethy  is  there  differenced  by 
the  bendlet  engrailed,  and  the  arms  of  the  King  of  Navarre  bear  his 
quartering  of  France  differenced  by  a  bendlet  compony.  Amongst 
other  instances  in  which  the  bend  or  bendlet  appears  originally  as  a 
mark  of  cadency,  but  now  as  a  charge,  may  be  mentioned  the  arms  of 
Fitzherbert,  Fulton,  Stewart  (Earl  of  Galloway),  and  others.  It  is  a 
safe  presumption  with  regard  to  ancient  coats  of  arms  that  any  coat 
in  which  the  field  is  seme  is  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  a  differenced  coat 


484     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

for  a  junior  cadet,  as  is  also  any  coat  in  which  a  charge  or  ordinary  is 
debruised  by  another.  Of  course  in  more  modern  times  no  such 
presumption  is  permissible.  An  instance  of  a  sem6  field  for  cadency 
will  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  D'Arcy  arms  already  mentioned. 
Little  would  be  gained  by  a  long  hst  of  instances  of  such  differences, 
because  the  most  careful  and  systematic  investigations  clearly  show 
that  in  early  times  no  definite  rules  whatever  existed  as  to  the  assump- 
tion of  differences,  which  largely  depended  upon  the  pleasure  of  the 
bearer,  and  no  system  can  be  deduced  which  can  be  used  to  decide 
that  the  appearance  of  any  given  difference  or  kind  of  difference  meant 
a  given  set  of  circumstances.  Nor  can  any  system  be  deduced  which 
has  any  value  for  the  purposes  of  precedent. 

Certain  instances  are  appended  which  will  indicate  the  style  of 
differencing  which  was  in  vogue,  but  it  should  be  distinctly  remembered 
that  the  object  was  not  to  allocate  the  bearer  of  any  particular  coat  of 
arms  to  any  specific  place  in  the  family  pedigree,  but  merely  to  show 
that  he  was  not  the  head  of  the  house,  entitled  to  bear  the  undifferenced 
arms,  if  indeed  it  would  not  be  more  accurate  to  describe  these 
instances  as  simply  examples  of  different  coats  of  arms  used  by 
members  of  the  same  family.  For  it  should  be  remembered  that 
anciently,  before  the  days  of  ^* black  and  white"  illustration,  promi- 
nent change  of  tincture  was  admittedly  a  sufficient  distinction  be- 
tween strangers  in  blood.  Beyond  the  use  of  the  label  and  the  bordure 
there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  recognised  system  of  differencing 
until  at  the  earliest  the  fifteenth  century — probably  any  regulated 
system  does  not  date  much  beyond  the  commencement  of  the  series 
of  Visitations. 

Of  the  four  sons  of  GiLLES  De  Mailly,  who  bore,  '<  Or,  three 
mallets  vert,"  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  sons  respectively  made  the 
charges  "  gules,"  *'  azure,"  and  "  sable."  The  "  argent  "  field  of  the 
Douglas  coat  was  in  some  branches  converted  into  ''  ermine  "  as  early 
^s  1373  ;  and  the  descendants  of  the  Douglases  of  Dalkeith  made 
the  chief  *'  gules  "  instead  of  '*  azure."  A  similar  mode  of  differencing 
occurs  in  the  Lyon  Register  in  many  other  families.  The  MuRRAYS 
of  Culbin  in  the  North  bore  a  **  sable  "  field  for  their  arms  in  lieu  of 
the  more  usual  ^^  azure,"  and  there  seems  reason  to  believe  that  the 
Southern  Erasers  originally  bore  their  field  ''  sable,"  the  change  to 
"  azure "  being  an  alteration  made  by  those  branches  who  migrated 
northwards.  An  interesting  series  of  arms  is  met  with  in  the  case  of 
the  differences  employed  by  the  Earls  of  Warwick.  Waleran,  Earl  of 
Warwick  (fl?.  1204),  appears  to  have  added  to  the  arms  ofWarenne  (his 
mother's  family)  *<a  chevron  ermine."  His  son  Henry,  Earl  of 
Warwick  (^,  1229),  changed  the  chevron  to  a  bend,  but  Thomas,  Earl 


MARKS    OF   CADENCY  485 

of  Warwick  {d,  1242),  reverted  to  the  chevron,  a  form  which  was  per- 
petuated after  the  earldom  had  passed  to  the  house  of  Beauchamp.  An 
instance  of  the  addition  of  mullets  to  the  bend  in  the  arms  of  Bohun 
is  met  with  in  the  cadet  line  created  Earls  of  Northampton. 

The  shield  of  William  de  Roumare,  Earl  of  Lincoln,  who  died 
in  1 198,  is  adduced  by  Mr.  Planche  as  an  early  example  of  differ- 
encing by  crosses  crosslet  ;  the  principal  charges  being  seven  mascles 
conjoined;  three,  three,  and  one.  We  find  in  the  Rolls  of  Arms  of 
the  thirteenth  and  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century  many  instances 
of  coats  crusily,  billetty,  bezanty,  and  "  pleyn  d'escallops,"  fleurette, 
and  '^  a  les  trefoiles  d'or."  With  these  last  Sir  Edmond  Dacre  of 
Westmoreland  powdered  the  shield  borne  by  the  head  of  his  family  : 
^' Gules,  three  escallops  or"  (Roll  of  Edward  II.).  The  coat  borne  by 
the  Actons  of  Aldenham,  ^^  Gules,  crusily  or,  two  lions  passant  argent," 
is  sometimes  quoted  as  a  gerated  coat  of  Lestrange  ;  for  Edward 
DE  Acton  married  the  coheiress  of  Lestrange  (living  1387),  who 
bore  simply  :  "  Gules,  two  lions  passant  argent."  That  the  arms  of 
Acton  are  derived  from  Lestrange  cannot  be  questioned,  but  the  pro- 
bability is  that  they  were  a  new  invention  as  a  distinct  coat,  the  charges 
suggested  by  Lestrange.  The  original  coat  of  the  House  of  Berkeley 
in  England  (Barclay  in  Scotland)  appears  to  have  been:  "Gules,  a 
chevron  or  "  (or  "  argent ").  The  seals  of  Robert  de  Berkeley,  who 
died  4  Henry  III.,  and  MAURICE  DE  Berkeley,  who  died  1281,  all 
show  the  shield  charged  with  a  chevron  only.  MoRis  DE  Barkele,  in 
the  Roll  temp.  Henry  III.,  bears:  ^'Goules,  a  chevron  argent." 

But  Thomas,  son  of  Maurice,  who  died  15  Edward  II.,  has  the 
present  coat:  "Gules,  a  chevron  between  ten  crosses  pat^e  argent;" 
while  in  the  roll  of  Edward  II.,  "  De  goules  od  les  rosettes  de 
argent  et  un  chevron  de  argent "  is  attributed  to  Sir  Thomas  de 
Berkeley.  In  Leicestershire  the  Berkeleys  gerated  with  cinquefoils, 
an  ancient  and  favourite  bearing  in  that  county,  derived  of  course 
from  the  arms  or  badge  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  In  Scotland  the 
Barclays  differenced  by  change  of  tincture,  and  bore:  "Azure,  a 
chevron  argent  between  (or  in  chief)  three  crosses  patee  of  the  same." 
An  interesting  series  of  differences  is  met  with  upon  the  arms  of 
Neville  of  Raby,  which  are:  "Gules,  a  saltire  argent,"  and  which 
were  differenced  by  a  crescent  "  sable  "  ;  a  martlet  "  gules  "  ;  a  mullet 
"  sable  "  and  a  mullet  azure  ;  a  "  fleur-de-lis  "  ;  a  rose  "  gules  "  ;  a  pellet, 
or  annulet,  "  sable,"  this  being  the  difference  of  Lord  Latimer ;  and 
two  interlaced  annulets  "  azure,"  all  borne  on  the  centre  point  of  the 
saltire.  The  interlaced  annulets  were  borne  by  Lord  Montagu,  as  a 
second  difference  on  the  arms  of  his  father,  Richard  Nevill,  Earl  of 
Salisbury,  he  and  his  brother  the  King-maker  both  using  the  curious 


486     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO   HERALDRY 

compony  label  of  azure  and  argent  borne  by  their  father,  which  indicated 
their  descent  from  John  of  Gaunt.  One  of  the  best  known  English 
examples  of  differencing  by  a  change  of  charges  is  that  of  the  coat 
of  the  COBHAMS,  "  Gules,  a  chevron  or,"  in  which  the  ordinary  was 
charged  by  various  cadets  with  three  pierced  estoiles,  three  lions, 
three  crossed  crosslets,  three  '^  fleurs-de-lis,"  three  crescents,  and 
three  martlets,   all  of  ^<  sable." 

The  original  Grey  coat  [^^  Barry  of  six  argent  and  azure "]  is 
differenced  in  the  Roll  of  Edward  I.  by  a  bend  gules  for  John  de 
Gkey  ;  at  Caerlaverock  this  is  engrailed. 

The  Segrave  coat  [''  Sable,  a  lion  rampant  argent "]  is  differenced 
by  the  addition  of   '^  a  bendlet  or  "  ;  or  ^'  a  bendlet  gules  "  ;  and  the 

last    is    again    differenced    by    en- 
grailing it. 

In  the  Calais  Roll  the  arms  of 
William  de  Warren  ['*  Chequy  or 
and  azure  "]  are  differenced  by  the 
addition  of  a  canton  said  to  be 
that  of  FiTZALAN  (but  really  that 
of  Nerford). 

Whilst  no  regular  system  of 
differencing  has  survived  in  France, 
and  whilst  outside  the  Royal  Family 
arms  in  that  country  show  com- 
paratively few  examples  of  differ- 
ence marks,  the  system  as  regards 
Fig.  698.-Seai^of  j^^z^.et^h.^w^  of  Philip,  ^he  French  Royal  Arms  was  well  ob- 
served and  approximated  closely  to 
our  own.  The  Dauphin  of  France  bore  the  Royal  Arms  undifferenced 
but  never  alone,  they  being  always  quartered  with  the  sovereign  arms 
of  his  personal  sovereignty  of  Dauphine :  ^^  Or,  a  dolphin  embowed 
azure,  finned  gules."  This  has  been  more  fully  referred  to  on  page 
254.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  arms  of  H.R.H.  the  Prince 
of  Wales  do  not  include  the  arms  of  his  sovereignty  of  the  Duchy  of 
Cornwall,  nor  any  allusion  to  his  dignities  of  Prince  of  Wales  or  Earl 
of  Chester. 

The  arms  of  the  Dukes  of  Orleans  were  the  arms  of  France  dif- 
ferenced by  a  label  argent.  This  is  to  be  observed,  for  example,  upon 
the  seal  (Fig.  698)  of  the  Duchess  Charlotte  Elizabeth  of  Orleans, 
widow  of  Philip  of  Orleans,  brother  of  King  Louis  XIV.  of  France. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  the  Elector  Charles  Louis.  The  arms  of  the 
old  Dukes  of  Anjou  were  the  ancient  coat  of  France  (azure,  seme-de- 
lis or)  differenced  by  a  label  of  five  points  gules,  but  the  younger  house 


MARKS    OF    CADENCY  487 

of  Anjou  bore  the  modern  arms  of  France  differenced  by  a  bordiire 
gules.  The  Dukes  d'Alengon  also  used  the  bordure  gules,  but  charged 
this  with  eight  plates,  whilst  the  Dukes  de  Berri  used  a  bordure  engrmled 
gules. 

The  Counts  d'Angouleme  used  the  arms  of  the  Dukes  of  Orleans, 
adding  a  crescent  gules  on  each  point  of  the  label,  whilst  the  Counts 
d'Artois  used  France  (ancient)  differenced  by  a  label  gules,  each  point 
charged  with  three  castles  (towers)  or. 

The  rules  which  govern  the  marks  of  cadency  at  present  in  England 
are  as  follows,  and  it  should  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  that  the  Scottish 
system  bears  no  relation  whatever  to  the  English  system.  The  eldest 
son  during  the  lifetime  of  his  father  differences  his  arms  by  a  label  of 
three  points  couped  at  the  ends.  This  is  placed  in  the  centre  chief 
point  of  the  escutcheon.  There  is  no  rule  as  to  its  colour,  which  is 
left  to  the  pleasure  of  the  bearer  ;  but  it  is  usually  decided  as  follows : 
(i)  That  it  shall  not  be  metal  on  metal,  or  colour  on  colour  ;  (2)  that 
it  shall  not  be  argent  or  white  ;  and,  if  possible,  that  it  shall  differ  from 
any  colour  or  metal  in  which  any  component  part  of  the  shield  is  de- 
picted. Though  anciently  the  label  was  drawn  throughout  the  shield, 
this  does  not  now  seem  to  be  a  method  officially  adopted.  At  any 
rate  drawn  throughout  it  apparently  obtains  no  official  countenance  for 
the  arms  of  subjects,  though  many  of  the  best  heraldic  artists  always 
so  depict  it.  The  eldest  son  bears  this  label  during  his  father's 
lifetime,  succeeding  to  the  undifferenced  shield  on  the  death  of  his 
father.  His  children — being  the  grandchildren  of  the  then  head  of 
the  house — difference  upon  the  label,  but  such  difference  marks  are, 
like  their  father's,  only  contemporary  with  the  life  of  the  grandfather, 
and,  immediately  upon  the  succession  of  their  father,  the  children 
remove  the  label,  and  difference  upon  the  original  arms.  The  use  of 
arms  by  a  junior  grandson  is  so  restricted  in  ordinary  life  that  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  this  may  be  ignored,  except  in  the  case  of  the 
heir-apparent  of  the  heir-apparent,  t,e.  of  the  grandson  in  the  lifetimes 
of  his  father  and  grandfather.  In  his  case  one  label  oifive  points  is  used, 
and  to  place  a  label  upon  a  label  is  not  correct  when  both  are  marks 
of  cadency,  and  not  charges.  But  the  grandson  on  the  death  of  his 
father,  during  the  lifetime  of  the  grandfather,  and  when  the  grandson 
succeeds  as  heir-apparent  of  the  grandfather,  succeeds  also  to  the  label 
of  three  points,  which  may  therefore  more  properly  be  described  as 
the  difference  mark  of  the  heir-apparent  than  the  difference  mark  of 
the  eldest  son.  It  is  necessary,  perhaps,  having  said  this,  to  add  the 
remark  that  heraldry  knows  no  such  thing  as  disinheritance,  and  heir- 
ship is  an  inalienable  matter  of  blood  descent,  and  not  of  worldly 
inheritance.     No  wornan  can  ever  be  an  heir-apparent.     Though  now 


488     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  number  of  points  on  a  label  is  a  matter  of  rule,  this  is  far  from 
having  been  always  the  case,  and  prior  to  the  Stuart  period  no 
deductions  can  be  drawn  with  certainty  from  the  number  of  the  points 
in  use.  It  seems  a  very  great  pity  that  no  warrants  were  issued  for  the 
children  of  the  then  Duke  of  York  during  the  lifetime  of  Queen  Victoria, 
as  labels  for  ^r^«/-grandchildren  would  have  been  quite  unique. 

If  the  eldest  son  succeeds  through  the  death  of  his  mother  to  her 
arms  and  quarterings  during  his  father's  lifetime,  he  must  be  careful 
that  the  label  which  he  bears  as  heir-apparent  to  his  father's  arms 
does  not  cross  the  quartering  of  his  mother's  arms. 

If  his  father  bears  a  quarterly  shield,  the  label  is  so  placed  that  it 
shall  apparently  debruise  all  his  father's  quarterings,  i.e.  in  a  shield 
quarterly  of  four  the  label  would  be  placed  in  the  centre  chief  point, 
the  centre  file  of  the  label  being  upon  the  palar  line,  and  the  other 
files  in  the  first  and  second  quarters  respectively,  whilst  the  colour 
would  usually  depend,  as  has  been  above  indicated,  upon  the  tinctures 
of  the  pronominal  arms.  Due  regard,  however,  must  be  had  that  a 
label  of  gules,  for  example,  is  not  placed  on  a  field  of  gules.  A  parti- 
coloured label  is  not  nowadays  permissible,  though  instances  of  its 
use  can  occasionally  be  met  with  in  early  examples.  Supposing  the 
field  of  the  first  quarter  is  argent,  and  that  of  the  second  azure,  in  all 
probability  the  best  colour  for  the  label  would  be  gules,  and  indeed 
gules  is  the  colour  most  frequently  met  with  for  use  in  this  purpose. 

If  the  father  possess  the  quarterly  coat  of,  say,  four  quarterings, 
which  are  debruised  by  a  label  by  the  heir-apparent,  and  the  mother 
die,  and  the  heir-apparent  succeed  to  her  arms,  he  would  of  course, 
after  his  father's  death,  arrange  his  mother's  quarterings  with  these, 
placing  his  father's  pronominal  arms  i  and  4,  the  father's  quartering 
in  the  second  quarter,  and  the  mother's  arms  in  the  third  quarter. 
This  arrangement,  however,  is  not  permissible  during  his  father's  life- 
time, because  otherwise  his  label  in  chief  would  be  held  to  debruise 
all  the  four  coats,  and  the  only  method  in  which  such  a  combination 
could  be  properly  displayed  in  the  lifetime  of  the  father  but  after  the 
death  of  his  mother  is  to  place  the  father's  arms  in  the  grand  quarter- 
ing in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters,  each  being  debruised  by  the  label, 
and  the  mother's  in  the  grand  quartering  in  the  second  and  third 
quarters  without  any  interference  by  the  label. 

The  other  marks  of  difference  are  :  For  the  second  son  a  crescent ; 
for  the  third  son  a  mullet  ;  for  the  fourth  son  a  martlet  ;  for  the  fifth 
son  an  annulet  ;  for  the  sixth  son  a  fleur-de-lis  ;  for  the  seventh  son 
a  rose  ;  for  the  eighth  son  a  cross  moline  ;  for  the  ninth  son  a  double 
quatrefoil  (Fig.  699). 

Of  these    the    first    six    are  given  in    Bossewell's   ^'Workes   of 


MARKS   OF  CADENCY  489 

Armorie"  (1572),  and  the  author  adds:  *' U  there  be  any  more  than 
six  brethren  the  devise  or  assignment  of  further  difference  only  apper- 
taineth  to  the  kingis  of  armes  especially  when  they  visite  their  severall 
provinces  ;  and  not  to  the  father  of  the  children  to  give  them  what 
difference  he  list,  as  some  without  authoritie  doe  allege." 

The  position  for  a  mark  of  difference  is  in  the  centre  chief  point, 
though  it  is  not  incorrect  (and  many  such  instances  will  be  found)  for 
it  to  be  charged  on  a  chevron  or  fess,  in  the  centre  point.  This, 
however,  is  not  a  very  desirable  position  for  it  in  a  simple  coat  of 


[^^^^%,© 


Fig.  699. — The  English  marks  of  cadency. 

arms.  The  second  son  of  the  second  son  places  a  crescent  upon  a 
crescent,  the  third  son  a  mullet  on  a  crescent,  the  fourth  son  a  martlet 
on  a  crescent,  and  so  on  ;  and  there  is  an  instance  in  the  Visitation  of 
London  in  which  the  arms  of  Cokayne  appear  with  three  crescents  one 
upon  another :  this  instance  has  been  already  referred  to  on  page 
344.  Of  course,  when  the  English  system  is  carried  to  these  lengths  it 
becomes  absurd,  because  the  crescents  charged  one  upon  each  other 
become  so  small  as  to  be  practically  indistinguishable.  There  are, 
however,  very  few  cases  in  which  such  a  display  would  be  correct — 
as  will  be  presently  explained.  This  difficulty,  which  looms  large  in 
theory,  amounts  to  very  little  in  the  practical  use  of  armory,  but  it 
nevertheless  is  the  one  outstanding  objection  to  the  English  system  of 
difference  marks.  It  is  constantly  held  up  to  derision  by  those  people 
who  are  unaware  of  the  next  rule  upon  the  subject,  which  is,  that  as 
soon  as  a  quartering  comes  into  the  possession  of  a  cadet  branch — 
which  quartering  is  not  enjoyed  by  the  head  of  the  house — all 
necessity  for  any  marks  of  difference  at  all  is  considered  to  be  ended, 
provided  that  that  quartering  is  always  displayed — and  that  cadet 
branch  then  begins  afresh  from  that  generation  to  redifference. 

Now  there  are  few  English  families  in  whose  pedigree  during 
three  or  four  generations  one  marriage  is  not  with  an  heiress  in  blood, 
so  that  this  theoretical  difficulty  very  quickly  disappears. 

No  doubt  there  is  always  an  inducement  to  retain  the  quarterings 
of  an  historical  or  illustrious  house  which  may  have  been  brought  in 
in  the  past,  but  if  the  honours  and  lands  brought  in  with  that  quarter- 
ing are  wholly  enjoyed  by  the  head  of  the  house,  it  becomes,  from  a 
practical  point  of  view,  mere  affectation  to  prefer  that  quartering  to 
another  (brought  in  subsequently)  of  a  family,  the  entire  representa- 
tion of  which  belongs  to  the  junior  branch  and  not  to  the  senior.      If 


490     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  old  idea  of  confining  a  shield  to  four  quarters  be  borne  in  mind, 
concurrently  with  the  necessity — for  purposes  of  distinction — of  intro- 
ducing new  quarterings,  the  new  quarterings  take  the  place  of  the  old, 
the  use  of  which  is  left  to  the  senior  branch.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, and  the  regular  practice  of  them,  the  English  system  is  seldom 
wanting,  and  it  at  once  wipes  out  the  difficulty  which  is  made  much 
of — that  under  the  English  system  there  is  no  way  of  indicating  the 
difference  between  the  arms  of  uncle  and  nephew.  If  the  use  of 
impalements  is  also  adhered  to,  the  difficulty  practically  vanishes. 

To  difference  a  single  coat  the  mark  of  difference  is  placed  in  the 
centre  chief  point  ;  to  difference  a  quarterly  coat  of  four  quarters  the 
same  position  on  the  shield  is  most  generally  used,  the  mark  being 
placed  over  the  palar  line,  though  occasionally  the  difference  mark  is 
placed,  and  not  incorrectly,  in  the  centre  of  the  quarterings.  A  coat 
of  six  quarters,  however,  is  always  differenced  on  the  fess  line  of  parti- 
tion, the  mark  being  placed  in  the  fess  point,  because  if  placed  in  the 
centre  chief  point  it  would  only  appear  as  a  difference  upon  the  second 
quartering,  so  that  on  all  shields  of  six  or  more  quarterings  the  dif- 
ference mark  must  be  placed  on  some  line  of  partition  at  the  nearest 
possible  point  to  the  true  centre  fess  point  of  the  escutcheon.  It  is 
then  understood  to  difference  the  whole  of  the  quarterings  over  which 
it  is  displayed,  but  directly  a  quartering  is  introduced  which  has  been 
inherited  subsequently  to  the  cadency  which  produced  the  difference 
mark,  that  difference  mark  must  be  either  discarded  or  transferred  to 
the  first  quartering  only. 

The  use  of  these  difference  marks  is  optional.  Neither  officially  nor 
unofficially  is  any  attempt  made  to  enforce  their  use  in  England — they 
are  left  to  the  pleasure  and  discretion  of  the  bearers,  though  it  is  a 
well-understood  and  well-accepted  position  that,  unless  differenced  by 
quarterings  or  impalement,  it  is  neither  courteous  nor  proper  for  a 
cadet  to  display  the  arms  of  the  head  of  his  house  :  beyond  this,  the 
matter  is  usually  left  to  good  taste. 

There  is,  however,  one  position  in  which  the  use  of  difference 
marks  is  compulsory.  If  under  a  Royal  Licence,  or  other  exemplifica- 
tion— for  instance,  the  creation  of  a  peerage — a  difference  mark  is 
painted  upon  the  arms,  or  even  if  an  exemplification  of  the  arms 
differenced  is  placed  at  the  head  of  an  official  record  of  pedigree,  those 
arms  would  not  subsequently  be  exemplified,  or  their  use  officially 
admitted,  without  the  difference  mark  that  has  been  recorded  with 
them. 

The  differencing  of  crests  for  cadency  is  very  rare.  Theoretically, 
these  should  be  marked  equally  with  the  shield,  and  when  arms  are 
exemplified  officially  under  the  circumstances  above  referred  to,  crest, 


MARKS   OF   CADENCY 


491 


Fig.  700. — King  John,  before 
his  accession  to  the  throne. 
(From  MS.  Cott.,  Julius,  C. 
vii.) 


Fig.  701.  —  Edmund  "Crouch- 
back,"  Earl  of  Lancaster, 
second  son  of  Henry  III. 
(From  his  tomb.)  His  arms 
are  elsewhere  given :  De 
goules  ove  trois  leopardes 
passantz  dor,  et  lambel  dazure 
florete  d'or. 


Fig.  702. — Thomas,  Earl  of  Lan- 
caster, d.  1322  (son  of  preced- 
ing) :  England  with  a  label 
azure,  each  point  charged  with 
three  fleurs-de-lis.  (From  his 
seal,  1 30 1.) 


Fig.  703. — Henry  of  Lancaster, 
1 295- 1 324  (brother  of  preced- 
ing, before  he  succeeded  his 
brother  as  Earl  of  Lancaster) : 
England  with  a  bend  azure. 
(From  his  seal,  1301.)  After 
1324  he  bore  England  with  a 
label  as  his  brother. 


Fig.  704. — Henry,  Duke  of  Lan- 
caster, son  of  preceding. 
(From  his  seal,  1358.) 


Fig.  705. — Edward  of  Carnar- 
von, Prince  of  Wales  (after- 
wards Edward  n.),bore  before 
1307  :  England  with  a  label 
azure.     (From  his  seal,  1305.) 


Fig.  706. — John  of  Ekham 
(second  son  of  Edward  H.) : 
England  with  a  bordure  of  the 
arms  of  France.  (From  his 
tomb.) 


Fig.  707. — Arms  of  Edmund  of   Fig.  708. — Arms  of  John  de  Hoi 
Woodstock,  Earl  of  Kent,  3rd        and,  Duke  of  Exeter  (^^1400) 


son  of  Edward  L  :  England 
within  a  bordure  argent.  The 
same  arms  were  borne  by  his 
descendant,  Thomas  de  Hol- 
and,  Earl  of  Kent. 


England,  a  bordure  of  France. 
(From  his  seal,  1 381.) 


492     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

supporters,  and  shield  are  all  equally  differenced,  but  the  difficulty  of 
adding  difference  mark  on  difference  mark  when  no  marriage  or  heiress 
can  ever  bring  in  any  alteration  to  the  crest  is  very  generally  recognised 
and  admitted,  even  officially,  and  it  is  rare  indeed  to  come  across  a 
crest  carrying  more  than  a  single  difference  mark. 

The  grant  of  an  augmentation  to  any  cadet  obviates  the  slightest 
necessity  for  any  further  use  of  difference  marks  inherited  before  the 
grant. 

There  are  no  difference  marks  whatever  for  daughters,  there  being 
in  English  common  law  no  seniority  between  the  different  daughters  of 
one  man.  They  succeed  equally,  whether  heiresses  or  not,  to  the  arms 
of  their  father  for  use  during  their  lifetimes,  and  they  must  bear  them 
on  their  own  lozenges  or  impaled  on  the  shields  of  their  husbands,  with 
the  difference  marks  which  their  father  needed  to  use.  It  would  be 
permissible,  however,  to  discard  these  difference  marks  of  their  fathers 
if  subsequently  to  his  death  his  issue  succeeded  to  the  position  of  head 
of  the  family.  For  instance,  suppose  the  daughters  of  the  younger 
son  of  an  earl  are  under  consideration.  They  would  bear  upon  lozenges 
the  arms  of  their  father,  which  would  be  those  of  the  earl,  charged 
with  the  mullet  or  crescent  which  their  father  had  used  as  a  younger 
son.  If  by  the  extinction  of  issue  the  brother  of  these  daughters 
succeed  to  the  earldom,  they  would  no  longer  be  required  to  bear  their 
father's  difference  mark. 

There  are  no  marks  of  difference  between  illegitimate  children. 
In  the  eye  of  the  law  an  illegitimate  person  has  no  relatives,  and  stands 
alone.  Supposing  it  be  subsequently  found  that  a  marriage  ceremony 
had  been  illegal,  the  whole  issue  of  that  marriage  becomes  of  course 
illegitimate.  As  such,  no  one  of  them  is  entitled  to  bear  arms.  A 
Royal  Licence,  and  exemplification  following  thereupon,  is  necessary 
for  each  single  one.  Of  these  exemplifications  there  is  one  case  on 
record  in  which  I  think  nine  follow  each  other  on  successive  pages 
of  one  of  the  Grant  Books  :  all  differ  in  some  way — usually  in  the 
colour  of  the  bordure  ;  but  the  fact  that  there  are  illegitimate  brothers 
of  the  same  parentage  does  not  prevent  the  descendants  of  any  daughter 
quartering  the  differenced  coat  exemplified  to  her.  As  far  as  heraldic 
law  is  concerned,  she  is  the  heiress  of  herself,  representing  only  herself, 
and  consequently  her  heir  quarters  her  arms. 

Marks  of  difference  are  never  added  to  an  exemplification  following 
upon  a  Royal  Licence  after  illegitimacy.  Marks  of  difference  are  to  in- 
dicate cadency,  and  there  is  no  cadency  vested  in  a  person  of  illegitimate 
birth — their  right  to  the  arms  proceeding  only  from  the  regrant  of 
them  in  the  exemplification.  What  is  added  in  lieu  is  the  mark  of 
distinction  to  indicate  the  bastardy. 


MARKS  OF  CADENCY 


493 


Fig.  709. — John  de  Holand, 
Duke  of  Exeter,  son  of  pre- 
ceding. Arms  as  preceding. 
(From  his  seal.) 


Fig.  712.  —  Thomas  de  Mow- 
bray, Duke  of  Norfolk  (d. 
1400).  (From  a  drawing  of  his 
seal,  MS.  Colt.,  Julius,  C.  vii., 
f.  166.)     Arms,  see  page  465. 


Fig.  715. — Edward  the  Black 
Prince  :  Quarterly,  i  and  4 
France  (ancient) ;  2  and  3 
England,  and  a  label  of  three 
points  argent.  (From  his 
lomb.) 


Fig.  710.— Henry  de  Holand, 
Duke  of  Exeter,  son  of  pre- 
ceding. Arms  as  preceding. 
(From  his  seal,  1455.) 


Fig.  713.— John  de  Mowbray, 
Duke  of  Norfolk  {d.  1432) : 
Arms  as  Fig.  711.  (From  his 
Garter  plate.) 


Fig.  711.— Thomas  of  Brother- 
ton,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  second 
son  of  Edward  I.  :  Arms  of 
England,a  label  of  three  points 
argent. 


Fig.  714.— John  de  Mowbray, 
Duke  of  Norfolk  {d.  1461): 
Arms  as  Fig.  711.  (From  his 
seal. ) 


Fig.  716. — Richard,  Prince  of 
Wales  (afterwards  Richard 
II.),  son  of  preceding:  Arms 
as  preceding.  (From  his  seal, 
1377.) 


Fig.  717. — Edmund  of  Langley, 
Duke  of  York,  fifth  son  of 
King  Edward  III.  :  France 
(ancient)  and  England  quar- 
terly, a  label  of  three  points 
argent,  each  point  charged 
with  three  torteaux.  (From^his  seal,  1391.)  His 
son,  Edward,  Earl  of  Cambridge,  until  he  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  ?.<?.  before  1 462,  bore  the  same 
with  an  additional  difference  of  a  bordure  of 
Spain  (Fig.  316).  Vincent  attributes  to  him, 
however,  a  label  as  Fig.  719,  which  possibly  he 
bore  after  his  father's  death. 


494     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  method  of  differencing  the  English  Royal  Arms  is  quite  unique, 
and  has  no  relation  to  the  method  ordinarily  in  use  in  this  country 
for  the  arms  of  subjects.  The  Royal  Arms  are  not  personal.  They 
are  the  sovereign  arms  of  dominion,  indicating  the  sovereignty  enjoyed 
by  the  person  upon  the  throne.  Consequently  they  are  in  no  degree 
hereditary,  and  from  the  earliest  times,  certainly  since  the  reign  of 
Edward  I.,  the  right  to  bear  the  undifferenced  arms  has  been  confined 
exclusively  to  the  sovereign  upon  the  throne.  In  early  times  there 
were  two  methods  employed,  namely,  the  use  of  the  bordure  and  of 
varieties  of  the  label,  the  label  of  the  heir-apparent  to  the  English 
throne  being  originally  of  azure.  The  arms  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock, 
the  youngest  son  of  Edward  I.,  were  differenced  by  a  bordure  argent  ; 
his  elder  brother,  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  having  had  a  label  of  three 
points  argent  ;  whilst  the  eldest  son,  Edward  II.,  as  Prince  of  Wales 
used  a  label  of  three  points  azure.  From  that  period  to  the  end  of 
the  Tudor  period  the  use  of  labels  and  bordures  seems  to  have  con- 
tinued concurrently,  some  members  of  the  Royal  Family  using  one, 
some  the  other,  though  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  precise 
rules  governing  a  choice  between  the  two.  When  Edward  III.  claimed 
the  throne  of  France  and  quartered  the  arms  of  that  country  with 
those  of  England,  of  course  a  portion  of  the  field  then  became  azure, 
and  a  blue  label  upon  a  blue  field  was  no  longer  possible.  The  heir- 
apparent  therefore  differenced  his  shield  by  the  plain  label  of  three  points 
argent,  and  this  has  ever  since,  down  to  the  present  day,  continued  to 
be  the  '^  difference  "  used  by  the  heir-apparent  to  the  English  throne. 
A  label  of  gules  upon  the  gules  quartering  of  England  was  equally 
impossible,  and  consequently  from  that  period  all  labels  used  by  any 
member  of  the  Royal  Family  have  been  argent,  charged  with  different 
objects,  these  being  frequently  taken  from  the  arms  of  some  female 
ancestor.  Figs.  700  to  730  are  a  somewhat  extensive  collection  of 
variations  of  the  Royal  Arms. 

Lionel  of  Antwerp,  Duke  of  Clarence,  third  son  of  Edward  III., 
bore  :  France  (ancient)  and  England  quarterly,  a  label  of  three  points 
argent,  and  on  each  point  a  canton  gules. 

The  use  of  the  bordure  as  a  legitimate  difference  upon  the  Royal 
Arms  ceased  about  the  Tudor  period,  and  differencing  between  mem- 
bers of  the  Royal  Family  is  now  exclusively  done  by  means  of  these 
labels.  A  few  cases  of  bordures  to  denote  illegitimacy  can,  however, 
be  found.  The  method  of  deciding  these  labels  is  for  separate 
warrants  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  sovereign  to  be  issued  to  the 
different  members  of  the  Royal  Family,  assigning  to  each  a  certain 
coronet,  and  the  label  to  be  borne  over  the  Royal  Arms,  crest,  and 
supporters.     These  warrants  are  personal  to  those  for  whom  they  are 


MARKS   OF   CADENCY 


495 


Fig.    718. — Richard,    Duke   of  Fig.    719.— Referred    to   under 
York   (son  of  Edward,   Earl        Fig.  717. 
of  Cambridge   and    Duke   of 
York) :    Arms   as  preceding. 
(From  his  seal,  1436.) 


Fig.  720.— Thomas  of  Wood- 
stock, Earl  of  Buckingham, 
seventh  son  of  Edward  III.  : 
France  (ancient)  and  England 
quarterly,  a  bordure  argent. 
(From  a  drawing  of  his  seal, 
1391,  MS.  Cott.,  Julius,  C. 
vii.) 


F1G.721.— Henry  of  Monmouth,    Fig.    722.  —  Richard,   Duke   of   FiG.  723.— Humphrey  of  Lan- 


afterwards  Henry  V. :  France 
(modern)  and  England  quar- 
terly, a  label  of  three  points 
argent.     (From  his  seal.) 


—    # —       , —    "• 

Gloucester  (afterwards  Richard 
HI. ) :  A  label  of  three  points 
ermine,  on  each  point  a  canton 
gules. 


caster,  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
fourth  son  of  Henry  IV.  : 
France  (modern)  and  England 
quarterly,  a  bordure  argent. 
(From  his  seal.) 


Fig.   724.  — John  de   Beaufort,    Fig.    725. — Thomas,    Duke    of 
Earl  and  Marquis  of  Somer-        Clarence,  second  son  of  Henry 


IV.  France  and  England 
quarterly,  a  label  of  three 
points  ermine.  (From  his 
seal,  1413.) 


set,  son  of  John  of  Gaunt 
Arms  subsequent  to  his  legiti- 
mation: France  and  England 
quarterly,  within  a  bordure 
gobony  azure  and  argent. 
Prior  to  his  legitimation  he  bore  :  Per  pale  argent  and 
azure  (the  livery  colours  of  Lancaster),  a  bend  of  England 
(/.<?.  a  bend  gules  charged  with  three  lions  passant  guardant 
or)  with  a  label  of  France. 


Fig.  726. — George  Plantagenet, 
Duke  of  Clarence,  brother  of 
Edward  IV.  :  France  and 
England  quarterly,  a  label 
of  three  points  argent,  each 
charged  with  a  canton  gules. 
(From  MS.  Harl.  521.) 


496     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

issued;  and  are  not  hereditary.  Of  late  their  use,  or  perhaps  may  be 
their  issue,  has  not  been  quite  so  particularly  conformed  to  as  is 
desirable,  and  at  the  present  time  the  official  records  show  the  arms 


cUs 

w 

T\>"t  <_^ — '~"^^ 

Fig.  727.— John,  Duke  of 
Bedford,  third  son  or 
Henry  IV. :  France  and 
England  quarterly,  a 
label  of  five  points,  the 
two  dexter  ermine,  the 
three  sinister  azure, 
charged  with  three 
fleurs-de-lis  or.  (From 
MS.  Add.  18,850.) 


Fig.  728. — Jasper  Tudor,  Duke 
of  Bedford  :  France  and  Eng- 
land quarterly,  a  bordure  azure, 
charged  with  martlets  or. 
(P>om  his  seal.)  Although 
uncle  of  Henry  VH.,  Jasper 
Tudor  had  no  blood  descent 
whatever  which  would  entitle 
him  to  bear  these  arms.  His 
use  of  them  is  very  remarkable. 


■..1    1  / 

n  1     1 . .' 

W- 

Fig.  729.  —  Thomas  de 
Beaufort,  Earl  of  Dorset, 
brother  of  John,  Earl  of 
Somerset  (Fig.  724) : 
France  and  England 
quarterly,  a  bordure 
compony  ermine  and 
azure.  (From  his  Gar- 
ter plate.) 


of  their  Royal  Highnesses  the  Duchess  of  Fife,  the  Princess  Victoria, 

and   the   Queen    of    Norway,   still    bearing    the    label   of    five   points 

indicative  of  their  position  as  grandchildren  of  the 

sovereign,   which   of    course   they   were   when   the 

warrants    were   issued   in   the   lifetime    of  the   late 

Queen    Victoria.       In   spite    of    the    fact   that    the 

warrants  have  no  hereditary  limitation,  I  am  only 

aware  of  two  modern  instances  in  which  a  warrant 

has  been  issued  to  the  son  of  a  cadet  of  the  Royal 

House    who    had    previously    received    a    warrant. 

One   of   these   was   the    late    Duke   of   Cambridge. 

Fig.    730.  —John    of  The   warrant   was    issued    to    him    in   his    father's 

Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lan-  lifetime,   and   to   the   label   previously   assigned   to 

('ancle'nt)and'Engknd  his  father  a  sccond  label  of  three  points  gules,  to 

quarterly,  a  label  of  be    bomc    dircctly   bclow    the    othcr,    was    added. 

three    points     ermine    _,,  ,,  ,1      j       r    1  •  •  rj.  j 

(z>.  each  point  charged  The  Other  case  was  that  or  his  cousm,  afterwards 
with  three  ermine  ^ukg  of  Cumberland  and  King  of  Hanover.  In  his 
^^^'  case    the    second    label,    also    gules,    was    charged 

with  the  white  horse  of   Hanover. 

The  label  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  heir-apparent  to  the  English 

throne  is  not,  as  might  be  imagined,  a  plain  label  of  five  points,  but 

the  plain  label  of  three  points,  the  centre  point  only  being  charged. 

The  late  Duke  of  Clarence  charged  the  centre  point  of  his  label  of 


MARKS   OF  CADENCY  497 

three  points  with  a  cross  couped  gules.  After  his  death  the  Duke  of 
York  rehnquished  the  label  of  five  points  which  he  had  previously 
borne,  receiving  one  of  three,  the  centre  point  charged  with  an  anchor. 
In  every  other  case  all  of  the  points  are  charged.  The  following 
examples  of  the  labels  in  use  at  the  moment  will  show  how  the  system 
now  exists  : — 

Prince  of  Wales, — A  label  of  three  points  argent. 

Princess  Royal  (Louise,  Duchess  of  Fife). — A  label  of  five  points 
argent,  charged  on  the  centre  and  outer  points  with  a  cross  of  St. 
George  gules,  and  on  the  two  others  with  a  thistle  proper. 

Princess  Victoria. — A  label  of  five  points  argent,  charged  with  three 
roses  and  two  crosses  gules. 

Princess  Maud  (H.M.  The  Queen  of  Norway). — A  label  of  five 
points  argent,  charged  with  three  hearts  and  two  crosses  gules. 

The  Duke  of  Edinburgh  (Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha). — A  label 
of  three  points  argent,  the  centre  point  charged  with  a  cross  gules, 
and    on    each    of    the    others   an 

anchor  azure.     His  son,  the  here-  ^—^^^^^^^j^ 
ditary  Prmce  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  L        \    /^\   /    *"  \    /^\    /   ^\ 

Gotha,  who  predeceased  his  father.  Fig.  731.— Label  of  the  late  hereditary 

i_  1    i_    1       r    12  •    X        XI-  Prince  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha. 

bore   a   label   of   live   pomts,   the  ^ 

first,  third,  and  fifth  each  charged  with  a  cross  gules,  and  the  second 

and  fourth  each  with  an  anchor  azure  (Fig.  731). 

The  Duke  of  Connaught, — A  label  of  three  points  argent,  the  centre 
point  charged  with  St.  George's  cross,  and  each  of  the  other  points 
with  a  fieur-de-lis  azure. 

The  late  Princess  Royal  (German  Empress). — A  label  of  three  points 
argent,  the  centre  point  charged  with  a  rose  gules,  and  each  of  the 
others  with  a  cross  gules. 

The  late  Grand  Duchess  of  Hesse. — A  label  of  three  points  argent, 
the  centre  point  charged  with  a  rose  gules,  and  each  of  the  others  with 
an  ermine  spot  sable. 

Princess  Christian  of  Schleswig-Holstein, — A  label  of  three  points,  the 
centre  point  charged  with  St.  George's  cross,  and  each  of  the  other 
points  with  a  rose  gules. 

Princess  Louise  (Duchess  of  Argyll). — A  label  of  three  points,  the 
centre  point  charged  with  a  rose,  and  each  of  the  other  two  with  a 
canton  gules. 

Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg, — A  label  of  three  points,  the  centre 
point  charged  with  a  heart,  and  each  of  the  other  two  with  a  rose  gules. 

The  late  Duke  of  Albany, — A  label  of  three  points,  the  centre  point 
charged  with  a  St.  George's  cross,  and  each  of  the  other  two  with  a 
heart  gules. 

2  I 


498     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  Dukes  of  Cambridge. — The  first  Duke  had  a  label  of  three  points 
argent;  the  centre  point  charged  with  a  St.  George's  cross,  and  each  of 
the  other  two  with  two  hearts  in  pale  gules.  The  warrant  to  the  late 
Duke  assigned  him  the  same  label  with  the  addition  of  a  second  label, 
plain,  of  three  points  gules,  to  be  borne  below  the  former  label. 

The  first  Duke  of  Cumberland, — A  label  of  three  points  argent,  the 
centre  point  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  azure,  and  each  of  the  other 
two  points  with  a  cross  of  St.  George  gules. 

Of  the  foregoing  recently  assigned  labels  all  are  borne  over  the 
plain  English  arms  (i  and  4  England,  2  Scotland,  3  Ireland),  charged 
with  the  escutcheon  of  Saxony,  except  those  of  the  Dukes  of  Saxe- 
Coburg  and  Gotha,  Cambridge,  and  Cumberland.  In  the  two  latter 
cases  the  labels  are  borne  over  the  latest  version  of  the  arms  of  King 
George  III.,  i,e.  with  the  inescutcheon  of  Hanover,  but,  of  course, 
neither  the  electoral  bonnet  nor  the  later  crown  which  surmounted 
the  inescutcheon  of  Hanover  was  made  use  of,  and  the  smaller  inescut- 
cheon bearing  the  crown  of  Charlemagne  was  also  omitted  for  the 
children  of  George  III.,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who 
bore  the  plain  inescutcheon  of  gules,  but  without  the  crown  of  Charle- 
magne thereupon. 

The  labels  for  the  other  sons  and  daughters  of  King  George  III. 
were  as  follows  : — 

77?^  Duke  of  York. — A  label  of  three  points  argent,  the  centre  point 
charged  with  a  cross  gules.  The  Duke  of  York  bore  upon  the  in- 
escutcheon of  Hanover  an  inescutcheon  argent  (in  the  place  occupied 
in  the  Royal  Arms  by  the  inescutcheon  charged  with  the  crown  of 
Charlemagne)  charged  with  a  wheel  of  six  spokes  gules,  for  the 
Bishopric  of  Osnaburgh,  which  he  possessed. 

The  Duke  of  Clarence  (afterwards  William  IV.). — A  label  of  three 
points  argent,  the  centre  point  charged  with  a  cross  gules,  and  each  of 
the  others  with  an  anchor  erect  azure. 

The  Duke  of  Kent  had  his  label  charged  with  a  cross  gules  between 
two  fleurs-de-lis  azure. 

The  Duke  of  Sussex. — The  label  argent  charged  with  two  hearts  in 
pale  gules  in  the  centre  point  between  two  crosses  gules. 

The  Princess  Royal  (Queen  of  Wiirtemberg). — A  rose  between  two 
crosses  gules. 

The  Princess  Augusta. — A  like  label,  charged  with  a  rose  gules 
between  two  ermine  spots. 

The  Princess  Elizabeth  (Princess  of  Hesse-Homburg). — A  like  label 
charged  with  a  cross  between  two  roses  gules. 

The  Princess  Mary  (Duchess  of  Gloucester). — A  like  label,  charged 
with  a  rose  between  two  cantons  gules. 


MARKS    OF   CADENCY  499 

The  Princess  Sophia. — A  like  label,  charged  with  a  heart  between 
two  roses  gules. 

The  Princess  Amelia. — A  like  label,  charged  with  a  rose  between  two 
hearts  gules. 

The  Duke  of  Gloucester  (brother  of  George  III.). — A  label  of  five 
points  argent,  charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  azure  between  four  crosses 
gules.  His  son  (afterwards  Duke  of  Gloucester)  bore  an  additional 
plain  label  of  three  points  during  the  Hfetime  of  his  father. 

The  Royal  labels  are  placed  across  the  shield,  on  the  crest,  and 
on  each  of  the  supporters.  The  crest  stands  upon  and  is  crowned 
with  a  coronet  identical  with  the  circlet  of  any  coronet  of  rank  assigned 
in  the  same  patent  ;  the  lion  supporter  is  crowned  and  the  unicorn 
supporter  is  gorged  with  a  similar  coronet.  It  may  perhaps  be  of 
interest  to  note  that  no  badges  and  no  motto  are  ever  now  assigned  in 
these  Royal  Warrants  except  in  the  case  of  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

F.-M.  H.S.H.  Prince  Leopold  of  Saxe-Coburg,  the  Consort  of  H.R.H. 
the  Princess  Charlotte  (only  child  of  George  IV.),  received  by  warrant 
dated  April  7,  181 8,  the  right  '<  to  use  and  bear  the  Royal  Arms 
(without  the  inescocheon  of  Charlemagne's  crown,  and  without  the 
Hanoverian  Royal  crown)  differenced  with  a  label  of  five  points  argent, 
the  centre  point  charged  with  a  rose  gules,  quarterly  with  the  arms  of 
his  illustrious  House  ['  Barry  of  ten  sable  and  or,  a  crown  of  rue  in 
bend  vert '],  the  Royal  Arms  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters." 

By  Queen  Victoria's  desire  this  precedent  was  followed  in  the  case 
of  the  late  Prince  Consort,  the  label  in  his  case  being  of  three  points 
argent,  the  centre  point  charged  with  a  cross  gules,  and,  by  a  curious 
coincidence,  the  arms  of  his  illustrious  House,  with  which  the  Royal 
Arms  were  quartered,  were  again  the  arms  of  Saxony,  these  appearing 
in  the  second  and  third  quarters. 

Quite  recently  a  Royal  Warrant  has  been  issued  for  H.M.  Queen 
Alexandra.  This  assigns,  upon  a  single  shield  within  the  Garter,  the 
undifferenced  arms  of  His  Majesty  impaled  with  the  undifferenced 
arms  of  Denmark.  The  shield  is  surmounted  by  the  Royal  crown. 
The  supporters  are :  (dexter)  the  lion  of  England,  and  (sinister)  a 
savage  wreathed  about  the  temples  and  loins  with  oak  and  supporting 
in  his  exterior  hand  a  club  all  proper.  This  sinister  supporter  is 
taken  from  the  Royal  Arms  of  Denmark. 

Abroad  there  is  now  no  equivalent  whatever  to  our  methods  of 
differencing  the  Royal  Arms.  An  official  certificate  was  issued  to  me 
recently  from  Denmark  of  the  undifferenced  Royal  Arms  of  Denmark 
certified  as  correct  for  the  "  Princes  and  Princesses  "  of  that  country. 
But  the  German  Crown  Prince  bears  his  shield  within  a  bordure  gules, 
and  anciently  in  France  (from  which  country  the  English  system  was 


500     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

very  probably  originally  derived)  the  differencing  of  the  Royal  French 
Arms  for  the  younger  branches  seems  to  have  been  carefully  attended 
to,  as  has  been  already  specified. 

Differencing  in  Scotland  is  carried  out  on  an  entirely  different 
basis  from  differencing  in  England.  In  Scotland  the  idea  is  still  rigidly 
preserved  and  adhered  to  that  the  coat  of  arms  of  a  family  belongs 
only  to  the  head  of  the  family  for  the  time  being,  and  the  terms  of  a 
Scottish  grant  are  as  follows  :  '<  Know  ye  therefore  that  we  have  devised 

and  do  by  these  presents  assign  ratify  and  confirm  to  the  said 

and  his  descendants  with  such  congruent  differences  as  may  hereafter  be 
matriculated  for  them  the  following  ensigns  armoriaV  Under  the  accepted 
interpretation  of  Scottish  armorial  law,  whilst  the  inherent  gentility 
conferred  by  a  patent  of  arms  is  not  denied  to  cadets,  no  right  to  make 
use  of  arms  is  conceded  to  them  until  such  time  as  they  shall  elect  to 
matriculate  the  arms  of  their  ancestor  in  their  own  names.  This 
point  has  led  to  a  much  purer  system  of  heraldry  in  Scotland  than  in 
England,  and  there  is  far  less  heraldic  abuse  in  that  country  as  a 
result,  because  the  diflferences  are  decided  not  haphazardly  by  the  user 
himself,  as  is  the  case  in  England,  but  by  a  competent  officer  of  arms. 
Moreover  the  constant  occasions  of  matriculation  bring  the  arms  fre- 
quently under  official  review.  There  is  no  fixed  rule  which  decides 
ipse  facto  what  difference  shall  be  borne,  and  consequently  this  decision 
has  retained  in  the  hands  of  the  heraldic  executive  an  amount  of  con- 
trol which  they  still  possess  far  exceeding  that  of  the  executive  in 
England,  and  perhaps  the  best  way  in  which  to  state  the  rules  which 
hold  good  will  be  to  reprint  a  portion  of  one  of  the  Rhind  Lectures, 
delivered  by  Sir  James  Balfour  Paul,  which  is  devoted  to  the  point : — 

**  I  have  said  that  in  Scotland  the  principle  which  limited  the 
number  of  paternal  coats  led  to  a  careful  differencing  of  these  coats 
as  borne  by  the  junior  branches  of  the  family.  Though  the  English 
system  was  sometimes  used,  it  has  never  obtained  to  any  great  extent 
in  Scotland,  the  practice  here  being  generally  to  difference  by  means 
of  a  bordure,  in  which  way  many  more  generations  are  capable  of 
being  distinguished  than  is  possible  by  the  English  method.  The  weak 
point  of  the  Scottish  system  is  that,  whilst  the  general  idea  is  good, 
there  is  no  definite  rule  whereby  it  can  be  carried  out  on  unchanging 
lines  ;  much  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  authorities. 

*'  As  a  general  rule,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  second  son  bears  a 
plain  bordure  of  the  tincture  of  the  principal  charge  in  the  shield,  and 
his  younger  brothers  also  bear  plain  bordures  of  varying  tinctures. 
In  the  next  generation  the  eldest  son  of  the  second  son  would  bear 
his  father's  coat  and  bordure  without  change  ;  the  second  son  would 
have  the  bordure  engrailed  ;  the  third,  invected  ;  the  fourth,  indented, 


MARKS    OF    CADENCY  501 

and  so  on,  the  other  sons  of  the  younger  sons  in  this  generation 
differencing  their  father's  bordures  in  the  same  way.  The  junior 
members  of  the  next  generation  might  have  their  bordures  parted  per 
pale,  the  following  generations  having  their  bordures  parted  per  fess 
and  per  saltire,  per  cross  or  quarterly,  gyronny  or  compony,  that  is, 
divided  into  alternate  spaces  of  metal  or  colour  in  a  single  trace — this, 
however,  being  often  in  Scotland  a  mark  of  illegitimacy — counter- 
compone  or  a  similar  pattern  in  two  tracts,  or  chequy  with  three  or 
more  tracts. 

'<  You  will  see  that  these  modifications  of  the  simple  bordure  afford 
a  great  variety  of  differences,  and  when  they  are  exhausted  the  expedient 
can  then  be  resorted  to  of  placing  on  the  bordures  charges  taken  from 
other  coats,  often  from  those  of  a  maternal  ancestor  ;  or  they  may  be 
arbitrarily  assigned  to  denote  some  personal  characteristic  of  the  bearer, 
as  in  the  case  of  James  Maitland,  Major  in  the  Scots  regiment  of  Foot 
Guards,  who  carries  the  dismembered  lion  of  his  family  within  a 
bordure  wavy  azure  charged  with  eight  hand  grenades  or,  significant, 
I  presume,  of  his  military  profession. 

'<  You  will  observe  that,  with  all  these  varieties  of  differencing  we 
have  mentioned,  the  younger  branches  descending  from  the  original 
eldest  son  of  the  parent  house  are  still  left  unprovided  with  marks  of 
cadency.  These,  however,  can  be  arranged  for  by  taking  the  ordinary 
which  appears  in  their  father's  arms  and  modifying  its  boundary  lines. 
Say  the  original  coat  was  *  argent,  a  chevron  gules,'  the  second  son  of 
the  eldest  son  would  have  the  chevron  engrailed,  but  without  any 
bordure  ;  the  third,  invected,  and  so  on  ;  and  the  next  generations  the 
systems  of  bordures  accompanying  the  modified  chevron  would  go  on 
as  before.  And  when  all  these  methods  are  exhausted,  differences  can 
still  be  made  in  a  variety  of  ways,  e.g.  by  charging  the  ordinary  with 
similar  charges  in  a  similar  manner  to  the  bordure  as  Erskine  of  Shiel- 
field,  a  cadet  of  Balgownie,  who  bore  :  '  Argent,  on  a  pale  sable,  a 
cross  crosslet  fitch^e  or  within  a  bordure  azure  '  ;  or  by  the  introduction 
of  an  ordinary  into  a  coat  which  had  not  one  previously,  a  bend  or  the 
ribbon  (which  is  a  small  bend)  being  a  favourite  ordinary  to  use  for 
this  purpose.  Again,  we  occasionally  find  a  change  of  tincture  of  the 
field  of  the  shield  used  to  denote  cadency. 

^^  There  are  other  modes  of  differencing  which  need  not  be  alluded 
to  in  detail,  but  I  may  say  that  on  analysing  the  earlier  arms  in  the 
Lyon  Register,  I  find  that  the  bordure  is  by  far  the  most  common 
method  of  indicating  cadency,  being  used  in  no  less  than  1080  cases. 
The  next  most  popular  way  is  by  changing  the  boundary  lines  of  an 
ordinary,  which  is  done  in  563  shields  ;  233  cadets  difference  their 
arms  by  the  insertion  of  a  smaller  charge  on  the  ordinary  and   195  on 


502     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  shield.  A  change  of  tincture,  including  counterchanging,  is  carried 
out  in  155  coats,  and  a  canton  is  added  in  70  cases,  while  there  are 
350  coats  in  which  two  or  more  of  the  above  methods  are  used. 
From  these  figures,  which  are  approximately  correct,  you  will  see  the 
relative  frequency  of  the  various  modes  of  differencing.  You  will  also 
note  that  the  original  coat  of  a  family  can  be  differenced  in  a  great 
many  ways  so  as  to  show  the  connection  of  cadets  with  the  parent 
house.  The  drawback  to  the  system  is  that  heralds  have  never  arrived 
at  a  uniform  treatment  so  as  to  render  it  possible  to  calculate  the  exact 
relationship  of  the  cadets.  Much  is  left,  as  I  said,  to  the  discretion  of 
the  officer  granting  the  arms  ;  but  still  it  gives  considerable  assistance 
in  determining  the  descent  of  a  family." 

The  late  Mr.  Stodart,  Lyon  Clerk  Depute,  who  was  an  able  herald, 
particularly  in  matters  relating  to  Scotland,  had  elaborated  a  definite 
system  of  these  bordures  for  differencing  which  would  have  done  much 
to  simplify  Scottish  cadency.  Its  weak  point  was  obviously  this,  that 
it  could  only  be  applied  to  new  matriculations  of  arms  by  cadets  ;  and 
so,  if  adopted  as  a  definite  and  unchangeable  matter  of  rule,  it  might 
have  occasioned  doubt  and  misunderstanding  in  future  times  with  regard 
to  many  important  Scottish  coats  now  existing,  without  reference  to 
Mr.  Stodart's  system.  But  the  scheme  elaborated  by  Mr.  Stodart  is 
now  accepted  as  the  broad  basis  of  the  Scottish  system  for  matricula- 
tions (Fig.  732). 

In  early  Scottish  seals  the  bordures  are  to  so  large  an  extent  en- 
grailed as  to  make  it  appear  that  the  later  and  present  rule,  which 
gives  the  plain  bordure  to  immediate  cadets,  was  not  fully  recognised 
or  adopted.  Bordures  charged  appear  at  a  comparatively  early  date 
in  Scotland.  The  bordure  compony  in  Scotland  and  the  bordure 
wavy  in  England,  which  are  now  used  to  signify  illegitimacy,  will  be 
further  considered  in  a  subsequent  chapter,  but  neither  one  nor  the 
other  originally  carried  any  such  meaning.  The  doubtful  legitimacy  of 
the  Avondale  and  Ochiltree  Stewarts,  who  bore  the  bordure  compony 
in  Scotland,  along  with  its  use  by  the  Beauforts  in  England,  has  tended 
latterly  to  bring  that  difference  into  disrepute  in  the  cadency  of  lawful 
sons — yet  some  of  the  bearers  of  that  bordure  during  the  first  twenty 
years  of  the  Lyon  Register  were  unquestionably  legitimate,  whilst 
others,  as  Scott  of  Gorrenberry  and  Patrick  Sinclair  of  Ulbester, 
were  illegitimate,  or  at  best  only  legitimated.  The  light  in  which  the 
bordure  compony  had  come  to  be  regarded  is  shown  by  a  Royal  Warrant 
granted  in  1679  to  John  Lundin  of  that  Ilk,  allowing  him  to  drop  the 
coat  which  his  family  had  hitherto  carried,  and,  as  descended  of  a 
natural  son  of  William  the  Lion,  to  bear  the  arms  of  Scotland  within 
a  bordure  compony  argent  and  azure. 


I 


MARKS    OF   CADENCY 


503 


The  bordure  counter-compony  is  assigned  to  fifteen  persons,  none 
of  them,  it  is  beHeved,  of  illegitimate  descent,  and  some  expressly  said 

■  to  be  ^'  lineallie  and  lawfulie  descended  "  from  the  ancestor  whose  arms 
they  bore  thus  differenced.  The  idea  of  this  bordure  having  been  at 
any  time  a  mark  of  bastardy  is  a  very  modern  error,  arising  from  a 
confusion  with  the  bordure  compony. 

rin  conclusion,  attention  needs  to  be  pointedly  drawn  to  the  fact 


CZZj  ^^  ^J  LTJ  m  fO|  [Qj  FQ 


Fig.  732. — The  scheme  of  Cadency  Bordures  devised  by  Mr.  Stodart. 

to  presume  cadency  from  proved  instances  of  change.  Instead  of 
merely  detailing  isolated  instances  of  variation  in  a  number  of  different 
families,  the  matter  may  be  better  illustrated  by  closely  following  the 
successive  variations  in  the  same  family,  and  an  instructive  instance  is 
met  with  in  the  case  of  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Swinton  of  that  Ilk. 
This  is  peculiarly  instructive,  because  at  no  point  in  the  descent 
covered  by  the  arms  referred  to  is  there  any  doubt  or  question  as  to 
the  fact  of  legitimate  descent. 
^  Claiming  as  they  do  a  male  descent  and  inheritance  from  Liulf  the 
^ftson  of   Edulf,  Vicecomes   of   Northumbria,  whose  possession   before 

I 


504    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

iioo  of  the  lands  of  Swinton  is  the  earliest  contemporary  evidence 
which  has  come  down  to  us  of  landowning  by  a  Scottish  subject,  it  is 
unfortunate  that  we  cannot  with  authority  date  their  armorial  ensigns 
before  the  later  half  of  the  thirteenth  century.  Charters  there  are  in 
plenty.  Out  of  the  twenty-three  earliest  Scottish 
writings  given  in  the  National  MSS.  of  Scotland, 
nine,  taken  from  the  Coldingham  documents 
preserved  at  Durham,  refer  to  the  village  and 
lands  of  Swinton.  Among  these  are  two  con- 
firmations by  David  I.,  i.e.  before  1153;  of  Swin- 
ton <*  in  hereditate  sibi  et  heredibus "  to  '*  meo 
militi  Hernulfo "  or  "  Arnolto  isti  meo  Militi," 
the  first  of  the  family  to  follow  the  Norman 
fashion,  and  adopt  the  territorial  designation  of 
de  Swinton ;  while  at  Durham  and  elsewhere, 
Cospatric  de  Swinton  and  his  son  Alan  and 
grandson  Alan  appear  more  than  eighty  times  in 
charters  before  i2c;o. 

Fig.  733.— Seal  of  Alan  de  -^    .   -i.    •  x  j.-ii  x  n     x 

Swinton,  c.  127 1.  But  it  IS  not  till  wc  comc  to  c.  1 27 1  that  we 

find  a  Swinton  seal  still  attached  to  a  charter. 
This  is  a  grant  by  a  third  Alan  of  the  Kirk  croft  of  Lower  Swinton  to 
God  and  the  blessed  Cuthbert  and  the  blessed  Ebba  and  the  Prior  and 
Monks  of  Coldingham.  The  seal  is  of  a  very  early  form  (Fig.  733), 
and  may  perhaps  have  belonged  to  the  father  and  grandfather  of  the 
particular  Alan  who  uses  it. 

Of  the  Henry  de  Swinton  who  came  next,  and  who  swore  fealty 
to  Edward  the  First  of  England  at  Berwick  in  1296,  and  of  yet  a  fourth 
Alan,  no  seals  are  known.  These  were  turbulent 
days  throughout  Scotland:  but  then  we  find  a  dis- 
tinct advance  ;  a  shield  upon  a  diapered  ground,  and 
upon  it  the  single  boar  has  given  place  to  the  three 
boars'  heads  which  afterwards  became  so  common  in 
Scotland.  Nisbet  lends  his  authority  to  the  tradition 
that  all  the  families  of  Border  birth  who  carried  them  ^^  _q   1    f 

— Gordon,  Nisbet,   Swinton,  Redpath,  Dunse,  he  men-      Henry  de  Swin- 
tions,  and  he  might  have  added  others — were  originally      ^°^'  ^^'^^' 
of  one  stock,  and  if  so,  the  probabiHty  must  be  that  the  breed  sprung 
from  Swinton. 

This  seal  (Fig.  734)  was  put  by  a  second  Henry  de  Swynton  to  one 
of  the  family  charters,  probably  of  the  date  of  1378,  which  have  lately 
been  placed  for  safe  keeping  in  the  Register  House  in  Edinburgh. 

His  successor,  Sir  John,  the  hero  of  Noyon  in  Picardy,  of  Otter- 
burn,  and   Homildon,  was    apparently  the   first   of    the    race   to    use 


MARKS    OF   CADENCY  505 

supporters.  His  seal  (Fig.  735)  belongs  to  the  second  earliest  of  the 
Douglas  charters  preserved  at  Drumlanrig.  Its  date  is  1389,  and  Sir 
John  de  Swintoun  is  described  as  Dominus  de  Mar,  a  title  he  bore  by 
right  of  his  marriage  with  Margaret,  Countess  of  Douglas  and  Mar.  This 
probably  also  accounts  for  his  coronet,  and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that 


Fig.  735. — Seal  of  Sir  John  de 
Swinton,  1389. 


Fig.  736. — Seal  of  Sir  John 
de  Swinton,  1475- 


Fig.  737.— Seal  of  Robert  Swin- 
ton, of  that  Ilk,  1598. 


the  helmet,  coronet,  and  crest  are  the  exact  counterpart  of  those  on  the 
Garter  plate  of  Ralph,  Lord  Basset,  in  St.  George's  Chapel  at  Windsor. 
It  is  possibly  more  than  a  coincidence,  for  Froissart  mentions  them 
both  as  lighting  in  France  ten  to  twenty  years  earlier. 

Of  his  son,  the  second  Sir  John,  ^'  Lord  of  that  Ilk,"  we  have  no 
seal.  His  lance  it  was  that  overthrew  Thomas,  Duke  of  Clarence,  the 
brother  of  Henry  V.,  at  Beauge  in  1421,  and 
he  fell,  a  young  man,  three  years  later  with  the 
flower  of  the  Scottish  army  at  Verneuil  ;  but  in 
1475  his  son,  a  third  Sir  John,  uses  the  iden- 
tical crest  and  shield  which  his  descendants 
carry  to  this  day  (Fig.  736).  John  had  become 
a  common  name  in  the  family,  and  the  same  or 
a  similar  seal  did  duty  for  the  next  three  genera- 
tions ;  but  in  1598  we  find  the  great-great- 
grandson,  Robert  Swinton  of  that  Ilk,  who 
represented  Berwickshire  in  the  first  regularly 
constituted  Parliament  of  Scotland,  altering  the 
character  of  the  boars'  heads  (Fig.  737).  He 
would   also   appear   to   have   placed  upon  the 

chevron  something  which  is  difficult  to  decipher,  but  is  probably  the 
rose  so  borne  by  the  Hepburns,  his  second  wife  having  been  a  daughter 
of  Sir  Patrick  Hepburn  of  Whitecastle. 

Whatever  the  charge  was,  it  disappeared  from  the  shield  (Fig.  738) 
erected  on  the  outer  wall  of  Swinton  Church  by  his  second  son  and 
eventual  heir,  Sir  Alexander,  also  member  for  his  native  county  ;  but 


Fig.  738. — Arms  of  Swinton. 
(From  Swinton  Church, 
163-.) 


5o6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  boars'  heads  are  turned  the  other  way,  perhaps  in  imitation  of  those 
above  the  very  ancient  effigy  of  the  first  Sir  Alan  inside  the  church. 

Sir  Alexander's  son,  John  Swinton,  <'  Laird  Swinton  "  Carlyle  calls 
him,  wrecked  the  family  fortunes.  According  to  Bishop  Burnet  he 
was  ''  the  man  of  all  Scotland  most  trusted  and  employed  by  Crom- 
well," and  he  died  a  Quaker,  excommunicated  and  forfeited.  To  the 
circumstance  that  when,  in  1672,  the  order  went  out  that  all  arms 
were  to  be  officially  recorded,  he  was  a  broken  man  under  sentence 
that  his  arms  should  be  ''  laceret  and  delete  out  of  the  Heralds'  Books," 


.^1^^ 


Fig.  739. 


-Bookplate  of  Sir  John  Swinton  of  that 
Ilk,  1707. 


Fig.  740. — Bookplate  of  Archibald  Swinton  of 
Kimmerghame. 


we  probably  owe  it  that  until  of  late  years  no  Swinton  arms  appeared 
on  the  Lyon  Register. 

Then  to  come  to  less  stirring  times,  and  turn  to  book-plates.  His 
son,  yet  another  Sir  John  of  that  Ilk,  in  whose  favour  the  forfeiture 
was  rescinded,  sat  for  Berwickshire  in  the  last  Parliament  of  Scotland 
and  the  first  of  Great  Britain.  His  bookplate  (Fig.  739)  is  one  of  the 
earliest  Scottish  dated  plates. 

His  grandson.  Captain  Archibald  Swinton  of  Kimmerghame,  county 
Berwick  (Fig.  740),  was  an  ardent  book  collector  up  to  his  death  in 
1804,  and  Archibald's  great-grandson,  Captain  George  C.  Swinton 
(Fig.  741),  walked  as  March  Pursuivant  in  the  procession  in  West- 
minster Abbey  at   the   coronation   of    King   Edward   the   Seventh   of 


MARKS   OF   CADENCY  507 

England  in  1902,  and  smote  on   the  gate   when  that   same   Edward  as 
First  of  Scotland  claimed  admission  to  his  castle  of  Edinburgh  in  1903. 


Fig.  741, — Bookplate  of  Captain  George  S.  wSwinton, 
March  Pursuivant  of  Arms. 

The  arms  as  borne  to-day  by  the  head  of  the  family,  John  Edulf 
Blagrave  Swinton  of  Swinton  Bank,  a  lieutenant  in  the  Lothians  and 
Berwickshire  Imperial  Yeomanry,  are  as  given  (Plate  IV.). 


CHAPTER    XXXII 
MARKS    OF    BASTARDY 

IT  has  been  remarked  that  the  knowledge  of  ^^  the  man  in  the  street " 
is  least  incorrect  when  he  knows  nothing.  Probably  the  only 
heraldic  knowledge  that  a  large  number  possess  is  summed  up  in 
the  assertion  that  the  heraldic  sign  of  illegitimacy  is  the  *^  bar  sinister." 
No  doubt  it  is  to  the  novelists — who,  seeking  to  touch  lightly 
upon  an  unpleasant  subject,  have  ignorantly  adopted  a  French  collo- 
quialism— that  w^e  must  attribute  a  great  deal  of  the  misconception 
which  exists  concerning  illegitimacy  and  its  heraldic  marks  of  indica- 
tion. I  assert  most  unhesitatingly  that  there  are  not  now  and  never 
have  been  any  unalterable  laws  as  to  what  these  marks  should  be,  and 
the  colloquialism  which  insists  upon  the  "  bar  sinister  "  is  a  curiously 
amusing  example  of  an  utter  misnomer.  To  any  one  with  the  most 
rudimentary  knowledge  of  heraldry  it  must  plainly  be  seen  to  be 
radically  impossible  to  depict  a  bar  sinister,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
the  bar  is  neither  dexter  nor  sinister.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to  draw  a 
bar  sinister — such  a  thing  does  not  exist.  But  the  assertion  of  many 
writers  with  a  knowledge  of  armory  that  "  bar  sinister  "  is  a  mistake 
for  <*  bend  sinister "  is  also  somewhat  misleading,  because  the  real 
mistake  lies  in  the  spelling  of  the  term.  The  "  barre  sinistre  "  is  merely 
the  French  translation  of  bend  sinister,  the  French  word  '*  barre " 
meaning  a  bend.     The  French  '*  barre  "  is  not  the  English  "  bar." 

In  order  to  properly  understand  the  true  significance  of  the  marks 
of  illegitimacy,  it  is  necessary  that  the  attempt  should  be  made  to 
transplant  oneself  into  the  environment  when  the  laws  and  rules  of 
heraldry  were  in  the  making.  At  that  period  illegitimacy  was  of  little 
if  any  account.  It  has  not  debarred  the  succession  of  some  of  our 
own  sovereigns,  although,  from  the  earliest  times,  the  English  have 
always  been  more  prudish  upon  the  point  than  other  nations.  In 
Ireland,  even  so  late  as  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  it  is  a  striking 
genealogical  difficulty  to  decide  in  many  noble  pedigrees  which  if  any 
of  the  given  sons  of  any  person  were  legitimate,  and  which  of  the 
ladies  of  his  household,  if  any,  might  be  legally  termed  his  wife.  J  In 

Scotland  we  find  the  same  thing,  though  perhaps  it  is  not  quite  so 

508 


MARKS    OF    BASTARDY  509 

blatant  to  so  late  a  date,  but  considering  what  are  and  have  been  the 
Scottish  laws  of  marriage,  it  is  the  fact  or  otherwise  of  marriage  which 
has  to  be  ascertained  ;  and  though  in  England  the  legal  status  was 
recognised  from  an  earlier  period,  the  social  status  of  the  illegitimate 
offspring  of  a  given  man  depended  little  upon  the  legal  legitimacy  of 
birth,  but  rather  upon  the  amount  of  recognition  the  bastard  received 
from  his  father.  If  a  man  had  an  unquestionably  legitimate  son,  that 
son  undoubtedly  succeeded  ;  but  if  he  had  not,  any  technical  stain  upon 
the  birth  of  the  others  had  little  effect  in  preventing  their  succession. 
A  study  of  the  succession  to  the  Barony  of  Meinill  clearly  shows  that 
the  illegitimate  son  of  the  second  Lord  Meinill  succeeded  to  the  estates 
and  peerage  of  his  father  in  preference  to  his  legitimate  uncle.  There 
are  many  other  analogous  cases.  And  when  the  Church  juggled  at 
its  pleasure  with  the  sacrament  of  marriage — dispensing  and  annulling 
or  recognising  marriages  for  reasons  which  we  nowadays  can  only 
term  whimsical — small  wonder  is  it  that  the  legal  fact,  though  then 
admitted,  had  little  of  the  importance  which  we  now  give  to  it.  When 
the  actual  fact  was  so  little  more  than  a  matter  at  the  personal  pleasure 
of  the  person  most  concerned,  it  would  be  ridiculous  to  suppose  that 
any  perpetuation  of  a  mere  advertisement  of  the  fact  would  be  con- 
sidered necessary,  whilst  the  fact  itself  was  so  often  ignored ;  so  that 
until  comparatively  recent  times  the  Crown  certainly  never  attempted 
to  enforce  any  heraldic  marks  of  illegitimacy.  Rather  were  these 
enforced  by  the  legitimate  descendants  if  and  when  such  descendants 
existed. 

The  point  must  have  first  arisen  when  there  were  both  legitimate 
and  illegitimate  descendants  of  a  given  person,  and  it  was  desired  to 
make  record  of  the  true  line  in  which  land  or  honours  should  descend. 
To  effect  this  purpose,  the  arms  of  the  illegitimate  son  were  made  to 
carry  some  charge  or  alteration  to  show  that  there  was  some  reason 
which  debarred  inheritance  by  their  users,  whilst  there  remained  those 
entitled  to  bear  the  arms  without  the  mark  of  distinction.  But  be  it 
noted  that  this  obligation  existed  equally  on  the  legitimate  cadets  of 
a  family,  and  in  the  earliest  periods  of  heraldry  there  is  little  or  no 
distinction  either  in  the  marks  employed  or  in  the  character  of  the 
marks,  which  can  be  drawn  between  mere  marks  of  cadency  and 
marks  of  illegitimacy.  Until  a  comparatively  recent  period  it  is  abso- 
lutely unsafe  to  use  these  marks  as  signifying  or  proving  either  legiti- 
mate cadency  or  illegitimacy.  The  same  mark  stood  for  both,  the 
only  object  which  any  distinctive  change  accomplished,  being  the 
distinction  which  it  was  necessary  to  draw  between  those  who  owned 
the  right  to  the  undifferenced  arms,  and  owned  the  land,  and  those 
who  did  not.     The  object  was  to  safeguard  the  right  of  the  real  pos- 


5IO     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

sessors  and  their  true  heirs,  and  not  to  penalise  the  others.  There  was 
no  particular  mark  either  for  cadency  or  for  illegitimacy,  the  distinctions 
made  being  dictated  by  what  seemed  the  most  suitable  and  distinctive 
mark  applicable  to  the  arms  under  consideration. 

When  that  much  has  been  thoroughly  grasped,  one  gets  a  more 
accurate  understanding  of  the  subject.  One  other  point  has  to  be 
borne  in  mind  (and  to  the  present  generation,  which  knows  so  well 
how  extensively  arms  have  been  improperly  assumed,  the  statement 
may  seem  startling),  and  that  is,  that  the  use  of  arms  was  formerly 
evidence  of  pedigree.  As  late  as  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century  evidence  of  this  character  was  submitted  to  the  Committee 
of  Privileges  at  the  hearing  of  a  Peerage  case.  The  evidence  was 
admitted  for  that  purpose,  though  doubt  (in  that  case  very  properly) 
was  thrown  upon  its  value. 

Therefore,  in  view  of  the  two  foregoing  facts,  there  can  be  very 
little  doubt  that  the  use  of  armorial  marks  of  bastardy  was  not  invented 
or  instituted y  nor  were  these  marks  enforced,  as  punishment  or  as  a  disgrace. 

It  is  a  curious  instance  how  a  careful  study  of  words  and  terms 
employed  will  often  afford  either  a  clue  or  confirmation,  when  the 
true  meaning  of  the  term  has  long  been  overlooked. 

The  official  term  for  a  mark  of  cadency  is  a  "  difference  "  mark, 
i.e,  it  was  a  mark  to  show  the  difference  between  one  member  of  a 
family  and  another.  The  mark  used  to  signify  a  lack  of  blood  rela- 
tionship, and  a  mark  used  to  signify  illegitimacy  are  each  termed  a 
"  mark  of  distinction,"  i.e,  a  mark  that  shall  make  something  plainly 
'* distinct."  What  is  that  something?  The  fact  that  the  use  of  the 
arms  is  not  evidence  of  descent  through  which  heirship  can  be  claimed 
or  proved.  This,  by  the  way,  is  a  patent  example  of  the  advantage 
of  adherence  to  precedent. 

The  inevitable  conclusion  is  that  a  bastard  was  originally  only 
required  to  mark  his  shield  sufficiently  that  it  should  be  distinctly 
apparent  that  heirship  would  never  accrue.  The  arms  had  to  be 
distinct  from  those  borne  by  those  members  of  the  family  upon  whom 
heirship  might  devolve.  The  social  position  of  a  bastard  as  ''  belonging  " 
to  a  family  was  pretty  generally  conceded,  therefore  he  carried  their 
arms,  sufficiently  marked  to  show  he  was  not  in  the  line  of  succession. 

This  being  accepted,  one  at  once  understands  the  great  variety  of 
the  marks  which  have  been  employed.  These  answered  the  purpose 
of  distinction,  and  nothing-  more  was  demanded  or  necessary.  Con- 
sequently a  recapitulation  of  marks,  of  which  examples  can  be  quoted, 
would  be  largely  a  list  of  isolated  instances,  and  as  such  they  are  useless 
for  the  purposes  of  deduction  in  any  attempt  to  arrive  at  a  correct 
conclusion  as  to  what  the  ancient  rules  were.     In  brief,  there  were  no 


MARKS   OF   BASTARDY  511 

rules  until  the  eighteenth,  or  perhaps  even  until  the  nineteenth  century. 
The  only  rule  was  that  the  arms  must  be  sufficiently  marked  in  some 
way.     This  is  borne  out  by  the  dictum  of  Menestrier. 

Except  the  label,  which  has  been  elsewhere  referred  to,  the  earliest 
marks  of  either  cadency  or  illegitimacy  for  which  accepted  use  can  be 
found  are  the  bend  and  the  bordure  ;  but  the  bend  for  the  purpose 
of  illegitimacy  seems  to  be  the  earlier,  and  a  bend  superimposed  over 
a  shield  remained  a  mark  of  illegitimate  cadency  until  a  comparatively 
late  period.  This  bend  as  a  difference  naturally  was  originally  de- 
picted as  a  bend  dexter,  and  as  a  mark  of  legitimate  cadency  is  found 
in  the  arms  of  the  younger  son  of  Edmund  Crouchback,  Earl  of  Lan- 
caster, before  he  succeeded  his  elder  brother. 

There  are  scores  of  other  similar  instances  which  a  little  research 
will  show.  Whether  the  term  ''  left-handed  marriage "  is  the  older, 
and  the  sinister  bend  is  derived  therefrom,  or  whether  the  slang  term 
is  derived  from  the  sinister  bend,  it  is  perhaps  not  necessary  to  inquire. 
But  there  is  no  doubt  that  from  an  early  period  the  bend  of  cadency, 
when  such  cadency  was  illegitimate,  is  frequently  met  with  in  the 
sinister  form.  But  concurrently  with  such  usage  instances  are  found 
in  which  the  dexter  bend  was  used  for  the  same  purpose,  and  it  is 
very  plainly  evident  that  it  was  never  at  that  date  looked  upon  as  a 
penalty,  but  was  used  merely  as  a  distinction y  or  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  that  the  wearer  was  not  the  head  of  his  house  or  in  possession 
of  the  lordship.  The  territorial  idea  of  the  nature  of  arms,  which  has 
been  alluded  to  in  the  chapter  upon  marks  of  cadency,  should  be 
borne  in  mind  in  coming  to  a  conclusion. 

Soon  after  the  recognition  of  the  bend  as  a  mark  of  illegitimacy 
we  come  across  the  bordure ;  but  there  is  some  confusion  with  this, 
bordures  of  all  kinds  being  used  indiscriminately  to  denote  both 
legitimate  and  illegitimate  cadency.  There  are  countless  other  forms 
of  marking  illegitimacy,  and  it  is  impossible  to  attempt  to  summarise 
them,  and  absolutely  impossible  to  draw  conclusions  as  to  any  family 
from  marks  upon  its  arms  when  this  point  is  under  discussion.  To 
give  a  list  of  these  instances  would  rather  seem  an  attempt  to  deduce 
a  rule  or  rules  upon  the  point,  so  I  say  at  once  that  jthere  was  no 
recognised  mark,  and  any  plain  distinction  seems  to  have  been  ac- 
cepted as  sufficient  ;  and  no  distinction  whatever  was  made  when  the 
illegitimate  son,  either  from  failure  of  legitimate  issue  or  other  reason, 
succeeded  to  the  lands  and  honours  of  his  father.  Out  of  the  multitude^ 
of  marks,  the  bend,  and  subsequently  the  bend  sinister,  emerge  as  most  / 
frequently  in  use,  and  finally  the  bend  sinister  exclusively  ;  so  that  it 
has  come  to  be  considered,  and  perhaps  correctly  as  regards  one  \ 
period,  that  its  use  was  equivalent  to  a  mark  of  illegitimacy  in  England^ 


512     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

But  there  has  always  remained  to  the  person  of  bastard  descent 
the  right  of  discarding  the  bastardised  coat,  and  adopting  a  new  coat 
of  arms,  the  only  requirement  as  to  the  new  coat  being  that  it  shall  be 
so  distinct  from  the  old  one  as  not  to  be  liable  to  confusion  therewith. 
And  it  is  a  moot  point  whether  or  not  a  large  proportion  of  the  in- 
stances which  are  tabulated  in  most  heraldic  works  as  examples  of 
marks  of  bastardy  are  anything  whatever  of  the  kind.  My  own  opinion 
is  that  many  are  not,  and  that  it  is  a  mistake  to  so  consider  them  ;  the 
true  explanation  undoubtedly  in  some — and  outside  the  Royal  Family 
probably  in  most — being  that  they  are  new  coats  of  arms  adopted  as 
new  coats  of  arms,  doubtless  bearing  relation  to  the  old  family  coat, 
but  sufficiently  distinguished  therefrom  to  rank  as  new  arms,  and  were 
never  intended  to  be  taken  as,  and  never  were  bastardised  examples 
of  formerly  existing  coats.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  have  refrained 
from  giving  any  extensive  list  such  as  is  to  be  found  in  most  other 
treatises  on  heraldry,  for  all  that  can  be  said  for  such  lists  is  that 
they  are  lists  of  the  specific  arms  of  specific  bastards,  which  is  a  very 
different  matter  from  a  list  of  heraldic  marks  of  illegitimacy. 

Another  objection  to  the  long  lists  which  most  heraldic  works 
give  of  early  instances  of  marks  of  bastardy  as  data  for  deduction  lies 
in  the  fact  that  most  are  instances  of  the  illegitimate  children  of  Royal 
personages.  It  is  singularly  unsafe  to  draw  deductions,  to  be  applied 
to  the  arms  of  others,  from  the  Royal  Arms,  for  these  generally  have 
laws  unto  themselves. 

The  bend  sinister  in  its  bare  simplicity,  as  a  mark  of  illegitimacy, 
was  seldom  used,  the  more  frequent  form  being  the  sinister  bendlet,  or 
even  the  diminutive  of  that^^  the  cottise.  There  is  no  doubt,  of  course, 
that  when  a  sinister  bend  or  bendlet  debruises  another  coat  that  that 
is  a  bastardised  version  of  an  older  coat,  but  examples  can  be  found 
of  the  sinister  bend  as  a  charge  which  has  no  reference  whatever  to 
illegitimacy.  Two  instances  that  come  to  mind,  which  can  be  found 
by  reference  to  any  current  peerage,  are  the  arms  of  Shiffner  and 
Burne-Jones.  Certainly  in  these  cases  I  know  of  no  illegitimacy,  and 
neither  coat  is  a  bastardised  version  of  an  older  existing  coat.  Anciently 
the  bendlet  was  drawn  across  arms  and  quarterings,  and  an  example 
of  a  coat  of  arms  of  some  number  of  quarterings  debruised  for  an 
illegitimate  family  is  found  in  the  registration  of  a  Talbot  pedigree  in 
one  of  the  Visitation  Books.  As  a  mark  of  distinction  upon  arms  the 
bend  sinister  for  long  past  has  fallen  out  of  use,  though  for  the  purpose 
of  differencing  crests  a  bendlet  wavy  sinister  is  still  made  use  of,  and 
will  be  again  presently  referred  to. 

Next  to  the  bend  comes  the  bordure.  Bordures  of  all  kinds  were 
used  for  the  purposes  of  cadency  from  practically  the  earliest  periods 


MARKS    OF   BASTARDY  513 

of  heraldic  differencing.  But  they  were  used  indiscriminately,  as  has 
been  already  stated,  both  for  legitimate  and  illegitimate  cadency.  John 
of  Gaunt,  as  is  well  known,  was  the  father  of  Henry  IV.  and  the 
ancestor  of  Henry  VII.,  the  former  being  the  issue  of  his  legitimate 
wife,  the  latter  coming  from  a  son  who,  as  one  of  the  old  chroniclers 
puts  it,  ''was  of  double  advowirie  begotten,"  But,  as  every  one 
knows,  John  of  Gaunt's  children  by  Catherine  Roet  or  Swynford  were 
legitimated  by  Act  of  Parliament,  the  Act  of  Parliament  not  excepting 
the  succession  to  the  Throne,  a  disability  later  introduced  in  Letters 
Patent  of  the  Crown  when  giving  a  subsequent  confirmation  of  the 
Act,  but  which,  nevertheless,  they  could  not  overrule.  But  taking  the 
sons  of  the  latter  family  as  legitimate,  which  (whatever  may  have  been 
the  moral  aspect  of  the  case)  they  were  undoubtedly  in  the  eyes  of 
the  common  law  after  the  passing  of  the  Act  referred  to,  they  existed 
concurrently  with  the  undoubtedly  senior  descendants  of  the  first 
marriage  of  John  of  Gaunt  with  Blanche  of  Lancaster,  and  it  was 
necessary — whether  they  were  legitimate  or  not — to  distinguish  the 
arms  of  the  junior  from  the  senior  branch.  The  result  was  that  as 
legitimate  cadets,  and  not  as  bastards,  the  arms  of  John  of  Gaunt  were 
differenced  for  the  line  of  the  Dukes  of  Somerset  by  the  addition 
of  the  bordure  compony  argent  and  azure — the  livery  colours  of 
Lancaster.  It  is  a  weird  position,  for  these  colours  were  derived  from 
the  family  of  the  legitimate  wife. 

The  fight  as  to  whether  these  children  were  legitimate  or  illegitimate 
was,  of  course,  notorious,  and  a  matter  of  history  ;  but  from  the  fact 
that  they  bore  a  bordure  compony,  an  idea  grew  up  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Scotland  also  from  the  similarity  of  the  cases  of  the 
doubtful  legitimacy  of  the  Avondale  and  Ocniltree  Stewarts,  who  both 
used  the  bordure  compony,  that  the  bordure  compom^was  a  sign  of 
illegitirnacy,  whereas  in  both  countries  at  an  earlier  period  it  un- 
doubtedly was  accepted  as  a  mark  of  legitimate  cadency. 

As  a  mark  of  bastardy  it  had  subsequently  some  extensive  use  in 
both  countries,  and  it  still  remains  the  only  mark  now  used  for  the 
purpose  in  Scottish  heraldry.  Whether  it  was  that  it  was  not  considered 
as  of  a  fixed  nature,  or  whether  it  was  that  it  had  become  notorious 
and  unacceptable,  it  is  difficult  to  say,  though  the  officers  of  arms  have 
been  blamed  for  making  a  change  on  the  assumption  that  it  was  the 
latter. 

Some  writers  who  clamour  strongly  for  the  penalising  of  bastard 
arms,  and  for  the  plain  and  recognisable  marking  of  them  as  such  (a 
position  adopted  rather  vehemently  by  Woodward,  a  singularly  .erudite 
heraldic  writer),  are  rather  uncharitable,  and  at  the  same  time  rather 
lacking  in  due  observation  and  careful  consideration  of  ancient  ideas 

2  K 


514     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

and  ancient  precedents.  That  the  recognised  mark  has  been  changed 
at  different  periods,  and  as  a  consequence  that  to  a  certain  extent  the 
advertisement  it  conveys  has  been  less  patent  is,  of  course,  put  down  to 
the  ^^  venaUty  "  of  mediaeval  heralds  (happily  their  backs  are  broad)  by 
those  who  are  too  short-sighted  to  observe  that  the  one  thing  an  official 
herald  moves  heaven  and  earth  to  escape  from  is  the  making  of  a  new 
precedent  ;  and  that,  on  the  score  of  signs  of  illegitimacy,  the  official 
heralds,  when  the  control  of  arms  passed  into  their  hands,  found  no 
established  rule.  So  far  from  having  been  guilty  of  venality,  as 
Woodward  suggests,  they  have  erred  on  the  other  side,  and  by  having 
worked  only  on  the  limited  number  of  precedents  they  found  they 
have  stereotyped  the  advertisement,  and  thereby  made  the  situation 
more  stringent  than  they  found  it. 

We  have  it  from  biblical  sources  that  the  sins  of  the  fathers  shall 
be  visited  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generations, 
and  this  spirit  has  undoubtedly  crept  into  the  views  of  many 
writers,  but  to  get  into  the  true  perspective  of  the  matter  one  needs 
to  consider  the  subject  from  the  point  of  view  of  less  prudish  days 
than  our  own. 

I  have  no  wish  to  be  misunderstood.  In  these  days  much  heraldic 
reviewing  of  the  blatant  and  baser  sort  depends  not  upon  the  value  of 
the  work  performed,  a  point  of  view  which  is  never  given  a  thought, 
but  entirely  upon  the  identity  of  the  writer  whose  work  is  under  review, 
and  is  largely  composed  of  misquotation  and  misrepresentation.  It 
may  perhaps  be  as  well,  therefore,  to  state  that  I  am  not  seeking  to 
condone  illegitimacy  or  to  combat  present  opinions  upon  the  point.  I 
merely  state  that  our  present  opinions  are  a  modern  growth,  and  that 
in  the  thirteenth,  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  sixteenth  centuries,  when 
the  fundamental  principles  of  heraldry  were  in  the  making,  it  was  not 
considered  a  disgrace  to  have  an  illegitimate  son,  nor  was  it  considered 
then  that  to  be  of  illegitimate  birth  carried  the  personal  stigma  that 
came  later. 

At  any  rate,  the  fact  remains  that  a  new  mark  was  called  into  being 
in  England  about  the  year  1780  when  in  a  grant  to  Zachary  to  quarter 
the  arms  of  Sacheverell,  from  which  family  he  was  in  the  female  line 
illegitimately  descended,  the  bordure  wavy  was  first  met  with  as  a 
sufficient  and  proper  mark  of  illegitimacy.  The  curious  point  is  that 
before  that  date  in  Scotland  and  in  England  the  bordure  wavy  possessed 
nothing  of  this  character,  and  to  the  present  day  the  bordure  wavy  in 
Scotland  is  undoubtedly  nothing  more  than  a  legitimate  mark  of 
legitimate  cadency,  for  which  mark  Mr.  Stodart  provides  a  place  in 
the  scheme  of  differencing  which  he  tabulated  as  the  basis  of  cadency 
marks  in  Scotland  (Fig.  732).      Since  that  date  the  bordure  wavy  has 


MARKS    OF    BASTARDY  515 

remained  the  mark  which  has  been  used  for  the  purpose  in  England, 
as  the  bordure  compony  has  remained  the  mark  in  Scotland. 

Bearing  in  mind  that  the  only  necessity  was  some  mark  which 
should  carry  sufficient  distinction  from  the  arms  of  the  family,  it  follows, 
as  a  natural  consequence  of  human  nature,  that  as  soon  as  any  parti- 
cular mark  became  identified  with  illegitimacy  (after  that  was  considered 
to  be  a  stigma),  that  mark  was  quietly  dropped  and  some  other  sub- 
stituted, and  no  one  should  be  surprised  to  find  the  bordures  wavy 
and  compony  quietly  displaced  by  something  else.  If  any  change  is 
to  be  made  in  the  future  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  existing  mark  will  be 
adopted,  and  that  the  marks  in  England  and  Scotland  shall  not  conflict 
even  if  they  do  not  coincide. 

The  bendlet  sinister,  however,  survives  in  the  form  of  the  baton 
sinister,  which  is  a  bendlet  couped  placed  across  the  centre  of  the 
shield.  The  baton  sinister,  however,  is  a  privilege  which,  as  a  charge 
on  a  shield,  is  reserved,  such  as  it  is,  for  Royal  bastards.  The  latest 
instance  of  this  was  in  the  exemplification  of  arms  to  the  Earl  of 
Munster  and  his  brothers  and  sisters  early  in  the  nineteenth  century. 
Other  surviving  instances  are  met  with  in  the  arms  of  the  Duke  of  St. 
Albans  and  the  Duke  of  Grafton.  Another  privilege  of  Royal  bastards 
is  that  they  may  have  the  baton  of  metaly  a  privilege  which  is,  accord- 
ing to  Berry,  denied  to  those  of  humbler  origin. 

According  to  present  law  the  position  of  an  illegitimate  person 
heraldically  is  based  upon  the  common  law  of  the  country,  which 
practically  declares  that  an  illegitimate  child  has  no  name,  no 
parentage,  and  no  relations.  The  illegitimacy  of  birth  is  an  insuper- 
able bar  to  inheritance,  and  a  person  of  illegitimate  birth  inherits  no 
arms  at  all,  the  popular  idea  that  he  inherits  a  right  to  the  arms 
subject  to  a  mark  of  distinction  being  quite  incorrect.  He  has  none 
at  all.  There  has  never  been  any  mark  which,  as  a  matter  of  course 
and  of  mere  motion,  could  attach  itself  automatically  to  a  shield,  as  is 
the  case  with  the  English  marks  of  difference,  e.g,  the  crescent  of  the 
second  son  or  the  mullet  of  the  third.  This  is  a  point  upon  which  I 
have  found  mistaken  ideas  very  frequently  held,  even  by  those  who 
have  made  some  study  of  heraldry. 

But  a  very  little  thought  should  make  it  plain  that  by  the  very 
nature  of  the  fact  there  cannot  be  either  a  recognised  mark,  compulsory 
use,  or  an  ipse  facto  sign.  Illegitimacy  is  negative,  not  positive — a  fact 
which  many  writers  hardly  give  sufficient  weight  to. 

If  any  one  of  illegitimate  birth  desires  to  obtain  a  right  to  arms  he 
has  two  courses  open  to  him.  He  can  either  (not  disclosing  the  fact 
of  his  illegitimacy,  and  not  attempting  to  prove  that  he  is  a  descendant 
of  any  kind  from  any  one  else)  apply  for  and  obtain  a  new  grant  of 


5i6     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

arms  on  his  own  basis,  and  worry  through  the  College  the  grant  of  a 
coat  as  closely  following  in  design  that  of  the  old  family  as  he  can 
get,  which  means  that  he  would  be  treated  and  penalised  with  such 
alterations  (not  ^*  marks  of  distinction  ")  as  would  be  imposed  upon  a 
stranger  in  blood  endeavouring  to  obtain  arms  founded  upon  a  coat 
to  which  he  had  no  right.  The  cost  of  such  a  proceeding  in  England 
is\^76,  I  OS.,  the  usual  fees  upon  an  ordinary  grant. 

The  alternative  course  is  simple.  He  must  avow  himself  a  bastard, 
and  must  prove  his  paternity  or  maternity,  as  the  case  may  be  (for  in 
the  eye  of  the  law — common  and  heraldic — he  bears  the  same  relation, 
which  is  nil,  and  the  same  right  to  the  name  and  arms,  which  is  nil,  of 
both  his  father  and  his  mother). 

Illegitimacy  under  English  law  affords  one  of  the  many  instances 
in  which  anomalies  exist,  for,  strange  as  the  statement  is,  a  bastard 
comes  into  the  world  without  any  name  at  all. 

Legally,  at  birth  a  bastard  child  has  then  no  name  at  all,  and  no 
arms.  It  must  subsequently  acquire  such  right  to  a  name  (whatever 
right  that  may  amount  to)  as  user  of  and  reputation  therein  may  give 
him.  He  inherits  no  arms  at  all,  no  name,  and  no  property,  save  by 
specific  devise  or  bequest.  The  lack  of  parents  operates  as  a  chasm 
which  it  is  impossible  to  bridge.  It  is  not  a  case  of  a  peculiar  bridge 
or  a  faulty  bridge  ;  there  is  no  bridge  at  all. 

Names,  in  so  far  as  they  are  matters  of  law,  are  subject  to  canon 
law  ;  at  any  rate,  the  law  upon  the  subject,  such  as  it  is,  originated  in 
canon  law,  and  not  in  statute  or  common  law.  Canon  law  was  made, 
and  has  never  since  been  altered,  at  a  time  when  surnames  were  not 
in  existence.  A  bastard  no  more  inherits  the  surname  of  the  mother 
than  it  does  the  surname  of  its  father  ;  and  the  spirit  of  petty  officialism, 
so  rampant  amongst  the  clergy,  which  seeks  to  impose  upon  a  bastard 
nolens  volens  the  surname  of  its  mother,  has  no  justification  in  law  or 
fact.  A  bastard  has  precisely  as  little  right  to  the  surname  of  its 
mother  as  it  has  to  the  surname  of  its  father.  Obviously,  however, 
under  the  customs  of  our  present  social  life,  every  person  must  have  a 
surname  of  one  kind  or  another  ;  and  it  is  here  that  the  anomaly  in 
the  British  law  exists,  inasmuch  as  neither  statute  nor  canon  law  pro- 
vide any  means  for  conferring  a  surname.  That  the  King  has  the 
prerogative,  and  exercises  it,  of  conferring  or  confirming  surnames  is, 
of  course,  unquestioned,  but  it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  the  King 
will  trouble  himself  to  provide  a  surname  for  every  illegitimate  child 
which  may  be  born  ;  and  outside  this  prerogative,  which  probably  is 
exercised  about  once  a  year,  there  is  no  method  provided  or  definitely 
recognised  by  the  law  to  meet  this  necessity.  To  obviate  the  difficulty, 
the  surname  has  to  be  that  which  is  conferred   upon   the   child  by 


MARKS    OF    BASTARDY  517 

general  custom  ;  and  as  an  illegitimate  child  is  in  ninety-nine  cases  out 
of  a  hundred  brought  up  by  its  mother,  it  is  usually  by  the  same 
custom  which  confers  the  surname  of  its  owner  upon  a  dog  in  so 
many  parts  of  the  country  that  a  bastard  child  gets  known  by  its 
mother's  surname,  and  consequently  has  that  surname  conferred  upon 
it  by  general  custom.  The  only  names  that  an  illegitimate  child  has 
an  inalienable  right  to  are  the  names  by  which  it  is  baptized  ;  and  if 
two  names  are  given,  and  the  child  or  its  guardians  elect  that  it  should 
be  known  only  by  those  baptismal  names,  and  if  common  repute  and 
general  custom,  as  would  be  probable,  uses  the  last  of  those  names  as 
a  surname,  there  is  no  legal  power  on  earth  which  can  force  upon  the 
child  any  other  name  ;  and  if  the  last  of  the  baptismal  names  happens 
to  be  its  father's  surname,  the  child  will  have  an  absolute  right  to  be 
known  only  by  its  Christian  names,  which  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
will  mean  that  it  will  be  known  by  its  father's  surname. 

In  the  same  way  that  an  illegitimate  child  inherits  no  surname  at 
all,  it  equally  inherits  no  arms.  Consequently  it  has  no  shield  upon 
which  to  carry  a  mark  of  bastardy,  if  such  a  mark  happened  to 
be  in  existence.  But  if  under  a  will  or  deed  of  settlement  an 
illegitimate  child  is  required  to  assume  the  name  and  arms  of  its 
father  or  of  its  mother^  a  Royal  Licence  to  assume  such  name  and 
arms  is  considered  to  be  necessary.  It  may  be  here  noted  that 
voluntary  applications  to  assume  a  name  and  arms  in  the  case 
of  an  illegitimate  child  are  not  entertained  unless  it  can  be  clearly 
shown  (which  is  not  always  an  easy  matter)  what  the  parentage  really 
was. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  I  have  said  he  will  be  required  to  prove  his 
paternity.  This  is  rigorously  insisted  upon,  inasmuch  as  it  is  not  fair 
to  penalise  the  reputation  of  a  dead  man  by  inflicting  upon  him  a  record 
of  bastard  descendants  whilst  his  own  life  might  have  been  stainless. 
An  illegitimate  birth  is  generally  recorded  under  the  name  of  the 
mother  only,  and  even  when  it  is  given,  the  truth  of  any  statement  as 
to  paternity  is  always  open  to  grave  suspicion.  There  is  nothing, 
therefore,  to  prevent  a  person  asserting  that  he  is  the  son  of  a  duke, 
whereas  his  real  father  may  have  been  in  a  very  plebeian  walk  in  life  ; 
and  to  put  the  arms  of  the  duke's  family  at  the  mercy  of  any  fatherless 
person  who  chose  to  fancy  a  differenced  version  of  them  would  be 
manifestly  unjust,  so  that  without  proof  in  a  legal  action  of  the  actual 
paternity,  or  some  recognition  under  a  will  or  settlement,  it  is  im- 
possible to  adopt  the  alternative  in  question.  But  if  such  recognition 
or  proof  is  forthcoming,  the  procedure  is  to  petition  the  Sovereign  for 
a  Royal  Licence  to  use  (or  continue  to  use)  the  name  desired  and  to 
bear  the  arms  of  the  family.     Such  a  petition  is  always  granted,  on 


5i8     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

proper  proof  of  the  facts,  if  made  in  due  form  through  the  proper 
channels.  The  Royal  Licence  to  that  effect  is  then  issued.  But  the 
document  contains  two  conditions,  the  first  being  that  the  arms  shall  be 
exemplified  according  to  the  laws  of  arms  '<  with  due  and  proper  marks 
of  distinction,"  and  that  the  Royal  Licence  shall  be  recorded  in  the 
College  of  Arms,  otherwise  *^  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect."  The 
invariable  insertion  of  this  clause  puts  into  the  hands  of  the  College  one 
of  the  strongest  weapons  the  officers  of  arms  possess. 

Under  the  present  practice  the  due  and  proper  marks  of  distinction 
are,  for  the  arms,  a  bordure  wavy  round  the  shield  of  the  most  suitable 
colour,  according  to  what  the  arms  may  be,  but  if  possible  of  some 
colour  or  metal  different  from  any  of  the  tinctures  in  the  arms.  The 
crest  is  usually  differenced  by  a  bendlet  sinister  wavy,  but  a  pallet 
wavy  is  sometimes  used,  and  sometimes  a  saltire  wavy,  couped  or 
otherwise.  The  choice  between  these  marks  generally  depends  upon 
the  nature  of  the  crest.  But  even  with  this  choice,  the  anomaly  is 
frequently  found  of  blank  space  being  carefully  debruised.  Seeing 
that  the  mark  of  the  debruising  is  not  a  tangible  object  or  thing,  but 
a  mark  painted  upon  another  object,  such  a  result  seems  singularly 
ridiculous,  and  ought  to  be  avoided.  Whilst  the  ancient  practice 
certainly  appears  to  have  been  to  make  some  slight  change  in  the  crest, 
it  does  not  seem  to  have  been  debruised  in  the  present  manner.  There 
are  some  number  of  more  recent  cases  where,  whilst  the  existing  arms 
have  been  charged  with  the  necessary  marks  of  distinction,  entirely 
new,  or- very  much  altered  crests  have  been  granted  without  any  re- 
cognisable <^  marks  of  distinction."  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
bendlet  wavy  sinister  upon  the  crest  is  a  palpable  penalising  of  the 
bearer,  and  I  think  the  whole  subject  of  the  marks  of  bastardy  in  the 
three  kingdoms  might  with  advantage  be  brought  under  official  con- 
sideration, with  a  view  to  new  regulations  being  adopted,  A  bendlet 
wavy  sinister  is  such  an  absolute  defacement  of  a  crest  that  few  can 
care  to  make  use  of  a  crest  so  marked.  It  carries  an  effect  far  beyond 
what  was  originally  the  intention  of  marks  of  distinction. 

A  few  recent  bastardised  exemplifications  which  have  issued  from 
Ulster's  Office  have  had  the  crest  charged  with  a  baton  couped  sinister. 
The  baton  couped  sinister  had  always  hitherto  been  confined  to  the 
arms  of  Royal  bastards,  but  I  am  not  aware  of  any  Royal  crest  so 
bastardised.  Of  course  no  circumstances  can  be  conceived  in  which 
it  is  necessary  to  debruise  supporters,  as  under  no  circumstances  can 
these  be  the  subject  of  a  Royal  Licence  of  this  character,  except  in 
a  possible  case  where  they  might  have  been  granted  as  a  simple 
augmentation  to  a  man  and  his  descendants,  without  further  limitation. 
I   know   of   no   bastardised  version   consequent   upon   such   a    grant. 


MARKS    OF    BASTARDY  519 

Supporters  signify  some  definite  honour  which  cannot  ordinarily 
survive  illegitimacy. 

The  bordure  wavy  is  placed  round  the  pronominal  arms  only,  and 
no  right  to  any  quarterings  the  family  may  have  enjoyed  previously  is 
conferred,  except  such  right  to  a  quarterly  coat  as  might  ensue  through 
the  assumption  of  a  double  name.  Quartering  is  held  to  signify 
representation  which  cannot  be  given  by  a  Royal  Licence,  but  a 
quartering  of  augmentation  or  a  duplicate  coat  for  the  pronominal 
name  which  had  been  so  regularly  used  with  the  alternative  coat  as  to 
constitute  the  two  something  in  the  nature  of  a  compound  coat,  would 
be  exemplified  <^  all  within  a  bordure  wavy."  Each  illegitimate  coat 
stands  on  its  own  basis,  and  there  is  a  well-known  instance  in  which  a 
marriage  was  subsequently  found  to  be  illegal,  or  to  have  never  taken 
place,  after  which,  I  believe,  some  number  of  brothers  and  sisters 
obtained  Royal  Licences  and  exemplifications.  The  descendants  of 
one  of  the  brothers  will  be  found  in  the  current  Peerage  Books,  and 
those  who  know  their  peerage  history  well  will  recognise  the  case  I 
allude  to.  All  the  brothers  and  sisters  had  the  same  arms  exemplified, 
each  with  a  bordure  wavy  of  a  different  colour.  If  there  were  de- 
scendants of  any  of  the  sisters,  those  descendants  would  have  been 
entitled  to  quarter  the  arms,  because  the  illegitimacy  made  each  sister 
an  heiress  for  heraldic  purposes.  This  is  a  curious  anomaly,  for  had 
they  been  legitimate  the  descendants  would  have  enjoyed  no  such 
right. 

In  Scotland  the  mark  of  illegitimacy  for  the  arms  is  the  bordure 
compony,  which  is  usually  but  not  always  indicative  of  the  same. 
The  bordure  counter-compony  has  been  occasionally  stated  to  have 
the  same  character.  This  is  hardly  correct,  though  it  may  be  so  in  a 
few  isolated  cases,  but  the  bordure  chequy  has  nothing  whatever  of  an 
illegitimate  character.  It  will  be  noticed  that  whilst  the  bordure 
compony  and  the  bordure  counter-company  have  their  chequers  or 
"  panes,"  to  use  the  heraldic  term,  following  the  outline  of  the  shield, 
by  lines  parallel  to  those  which  mark  its  contour,  the  bordure  chequy 
is  drawn  by  lines  parallel  to  and  at  right  angles  to  the  palar  line  of 
the  shield,  irrespective  of  its  outline.  A  bordure  chequy  must,  of 
course,  at  one  point  or  another  show  three  distinct  rows  of  checks. 

The  bastardising  of  crests  even  in  England  is  a  comparatively 
modern  practice.  I  know  of  no  single  instance  ancient  or  modern  of 
the  kind  in  Scottish  heraldry,  though  I  could  mention  scores  of 
achievements  in  which  the  shields  carry  marks  of  distinction.  This  is 
valuable  evidence,  for  no  matter  how  lax  the  official  practice  of  Scottish 
armory  may  have  been  at  one  period,  the  theory  of  Scottish  armory 
far  more  nearly  approaches  the  ancient  practices  and  rules  of  heraldry 


5^o     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

than  does  the  armory  of  any  other  country.  That  theory  is  much 
nearer  the  ideal  theory  than  the  English  one,  but  unfortunately  for 
the  practical  purposes  of  modern  heraldic  needs,  it  does  not  answer  so 
well.  At  the  present  day,  therefore,  a  Scottish  crest  is  not  marked  in 
any  way. 

Most  handbooks  refer  to  a  certain  rule  which  is  supposed  to  exist 
for  the  differencing  of  a  coat  to  denote  illegitimacy  when  the  coat  is 
that  of  the  mother  and  not  the  father,  the  supposed  method  being  to 
depict  the  arms  under  a  surcoat,  the  result  being  much  the  same  as  if 
the  whole  of  the  arms  appeared  in  exaggerated  flaunches,  the  remainder 
of  the  shield  being  left  vacant  except  for  the  tincture  of  the  surcoat.  As 
a  matter  of  fact  only  one  instance  is  known,  and  consequently  we  must 
consider  it  as  a  new  coat  devised  to  bear  reference  to  the  old  one,  and 
not  as  a  regularised  method  of  differencing  for  a  particular  set  of 
circumstances. 

In  Ireland  the  rules  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes  the  same  as  in 
England,  with  the  exception  of  the  occasional  use  of  a  sinister  baton 
instead  of  a  bendlet  wavy  sinister  upon  the  crest.  In  Scotland,  where 
Royal  Licences  are  unknown,  it  is  merely  necessary  to  prove  paternity, 
and  rematriculate  the  arms  with  due  and  proper  marks  of  distinction. 

It  was  a  very  general  idea  during  a  former  period,  but  subsequently 
to  the  time  when  the  bend  and  bendlet  sinister  and  the  bordure  were  re- 
cognised as  in  the  nature  of  the  accepted  marks  of  bastardy,  and  when 
their  penal  nature  was  admitted,  that  whatever  mark  was  adopted  for  the 
purpose  of  indicating  illegitimacy  need  only  be  borne  for  three  genera- 
tions. Some  of  the  older  authorities  tell  us  that  after  that  length  of 
time  had  elapsed  it  might  be  discarded,  and  some  other  and  less  objec- 
tionable mark  be  taken  in  its  place.  The  older  writers  were  striving, 
consciously  or  unconsciously,  to  reconcile  the  disgrace  of  illegitimacy, 
which  they  knew,  with  heraldic  facts  which  they  also  knew,  and  to 
reconcile  in  certain  prominent  families  undoubted  illegitimacy  with 
unmarked  arms,  the  probability  being  that  their  sense  of  justice  and 
regard  for  heraldry  prompted  them  to  the  remark  that  some  other 
mark  of  distinction  ought  to  be  added,  whilst  all  the  time  they  knew 
it  never  was.  The  arms  of  Byron,  Somerset,  Meinill,  and  Herbert  are 
all  cases  where  the  marks  of  illegitimacy  have  been  quietly  dropped, 
entire  reversion  being  had  to  the  undifferenced  original  coat.  At  a 
time  when  marks  of  illegitimacy,  both  in  fact  and  in  theory,  were 
nothing  more  than  marks  of  cadency  and  difference  from  the  arms  of 
the  head  of  the  house,  it  was  no  venality  of  the  heralds,  but  merely 
the  acceptance  of  current  ideas,  that  permitted  them  to  recognise  the 
undifferenced  arms  for  the  illegitimate  descendants  when  there  were 
no  legitimate  owners  from  whose  claim  the  arms  of  the  others  needed  • 


MARKS   OF   BASTARDY  521 

to  be  differentiated,  and  when  lordships  and  lands  had  lapsed  to  a 
bastard  branch.  To  this  fact  must  be  added  another.  The  armorial 
control  of  the  heralds  after  the  days  of  tournaments  was  exercised 
through  the  Visitations  and  the  Earl  Marshal's  Court.  Peers  were 
never  subject  to  the  Visitations,  and  so  were  not  under  control  unless 
their  arms  were  challenged  in  the  Earl  Marshal's  Court  by  the  rightful 
owner.     The  cases  that  were  notorious  are  cases  of  the  arms  of  peers. 

The  Visitations  gave  the  officers  of  arms  greater  control  over  the 
arms  of  Commoners  than  they  had  had  theretofore,  and  the  growing 
social  opinions  upon  legitimacy  and  marriage  brought  social  obser- 
vances more  into  conformity  with  the  technical  law,  and  made  that 
technical  law  of  no  inheritance  and  no  paternity  an  operative  fact. 
The  result  is  that  the  hard  legal  fact  is  now  rigidly  and  rightly  insisted 
upon,  and  the  claim  and  right  to  arms  of  one  of  illegitimate  descent 
depends  and  is  made  to  depend  solely  upon  the  instruments  creating 
that  right,  and  the  conditions  of  ^'  due  and  proper  marks  of  distinc- 
tion "  always  subject  to  which  the  right  is  called  into  being.  Nowadays 
there  is  no  release  from  the  penalty  of  the  bordures  wavy  and  compony 
save  through  the  avenue  of  a  new  and  totally  different  grant  and  the 
full  fees  payable  therefor.  But,  as  the  bearer  of  a  bordure  wavy 
once  remarked  to  me,  ''  I  had  rather  descend  illegitimately  from  a 
good  family  and  bear  their  arms  marked  than  descend  from  a  lot  of 
nobodies  and  use  a  new  grant."  But  until  the  common  law  is  altered, 
if  it  ever  is,  the  game  must  be  played  fairly  and  the  conditions  of  a 
Royal  Licence  observed,  for  the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  upon 
the  children. 

Although  I  have  refrained  from  giving  any  extended  list  of  bas- 
tardised coats  as  examples  of  the  rules  for  indicating  illegitimacy, 
reference  may  nevertheless  be  made  to  various  curious  examples. 

The  canton  has  occasionally  been  used.  Sir  John  de  Warren,  a 
natural  son  of  John,  Earl  of  Surrey,  Sussex,  and  Warenne  {d,  1347), 
bore  a  canton  of  the  arms  of  his  mother,  Alice  de  Nerford  [''  Gules,  a 
lion  rampant  ermine  "],  over  the  chequy  shield  of  Warren.  A  similar 
instance  can  be  found  in  modern  times,  the  arms  of  Charlton  of  Apley 
Castle,  CO.  Salop,  being  bastardised  by  a  sinister  canton  which  bears 
two  coats  quarterly,  these  coats  having  formerly  been  quarterings 
borne  in  the  usual  manner. 

The  custom  of  placing  the  paternal  arms  upon  a  bend  has  been 
occasionally  adopted,  but  this  of  course  is  the  creation  of  a  new 
coat.  It  was  followed  by  the  Beauforts  before  their  legitimation, 
and  by  Sir  Roger  de  Clarendon,  the  illegitimate  son  of  the  Black 
Prince.  The  Somerset  family,  who  derived  illegitimately  from  the 
Beauforts,  Dukes  of  Somerset,  first  debruised  the   Beaufort  arms  by 


OF   THE 


522     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

a  bendlet  sinister,  but  in  the  next  generation  the  arms  were  placed 
upon  a  wide  fess,  this  on  a  plain  field  of  or.  Although  the  Somersets, 
Dukes  of  Beaufort,  have  discarded  all  signs  of  bastardy  from  their 
shield,  the  version  upon  the  fess  was  continued  as  one  of  the 
quarterings  upon  the  arms  of  the  old  Shropshire  family  of  Somerset 
Fox.  One  of  the  most  curious  bastardised  coats  is  that  of  Henry 
Fitz-Roy,  Duke  of  Richmond  and  Somerset,  illegitimate  son  of  Henry 
VIH.  This  shows  the  Royal  Arms  within  a  bordure  quarterly  ermine 
and  counter-compony  or  and  azure,  debruised  by  a  baton  sinister 
argent,  an  inescutcheon  quarterly  gules  and  vaire,  or  and  vert  [possibly 
hinting  at  the  Blount  arms  of  his  mother,  barry  nebuly  or  and  sable], 
over  all  a  lion  rampant  argent,  on  a  chief  azure  a  tower  between  two 
stags'  heads  caboshed  argent,  attired  or. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

THE    MARSHALLING    OF    ARMS 

THE  science  of  marshalling  is  the  conjoining  of  two  or  more 
coats  of  arms  upon  one  shield  for  the  purpose  of  indicating 
sovereignty,  dominion,  alliance,  descent,  or  pretension,  accord- 
ing to  recognised  rules  and  regulations,  by  the  employment  of  which 
the  story  of  any  given  achievement  shall  be  readily  translatable. 

The  methods  of  marshalling  are  (i)  dimidiation,  (2)  impalement, 
(3)  quartering,  (4)  superimposition. 

Instances  of  quartered  shields  are  to  be  met  with  possibly  before 
impalements  or  dimidiation.  The  earliest  attempt  at  anything  like  a 
regularised  method  of  procedure  to  signify  marriage  was  that  usually 
males  quartered  the  arms  of  their  wives  or  ancestresses  from  whom  they 
acquired  their  lands  ;  whilst  impaled  coats  were  to  all  -  intents  and 
purposes  the  armorial  bearings  of  married  women,  or  more  frequently 
of  widows  who  took  an  immediate  interest  in  their  husbands'  property. 
This  ancient  usage  brings  home  very  forcibly  the  former  territorial 
connection  of  arms  and  land.  The  practice  of  the  husband  impaling 
the  wife's  arms,  whether  heiress  or  not,  probably  arose  near  the  close 
of  the  fifteenth  century.  Even  now  it  is  laid  down  that  the  arms  of  a 
wife  should  not  in  general  be  borne  upon  the  husband's  banner,  surcoat, 
or  official  seal. 

But  impalement  as  we  now  know  it  was  preceded  by  dimidiation. 

Dimidiation,  which   was   but  a   short-lived  method,  was   effected   by 

the  division  of  the  shield  down  the  centre.     On  the  dexter  side  was 

placed  the  dexter  half  of  the  husband's  arms,  and  on  the  sinister  side 

was  placed  the  sinister  half  of  the  wife's  arms.     With  some  coats  of 

arms  no  objection  could  be  urged  against  the  employment   of  this 

method.      But  it  was  liable  to  result  {e.g.  with  two  coats  of  arms  having 

the  same  ordinary)  in  the  creation  of  a  design  which  looked  far  more 

like  one  simple  coat  than  a  conjunction  of  two.     The  dimidiation  of 

^^  argent,  a  bend  gules  "  and  '*  argent,  a  chevron  sable  "  would  simply 

result  in  a  single  coat  ''  argent,  a  bend  per  pale  gules  and  sable."     This 

fault  of  the  system  must  have  made  itself  manifest  at  an  early  period, 

for  we  soon  find  it  became  customary  to  introduce  about  two-thirds  of 

523  • 


524     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  design  of  each  coat  for  the  sake  of  demonstrating  their  separate 
character.  It  must  soon  thereafter  have  become  apparent  that  if  two- 
thirds  of  the  design  of  a  coat  of  arms  could  be  squeezed  into  half  of 
the  shield  there  was  no  valid  reason  why  the  whole  of  the  design  could 
not  be  employed.  This  therefore  became  customary  under  the  name 
of  impalement;  and  the  practice  has  ever  since  remained  with  us. 
Few  examples  indeed  of  dimidiation  are  to  be  met  with,  and  as  a 
practical  method  of  conjunction,  the  practice  was  chiefly  in  vogue 
during  the  earlier  part  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Occasionally  quartered  coats  were  dimidiated,  in  which  case  the 
first  and  third  quarters  of  the  husband's  coat  were  conjoined  with  the 
second  and  fourth  of  the  wife's.  As  far  as  outward  appearance  went, 
this  practice  resulted  in  the  fact  that  no  distinction  existed  from  a  plain 
quartered  coat.  Thus  the  seal  of  Margaret  of  Bavaria,  Countess  of 
Holland,  and  wife  of  John,  Count  de  Nevers,  in  1385  (afterwards 
Duke  of  Burgundy),  bears  a  shield  on  which  is  apparently  a  simple 
instance  of  quartering,  but  really  a  dimidiated  coat.  The  two  coats  to 
the  dexter  side  of  the  palar  line  are :  In  chief  Burgundy-Modern 
(''  France-Ancient,  a  bordure  compony  argent  and  gules  "),  and  in  base 
Burgundy-Ancient.  On  the  sinister  side  the  coat  in  chief  is  Bavaria 
('<  Bendy-lozengy  argent  and  azure  ")  ;  and  the  one  in  base  contains 
the  quartered  arms  of  Flanders  (''  Or,  a  lion  rampant  sable  ")  ;  and 
Holland  ('<  Or,  a  lion  rampant  gules  ")  ;  the  lines  dividing  these  latter 
quarters  being  omitted,  as  is  usually  found  to  be  the  case  with  this 
particular  shield. 

Certain  examples  can  be  found  amongst  the  Royal  Arms  in  Eng- 
land which  show  much  earlier  instances  of  dimidiation.  The  arms 
of  Margaret  of  France,  who  died  in  13 19,  the  second  queen  of 
Edward  I.,  as  they  remain  on  her  tomb  in  Westminster  Abbey,  afford 
an  example  of  this  method  of  conjunction.  The  arms  of  England 
appear  on  the  dexter  side  of  the  escocheon  ;  and  this  coat  undergoes 
a  certain  amount  of  curtailment,  though  the  dimidiation  is  not  com- 
plete, portions  only  of  the  hindmost  parts  of  the  lions  being  cut  off 
by  the  palar  line.  The  coat  of  France,  on  the  sinister  side,  of 
course  does  not  readily  indicate  the  dimidiation. 

Boutell,  in  his  chapter  on  marshalling  in  ''  Heraldry,  Historical  and 
Popular,"  gives  several  early  examples  of  dimidiation.  The  seal  of 
Edmond  Plantagenet,  Earl  of  Cornwall  (d,  1300),  bears  his  arms  (those 
of  Richard,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  and  King  of  the  Romans)  dimidiating 
those  of  his  wife,  Margaret  de  Clare.  Here  only  the  sinister  half  of 
his  bordure  is  removed,  while  the  Clare  coat  ("  Or,  three  chevrons 
gules  ")  is  entirely  dimidiated,  and  the  chevrons  are  little  distinguishable 
from  bends.     Both  coats  are  dimidiated  in  other  examples  mentioned 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF   ARMS  525 

by  Boutell,  viz.  William  de  Valence  and  his  wife,  and  Alianore  Mon- 
tendre  and  her  husband  Guy  Ferre.  On  the  seal  of  Margaret  Campbell, 
wife  of  Alexander  Napier,  in  153 1,  the  shield  shows  upon  the  dexter 
side  the  arms  of  Lennox,  and  on  the  sinister  the  dimidiated  coat  (the 
sinister  half  of  the  quartered  arms)  of  Campbell  and  Lorn.  This 
results  in  the  galley  of  Lorn  being  in  chief,  and  the  Campbell  gyrons 
in  base. 

An  early  and  interesting  Irish  example  of  this  kind  of  marshalling 
is  afforded  by  a  dimidiated  coat  of  Clare  and  Fitzgerald,  which  now 
figures  on  the  official  seal  of  the  Provosts  of  Youghal  (Clare :  "  Or, 
three  chevrons  gules."  Fitzgerald  :  "  Argent,  a  saltire  gules,  with  a 
label  of  five  points  in  chief ").  Both  these  coats  are  halved.  They 
result  from  the  marriage  of  Richard  Clare,  Earl  of  Hertford,  with 
Juliana,  daughter  and  heir  of  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  feudal  lord  of  Inchi- 
quin  and  Youghal. 

An  even  more  curious  case  of  dimidiation  comes  to  light  in  the 
arms  formerly  used  by  the  Abbey  of  St.  Etienne  at  Caen,  in  which 
the  arms  of  England  and  those  attributed  to  the  Duchy  of  Normandy 
(^^  Gules,  two  lions  passant  guardant  or  ")  w^ere  dimidiated,  so  that  in 
the  former  half  three  of  the  fore- quarters  of  the  lions  appear,  while  in 
the  sinister  half  only  two  of  the  hind-quarters  are  represented. 

Dimidiation  was  not  always  effected  by  conjunction  down  the  palar 
line,  other  partition  lines  of  the  shield  being  occasionally,  though  very 
rarely,  employed  in  this  manner. 

Certain  curious  (now  indivisible)  coats  of  arms  remain  which 
undoubtedly  originated  in  the  dimidiation  of  two  separate  coats,  e,g, 
the  arms  of  Yarmouth,  Sandwich,  Hastings,  Rye,  and  Chester.  In  all 
cases  some  Royal  connection  can  be  traced  which  has  caused  the 
Royal  Arms  of  England  to  be  conjoined  with  the  earlier  devices  of  fish, 
ships,  or  garbs  which  had  been  employed  by  the  towns  in  question. 
It  is  worth  the  passing  thought,  however,  whether  the  conjoined  lions 
and  hulks  used  by  the  Cinque  Ports  may  not  originally  have  been  a 
device  of  the  Sovereign  for  naval  purposes,  or  possibly  the  naval  version 
of  the  Royal  Arms  (see  page  182). 

One  other  remainder  from  the  practice  of  dimidiation  still  survives 
amongst  the  presently  existing  rules  of  heraldry.  It  is  a  rule  to  which 
no  modern  authoritative  exception  can  be  mentioned.  When  a  coat 
within  a  bordure  is  impaled  with  another  coat,  the  bordure  is  not  con- 
tinued down  the  centre  of  the  shield,  but  stops  short  at  top  and  bottom 
when  the  palar  line  is  reached.  This  rule  is  undoubtedly  a  result 
of  the  ancient  method  of  conjunction  by  dimidiation,  but  the  curious 
point  is  that,  at  the  period  when  dimidiation  was  employed  and 
during  the  period  which  followed,  some  number  of  examples  can  be 


526     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

found  where  the  bordure  is  continued  round  the  whole  coat  which  is 
within  it. 

The  arms  of  man  and  wife  are  now  conjoined  according  to  the 
following  rules  : — If  the  wife  is  not  an  heraldic  heiress  the  two  coats  are 
impaled.  If  the  wife  be  an  heraldic  heir  or  coheir,  in  lieu  of  impalement 
the  arms  of  her  family  are  placed  on  an  inescutcheon  superimposed  on 
the  centre  of  her  husband's  arms,  the  inescutcheon  being  termed  an 
escutcheon  of  pretence,  because /wr^  uxoris  she  being  an  heiress  of  her 
house,  the  husband  **  pretends  "  to  the  representation  of  her  family. 

*  For  heraldic  purposes  it  therefore  becomes  necessary  to  define  the 
terms  heir  and  heiress.  It  is  very  essential  that  the  point  should  be 
thoroughly  understood,  because  quarterings  other  than  those  of  aug- 
mentation can  only  be  inherited  from  or  through  female  ancestors  who 
are  in  themselves  heirs  or  coheirs  (this  is  the  true  term,  or,  rather,  the 
ancient  term,  though  they  are  now  usually  referred  to  colloquially  as 
heiresses  or  coheiresses)  in  blood,  or  whose  issue  subsequently  become 
in  a  later  generation  the  representatives  of  any  ancestor  in  the  male 
line  of  that  female  ancestor.  A  woman  is  an  *'  heir "  or  '^  heiress " 
(i)  if  she  is  an  only  child  ;  (2)  if  all  her  brothers  die  without  leaving 
any  issue  to  survive,  either  male  or  female  ;  (3)  she  becomes  an  heiress 
'*  in  her  issue,"  as  it  is  termed,  if  she  die  leaving  issue  herself  if  and 
when  all  the  descendants  male  and  female  of  her  brothers  become 
absolutely  extinct.  The  term  "  coheir  "  or  **  coheiress  "  is  employed  in 
cases  similar  to  the  foregoing  when,  instead  of  one  daughter,  there  are 
two  or  more. 

No  person  can  be  ^^  heir  "  or  "  coheir  "  of  another  person  until  the 
latter  is  dead,  though  he  or  she  may  be  heir-apparent  or  heir-presump- 
tive. Though  the  word  "  heir "  is  frequently  used  with  regard  to 
material  matters,  such  usage  is  really  there  incorrect,  except  in  cases 
of  intestacy.  A  person  benefiting  under  a  will  is  a  legatee  of  money, 
or  a  devisee  of  land,  and  not  an  heir  to  either.  The  table  on  page  527 
may  make  things  a  little  clearer,  but  in  the  following  remarks  in- 
testacy is  ignored,  and  the  explanations  apply  solely  to  heirship  of  blood. 

Charles  in  the  accompanying  pedigree  is,  after  1800,  heir  of  David. 
Thomas  is  heir-apparent  of  Charles,  being  a  son  and  the  eldest  born. 
He  dies  v.p.  (vita  patris,  i.e.  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father)  and  never 
becomes  heir.  A  daughter  can  never  become  an  heir-apparent,  as 
there  is  always,  during  the  lifetime  of  her  father,  the  possibility  of  a 
son  being  born.  Mary,  Ellen,  and  Blanche  are  coheirs  of  Thomas 
their  father,  whom  they  survive,  and  they  are  also  coheirs  of  their 
grandfather  Charles,  to  whom  they  succeed,  and  they  would  properly 
in  a  pedigree  be  described  as  both.  They  are  heirs-general  of  Thomas, 
Charles,  and  David,  and,  being  the  heirs  of  the  senior  line,  they  are 


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528     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

heirs-general  or  coheirs-general  of  their  house.  David  being  possessed 
of  the  barony  *'  by  writ "  of  Cilfowyr,  it  would  "  fall  into  abeyance  " 
at  the  death  of  Charles  between  Jthe  three  daughters  equally. 

In  Scotland  Mary,  Ellen,  and  Blanche  would  be  termed  '*  heirs 
portioners,"  and  Mary,  being  an  heiress  and  the  eldest  born  in  the 
direct  and  senior  line,  would  be  termed  the  ^'  heir  of  line."  David 
being  possessed  of  an  ancient  Scottish  peerage  not  limited  to  males 
(the  Earldom  of  Edinburgh),  Mary,  the  heir  of  hne,  would  at  once 
succeed  in  her  own  right  as  Countess  of  Edinburgh  on  the  death  of  her 
grandfather  Charles.  If  the  family  were  an  untitled  Scottish  family 
entitled  to  supporters,  these  would  descend  to  Mary  unless  they  had 
been  specifically  granted  with  some  other  limitation. 

At  the  death  of  Thomas  in  1830  Edmond  becomes  heir  male 
apparent,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father  in  1840  Edmond  becomes 
heir  male  of  his  house  until  his  death.  David  having  been  created 
a  peer  (Duke  of  London)  with  remainder  to  the  heirs  male  of  his  body, 
Edmond  succeeded  as  Duke  of  London  at  the  death  of  Charles  in 
1840.  Grace  and  Muriel  are  coheirs  of  Edmond  after  his  death. 
They  are  not  either  coheirs  or  heirs-general  of  Charles,  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  their  father  was  his  heir  male.  At  the  death  of  Charles  in 
1840,  when  Edmond  succeeded  as  heir  male,  John  succeeded  as  heir 
male  presumptive  to  Edmond.  He  was  not  heir-apparent,  because 
a  son  might  at  any  moment  have  been  born  to  Edmond.  An  heir- 
apparent  and  an  heir-presumptive  cannot  exist  at  the  same  time,  for 
whilst  there  is  an  heir-apparent  there  cannot  be  an  heir-presumptive. 
John  succeeded  as  heir  male  of  his  house,  and  therefore  as  Duke  of 
London,  in  1850,  at  the  death  of  his  elder  brother  Edmond;  but, 
though  John  was  the  '*  heir  male  "  of  his  said  elder  brother,  he  was 
not  his  "  heir  "  (Grace  and  Muriel  being  the  coheirs  of  Edmond),  nor 
was  he  the  "  heir  male  of  the  body  "  of  Edmond,  not  being  descended 
from  him.  John,  however,  was  '<  heir  male  of  the  body  "  of  Charles. 
George  is  heir-apparent  of  John  until  his  death  in  1870,  when  George 
succeeds  as  ^'  heir  "  of  his  father  and  heir  male  of  his  house,  and  con- 
sequently Duke  of  London.  At  his  death  in  1880  Dorothy  becomes 
the  "  sole  heir,"  or,  more  properly,  the  <'  sole  heir- general,"  of  her 
father  George  ;  but  his  kinsman  Robert  becomes  his  '^  heir  male,"  and 
therefore  Duke  of  London,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  there  was  a  much 
nearer  male  relative,  viz.  a  nephew,  Arthur,  the  son  of  his  sister. 
Robert  also  becomes  the  heir  male  of  the  body  of  Owen  and  heir  male 
of  his  house,  and  as  such  Duke  of  London.  He  would  also  be  generally 
described  as  the  heir  male  of  the  body  of  David. 

At  the  death  of  Dorothy  in  1885  her  coheirs  were  her  aunt  Alice 
and  her  cousin  Arthur  equally,  and  though  these  really  were  the  coheirs 


THE   MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  529 

of  Dorothy  (the  claims  of  Alice  and  Annie  being  equal,  and  the  rights 
of  Annie  having  devolved  upon  Arthur),  they  would  more  usually  be 
found  described  as  the  coheirs  of  George  or  of  John.  Annie  was 
never  herself  really  a  coheir,  because  she  died  before  her  brother,  but 
"  in  her  issue  "  she  becarrie  the  coheir  of  Dorothy,  though  she  would, 
after  1885,  be  usually  described  as  ^*in  her  issue  "  a  coheir  of  George, 
or  possibly  even  of  John,  though  this  would  be  an  inexact  description. 
Arthur  was  heir  of  his  mother  after  1870,  heir  of  his  father  after  1872, 
and  heir-apparent  of  his  father  before  that  date;  after  1885  he  is  a 
coheir  of  Dorothy,  and  after  1887  sole  heir  of  Dorothy  and  sole  heir 
of  Alice.  He  would  also  be  usually  described  as  heir-general  of  George, 
and  heir-general  of  John.  Let  us  suppose  that  John  had  married 
Edith  Torkington,  an  English  baroness  (sua  jure)  by  writ  (Baroness 
Neville),  who  had  died  in  1862.  At  that  date  the  barony  would  have 
descended  to  her  eldest  son  George  until  his  death  in  1880,  when 
Dorothy,  stw  jure^  would  have  succeeded.  At  her  death  in  1885  the 
barony  would  have  fallen  into  abeyance  between  Alice  and  Arthur.  At 
the  death  of  Alice  in  1887  the  abeyance  would  be  at  an  end,  and  the 
barony  in  its  entirety  would  have  devolved  upon  Arthur,  who  would 
have  enjoyed  it  until  at  his  death  in  1888  the  barony  would  have 
again  fallen  into  abeyance  between  Maria,  Jane,  and  Hannah  equally. 
It  is  not  unlikely  that  Her  Majesty  might  have  <^  determined  the  abey- 
ance," or  "  called  the  barony  out  of  abeyance  "  (the  meanings  of  the 
terms  are  identical)  in  favour  of  Maria,  who  would  consequently  have 
enjoyed  the  barony  in  its  entirety.  At  her  death  in  1889  it  would 
again  fall  into  abeyance  between  Jane  and  Hannah.  At  Jane's  death  in 
1890  Hannah  became  sole  heir,  and  the  abeyance  came  to  an  end 
when  Hannah  succeeded  to  the  barony.  At  her  death  it  would  pass  to 
her  aunt  Lilian.  Hannah  would  usually  be  described  as  "  coheir  and 
subsequently  sole  heir  of "  Arthur.  If  the  Baroness  Neville  had  been 
possessed  of  an  ancient  Scottish  Peerage  (the  Earldom  of  Torkington) 
it  would  have  passed  undividedly  and  in  full  enjoyment  to  the  heir  of 
line,  i.e,  in  1862  to  George,  1880  to  Dorothy,  1885  to  Alice,  1887  to 
Arthur,  1888  to  Maria,  1889  to  Jane,  1890  to  Hannah,  and  1896  to 
Lilian,  the  last  (shown  on  the  pedigree)  in  remainder.  Lilian  does 
not  become  an  heiress  until  1896,  when  the  whole  issue  of  her  brother 
becomes  extinct.     Irene  and  Isabel  never  become  heirs  at  all. 

Robert,  as  we  have  seen,  became  heir  male  of  his  house  and  Duke 
of  London  in  1880.  At  his  death  (1896)  Harriet  becomes  sole  heir 
of  Robert,  but  at  her  death  in  1897  his  niece  Ada,  the  only  child  of 
his  younger  brother  Philip,  who  had  predeceased  him,  would  be 
usually  referred  to  as  heir  of  Robert,  whilst  Cecil  is  heir  male  of  his 
house. 

2  L 


530     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

When  the  term  "  of  the  body  "  is  employed,  actual  descent  from  that 
person  is  signified,  e.g,  Arthur  after  1885  is  ^^  collateral "  heir-general 
of  Dorothy,  but  "  heir-general  of  the  body  "  of  Edith  Torkington. 

An  *<heir  of  entail,"  or,  to  use  the  Scottish  term,  the  '' heir  of 
tailzie,"  is  merely  the  person  succeeding  to  property  under  a  specific 
remainder  contained  in  a  deed  of  entail.  This  has  no  relation  to 
heirship  in  blood,  and  the  term,  from  an  armorial  point  of  view,  might 
be  entirely  disregarded,  were  it  not  that  some  number  of  Scottish  coats 
of  arms,   and   a  greater   number  of    Scottish   supporters,   and  some 


Fig.  742. 


Fig.  743. 


Fig.  744, 


Scottish  peerages  and  baronetcies,  are  specifically  granted  and  limited 
to  the  heirs  of  entail.  There  are  a  few  similar  English  grants  follow- 
ing upon  Royal  Licences  for  change  of  name  and  arms. 

The  term  <^  heir  in  expectancy  "  is  sometimes  heard,  but  it  is  not 
really  a  proper  term,  and  has  no  exact  or  legal  meaning.  When 
George  was  alive  his  daughter  Dorothy  was  his  heir-presumptive,  but 
supposing  that  Dorothy  were  a  Catholic  nun  and  Alice  a  lunatic,  in 
each  of  which  cases  there  would  be  very  little  likelihood  of  any  marriage 
ever  taking  place,  Arthur  would  very  generally  be  described  as  <'  heir 
in  expectancy,"  for  though  he  was  neither  heir-apparent  nor  heir- 
presumptive,  all  probability  pointed  to  the  eventual  succession  of 
himself  or  his  issue. 

Anybody  is  said  to  be  ^*  in  remainder  "  to  entailed  property  or  a 
peerage  if  he  is  included  within  the  recited  limits  of  the  entail  or 
peerage.  The  *^  heir  in  remainder "  is  the  person  next  entitled  to 
succeed  after  the  death  of  the  existing  holder. 

Thus  (excluding  heirs  in  expectancy  and  women  who  are  heirs- 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF   ARMS  531 

presumptive)  a  marriage  with  any  woman  who  is  an  heir  or  coheir 
results  in  her  arms  being  placed  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  over 
the  arms  of  the  husband.  In  the  cases 
of  all  other  women  the  arms  are  ^'  im- 
paled "  only.  To  '^  impale  two  coats  "  the 
shield  is  divided  by  a  straight  line  down 
the  centre,  the  whole  design  of  the  arms 
of  the  husband  being  placed  on  the  dexter 
side  of  the  escutcheon,  and  the  whole 
design  of  the  wife's  arms  being  placed  on 
the  sinister  side  (Fig.  742). 

It  may  perhaps  be  as  well  to  here 
exemplify  the  different  methods  of  the 
conjunction  of  the  arms  of  man  and 
wife,  arranging  the  same  two  coats  in  the 
different  methods  in  which  they  might  be 
marshalled  before  reverting  to  ancient 
practices. 

An  ordinary  commoner  impales  his 
wife's  arms  as  in  Fig.  742.  If  she  be  an 
heiress,  he  places  them  on  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence  as  in  Fig.  743.  If  the  hus- 
band, not  being  a  Knight,  is,  however,  a 

Companion  of  an  Order  of  Knighthood,  this  does  not  (except  in  the 
case  of  the  Commanders  of  the  Victorian  Order)  give  him  the  right  to 

use  the  circle  of  his  Order  round  his  arms, 
and  his  badge  is  simply  hung  below  the 
escutcheon,  the  arms  of  the  wife  being 
impaled  or  placed  on  an  escutcheon  of 
pretence  thereupon  as  the  case  may  neces- 
sitate. The  wife  of  a  Knight  Bachelor 
shares  the  state  ^nd  rank  with  her  hus- 
band, and  the  only  dLfference  is  in  the 
helmet  (Fig.  744).  But  if  the  husband 
be  a  knight  of  any  order,  the  ensigns  of 
that  order  are  personal  to  himself,  and 
cannot  be  shared  with  his  wife,  and  con- 
sequently two  shields  are  employed.  On 
the  dexter  shield  are  the  arms  of  the  hus- 
band w^ith  the  circle  of  his  order  of  knighthood,  and  on  the  sinister 
shield  are  the  arms  of  the  husband  impaling  the  arms  of  the  wife. 
Some  meaningless  decoration,  usually  a  wreath  of  oak-leaves,  is  placed 
round  the  sinister  shield  to   ''balance,"   from  the  artistic  point,  the 


Fig.  745- 


Fig.  746. 


532     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

ribbon,  or  the  ribbon  and  collar,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  the  order  of 
knighthood  of  the  husband  (Fig.  745).  A  seeming  exception  to  this 
rule  in  the  case  of  the  recent  warrant  to  Queen  Alexandra,  whose  arms, 
impaled  by  those  of  His  Majesty,  are  depicted  impaled  within  the  Garter, 
is  perhaps  explained  by  the  fact  that  Her  Majesty  is  herself  a  member 
of  that  Order.     A  Knight  Grand  Cross,  of  course,  adds  his  collar  to  the 

dexter  shield,  and  if  he 
has  supporters,  these 
are  placed  outside  the 
two  shields. 

^  ^ri35^         V  '"^^'Ss^V    NrfjRv^^  /  ^  P^^^*  impales  the 

arms  of  his  wife  as  in 

the  case  of  a  commoner, 

\J     WJ^^\  A  \J|v     Y    ^^^   arms   of    the   wife 

being,  of  course,  under 
the    protection    of    the 
supporters,  coronet, 
YiG.  747.  and  helmet  of  the  peer 

(Fig.  746).  If,  in  addi- 
tion to  being  a  peer,  he  is  also  a  knight  of  an  order,  he  follows  the 
rules  which  prescribe  the  use  of  two  shields  as  already  described. 

Supposing  the  wife  to  be  a  peeress  in  her  own  right,  she  cannot 
nowadays  confer  any  rank  whatever  upon  her  husband  ;  consequently, 
if  she  marry  a  commoner,  the  husband  places  her  arms  upon  an 
escutcheon  of  pretence 
surmounted  by  a  coro- 
net of  her  rank,  but  the 
supporters  belonging 
to  her  peerage  cannot 
be  added  to  his  shield. 
The  arms  of  the  wife 
are  consequently  re- 
peated alone,  but  in 
this  case  upon  a  loz- 
enge on  the  sinister 
side  of  the  husband's 
shield.  Above  this  loz- 
enge is  placed  the  coronet  of  her  rank,  and  the  supporters  belong- 
ing to  her  peerage  are  placed  on  either  side  of  the  lozenge  (Fig.  747). 
But  the  arms  of  a  peeress  in  her  own  right  are  frequently  represented 
on  a  lozenge  without  any  reference  to  the  arms  of  her  husband.  In 
the  case  of  a  peeress  in  her  own  right  marrying  a  peer,  the  arms  of 
the  peeress  are  placed  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  in  the  centre  of 


Fig.  748. 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF  ARMS  533 

her  husband's  shield,  the  only  difference  being  that  this  escutcheon  of 
pretence  is  surmounted  by  the  coronet  belonging  to  the  peerage  of  the 
wife  ;  and  on  the  sinister  side  the  arms  of  the  wife  are  repeated  upon  a 
lozenge  with  the  supporters  and  coronet  belonging  to  her  own  peerage. 
It  is  purely  an  artistic  detail,  but  it  is  a  happy  conceit  in  such  an  in- 
stance to  join  together  the  compartments  upon  which 
the  two  pairs  of  supporters  stand  to  emphasise  the 
fact  that  the  whole  is  in  reality  but  one  achievement 
(Fig.  748). 

Now,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  an  achievement 
displayed  in  this  manner,  for  there  have  been  several 
instances  in  recent  years  of  peeresses  in  their  own 
right  who  have  married  peers.  Every  woman  who 
inherits  a  peerage  must  of  necessity  be  an  heir  or 
coheir,  and,  as  will  have  been  seen,  the  laws  of 
armory  provide  for  this  circumstance  ;  but  supposing 
that  the  peeress  were  a  peeress  by  creation  and  were 
not  an  heiress,  how  would  her  arms  be  displayed  ?  ^^'  ^^^' 

Apparently  it  would  not  be  permissible  to  place  them  on  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence,  and  consequently  there  is  no  way  upon  the  husband's 
shield  of  showing  that  his  wife  is  a  peeress  in  her  own  right.  Such 
an  instance  did  arise  in  the  case  of  the  late  Baroness  Stratheden,  who 
was  created  a  peeress  whilst  not  being  an  heiress.  Her  husband  was 
subsequently  created  Baron  Campbell.  Now,  how  were  the  arms  of 
Lord  Campbell  and  Lady  Stratheden  and  Camp- 
bell displayed  ?  I  think  I  am  correct  in  saying 
that  not  a  single  textbook  on  armory  recites  the 
method  which  should  be  employed,  and  I  can- 
didly confess  that  I  myself  am  quite  ignorant 
upon  the  point. 

All  the  foregoing  are  simply  instances  of  how 

to   display   the   arms   of  man    and  wife,    or,   to 

speak  more  correctly,  they  are  instances  of  the 

methods   in   which   a  man  should   bear   arms  for 

himself  and  his   wife  when  he  is  married ;  for  the 

Fig.  750.  helmet  and  mantling  clearly  indicate  that  it  is 

the  man's  coat  of  arms,  and  not  the  woman's.     In  olden  days,  when 

the  husband  possessed  everything,  this  might  have  been  enough  for  all 

the  circumstances  which  were  likely  to  occur. 

A  lady  whilst  unmarried  bears  arms  on  a  lozenge  (Fig.  749),  and 
upon  becoming  a  widow,  bears  again  upon  a  lozenge  the  arms  of  her 
husband  impaled  with  the  arms  borne  by  her  father  (Fig.  750),  or  with 
the  latter  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  if  the  widow  be  herself  an 


534     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

heiress  (Fig.  751).  The  widow  of  a  knight  has  no  way  whatever  of 
indicating  that  her  husband  was  of  higher  rank  than  an  ordinary  un- 
titled gentleman.  The  widow  of  a  baronet,  however,  places  the  in- 
escutcheon  with  the  hand  of  Ulster  upon  her  husband's  arms  (Fig.  752). 
I  have  often  heard  this  disputed,  but  a  reference  to  the  Grant  Books  at 
the  College  of  Arms  {vide  a  grant  of  arms  some  years  ago  to  Lady 
Pearce)  will  provide  the  necessary  precedent.    If,  however,  the  baronetcy 

is  of  Nova  Scotia, this  means 
of  indicating  the  rank  can- 
not be  employed.  The 
widow  of  a  peer  (not  being 
a  peeress  in  her  own  right) 
uses  a  lozenge  of  her  hus- 
band's and  her  own  arms, 
with  his  supporters  and  his 
coronet  (Fig.  753). 

If  a  peeress,  after  mar- 
riage   with    a    commoner, 
^^'  ^^'  ^^*  '^^^'  becomes  a  widow  she  bears 

on  the  dexter  side  a  lozenge  of  her  late  husband's  arms  and  super- 
imposed thereupon  her  own  on  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  sur- 
mounted by  a  coronet.  (The  coronet,  it  should  be  noted,  is  over  the 
escutcheon  of  pretence  and  not  above  the  lozenge.)  On  the  sinister 
side  she  bears  a  lozenge  of  her  own  arms  alone  with  her  supporters  and 
with  her  coronet  above  the  lozenge.  The 
arms  of  the  present  Baroness  Kinloss 
would  show  an  exampleof  such  an  arrange- 
ment of  two  lozenges,  but  as  Lady  Kinloss 
does  not  possess  supporters  these  additions 
could  not  be  introduced. 

The  laws  of  arms  provide  no  way  in 
which  a  married  woman  (other  than  a 
peeress  in  her  own  right)  can  display 
arms  in  her  own  right  during  the  lifetime 
of  her  husband,  unless  this  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed from  the  method  of  depicting  the 
arms  of  a  wife  upon  a  hatchment.  In  such  a  case,  a  shield  is  used, 
usually  suspended  from  a  ribbon,  identical  with  the  shield  of  the 
husband,  but  omitting  the  helmet,  crest,  mantling,  and  motto. 

Impalement    is    used    occasionally    in    other    circumstances    than 
marriage,  i.e.  to  effect  conjunction  of  official  and  personal  arms. 

With  rare  exceptions,  the  official  arms  which   exist  are  those  of 
Archiepiscopal  and  Episcopal  Sees,  of  the  Kings  of  Arms,  and  of  the 


Fig.  753. 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF    ARMS  535 

Regius  Professors  at  Cambridge.  Here  certainly,  in  the  ecclesiastical 
cases,  the  theory  of  marriage  remains,  the  official  arms  being  placed 
on  the  dexter  side  and  the  personal  arms  on  the  sinister,  inasmuch  as 
the  laws  of  armory  for  ecclesiastics  were  made  at  a  time  when  the 
clergy  were  celibate.  The  personal  helmet  and  crest  are  placed  above 
the  impaled  coat,  except  in  the  cases  of  bishops  and  archbishops,  who, 
of  course,  use  a  mitre  in  place  thereof.  It  is  not  correct  to  impale  the 
arms  of  a  wife  upon  the  same  shield  which  carries  the  impalement  of 
an  official  coat  of  arms,  because  the  wife  does  not  share  the  office.  In 
such  a  case  it  is  necessary  to  make  use  of  two  shields  placed  side  by 
side,  as  is  done  in  conjoining  the  arms  of  a  Knight  of  any  Order  with 
those  of  his  wife. 

In  impaling  the  arms  of  a  wife,  it  is  not  correct  to  impale  more 
than  her  pronominal  coat.  This  is  a  definite  rule  in  England,  some- 
what modified  in  Scotland,  as  will  be  presently  explained.  Though  it 
has  never  been  considered  good  form  to  impale  a  quartered  shield,  it 
is  only  recently  that  the  real  fact  that  such  a  proceeding  is  definitely 
incorrect  has  come  to  light.  It  appears  from  the  State  Papers,  Domestic 
Series,  Eliz.  xxvi.  31,  1561  : — 

*'  At  a  Chapitre  holden  by  the  office  of  Armes  at  the  Embroyderers' 
Hall  in  London,  anno  4°  Reginae  Elizabethae  it  was  agreed  that  no 
inhiritrix  eyther  mayde  wife  or  widow  should  bear  or  cause  to  be  borne 
any  Creast  or  cognizance  of  her  Ancestors  otherwise  than  as  followeth. 
If  she  be  unmarried  to  bear  in  her  ringe,  cognizaunce  or  otherwise, 
the  first  coate  of  her  ancestors  in  a  Lozenge.  And  during  her  widow- 
hood to  set  the  first  coate  of  her  husbande  in  pale  with  the  first  coate 
of  her  Auncestors.  And  if  she  mary  on  who  is  noe  gentleman,  then 
she  to  be  clearly  exempted  from  the  former  conclusion." 

Whilst  this  rule  holds  in  England,  it  must,  to  a  certain  extent,  be 
modified  in  relation  to  the  arms  of  a  Scottish  wife.  Whilst  the  inalien- 
able right  to  quarter  arms  derived  from  an  heiress  cannot  be  said  to  be 
non-existent  in  Scotland,  it  should  be  noted  that  the  custom  of  indis- 
criminately quartering  is  much  less  frequent  than  in  England,  and 
comparatively  seldom  adopted,  unless  estates,  or  chief  representation 
in  an  important  or  appreciable  degree,  follow  the  technical  heraldic 
representation.  In  England  the  claim  is  always  preferred  to  quarter 
the  arms  of  an  ancestress  who  had  no  brothers  whether  she  transmitted 
estates  or  not.  Of  course,  technically  and  theoretically  the  claim  is 
perfectly  correct,  and  cannot,  and  should  not,  be  denied.  But  in 
practice  in  England  it  has  in  some  cases  reached  a  rather  absurd 
extent,  when  a  man  on  marrying  an  only  daughter  of  the  youngest 
son  of  the  youngest  branch  of  a  family  consequently  acquires  the 
right  to  display  with  his  own  ensigns  the  full  arms  and  quarterings  of 


536     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  head  of  a  house  from  which  he  has  inherited  no  lands,  and  which 
is  still  thriving  in  the  senior  male  line.  In  Scottish  practice  such  an 
event  would  be  ignored,  and  in  that  country  it  is  not  usual  to  add 
quarterings  to  a  shield,  nor  are  these  officially  recognised  without  a  re- 
matriculation  of  the  arms.  In  England  it  is  merely  a  question  of 
recording  the  pedigree  and  proving  heirship,  and  many  quarterings  are 
proved  and  recorded  that  there  is  not  the  slightest  intention  to  use 
regularly.  Rematriculation  has  a  more  permanent  character  than  mere 
registration,  inasmuch  as  the  coat  with  its  quarterings  upon  matricula- 
tion as  far  as  usage  is  concerned  becomes  indivisible,  and,  consequently, 
for  a  Scottish  wife  the  impalement  should  be  of  the  indivisible  arms 
and  quarterings  matriculated  to  her  father  in  Lyon  Register,  with  his 
bordure  and  other  "  difference  "  marks. 

All  the  old  armorists  provide  ways  of  impaling  the  arms  of  several 
wives,  and  consequently  the  idea  has  grown  up  that  it  is  permissible 
and  correct  to  bear  and  use  the  arms  of  two  wives  at  the  same  time. 
This  is  a  mistake,  because,  strictly  and  technically  speaking,  the  right 
to  impale  the  arms  of  a  wife  ceases  at  her  death.  Impalement  means 
marriage,  and  when  the  marriage  is  dissolved  the  impalement  becomes 
meaningless,  and  should  be  discontinued.  A  man  cannot  be  married 
to  two  people  at  one  time,  nor  can  he  as  a  consequence  impale  two 
coats  of  arms  at  the  same  time. 

The  matter  is  more  clearly  apparent  if  the  question  of  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence  be  considered  in  place  of  an  impalement.  The  escutcheon 
of  pretence  means  that  the  husband  pretends  to  represent  the  family  of 
his  wife.  This  jure  uxoris  he  undoubtedly  does  whilst  she  is  alive,  but 
the  moment  she  dies  the  actual  representation  of  her  family  passes  to 
her  son  and  heir,  and  it  is  ridiculous  for  her  husband  to  pretend  to 
represent  when  there  is  an  undoubted  representative  in  existence,  and 
when  the  representation,  such  as  it  was  when  vested  in  himself,  has 
come  to  an  end,  and  passed  elsewhere.  If  his  heiress-wife  had  been  a 
peeress,  he  would  have  borne  her  escutcheon  of  pretence  surmounted 
by  her  coronet ;  but  it  is  ridiculous  for  him  to  continue  to  do  so  when 
the  right  to  the  coronet  and  to  the  peerage  has  passed  to  his  wife's 
heir.  The  same  argument  holds  good  with  regard  to  impalement. 
That,  of  course,  raises  the  point  that  in  every  authority  (particularly  in 
those  of  an  earlier  period)  will  be  found  details  of  the  methods  to  be 
adopted  for  impaling  the  arms  of  several  wives.  People  have  quite 
failed  to  appreciate  the  object  of  these  rules.  Armory  from  its  earliest 
introduction  has  had  great  memorial  use,  and  when  a  monument  or 
hatchment  is  put  up  to  a  man  it  has  been  usual,  prior  to  these  utili- 
tarian days  of  funeral  reform,  to  memorialise  all  the  wives  he  has  been 
possessed   of.     In   the   same   way,  in   a   pedigree   it   is   necessary    to 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF   ARMS  537 

enumerate  the  names  and  arms  of  all  the  wives  of  a  man.  Conse- 
quently for  tombs  and  pedigrees — when  all  being  dead,  there  is  no 
reason  to  indicate  any  particular  woman  as  the  present  wife — plans 
have  been  devised  for  the  combination  of  several  coats  into  one 
memorial  achievement,  plans  necessitated  by  the  circumstances  of  the 
cases,  and  plans  to  which  no  objection  can  be  taken.  Tombs,  pedi- 
grees, and  other  memorials  are  the  usual  form  in  which  the  records  of 
arms  have  chiefly  come  down  to  us,  and  from  the  frequency  in  which 
cases  of  achievements  with  double  impalements  have  been  preserved, 
a  mistaken  idea  has  arisen  that  it  is  correct  to  bear,  and  actually  use 
and  carry,  two  impalements  at  one  and  the  same  time.  Outside 
memorial  instances,  I  have  utterly  failed  to  find  any  instance  in  former 
days  of  a  man  himself  using  in  his  own  lifetime  two  impalements,  and 
I  believe  and  state  it  to  be  absolutely  incorrect  for  a  man  to  use,  say 
on  a  carriage,  a  bookplate,  or  a  seal,  the  arms  of  a  deceased  wife. 
You  may  have  been  married  to  a  presently  deceased  woman,  therefore 
impale  her  arms  in  a  record  or  memorial ;  but  no  one  is  married  to  a 
deceased  woman,  therefore  it  is  wrong  to  advertise  that  you  are  married 
to  her  by  impaling  her  arms  ;  and  as  you  cannot  be  married  to  two 
people  at  the  same  time,  it  is  illogical  and  wrong  to  use  or  carry  two 
impalements.  I  know  of  no  instance  of  a  grant  to  a  man  of  arms  to 
bear  in  right  of  a  deceased  wife.  It  is  for  these  occasions  of  memorial 
and  record  that  methods  have  been  devised  to  show  a  man's  marriage 
with  several  wives.  They  certainly  were  not  devised  for  the  purpose 
of  enabling  him  to  bear  and  use  for  contemporary  purposes  the  arms 
of  a  series  of  dead  women,  the  representation  of  whom  is  no  longer 
vested  in  himself. 

Whilst  admitting  that  for  the  purposes  of  record  or  memorial 
rules  do  exist,  it  should  at  the  same  time  be  pointed  out  that  even  for 
such  occasions  it  is  much  more  usual  to  see  two  shields  displayed, 
each  carrying  its  separate  impalement,  than  to  find  two  impalements 
on  one  shield.  The  use  of  a  separate  shield  for  each  marriage  is  the 
method  that  I  would  strongly  advocate,  but  as  a  knowledge  of  past 
observances  must  be  had  fully,  if  one  is  to  read  aright  the  records  of 
the  tombs,  I  recite  what  the  rules  are : — 

(i)  7b  impale  the  arms  of  two  wives. — Either  the  husband's  arms  are 
placed  in  the  centre,  with  the  first  wife  on  the  dexter  and  the 
second  wife  on  the  sinister,  or  else  the  husband's  arms  are  placed 
on  the  dexter  side,  and  the  sinister  side  is  divided  in  fess,  the  arms  of 
the  first  wife  being  placed  in  chief  and  those  of  the  second  in  base. 
The  former  method  is  the  one  more  generally  employed  of  the  two. 

(2)  Three  wives. — Husband's  arms  in  centre,  first  wife's  on  dexter 
side,  second  wife's  on  sinister  side  in  chief,  and  third  wife  in  base. 


538     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

(3)  Four  wives, — Husband's  in  centre,  first  and  second  wives'  in 
chief  and  base  respectively  on  the  dexter  side,  and  third  and  fourth 
similarly  on  the  sinister. 

If  one  of  two  wives  be  an  heiress  her  arms  might  be  found  in 
pretence  and  the  other  coat  or  coats  impaled,  but  it  is  impossible  in 
such  a  case  to  place  a  number  to  the  wife,  and  it  is  impossible  to  dis- 
play an  escutcheon  of  pretence  for  more  than  one  wife,  as  if  the  escut- 
cheon of  pretence  is  removed  from  the  exact  centre  it  at  once  ceases 
to  be  an  escutcheon  of  pretence.  Consequently,  if  more  than  one 
wife  be  an  heiress,  separate  escutcheons  should  be  used  for  each  mar- 
riage. Plans  have  been  drawn  up  and  apparently  accepted  providing 
for  wives  up  to  nearly  twenty  in  number,  but  no  useful  purpose  will 
be  served  by  repeating  them.  A  man  with  more  than  four  wives  is 
unusual  in  this  country. 

Divorce  nullifies  marriage,  and  both  husband  and  wife  must  at  once 
revert  to  bachelor  and  maiden  achievements  respectively. 

It  is  difficult  to  deduce  any  certain  conclusions  as  to  the  ancient 
rules  connected  with  impalement,  for  a  simple  reason  which  becomes 
very  noticeable  on  an  examination  of  ancient  seals  and  other  armorial 
records.  In  early  times  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  men  did 
not  impale,  or  bother  about  the  arms  of  wives  who  were  not  great 
heiresses.  A  man  bore  his  own  arms,  and  he  left  his  father-in-law,  or 
his  brother-in-law,  to  bear  those  of  the  family  with  which  he  had 
matched.  Of  course,  we  find  many  cases  in  which  the  arms  of  a  wife 
figure  upon  the  husband's  shield,  but  a  careful  examination  of  them 
shows  that  in  practically  every  case  the  reason  is  to  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  the  wife  was  an  heiress.  Husbands  were  called  to  Parliament 
in  virtue  of  the  peerages  vested  in  their  wives,  and  we  cannot  but  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  whenever  one  finds  use  in  early  times  of  the  arms 
of  a  wife,  it  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  husband  was  bearing  them  not 
because  of  his  mere  marriage,  but  because  he  was  enjoying  the  estates, 
or  peerage,  of  his  wife. 

For  that  reason  we  find  in  many  cases  the  arms  of  the  wife  borne 
in  preference  to  the  paternal  arms  of  descent,  or  meet  with  them  quar- 
tered with  the  arms  of  the  husband,  and  frequently  being  given  prece- 
dence over  his  own  ;  and  on  the  analogy  of  the  coats  of  arms  of  wives 
at  present  borne  with  the  wife's  surname  by  the  husband  under  Royal 
Licence,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  at  a  period  when  Royal  Licences 
had  not  come  into  regular  vogue  the  same  idea  was  dominant,  and  the 
appearance  of  a  wife's  coat  of  arms  meant  the  assumption  of  those  arms 
by  the  husband  as  his  own,  with  or  without  the  surname  of  the  wife. 

The  connection  between  name  and  arms  was  not  then  so  stereo- 
typed as  it  is  at  present  ;  rather  was  it  a  connection  between  arms  and 


THE    MARSHALLING   OF    ARMS  539 

land,  and  pertiaps  more  pointedly  of  arms  and  a  peerage  title  where  this 
existed,  for  there  are  many  points  and  many  facts  which  conclusively 
show  that  at  an  early  period  a  coat  of  arms  was  often  considered  to 
have  a  territorial  limitation  ;  or  perhaps  it  should  be  said  that,  whilst 
admittedly  personal,  arms  have  territorial  attributes  or  connection. 

This  is  borne  out  by  the  pleadings  and  details  remaining  to  us 
concerning  the  Grey  and  Hastings  controversy,  and  if  this  territorial 
character  of  a  coat  of  arms  is  admitted,  together  with  another  charac- 
teristic no  less  important — and  certainly  equally  accepted — that  a  coat 
of  arms  could  belong  to  but  one  person  at  the  same  time,  it  must  be 
recognised  that  the  appearance  of  a  wife's  arms  on  a  husband's  shield 
is  not  an  instance  of  a  sign  of  mere  marriage  or  anything  analogous 
thereto.  But  when  we  turn  to  the  arms  of  women,  the  condition  of 
affairs  is  wholly  reversed.  A  w^oman,  who  of  course  retained  her 
identity,  drew  her  position  from  her  marriage  and  from  her  husband's 
position,  and  from  the  very  earliest  period  we  find  that  whilst  a  man 
simply  bore  his  own  arms,  the  wife  upon  her  seal  displayed  both  the 
arms  of  her  own  family  and  the  arms  of  her  husband's.  Until  a  much 
later  period  it  cannot  be  said  to  have  been  ordinarily  customary  for 
the  husband  to  bear  the  arms  of  his  wife  unless  she  were  an  heiress,  but 
from  almost  the  beginning  of  armory  the  wife  conjoined  the  arms  of 
her  husband  and  herself.  But  the  instances  which  have  come  down 
to  us  from  an  early  period  of  dimidiated  or  impaled  coats  are  chiefly 
instances  of  the  display  of  arms  by  a  widow. 

The  methods  of  conjunction  which  can  be  classed  as  above,  how- 
ever, at  first  seem  to  have  been  rather  varied. 

Originally  separate  shields  were  employed  for  the  different  coats  of 
arms,  then  dimidiated  examples  occur  ;  at  a  later  period  we  find  the 
arms  impaled  upon  one  shield,  and  at  a  subsequent  date  the  escutcheon 
of  pretence  comes  into  use  as  a  means  of  indicating  that  the  wife  was 
an  heiress. 

The  origin  of  this  escutcheon  is  easy  to  understand.  Taking  arms 
to  have  a  territorial  limitation — a  point  which  still  finds  a  certain 
amount  of  acceptance  in  Scottish  heraldry — there  was  no  doubt  that  a 
man,  in  succeeding  to  a  lordship  in  right  of  his  wife,  would  wish  to 
bear  the  arms  associated  therewith.  He  placed  them,  therefore,  upon 
his  own,  and  arms  exclusively  of  a  territorial  character  have  certainly 
very  frequently  been  placed  '^  in  pretence."  His  own  arms  he  would 
look  upon  as  arms  of  descent  ;  they  consequently  occupied  the  field 
of  his  shield.  The  lordship  of  his  wife  he  did  not  enjoy  through  de- 
scent, and  consequently  he  would  naturally  incline  to  place  it  "  in  pre- 
tence," and  from  the  constant  occasions  in  which  such  a  proceeding 
would  seem  to  be  the  natural  course  of  events  (all  of  which  occasions 


540     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

would  be  associated  with  an  heiress-wife),  one  would  be  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  such  a  form  of  display  indicated  an  heiress-wife  ;  and 
consequently  the  rule  deduced,  as  are  all  heraldic  rules,  from  past 
precedents  became  established. 

In  the  next  generation,  the  son  and  heir  would  have  descent  from 
his  mother  equally  with  his  father,  and  the  arms  of  her  family  would 
be  equally  arms  of  descent  to  him,  and  no  longer  the  mere  territorial 
emblem  of  a  lordship.  Consequently  they  became  on  the  same  footing 
as  the  arms  of  his  father.  The  son  would  naturally,  therefore,  quarter 
the  arms.  The  escutcheon  of  pretence  being  removed,  and  therefore 
having  enjoyed  but  a  temporary  existence,  the  association  thereof  with 
the  heiress-wife  becomes  emphasised  in  a  much  greater  degree. 

This  is  now  accepted  as  a  definite  rule  of  armory,  but  in  reciting 
it  as  a  rule  it  should  be  pointed  out,  first,  that  no  man  may  place  the 
arms  of  his  wife  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  during  the  lifetime  of 
her  father,  because  whilst  her  father  is  alive  there  is  always  the  oppor- 
tunity of  a  re-marriage,  and  of  the  consequent  birth  of  a  son  and  heir. 
No  man  is  compelled  to  bear  arms  on  an  escutcheon  of  pretence,  it 
being  quite  correct  to  impale  them  merely  to  indicate  the  marriage — 
if  he  so  desires.  There  are  many  cases  of  arms  which  would  appear 
meaningless  and  undecipherable  when  surmounted  by  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence. 

'^  Sometimes,  also  (says  Guillim),  he  who  marries  an  heretrix  may 
carry  her  arms  in  an  inescutcheon  upon  his  own,  because  the  husband 
pretends  that  his  heirs  shall  one  day  inherit  an  estate  by  her  ;  it  is 
therefore  called  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  ;  but  this  way  of  bearing  is 
not  known  abroad  upon  that  occasion." 

A  man  on  marrying  an  heiress-wife  has  no  great  space  at  his  dis- 
posal for  the  display  of  her  arms,  and  though  it  is  now  considered 
perfectly  correct  to  place  any  number  of  quarterings  upon  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence,  the  opportunity  does  not  in  fact  exist  for  more  than  the 
display  of  a  limited  number.  In  practice,  three  or  four  are  as  many 
as  will  usually  be  found,  but  theoretically  it  is  correct  to  place  the 
whole  of  the  quarterings  to  which  the  wife  is  entitled  upon  the 
escutcheon  of  pretence. 

Two  early  English  instances  may  be  pointed  out  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  in  which  a  husband  placed  his  wife's  arms  en  surtout.  These 
are  taken  from  the  Garter  Plates  of  Sir  John  Neville,  Lord  Montagu, 
afterwards  Marquess  of  Montagu  (elected  K.G.  circa  1463),  and  of 
Richard  Beauchamp,  fifth  Earl  of  Warwick  and  Albemarle  (elected 
K.G.  circa  1400)  ;  but  it  was  not  until  about  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century  that  the  regular  practice  arose  by  which  the 
husband  of  an  heiress  places  his  wife's  arms  in  an  escutcheon  en  surtout 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  541 

upon  his  personal  arms,  whether  his  coat  be  a  quartered  one  or  not. 
Another  early  instance  is  to  be  found  in  Fig.  754,  which  is  interesting 
as  showing  the  arms  of  both  wives  of  the  first  Earl  of  Shrewsbury.  His 
first  was  suo  jure  Baroness  Furnivall.  Her  arms  are,  however,  impaled. 
His  second  wife  was  the  daughter  (but  not  the  heir)  of  Richard 
Beauchamp,  Earl  of  Warwick,  but  she  was 
coheir  of  her  mother,  the  Baroness  Lisle. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  even  in 
Great  Britain  an  inescutcheon  en  siirtottt  does 
not  always  mean  an  heiress-wife.  The  Earl 
of  Mar  and  Kellie  bears  an  inescutcheon 
surmounted  by  an  earl's  coronet  for  his 
Earldom  of  Kellie,  and  other  instances  are 
to  be  found  in  the  arms  of  Cumming-Gordon 
(see  Plate  III.),  whilst  Sir  Hector  Maclean 
Hay,  Bart.,  thus  bears  his  pronominal  arms 
over  his  quarterings  in  continental  fashion. 
Inescutcheons  of  au^^mentation  occur  in  the  Fig.  754.— Arms  of  John  Talbot, 

r     xt-        T^    1  r     AT      It-  i_  J        ^^""^     °^    Shrewsbury,     K.G.  : 

arms    or    the    Dukes    or    Marlborough    and      Quarterly,  i  and  4,  gules,  a 
Wellington,  Lord  Newton,  and  on  the  shields 
of  Newman,  Wolfe,  and  others. 

Under  the  Commonwealth  the  Great  Seals 
of  Oliver  Cromwell  and  his  son  Richard,  as 
Protectors,  bore  a  shield  of  arms  :  ^<  Quar- 
terly, I  and  4,  argent,  a  cross  gules  (for 
England)  ;  2.  azure,  a  saltire  argent  (for 
Scotland)  ;  3.  azure,  a  harp  or,  stringed 
argent  (for  Ireland) ; "  and  upon  these 
quarterings  en  surtout  an  escutcheon  of  the 
personal  arms  of  Cromwell  :  ^^  Sable,  a  lion 
rampant  argent." 

In  the  heraldry  of  the  Continent  of 
Europe  it  has  long  been  the  custom  for  an  elected  sovereign  to  place 
his  hereditary  arms  in  an  escutcheon  en  surtout  above  those  of  his 
dominions.  As  having  obtained  the  crown  by  popular  election,  the 
Kings  of  the  Hellenes  also  place  en  surtout  upon  the  arms  of  the  Greek 
kingdom  ("  Azure,  a  Greek  cross  couped  argent ")  an  escutcheon  of 
their  personal  arms.  Another  instance  is  to  be  found  in  the  arms  of 
the  Dukes  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha.  Whilst  all  the  descendants  of 
the  late  Prince  Consort  (other  than  his  Majesty  King  Edward  VII.) 
bear  in  England  the  Royal  Arms  of  this  country,  differenced  by  their 
respective  labels  with  an  escutcheon  of  Saxony  en  surtout  as  Dukes  and 
Duchesses  of  Saxony,  the  late  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha  bore 


lion  rampant  within  a  bordure 
engrailed  or  (Talbot)  ;  2  and 
3,  argent,  two  lions  passant  in 
pale  gules  (Strange) ;  impaling 
the  arms  of  his  first  wife  whose 
Peerage  he  enjoyed,  viz.  : 
quarterly,  i  and  4,  argent,  a 
bend  between  six  martlets  gules 
(Furnival) ;  2  and  3,  or,  a  fret 
gules  (Verdon) ;  and  upon  an 
escutcheon  of  pretence  the  arms 
of  the  mother  of  his  second  wife 
(to  whom  she  was  coheir,  con- 
veying her  mother's  Peerage  to 
her  son),  viz.  :  i  and  4,  gules,  a 
lion  passant  guardant  argent, 
crowned  or  (Lisle) ;  2  and  3, 
argent,  a  chevron  gules  (Tyes). 
(From  MS.  Reg.  15,  E.  vi.) 


542     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  arms  of  Saxony,  placing  the  differenced  Royal  shield  of  this  country 
en  surtout. 

We  now  come  to  the  subject  of  quartermg.  Considering  the  fact 
that  every  single  text-book  on  armory  gives  the  ordinary  rules  for  the 
marshalling  of  quarterings,  it  is  strange  how  many  mistakes  are  made, 
and  how  extremely  funny  are  the  ideas  of  some  people  upon  the 
subject  of  quartering.  As  has  already  been  stated,  the  rules  of 
quartering  are  governed  by  the  simple,  but  essential  and  important 
fact,  that  every  quartering  exhibited  means  the  representation  in  blood 
of  some  particular  person.  Quarterings,  other  than  those  of  augmen- 
tation, can  only  be  inherited  from  or  through  those  female  ancestors 
who  are  in  themselves  heirs  or  coheirs  in  blood,  or  whose  issue  sub- 
sequently become  in  a  later  generation  the  representatives  of  any 
ancestor  in  the  male  line  of  that  said  female  ancestor.  Briefly  speaking, 
a  woman  is  an  heiress,  first,  if  she  is  only  child  ;  second,  if  all  her 
brothers  die  without  issue  in  her  own  lifetime  ;  and  third,  if  the  entire 
issue,  male  and  female,  of  her  brothers,  becomes  extinct  in  her  own 
lifetime.  A  woman  becomes  an  '^  heiress  in  her  issue,"  as  it  is  termed, 
if  she  die  before  her  brothers,  if  and  when  all  the  descendants  of  her 
brothers  become  absolutely  extinct. 

If  the  wife  be  either  an  heir  or  coheir,  she  transmits  after  her  death 
to  a// her  children  the  arms  and  quarterings — as  quarterings  to  add  to  then 
paternal  armsy  and  as  such  only — which  she  was  entitled  to  place  upon 
her  own  lozenge. 

The  origin  and  theory  of  quartering  is  as  follows :  If  the  daughter 
be  an  heiress  or  coheiress  she  represents  either  wholly  or  in  part  her 
father  and  his  branch  of  the  family,  even  if  ^'  his  branch  "  only  com- 
menced with  himself.  Now  in  the  days  when  the  science  of  armory 
was  slowly  evolving  itself  there  was  no  Married  Women's  Property  Act, 
and  the  husband  ipso  facto  became  to  all  intents  and  purposes  possessed 
of  and  enjoyed  the  rights  of  his  wife.  But  it  was  at  the  same  time  only 
a  possession  and  enjoyment  by  courtesy,  and  not  an  actual  possession 
in  fee,  for  the  reversion  remained  with  the  wife's  heirs,  and  did  not 
pass  to  the  heirs  of  the  husband  ;  for  in  cases  where  the  husband  or 
wife  had  been  previously  married,  or  where  there  was  no  issue  of  their 
marriage,  their  heirs  would  not  be  identical.  Of  course  during  the 
lifetime  of  his  wife  he  could  not  actually  represent  his  wife's  family,  and 
consequently  could  not  quarter  the  arms,  but  in  right  of  his  wife  he 
"  pretended  "  to  the  representation  of  her  house,  and  consequently  the 
inescutcheon  of  her  arms  is  termed  an  ''  escutcheon  of  pretence." 

After  the  death  of  a  wife  her  children  immediately  and  actually 
become  the  representatives  of  their  mother,  and  are  as  such  entitled  of 
right  to  quarter  the  arms  of  their  mother's  family. 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF  ARMS  543 

The  earliest  example  which  has  been  discovered  at  the  present 
time  of  the  use  of  a  quartered  coat  of  arms  is  afforded  by  the  seal  of 
Joanna  of  Ponthieu,  second  wife  of  Ferdinand  III.,  King  of  Castile  and 
Leon,  in  1272.  This  seal  bears  on  its  reverse  in  a  vesica  the  triple- 
towered  castles  of  Castile,  and  the  rampant  lion  of  Leon,  repeated  as 
in  the  modern  quarterings  of  Spain.  There 
is,  however,  no  separation  of  the  quarters  by 
a  line  of  partition.  This  peculiarity  will  be 
also  noticed  as  existing  in  the  quartered  coats 
of  Hainault  a  quarter  of  a  century  later.  The 
quartered  coat  of  Castile  and  Leon  remains 
upon  the  monument  in  Westminster  Abbey 
erected  in  memory  of  Eleanor  of  Castile, 
who  died  in  1290,  the  first  wife  of  Edward  L 

Providing  the  wife  be  an  heiress — and 
for  the  remainder  of  this  chapter,  which  deals 
only  with  quarterings,  this  will  be  assumed 
— the  son  of  a  marriage  after  the  death  of  his 
mother  quarters  her  arms  with  those  of  his 
father,  that  is,  he  divides  his  shield  into  four 
quarters,  and  places  the  arms  of  his  father 
in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters,  and  the  arms 
of  his  mother  in  the  second  and  third.  That 
is  the  root,  basis,  and  original  rule  of  all  the 
rules  of  quartering,  but  it  may  be  here  re- 
marked, that  no  man  is  entitled  to  quarter 
the  arms  of  his  mother  whilst  she  is  alive, 
inasmuch  as  she  is  alive  to  represent  herself 
and  her  family,  and  her  issue  cannot  assume 
the  representation  whilst  she  is  alive. 

But  it  should  not  be  imagined  that  the 
definite  rules  which  exist  at  the  moment  had 
any  such  unalterable  character  in  early  times. 
Husbands  are  found  to  have  quartered  the 
arms   of  their   wives  if  they  were  heiresses, 
and  if    important  lordships   devolved  through   the   marriage.     Terri- 
torial   arms   of    dominion   were  quartered   with   personal  arms  (Fig. 
755),   quarterings   of    augmentation   were   granted,    and    the    present 
system  is  the  endeavour  to  reconcile  all  the  varying  circumstances  and 
precedents  which  exist.     One  point,  however,  stands  out  clearly  froml 
all   ancient   examples,  viz.  that   quartering   meant   quartering,   and   a  j 
shield  was  supposed  to  have  but  four  quarters  upon  it.     Consequently/ 
we  find  that  instead  of  the  elaborate  schemes  now  in  vogue  showing 


Fig.  755.  —  Arms  of  Thomas 
Stanley,  Earl  of  Derby  (of. 
1572)  ;  Quarterly,  i.  quarterly, 
i.  and  iiii.,  argent,  on  a  bend 
azure,  three  bucks'  heads 
caboshed  or  (Stanley) ;  ii.  and 
iii.,  or,  on  a  chief  indented  azure, 
three  bezants  (Lathom)  ;  2  and 
3,  gules,  three  legs  in  armour 
conjoined  at  thethigh  and  flexed 
at  the  knee  proper,  garnished 
and  spurred  or  (for  the  Lordship 
of  Man)  ;  4.  quarterly,  i.  and 
iiii.,  gules,  two  lions  passant  in 
pale  argent  (for  Strange);  ii. 
and  iii.,  argent,  a  fess  and  a 
canton  gules  (for  Wydeville). 
The  arms  on  the  escutcheon  of 
pretence  are  not  those  of  his 
wife  (Anne  Hastings),  who  was 
not  an  heiress,  and  they  seem 
difficult  to  account  for  unless 
they  are  a  coat  for  Rivers  or 
some  other  territorial  lordship 
inherited  from  the  Wydeville 
family.  The  full  identification 
of  the  quarterings  borne  by 
Anthony,  Lord  Rivers,  would 
probably  help  in  determining 
the  point. 


544     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

10,  20,  50,  or  100  quarterings,  the  shield  had  but  four;  and  this  being 
admitted  and  recognised,  it  became  essential  that  the  four  most  im- 
portant should  be  shown,  and  consequently  we  find  that  quarterings 
were  selected  in  a  manner  which  would  seem  to  us  haphazard. 
Paternal  quarterings  were  dropped  and  the  result  has  been  that  many 
coats  of  arms  are  now  known  as  the  arms  of  a  family  with  quite  a 
different  surname  from  that  of  the  family  with  which  they  originated. 
The  matter  was  of  little  consequence  in  the  days  when  the  ^'  upper- 
class  "  and  arms-bearing  families  were  few  in  number.  Every  one 
knew  how  Stafford  derived  his  Royal  descent,  and  that  it  was  not  male 

upon  male,  so  no  confusion  resulted  from 
the  Earls  of  Buckingham  giving  the  Royal 
coat  precedence  before  their  paternal  quar- 
tering of  Stafford  (see  Fig.  756),  or  from 
their  using  only  the  Woodstock  version  of 
the  Royal  Arms;  but  as  time  went  on  the 
upper  classes  became  more  numerous,  arms- 
bearing  ancestors  by  the  succession  of  gene- 
rations increased  in  number,  and  w^hile  in 
the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries  it 
would  be  a  physical  impossibility  for  any 
man  to  have  represented  one  hundred  dif- 
ferent heiresses  of  arms-bearing  families,  in 
later  days  such  became  the  case.  The  result 
has  been  the  necessity  to  formulate  those 
strict  and  rigid  rules  which  for  modern 
purposes  must  be  conformed  to,  and  it  is  futile  and  childish  to  deduce 
a  set  of  rules  from  ancient  and  possibly  isolated  examples  originating 
in  and  suitable  for  the  simpler  genealogical  circumstances  of  an 
earlier  day,  and  assert  that  it  is  equally  permissible  to  adopt  them 
at  the  moment,  or  to  marshal  a  modern  shield  accordingly. 

The  first  attempt  to  break  away  from  the  four  quarters  of  a  shield  was 
the  initiation  of  the  system  of  grand  quarters  (see  Figs,  755  and  756). 
By  this  means  the  relative  importance  could  roughly  be  shown.  Sup- 
posing a  man  had  inherited  a  shield  of  four  quarters  and  then  married  a 
wife  in  whom  was  vested  a  peerage,  he  naturally  wished  to  display  the 
arms  connected  with  that  peerage,  for  these  were  of  greater  importance 
than  his  own  four  quarterings.  The  problem  was  how  to  introduce 
the  fifth.  In  some  cases  we  find  it  borne  in  pretence,  but  in  other  cases, 
particularly  in  a  later  generation,  we  find  that  important  quarter  given 
the  whole  of  a  quarter  of  the  shield  to  itself,  the  other  four  being  con- 
joined together  and  displayed  so  as  to  occupy  a  similar  space.  These, 
therefore,  became  sub-quarters.  The  system  also  had  advantages, 
because  it  permitted  coats  which  by  constant  quartering  had  become 


Fig.  756. — Arms  of  Edwcird 
Stafford,  Duke  of  Buckingham 
{d.  152 1):  Quarterly,  i  and  4, 
quarterly,  i.  and  iiii.,  France  ; 
ii.  and  iii.,  England,  within  the 
bordure  argent  of  Thomas  of 
Woodstock ;  2  and  3,  or,  a 
chevron  gules  (for  Stafiford). 
(From  MS.  Add.  22,306.) 


Baron  Abergavenny  {d.  1535): 
Quarterly,  i.  gules,  on  a  saltire 
argent,  a  rose  of  the  field 
(Nevill) ;  2.  chequy  or  and  azure 
(Warenne) ;  3.  or,  three  chevrons 
gules  (Clare) ;  4.  quarterly  ar- 
gent and  gules,  in  the  second 
and  third  quarters  a  fret  or, 
over  all  a  bend  sable  (Le  De- 
spencer);  4.  guFes,  on  a  fess 
between  six  cross  crosslets  or,  a 
crescent  sable  (for  Beauchamp). 
(Add.  MS.  22,306.) 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF   ARMS  545 

indivisible  to  be  perpetuated  in  this  form.     So  definite  was  this  rule, 

that  in  only  one  of  the  series  of  Garter  plates  anterior  to  the  Tudor 

period  is  any  shield  found  containing  more 

than    four  quarters,   though    many  of   these 

are  grand   quarters   containing   other   coats 

borne  sub-quarterly.    The  one  instance  which 

I  refer  to  as  an  exception  is  the  shield  of  the 

Duke  D'Urbino,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that 

this  should  not  be  quoted  as  an  instance  in 

point.      He   appears   to   have  borne   in   the 

ordinary    way    four    quarters,   but    he    sub- 
sequently   added    thereto    two     quarterings  F1G.757.— Arms  of  George  Nevill 

which  may  or  may  not  have  been  one  and 

the  same  coat  of  arms  by  way  of  augmen- 
tation.    These    he    placed    in    pale    in    the 

centre  of  the  others,  thus  making  the  shield 

apparently  one  of  six  quarters. 

But    one    is    safe   in   the  assertion  that 

during  the  Plantagenet  period  no  more  than 

four  quarters  were  ordinarily  placed  upon  a 

shield.     Then  we  come  to  the  brief  period 

of  "squeezed  in"   quarterings  (Figs.   757   and   758).      In   the   early 

Visitations  we  get  instances  of  six,  eight, 
and  even  a  larger  number,  and  the  start 
once  being  made,  and  the  number  of  four 
relinquished,  there  was  of  course  no  reason 
why  it  should  not  be  extended  indefinitely. 
This  appears  to  have  rapidly  become  the 
case,  and  we  find  that  schemes  of  quarterings 
are  now  proved  and  recorded  officially  in 
England  and  Ireland  some  of  which  exceed 
200  in  number.  The  record  number  of 
officially  proved  and  recorded  quarterings  is 
teriy,  i.  quarterly,  i.  and  iiii.,  at   present  held  by  the  family  of  Lloyd,  of 

or,  a  hon  rampant  azure  (Percy);    ^x      i  x  •       /-.i  •   i_  01  i.    x 

ii.  and  iii.,  gules,  three  lucies  Stockton  m  Chirbury,   CO.  Salop,  but  many 
haurient   argent   (Lucy);    2.  ^f   ^j^g  quarterings    of  this  family  are   mere 

azure,  five  fusils  conjoined  m  .        ^  °  .       "^  . 

fess  or  (for  Percy) ;  3.  barry  of  repetition  owmg  to  Constant  mtermamagcs, 
sixorandvert,abendietguies  ^^  ^     ^^     fact  that  a  single   Wclsh  line  of 

(Poynmgs)  ;     4.     gules,    three  *=•  . 

lions  passant  in  pale  argent,  a  male   descent  oftcn   rcsults   in  a  number  of 
thTefpiler;/urffinT''  "  different  shields.     Welsh  arms  did  not  origin- 

ally  have  the  hereditary  unchangeability  we 
are  accustomed  to  in  English  heraldry,  and  moreover  a  large  pro- 
portion are  later  inventions  borne  to  denote  descent  and  are  not  arms 
actually  used  by  those  they  stand  for,  so  that  the  recorded  scheme 

2  M 


Fig.  758. —Arms  of  Henry 
Algernon  Percy,  Earl  of  Nor- 
thumberland {d.  1527):  Quar- 


546     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  the  quarterings  of  Mr.  Money-Kyrle,  or  of  the  sister  Countesses 
of  Yarborough  and  Powis,  respectively  Baroness  Fauconberg  and 
Conyers  and  Baroness  Darcy  de  Knayth  are  decidedly  more  enviable. 
Nobody  of  course  attempts  to  bear  such  a  number.  In  Scotland, 
however,  even  to  the  present  day,  the  system  of  four  quarterings  is 
still  adhered  to.  The  result  is  that  in  Scotland  the  system  of  grand 
quarterings  is  still  pursued,  whilst  in  England  it  is  almost  unknown, 
except  in  cases  where  coats  of  arms  have  for  some  reason  or  another 
become  indivisible.  This  is  a  very  patent  difficulty  when  it  becomes 
necessary  to  marshal  indivisible  Scottish  coats  with  English  ones,  and 
the  system  of  cadency  adopted  in  Scotland,  which  has  its  chief  char- 
acteristic in  the  employment  of  bordures,  makes  the  matter  sometimes 
very  far  from  simple.  The  system  adopted  at  the  present  time  in  the 
case  of  a  Royal  Licence,  for  example,  to  bear  a  Scottish  name  and 
arms  where  the  latter  is  a  coat  of  many  quarterings  within  a 
bordure,  is  to  treat  such  coat  as  made  indivisible  by  and  according 
to  the  most  recent  matriculation.  That  coat  is  then  treated  as  a  grand 
quartering  of  an  equivalent  value  to  the  pronominal  coat  in  England. 

But  reverting  to  the  earlier  chart,  by  the  aid  of  which  heirship 
was  demonstrated,  the  following  were  entitled  to  transmit  the  Cilfowyr 
arms  as  quarterings.  Mary,  Ellen,  Blanche,  Grace,  Muriel,  and  Dorothy 
all  had  the  right  to  transmit.  By  the  death  of  Dorothy  v,p.  Alice  and 
Annie  both  became  entitled.  Maria  Jane  and  Hannah  would  have 
been  entitled  to  transmit  Sherwin  and  Cilfowyr,  but  not  Cilfowyr  alone, 
if  there  had  been  no  arms  for  Sherwin,  though  they  could  have  trans- 
mitted Sherwin  alone  if  there  had  been  arms  for  Sherwin  and  none 
for  Cilfowyr.  Harriet  would  have  transmitted  the  arms  of  Cilfowyr 
if  she  had  survived,  and  Ada  would,  each  subject  to  differences  as  has 
been  previously  explained. 

As  has  been  already  explained,  every  woman  is  entitled  to  bear 
upon  a  lozenge  in  her  own  lifetime  the  arms,  quarterings,  and  differ- 
ence marks  which  belonged  to  her  father.  If  her  mother  were  an 
heiress  she  adds  her  mother's  arms  to  her  father's,  and  her  mother's 
quarterings  also,  marshalling  the  whole  into  a  correct  sequence,  and 
placing  the  said  sequence  of  quarterings  upon  a  lozenge.  Such  are 
the  armorial  bearings  of  a  daughter.  If  the  said  daughter  be  not  an 
heraldic  heiress  in  blood  she  cannot  transmit  either  arms  or  quarterings 
to  her  descendants.  Needless  to  say,  no  woman,  heiress  or  non- 
heiress,  can  now  transmit  a  crest,  and  no  woman  can  bear  either  crest, 
helmet,  mantling,  or  motto.  A  daughter  not  being  an  heiress  simply 
confers  the  right  upon  her  husband  to  impale  upon  his  shield  such  arms 
and  difference  marks  as  her  father  bore  in  his  own  right.  If  an  heiress 
possessing  arms  marry  a  man  with  illegal  arms,  or  a  man  making  no 
pretensions  to  arms,  her  children  have  no  arms  at  all,  and  really  inherit 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF   ARMS  547 

nothing  ;  and  the  rights,  such  as  they  are,  to  the  arms  of  the  mother 
as  a  quartering  remain,  and  must  remain,  dormant  unless  and  until  arms 
are  established  for  their  father's  line,  inasmuch  as  they  can  only  inherit 
armorially  from  their  mother  through  their  father.  In  England  it  is 
always  optional  for  a  man  to  have  arms  assigned  to  him  to  fill  in  any 
blanks  which  would  otherwise  mar  his  scheme  of  quarterings. 

Let  us  now  see  how  various  coats  of  arms  are  marshalled  as 
quarterings  into  one  achievement. 

The  original  theory  of  quartering  upon  which  all  rules  are  based  is 
that  after  a  marriage  with  an  heiress,  necessitating  for  the  children  the 
combination  of  the  tw^o  coats,  the  shield  is  divided  into  four  quarters. 


Fig.  759. 


Fig.  760. 


Fig.  761. 


These  four  arc  numbered  from  the  top  left-hand  (the  dexter)  corner 
(No.  i)  across  towards  the  sinister  (No.  2)  side  of  the  shield  ;  then  the 
next  row  is  numbered  in  the  same  way  (Nos.  3  and  4).  This  rule  as 
to  the  method  of  numbering  holds  good  for  any  number  of  quarterings. 

In  allocating  the  position  of  the  different  coats  to  their  places  in 
the  scheme  of  quarterings,  the  pronominal  coat  must  always  be  in  the 
first  quartering. 

In  a  simple  case  (the  exceptions  will  presently  be  referred  to)  that 
places  the  arms  of  the  father  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters,  and  the 
arms  of  the  mother  in  the  second  and  third  ;  such,  of  course,  being  on 
the  assumption  that  the  father  possessed  only  a  simple  coat  without 
quarterings,  and  that  the  mother  was  in  the  same  position.  The 
children  therefore  possess  a  coat  of  four  quarters  (Fig.  759).  Suppose 
a  son  of  theirs  in  his  turn  marries  another  heiress,  also  possessing  only, 
a  simple  coat  without  quarterings,  he  bears  arms  as  Fig.  760,  and  the 
grandchildren  descending  from  the  aforesaid  marriage  put  that  last-\ 
mentioned  coat  in  the  third  quarter,  and  the  coat,  though  still  of  only  \ 
four  quarters,  is  :  i  and  4,  the  pronominal  coat ;  2,  the  first  heiress  3, 
the  second  (Fig.  761). 

If  another  single  quartering  is  brought  in,  in  a  later  generation, 
that  takes  the  place  of  No.  4.      So  far  it  is  all  plain  sailing,  but  very 


548     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

few  text-books  carry  one  beyond  this  point.  Another  single  quarter- 
ing inherited  gives  five  quarterings  to  be  displayed  on  one  shield. 
The  usual  plan  is  to  repeat  the  first  quartering,  and  gives  you  six,  which 
are  then  arranged  in  two  rows  of  three.  If  the  shield  be  an  impaled 
shield  one  sometimes  sees  them  arranged  in  three  rows  of  two,  but  this 
is  unusual  though  not  incorrect.  But  five  quarterings  are  sometimes  ar- 
ranged in  two  rows,  three  in  the  upper  and  two  in  the  lower,  and  with 
a  shield  of  the  long  pointed  variety  this  plan  may  be  adopted  with  advan- 
tage. Subsequent  quarterings,  as  they  are  introduced  by  subsequent 
marriages,  take  their  places,  Nos.  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  so  on  ad  infinitum. 

In  arranging  them  on  one  shield,  the  order  in  which  they  devolve 
(according  to  the  pedigree  and  not  necessarily  according  to  the  date  order 
in  which  they  are  inherited)  must  be  rigidly  adhered  to  ;  but  a  person 
is  perfectly  at  liberty  (i)  to  repeat  i\vQ  first  quartering  at  the  end  to 
make  an  even  number  or  not  at  his  pleasure,  but  no  more  than  the 
first  quartering  must  be  repeated  in  such  cases  ;  (2)  to  arrange  the 
quarters  in  any  number  of  rows  he  may  find  most  convenient  accord- 
ing to  the  shape  of  the  space  the  quarterings  will  occupy. 

Upon  the  Continent  it  is  usual  to  specify  the  number  and  position 
of  the  lines  by  which  the  shield  is  divided.  Thus,  while  an  English 
herald  would  say  simply.  Quarterly  of  six,  and  leave  it  to  the  painter's 
or  engraver's  taste  to  arrange  the  quarterings  in  three  rows  of  two,  or 
in  two  rows  of  three,  a  French  or  German  herald  would  ordinarily 
specify  the  arrangement  to  be  used  in  distinct  terms. 

If  a  man  possessing  only  a  simple  coat  of  arms  without  quarterings 
marry  an  heiress  with  a  number  of  quarterings  {e.g.  say  twenty),  he 
himself  places  the  arms  and  quarterings  of  his  wife  in  pretence.  Their 
children  eventually,  as  a  consequence,  inherit  twenty-one  quarterings. 
The  first  is  the  coat  of  their  father,  the  second  is  the  first  coat  of  the 
mother,  and  the  remaining  nineteen  follow  in  a  regular  sequence, 
according  to  their  position  upon  their  mother's  achievement. 

To  sum  the  rule  up,  it  is  necessary  first  to  take  all  the  quarterings 
inherited  from  the  father  and  arrange  them  in  a  proper  sequence,  and 
then  follow  on  in  the  same  sequence  with  the  arms  and  quarterings 
inherited  from  the  mother. 

The  foregoing  explanations  should  show  how  generation  by  genera- 
tion quarterings  are  added  to  a  paternal  shield,  but  I  have  found 
that  many  of  those  who  possess  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  to  this 
extent  are  yet  at  a  loss,  given  a  pedigree,  to  marshal  the  resulting 
quarterings  in  their  right  order. 

Given  your  pedigree — the  first  quartering  must  be  the  pronominal  coat 
(I  am  here  presuming  no  change  of  name  or  arms  has  occurred), 
which  is  the  coat  of  the  strict  male  line  of  descent.  Then  follow  this 
male  line  back  as  far  as  it  is  known.     The  second  quartering  is  the 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  549 

coat  of  the  first  heiress  who  married  your  earliest  ancestor  in  the  male 
line  who  is  known  to  have  married  an  heiress.  Then  after  her  coat 
will  follow  all  the  quarterings  which  she  was  entitled  to  and  which  she 
has  '<  brought  in  "  to  your  family.  Having  exhausted  these,  you  then 
follow  your  male  line  down  to  the  next  heiress,  adding  her  arms  as  a 
quartering  to  those  already  arranged,  and^Jollowing  it  by  her  quarter- 
ings. The  same  plan  must  be  pursued  until,  you  arrive  at  your  own 
name  upon  the  pedigree.  Unless  some  exceptional  circumstance 
has  arisen  (and  such  exceptions  will  presently  be  found  detailed  at 
length),  all  the  quarterings  are  of  equal  heraldic  value,  and  must  be 
the  same  size  when  displayed. 

If  after  having  worked  out  your  quarterings  you  find  that  you 
have  more  than  you  care  to  use,  you  are  quite  at  liberty  to  make  a 
selection,  omitting  any  number,  hut  it  is  entirely  wrong  to  display 
quarterings  without  those  quarterings  which  brought  them  into  the 
paternal  line.  Supposing  your  name  to  be  Brown,  you  must  put  the 
Brown  arms  in  the  first  quarter,  but  at  your  pleasure  you  can  quarter 
the  arms  of  each  single  heiress  who  married  an  ancestor  of  yours  in 
the  male  line  {i,e,  who  herself  became  Mrs.  Brown),  or  you  can 
omit  the  whole  or  a  part.  But  supposing  one  of  these,  Mrs.  Brown 
{nee  Smith),  was  entitled  to  quarter  the  arms  of  Jones,  which  arms  of 
Jones  had  brought  in  the  arms  of  Robinson,  you  are  not  at  liberty  to 
quarter  the  arms  of  Jones  without  quartering  Smith,  and  if  you  wish 
to  display  the  arms  of  Robinson  you  must  also  quarter  the  arms  of  > 
Jones  to  bring  in  Robinson  and  the  arms  of  Smith  to  bring  in 
Robinson  and  Jones  to  your  own  Brown  achievement.  You  can 
use  Brown  only  :  or  quarterly,  i  and  4,  Brown  ;  2  and  3,  Smith  :  or 
I  and  4,  Brown;  2.  Smith  ;  3.  Jones  :  or  quarterly,  i.  Brown  ;  2. 
Smith;  3.  Jones;  4.  Robinson;  but  you  are  «o/ entitled  to  quarter: 
I  and  4,  Brown  ;  2.  Jones  ;  3.  Robinson,  because  Smith,  which 
brought  in  Jones  and  Robinson,  has  been  omitted,  and  there  was 
never  a  match  between  Brown  and  Jones. 

Quarterings  signifying  nothing  beyond  mere  representation  are  not 
compulsory,  and  their  use  or  disuse  is  quite  optional. 

So  much  for  the  general  rules  of  quartering.  Let  us  now  consider 
certain  cases  which  require  rules  to  themselves. 

It  is  possible  for  a  daughter  to  be  the  sole  heir  or  coheir  of  her 
mother  whilst  not  being  the  heir  of  her  father,  as  in  the  following 
imaginary  pedigree  : — 

\st  wife 
(an  heiress).  ^nd  wife. 

Mary  Conyers=John  Darcy= Margaret  Fauconbero. 
I  I 


|—  I  I 

Joan  (only  daughter),  THOMAS.  Henry. 

heir  of  her  mother 
but  not  of  her  father. 


550     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

In  this  case  Joan  is  not  the  heir  of  her  father,  inasmuch  as  he  has 
sons  Thomas  and  Henry,  but  she  is  the  heir  of  her  mother  and  the 
only  issue  capable  of  inheriting  and  transmitting  the  Conyers  arms 
and  quarterings.     Joan  is  heir  of  her  mother  but  not  of  her  father. 

The  husband  of  Joan  can  either  impale  the  arms  of  Darcy  as 
having  married  a  daughter  of  John  Darcy,  or  he  can  place  upon  an 
escutcheon  of  pretence  arms  to  indicate  that  he  has  married  the  heiress 
of  Conyers.  But  it  would  be  quite  incorrect  for  him  to  simply  place 
Conyers  in  pretence,  because  he  has  not  married  a  Miss  Conyers.  What 
he  must  do  is  to  charge  the  arms  of  Conyers  with  a  dexter  canton  of 
the  arms  of  Darcy  and  place  this  upon  his  escutcheon  of  pretence.^ 
The  children  will  quarter  the  arms  of  Conyers  with  the  canton  of  Darcy 
and  inherit  likewise  all  the  quarterings  to  which  Mary  Conyers  suc- 
ceeded, but  the  Conyers  arms  must  be  always  thereafter  charged  with 
the  arms  of  Darcy  on  a  canton,  and  no  right  accrues  to  the  Darcy 
quarterings. 

The  following  curious,  but  quite  genuine  case,  which  was  pointed 
out  to  me  by  the  late  Ulster  King  of  Arms,  presents  a  set  of  cir- 
cumstances absolutely  unique,  and  it  still  remains  to  be  decided  what 
is  the  correct  method  to  adopt : — 

xst  wife.  znd  wife. 

Lady   Mary,   dau.  and  coheir = William  St.  Lawrence,  =  Margaret,  dau.  of 


of  Thomas  Bermingham,  Earl 
of  Louth.  Married  1777,  died 
1793- 


2nd  Earl  of  Howth. 


William  Burke. 


Three  other  daughters 

and  coheirs  of  their 

mother. 


Thomas  St.  Lawrence, 
3rd  Earl  of  Howth. 


Other 

issue. 


Lady  Isabella  St.  Lawrence,  2nd = William  Richard  Annesley, 


dau.  and  coheir  of  her  mother,  but 
not  heir  of  her  father,  therefore 
entitled  to  transmit  the  arms  of 
Bermingham  with  those  of  St. 
Lawrence  on  a  canton.  First  wife 
of  Earl  Annesley.  Married  1803, 
died  1827. 


3rd  Earl  of  Annesley. 


:Priscilla,  2nd  dau.  of 
Hugh  Moore. 


William,  4th  Earl 
of  Annesley. 


Hugh,  5th  Earl  of 
Annesley. 


Lady  MARY  Annesley,  only  child  and  =■  Willi  am  John  M'Guire  of  Rostrevor, 
sole  heir  of  her  mother  and  coheir  of 
her  grandmother,  but  not  heir  of  her 
father  or  of  her  grandfather.  She  is 
therefore  entitled  to  transmit  the  arms 
of  Bermingham  with  St.  Lawrence  on 
a  canton  plus  Annesley  on  a  canton. 
Married  1828. 

How  the  arms  of  Bermingham  are  to  be  charged  with  both  St. 
Lawrence  and  Annesley  remains  to  be  seen.    I  believe  Ulster  favoured 


*  Arms  borne  on  a  sinister  canton  suggest  illegitimacy. 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  551 

two  separate  cantons,  dexter  and  sinister  respectively,  but  the  point 
did  not  come  before  him  officially,  and  1  know  of  no  official  decision 
which  affords  a  precedent. 

The  reverse  of  the  foregoing  affords  another  curious  point  when  a 
woman  is  the  heir  of  her  father  but  not  the  heir  of  her  mother  : — 

John  Smith=Mary  Jones. 

xst  husband.  \  2nd  husband.  y-7 

John  Williams= Ethel  Smith,  =  Henry  Roberts. 

I  only  child  and  I 
heir.  I 

I  I 

Alice  Williams,  =  Arthur  Ellis.  Edward  Roberts, 

only  child  and  heir 


of  John  Williams. 


Theodore  Ellis, 

who  claims  to  quarter : 

I  and  4,  Ellis  ;  2.  Williams ;  3.  Smith. 


heir  of  his  mother. 
Issue. 


It  is  officially  admitted  (see  the  introduction  to  Burke's  '*  General 
Armory  ")  that  the  claim  is  accurately  made.  The  process  of  reason- 
ing is  probably  thus.  John  Williams  places  upon  an  escutcheon  of 
pretence  the  arms  of  Smith,  and  Alice  Williams  succeeds  in  her  own 
right  to  the  arms  of  her  mother  because  the  latter  was  an  heiress,  and 
for  herself  is  entitled  to  bear,  as  would  a  son,  the  arms  of  the  two 
parents  quarterly  ;  and  having  so  inherited,  Alice  Williams  being  her- 
self an  heiress,  is  entitled  to  transmit.  At  any  rate  Arthur  Ellis  is 
entitled  to  impale  or  place  upon  his  escutcheon  of  pretence  Williams 
and  Smith  quarterly.  To  admit  the  right  for  the  descendants  to 
quarter  the  arms  Arthur  Ellis  so  bore  is  no  more  than  a  logical  pro- 
gression, but  the  eventual  result  appears  faulty,  because  we  find 
Theodore  Ellis  quartering  the  arms  of  Smith,  whilst  the  representation 
of  Smith  is  in  the  line  of  Edward  Roberts.  This  curious  set  of  cir- 
cumstances, however,  is  rare  in  the  extreme. 

It  frequently  happens,  in  devising  a  scheme  of  quarterings,  that  a 
person  may  represent  heiresses  of  several  families  entitled  to  bear 
arms,  but  to  whom  the  pedigree  must  be  traced  through  an  heiress  of 
another  family  which  did  not  possess  arms.  Consequently  any  claim 
to  quarterings  inherited  through  the  non-armorial  heiress  is  dormant, 
and  the  quarterings  must  not  be  used  or  inserted  in  any  scheme  drawn 
up.  It  is  always  permissible,  however,  to  petition  for  arms  to  be 
granted  to  be  borne  for  that  non-armorial  family  for  the  purpose  of 
introducing  the  quarterings  in  question,  and  such  a  grant  having  been 
made,  the  dormant  claim  then  becomes  operative  and  the  new  coat 
is  introduced,  followed  by  the  dormant  quartering  in  precisely  the 
same  manner  as  would  have  been  the  case  if  the  arms  granted  had 
always  existed.    Grants  of  this  character  are  constantly  being  obtained. 


552     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

When  a  Royal  Licence  to  assume  or  change  name  and  arms  is 
granted  it  very  considerably  affects  the  question  of  quartering,  and 
many  varying  circumstances  attending  these  Royal  Licences  make  the 
matter  somewhat  intricate.  If  the  Royal  Licence  is  to  assume  a  name 
and  arms  in  lieu  of  those  previously  used,  this  means  that  for  everyday 
use  the  arms  are  changed^  the  right  to  the  old  arms  lapsing  except  for 
the  purpose  of  a  scheme  of  quarterings.  The  new  coat  of  arms  under 
the  terms  of  the  Royal  Licence,  which  requires  it  first  '^to  be  ex- 
emplified in  our  Royal  College  of  Arms,  otherwise  this  our  Royal 
Licence  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect,"  is  always  so  exemplified,  this 
exemplification  being  from  the  legal  point  of  view  equivalent  to  a  new 
grant  of  the  arms  to  the  person  assuming  them.  The  terms  of  the 
Royal  Licence  have  always  carefully  to  be  borne  in  mind,  particularly 
in  the  matter  of  remainder,  because  sometimes  these  exemplifications 
are  for  a  limited  period  or  intended  to  devolve  with  specified  property, 
and  a  Royal  Licence  only  nullifies  a  prior  right  to  arms  to  the  extent 
of  the  terms  recited  in  the  Letters  Patent  of  exemplification.  In  the 
ordinary  way,  however,  such  an  exemplification  is  equivalent  to  a 
new  grant  affecting  all  the  descendants.  When  it  is  assumed  in  lieu, 
for  the  ordinary  purpose  of  use  the  new  coat  of  arms  takes  the  place 
of  the  old  one,  but  the  right  to  the  old  one  remains  in  theory  to  a 
certain  extent,  inasmuch  as  its  existence  is  necessary  in  any  scheme  of 
quartering  to  bring  in  any  quarterings  previously  inherited,  and  these 
cannot  be  displayed  with  the  new  coat  unless  they  are  preceded  by 
the  old  one.  Quarterings,  however,  which  are  brought  into  the  family 
through  a  marriage  in  the  generation  in  which  the  Royal  Licence  is 
obtained,  or  in  a  subsequent  generation,  can  be  displayed  with  the 
new  coat  without  the  interposition  of  the  old  one. 

If  the  Royal  Licence  be  to  bear  the  name  of  a  certain  family  in 
lieu  of  a  present  name,  and  to  bear  the  arms  of  that  family  quarterly 
with  the  arms  previously  borne,  the  quarterly  coat  is  then  exemplified. 
In  an  English  or  Irish  Royal  Licence  the  coat  of  arms  for  the  name 
assumed  is  placed  in  the  first  and  the  fourth  quarters,  and  the  old 
paternal  arms  figure  in  the  second  and  third.  This  is  an  invariable 
rule.  The  quarterly  coat  thus  exemplified  becomes  an  indivisible  coat 
for  the  new  name,  and  it  is  not  permissible  to  subsequently  divide 
these  quarterings.  They  become  as  much  one  coat  of  arms  as  '^  azure, 
a  bend  or  "  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  Scrope.  If  this  quarterly  coat  is  to 
be  introduced  in  any  scheme  of  quarterings  it  will  only  occupy  the 
same  space  as  any  other  single  quartering  and  counts  only  as  one, 
though  it  of  course  is  in  reality  a  grand  quartering.  In  devising  a 
scheme  of  quarterings  for  which  a  sub-quarterly  coat  of  this  character 
exemplified  under  a  Royal  Licence  is  the  pronominal  coat,  that  sub- 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  553 

quarterly  coat  is  placed  in  the  first  quarter.  Next  to  it  is  placed 
the  original  coat  of  arms  borne  as  the  pronominal  coat  before 
the  Royal  Licence  and  exemplified  in  the  second  and  third  sub- 
quarters  of  the  first  quarter.  When  here  repeated  it  occupies  an 
entire  quarter.  Next  to  it  are  placed  the  whole  of  the  quarterings 
belonging  to  the  family  in  the  order  in  which  they  occur.  If  the 
family  whose  name  has  been  assumed  is  represented  through  an 
heiress  that  coat  of  arms  is  also  repeated  in  its  proper  position  and 
in  that  place  in  which  it  would  have  appeared  if  unaffected  by  the 
Royal  Licence.  But  if  it  be  the  coat  of  arms  of  a  family  from  whom 
there  is  no  descent,  or  of  whom  there  is  no  representation,  the  fact  of 
the  Royal  Licence  does  not  give  any  further  right  to  quarter  it  beyond 
its  appearance  in  the  pronominal  grand  quartering.  The  exact  state 
of  the  case  is  perhaps  best  illustrated  by  the  arms  of  Reid-Cuddon. 
The  name  of  the  family  was  originally  Reid,  and  representing  an 
heiress  of  the  Cuddons  of  Shaddingfield  Hall  they  obtained  a  Royal 
Licence  to  take  the  name  and  arms  of  Cuddon  in  addition  to  the  name 
and  arms  of  Reid,  becoming  thereafter  Reid-Cuddon.  The  arms  were 
exemplified  in  due  course,  and  the  achievement  then  became  :  Quarterly, 
I  and  4,  Reid-Cuddon  sub-quarterly,  2.  the  arms  of  Reid,  3.  the  arms 
of  Cuddon.  In  Scotland  no  such  thing  as  a  Royal  Licence  exists,  the 
matter  being  determined  merely  by  a  rematriculation  following  upon 
a  voluntary  change  of  name.  There  is  no  specified  order  or  position 
for  the  arms  of  the  different  names,  and  the  arrangement  of  the 
various  quarterings  is  left  to  be  determined  by  the  circumstances 
of  the  case.  Thus  in  the  arms  of  Anstruther-Duncan  the  arms  of 
Anstruther  are  in  the  first  quarter,  and  the  matter  is  always  largely 
governed  by  the  importance  of  the  respective  estates  and  the  respective 
families.  In  England  this  is  not  the  case,  because  it  is  an  unalterable 
rule  that  the  arms  of  the  last  or  principal  surname  if  there  be  two,  or 
the  arms  of  the  one  surname  if  that  be  the  case  when  the  arms  of 
two  families  are  quartered,  must  always  go  in  the  ist  and  4th  quarters. 
If  three  names  are  assumed  by  Royal  Licence,  the  arms  of  the  last  name 
go  in  the  ist  and  4th  quarters,  and  the  last  name  but  one  in  the 
second  quarter,  and  of  the  first  name  in  the  third.  These  cases  are, 
however,  rare.  But  no  matter  how  many  names  are  assumed,  and  no 
matter  how  many  original  coats  of  arms  the  shield  as  exemplified 
consists  of,  it  thereafter  becomes  an  indivisible  coat. 

When  a  Royal  Licence  is  issued  to  an  illegitimate  person  to  bear 
the  name  and  arms  of  another  family,  no  right  is  conferred  to  bear 
the  quarterings  of  that  family  even  subject  to  difference  marks.  The 
Royal  Licence  is  only  applicable  to  whatever  arms  were  the  pro- 
nominal coat  used  with  the  name  assumed.     Though  instances  cer- 


554     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

tainly  can  be  found  in  some  of  the  Visitation  Books  and  other  ancient 
records  of  a  coat  with  quarterings,  the  whole  debruised  by  a  bendlet 
sinister,  notably  in  the  case  of  a  family  of  Talbot,  where  eight  quarters 
are  so  marked,  the  fact  remains  that  this  practice  has  long  been  de- 
finitely considered  incorrect,  and  is  now  never  permitted.  If  a  Royal 
Licence  is  issued  to  an  illegitimate  woman  the  exemplification  is  to 
herself  personally,  for  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  she  has  no  relatives  ; 
and  though  she  may  be  one  of  a  large  family,  her  descendants  are 
entitled  to  quarter  the  arms  with  the  marks  of  distinction  exemplified 
to  her  because  such  quartering  merely  indicates  the  representation 
of  that  one  woman,  who  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  stands  alone  and 
without  relatives.  In  the  case  of  a  Royal  Licence  to  take  a  name 
and  arms  subject  to  these  marks  of  distinction  for  illegitimacy,  and 
in  cases  where  the  arms  to  be  assumed  are  a  sub-quarterly  coat, 
the  mark  of  distinction,  which  in  England  is  now  invariably  a  bordure 
wavy,  will  surround  both  quarterings,  which  remain  an  indivisible  coat. 

If  an  augmentation  is  granted  to  a  person  whose  pronominal  coat 
is  sub-quarterly,  that  augmentation,  whatever  form  it  may  assume, 
is  superimposed  upon  all  quarterings.  Thus  a  chief  of  augmentation 
would  go  across  the  top  of  the  shield,  the  four  quarters  being  displayed 
below,  and  the  whole  of  this  shield  would  be  only  one  quartering 
in  any  scheme  of  quartering.  An  inescutcheon  is  superimposed  over 
all.  If  the  augmentation  take  the  form  of  a  quartering,  then  the  pro- 
nominal coat  is  a  grand  quartering,  equivalent  in  size  to  the  augmenta- 
tion. If  a  person  entitled  to  a  sub-quarterly  coat  and  a  double  name 
obtains  a  Royal  Licence  to  bear  another  name  and  arms,  and  to  bear 
the  arms  he  has  previously  borne  quarterly  with  those  he  has  assumed, 
the  result  would  be :  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  the  new  coat  assumed, 
quarterly  2  and  3,  the  arms  he  has  previously  borne  sub-quarterly. 
But  it  should  be  noticed  that  the  arrangements  of  coats  of  arms  under 
a  Royal  Licence  largely  depends  upon  the  wording  of  the  document 
by  which  authority  is  given  by  the  Sovereign.  The  wording  of  the 
document  in  its  terms  is  based  upon  the  wording  of  the  petition,  and 
within  reasonable  limits  any  arrangement  which  is  desired  is  usually 
permitted,  so  that  care  should  be  taken  as  to  the  wording  of  the 
petition. 

A  quartering  of  augmentation  is  always  placed  in  the  first  quarter 
of  a  shield,  but  it  becomes  indivisible  from  and  is  depicted  sub-quarterly 
with  the  paternal  arms  ;  for  instance,  the  Dukes  of  Westminster  for 
the  time  being,  but  not  other  members  of  the  family,  bear  as  an 
augmentation  the  arms  of  the  city  of  Westminster  in  the  ist  and 
4th  quarters  of  his  shield,  and  the  arms  of  Grosvenor  in  the  2nd  and 
3rd,  but  this  coat  of  Westminster  and  Grosvenor  is  an  indivisible  sub- 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  555 

quarterly  coat  which  together  would  only  occupy  the  first  quarter  in 
a  shield  of  quarterings.  Then  the  second  one  would  be  the  arms  of 
Grosvenor  alone,  which  would  be  followed  by  the  quarterings  pre- 
viously inherited. 

If  under  a  Royal  Licence  a  name  is  assumed  and  the  Royal 
Licence  makes  no  reference  to  the  arms  of  the  family,  the  arms  for 
all  purposes  remain  unchanged  and  as  if  no  Royal  Licence  had  ever 
been  issued.  If  the  Royal  Licence  issued  to  a  family  simply  exem- 
plifies a  single  coat  of  arms,  it  is  quite  wrong  to  introduce  any  other 
coat  of  arms  to  convert  this  single  coat  into  a  sub-quarterly  one. 

To  all  intents  and  purposes  it  may  be  stated  that  in  Scotland  there 
are  still  only  four  quarters  in  a  shield,  and  if  more  than  four  coats  are 
introduced  grand  quarterings  are  employed.  Grand  quarterings  are 
very  frequent  in  Scottish  armory.  The  Scottish  rules  of  quartering 
follow  no  fixed  principle,  and  the  constant  rematriculations  make  it 
impossible  to  deduce  exact  rules  ;  and  though  roughly  approximating 
to  the  English  ones,  no  greater  generalisation  can  be  laid  down  than 
the  assertion  that  the  most  recent  matriculation  of  an  ancestor  governs 
the  arms  and  quarterings  to  be  displayed. 

A  royal  quartering  is  never  subdivided. 

In  combining  Scottish  and  English  coats  of  arms  into  one  scheme 
of  quartering,  it  is  usual  if  possible  to  treat  the  coat  of  arms  as  matri- 
culated in  Scotland  as  a  grand  quartering  equivalent  in  value  to  any 
other  of  the  English  quarterings.  This,  however,  is  not  always 
possible  in  cases  where  the  matriculation  itself  creates  grand  quarterings 
and  sub-quarterings  ;  and  for  a  scheme  of  quarterings  in  such  a  case 
it  is  more  usual  for  the  Scottish  matriculation  to  be  divided  up  into  its 
component  parts,  and  for  these  to  be  used  as  simple  quarterings  in 
succession  to  the  English  ones,  regardless  of  any  bordure  which  may 
exist  in  the  Scottish  matriculation.  It  cannot,  of  course,  be  said  that 
such  a  practice  is  beyond  criticism,  though  it  frequently  remains  the 
only  practical  way  of  solving  the  difficulty. 

Until  comparatively  recent  times,  if  amongst  quarterings  inherited 
the  Royal  Arms  were  included,  it  was  considered  a  fixed,  unalterable 
rule  that  these  should  be  placed  in  the  first  quarter,  taking  precedence 
of  the  pronominal  coat,  irrespective  of  their  real  position  according  to 
the  date  or  pedigree  place  of  introduction.  This  rule,  however,  has 
long  since  been  superseded,  and  Royal  quarterings  now  take  their 
position  on  the  same  footing  as  the  others.  It  very  probably  arose 
from  the  misconception  of  the  facts  concerning  an  important  case 
which  doubtless  was  considered  a  precedent.  The  family  of  Mowbray, 
after  their  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Thomas  de  Brotherton,  used 
either  the  arms  of  Brotherton  alone,  these  being  England  differenced 


556     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

by  a  label,  or  else  placed  them  in  the  first  quarter  of  their  shield. 
Consequently  from  this  precedent  a  rule  was  deduced  that  it  was 
permissible  and  correct  to  give  a  Royal  quartering  precedence  over 
all  others.  The  position  of  the  Mowbrays,  Dukes  of  Norfolk,  as  Earls 
Marshal  no  doubt  led  to  their  own  achievement  being  considered  an 
exemplary  model.  But  it  appears  to  have  been  overlooked  that  the 
Mowbrays  bore  these  Royal  Arms  of  Brotherton  not  as  an  inherited 
quartering  but  as  a  grant  to  themselves.  Richard  II.  apparently 
granted  them  permission  to  bear  the  arms  of  Edward  the  Confessor 
impaled  with  the  arms  of  Brotherton,  the  whole  between  the  two  Royal 
ostrich  feathers  (Fig.  675),  and  consequently,  the  grant  having  been 
made,  the  Mowbrays  were  under  no  necessity  to  display  the  Mowbray 
or  the  Segrave  arms  to  bring  in  the  arms  of  Brotherton.  A  little 
later  a  similar  case  occurred  with  the  Stafford  family,  who  became 
sole  heirs-general  of  Thomas  of  Woodstock,  and  consequently  entitled 
to  bear  his  arms  as  a  quartering.  The  matter  appears  to  have  been 
settled  at  a  chapter  of  the  College  of  Arms,  and  the  decision  arrived 
at  was  as  follows  : — 

Cott,  MS.f  TittiSf  C.  i.  foL  404,  in  handwriting  of  end  of  sixieenth  century, 

[An  order  made  for  Henry  Duke  of  Buckingham  to  beare  the  Armes  of  Thomas 
of  Woodstock  alone  without  any  other  Armes  to  bee  quartered  there- 
with.    Anno  13  E  4.] 

Memorandum  that  in  the  yeare  of  the  Reigne  of  our  Soveraign  Lord  King  Edward 
the  iiij*^  the  Thurtein  in  the  xviij''"  day  of  ffeverir,  it  was  concluded  in  a 
Chapitre  of  the  office  of  Armes  that  where  a  nobleman  is  descended  lenyalle 
Ineritable  to  iij.  or  iiij.  Cotes  and  afterward  is  ascended  to  a  Cotte  neir  to  the 
King  and  of  his  royall  bloud,  may  for  his  most  onneur  here  the  same  Cootte 
alone,  and  none  lower  Coottes  of  Dignite  to  be  quartered  therewith.  As  my 
Lord  Henry  Duke  of  Buckingham,  Eirll  of  Harford,  Northamton,  and 
Stafford,  Lord  of  Breknoke  and  of  Holdernes,  is  assended  to  the  Coottes  and 
ayer  to  Thomas  of  Woodstoke,  Duke  of  Glocestre  and  Sonne  to  King  Edward 
the  third,  hee  may  beire  his  Cootte  alone.  And  it  was  so  Concluded  by 
[Claurancieulx  King  of  Armes,  Marche  King  of  Armes,  Gyen  King  of  Armes, 
Windesor  Herauld,  Fawcon  Herauld,  Harfford  Herald]. 

But  I  imagine  that  this  decision  was  in  all  probability  founded  upon 
the  case  of  the  Mowbrays,  which  was  not  in  itself  an  exact  precedent, 
because  with  the  Staffords  there  appears  to  have  been  no  such 
Royal  grant  as  existed  with  the  Mowbrays.  Other  instances  at 
about  this  period  can  be  alluded  to,  but  though  it  must  be  admitted 
that  the  rule  existed  at  one  time,  it  has  long  since  been  officially  over- 
ridden. 

A  territorial  coat  or  a  coat  of  arms  borne  to  indicate  the  possession 
of  a  specific  title  is  either  placed  in  the  first  quarter  or  borne  in  pre- 


THE    MARSHALLING    OF   ARMS  557 

tence  ;  see  the  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Mar  and  Kellie.  A  singular  instance 
of  a  very  exceptional  method  of  marshalling  occurs  in  the  case  of  the 
arms  of  the  Earl  of  Caithness.  He  bears  four  coats  of  arms,  some 
being  stated  to  be  territorial  coats,  quarterly,  dividing  them  by  the  cross 
engrailed  sable  from  his  paternal  arms  of  Sinclair.  The  arms  of  the 
Earls  of  Caithness  are  thus  marshalled:  '<  Quarterly,  i.  azure,  within  a 
Royal  tressure  a  ship  with  furled  sails  all  or."  For  Orkney :  '^  2  and 
3,  or,  a  lion  rampant  gules."  For  Spar  (a  family  in  possession  of  the 
Earldom  of  Caithness  before  the  Sinclairs)  :  *'  4.  Azure,  a  ship  in  sail 
or,  for  Caithness  "  ;  and  over  all,  dividing  the  quarters,  a  cross  en- 
grailed ^' sable,"  for  Sinclair.  The  Barons  Sinclair  of  Sweden  (so 
created  1766,  but  extinct  ten  years  later)  bore  the  above  quartered 
coats  as  cadets  of  Caithness,  but  separated  the  quarters,  not  by  the 
engrailed  cross  sable  of  Sinclair,  but  by  a  cross  pat^e  throughout 
ermine.  In  an  escutcheon  en  surtout  they  placed  the  Sinclair  arms : 
<<  Argent,  a  cross  engrailed  sable  "  ;  and,  as  a  mark  of  cadency,  they 
surrounded  the  main  escutcheon  with  ^'  a  bordure  chequy  or  and 
gules."  This  arrangement  was  doubtless  suggested  by  the  Royal  Arms 
of  Denmark,  the  quarterings  of  which  have  been  for  so  many  centuries 
separated  by  the  cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Dannebrog :  "  Argent,  a 
cross  pat^e  throughout  fimbriated  gules."  In  imitation  of  this  a  con- 
siderable number  of  the  principal  Scandinavian  families  use  a  cross 
pat^e  throughout  to  separate  the  quarters  of  their  frequently  com- 
plicated coats.  The  quarterings  in  these  cases  are  often  not  indicative 
of  descent  from  different  families,  but  were  all  included  in  the 
original  grant  of  armorial  bearings.  On  the  centre  of  the  cross  thus 
used,  an  escutcheon,  either  of  augmentation  or  of  the  family  arms,  is 
very  frequently  placed  en  surtout. 

The  main  difference  between  British  and  foreign  usage  with  regard 
to  quartering  is  this,  that  in  England  quarterings  are  usually  employed 
to  denote  simply  descent  from  an  heiress,  or  representation  in  blood  ; 
in  Scotland  they  also  implied  the  possession  of  lordships.  In  foreign 
coats  the  quarterings  are  often  employed  to  denote  the  possession  of 
fiefs  acquired  in  other  ways  than  by  marriage  {e.g,  by  bequest  or  pur- 
chase), or  the  jus  expedationts,  the  right  of  succession  to  such  fiefs  in 
accordance  with  certain  agreements. 

In  foreign  heraldry  the  base  of  the  quartered  shield  is  not  unfre- 
quently  cut  off  by  a  horizontal  line,  forming  what  is  known  as  a 
Champagne,  and  the  space  thus  made  is  occupied  by  one  or  more  coats. 
At  other  times  a  pile  with  curved  sides  runs  from  the  base  some  distance 
into  the  quartered  shield,  which  is  then  said  to  be  ente  en  point,  and  this 
space  is  devoted  to  the  display  of  one  or  more  quarterings.  The 
definite  and  precise  British  regulations  which  have  grown  up  on  the 


558     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

subject  of  the  marshalling  of  arms  have  no  equivalent  in  the  armorial 
laws  of  other  countries. 

Very  rarely  quartering  is  affected  per  saltire^  as  in  the  arms  of  Sicily 
and  in  a  few  coats  of  Spanish  origin,  but  even  as  regards  foreign  armory 
the  practice  is  so  rare  that  it  may  be  disregarded. 

The  laws  of  marshalling  upon  the  Continent,  and  particularly  in 
Germany,  are  very  far  from  being  identical  with  British  heraldic 
practices. 

The  British  method  of  impaling  two  coats  of  arms  upon  one  shield 
to  signify  marriage  is  abroad  now  wholly  discarded,  and  two  shields  are 


Fig.  762. — Arms  of  Hans  Fig.  761. — Arms  of  Hans  Wolf  von  Bibelspurg  and  his 

Wolf  von  Bibelspurg.  wife  Catherina  Waraus  married  in  1507  at  Augsburg. 

invariably  made  use  of.  These  shields  are  placed  side  by  side,  the  dexter 
shield  being  used  to  display  the  man's  arms  and  the  sinister  those  of 
the  woman's  family.  The  shields  are  tilted  towards  each  other  (the 
position  is  not  quite  identical  with  that  which  we  term  accoll6).  But 
— and  this  is  a  peculiarity  practically  unknown  in  England — the 
German  practice  invariably  reverses  the  charges 
upon  the  dexter  shield,  so  that  the  charges  upon 
the  two  shields  ^'  respect "  each  other.  This  per- 
haps can  be  most  readily  understood  by  reference 
to  Figs.  762  and  763.  The  former  shows  the  simple 
arms  of  Von  Bibelspurg, the  latter  the  same  coat  allied 
Fig.  764.  ^ith  another.     But  it  should  be  noted  that  letters 

or  words,  if  they  appear  as  charges  upon  the  shield,  are  not  reversed. 
This  reversing  of  the  charges  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  practice  in 
Germany  for  other  purposes.  For  instance,  if  the  arms  of  a  State 
are  depicted  surrounded  by  the  arms  of  provinces,  or  if  the  arms  of  a 
reigning  Sovereign  are  grouped  within  a  bordure  of  the  shields  of  other 
people,  the  charges  on  the  shields  to  the  dexter  are  almost  invariably 
shown  in  reflection  regarding  the  shield  in  the  centre.  This  practice, 
resting  only  on  what  may  be  termed  ^'  heraldic  courtesy,"  dates  back 
to  very  early  times,  and  is  met  with  even  in  Rolls  of  Arms  where  the 
shields  are  all  turned  to  face  the  centre.  Such  a  system  was  adopted 
in  Siebmacher's  <<  Book  of  Arms."      But  what  the  true  position  of  the 


as 


©© 


Fig.  765. 


THE   MARSHALLING   OF  ARMS  559 

charges  should  be  when  represented  upon  a  simple  shield  should  be 
determined  by  the  position  of  the  helmet.  It  may  be  of  interest  to 
state  that  in  St.  George's  Chapel  at  Windsor  the  early  Stall  plates 
originally  set  up  were  all  disposed  so  that  helmets 
and  charges  alike  faced  the  High  Altar. 

The  conjunction  of  three  coats  of  arms  in  Ger- 
many is  effected  as  shown  in  Fig.  764.  Although 
matrimonial  alliance  does  not  in  Germany  entail  the 
conjunction  of  different  coats  of  arms  on  one  shield, 
such  conjunction  does  occur  in  German  heraldry, 
but  it  is  comparable  (in  its  meaning)  with  our  rules 
of  quartering  and  not  with  our  rules  of  impalement. 
No  such  exact  and  definite  rules  exist  in  that  country 
as  are  to  be  met  with  in  our  own  to  determine  the 
choice  of  a  method  of  conjunction,  nor  to  indicate 
the  significance  to  be  presumed  from  whatever 
method  may  be  found  in  use.  Personal  selection 
and  the  adaptability  to  any  particular  method  of 
the  tinctures  and  the  charges  themselves  of  the  coats 
to  be  conjoined  seem  to  be  the  determining  factors 
and  the  existing  territorial  attributes  of  Germa 
armory  have  a  greater  weight  in  marshalling  than  the 
principle  of  heirship  which  is  now  practically  the  sole 
governing  factor  in  British  heraldry.  One  must  therefore  content  one- 
self with  a  brief  recital  of  some  of  the  various 
modes  of  conjunction  which  have  been  or  are 
still  practised.  These  include  impalement 
per  pale  or  per  fess  (Fig.  765)  and  dimidia- 
tion  (Fig.  766),  which  is  more  usual  on  the 
Continent  than  it  ever  was  in  these  kingdoms. 
The  subdivision  of  the  field,  as  with  ourselves, 
is  most  frequently  adopted;  though  we  are 
usually  confined  to  quartering,  German  armory 
knows  no  such  restrictions.  The  most  usual 
subdivisions  are  as  given  in  Fig.  767.  The 
ordinary  quartered  shield  is  met  with  in 
Fig.  768,  which  represents  the  arms  of 
Elector  and  Archbishop  of  Treves  (1567— 
his  personal  arms  of  Eltz  ('^  Per  fess  gules  and 
a  demi-lion  issuing  or ")  are  quartered  with  the 
of  his  archbishopric,  "Argent,  a  cross  gules." 
of  conjunction  is  superimposition,  by  which  the 
shield   takes   the   form   of  an    ordinary   imposed 


Arms  of 


Loschau  or  Lexaw, 
of  Augsburg. 


ts     I — I 1     I — I — I 


Fig.  y62. 


Fig.  768. — Arms  of  the  Elector 
and  Archbishop  of  Treves. 


James  III.,  Von 
1 581),  in  which 
argent,  in  chief 
impersonal  arms 
Another  method 
design   of   the   one 


Eltz, 


Fig.  769.  Fig.  770.      ,  , 


560     A   COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

upon  the  other  (Fig.  769).     A  curious  method  of  conjoining  three 
coats  is  by  engrafting  the  third  in   base  (Fig.   770).     The  constant 

use  of  the  inescutcheon  has  been  already 
referred  to,  and  even  early  English  armory 
igs.  706  and  710)  has  examples  of  the 
widespread  Continental  practice  (which 
obtains  largely  in  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
heraldry)  of  surrounding  one  coat  with  a  bordure  of  another. 

The  German  method  of  conjunction  by  incorporation  has  been 
frequently  pleaded  in  British  heraldry,  in  efforts  to 
account  for  ancient  arms,  but  with  us  (save  for 
occasional  use  for  cadency  differencing  at  an  early 
and  for  a  limited  period)  such  incorporation  only 
results  in  and  signifies  an  originally  new  coat,  and 
not  an  authorised  marshalling  of  existing  arms  of 
prior  origin  and  authority.  The  German  method 
can  best  be  explained  by  two  examples.  Let  us 
suppose  a  coat  '<  per  fess  argent  and  gules,"  with 
which  another  coat  ^^  gules,  a  fleur-de-lis  argent,"  is  to  be  marshalled. 
The  result  would  be  **  per  fess  argent  and  gules,  a  fleur-de-lis 
counterchanged."  With  smaller  objects  a  more  usual  method  would 
duplicate  the  charges,  thus  '<  per  bend  argent  and  azure,"  and  ^*  argent, 
a  star  of  six  points  azure "  would  result  in  "  per  bend  argent  and 
azure,  two  stars  of  six  points  counterchanged"  (Fig.  771). 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 

THE    ARMORIAL    INSIGNIA    OF    KNIGHTHOOD 

IT  hardly  falls  within  the  scope  of  the  present  work  to  detail  or 
discuss  the  various  points  concerning  the  history  or  statutes  of 
the  different  British  Orders  of  Knighthood,  and  still  less  so  of  the 
Foreign  Orders.  The  history  of  the  English  Orders  alone  would  make 
a  bulky  volume.  But  it  is  necessary  to  treat  of  the  matter  to  some 
limited  extent,  inasmuch  as  in  modern  heraldry  in  every  country  in 
Europe  additions  are  made  to  the  armorial  achievement  whenever  it 
is  desired  to  signify  rank  in  any  of  the  Orders  of  Knighthood. 

Though  a  large  number  of  the  early  Plantagenet  Garter  Stall  plates 
date  as  far  back  as  the  year  1420,  it  is  evident  that  nothing  in  the 
armorial  bearings  with  which  they  are  emblazoned  bears  any  relation 
to  the  order  of  knighthood  to  which  they  belonged  until  the  year  1469 
or  thereabouts,  when  Charles  the  Bold,  Duke  of  Burgundy,  was  elected 
a  Knight  of  the  Garter.  His  Stall  plate,  which  is  of  a  very  exceptional 
style  and  character,  is  the  first  to  bear  the  garter  encircling  the  shield. 
It  is  curious  to  notice,  by  the  way,  that  upon  the  privy  seal  of  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  which  shows  the  same  arms  depicted  upon  his 
Garter  plate,  the  shield  is  surrounded  by  the  collar,  from  which  depends 
the  badge  of  the  Order  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  so  that  it  is  highly  pro- 
bable that  the  custom  of  adding  marks  of  knighthood  to  a  shield  came 
to  us  from  the  Continent.  The  next  Garter  plate,  which  shows  the 
garter  around  the  shield,  is  that  of  Viscount  Lovel,  who  was  elected  in 
1483  ;  and  the  shield  of  the  Earl  of  Derby,  who  was  elected  in  the 
same  year,  also  is  encircled  by  the  Garter.  The  Garter  itself  encir- 
cling the  shields  of  knights  of  that  order  remained  the  only  mark  of 
knighthood  used  armorially  in  this  country  for  a  considerable  period, 
though  we  find  that  the  example  was  copied  in  Scotland  soon  afterwards 
with  regard  to  the  Order  of  the  Thistle.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  present  Lyon  Register,  which  dates  from  the  year  1672,  the  arms 
of  the  King  of  Scotland,  which  are  given  as  such  and  not  as  the  King 
of  England  and  Scotland,  are  described  as  encircled  by  the  collar 
of  the  Order  of  the  Thistle.  This  probably  was  used  as  the  equiva- 
lent of  the  garter  in   England,  for  we  do  not  find  the  collar  of  the 

561  2  N 


562     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Garter,  together  with  the  garter  itself,  or  the  ribbon  circle  of  the  Thistle, 
together  with  the  collar  of  that  order,  until  a  much  later  period.  The 
use  of  collars  of  knighthood  upon  the  Continent  to  encircle  coats  of 
arms  has  been  from  the  fifteenth  century  very  general  and  extensive  ; 
examples  are  to  be  found  at  an  earlier  date  ;  but  the  encircling  of 
arms  with  the  garter  carrying  the  motto  of  the  order,  or  with  the 
ribbon  (which  is  termed  the  circle)  and  motto  of  any  other  order  is 
an  entirely  English  practice,  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
copied  in  any  other  country.  It,  of  course,  arose  from  the  fact  that 
the  actual  garter  as  worn  by  the  knight  of  the  order  carried  the  motto 
of  the  order,  and  that  by  representing  the  garter  round  the  shield,  the 
motto  of  the  order  was  of  necessity  also  added.  The  Lyon  Register, 
however,  in  the  entry  of  record  (dated  1672),  states  that  the  shield  is 
^^  encircled  with  the  Order  of  Scotland,  the  same  being  composed 
of  rue  and  thistles  having  the  image  of  St.  Andrew  with  his  crosse 
on  his  brest  y^'unto  pendent,"  and  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that 
occasional  instances  of  the  heraldic  use  of  the  collar  of  the  garter 
might  be  discovered  at  the  same  period.  But  it  is  not  until  the 
later  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  that  it  obtained  anything  like  a 
regular  use. 

During  the  Hanoverian  period  it  became  customary  to  encircle 
the  shield  first  with  the  garter,  and  that  in  its  turn  with  the  collar  of 
the  order  whenever  it  was  desired  to  display  the  achievement  in  its 
most  complete  style  ;  and  though  even  then,  as  at  the  present  day, 
for  less  elaborate  representations  the  garter  only  was  used  without  the 
collar,  it  still  remains  correct  to  display  both  in  a  full  emblazonment 
of  the  arms.  An  impetus  to  the  practice  was  doubtless  given  by  the 
subdivision  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath,  which  will  be  presently  referred 
to.  In  speaking  of  the  garter,  the  opportunity  should  be  taken  to 
protest  strongly  against  the  objectionable  practice  which  has  arisen 
of  using  a  garter  to  encircle  a  crest  or  shield  and  to  carry  the  family 
motto.  No  matter  what  motto  is  placed  upon  the  garter,  it  is  both 
bad  form  and  absolutely  incorrect  for  any  one  who  is  not  a  Knight  of 
the  Garter  to  use  a  garter  in  any  heraldic  display. 

But  to  tabulate  the  existing  practice  the  present  rules  as  to  the 
display  of  the  arms  of  knights  of  the  different  orders  are  as  follow  : — 

A  Knight  of  the  Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Garter  encircles  his  escut- 
cheon by  a  representation  of  the  garter  he  wears.  This  is  a  belt  of 
dark  blue  velvet  edged  with  gold  and  ornamented  with  a  heavy  gold 
buckle  and  ornament  at  the  end.  It  carries  the  motto  of  the  Order, 
"  Honi  soit  qui  mal  y  pense,"  in  gold  letters  of  plain  Roman  char- 
acter. Anciently  the  motto  was  spelled  <^  Hony  soit  qy  mal  y  pense," 
as  may  be  noticed  from  some  of  the  early  Garter  plates,  and  the  style 


ARMORIAL   INSIGNIA   OF   KNIGHTHOOD     563 

of  the  letter  was  what  is  now  known  as  ^'  Old  English."  The  garter 
is  worn  buckled,  with  the  end  tucked  under  and  looped  in  a  specified 
manner,  which  is  the  method  also  adopted  in  heraldic  representations. 
It  is  quite  permissible  to  use  the  garter  alone,  but  a  Knight  of  the 
Order  is  allowed  to  add  outside  the  garter  the  representation  of  the 
collar  of  the  order.  This  is  of  gold,  consisting  of  twenty-six  buckled 
garters  enamelled  in  the  correct  colour,  each  surrounding  a  rose,  the 
garter  alternated  with  gold  knots  all  joined  up  by  chain  links  of  gold. 
From  the  collar  depends  the  ^'  George,"  or  figure  of  St.  George  on 
horseback  encountering  the  dragon,  enamelled  in  colours.  In  heraldic 
representations  it  is  usual  to  ignore  the  specified  number  of  links  in 
the  collar.  A  Knight  of  the  Garter  as  such  is  entitled  to  claim  the 
privilege  of  a  grant  of  supporters,  but  as  nowadays  the  order  is  reserved 
for  those  of  the  rank  of  earl  and  upwards,  supporters  will  always  have 
a  prior  existence  in  connection  with  the  peerage. 

Knights  of  the  Most  Ancient  and  Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Thistle  are 
entitled  to  surround  their  arms  with  a  plain  circle  of  green  edged  with 
gold  and  bearing  the  motto  in  gold  letters,  "  Nemo  me  impune 
lacessit."  They  are  also  entitled  to  surround  their  arms  with  the  collar 
of  the  order,  which  is  of  gold,  and  composed  of  sprigs  of  thistle  and 
rue  (Andrew)  enamelled  in  their  proper  colours.  From  the  collar  the 
badge  (the  figure  of  St.  Andrew)  depends. 

Knights  of  the  Most  Illustrious  Order  of  St,  Patrick  are  entitled  to 
surround  their  arms  by  a  plain  circle  of  sky-blue  edged  with  gold, 
bearing  the  motto,  ^^  Quis  Separabit.  mdcclxxxiii,"  as  enamelled  on 
the  star  of  the  order.  This  is  encircled  by  the  collar  of  the  order, 
which  is  of  "gold,  composed  of  roses  and  harps  alternately,  tied 
together  with  knots  of  gold,  the  said  roses  enamelled  alternately,  white 
leaves  within  red  and  red  leaves  within  white  ;  and  in  the  centre  of 
the  said  collar  shall  be  an  Imperial  crown  surmounting  a  harp  of  gold, 
from  which  shall  hang  the  badge." 

Knights  of  the  Thistle  and  St.  Patrick  are  entitled  as  such  to  claim 
a  grant  of  supporters  on  payment  of  the  fees,  but  these  orders  are 
nowadays  confined  to  peers. 

The  Most  Honourable  Order  of  the  Bath, — Knights  of  the  Bath,  who 
have  existed  from  a  remote  period,  do  not  appear  as  such  to  have  made 
any  additions  to  their  arms  prior  to  the  revival  of  the  order  in  1725. 
At  that  time,  similarly  to  the  Orders  of  the  Garter  and  the  Thistle,  the 
order  was  of  one  class  only  and  composed  of  a  hmited  number  of 
knights.  Knights  of  that  order  were  then  distinguished  by  the  letters 
K.B.,  which,  it  should  be  noted,  mean  Knight  of  the  Bath,  and  not 
Knight  Bachelor,  as  so  many  people  now  imagine.  There  is  nobody 
at  the  present  time  who  is  entitled  to  use  these  letters.     Upon  those 


564     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  the  Bath  plates  which  now  remain  in  the  chapel  of  Henry  VII.  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  no  instance  will  be  found  in  which  the  collar  is 
represented  outside  the  circle,  which  is  pretty  good  evidence  that 
although  isolated  examples  may  possibly  be  found  at  an  earlier  date, 
it  was  not  the  usual  custom  up  to  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century 
to  encircle  a  shield  with  a  collar  of  knighthood.  These  Knights  of 
the  Bath  (K.B.),  as  they  were  termed,  surrounded  their  escutcheons 
with  circlets  of  crimson  edged  with  gold,  and  bearing  thereupon  the 
motto  of  the  order,  "Tria  juncta  in  uno,"  in  gold  letters. 

Although  at  that  time  it  does  not  appear  that  the  collar  of  the 
order  was  ever  employed  for  armorial  purposes,  instances  are  to  be 
found  in  which  the  laurel  wreath  surrounded  the  circlet  with  the  motto 
of  the  order. 

In  the  year  18 15,  owing  to  the  large  number  of  officers  who  had 
merited  reward  in  the  Peninsular  Campaign,  it  was  considered  neces- 
sary to  largely  increase  the  extent  and  scope  of  the  order.  For 
this  purpose  it  was  divided  into  two  divisions — the  Military  Division 
and  the  Civil  Division — and  each  of  these  were  divided  into  three 
classes,  namely,  Knights  Grand  Cross  (G.C.B.),  Knights  Commanders 
(K.C.B.),  and  Companions  (C.B.).  The  then  existing  Knights  of  the 
Bath  became  Knights  Grand  Cross.  The  existing  collar  served  for  all 
Knights  Grand  Cross,  but  the  old  badge  and  star  were  assigned  for 
the  civil  division  of  the  order,  a  new  pattern  being  designed  for 
the  military  division.  The  number  of  stalls  in  Henry  VII.'s  Chapel 
being  limited,  the  erection  of  Stall  plates  and  the  display  of  banners 
ceased  ;  those  then  in  position  were  allowed  to  remain,  and  still  remain 
at  the  present  moment.  Consequently  there  are  no  Stall  plates  to  refer 
to  in  the  matter  as  precedents  since  that  period,  and  the  rules  need  to 
be  obtained  from  other  sources.  They  are  now  as  follows  :  A  Knight 
Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath  surrounds  his  arms  with  the 
circlet  as  was  theretofore  the  case,  and  in  addition  he  surrounds  the 
circlet  by  his  collar,  from  which  depends  the  badge  (either  military  or- 
civil)  of  the  division  to  which  he  belongs.  The  collar  is  really  for 
practical  purposes  the  distinguishing  mark  of  a  Knight  Grand  Cross, 
because  although  as  such  he  is  entitled  upon  payment  of  the  fees  to 
claim  a  grant  of  supporters,  he  is  under  no  compulsion  to  do  so,  and 
comparatively  but  few  avail  themselves  of  the  privilege.  All  Knights 
of  the  Bath,  before  the  enlargement  of  the  order,  had  supporters.  A 
Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  military  division  encircles  his  arms  with  the 
laurel  wreath  in  addition,  this  being  placed  outside  the  circlet  and 
within  the  collar  of  the  order.  The  collar  is  composed  of  gold  having 
nine  Imperial  crowns  and  eight  devices  of  the  rose,  the  thistle,  and 
shamrock  issuing  from  a  sceptre  placed  alternately  and  enamelled  in 


ARMORIAL   INSIGNIA    OF    KNIGHTHOOD     565 

their  proper  colours,  the  links  being  connected  with  seventeen  knots 
enamelled  white.  The  badges  of  the  military  and  civil  divisions 
differ  considerably. 

Knights  Commanders  of  the  Bath  have  no  collar  and  cannot  claim 
a  grant  of  supporters,  but  they  encircle  their  shields  with  the  circlet  of 
the  order,  suspending  their  badge  below  the  shield  by  the  ribbon  from 
which  it  is  worn.  Knights  Commanders  of  the  military  division  use 
the  laurel  wreath  as  do  Knights  Grand  Cross,  but  no  members  of  any 
class  of  the  civil  division  are  entitled  to  display  it. 

Companions  of  the  order  (C.B.)  do  not  use  the  helmet  of  a  knight 
as  does  a  G.C.B.  or  a  K.C.B.  ;  in  fact,  the  only  difference  which  is 
permissible  in  their  arms  from  those  of  an  undistinguished  commoner 
is  that  they  are  allowed  to  suspend  the  badge  of  a  C.B.  from  a  ribbon 
below  their  shields.  They  do  not  use  the  circlet  of  the  order.  Certain 
cases  have  come  under  my  notice  in  which  a  military  C.B.  has  added 
a  laurel  wreath  to  his  armorial  bearings,  but  whether  such  a  practice 
is  correct  I  am  unaware,  but  I  think  it  is  not  officially  recognised. 

The  Most  Exalted  Order  of  the  Star  of  India  (like  the  Order  of  the 
Bath  as  at  present  constituted)  is  divided  into  three  classes,  Knights 
Grand  Commanders,  Knights  Commanders,  and  Companions.  Knights 
Grand  Commanders  place  the  circlet  of  the  order  around  their  shields. 
This  is  of  light  blue  inscribed  with  the  motto,  "  Heaven's  light  our 
guide."  This  in  its  turn  is  surrounded  by  the  collar  of  the  order, 
which  is  composed  of  alternate  links  of  the  Indian  lotus  flower,  crossed 
palm-branches,  and  the  united  red  and  white  rose  of  England.  In 
the  centre  of  the  collar  is  an  Imperial  crown  from  which  depends  the 
badge  of  the  order,  this  being  an  onyx  cameo  of  the  effigy  of  her  late 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria  within  the  motto  of  the  order,  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  star,  the  whole  being  richly  jewelled.  The  surrounding 
of  the  shield  by  the  circlet  of  the  order  doubtless  is  a  consequence 
and  follows  upon  the  original  custom  of  the  armorial  use  of  the  garter, 
but  this  being  admitted,  it  is  yet  permissible  to  state  that  that  practice 
came  from  the  Continent,  and  there  is  little  reason  to  doubt  that  the 
real  meaning  and  origin  of  the  custom  of  using  the  circlet  is  derived 
from  the  Continental  practice  which  has  for  long  been  usual  of  dis- 
playing the  shield  of  arms  upon  the  star  of  an  order  of  knighthood. 
The  star  of  every  British  order — the  Garter  included — contains  the 
circlet  and  motto  of  the  order,  and  it  is  easy  to  see  how,  after  depicting 
the  shield  of  arms  upon  the  star  of  the  order,  the  result  will  be  that 
the  circlet  of  the  order  surrounds  the  shield.  No  armorial  warrant 
upon  the  point  is  ever  issued  at  the  creation  of  an  order  ;  the  thing 
follows  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  circlet  being  taken  from  the  star  to 
surround  the  shield  without  further  authorisation.     Upon  this  point 


566     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

there  can  be  no  doubt,  inasmuch  as  the  garter  which  surrounds  the 
shield  of  a  K.G.  is  in  all  authoritative  heraldic  paintings  buckled  in  the 
peculiar  manner  in  which  it  is  worn  and  in  which  it  is  depicted  upon 
the  star.     The  Star  of  the  Thistle  shows  the  plain  circlet,  the  Star  of 
St.  Patrick  the  same,  and  the  arms  of  a  Knight  of  St.  Patrick  afford  a 
curious  confirmation  of  my  contention,  because   whilst  the  motto  of 
the  order   is   specified  to  be,  *'Quis   separabit,"  the   circlet   used  for 
armorial  purposes  includes  the  date  (MDCCLXXXIII.)  as  shown  upon  the 
star.     The  Order  of  the  Bath,  again,  has  a  plain  circlet  upon  the  star, 
and  the   badges  and  stars   of  the  military    knights  have   the    laurel 
wreath  represented  in  heraldic  drawings,  the  laurel  wreath  being  absent 
from  the  stars  and  the  shields  of  those  who  are  members  of  the  civil 
division.     Now  with  regard  to  the  Order  of  the  Star  of  India  the  motto 
on  the  star  is  carried  upon  a  representation  of  a  ribbon  which  is  tied 
in  a  curious  manner,  and  my  own  opinion  is  that  the  circlet   used  to 
surround  the  shield  of  a  G.C.S.I.  or  K.C.S.I.  should  (as  in  the  case 
of  the  garter)  be  represented  not  as  a  simple  circlet  like  the  Bath  or 
Thistle,  but  as  a  ribbon  tied  in  the  curious  manner  represented  upon 
the  star.     This  tying  is  not,  however,  duplicated  upon  the  badge,  and 
possibly  I  may  be  told  that  the  circlet  and  its  use  are  taken  from  the 
badge  and  not  from  the  star.     The  reply  to  such  a  statement  is,  first, 
that  there  is  no  garter  upon  the  badge  of  that  order,  there  is  no  circlet 
on  the  badge  of  the  Thistle,  and  the  circlet  on  the  badge  of  St.  Patrick 
is  surrounded  by  a  wreath  of  trefoils  which  in  that  case  ought  to 
appear  round  the  shield  of  a  K.P.     This  wreath  of  trefoils  is  absent 
from  the  K.P.  star.     Further,  no  Companion  of  an  Order  is  permitted 
to  use  the  Circlet  of  the  Order,  whilst  every  Companion  has  his  badge. 
No  Companion  has  a  star.     Though  I  hold  strongly  that  the  circlet 
of  the  Star  of  India  should  be  a  ribbon  tied  as  represented  on  the 
star  of  the  order,   I   must  admit  I  have  never  yet  come  across  an 
official    instance    of    it    being    so  represented.     This,  however,  is    a 
point    upon  which  there  is   no  definite  warrant  of  instruction,  and 
is  not  the  conclusion  justifiable  that  on  this  matter  the  officers  of  arms 
have  been  led  into  a  mistake  in  their  general  practice  by  an  oversight 
and  possible  unfamiliarity    with  the   actual  star  ?     A  Knight  Grand 
Commander  is  entitled  to  claim  a  grant  of  supporters  on  payment  of 
the  fees.     A  Knight  Commander  encircles  his  shield  with  the  circlet 
of  the  order  and  hangs  his  badge  from  a  ribbon  below,  a  Companion 
of  the  Order  simply  hangs  the  badge  he  wears  below  his  shield. 

The  Most  Distinguished  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George. — This  order 
again  is  divided  into  three  classes — Knights  Grand  Cross,  Knights 
Commanders,  and  Companions.  Knights  Grand  Cross  place  the 
circlet  of  the  order  and  the  collar  with  the  badge  around  their  shields, 


ARMORIAL    INSIGNIA    OF   KNIGHTHOOD     567 

and,  like  other  Knights  Grand  Cross,  they  are  entitled  to  claim  a  grant 
of  supporters.  The  circlet  of  the  order  is  of  blue  edged  with  gold, 
and  bearing  in  gold  letters  the  motto  of  the  order,  '^  Auspicium  melioris 
aevi."  The  collar  is  composed  alternately  of  lions  of  England,  of 
Maltese  crosses,  and  of  the  ciphers  S.M.  and  S.G.,  and  having  in  the 
centre  an  Imperial  crown  over  two  lions  passant  guardant,  each  hold- 
ing a  bunch  of  seven  arrows.  At  the  opposite  point  of  the  collar  are 
two  similar  lions.  The  whole  is  of  gold  except  the  crosses,  which  are 
of  white  enamel,  and  the  various  devices  are  linked  together  by  small 
gold  chains.  Knights  Commanders  of  the  Order  encircle  their  shields 
with  a  similar  circlet  of  the  order,  and  hang  their  badges  below.  A 
Companion  simply  suspends  his  badge  from  a  ribbon  below  his 
shield. 

The  Most  Eminent  Order  of  the  Indian  Empire, — This  order  is  divided 
into  three  classes — Knights  Grand  Commanders,  Knights  Commanders, 
and  Companions.  Knights  Grand  Commanders  and  Knights  Com- 
manders encircle  their  shields  with  the  circlet  of  the  order,  which  is  of 
purple  inscribed  in  letters  of  gold,  with  the  motto  of  the  order, 
"  Imperatricis  auspiciis."  The  collar  of  the  order,  which  is  used  by 
the  Knights  Grand  Commanders,  in  addition  to  the  circle,  is  composed 
of  elephants,  lotus  flowers,  peacocks  in  their  pride,  and  Indian  roses, 
and  in  the  centre  is  an  Imperial  crown,  the  whole  being  linked  together 
by  chains  of  gold.  Knights  Commanders  suspend  their  badges  from 
their  shields.  Companions  are  only  permitted  to  suspend  their  badges 
from  a  ribbon,  and,  as  in  the  cases  of  the  other  orders,  are  not  allowed 
to  make  use  of  the  circlet  of  the  order. 

The  Royal  Victorian  Order  is  divided  into  five  classes,  and  is  the  only 
British  order  of  which  this  can  be  said.  There  is  no  collar  belonging 
to  the  order,  so  a  G.C.V.O.  cannot  put  one  round  his  shield.  Knights 
Grand  Cross  surround  their  shields  with  the  circlet  of  the  order, 
which  is  of  dark  blue  carrying  in  letters  of  gold  the  motto,  '*  Victoria." 
Knights  Commanders  and  Commanders  also  use  the  circlet,  with 
the  badge  suspended  from  the  ribbon.  Members  of  the  fourth  and 
fifth  classes  of  the  Order  suspend  the  badge  which  they  are  entitled 
to  wear  below  their  shields.  The  ''  Victorian  Chain "  is  quite  apart 
from  the  Victorian  Order,  and  up  to  the  present  time  has  only  been 
conferred  upon  a  very  limited  number.  It  apparently  exists  by  the 
pleasure  of  His  Majesty,  no  statutes  having  been  ordained. 

The  Distinguished  Service  Order,  the  Imperial  Service  Order,  and 
the  Order  of  Merit  are  each  of  but  one  class  only,  none  of  them  con- 
ferring the  dignity  of  knighthood.  They  rank  heraldically  with  the 
Companions  of  the  other  Orders,  and  for  heraldic  purposes  merely 
confer  upon  those  people  entitled  to  the  decorations  the  right  to  sus- 


568     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

pend  the  badges  they  wear  below  their  shields  or  lozenges  as  the  case 
may  be,  following  the  rules  observed  by  other  Companions.  The 
Victoria  Cross,  the  Albert  Medal,  the  Edward  Medal,  the  Conspicuous 
Service  Cross,  the  Kaisar-i-Hind  Medal,  the  Royal  Red  Cross,  the 
Volunteer  Officers'  Decoration,  the  Territorial  Decoration,  and  the 
Decoration  of  the  League  of  Mercy  all  rank  as  decorations.  Though 
none  confer  any  style  or  precedence  of  knighthood,  those  entitled  to 
them  are  permitted  to  suspend  representations  of  such  decorations  as 
are  enjoyed  below  their  shields. 

The  members  of  the  Orders  of  Victoria  and  Albert  and  of  the 
Crown  of  India  are  permitted  to  display  the  badges  they  wear  below 
their  lozenges. 

Some  people,  notably  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
adopted  the  practice  of  placing  war  medals  below  the  escutcheons 
amongst  other  decorations.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  how  far  this 
practice  is  correct,  inasmuch  as  a  medal  does  not  technically  rank  as  a 
decoration  or  as  a  matter  of  honour.  That  medals  are  *'  decorations  " 
is  not  officially  recognised,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  Jubilee 
medal,  the  Diamond  Jubilee  medal,  and  the  Coronation  medal,  which 
have  been  given  a  status  more  of  the  character  of  a  decoration  than 
of  simple  medals. 

The  Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  in  England  does 
not  rank  with  other  orders  or  decorations,  inasmuch  as  it  was  initiated 
without  Royal  intervention,  and  carries  no  precedence  or  titular  rank. 
In  1888,  however,  a  Royal  charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained, 
and  the  distribution  of  the  highest  offices  of  the  order  in  the  persons 
of  the  Sovereign,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  other  members  of  the 
Royal  Family  has  of  late  years  very  much  increased  its  social  status. 
The  Order  is,  however,  now  recognised  to  a  certain  extent,  and  its 
insignia  is  worn  at  Court  by  duly  appointed  authority.  The  Crown 
is  gradually  acquiring  a  right  of  veto,  which  will  probably  eventu- 
ally result  in  the  order  becoming  a  recognised  honour,  of  which 
the  gift  lies  with  the  Crown.  In  the  charter  of  incorporation,  Knights 
of  Justice  and  Ladies  of  Justice  were  permitted  to  place  as  a  chief  over 
their  arms  the  augmentation  anciently  used  by  knights  of  the  English 
language  of  the  original  Roman  Catholic  Celibate  Order.  The  chief 
used  is :  "  Gules,  charged  with  a  cross  throughout  argent,  the  cross 
embellished  in  its  angles  with  lions  passant  guardant  and  unicorns 
passant  alternately  both  or,"  as  in  the  cross  of  the  order.  The 
omission,  which  is  all  the  more  inexplicable  owing  to  the  fact  that 
Garter  King  of  Arms  is  the  officer  for  the  order,  that  the  heraldic, 
provisions  of  this  charter  have  never  been  conveyed,  as  should  have 
been  the  case,  in  a  Royal  Warrant  to  the  Earl  Marshal,  has  caused  some 


ARMORIAL   INSIGNIA   OF   KNIGHTHOOD     569 

confusion,  for  the  officers  of  the  College  of  Arms,  when  speaking 
officially,  decline  to  admit  the  insignia  of  the  order  in  any  official  em- 
blazonment of  arms.     Lyon  King  of  Arms  has  been  less  punctilious. 

Knights  of  Justice,  Knights  of  Grace,  and  Esquires  of  the  Orders 
all  suspend  the  badges  they  wear  from  a  black  watered-silk  ribbon 
below  their  shields  (Fig,  334),  and  Ladies  of  Justice  and  Ladies  of 
Grace  do  the  same  below  their  lozenges.  The  arms  of  members  of 
the  Order  are  frequently  depicted  superimposed  upon  the  Cross.  By 
the  Statutes  of  the  Order  Knights  of  Justice  were  required  to  show  that 
all  their  four  grandparents  were  legally  entitled  to  bear  arms,  but  so 
many  provisions  for  the  exercise  of  discretion  in  dispensing  with  this 
requirement  were  at  the  same  time  created  that  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  such  a  regulation  might  never  have  been  included.  Some 
of  the  Knights  of  Justice  even  yet  have  no  arms  at  all,  others  are 
themselves  grantees,  and  still  others  would  be  unable  to  show  what  is 
required  of  them  if  the  claims  of  their  grandparents  were  properly 
investigated. 

It  should  perhaps  be  stated  that  supporters,  when  granted  to 
Knights  Grand  Cross  as  such,  are  personal  to  themselves,  and  in  the 
patents  by  which  they  are  granted  the  grant  is  made  for  life  only,  no 
hereditary  limitation  being  added. 

Any  person  in  this  country  holding  a  Royal  Licence  to  wear  the 
insignia  of  any  foreign  order  is  permitted  to  adopt  any  heraldic 
form,  decoration,  or  display  which  that  order 
confers  in  the  country  of  origin.  Official  recog- 
nition exists  for  this,  and  many  precedents  can 
be  quoted. 

The  rules  which  exist  in  foreign  countries 
concerning  heraldic  privileges  of  the  knights  of 
different  orders  are  very  varied,  and  it  is  impos- 
sible to  briefly  summarise  them.  It  may,  how- 
ever, be  stated  that  the  most  usual  practice  is  to 
display  the  shield  alone  in  the  centre  of  the  star 
(Fig.  772).  As  with  us,  the  collars  of  the  orders  ^^  fh^f  S^Zrifo^Tef  j; 
are  placed  around  the  shields,  and  the  badges  the  Knights  Hospitallers 
depend  below,  but  the  use  of  the  circlet  carrying  °'  '^^  ^'^''  ""^  ^^^'^' 
the  motto  of  the  order  is  exclusively  a  British  practice.  In  the  case  of 
some  of  the  Orders,  however,  the  official  coat  of  arms  of  the  order  is 
quartered,  impaled,  or  borne  in  pretence  with  the  personal  arms,  and 
the  cross  pat^e  of  the  Order  of  the  Dannebrog  is  to  be  met  with  placed 
in  front  of  a  shield  of  quarterings,  the  charges  thereupon  appearing 
in  the  angles  of  the  cross.  I  am  not  sure,  however,  that  the  cases 
which  have  come  under  my  notice  should  not  be  rather  considered 


570     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

definite  and  hereditary  grants  of  augmentation,  this  being  perhaps 
a  more  probable  explanation  than  that  such  a  method  of  display  fol- 
lowed as  a  matter  of  course  on  promotion  to  the  order.  The  Grand 
Masters  of  the  Teutonic  Order  quarter  the  arms  of  that  order  with 
those  of  their  families.  The  Knights  of  the  Order  of  St.  Stephen 
of  Tuscany  bear  the  arms  of  that  order  in  chief  over  their  personal 
arms.  Fig.  772  represents  the  manner  in  which  a  "  Bailli-profes  " 
(Grand  Cross)  of  the  real  Catholic  and  Celibate  Order  of  St.  John 
of  Malta  places  the  chief  of  the  order  on  his  shield,  the  latter  being 
imposed  upon  a  Maltese  star  (this  being  white)  and  the  badge  of  the 
order  depending  below.  The  *'  Knight-profes  "  does  not  use  the  chief 
of  the  order.  In  the  German  Protestant  Order  of  Malta  (formerly 
Bailiwick  of  Brandenburg)  the  Commendatores  place  the  shield  of 
their  arms  upon  the  Cross  of  Malta.  The  Knights  of  Justice  (^*  Richts- 
ritter  ")  on  the  contrary  assume  the  cross  upon  the  shield  itself,  whilst 
the  Knights  of  Grace  suspend  it  from  the  bottom  of  the  shield.  The 
members  of  the  ancient  Order  of  La  Cordeliere  formerly  encircled 
their  lozenges  with  a  representation  of  the  Cordeliere,  which  formed 
a  part  of  their  habit ;  and  the  officers  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Orders 
frequently  surround  their  escutcheons  with  rosaries  from  which  depend 
crucifixes.  Whether  this  latter  practice,  however,  should  be  considered 
merely  a  piece  of  artistic  decoration,  or  whether  it  should  be  regarded 
as  an  ecclesiastical  matter  or  should  be  included  within  the  purview  of 
armory,  I  leave  others  to  decide. 

By  a  curious  fiction,  for  the  origin  of  which  it  is  not  easy  to 
definitely  account,  unless  it  is  a  survival  of  the  celibacy  required  in 
certain  orders,  a  knight  is  not  supposed  to  share  the  insignia  of  any 
order  of  knighthood  with  his  wife.  There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt 
that  his  own  knighthood  does  confer  upon  her  both  precedence  and 
titular  rank,  and  why  there  should  be  any  necessity  for  the  statement 
to  be  made  as  to  the  theoretical  position  has  long  been  a  puzzle  to 
me.  Such  a  theory,  however,  is  considered  to  be  correct,  and  as  a 
consequence  in  modern  times  it  has  become  a  rigid  rule  that  the  arms 
of  the  wife  of  a  knight  must  not  be  impaled  upon  a  shield  when  it  is 
displayed  within  the  circlet  of  an  order.  No  such  rule  existed  in 
ancient  times,  and  many  instances  can  be  found  in  which  impaled 
shields,  or  the  shield  of  the  wife  only,  are  met  with  inside  a  repre- 
sentation of  the  Garter.  In  the  warrant  recently  issued  for  Queen 
Alexandra  the  arms  of  England  and  Denmark  are  impaled  within  a 
Garter.  This  may  be  quite  exceptional  and  consequent  upon  the  fact 
that  Her  Majesty  is  herself  a  member  of  the  Order.  Nevertheless, 
the  modern  idea  is  that  when  a  Knight  of  any  Order  impales  the 
arms  of  his  wife,  he  must  use  two  shields  placed  accoU^,  the  dexter 


ARMORIAL   INSIGNIA    OF    KNIGHTHOOD     571 

surmounting  the  sinister  (Fig.  745).  Upon  the  dexter  shield  is  re- 
presented the  arms  of  the  knight  within  the  circlet,  or  the  circlet 
and  collar,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  his  order  ;  on  the  sinister  shield 
the  arms  of  the  knight  are  impaled  with  those  of  his  wife,  and  this 
shield,  for  the  purpose  of  artistic  balance,  is  usually  surrounded  with 
a  meaningless  and  inartistic  floral  or  laurel  wreath  to  make  its  size 
similar  to  the  dimensions  of  the  dexter  shield. 

The  widow  of  a  knight  of  any  Order  is  required  at  present  to 
immediately  discontinue  the  use  of  the  ensigns  of  that  Order,  and  to 
revert  to  the  plain  impaled  lozenge  which  she  would  be  entitled  to  as 
the  widow  of  an  undecorated  gentleman.  As  she  retains  her  titular 
rank,  such  a  regulation  seems  absurd,  but  it  undoubtedly  exists,  and 
until  it  is  altered  must  be  conformed  to. 

Knights  Grand  Cross  and  Knights  Commanders,  as  also  Knights 
Bachelors,  use  the  open  affronts  helmet  of  a  knight.  Companions  of 
any  order,  and  members  of  those  orders  which  do  not  confer  any 
precedence  or  title  of  knighthood,  use  only  the  close  profile  helmet  of 
a  gentleman.  A  Knight  Bachelor,  of  course,  is  at  liberty  to  impale 
the  arms  of  his  wife  upon  his  escutcheon  without  employing  the 
double  form.  It  only  makes  the  use  of  the  double  escutcheon  for 
Knights  of  Orders  the  more  incomprehensible. 

Reference  should  also  be  made  to  the  subject  of  impalement, 
which  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  upon  Marshalling. 


CHAPTER   XXXV 
THE    ARMORIAL    BEARINGS    OF    A    LADY 

BEARING  in  mind  that  armory  was  so  deeply  interwoven  with 
all  that  was  best  in  chivalry,  it  is  curious  that  the  armorial 
status  of  a  woman  should  have  been  left  so  undefined.  A  query 
as  to  how  a  lady  may  bear  arms  will  be  glibly  answered  for  her  as 
maid  (Fig.  749)  and  as  widow  (Figs.  750,  751,  and  752)  by  the  most 
elementary  heraldic  text-book.  But  a  little  consideration  will  show 
how  far  short  our  knowledge  falls  of  a  complete  or  uniform  set  of 
rules. 

Let  what  is  definitely  known  be  first  stated.  In  the  first  place, 
no  woman  (save  a  Sovereign)  can  inherit,  use,  or  transmit  crest  or 
motto,  nor  may  she  use  a  helmet  or  mantling.  All  daughters,  if  un- 
married, bear  upon  a  lozenge  the  paternal  arms  and  quarterings  of  their 
father,  with  his  difference  marks.  If  their  mother  were  an  heiress, 
they  quarter  her  arms  with  those  of  her  father.  In  England  (save  in 
the  Royal  Family,  and  in  this  case  even  it  is  a  matter  of  presumption 
only)  there  is  no  seniority  amongst  daughters,  and  the  difference 
marks  of  all  daughters  are  those  borne  by  the  father,  and  none  other. 
There  are  no  marks  of  distinction  as  between  the  daughters  them- 
selves. In  Scotland,  however,  seniority  does  exist,  according  to 
priority  of  birth  ;  and,  though  Scottish  heraldic  law  provides  no 
marks  of  cadency  as  between  sister  and  sister,  the  laws  of  arms  north 
of  the  Tweed  recognise  seniority  of  birth  in  the  event  of  a  certain  set 
of  circumstances  arising. 

In  Scotland,  as  doubtless  many  are  aware,,  certain  untitled  Scottish 
families,  for  reasons  which  may  or  may  not  be  known,  have  been 
permitted  to  use  supporters  to  their  arms.  When  the  line  vests  in 
coheirs,  the  eldest  born  daughter,  as  heir  of  line,  assumes  the  sup- 
porters, unless  some  other  limitation  has  been  attached  to  them. 
Scottish  supporters  are  peculiar  things  to  deal  with,  unless  the  exact 
terms  of  the  patent  of  grant  or  matriculation  are  known. 

The  lozenge  of  an  unmarried  lady  is  frequently  surmounted  by  a 
true  lover's  knot  of  ribbon,  usually  painted  blue  (Fig.  749).  It  has  no 
particular  meaning  and  no  official  recognition,  though  plenty  of  official 

57a 


THE   ARMORIAL   BEARINGS    OF    A    LADY     573 

use,  and  practically  its  status  is  no  more  than  a  piece  of  supposedly 
artistic  ornament. 

Concerning  the  law  for  unmarried  ladies,  therefore,  there  is  neither 
doubt  nor  dispute.  A  widow  bears  arms  upon  a  lozenge,  this  showing 
the  arms  of  her  late  husband  impaled  with  those  of  her  own  family 
(Fig.  750),  or  with  these  latter  displayed  on  an  escutcheon  of  pretence 
if  she  be  an  heir  or  coheir  (Fig.  751). 

The  other  state  in  the  progress  of  life  in  which  a  lady  may  hope 
or  expect  to  find  herself  is  that  of  married  life.  Now,  how  should  a 
married  lady  display  arms  ?  Echo  and  the  text-books  alike  answer, 
'^  How  ?  "  Does  anybody  know  ?  This  "  fault,"  for  such  it  undoubtedly 
is,  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  laws  of  arms  evolved  themselves  in  that 
period  when  a  married  woman  was  little  accounted  of.  As  an  un- 
married heiress  she  undoubtedly  was  a  somebody  ;  as  a  widowed  and 
richly-jointured  dowager  she  was  likewise  of  account,  but  as  a  wedded 
wife  her  identity  was  lost,  for  the  Married  Women's  Property  Act  was 
not  in  existence,  nor  was  it  thought  of.  So  completely  was  it  recog- 
nised that  all  rights  and  inheritance  of  the  wife  devolved  of  right  upon 
the  husband,  that  formerly  the  husband  enjoyed  any  peerage  honours 
which  had  descended  to  the  wife,  and  was  summoned  to  Parliament 
as  a  peer  in  his  wife's  peerage.  Small  wonder,  then,  that  the  same 
ideas  dominated  the  rules  of  armory.  These  only  provide  ways  and 
methods  for  the  husband  to  bear  the  wife's  arms.  This  is  curious, 
because  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  at  a  still  earlier  period  the  practice 
of  impalement  was  entirely  confined  to  women,  and  that,  unless  the 
wife  happened  to  be  an  heiress,  the  husband  did  not  trouble  to  impale 
her  arms.  But  a  little  thought  will  show  that  the  two  are  not  at 
variance,  for  if  monuments  and  other  matters  of  record  are  ignored,  the 
earliest  examples  of  impalement  which  have  come  down  to  us  are  all, 
almost  without  exception,  examples  of  arms  borne  by  widows.  One 
cannot  get  over  the  fact  that  a  wife  during  coverture  had  practically 
no  legal  status  at  all.  The  rules  governing  impalement,  and  the  con- 
junction of  the  arms  of  man  and  wife,  as  they  are  to  be  borne  by  the 
husband,  are  recited  in  the  chapter  upon  Marshalling,  which  also 
details  the  ways  in  which  a  widow  bears  arms  in  the  different  ranks  of 
life.     Nothing  would  be  gained  by  repeating  them  here. 

It  may  be  noted,  however,  that  it  is  not  considered  correct  for  a 
widow  to  make  use  of  the  true  lover's  knot  of  blue  ribbon,  which  is 
sometimes  used  in  the  case  of  an  unmarried  lady.  A  divorce  puts 
matters  in  statu  quo  ante. 

There  still  remains,  however,  the  question  of  the  bearing  of  arms 
in  her  own  right  by  a  married  woman  under  coverture  at  the  present 
day. 


574     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

The  earliest  grant  of  arms  that  I  can  put  my  hands  upon  to  a  woman 
is  one  dated  1558.  It  is,  moreover,  the  only  grant  of  which  I  know 
to  one  single  person,  that  person  being  a  wife.  The  grant  is  decidedly 
interesting,  so  I  print  it  in  full : — 

*'  To  ALL  AND  SINGULAR  as  well  kinges  heraldes  and  officers  of 
armes  as  nobles  gentlemen  and  others  which  these  presents  shall  see 
or  here  Wyllyam  Hervye  Esquire  otherwise  called  Clarencieux  princi- 
pall  heralde  and  kinge  of  armes  of  the  south-east  and  west  parties  of 
England  fendith  duecomendacons  and  greting  fforasmuch  as  auncientlye 
ffrom  the  beginnynge  the  valyant  and  vertuous  actes  off  excellent 
parsons  have  ben  comended  to  the  worlde  with  sondry  monumentes 
and  remembrances  off  theyr  good  desertes  among  the  which  one  of  the 
chefist  and  most  usuall  hath  ben  the  beringe  of  figures  and  tokens  in 
shildes  called  armes  beinge  none  other  thinges  then  Evidences  and 
demonstracons  of  prowes  and  valoure  diverselye  distributed  accordinge 
to  the  quallyties  and  desertes  of  the  parsons.  And  for  that  Dame 
Marye  Mathew  daughter  and  heyre  of  Thomas  Mathew  of  Colchester 
in  the  counte  of  Essex  esquire  hath  longe  contynued  in  nobylyte  she 
and  her  auncestors  bearinge  armes,  yet  she  notwithstandinge  being 
ignorant  of  the  same  and  ffor  the  advoydinge  of  all  inconvenyences 
and  troubles  that  dayleye  happeneth  in  suche  cases  and  not  wyllinge 
to  preiudyce  anye  person  hath  instantlye  requyred  me  The  sayde 
Clarencieux  kinge  of  armes  accordinge  to  my  registers  and  recordes 
To  assigne  and  sett  forthe  ffor  her  and  her  posterite  The  armes  belong- 
ing and  descendinge  To  her  ffrom  her  saide  auncesters.  In  considera- 
con  whereof  I  have  at  her  ientle  request  assigned  geven  and  granted 
unto  her  and  her  posterite  The  owlde  and  auncient  armes  of  her  said 
auncesters  as  followeth.  That  is  to  saye — partye  per  cheveron  sables 
and  argent  a  Lyon  passant  in  chefe  off  the  second  the  poynt  goutey  ^ 
of  the  firste  as  more  plainly  aperith  depicted  in  this  margent.  Which 
armes  I  The  Saide  Clarencieux  kinge  of  Armes  by  powre  and  authorite 
to  myne  office  annexed  and  graunted  By  the  Queenes  Majesties  Letters 
patentes  under  The  great  Seale  of  England  have  ratefyed  and  confirmed 
and  By  These  presentes  do  ratefye  and  confyrme  unto  and  for  the 
saide  dame  marye  Mathew  otherwise  called  dame  Mary  Jude  wiffe  to 
Sir  Andrew  Jude  Knight  late  Mayor  and  Alderman  off  London  and  to 
her  posterite  To  use  bear  and  show  for  evermore  in  all  places  of 
honour  to  her  and  theyr  wourshipes  at  theyr  Lybertie  and  pleasur 
without  impediment  lett  or  interupcon  of  any  person  or  persons. 

<*  In  witness  whereof  the  saide  Clarencieux  Kinge  of  Armes  have 
signed  these  presentes  with  my  hand  and  sett  thereunto  The  Seale  off 

;   *  Gutte-de-poix. 


THE    ARMORIAL    BEARINGS    OF    A    LADY     575 

myne  office  and  The  Seale  of  myne  armes  geven  at  London  The  x***  daye 
off  October  in  the  Yeare  of  owre  Lord  Godd  1558  and  in  the  ffourth 
and  ffifth  yeares  off  the  reignes  off  owre  Souereignes  Lorde  and  Layde 
Phellip  and  Marye  by  the  grace  of  God  Kinge  and  Queene  of  England 
france  both  cycles  Jerusalem  Irland  deffendors  of  the  faythe  Arche- 
dukes  of  Austrya  Dukes  of  Burgoyne  myllain  &  braband  erles  of  has- 
purgic;  Flanders  and  Tyrrell. 

"W.  Hervey  als  Clarencieux 

*^  King  of  Armes. 

"Confirmation  of  Arms  to  Dame  Mary  Mathew,  'otherwise  called 
Dame  Marye  Jude,  wyfTe  to  Sir  Andrew  Jude,  Knight,  Late  Lord  Mayor 
and  Alderman  off  London/  1558." 

In  this  grant  the  arms  are  painted  upon  a  shield.  The  grant  was 
made  in  her  husband's  lifetime,  but  his  arms  are  not  impaled  there- 
with. Evidently,  therefore,  the  lady  bears  arms  in  her  own  righty  and 
the  presumption  would  seem  to  be  that  a  married  lady  bears  her  arms 
without  reference  to  her  husband,  and  bears  them  upon  a  shield.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  grant  to  Lady  Pearce,  referred  to  on  an  earlier  page, 
whilst  not  blazoning  the  Pearce  arms,  shows  the  painting  upon  the 
patent  to  have  been  a  lozenge  of  the  arms  of  Pearce,  charged  with  a 
baronet's  hand  impaled  with  the  arms  then  granted  for  the  maiden 
name  of  Lady  Pearce.  On  the  other  hand,  a  grant  is  printed  in  vol.  i. 
of  the  Notes  to  the  '^  Visitation  of  England  and  Wales."  The  grant  is 
to  Dame  Judith  Diggs,  widow  of  Sir  Maurice  Diggs,  Bart.,  now  wife  of 
Daniel  Sheldon,  and  to  Dame  Margaret  Sheldon,  her  sister,  relict  of 
Sir  Joseph  Sheldon,  Knight,  late  Alderman,  and  sometime  Lord  Mayor 
of  the  City  of  London,  daughters  and  coheirs  of  Mr.  George  Rose,  of 
Eastergate.  The  operative  clause  of  the  grant  is  :  ''  do  by  these  Presents 
grant  and  assign  to  y*"  said  Dame  Judith  and  Dame  Margaret  the  Armes 
hereafter  mentioned  Viz^ :  Ermine,  an  Eagle  displayed  Sable,  membered 
and  beaked  Gules,  debruised  with  a  Bendlet  Compone  Or  and  Azure, 
as  in  the  margin  hereof  more  plainly  appears  depicted.  To  be  borne 
and  used  for  ever  hereafter  by  them  y^  said  Dame  Judith  Diggs  and 
Dame  Margaret  Sheldon,  and  the  descendants  of  their  bodies  respec- 
tively, lawfully  begotten,  according  to  the  Laws,  Rules  and  practice 
of  Armes." 

In  each  case  it  will  be  noted  that  the  sisters  were  respectively 
wife  and  widow  of  some  one  of  the  name  of  Sheldon  ;  and  it  might 
possibly  be  supposed  that  these  were  arms  granted  for  the  name  of 
Sheldon.  There  seems,  however,  to  be  very  little  doubt  that  these  are 
the  arms  for  Rose.  The  painting  is,  however,  of  the  single  coat  of 
Rose,  and  one  is  puzzled  to  know  why  the  arms  are  not  painted  in 


576     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

conjunction  with  those  of  Sheldon.  The  same  practice  was  followed 
in  the  patent  which  was  granted  to  Nelson's  Lady  Hamilton.  This 
patent,  which  both  heraldically  and  historically  is  excessively  interest- 
ing, was  printed  in  full  on  p.  i68,  vol.  i.  of  the  Genealogical  Magazine. 
The  arms  which  in  the  grant  are  specifically  said  to  be  the  arms 
of  Lyons  (not  of  Hamilton)  are  painted  upon  a  lozenge,  with  no 
reference  to  the  arms  of  Hamilton.  In  each  of  these  cases,  however, 
the  grantee  of  arms  has  been  an  heiress,  so  that  the  clause  by  which 
the  arms  are  limited  to  the  descendants  does  not  help.  An  instance 
of  a  grant  to  a  man  and  his  wife,  where  the  wife  was  not  an  heiress, 
is  printed  in  "  The  Right  to  Bear  Arms  "  ;  and  in  this  case  the  painting 
shows  the  arms  impaled  with  those  of  the  husband.  The  grant  to  the 
wife  has  no  hereditary  limitations,  and  presumably  her  descendants 
would  never  be  able  to  quarter  the  arms  of  the  wife,  no  matter  even  if 
by  the  extinction  of  the  other  issue  she  eventually  became  a  coheir. 
The  fact  that  the  arms  of  man  and  wife  are  herein  granted  together 
prevents  any  one  making  any  deduction  as  to  what  is  the  position  of 
the  wife  alone. 

There  was  a  patent  issued  in  the  year  1784  to  a  Mrs.  Sarah  Lax, 
widow  of  John  Lax,  to  take  the  name  and  arms  of  Maynard,  such 
name  and  arms  to  be  borne  by  herself  and  her  issue.  The  painting 
in  this  case  is  of  the  arms  of  Maynard  alone  upon  a  lozenge,  and  the 
crest  which  was  to  be  borne  by  her  male  descendants  is  quite  a 
separate  painting  in  the  body  of  the  grant,  and  not  in  conjunction 
with  the  lozenge.  Now,  Mrs.  Maynard  was  a  widow,  and  it  is  mani- 
festly wrong  that  she  should  bear  the  arms  as  if  she  were  unmarried, 
yet  how  was  she  to  bear  them  ?  She  was  bearing  the  name  of  Lax 
because  that  had  been  her  husband's  name,  and  she  took  the  name  of 
Maynard,  which  presumably  her  husband  would  have  taken  had  he 
been  alive  ;  she  herself  was  a  Miss  Jefferson,  so  would  she  have  been 
entitled  to  have  placed  the  arms  of  Jefferson  upon  an  escutcheon  of  pre- 
tence, in  the  centre  of  the  arms  of  Maynard  ?  Presumably  she  would, 
because  suppose  the  husband  had  assumed  the  name  and  arms  of 
Maynard  in  his  lifetime,  he  certainly  would  have  been  entitled  to  place 
his  wife's  arms  of  Jefferson  on  an  escutcheon  of  pretence. 

On  March  9,  1878,  Francis  Culling  Carr,  and  his  second  wife, 
Emily  Blanche,  daughter  of  Andrew  Morton  Carr,  and  niece  of  the 
late  Field-Marshal  Sir  WiUiam  Maynard  Gomm,  G.C.B.,  both  assumed 
by  Royal  Licence  the  additional  surname  and  arms  of  Gomm.  Neither 
Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Carr-Gomm  appear  to  have  had  any  blood  descent  from 
the  Gomm  family  ;  consequently  the  Gomm  arms  were  granted  to  both 
husband  and  wife,  and  the  curious  part  is  that  they  were  not  identical, 
the    marks  (showing  that  there   was  no   blood  relationship)  being  a 


THE   ARMORIAL    BEARINGS    OF   A    LADY     577 

canton  for  the  husband  and  a  cross  crosslet  for  the  wife.  In  this 
case  the  arms  were  impaled.  One  is  puzzled  to  know  why  the  grant 
to  the  wife  was  necessary  as  well  as  the  grant  to  the  husband. 

In  1865  Mrs.  Massy,  widow  of  Hugh  Massy,  assumed  the  name 
and  arms  of  Richardson  in  lieu  of  Massy.  Mrs.  Massy  was  the  only 
child  of  Major  Richardson  Brady,  who  had  previously  assumed  by 
Royal  Licence  the  arms  of  Brady  only.  The  painting  upon  the 
patent  is  a  lozenge,  bearing  the  arms  of  Massy,  and  upon  an  escutcheon 
of  pretence  the  arms  of  Richardson.  Of  course,  the  arms  of  Mrs. 
Massy,  as  a  widow,  previously  to  the  issue  of  the  Royal  Licence  were 
a  lozenge  of  the  arms  of  Massy,  and  on  an  escutcheon  of  pretence  the 
arms  of  Brady. 

A  few  years  ago  a  Grant  of  Arms  was  issued  to  a  Mrs.  Sharpe, 
widow  of  Major  Sharpe.  The  arms  were  to  he  home  hy  herself  and  the 
descendants  of  her  late  husband,  and  by  the  other  descendants  of  her 
husband's  father,  so  that  there  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  these  were 
the  arms  of  Sharpe.  I  have  no  idea  who  Mrs.  Sharpe  was,  and  I 
do  not  know  that  she  possessed  any  arms  of  her  own.  Let  us  presume 
she  did  not.  Now,  unless  a  widow  may  bear  the  arms  of  her  late 
husband  on  a  lozenge,  whether  she  has  arms  to  impale  with  them  or 
not,  how  on  earth  is  she  to  bear  arms  at  all  ?  And  yet  the  grant  most 
distinctly  was  primarily  to  Mrs.  Sharpe. 

After  the  death  of  General  Ross,  the  victor  of  Bladensburg,  a 
grant  of  an  augmentation  was  made  to  be  placed  upon  the  monu- 
ment to  the  memory  of  the  General  (Plate  II.).  The  grant  also 
was  for  the  augmentation  to  be  borne  by  his  widow  during  her 
widowhood.  But  no  mention  appears  of  the  arms  of  Mrs.  Ross, 
nor,  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  was  proof  officially  made  that  Mrs.  Ross 
was  in  her  own  right  entitled  to  arms  ;  consequently,  whether  she  really 
was  or  was  not,  we  may  assume  that  as  far  as  the  official  authorities 
officially  knew  she  was  not,  and  the  same  query  formulated  with  re- 
gard to  the  Sharpe  patent  holds  good  in  this  case.  The  painting  on 
the  patent  shows  the  arms  upon  a  shield,  and  placed  above  is  a  helmet 
surmounted  by  the  crest  of  augmentation  and  the  family  crest  of 
Ross. 

So  that  from  the  cases  we  have  mentioned  instances  can  be  found 
of  the  arms  of  a  wife  upon  a  shield  alone,  and  of  a  widow  having  arms 
depicted  upon  a  lozenge,  such  arms  being  on  different  occasions  the 
impaled  arms  of  her  husband  and  herself,  or  the  arms  of  herself  alone 
or  of  her  husband  alone  ;  and  we  have  arms  granted  to  a  wife,  and 
depicted  as  an  impalement  or  upon  a  lozenge.  So  that  from  grants 
it  seems  almost  impossible  to  deduce  any  decided  and  unquestionable 
rule  as  to  how  wife  or  widow  should  bear  a  coat  of  arms.     There  is, 

2  o 


578     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

however,  one  other  source  from  which  profitable  instruction  may  be 
drawn.  I  refer  to  the  methods  of  depicting  arms  upon  hatchments, 
and  more  particularly  to  the  hatchment  of  a  married  woman.  Now  a 
hatchment  is  strictly  and  purely  personal,  and  in  the  days  when 
the  use  of  such  an  article  was  an  everyday  matter,  the  greatest 
attention  was  paid  to  the  proper  marshalling  of  the  arms  thereupon. 
There  are  so  many  varying  circumstances  that  we  have  here  only 
space  to  refer  to  the  three  simple  rules,  and  these  uncomplicated  by 
any  exceptional  circumstances,  which  governed  the  hatchments  of 
maid,  wife,  and  widow.  In  the  first  case,  the  hatchment  of  an  un- 
married lady  showed  the  whole  of  the  background  black,  the  paternal 
arms  on  a  lozenge,  and  this  suspended  by  a  knot  of  blue  ribbon.  In 
the  hatchment  of  a  widow  the  background  again  was  all  black,  the 
arms  were  upon  a  lozenge  (but  without  the  knot  of  ribbon),  and  the 
lozenge  showed  the  arms  of  husband  and  wife  impaled,  or  with  the 
wife's  in  pretence,  as  circumstances  might  dictate.  The  hatchment  of 
a  wife  was  entirely  different.  Like  the  foregoing,  it  was  devoid,  of 
course,  of  helmet,  mantling,  crest,  or  motto  ;  but  the  background  was 
white  on  the  dexter  side  (to  show  that  the  husband  was  still  alive), 
and  black  on  the  sinister  (to  show  the  wife  was  dead).  But  the  im- 
paled arms  were  not  depicted  upon  a  lozenge,  but  upon  a  shield,  and 
the  shield  was  surmounted  by  the  true  lover's  knot  of  blue  ribbon. 

I  have  already  stated  that  when  the  rules  of  arms  were  in  the 
making  the  possibility  of  a  married  woman  bearing  arms  in  her  own 
right  was  quite  ignored,  and  theoretically  even  now  the  husband  bears 
his  wife's  arms  for  her  upon  his  shield.  But  the  arms  of  a  man  are 
never  depicted  suspended  from  a  true  lover's  knot.  Such  a  display  is 
distinctly  feminine,  and  I  verily  believe  that  the  correct  way  for  a 
married  woman  to  use  arms,  if  she  desires  the  display  thereof  to  be 
personal  to  herself  rather  than  to  her  husband,  is  to  place  her  husband's 
arms  impaled  with  her  own  upon  a  shield  suspended  from  a  true  lover's 
knot,  and  without  helmet,  mantling,  crest,  or  motto.  At  any  rate  such 
a  method  of  display  is  a  correct  one,  it  is  in  no  way  open  to  criticism 
on  the  score  of  inaccuracy,  it  has  precedent  in  its  favour,  and  it  affords 
a  very  desirable  means  of  distinction.  My  only  hesitation  is  that  one 
cannot  say  it  is  the  only  way,  or  that  it  would  be  '^  incorrect "  for  the 
husband.  At  any  rate  it  is  the  only  way  of  drawing  a  distinction 
between  the  ^^  married  "  achievements  of  the  husband  and  the  wife. 

The  limitations  attached  to  a  lady's  heraldic  display  being  what 
they  are,  it  has  long  been  felt,  and  keenly  felt,  by  every  one  attempting 
heraldic  design,  that  artistic  treatment  of  a  lady's  arms  savoured  almost 
of  the  impossible.  What  delicacy  of  treatment  can  possibly  be  added 
to  the  hard  outline  of  the  lozenge  ?     The  substitution  of  curvilinear  for 


THE    ARMORIAL   BEARINGS    OF   A    LADY     579 

straight  lines  in  the  outline,  and  even  the  foliation  of  the  outline,  goes 
but  a  little  way  as  an  equivalent  to  the  extensive  artistic  opportunities 
which  the  mantling  affords  to  a  designer  when  depicting  the  arms  of  a 
man. 

To  a  certain  extent,  two  attempts  have  been  made  towards  pro- 
viding a  remedy.  Neither  can  properly  claim  official  recognition, 
though  both  have  been  employed  in  a  quasi-official  manner.  The  one 
consists  of  the  knot  of  ribbon  ;  the  other  consists  of  the  use  of  the 
cordeliere.  In  their  present  usage  the  former  -is  meaningless  and 
practically  senseless,  whilst  the  use  of  the  latter  is  radically  wrong,  and 
in  my  opinion,  little  short  of  imposture.  The  knot  of  ribbon,  when 
employed,  is  usually  in  the  form  of  a  thin  streamer  of  blue  ribbon  tied 
in  the  conventional  true  lover's  knot  (Fig.  749).  But  the  imbecility  and 
inconsistency  of  its  use  lies  in  the  fact  that  except  upon  a  hatchment 
it  has  been  denied  by  custom  to  married  women  and  widows,  who 
have  gained  their  lovers  ;  whilst  its  use  is  sanctioned  for  the  unmarried 
lady,  who,  unless  she  be  affianced,  neither  has  nor  ought  to  have  any- 
thmg  whatever  to  do  with  lovers  or  with  their  knot.  The  women 
who  are  fancy-free  display  the  tied-up  knot ;  women  whom  love  has 
fast  tied  up,  unless  the  foregoing  opinion  as  to  the  correct  way  to  dis- 
play the  arms  of  a  married  lady  which  I  have  expressed  be  correct, 
must  leave  the  knot  alone.  But  as  matters  stand  heraldically  at  the 
moment  the  ribbon  may  be  used  advantageously  with  the  lozenge  of 
an  unmarried  lady. 

With  reference  to  the  cordeliere  some  writers  assert  that  its  use 
is  optional,  others  that  its  use  is  confined  to  widow  ladies.  Now  as  a 
matter  of  fact  it  is  nothing  whatever  of  the  kind.  It  is  really  the 
insignia  of  the  old  French  Order  of  the  Cordeliere,  which  was  founded 
by  Anne  of  Bretagne,  widow  of  Charles  VIII.,  in  1498,  its  member- 
ship being  confined  to  widow  ladies  of  noble  family.  The  cordeliere 
was  the  waist  girdle  which  formed  a  part  of  the  insignia  of  the  Order, 
and  it  took  its  place  around  the  lozenges  of  the  arms  of  the  members 
in  a  manner  similar  to  the  armorial  use  of  the  Garter  for  Knights  of 
that  Order.  Though  the  Order  of  the  Cordeliere  is  long  since  extinct, 
it  is  neither  right  nor  proper  that  any  part  of  its  insignia  should  be 
adopted  unaltered  by  those  who  can  show  no  connection  with  it  or 
membership  of  it. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

OFFICIAL    HERALDIC    INSIGNIA 

THE  armory  of  all  other  nations  than  our  own  is  rich  in  heraldic 
emblems  of  office.  In  France  this  was  particularly  the  case,  and 
France  undoubtedly  for  many  centuries  gave  the  example,  to 
be  followed  by  other  civilised  countries,  in  all  matters  of  honour  and 
etiquette. 

If  English  heraldry  were  entirely  destitute  of  official  heraldic 
ensigns,  perhaps  the  development  elsewhere  of  this  branch  of  armory 
might  be  dismissed  as  an  entirely  foreign  growth.  But  this  is  far  from 
being  the  case,  as  there  are  some  number  of  cases  in  which  these 
official  emblems  do  exist.  In  England,  however,  the  instances  are 
governed  by  no  scale  of  comparative  importance,  and  the  appearance 
of  such  tokens  can  only  be  described  as  capricious.  That  a  more 
extended  usage  might  with  advantage  be  made  no  one  can  deny,  for 
usage  of  this  character  would  teach  the  general  public  that  armory 
had  a  meaning  and  a  value,  it  would  increase  the  interest  in  heraldry, 
and  also  assist  greatly  in  the  rapidly  increasing  revival  of  heraldic 
knowledge.  The  existence  of  these  heraldic  emblems  would  manifestly 
tend  towards  a  revival  of  the  old  and  interestingly  excellent  custom  of 
regularly  setting  up  in  appropriate  public  places  the  arms  of  those 
who  have  successively  held  various  offices.  The  Inns  of  Court,  St. 
George's  Chapel,  the  Public  Office  at  the  College  of  Arms,  and  the  halls 
of  some  of  the  Livery  Companies  are  amongst  the  few  places  of  import- 
ance where  the  custom  still  obtains.  And  yet  what  an  interesting 
memorial  such  a  series  always  becomes  !  The  following  list  may  not  be 
entirely  complete,  but  it  is  fairly  so  as  far  as  France  is  concerned,  and 
I  think  also  complete  as  to  England. 

The  following  are  from  the  Royal  French  Court : — 

The  High  Constable  of  France :  Two  swords  held  on  each  side  of  the 
shield  by  two  hands  in  armour  issuing  from  the  clouds. 

77?^  Chancellor:  In  saltire  behind  his  arms  two  great  maces,  and 

over  his  helmet  a  mortier   or  cap  sable  crossed  by  two  bands   of  gold 

lace  and  turned  up  ermine  ;  thereon  the  figure  of  a  demi-queen  as  an 

emblem  of  France,  holding  a  sceptre  in  her  right  hand  and  the  great 

seal  of  the  kingdom  in  her  left. 

580 


OFFICIAL   HERALDIC   INSIGNIA  581 

The  Marshal:  Two  batons  in  sallire  behind  the  arms  aziirc; 
seme-de-Hs  or. 

The  Admiral:  Two  anchors  in  saltire  behind  the  arms,  the  stocks  of 
the  anchors  in  chief  azure,  seme-de-Hs  or. 

The  General  of  the  Galleys :  Two  anchors  in  saUire  behind  the  arms. 

Vice-Admiral :  One  anchor  in  pale  behind  the  arms. 

Colonel-General  of  the  Infantry :  Under  his  arms  in  saltire  six  flags, 
three  on  each  side,  white,  crimson,  and  blue. 

Colonel  of  the  Cavalry :  Over  the  arms  four  banners  of  the  arms  of 
France,  fringed,  &c.,  two  to  the  dexter  and  two  to  the  sinister. 

Grand  Master  of  the  Artillery :  Two  field-pieces  of  ordnance  under 
the  arms,  one  pointing  to  the  dexter  and  one  to  the  sinister. 

The  Superintendent  of  the  Finance :  Two  keys  imperially  crowned  and 
endorsed  in  pale,  one  on  each  side  of  the  arms,  the  dexter  or,  the 
sinister  argent. 

Grand  Master  of  the  Household  to  the  King:  Two  grand  batons  of 
silver  gilt  in  saltire  behind  the  arms. 

Grand  Almoner :  Under  his  arms  a  blue  book,  on  the  cover  the 
arms  of  France  and  Navarre  within  the  Orders  of  St.  Michael  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  over  the  Orders  the  Crown. 

Grand  Chamberlain :  Two  keys,  both  imperially  crowned  or,  in 
saltire  behind  the  arms  endorsed,  the  wards-in-chief. 

Grand  Esquire :  On  each  side  of  the  shield  a  royal  sword  erect,  the 
scabbard  azure,  seme-de-lis,  hilt  and  pommel  or,  the  belts  folded 
round  the  scabbard  azure,  sem^-de-lis  or. 

Grand  Pannetier,  who  by  virtue  of  his  office  had  all  the  bakers  of 
Paris  under  his  jurisdiction,  and  had  to  lay  the  king's  cover  at  his 
table,  bore  under  his  arms  a  rich  cover  and  a  knife  and  fork  in  saltire. 

Grand  Butler  or  Cupbearer :  On  each  side  of  the  base  of  the  shield, 
a  grand  silver  flagon  gilt,  with  the  arms  of  the  King  thereon. 

Gamekeeper  to  the  King :  Two  bugle-horns  appending  from  the  ends 
of  the  mantling. 

Grand  Falconer:  Two  lures  appending  from  the  ends  of  the 
mantling. 

Grand  Wolf-hunter:  On  each  side  of  the  shield  a  wolf's  head 
caboshed. 

Captain  of  the  Kings  Guards :  Two  small  batons  sable,  headed  gold, 
like  a  walking-cane. 

Captain  of  the  Hundred  Swiss  Guards:  Two  batons  in  saltire  sable, 
headed  argent,  and  under  the  arms  two  black  velvet  caps  with  feathers. 

First  Master  of  the  Household :  Under  his  arms  two  batons  in  saltire. 

Grand  Carver  to  His  Majesty :  Under  his  arms  a  knife  and  fork  in 
saltire  proper,  the  handles  azure,  sem6-de-lis  or. 


582     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

Grand  Provost  of  the  Household:  Under  his  arms  two  Roman  fasces 
or,  corded  azure. 

Grand  Quartermaster :  A  mace  and  battle-axe  in  saltire. 

Captain  of  the  Guards  of  the  Gate:  Two  keys  in  pale,  crowned  argent, 
one  on  each  side  the  arms. 

The  President  of  the  Parliatnent :  On  his  helmet  a  black  cap  with 
two  bands  of  gold  lace. 

Under  the  Empire  (of  France)  the  Vice-Connetable  used  arms 
holding  swords,  as  had  been  the  case  with  the  Constable  of  the 
Kingdom,  but  the  swords  were  sheathed  and  seme  of  golden  bees. 
The  Grand  Chamberlain  had  two  golden  keys  in  saltire,  the  bows 
thereof  enclosing  the  imperial  eagle,  and  the  batons  of  the  Marechaux 
de  French  were  sem6  of  bees  instead  of  fleurs-de-lis. 

The  Pope  bears  a  cross  with  three  arms,  an  archbishop  one  with 
two  arms,  a  bishop  one  with  a  single  arm.  Besides  this,  two  crossed 
keys  appertain  to  the  Pope,  the  golden  key  to  bind,  in  bend  dexter, 
the  silver  key  to  loose,  in  sinister  bend.  British  archbishops  and 
bishops  will  be  presently  referred  to.  Ecclesiastical  princes,  who 
were  at  the  same  time  sovereign  territorial  princes,  bore  behind  their 
shield  a  pedum  or  pastorale  (crosier),  crossed  with  the  sword  of  penal 
judicature.  A  bishop  bears  the  crosier  with  an  outward  bend,  an 
abbot  with  an  inward  bend,  thus  symbolising  the  range  of  their 
activity  or  dominion.  The  arch  and  hereditary  offices  of  the  old 
German  Empire  had  also  their  own  attributes  ;  thus  the  ^^  Erztruchsess," 
Lord  High  Steward  (Palatinate- Bavaria),  bore  a  golden  Imperial  globe, 
which  arose  from  a  misinterpretation  of  the  double  dish,  the  original 
attribute  of  this  dignity.  The  Lord  High  Marshal  of  the  Empire 
(Saxony)  expressed  his  office  by  a  shield  divided  '^  per  fess  argent  and 
sable,"  bearing  two  crossed  swords  gules.  The  Hereditary  Standard- 
bearer  (Wiirtemberg)  bore  :  "  Azure,  a  banner  or,  charged  with  an  eagle 
sable  "  ;  the  Lord  High  Chamberlain  (Brandenburg)  :  '^  Azure,  a  sceptre 
or,"  while  the  Hereditary  Chamberlain  (Hohenzollern)  used:  '^ Gules, 
two  crossed  sceptres  or." 

In  Italy  the  Duca  de  Savelli,  as  Marshal  of  the  Conclave,  hangs 
on  either  side  of  his  shield  a  key,  the  cords  of  which  are  knotted 
beneath  his  coronet. 

In  Holland  Admirals  used  the  naval  Crown,  and  added  two  anchors 
in  saltire  behind  the  shield. 

In  Spain  the  Admirals  of  Castile  and  of  the  Indies  placed  an 
anchor  in  bend  behind  the  shield. 

The  instances  I  am  aware  of  which  have  official  sanction  already 
in  this  country  are  as  stated  in  the  list  which  follows  : — 

I  have  purposely  (to  make  the  list  absolutely  complete)  included 


OFFICIAL    HERALDIC    INSIGNIA  583 

insignia  which  may  possibly  be  more  properly  considered  ensigns  of 
rank,  because  it  is  not  particularly  easy  always  to  distinguish  offices 
from  honours  and  from  rank. 

The  Kmgs  0/  England  {George  I.  to  William  IV.),  as  Arch  Treasurers 
of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  bore  :  Upon  an  inescutcheon  gules,  in 
the  centre  of  the  arms  of  Hanover,  a  representation  of  the  Crown 
of  Charlemagne. 

An  Archbishop  has  :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms,  which  he  impales 
(placing  it  on  the  dexter  side)  with  his  personal  arms  ;  (2)  his  mitre, 
which,  it  should  be  noted,  is  the  same  as  the  mitre  of  a  Bishop,  and 
not  having  a  coronet  encircling  its  band  ;  (3)  his  archiepiscopal  staff 
(of  gold,  and  with  two  transverse  arms),  which  is  placed  in  pale  behind 
his  escutcheon  ;  (4)  two  crosiers  in  saltire  behind  the  escutcheon.  It 
is  curious  to  note  that  the  pallium  which  occurs  in  all  archiepiscopal 
coats  of  arms  (save  that  of  York)  is  now  very  generally  conceded  to 
have  been  more  in  the  nature  of  an  emblem  of  the  rank  of  Archbishop 
(it  being  a  part  of  his  ecclesiastical  costume)  than  a  charge  in  a  con- 
crete impersonal  coat  of  arms  for  a  defined  area  of  archiepiscopal 
jurisdiction.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  observe  that  the 
Archbishops  of  York  anciently  used  the  pallium  in  lieu  of  the  official 
arms  now  regularly  employed. 

A  Bishop  has:  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms,  (2)  his  mitre,  (3)  two 
crosiers  in  saltire  behind  his  escutcheon. 

The  Bishop  of  Durham  has :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms,  (2)  his 
coronetted  mitre,  which  is  peculiar  to  himself  and  (which  is  another  privi- 
lege also  peculiar  to  himself  alone)  he  places  a  sword  and  a  crosier 
in  saltire  behind  his  arms.  Reference  should  also  be  made  to  the 
chapter  upon  Ecclesiastical  Heraldry. 

A  Peer  has:  (i)  His  coronet,  (2)  his  helmet  of  rank;  (3)  his 
supporters,  (4)  his  robe  of  estate. 

A  Scottish  Peer  has,  in  addition,  the  ermine  lining  to  his  mantling. 

A  Baronet  of  Englandy  of  Ireland,  of  Great  Britain,  or  of  the  United 
Kingdom  has:  (i)  His  helmet  of  rank,  (2)  his  badge  of  Ulster  upon 
an  inescutcheon  or  canton  (argent,  a  sinister  hand  erect,  couped  at 
the  wrist  gules). 

A  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia  has  :  (i)  His  helmet  of  rank,  (2)  his 
badge  (an  orange  tawny  ribbon,  whereon  shall  hang  pendent  in  an 
escutcheon  argent,  a  saltire  azure,  thereon  an  inescutcheon  of  the 
arms  of  Scotland,  with  an  imperial  crown  over  the  escutcheon,  and 
encircled  with  this  motto,  '^  Fax  Mentis  Honestae  Gloria,"  pendent 
below  the  escutcheon). 

A  Knight  of  the  Garter  has:  (i)  His  Garter  to  encircle  the  shield, 
(2)  his  collar  and  badge,  (3)  supporters.     The  Prelate  of  the  Order  of 


584     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  Garter  (an  office  held  by  the  Bishops  of  Winchester)  is  entitled  to 
encircle  his  arms  with  the  Garter.  The  Chancellor  of  the  Order  of 
the  Garter  encircles  his  arms  with  the  Garter.  Formerly  the  Bishops 
of  Salisbury  always  held  this  office,  but  in  1836  when  the  county  of 
Berks  (which  of  course  includes  Windsor,  and  therefore  the  chapel 
of  the  order)  was  removed  from  the  Diocese  of  Salisbury  to  the  Diocese 
of  Oxford,  the  office  of  Chancellor  passed  to  the  Bishops  of  Oxford. 
The  Dean  of  Windsor,  as  Registrar  of  the  Order,  displays  below  his 
shield  the  ribbon  and  badge  of  his  office. 

A  Knight  of  the  Thistle  has  :  (i)  The  ribbon  or  circlet  of  the  order, 
(2)  his  collar  and  badge,  (3)  supporters.  The  Dean  of  the  Chapels 
Royal  in  Scotland,  as  Dean  of  the  Order,  used  the  badge  and  ribbon 
of  his  office. 

A  Knight  of  St,  Patrick  has  :  (i)  The  ribbon  or  circlet  of  the  order, 
(2)  his  collar  and  badge,  (3)  supporters.  The  Prelate  of  the  Order 
of  St.  Patrick  was  as  such  entitled  to  encircle  his  escutcheon  with  the 
ribbon  or  circlet  of  that  order,  from  which  his  official  badge  depends. 
The  office,  of  course,  came  to  an  end  with  the  disestablishment  of  the 
Irish  Church.  It  was  held  by  the  Archbishops  of  Armagh.  The 
Chancellor  of  the  Order  of  St.  Patrick  is  as  such  entitled  to  encircle 
his  escutcheon  with  the  ribbon  or  circlet  of  that  order,  from  which 
his  official  badge  depends.  This  office,  formerly  held  by  the  Arch- 
bishops of  Dublin,  has  since  the  disestablishment  been  enjoyed  by  the 
Chief  Secretaries  for  Ireland.  The  Deans  of  St.  Patrick's  were  simi- 
larly Registrars  of  the  Order,  and  as  such  used  the  badge  and  ribbon 
of  their  office. 

Knights  Grand  Cross  or  Knights  Grand  Commanders  of  the  Orders 
of  the  Bath,  the  Star  of  India,  St.  Michael  and  St.  George,  the  Indian 
Empire,  or  the  Victorian  Order,  have:  (i)  The  circlets  or  ribbons  of 
their  respective  Orders,  (2)  their  collars  and  badges,  (3)  their  helmets 
of  degree,  (4)  supporters,  if  they  incUne  to  pay  the  fees  for  these  to 
be  granted. 

Knights  Commanders  of  the  aforesaid  Orders  have  :  (i)  The  circlets 
or  ribbons  of  their  respective  Orders,  (2)  their  badges  pendent  below 
the  shield,  (3)  their  helmets  of  degree. 

Commanders  of  the  Victorian  Order  have:  (i)  the  circlet  of  the 
Order,  (2)  the  badge  pendent  below  the  shield. 

Companions  of  the  aforesaid  Orders,  and  Members  of  the  Victorian 
Order,  as  also  Members  of  the  Distinguished  Service  Order,  the  Im- 
perial Service  Order,  the  Order  of  Merit,  the  Order  of  Victoria  and 
Albert,  the  Order  of  the  Crown  of  India,  and  those  entitled  to  the 
Victoria  Cross,  the  Albert  Medal,  the  Edward  Medal,  the  Conspicuous 
Service   Cross,   the   Kaisar-i-Hind   Medal,   the  Royal   Red  Cross,  the 


OFFICIAL   HERALDIC    INSIGNIA  585 

Volunteer  Officers'  Decoration,  the  Territorial  Decoration,  and  the 
Decoration  of  the  League  of  Mercy,  are  entitled  to  suspend  their 
respective  decorations  below  their  escutcheons.  The  officers  of  these 
orders  of  knighthood  are  of  course  entitled  to  display  their  badges 
of  office.  The  Dean  of  Westminster  is  always  Dean  of  the  Order  of 
the  Bath. 

Knights  Grand  Cross  and  Knights  Commanders  of  the  Bathj  if  of  the  Military 
Division^  are  also  entitled  to  place  a  wreath  of  laurel  round  their  escut- 
cheons. 

Knights  of  Justice  of  the  Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St,  John  of  Jerusalem 
in  England  are  entitled  to  place  upon  their  escutcheons  a  chief  of  the 
arms  of  the  Order  (gules,  a  cross  throughout  argent,  embellished  in 
the  angles  with  a  lion  guardant  and  a  unicorn,  both  passant  or). 

Knights  of  Grace  and  other  Members  of  the  Order  suspend  whatever 
badge  they  are  entitled  to  wear  below  their  shield  from  a  black 
watered-silk  ribbon. 

[Some  members  of  the  Order  display  their  arms  upon  the  Cross 
of  the  Order,  as  was  done  by  Knights  of  the  original  Order,  from 
which  the  present  Order  is  copied,  but  how  far  the  practice  is  sanc- 
tioned by  the  Royal  Charter,  or  in  what  manner  it  is  controlled  by 
the  rules  of  the  Order,  I  am  not  aware.] 

The  Lord  High  Constable  of  England  is  entitled  to  place  behind  his 
escutcheon  two  batons  in  saltire  similar  to  the  one  which  is  delivered 
to  him  for  use  at  the  Coronation,  which  is  now  the  only  occasion 
when  the  office  is  enjoyed.  As  the  office  is  only  held  temporarily,  the 
existing  privilege  does  not  amount  to  much. 

The  Lord  High  Constable  of  Scotland  is  entitled  to  place  behind  his 
escutcheon,  in  saltire,  two  silver  batons  tipped  with  gold  at  either 
end.  The  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Errol  (Hereditary  Lord  High  Constable 
of  Scotland)  have  only  once,  at  an  early  period,  been  matriculated 
in  Lyon  Register,  and  then  without  any  official  insignia,  but  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of  the  right  to  the  crossed  batons. 

The  Lord  High  Chamberlain  of  Scotland  (\  am  not  sure  this  office 
still  exists)  :  Two  golden  keys  in  saltire  behind  the  escutcheon. 

The  Earl  Marshal  and  Hereditary  Marshal  of  England  places  two  batons 
of  gold  tipped  with  sable  in  saltire  behind  his  arms. 

\^A  Deputy  Earl  Marshal  places  one  similar  baton  in  bend  behind 
his  shield.] 

The  Earl  Marischal  of  Scotland  (until  the  office  was  extinguished 
by  attainder)  placed  saltirewise  behind  his  shield  two  batons  gules,  sem6 
of  thistles,  each  ensigned  on  the  top  with  an  Imperial  Crown  or. 

The  Hereditary  Marshal  of  Ireland  (an  office  for  long  past  in 
abeyance)  used  two  batons  in  saltire  behind  his  arms.     According  to 


586     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

MS.  Harl.  6589,  f.  39  :  '^  Les  armes  des  office  du  Mareschall  d'lreland 
sont  de  Goulz  et  cinque  fucelles  bendes  d' Argent."  These  certainly 
do  not  appear  to  be  the  personal  arms  of  those  who  held  the  office, 
but  there  is  other  record  that  some  such  coat  was  used. 

The  Hereditary  Lord  Great  Seneschal  of  Ireland  (the  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury) places  a  white  wand  in  pale  behind  his  escutcheon. 

The  Duke  of  Argyll  places  in  saltire  behind  his  arms:  (i)  In  bend 
dexter,  a  baton  gules,  seme  of  thistles  or,  ensigned  with  an  Imperial 
Crown  proper,  thereon  the  crest  of  Scotland  (as  Hereditary  Great 
Master  of  the  Household  in  Scotland) ;  (2)  in  bend  sinister,  a  sword 
proper,  hilt  and  pommel  or  (as  Hereditary  Justice-General  of  Scot- 
land) {vide  Plate  III.). 

The  Master-General  of  the  Ordnance  (by  warrant  of  King  Charles  II.), 
bears  on  each  side  of  his  arms  a  field-piece. 

The  Lord  Justice-Clerk  of  Scotland  places  two  swords  in  saltire  behind 
his  shield. 

The  Lord  Chief -Justice  of  England  encircles  his  arms  with  his  Collar 
of  SS. 

The  Walker  Trustees  place  behind  their  shield  two  batons  in  saltire, 
each  ensigned  with  a  unicorn  salient  supporting  a  shield  argent,  the 
unicorn  horned  or,  and  gorged  with  an  antique  crown,  to  which  is 
affixed  a  chain  passing  between  the  fore-legs  and  reflexed  over  the 
back  of  the  last,  for  the  office  of  Heritable  Usher  of  the  White  Rod 
of  Scotland,  now  vested  in  the  said  Trustees.  Before  the  recent  Court 
of  Claims  the  claim  was  made  to  exercise  the  office  by  deputy,  and 
such  claim  was  allowed. 

The  Master  of  the  Revels  in  Scotland  has  an  official  coat  of  arms  : 
Argent,  a  lady  rising  out  of  a  cloud  in  the  nombril  point,  richly  ap- 
parelled, on  her  head  a  garland  of  ivy,  holding  in  her  right  hand  a 
poignard  crowned,  in  her  left  a  vizard  all  proper,  standing  under  a 
veil  or  canopy  azure  garnished  or,  in  base  a  thistle  vert. 

Serjeants-at-Arms  encircle  their  arms  with  their  Collars  of  SS. 

Garter  King  of  Arms  has:  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms  (argent,  a 
gules,  on  a  chief  azure,  a  ducal  coronet  encircled  with  a  Garter,  between 
a  Hon  passant  guardant  on  the  dexter,  and  a  fieur-de-lis  on  the  sinister, 
all  or)  ;  (2)  his  crown  ;  (3)  his  Collar  of  SS  (the  collar  of  a  King  of 
Arms  differs  from  that  of  a  Herald,  inasmuch  as  it  is  of  silver-gilt,  and 
on  each  shoulder  a  portcullis  is  inserted)  ;  (4)  his  badge  as  Garter 
pendent  below  his  shield.  His  sceptre  of  silver-gilt  has  been  sometimes 
placed  in  bend  behind  his  escutcheon,  but  this  has  not  been  regularly 
done.    The  practice  has,  however,  been  reverted  to  by  the  present  Garter. 

Lyon  King  of  Arms  has  :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms  (argent,  a  lion 
sejant,  erect  and  affronts  gules,  holding  in  his  dexter   paw  a   thistle 


OFFICIAL   HERALDIC    INSIGNIA  587 

slipped  vert,  and  in  the  sinister  a  shield  of  the  second,  on  a  chief  azure 
a  St.  Andrew's  cross — {.e.  a  saltire — of  the  field)  ;  (2)  his  crown  ;  (3) 
two  batons,  representing  that  of  his  office  in  saltire  behind  his  shield, 
these  being  azure  sem6  of  thistles  and  fleurs-de-lis  or,  tipped  at  either 
end  with  gold  ;  (4)  his  Collar  of  SS  ;  (5)  his  triple  chain  of  gold,  from 
which  depends  his  badge  as  Lyon  King  of  Arms. 

Ulster  King  of  Arms  has  :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms  (or,  a  cross 
gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  last  a  lion  of  England  between  a  harp  and  a 
portcullis,  all  of  the  first)  ;  (2)  his  crown  ;  (3)  his  Collar  of  SS  ;  (4) 
his  two  staves  in  saltire  behind  the  shield  ;  (5)  his  chain  and  badge 
as  Ulster  King  of  Arms  ;  (6)  his  badge  as  Registrar  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Patrick. 

Clarenceux  King  of  Arms  has  :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms  (argent, 
a  cross  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  second  a  lion  passant  guardant  or, 
crowned  of  the  last)  ;  (2)  his  crown  ;  (3)  his  Collar  of  SS. 

Norroy  King  of  Arms  has  :  (i)  His  official  coat  of  arms  (argent,  a 
cross  gules,  on  a  chief  of  the  second  a  lion  of  England  passant  guardant 
or,  crowned  with  an  open  crown,  between  a  fleur-de-lis  on  the  dexter 
and  a  key  on  the  sinister  of  the  last)  ;  (2)  his  crown  ;  (3)  his  Collar 
of  SS. 

Bath  King  of  Arms  has:  (i)  His  crown  ;  his  Collar  of  SS. 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  official  arms  have  been  assigned  to  Bath 
up  to  the  present  time  ;  but  if  none  exist,  there  would  not  be  the 
slightest  difficulty  in  obtaining  these. 

An  English  Herald  encircles  his  shield  with  his  Collar  of  SS. 

A  Scottish  Herald  is  entitled  to  do  the  same,  and  has  also  his  badge, 
which  he  places  below  the  escutcheon  pendent  from  a  ribbon  of  blue 
and  white. 

An  Irish  Herald  has  his  Collar  of  SS,  and  his  badge  suspended 
from  a  sky-blue  ribbon.     An  Irish  Pursuivant  has  a  similar  badge. 

The  Regius  Professors  {or  "  Readers  ")  in  the  University  of  Cambridge y 
for  "  Phisicke,"  '^  Lawe,"  '^  Devinity,"  ^<  Hebrew,"  and  "  Greke,"  have 
official  arms  as  follows  (see  grant  by  Robert  Cooke,  Clarenceux,  1590, 
Genealogical  Magazine^  vol.  ii.  p.  125): — 

Of  Phisicke :  Azure,  a  fesse  ermines  (?  ermine)  between  three  lozenges 
or,  on  a  chief  gules  a  lion  passant  guardant  of  the  third,  charged  on  the 
side  with  the  letter  M  sable.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  or  and  azure,  a  quin- 
quangle  silver,  called  "  simbolum  sanitatis."    Mantling  gules  and  argent. 

OfLaive :  Purpure,  a  cross  moline  or,  on  a  chief  gules,  a  lion  passant 
guardant  of  the  second,  charged  on  the  side  with  the  letter  L  sable. 
Crest :  on  a  wreath  <'  purple  and  gold,"  a  bee  volant  or.  Mantling 
gules  and  argent. 

Of  Devinity :  Gules,  on  a  cross  ermine,  between  four  doves  argent, 


588     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

a  book  of  the  first,  the  leaves  or,  charged  in  the  midst  with  the  Greek 
letter  0  (Theta)  sable.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  ''  silver  and  gules,"  a  dove 
volant  argent,  with  an  olive-branch  vert  in  his  beak.  Mantling  gules, 
double  argent. 

0/  Hebrew :  Argent,  the  Hebrew  letter  T\  (Tawe)  sable,  on  a  chief 
gules,  a  lion  passant  guardant  or,  charged  on  the  side  with  the  letter 
H  sable.  Crest :  on  a  wreath  ^^  silver  and  sables,"  a  turtle-dove  azure. 
Mantling  gules,  double  argent. 

Of  Greke :  Per  chevron  argent  and  sable,  in  chief  the  two  Greek 
letters  A  (Alpha)  and  Q  (Omega)  of  the  second,  and  in  base  a  *'  cicado  " 
or  grasshopper  of  the  first,  on  a  chief  gules,  a  lion  passant  guardant 
or,  charged  on  the  side  with  the  letter  G  sable.  Crest :  on  a  wreath 
"  silver  and  sables,"  an  owl  argent,  legs,  beak,  and  ears  or.  Mantling 
gules  and  argent. 

The  following  insignia  of  office  I  quote  subject  to  the  reservation 
that  I  am  doubtful  how  far  they  enjoy  official  sanction  : — 

The  Lord  Chancellor  of  England:  Two  maces  in  saltire  (or  one 
in  pale)  behind  the  shield  and  the  purse  containing  the  Great  Seal 
below  it. 

The  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  of  England :  Two  golden  keys  in  saltire  ; 
and 

The  Lord  Chamberlain  of  the  Household:  A  golden  key  in  pale  behind 
the  shield. 

At  Exeter  the  Dean,  Precentor,  Chancellor,  and  Treasurer  have 
used  official  arms  impaled  with  their  own  insignia.     These  were  : — 

The  Dean :  Azure,  a  stag's  head  caboshed  and  between  the  horns 
a  cross  pat^e  fitchee  argent. 

The  Precentor :  Argent,  on  a  saltire  azure  a  fleur-de-lis  or. 

The  Chancellor:  Gules,  a  saltire  argent  between  four  crosslets  or. 

l^he  Treasurer:  Gules,  a  saltire  between  four  leopards'  heads  or. 

The  Dean  of  the  Chapel  Royal,  Savoy,  may  perhaps  employ  the 
complicated  coat  of  the  chapel  to  impale  his  personal  arms,  placing 
the  escutcheon  on  the  breast  of  an  eagle  sable,  crowned  or. 

Many  English  Deaneries  claim  to  possess  arms  which  presumably 
the  occupant  may  use  to  impale  his  own  coat  with,  after  the  example  of 
the  Dean  of  Exeter.  Such  are  London,  Winchester,  Lincoln,  Salisbury, 
Lichfield,  Durham,  which  all  difference  the  arms  of  the  see  with  a  letter 
D  of  gold  or  sable. 

St.  David's  reverses  the  tinctures  of  the  arms  of  the  see. 

Norwich  and  Carlisle  carry  :  Argent,  a  cross  sable. 

Canterbury  :  Azure,  on  a  cross  argent  the  monogram  X  sable. 

York  dififerences  the  arms  of  the  see  by  changing  the  crown  into 
a  mitre,  and  adding  three  plates  in  flanks  and  base. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 
AUGMENTATIONS    OF    HONOUR 

OF  all  heraldic  distinctions  the  possession  of  an  augmentation 
of  honour  is  the  one  most  prized.  The  Sovereign  is  of  course 
the  fountain  of  honour,  and  though  ordinary  grants  of  arms 
are  made  by  Letters  Patent  under  the  hands  and  seals  of  the  Kings  of 
Arms,  by  virtue  of  the  powers  expressly  and  specifically  conferred 
upon  them  in  the  Letters  Patent  respectively  appointing  them  to  their 
offices,  a  grant  of  arms  is  theoretically  a  grant  from  the  Crown.  The 
privilege  of  the  possession  of  arms  in  the  ordinary  event  is  left  in  the 
discretion  of  the  Earl  Marshal,  whose  warrant  is  a  condition  precedent 
to  the  issue  of  a  Grant.  Providing  a  person  is  palpably  living  in  that 
style  and  condition  of  life  in  which  the  use  of  arms  is  usual,  subject 
always  to  the  Earl  Marshal's  pleasure  and  discretion,  a  Grant  of  Arms 
can  ordinarily  be  obtained  upon  payment  of  the  usual  fees.  The 
social  status  of  present-day  grantees  of  arms  is  considerably  in  advance 
of  the  status  of  grantees  in  the  Tudor  period.  An  augmentation  of 
arms,  however,  is  on  a  totally  and  entirely  different  footing.  It  is  an 
especial  mark  of  favour  from  the  Sovereign,  and  the  effective  grant  is 
a  Royal  Warrant  under  the  hand  and  Privy  Seal  of  the  Sovereign. 
The  warrant  recites  and  requires  that  the  augmentation  granted  shall 
be  exemplified  and  recorded  in  the  College  of  Arms.  Augmentations 
have  been  less  frequently  conferred  in  recent  years  than  was  formerly 
the  case.  Technically  speaking,  a  gift  of  arms  by  the  Sovereign  direct 
where  none  previously  existed  is  not  an  augmentation,  though  one  is 
naturally  inclined  to  include  such  grants  in  the  category.  Such  an 
example  is  met  with  in  the  shield  granted  to  Colonel  Carlos  by  King 
Charles  to  commemorate  their  mutual  adventures  in  the  oak  tree  (^*  Or, 
issuing  from  a  mount  in  base  vert,  an  oak  tree  proper,  over  all  on  a 
fess  gules,  three  Imperial  crowns  also  proper")  (Plate  II.). 

There  are  many  gorgeous  legends  relating  to  augmentations  and 
arms  which  are  said  to  have  been  granted  by  William  the  Conqueror 
as  rewards  after  the  Battle  of  Hastings.  Personally  I  do  not  believe 
in  a  single  one.  There  was  a  certain  augmentation  borne  by  the  Dodge 
family,  which,  if  it  be  correct,  dates  from  the  thirty-fourth  year  of 

Edward  I.,  but  whether  this  be  authentic  it  is  impossible  to  say.     Most 

583 


590    A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

people  consider  the  alleged  deed  of  grant  a  forgery,  and  if  this  be  so, 
the  arms  only  exist  by  right  of  subsequent  record  and  the  question 
of  augmentation  rests  upon  tradition.  The  curious  charge  of  the 
woman's  breast  distilling  drops  of  milk  to  typify  the  nourishment  afforded 
to  the  king's  army  is  at  any  rate  most  interesting  (Plate  VI.).  The 
earliest  undoubted  one  in  this  country  that  I  am  aware  of  dates  from 
the  reign  of  Edward  III.  Sir  John  de  Pelham  shared  in  the  glory  of 
the  Battle  of  Poictiers,  and  in  the  capture  of  the  French  King  John. 
To  commemorate  this  he  was  granted  two  round  buckles  with  thongs. 
The  Pelham  family  arms  were  '*  Azure,  three  pelicans  argent,"  and,  as 
will  be  seen,  these  family  arms  were  quartered  with  the  buckles  and 
thongs  on  a  field  gules  as  an  augmentation.  The  quarterly  coat  forms 
a  part  of  the  arms  both  of  Lord  Chichester  and  of  Lord  Yarborough 
at  the  present  day,  and  <^  the  Pelham  buckle  "  has  been  the  badge  of 
the  Pelham  family  for  centuries. 

Piers  Legh  fought  with  the  Black  Prince  and  took  the  Count  de 
Tanquervil  prisoner  at  the  Battle  of  Crecy,  '<  and  did  valiantly  rere 
and  advance  the  said  princes  Banner  att  the  bataile  of  Cressy  to  the 
noe  little  encouragement  of  the  English  army,"  but  it  was  not  until  the 
reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  that  the  augmentation  to  commemorate  this 
was  granted. 

The  Battle  of  Flodden  was  won  by  the  Earl  of  Surrey,  afterwards 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  amongst  the  many  rewards  which  the  King 
showered  upon  his  successful  Marshal  was  the  augmentation  to  his 
arms  of  '*  a  demi-lion  pierced  in  the  mouth  with  an  arrow,  depicted 
on  the  colours  for  the  arms  of  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland,  which  the 
said  James,  late  King  of  Scots,  bore."  According  to  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment under  which  it  was  granted  this  augmentation  would  seem  now 
to  belong  exclusively  to  Lord  Mowbray  and  Stourton  and  Hon.  Mary 
Petre,  but  it  is  borne  apparently  with  official  sanction,  or  more  likely 
perhaps  by  official  inadvertence,  by  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  and  the  rest 
of  the  Howard  family. 

The  Battle  of  Agincourt  is  referred  to  by  Shakespeare,  who  puts 
these  words  into  King  Henry's  mouth  on  the  eve  of  that  great  battle 
(Act  iv.  sc.  3)  : — 

**We  few,  we  happy  few,  we  band  of  brothers 
For  he  to-day  that  sheds  his  blood  with  me 
Shall  be  my  brother;  be  he  ne'er  so  vile, 
This  day  shall  gentle  his  condition." 

There  is  actual  foundation  in  fact  for  these  lines.  For  in  a  writ 
couched  in  very  stringent  and  severe  terms  issued  by  the  same  king 
in  after  years  decreeing  penalties  for  the  improper  assumption  and  use 
of  false  arms,  specific  exception  is  made  in  favour  of  those  <'  who  bore 


AUGMENTATIONS   OF   HONOUR  591 

arms  with  us  at  the  Battle  of  Agincourt."  Evidently  this  formed  a 
very  extensive  kind  of  augmentation. 

The  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  furnishes  an  interesting  example 
of  the  gift  of  a  complete  coat  in  the  case  of  Sir  Francis  Drake,  who 
had  been  using  the  arms  of  another  family  of  the  same  name.  The 
representative  of  that  family  complained  to  the  Queen  that  Sir  Francis, 
whom  he  styled  an  upstart,  should  take  such  liberties  with  his  arms  ; 
whereupon  the  Queen  said  she  would  give  Sir  Francis  arms  which 
should  outrival  those  of  his  namesake.  At  least,  such  is  the  legend, 
and  though  the  arms  themselves  were  granted  by  Clarenceux  King  of 
Arms,  and  I  have  not  yet  found  any  Royal  Warrant  indicating  that 
the  grant  was  made  by  specific  Royal  command,  it  is  possible  the  story 
is  correct.  The  arms  are :  "  Sable,  a  fess  wavy  between  two  stars 
argent.  Crest :  a  ship  under  reef,  drawn  round  a  terrestrial  globe 
with  a  cable  by  a  hand  issuing  from  clouds  all  proper  "  (Plate  VI.). 
The  stars  upon  the  shield  are  the  two  pole  stars,  and  the  wavy  band 
between  them  typifies  Drake's  voyage  round  the  world,  as  does  also 
the  peculiar  crest  in  which  the  Divine  hand  is  shown  guiding  his  ship 
around  the  globe. 

At  the  Battle  of  Naseby  Dr.  Edward  Lake  fought  bravely  for  the 
King,  and  in  the  service  of  his  Majesty  received  no  less  than  sixteen 
wounds.  At  the  end  of  the  battle,  when  his  left  arm  was  useless,  he 
put  the  bridle  of  his  horse  between  his  teeth  and  still  fought  on.  The 
quartering  of  augmentation  given  to  him  was :  ^*  Gules,  a  dexter  arm 
embowed  in  armour  holding  in  the  hand  a  sword  erect  all  proper, 
thereto  affixed  a  banner  argent  charged  with  a  cross  between  sixteen 
escutcheons  of  the  field,  on  the  cross  a  lion  of  England."  The  sixteen 
shields  upon  the  banner  typify  his  sixteen  wounds. 

After  the  Commonwealth  was  established  in  England,  Charles  II. 
made  a  desperate  effort  to  regain  his  crown,  an  effort  which  culminated 
in  his  disastrous  defeat  at  the  Battle  of  Worcester.  The  King  escaped 
through  the  gate  of  the  city  solely  through  the  heroic  efforts  of  Colonel 
Newman,  and  this  is  kept  in  remembrance  by  the  inescutcheon  of 
augmentation,  viz. :  '*  Gules,  a  portcullis  imperially  crowned  or." 
Every  one  has  heard  how  the  King  was  accompanied  in  his  wanderings 
by  Colonel  Carlos,  who  hid  with  him  in  the  oak  tree  at  Boscobel. 
Afterwards  the  king  accompanied  Mistress  Jane  Lane  on  horseback 
as  her  servant  to  the  coast,  whence  he  fled  to  the  Continent.  The 
reward  of  Colonel  Carlos  was  the  gift  of  the  entire  coat  of  arms 
already  referred  to.  The  Lanes,  though  not  until  after  some  years  had 
passed  and  the  King  had  come  back  to  his  own  again,  were  granted 
two  remarkable  additions  to  their  family  arms.  First  of  all  '^  the  canton 
of  England  "  (that  is,  the  arms  of  England  upon  a  canton)  was  added 


592     A   COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

to  their  shield.  They  are  the  only  family  to  whom  such  an  honour 
has  been  given,  and  a  most  curious  result  has  happened.  When  the 
use  of  armorial  bearings  was  taxed  by  Act  of  Parliament  the  Royal 
Arms  were  specially  exempted,  and  on  account  of  this  canton  the  Lane 
family  claimed  and  obtained  exemption  from  the  tax.  A  few  years 
later  a  crest  was  granted  to  them,  namely,  a  strawberry-roan  horse, 
^^couped  at  the  flanks,"  holding  in  its  feet  the  Royal  crown  (Plate 
II.).  It  was  upon  a  horse  of  this  colour  that  the  King  and  Mistress 
Lane  had  escaped  and  thereby  saved  the  crown.  Mr.  Francis  Wolfe, 
of  Madeley,  who  also  was  a  party  to  the  escape,  received  the  grant  of 
an  inescutcheon  gules  charged  with  a  lion  of  England.  Another  family 
which  bears  an  augmentation  to  commemorate  King  Charles'  escape 
is  Whitgreave. 

The  reign  of  Queen  Anne  produced  in  the  Duke  of  Marlborough 
one  of  the  finest  generals  the  world  has  ever  seen  ;  and  in  the  Battle 
of  Blenheim  one  of  its  greatest  victories.  The  augmentation  which 
commemorates  this  is  a  shield  bearing  the  cross  of  St.  George  and  in 
the  centre  a  smaller  shield  with  the  golden  lilies  of  France. 

In  the  year  1797  the  Battle  of  Camperdown  was  fought,  when 
Admiral  Duncan  defeated  the  Dutch  Fleet  and  was  created  Lord 
Camperdown.  To  his  family  arms  were  added  a  naval  crown  and  a 
representation  of  the  gold  medal  given  by  George  III.  to  Lord  Cam- 
perdown to  commemorate  his  victory. 

The  arms  of  Nelson  are  most  interesting,  inasmuch  as  one  version 
of  the  arms  carries  two  separate  and  distinct  augmentations.  It  is 
not,  however,  the  coat  as  it  was  granted  to  and  borne  by  the  great 
Admiral  himself.  After  the  Battle  of  the  Nile  he  received  the  aug- 
mentation on  the  chief,  a  landscape  showing  the  palm-tree,  the  dis- 
abled ship,  and  the  battery  in  ruins.  The  one  crest  was  the  plume 
of  triumph  given  to  the  Admiral  by  the  Sultan  Selim  III.,  and  his 
second  crest,  which,  however,  is  not  a  crest  of  augmentation,  was 
the  stern  of  the  Spanish  ship  San  Josef,  After  his  death  at  the 
Battle  of  Trafalgar  his  brother  was  created  Earl  Nelson,  and  a  second 
augmentation,  namely,  a  fess  wavy  sable  with  the  w^ord  ''  Trafalgar  " 
upon  it  in  gold  letters,  was  added  to  the  arms.  This,  however,  has 
since  been,  discontinued,  except  by  Lord  Bridport,  who  quarters  it, 
w^hilst  the  Nelson  family  has  reverted  to  the  arms  as  they  were  borne 
by  the  great  Admiral. 

After  the  death  of  Nelson  at  the  Battle  of  Trafalgar,  Lord  Colling- 
wood  took  command,  and  though  naval  experts  think  that  the  action 
of  Collingwood  greatly  minimised  the  number  of  prizes  which  would 
have  resulted  from  the  victory,  Lord  Collingwood  received  for  an 
augmentation  a  chief  wavy  gules,  thereon  the  lion  of  England,  navally 


AUGMENTATIONS    OF   HONOUR  593 

crowned,  with  the  word  <<  Trafalgar  "  above  the  lion.  He  also  received 
an  additional  crest,  namely,  the  stern  of  his  ship,  the  Royal  Sovereign^ 
between  a  wreath  of  oak  on  the  one  side  and  a  wreath  of  laurel  on  the 
other. 

The  heroic  story  of  the  famous  fight  between  the  Shannon  and  the 
Chesapeake  has  been  often  told.  Captain  Broke  sent  in  a  challenge  to 
the  Chesapeake  to  come  out  and  fight  him,  and,  though  a  banquet  was 
prepared  by  the  Mayor  of  Boston  for  that  evening  '<  to  meet  the 
English  officers,"  Captain  Broke  defeated  the  Chesapeake  in  an  engage- 
ment which  only  lasted  a  very  short  time.  He  was  granted  an  ad- 
ditional crest,  namely,  an  arm  holding  a  trident  and  issuing  from 
a  naval  crown,  together  with  the  motto,  *'  Saevumque  tridentem 
servamus." 

General  Ross  fought  and  won  the  Battle  of  Bladensburg,  and  took 
the  city  of  Washington,  dying  a  few  days  afterwards.  The  story  is  that 
the  family  were  offered  their  choice  of  a  baronetcy  or  an  augmentation, 
and  they  chose  the  latter.  The  augmentation  (Plate  H.),  which 
was  specially  granted  with  permission  for  it  to  be  placed  upon  the 
monument  to  the  memory  of  General  Ross,  consists  of  the  arm  holding 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  with  a  broken  flag-staff  which  will  be  seen 
both  on  the  shield  itself,  and  as  an  additional  crest.  The  shield  also 
shows  the  gold  cross  for  previous  services  at  Corunna  and  in  the 
Peninsula.  The  family  were  also  given  the  surname  of  ^^  Ross-of- 
Bladensburg." 

The  capture  of  Cura^oa  by  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Brisbane,  K.C.B., 
is  commemorated  by  the  representation  of  his  ship  passing  between 
the  two  Dutch  forts  ;  and  by  the  additional  crest  of  an  arm  in  a  naval 
officer's  uniform  grasping  a  cutlass.  Admiral  Sir  Robert  Otway,  for 
his  distinguished  services,  was  granted  :  **  On  a  chief  azure  an  anchor 
between  two  branches  of  oak  or,  and  on  the  dexter  side  a  demi-Neptune 
and  on  the  sinister  a  mermaid  proper,"  to  add  to  his  shield.  Admiral 
Sir  George  Pocock,  who  captured  Havannah,  was  given  for  an  aug- 
mentation :  "  On  a  chief  wavy  azure  a  sea-horse  "  (to  typify  his  naval 
career),  between  two  Eastern  crowns  (to  typify  his  services  in  the  East 
Indies),  with  the  word  *'  Havanna,"  the  scene  of  his  greatest  victory. 

Sir  Edward  Pellew,  who  was  created  Viscount  Exmouth  for  bom- 
barding and  destroying  the  fort  and  arsenal  of  Algiers,  was  given  upon 
a  chief  a  representation  of  that  fort,  with  an  English  man-of-war  in 
front  of  it,  to  add  to  his  arms.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  one 
of  his  supporters,  though  not  a  part  of  his  augmentation,  represents 
a  Christian  slave,  in  memory  of  those  in  captivity  at  Algiers  when  he 
captured  the  city. 

There  were  several  augmentations  won  at  the  Battle  of  Waterloo, 

2  P 

OF   THE 
IMIV/FDQITV 


594    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

and  the  Waterloo  medal  figures  upon  many  coats  of  arms  of  Waterloo 
officers.  Colonel  Alexander  Clark-Kennedy,  with  his  own  hand, 
captured  the  French  Eagle  of  the  105th  French  Regiment.  For  this 
he  bears  a  representation  of  it  and  a  sword  crossed  upon  a  chief  over 
his  arms,  and  his  crest  of  augmentation  is  a  demi-dragoon  holding  the 
same  flag.  Of  the  multitude  of  honours  which  were  showered  upon 
the  Duke  of  Wellington,  not  the  least  was  his  augmentation.  This  was 
a  smaller  shield  to  be  superimposed  upon  his  own,  and  charged  with 
those  crosses  of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew,  and  St.  Patrick,  which  we  term 
"  the  Union  Jack."  Sir  Edward  Kerrison,  who  distinguished  himself 
so  greatly  in  the  Peninsula  and  at  Waterloo,  was  granted  a  sword  with 
a  wreath  of  laurel  and  representations  of  his  medals  for  Orthes  and 
Waterloo,  and,  for  an  additional  crest,  an  arm  in  armour  holding  a 
banner  inscribed  ^*  Peninsula." 

Sir  Thomas  Munro,  who  will  be  long  remembered  as  the  Governor 
of  Madras,  was  rewarded  for  his  capture  of  Badamy  by  a  representation 
of  that  hill-fort  in  India.  The  augmentation  of  Lord  Keane  is  very 
similar,  being  a  representation  of  the  Fortress  of  Ghuznee  in  Afghanistan, 
which  he  captured.  Other  instances  of  a  similar  character  are  to  be 
found  in  the  arms  of  Cockburn-Campbell  and  Hamilton-Grace. 

The  arms  of  Lord  Gough  are  most  remarkable,  inasmuch  as  they 
show  no  less  than  two  distinct  and  different  augmentations  both  earned 
by  the  same  man.  In  18 16,  for  his  services  in  the  Peninsula,  he  re- 
ceived a  representation  of  the  Spanish  Order  of  Charles  III.,  and  on  a 
chief  the  representation  of  the  Fortress  of  Tarifa,  with  the  crest  of  the 
arm  holding  the  colours  of  his  own  regiment,  the  87th,  and  a  French 
eagle  reversed  and  depressed.  After  his  victories  in  the  East,  par- 
ticularly at  Goojerat,  and  for  the  subjugation  and  annexation  of  the 
Punjab,  he  was  granted,  in  1843,  an  additional  quartering  to  add  to 
his  shield.  This  has  the  Lion  of  England  holding  up  the  Union  Jack 
below  the  words  *^  China  "  and  ^^  India."  The  third  crest,  which  was 
then  granted  to  him,  shows  a  similar  lion  holding  the  Union  Jack  and 
a  Chinese  flag. 

Sir  George  Pollock,  ^'  of  the  Khyber  Pass,"  Bart.,  earned  everlasting 
fame  for  himself  in  the  first  Afghan  War,  by  forcing  the  Khyber  Pass 
and  by  the  capture  of  Cabul.  For  this  he  was  given  an  Eastern 
crown  and  the  word  "  Khyber  "  on  a  chief  as  well  as  three  cannon 
upon  a  canton,  and  at  the  same  time  he  was  granted  an  additional 
crest — a  lion  holding  an  Afghan  banner  with  the  staff  thereof  broken. 
With  him  it  seemed  as  if  the  practice  of  granting  augmentations  for 
military  services  had  ceased.  Lord  Roberts  has  none,  neither  has  Lord 
Wolseley.  But  recently  the  old  practice  was  reverted  to  in  favour  of 
Lord  Kitchener.      His  family  arms  were :  '^  Azure,  a  chevron  cottised 


AUGMENTATIONS   OF   HONOUR  595 

between  three  bustards/'  and  in  the  centre  chief  point  a  bezant  ;  with 
a  stag's  head  for  a  crest  ;  but  for  <'  smashing  the  KhaHfa  "  he  has  been 
given  the  Union  Jack  and  the  Egyptian  flag  with  the  staves  encircled 
by  a  coronet  bearing  the  word  ^'  Khartoum,"  all  on  a  pile  superimposed 
over  his  family  arms.  He  also  received  a  second  crest  of  an  elephant's 
head  holding  a  sword  in  its  trunk  issuing  from  a  mural  crown.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  South  African  War  a  second  augmentation  was 
granted  to  him,  this  taking  the  form  of  a  chief. 

Two  other  very  interesting  instances  of  augmentation  of  arms  are 
worthy  of  mention. 

Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  after  a  distinguished  career,  fought  and 
won  the  Battle  of  Aboukir  Bay,  only  to  die  a  few  days  later  on 
board  H.M.S.  Foudroyant  of  his  wounds  received  in  the  battle.  But 
long  before  he  had  fought  and  conquered  the  French  at  Valenciennes, 
and  in  1795  had  been  made  a  Knight  of  the  Bath.  The  arms  which 
are  upon  his  Stall  plate  in  Westminster  Abbey  include  his  augmentation, 
which  is  an  arm  in  armour  encircled  by  a  wreath  of  laurel  supporting 
the  French  Standard. 

Sir  William  Hoste  gained  the  celebrated  victory  over  the  French 
fleet  off  the  Island  of  Lissa  in  181 1,  and  the  augmentation  which  was 
granted  was  a  representation  of  his  gold  medal  hanging  from  a  naval 
crown,  and  an  additional  crest,  an  arm  holding  a  flag  inscribed  with 
the  word  ^'  Cattaro,"  the  scene  of  another  of  his  victories. 

Peace  has  its  victories  no  less  than  war,  but  there  is  generally 
very  much  less  fuss  made  about  them.  Consequently,  the  augmenta- 
tions to  commemorate  entirely  pacific  actions  are  considerably  fewer 
in  number.  The  Speke  augmentation  has  been  elsewhere  referred  to, 
and  reference  may  be  made  to  the  Ross  augmentation  to  commemorate 
the  Arctic  exploits  of  Sir  John  Ross. 

It  is  a  very  common  idea  that  arms  were  formerly  to  be  obtained 
by  conquest  in  battle.  Like  many  other  heraldic  ideas,  there  is  a 
certain  amount  of  truth  in  the  idea,  from  which  very  erroneous  generali- 
sations have  been  made.  The  old  legend  as  to  the  acquisition  of  the 
plume  of  ostrich  feathers  by  the  Black  Prince  no  doubt  largely  accounts 
for  the  idea.  That  legend,  as  has  been  already  shown,  lacks  foundation. 
Territorial  or  sovereign  arms  doubtless  would  be  subject  to  conquest, 
but  I  do  not  believe  that  because  in  battle  or  in  a  tournament  a  outrance 
one  person  defeated  another,  he  therefore  became  entitled  to  assume, 
of  his  own  motion,  the  arms  of  the  man  he  had  vanquished.  The 
proposition  is  too  absurd.  But  there  is  no  doubt  that  in  some  number 
of  historic  cases  his  Sovereign  has  subsequently  conferred  upon  the 
victor  an  augmentation  which  has  closely  approximated  to  the  arms 
of  his  victim.     Such  cases  occur  in  the  arms  of  the  Clerkes,  Barts., 


596     A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

of  Hitcham,  Bucks,  who  bear  :  ^'  On  a  sinister  canton  azure,  a  demi- 
ram  salient  of  the  first,  and  in  chief  two  fleurs-de-Hs  or,  debruised  by 
a  baton,"  to  commemorate  the  action  of  Sir  John  Gierke  of  Weston, 
who  captured  Louis  D'Orleans,  Duke  of  Longueville,  at  Borny,  near 
Terouenne,  5  Henry  VII.  The  augmentation  conferred  upon  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk  at  the  battle  of  Flodden  has  been  already  referred  to,  but 
the  family  of  Lloyd  of  Stockton,  co.  Salop,  carry  a  remarkable  augmen- 
tation, inasmuch  as  they  are  permitted  to  bear  the  arms  of  Sir  John 
Oldcastle,  Lord  Cobham,  to  commemorate  his 
recapture  by  their  ancestor  after  Lord  Cobham's 
escape  from  the  Tower. 

Augmentations  which  have  no  other  basis  than 
mere  favour  of  kings,  or  consanguinity  to  the 
Royal  Family,  are  not  uncommon.  Richard  II., 
who  himself  adopted  the  arms  of  St.  Edward  the 
Confessor,  bestowed  the  right  to  bear  them  also 
upon  Thomas  Mowbray,  Duke  of  Norfolk  (Fig. 
675)'      No  difference  was  added  to  them  in  his 

Fig.  773. — Arms  of  Robert  i  •    u    •     al  i     ui  +u 

de    Vere,     Duke     of  case,  which  IS  the  more  remarkable  as  they  were 
Ireland   and    Earl    of  bornc   by  the    Duke    impaled   with   the   arms   of 

Oxford :  Quarterly,  I  and    t-       i        i         t  j.i.      ir-  r  j    ^u 

4    (of    augmentation),   England.      In  1 397  the  Kmg   conferred  the  same 
azure,  three  crowns  or,  ^j-j^s  upon   Tohn    dc    Holland,    Dukc   of   Exeter, 

withm  a  bordure  argent ;     , .  ^.  it  rr»i 

2  and  3,  quarterly  gules  differenced  by  a  label  argent,  and  upon    1  homas 
and    or,  in    the    first  ^^   Holland,   Duke   of   Surrey,   within   a  bordure 

quarter  a  mullet  argent.  '  -' '  .       ,.        , 

ermme.  Richard  II.  seems  to  have  been  mchned 
to  the  granting  of  augmentations,  for  in  1386,  when  he  created  the 
Earl  of  Oxford  (Robert  de  Vere)  Duke  of  Ireland,  he  granted  him  as  an 
augmentation  the  arms  of  Ireland  (''  Azure,  three  crowns  or  ")  within  a 
bordure  argent  (Fig.  773).  The  Manners  family,  who  were  of  Royal 
descent,  but  who,  not  being  descended  from  an  heiress,  had  no  right  to 
quarter  the  Royal  Arms,  received  the  grant  of  a  chief  ^'  quarterly  azure 
and  gules,  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters  two  fleurs-de-lis,  and  in  the 
second  and  third  a  lion  passant  guardant  or."  This  precedent  might 
well  be  followed  at  the  present  day  in  the  case  of  the  daughters  of 
the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Fife.  It  was  adopted  in  the  case  of  Queen 
Victoria  Eugenie  of  Spain.  The  Waller  family,  of  Groombridge,  co. 
Kent,  one  of  whom,  Richard  Waller,  captured  Charles,  Duke  of 
Orleans,  at  the  battle  of  Agincourt,  received  as  an  augmentation  the 
right  to  suspend  from  the  crest  (^'  On  a  mount  a  walnut-tree  proper  ") 
an  escutcheon  of  the  arms  of  that  Prince,  viz.  :  "  Azure,  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  or,  a  label  of  three  points  argent."  Lord  Polwarth  bears  one 
of  the  few  augmentations  granted  by  William  III.,  viz. :  ''An  inescut- 
cheon  azure  charged  with  an  orange  ensigned  with  an  Imperial  crown 


AUGMENTATIONS   OF   HONOUR  597 

all  proper,"  whilst  the  titular  King  James  III.  and  VIII.  granted  to 
John  Graeme,  Earl  of  Alford,  a  coat  of  augmentation,  viz. :  "  The 
Royal  Arms  of  Scotland  on  the  field  and  cross  of  St.  Andrew  counter- 
changed,"  the  date  of  the  grant  being  20th  January  1734.  Sir  John 
Keith,  Earl  of  Kintore,  Knight  Marischal  of  Scotland,  saved  the  regalia 
of  Scotland  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  Cromwell,  and  in  return 
the  Keith  arms  (now  quartered  by  Lord  Kintore)  were  augmented 
with  *^  an  inescutcheon  gules,  a  sword  in  bend  sinister  surmounted 
by  a  sceptre  in  bend  dexter,  in  chief  an  Imperial  crown,  the  whole 
within  an  orle  of  eight  thistles." 

The  well-known  augmentation  of  the  Seymour  family :  "  Or,  on  a 
pile  gules,  between  six  fleurs-de-lis  azure,"  is  borne  to  commemorate  the 
marriage  of  Jane  Seymour  to  Henry  VIII.,  who  granted  augmentations 
to  all  his  wives  except  Catharine  of  Aragon  and  Anne  of  Cleves.  The 
Seymour  family  is,  however,  the  only 
one  in  which  the  use  of  the  augmen- 
tation has  been  continued.  The  same 
practice  was  followed  by  granting  the 
arms  of  England  to  the  Consort  of 
the  Princess  Caroline  and  to  the  late 
Prince  Consort.      See  page  499. 

The  frequent  grant  of  the  Royal 
tressure  in  Scotland,  probably  usually 
as  an  augmentation,  has  been  already 
referred  to.     King  Charles  I.  granted  ^^^-  774--Device  from  the  chief  of  the 

^      ^1       -r^      1      /•  TT-  11  .      .  **  Prussian  Sword  Nobihty." 

to  the  Earl  of  KmnouU  as  a  quartermg 

of  augmentation  :  "  Azure,  a  unicorn  salient  argent,  armed,  maned,  and 
unguled  or,  within  a  bordure  of  the  last  charged  with  thistles  of  Scot- 
land and  roses  gules  of  England  dimidiated."  The  well-known  augmen- 
tation of  the  Medicis  family,  viz. :  **  A  roundle  azure,  charged  with  three 
fleurs-de-lis  or,"  was  granted  by  Louis  XII.  to  Pietro  de  Medicis.  The 
Prussian  Officers,  ennobled  on  the  i8th  of  January  1896,  the  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  of  the  foundation  of  the  new  German  Empire,  bear 
as  a  device  a  chief  purpure,  and  thereupon  the  Prussian  sceptre  and  a 
sword  in  saltire  interlaced  by  two  oak-branches  vert  (Fig.  774).  The 
late  Right  Hon.  Sir  Thomas  Thornton,  G.C.B.,  received  a  Royal 
Licence  to  accept  the  Portuguese  title  of  Conde  de  Cassilhas  and  an 
augmentation.  This  was  an  inescutcheon  (ensigned  by  his  coronet  as  a 
Conde)  ^'  or,  thereon  an  arm  embowed  vested  azure,  the  cuff  gold,  the 
hand  supporting  a  flagstaff  therefrom  flowing  the  Royal  Standard  of 
Portugal."  The  same  device  issuing  from  his  coronet  was  also  granted 
to  him  as  a  crest  of  augmentation.  Sir  Woodbine  Parish,  K.C.H.,  by 
legislative  act  of  the  Argentine  Republic  received  in  1839  a  grant  of 


598     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

the  arms  of  that  country,  which  was  subsequently  incorporated  in  the 
arms  granted  to  him  and  registered  in  the  Heralds'  College  in  this 
country.  He  had  been  Consul-General  and  Charge  d'Affaires  at 
Buenos  Ayres,  1823-1832  ;  he  was  appointed  in  1824  Plenipotentiary, 
and  concluded  the  first  treaty  by  which  the  Argentine  Republic  was 
formally  recognised.  Reference  has  been  already  made  (page  420)  to 
the  frequent  grant  of  supporters  as  augmentations,  and  perhaps 
mention  should  also  be  made  of  the  inescutcheons  for  the  Dukedom  of 
Aubigny,  borne  by  the  Duke  of  Richmond  and  Gordon,  and  for  the 
Duchy  of  Chatelherault,  borne  by  the  Duke  of  Abercorn.  Possibly 
these  should  more  properly  be  ranked  as  territorial  arms  and  not  as 
augmentations.  A  similar  coat  is  the  inescutcheon  borne  by  the  Earl 
of  Mar  and  Kellie  for  his  Earldom  of  Kellie.  This,  however,  is  stated 
by  Woodward  to  be  an  augmentation  granted  by  James  VI.  to  Sir 
Thomas  Erskine,  one  of  several  granted  by  that  King  to  commemorate 
the  frustration  of  the  Gowrie  Plot  in  1600. 

The  Marquess  of  Westminster,  for  some  utterly  inexplicable  reason, 
was  granted  as  an  augmentation  the  right  to  bear  the  arms  of  the  city 
of  Westminster  in  the  first  quarter  of  his  arms.  Those  who  have 
rendered  very  great  personal  service  to  the  Crown  have  been  some- 
times so  favoured.  The  Halford  and  Gull  (see  page  250)  aug- 
mentations commemorate  medical  services  to  the  Royal  Family,  and 
augmentations  have  been  conferred  upon  Sir  Frederick  Treves  and 
Sir  Francis  Laking  in  connection  with  His  Majesty's  illness  at  the  time 
of  the  Coronation. 

The  badges  of  Ulster  and  Nova  Scotia  borne  as  such  upon  their 
shields  by  Baronets  are,  of  course,  augmentations. 

Two  cases  are  known  of  augmentations  to  the  arms  of  towns.  The 
arms  of  Derry  were  augmented  by  the  arms  of  the  city  of  London  in 
chief,  when,  after  its  fearful  siege,  the  name  of  Derry  was  changed  to 
Londonderry  to  commemorate  the  help  given  by  the  city  of  London. 
The  arms  of  the  city  of  Hereford  had  an  azure  bordure  seme  of  saltires 
couped  argent  added  to  its  arms  after  it  had  successfully  withstood  its 
Scottish  siege,  and  this,  by  the  way,  is  a  striking  example  of  colour 
upon  colour,  the  field  of  the  coat  being  gules. 

There  are  many  grants  in  the  later  part  of  the  eighteenth  and  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  centuries  recorded  in  Lyon  Register  which 
at  first  sight  appear  to  be  augmentations.  Perhaps  they  are  rightly  so 
termed,  but  as  the  additions  usually  appear  to  be  granted  by  the  Lyon 
without  specific  Royal  Warrants,  they  are  hardly  equivalent  to  the 
English  ones  issued  during  the  same  period.  Many  ordinary  grants 
made  in  England  which  have  borne  direct  reference  to  particular 
achievements  of  the  grantee  have  been  (by  the  grantees  and  their  descend- 


AUGMENTATIONS   OF    HONOUR  599 

ants)  wrongly  termed  augmentations.  A  rough  and  ready  (though  not 
a  certain)  test  is  to  imagine  the  coat  if  the  augmentation  be  removed, 
and  see  whether  it  remains  a  properly  balanced  design.  Few  of  such 
coats  will  survive  the  test.  The  additions  made  to  a  coat  to  make  it  a 
different  design,  when  a  new  grant  is  founded  upon  arms  improperly 
used  theretofore,  are  not  augmentations,  although  spoken  departures 
from  the  truth  on  this  detail  are  by  no  means  rare. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII 
ECCLESIASTICAL    HERALDRY 

ECCLESIASTICAL  heraldry  has  nothing  like  the  importance  in 
British  armory  that  it  possesses  elsewhere.  It  may  be  said  to 
consist  in  this  country  exclusively  of  the  ofBcial  arms  assigned 
to  and  recorded  for  the  archiepiscopal  and  episcopal  sees,  and  the 
mitres  and  crosiers  which  are  added  to  the  shields,  and  a  certain 
number  of  ecclesiastical  symbols  which  occur  as  charges.  In  Pre- 
Reformation  days  there  were,  of  course,  the  many  religious  houses 
which  used  armorial  emblems,  but  with  the  suppression  of  the 
monasteries  these  vanished.  The  cardinal's  hat  was  recognised  in 
former  days,  and  would  still  be  officially  certified  in  England  as 
admittedly  correctly  displayed  above  the  arms  of  a  Roman  cardinal. 
But  the  curious  and  intricate  development  of  other  varieties  of  the 
ecclesiastical  hat  which  will  be  found  in  use  in  all  other  European 
countries  is  not  known  to  British  armory.  Nor  has  the  English 
College  of  Arms  recognised  the  impersonal  arms  of  the  Catholic 
communities.  Those  arms,  with  and  without  the  ecclesiastical  hats, 
play  a  conspicuous  part  in  Continental  heraldry. 

It  is  difficult  to  assign  a  proper  value  or  a  definite  status  to  the 
arms  of  the  abbeys  and  other  religious  houses  in  this  country  in  Pre- 
Reformation  times.  The  principal,  in  fact  the  only  important  sources 
of  information  concerning  them  are  the  impressions  of  seals  which 
have  come  down  to  us.  Many  of  these  seals  show  the  effigies  of 
saints  or  patrons,  some  show  the  impersonal  arms  of  the  religious  order 
to  whose  rule  the  community  conformed,  some  the  personal  arms  of 
the  official  of  the  moment,  others  the  personal  arms  of  the  founder. 
In  other  cases  arms  presumably  those  of  the  particular  foundation  or 
community  occur,  but  in  such  cases  the  variations  in  design  are  so 
marked,  and  so  often  we  find  that  two,  three,  or  more  devices  are 
used  indifferently  and  indiscriminately,  that  one  is  forced  to  arrive  at 
the  conclusion  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  devices  in  use,  though 
armorial  in  character,  had  no  greater  status  than  a  temporary  existence 
as  seal  designs.  They  distinctly  lack  the  unchanging  continuity  one 
associates  with   armorial   bearings.     But   whatever    their    status  may 

690 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HERALDRY  6oi 

once  have  been,  they  have  now  completely  passed  out  of  being  and 
may  well  be  allowed  to  rest  in  the  uncertainty  which  exists  concerning 
them.  The  interest  attaching  to  them  can  never  be  more  than 
academic  in  character  and  limited  in  extent.  The  larger  abbeys,  the 
abbots  of  which  were  anciently  summoned  to  Parliament  as  Lords  of 
Parliament,  appear  to  have  adhered  rather  more  consistently  to  a 
fixed  device  in  each  case,  though  the  variations  of  design  are  very 
noticeable  even  in  these  instances.  A  list  of  them  will  be  found  in 
the  Genealogical  Magazine  (vol.  ii.  p.  3). 

The  suppression  of  the  monasteries  in  this  country  was  so  thorough 
and  so  ruthless,  that  the  contemporary  instances  of  abbatical  arms 
remaining  to  us  from  which  deduction  as  to  armorial  rules  -and 
precedents  can  be  made  are  singularly  few  in  number,  but  it  would 
appear  that  the  abbot  impaled  the  arms  of  his  abbey  on  the  dexter 
side  of  his  personal  arms,  and  placed  his  mitre  above  the  shield. 

The  mitre  of  an  abbot  differed  from  that  of  a  bishop,  inasmuch  as 
it  had  no  labels — or  infulce — depending  from  within  it.  The  Abbot  used 
a  crosier,  which  doubtless  was  correctly  added  to  his  armorial  bearings, 
but  it  is  found  in  pale  behind  the  shield,  in  bend,  and  also  two  in 
saltire,  and  it  is  difficult  to  assert  which  was  the  most  correct  form. 

The  crosier  of  an  abbot  was  also  represented  with  the  crook  at  its 
head  curved  inwards,  the  terminal  point  of  the  crook  being  entirely 
contained  within  the  hook.  The  point  of  a  bishop's,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  turned  outwards  at  the  bottom  of  the  crook.  The  differ- 
ence is  said  to  typify  the  distinction  between  the  confined  jurisdiction 
of  the  abbot — which  was  limited  to  the  abbey  and  the  community 
under  his  charge — and  the  more  open  and  wider  jurisdiction  of  the 
bishop.  Although  this  distinction  has  been  much  disputed  as  regards 
its  recognition  for  the  actual  crosiers  employed,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  it  is  very  generally  adhered  to  in  heraldic  representations, 
though  one  hesitates  to  assert  it  as  an  absolute  rule.  The  official  arms 
for  the  archiepiscopal  and  episcopal  sees  are  of  some  interest.  With 
the  single  exception  of  York,  the  archiepiscopal  coats  of  arms  all  have, 
in  some  form  or  another,  the  pallium  which  forms  part  of  an  arch- 
bishop's vestments  or  insignia  of  rank,  but  it  is  now  very  generally 
recognised  and  conceded  that  the  pallium  is  not  merely  a  charge  in 
the  official  coat  for  any  specified  jurisdiction,  but  is  itself  the  sign 
of  the  rank  of  an  archbishop  of  the  same  character  and  status  as  is 
the  mitre,  the  pallium  being  displayed  upon  a  shield  as  a  matter  of 
convenience  for  artistic  representation.  This  view  of  the  case  has 
been  much  strengthened  by  the  discovery  that  in  ancient  instances  of 
the  archiepiscopal  arms  of  York  the  pallium  is  found,  and  not  the  more 
modern  coat  of  the  crown    and  keys  ;   but  whether   the   pallium    is 


6o2     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

to  be  still  so  considered,  or  whether  under  English  armorial  law  it 
must  now  be  merely  ranked  as  a  charge  in  an  ordinary  coat  of  arms, 
in  general  practice  it  is  accepted  as  the  latter ;  but  it  nevertheless 
remains  a  point  of  very  considerable  interest  (which  has  not  yet  been 
elucidated)  why  the  pallium  should  have  been  discarded  for  York,  and 
another  coat  of  arms  substituted. 

The  various  coats  used  by  the  archbishops  of  England  and  Ireland 
are  as  follows  : — 

Canterbury, — Azure,  an  episcopal  staff  in  pale  or,  and  ensigned  with 
a  cross  pate6  argent  surmounted  of  a  pall  of  the  last,  charged  with 
four  crosses  formee  fitchee  sable,  edged  and  fringed  or. 

York. — Gules,  two  keys  in  saltire  argent,  in  chief  a  Royal  crown  or. 

Armagh, — Azure,  an  episcopal  staff  argent,  ensigned  with  a  cross 
patee  or,  surmounted  by  a  pallium  of  the  second,  edged  and  fringed 
or,  charged  with  four  crosses  formee  fitchee  sable. 

Dublin. — The  arms  of  this  archbishopric  are  the  same  as  those  of 
Armagh,  only  with  five  crosses  charged  on  the  pallium  instead  of  four. 

The  arms  of  the  episcopal  sees  have  no  attribute  at  all  similar  to 
the  charge  of  the  pallium  in  the  coat  of  an  archbishop,  and  are  merely 
so  many  different  coats  of  arms.  The  shield  of  every  bishop  and 
archbishop  is  surmounted  by  his  mitre,  and  it  is  now  customary  to 
admit  the  use  of  the  mitre  by  all  persons  holding  the  title  of  bishop  who 
are  recognised  as  bishops  by  the  English  law. 

This,  of  course,  includes  Colonial  and  Suffragan  bishops,  retired 
bishops,  and  bishops  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  Scotland  and  in 
Ireland.  It  is  a  moot  point  whether  the  bishops  of  the  Episcopal 
Churches  in  Ireland  and  in  Scotland  are  entitled  to  make  use  of  the 
official  arms  formerly  assigned  to  their  sees  at  a  period  w^hen  those 
Churches  were  State-established  ;  but,  looking  at  the  matter  from  a 
strictly  official  point  of  view,  it  would  not  appear  that  they  are  any 
longer  entitled  to  make  use  of  them. 

The  mitres  of  an  archbishop  and  of  a  bishop — in  spite  of  many 
statements  to  the  contrary — are  exactly  identical,  and  the  mistaken  idea 
which  has  of  late  years  (the  practice  is  really  quite  a  modern  one) 
encircled  the  rim  of  an  archbishop's  mitre  with  the  circlet  of  a  coronet 
is  absolutely  incorrect. 

There  are  several  forms  of  mitre  which,  when  looked  upon  as  an 
ecclesiastical  ornament,  can  be  said  to  exist ;  but  from  the  heraldic 
point  of  view  only  one  mitre  is  recognised,  and  that  is  of  gold,  the 
labels  being  of  the  same  colour.  The  jewelled  variety  is  incorrect  in 
armorial  representations,  though  the  science  of  armory  does  not  appear 
to  have  enforced  any  particular  shape  of  mitre. 

The  "  several  forms  "  of  the  mitre — to  which  allusion  has  just  been 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HERALDRY  603 

made — refer  to  the  use  in  actual  practice  which  prevailed  in  Pre- 
Reformation  England,  and  still  holds  amongst  Roman  Catholic  bishops 
at  the  present  day.  These  are  three  in  number,  i.e,  the  ^^  precious  " 
{pretiosd)y  the  gold  {auriferata)y  and  the  simple  {simplex).  The  two  former 
are  both  employed  at  a  Pontifical  Mass  (being  alternately  assumed  at 
different  parts  of  the  service) ;  the  second  only  is  worn  at  such  rites 
as  Confirmation,  &c.  ;  while  the  third  (which  is  purely  of  white  Hnen) 
is  confined  to  Services  for  the  Dead,  and  on  Good  Friday.  As  its 
name  implies,  the  first  of  these  is  of  cloth  of  gold,  ornamented  to  a 
greater  or  less  degree  with  jewels,  while  the  second — though  likewise 
of  cloth  of  gold — is  without  any  design  or  ornament.  The  short 
Gothic  mitre  of  Norman  days  has  now  given  place  to  the  modern 
Roman  one,  an  alteration  which,  with  its  great  height  and  arched  sides, 
can  hardly  perhaps  be  considered  an  artistic  improvement.  Some 
individual  Roman  Catholic  bishops  at  the  present  day,  however  (in 
England  at  any  rate),  wear  mitres  more  allied  to  the  Norman  and 
Gothic  shape. 

The  past  fifteen  or  so  years  have  seen  a  revival — though  in  a 
purely  eclectic  and  unofficial  manner — of  the  wearing  of  the  mitre  by 
Church  of  England  bishops.  Where  this  has  been  (and  is  being) 
done,  the  older  form  of  mitre  has  been  adhered  to,  though  from  the 
informal  and  unofficial  nature  of  the  revival  no  rules  as  to  its  use  have 
been  followed,  but  only  individual  choice. 

At  the  recent  Coronation,  mitres  were  not  worn  ;  which  they  un- 
doubtedly would  have  been  had  this  revival  now  alluded  to  been  made 
authoritatively. 

All  bishops  and  archbishops  are  entitled  to  place  two  crosiers  in 
saltire  behind  their  shields.  Archbishops  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
have  continuously  placed  in  pale  behind  their  shields  what  is  known 
as  the  archbishop's  cross.  In  actual  practice,  the  cross  carried  before 
an  archbishop  is  an  ordinary  one  with  one  transverse  piece,  but  the 
heraldic  archiepiscopal  cross  is  always  represented  as  a  double  cross, 
i.e.  having  two  transverse  pieces  one  above  the  other.  In  the  Estab- 
lished Church  of  England  the  archiepiscopal  cross — as  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church — is  the  plain  two-armed  variety,  and  though  the  cross 
is  never  officially  recognised  as  an  armorial  attribute  and  is  not  very 
frequently  met  with  in  heraldic  representations,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  if  this  cross  is  used  to  typify  archiepiscopal  rank,  it  should 
be  heraldically  represented  with  the  double  arms.  The  actual  cross 
borne  before  archbishops  is  termed  the  provincial  cross,  and  it  may 
be  of  interest  to  here  state  that  the  Bishops  of  Rochester  are  the 
official  cross-bearers  to  the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury. 

To  the  foregoing  rules  there  is  one  notable  exception,  i.e,  the  Bishop 


6o4     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

of  Durham.  The  Bishopric  of  Durham,  until  the  earlier  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  was  a  Palatinate,  and  in  earlier  times  the  Bishops 
of  Durham,  who  had  their  own  parHament  and  Barons  of  the  Palatinate, 
exercised  a  jurisdiction  and  regality,  limited  in  extent  certainly,  but 
little  short  in  fact  or  effect  of  the  power  of  the  Crown.  If  ever  any 
ecclesiastic  can  be  correctly  said  to  have  enjoyed  temporal  power,  the 
Bishops  of  Durham  can  be  so  described.  The  Prince-Bishops  of  the 
Continent  had  no  such  attributes  of  regality  vested  in  themselves  as 
were  enjoyed  by  the  Bishops  of  Durham,  These  were  in  truth  kings 
within  their  bishoprics,  and  even  to  the  present  day — though  modern 
geographies  and  modern  social  legislation  have  divided  the  bishopric 
into  other  divisions — one  still  hears  the  term  employed  of  ''  within  " 
or  **  without  "  the  bishopric. 

The  result  of  this  temporal  power  enjoyed  by  the  Bishops  of 
Durham  is  seen  in  their  heraldic  achievement.  In  place  of  the  two 
crosiers  in  saltire  behind  the  shield,  as  used  by  the  other  bishops,  the 
Bishops  of  Durham  place  a  sword  and  a  crosier  in  saltire  behind  their 
shield  to  signify  both  their  temporal  and  spiritual  jurisdiction. 

The  mitre  of  the  Bishop  of  Durham  is  heraldically  represented 
with  the  rim  encircled  by  a  ducal  coronet,  and  it  has  thereby  become 
usual  to  speak  of  the  coronetted  mitre  of  the  Bishop  of  Durham  ;  but 
it  should  be  clearly  borne  in  mind  that  the  coronet  formed  no  part 
of  the  actual  mitre,  and  probably  no  mitre  has  ever  existed  in  which 
the  rim  has  been  encircled  by  a  coronet.  But  the  Bishops  of  Durham, 
by  virtue  of  their  temporal  status,  used  a  coronet,  and  by  virtue  of 
their  ecclesiastical  status  used  a  mitre,  and  the  representation  of  both 
of  these  at  one  and  the  same  time  has  resulted  in  the  coronet  being 
placed  to  encircle  the  rim  of  the  mitre.  The  result  has  been  that, 
heraldically,  they  are  now  always  represented  as  one  and  the  same 
article. 

It  is,  of  course,  from  this  coronetted  mitre  of  Durham  that  the 
wholly  inaccurate  idea  of  the  existence  of  coronet  on  the  mitre  of  an 
archbishop  has  originated.  Apparently  the  humility  of  these  Princes 
of  the  Church  has  not  been  sufficient  to  prevent  their  appropriating 
the  peculiar  privileges  of  their  ecclesiastical  brother  of  lesser  rank. 

A  crest  is  never  used  with  a  mitre  or  ecclesiastical  hat.  Many 
writers  deny  the  right  of  any  ecclesiastic  to  a  crest.  Some  deny 
the  right  also  to  use  a  motto,  but  this  restriction  has  no  general 
acceptance. 

Therefore  ecclesiastical  heraldry  in  Britain  is  summed  up  in  (i) 
its  recognition  of  the  cardinal's  hat,  (2)  the  official  coat  of  arms  for 
ecclesiastical  purposes,  (3)  the  ensigns  of  ecclesiastical  rank  above 
alluded  to,  viz.  mitre,  cross,   and  crosier. 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HERALDRY  605 

Ecclesiastical  heraldry — notably  in  connection  with  the  Roman 
Church — in  other  countries  has,  on  the  contrary,  a  very  important 
place  in  armorial  matters.  In  addition  to  the  emblems  officially  re- 
cognised for  English  heraldry,  the  ecclesiastical  hat  is  in  constant  use. 

The  use  of  the  ecclesiastical  hat  is  very  general  outside  Great  Britain, 
and  affords  one  of  the  few  instances  where  the  rules  governing  heraldic 
usages  are  identical  throughout  the  Continent. 

This  curious  unanimity  is  the  more  remarkable  because  it  was  not 
until  the  seventeenth  century  that  the  rather  intricate  rules  concerning 
the  colours  of  the  hats  used  for  different  ranks  and  the  number  of 
tassels  came  into  vogue. 

Other  than  the  occasional  recognition  of  the  cardinal's  hat  in  former 
days,  the  only  British  official  instance  of  the  use  of  the  ecclesiastical 
hat  is  met  with  in  the  case  of  the  very  recent  matriculation  of  arms 
in  Lyon  Register  to  Right  Rev.  -^neas  Chisholm,  the  present  Roman 
Catholic  Bishop  of  Aberdeen.  I  frankly  admit  I  am  unaware  why 
the  ecclesiastical  hat  assigned  to  the  bishop  in  the  official  matriculation 
of  his  arms  has  ten  tassels  on  either  side.  The  Continental  usage 
would  assign  him  but  six,  and  English  armory  has  no  rules  of  its  own 
which  can  be  quoted  in  opposition  thereto.  Save  as  an  acceptance 
of  Roman  regulations  (Roman  Holy  Orders,  it  should  not  be  forgotten, 
are  recognised  by  the  English  Common  Law  to  the  extent  that  a 
Roman  Catholic  priest  is  not  reordained  if  he  becomes  an  Anglican 
clergyman),  the  heraldic  ecclesiastical  hat  of  a  bishop  has  no  existence 
with  us,  and  the  Roman  regulations  would  give  him  but  six  tassels. 

The  mitre  is  to  be  met  with  as  a  charge  and  as  a  crest,  for 
instance,  in  the  case  of  Barclay  and  Berkeley  [^^  A  mitre  gules,  labelled 
and  garnished  or,  charged  with  a  chevron  between  ten  crosses  pat^e, 
six  and  four  argent.  Motto  :  '  Dieu  avec  nous ' "]  ;  and  also  in  the 
case  of  Sir  Edmund  Hardinge,  Bart,  whose  crests  are  curious  [*'  i.  of 
honourable  augmentation,  a  hand  fesswise  couped  above  the  wrist 
habited  in  naval  uniform,  holding  a  sword  erect  surmounting  a  Dutch 
and  a  French  flag  in  saltire,  on  the  former  inscribed  ^'  Atalanta,"  on  the 
latter  "  Piedmontaise,"  the  blade  of  the  sword  passing  through  a  wreath 
of  laurel  near  the  point  and  a  little  below  through  another  of  cypress, 
with  the  motto,  ^  Postera  laude  recens  ; '  2.  a  mitre  gules  charged 
with  a  chevron  argent,  fimbriated  or,  thereon  three  escallops  sable."] 

The  cross  can  hardly  be  termed  exclusively  ecclesiastical,  but  a 
curious  figure  of  this  nature  is  to  be  met  with  in  the  arms  recently 
granted  to  the  Borough  of  Southwark.  It  was  undoubtedly  taken  from 
the  device  used  in  Southwark  before  its  incorporation,  though  as  there 
were  many  bodies  who  adopted  it  in  that  neighbourhood,  it  is  difficult 
to  assign  it  to  a  specific  origin. 


6o6    A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

Pastoral  staves  and  passion-nails  are  elsewhere  referred  to,  and 
the  figures  of  saints  and  ecclesiastics  are  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on 
^'The  Human  Figure." 

The  emblems  of  the  saints,  which  appear  to  have  received  a 
certain  amount  of  official  recognition — both  ecclesiastical  and  heraldic 
— supply  the  origin  of  many  other  charges  not  in  themselves  heraldic. 
An  instance  of  this  kind  will  be  found  in  the  sword  of  St.  Paul, 
which  figures  on  the  shield  of  London.  The  cross  of  St.  Cuthbert, 
which  has  been  adopted  in  the  unauthorised  coat  for  the  See  of  New- 
castle-on-Tyne,  and  the  keys  of  St.  Peter,  which  figure  in  many 
ecclesiastical  coats,  are  other  examples.  The  lilies  of  the  Virgin  are, 
of  course,  constantly  to  be  met  with  in  the  form  of  fleurs-de-lis  and 
natural  flowers  ;  the  Wheel  of  St.  Catharine  is  familiar,  and  the  list 
might  be  extended  indefinitely. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX 

ARMS    OF    DOMINION    AND    SOVEREIGNTY 

ROYAL  arms  in  many  respects  differ  from  ordinary  armorial  bear- 
ings, and  it  should  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  that  they  stand, 
•  not  for  any  particular  area  of  land,  but  for  the  intangible 
sovereignty  vested  in  the  rulers  thereof.  They  are  not  necessarily, 
nor  are  they  in  fact,  hereditary.  They  pass  by  conquest.  A  dynastic 
change  which  introduces  new  sovereignties  introduces  new  quarterings, 
as  when  the  Hanoverian  dynasty  came  to  the  throne  of  this  country 
the  quartering  of  Hanover  was  introduced,  but  purely  personal  arms 
in  British  heraldry  are  never  introduced.  The  personal  arms  of 
Tudor  and  Stewart  were  never  added  to  the  Royal  Arms  of  this 
country. 

The  origin  of  the  English  Royal  Arms  was  dealt  with  on  page  172. 
*' Gules,  three  lions  passant  guardant  in  pale  or,"  as  the  arms  of  Eng- 
land, were  used  by  Kings  John,  Henry  III.,  Edward  I.,  and  Edward  II. 
The  quartering  for  France  was  introduced  by  Edward  III.,  as  ex- 
plained on  page  274,  and  the  Royal  shield :  Quarterly  i  and  4, 
France,  ancient  (azure,  sem6-de-lis  or) ;  2  and  3,  England  (gules, 
three  lions  passant  guardant  in  pale  or),  was  in  use  in  the  reigns 
of  Edward  III.,  Richard  II.  (who,  however,  impaled  his  arms  with 
those  of  St.  Edward  the  Confessor),  and  Henry  IV.  The  last-mentioned 
king  about  141 1  reduced  the  number  of  fleurs-de-lis  to  ihreCf  and  the 
shield  remained  without  further  change  till  the  end  of  the  reign  of 
Edward  VI.  Queen  Mary  did  not  alter  the  arms  of  this  country,  but 
during  the  time  of  her  marriage  with  Philip  of  Spain  they  were  always 
borne  impaled  with  the  arms  of  Spain.  Queen  Elizabeth  bore  the 
same  shield  as  her  predecessors.  But  when  James  I.  came  to  the 
throne  the  arms  were :  *<  Quarterly  i  and  4,  quarterly  i.  and  iiii. 
France,  ii.  and  iii.  England  ;  2.  Scotland  (or,  a  lion  rampant  within  a 
double  tressure  flory  and  counterflory  gules)  ;  3.  Ireland  (azure,  a 
harp  or,  stringed  argent)."  The  shield  was  so  borne  by  James  I., 
Charles  I.,  Charles  II.,  and  James  II. 

When  William  III.  and  Mary  came  to  the  throne  an  inescutcheon 

of  the  arms  of  Nassau  ("  Azure,  billetty  and  a  lion  rampant  or  ")  was 

607 


6o8     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

superimposed  upon  the  Royal  Arms  as  previously  borne,  for  William  III., 
and  he  impaled  the  same  coat  without  the  inescutcheon  for  his 
wife.  At  her  death  the  impalement  was  dropped.  After  the  Union 
with  Scotland  in  1707  the  arms  of  England  ('^  Gules,  three  lions,"  &c.) 
were  impaled  with  those  of  Scotland  (the  tressure  not  being  continued 
down  the  palar  line),  and  the  impaled  coat  of  England  and  Scotland 
was  placed  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters,  France  in  the  second, 
Ireland  in  the  third. 

At  the  accession  of  George  I.  the  arms  of  Hanover  were  introduced 
in  the  fourth  quarter.  These  were  :  '^  Tierced  in  pairle  reversed, 
I.  Brunswick,  gules,  two  lions  passant  guardant  in  pale  or  ;  2.  Lune- 
berg,  or,  seme  of  hearts  gules,  a  lion  rampant  azure  ;  3.  (in  point), 
Westphalia,  gules,  a  horse  courant  argent,  and  on  an  inescutcheon 
(over  the  fourth  quarter)  gules,  the  crown  of  Charlemagne  (as  Arch 
Treasurer  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire). 

At  the  union  with  Ireland  in  1801  the  opportunity  was  taken  to 
revise  the  Royal  Arms,  and  those  of  France  were  then  discontinued. 
The  escutcheon  decided  upon  at  that  date  was  :  ^^  Quarterly,  i  and 
4,  England  ;  2.  Scotland  ;  3.  Ireland  and  the  arms  of  Hanover  were 
placed  upon  an  inescutcheon."  This  inescutcheon  was  surmounted 
by  the  Electoral  cap,  for  which  a  crown  was  substituted  later  when 
Hanover  became  a  kingdom. 

At  the  death  of  William  IV.,  by  the  operation  of  the  Salic  Law, 
the  crowns  of  England  and  Hanover  were  separated,  and  the 
inescutcheon  of  Hanover  disappeared  from  the  Royal  Arms  of  this 
country,  and  by  Royal  Warrant  issued  at  the  beginning  of  the  reign 
of  Queen  Victoria  the  Royal  Arms  and  badges  were  declared  to  be  : 
I  and  4,  England  ;  2.  Scotland  ;  3.  Ireland.  The  necessary  alteration 
of  the  cyphers  are  the  only  alterations  made  by  his  present  Majesty. 

The  supporters  date  from  the  accession  of  James  I.  Before  that 
date  there  had  been  much  variety.  Some  of  the  Royal  badges  have 
been  already  alluded  to  in  the  chapter  on  that  subject. 

The  differences  used  by  various  junior  members  of  the  Royal 
Family  will  be  found  in  the  Chapter  on  Marks  of  Cadency. 


CHAPTER   XL 
HATCHMENTS 

A  CUSTOM  formerly  prevailed  in  England,  which  at  one  time  was 
of  very  considerable  importance.  This  was  the  setting  up  of  a 
■  hatchment  after  a  death.  No  instances  of  hatchments  of  a  very 
early  date,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  are  to  be  met  with,  and  it  is  probably 
a  correct  conclusion  that  the  custom,  originating  rather  earher,  came 
into  vogue  in  England  during  the  seventeenth  century  and  reached  its 
height  in  the  eighteenth.  It  doubtless  originated  in  the  carrying  of 
ceremonial  shields  and  helmets  (afterwards  left  in  the  church)  at 
funerals  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  in  the  earlier  practice  of  setting 
up  in  the  church  the  actual  shield  of  a  deceased  person.  The  cessation 
of  the  ceremonial  funeral,  no  doubt,  led  to  the  cult  of  the  hatchment. 
Hatchments  cannot  be  said  even  yet  to  have  come  entirely  to  an  end, 
but  instances  of  their  use  are  nowadays  extremely  rare,  and  since  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  practice  has  been  steadily 
declining,  and  at  the  present  time  it  is  seldom  indeed  that  one  sees 
a  hatchment  m  use.  The  word  ^'  hatchment "  is,  of  course,  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  term  ^^  achievement,"  this  being  the  heraldic  term  implying 
an  emblazonment  of  the  full  armorial  bearings  of  any  person. 

The  manner  of  use  was  as  follows.  Immediately  upon  the  death 
of  a  person  of  any  social  position  a  hatchment  of  his  or  her  arms  was 
set  up  over  the  entrance  to  his  house,  which  remained  there  for 
twelve  months,  during  the  period  of  mourning.  It  was  then  taken 
down  from  the  house  and  removed  to  the  church,  where  it  was  set 
up  in  perpetuity.  There  are  few  churches  of  any  age  in  this  country 
which  do  not  boast  one  or  more  of  these  hatchments,  and  some  are 
rich  in  their  possession.  Those  now  remaining — for  example,  in 
St.  Chad's  Church  in  Shrewsbury — must  number,  1  imagine,  over  a 
hundred.  There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  obligation  upon  a 
clergyman  either  to  permit  their  erection,  or  to  allow  them  to  remain 
for  any  specified  period.  In  some  churches  they  have  been  discarded 
and  relegated  to  the  vestry,  to  the  coal-house,  or  to  the  rubbish-heap, 
whilst  in  others  they  have  been  carefully  preserved. 

The  hatchment  was  a  diamond-shaped  frame,  painted  black,  and 

609  2  Q 


6io     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

enclosing  a  painting  in  oils  upon  wood,  or  more  frequently  canvas,  of 
the  full  armorial  bearings  of  the  deceased  person.  The  frame  was 
usually  about  five  feet  six  in  height,  and  the  rules  for  the  display  of 
arms  upon  hatchments  afford  an  interesting  set  of  regulations  which 
may  be  applied  to  other  heraldic  emblazonments.  The  chief  point, 
however,  concerning  a  hatchment,  and  also  the  one  in  which  it  differs 
from  an  ordinary  armorial  emblazonment,  lay  in  the  colour  of  the 
groundwork  upon  which  the  armorial  bearings  were  painted.  For  an 
unmarried  person  the  whole  of  the  groundwork  was  black,  but  for  a 
husband  or  wife  half  was  black  and  half  white,  the  groundwork  behind 
the  arms  of  the  deceased  person  being  black,  and  of  the  surviving 
partner  in  matrimony  white.  The  background  for  a  widow  or  widower 
was  entirely  black. 


CHAPTER    XLI 

THE  UNION  JACK 
By  Rev.  J.  R.   CRAWFORD 

ORDERS  in  Council  and  other  official  documents  refer  to  this 
flag  as  the  Union  Flag,  The  Union  Jack,  Our  Jack,  The 
King's  Colours,  and  the  Union  Banner,  which  last  title 
precise  Heraldry  usually  adopts.  In  patriotic  songs  it  is  toasted  as 
"  The  Red,  White,  and  Blue,"  whilst  in  the  Services  men  affectionately 
allude  to  it  as  ^^  the  dear  old  duster."  But  Britons  at  large  cling  to 
the  title  which  heads  this  chapter  ;  to  them  it  is  ^^  The  Union  Jack." 

Why  Union  ?  Obviously  because  it  unites  three  emblems  of  tutelar 
saints  on  one  flag,  and  thereby  denotes  the  union  of  three  peoples 
under  one  Sovereign.  It  is  the  motto  ^'  Tria  junda  in  Uno  "  rendered 
in  bunting. 

Why  Jack  ?  Two  theories  are  propounded,  one  fanciful,  the  other 
probable.  Some  say  '^  Jack "  is  the  anglicised  form  of  ''  Jacques," 
which  is  the  French  signature  of  James  I.,  in  whose  reign  and  by 
whose  command  the  first  Union  Flag  was  called  into  being.  Against 
this  at  least  three  reasons  may  justly  be  urged  :  (i)  The  term  ^^Jack" 
does  not  appear — so  far  as  we  can  discover — in  any  warrant  referring 
to  the  Jacobean  Flag  of  1606.  It  is  rather  in  later  documents  that 
this  term  occurs.  (2)  If  the  earliest  Union  Flag  be  a  ^^Jack'^  just 
because  it  is  the  creation  of  James,  then  surely  it  follows  that,  to  be 
consistent,  later  Union  Flags,  the  creations  of  later  sovereigns,  should 
have  borne  those  Sovereigns'  names  ;  for  example  The  Union  Anne, 
The  Union  George  I  (3)  The  English  way  of  pronouncing  "  Jacques  "  is 
not,  and  probably  never  '^2i?>  Jacky  but  Jaikes.  The  other,  and  more 
feasible  theory,  is  as  follows  :  The  term  ^^  Jaque  "  (e.g.  jaque  de  mailles) 
was  borrowed  from  the  French  and  referred  to  any  jacket  or  coat  on 
which,  especially,  heraldic  emblems  w^ere  blazoned.  In  days  long 
prior  to  those  of  the  first  Stuart  king,  mention  is  made  of  **to]^gtt$ 

cotes  toitJj  retr  crosses  toorn  Sg  sljsjjpesmen  anti  mm  of  tjje  cette  of 

3E01Tll0tx/'   from  which   sentence   we    learn   that  the   emblem    of    the 

nation's  tutelar  saint  was  (as  in  yet  earlier  Crusaders'  days)  a  fighter  s 

emblem.     When  such  emblem  or  emblems  were  transferred  to  a  flag, 

611 


6i2     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO    HERALDRY 

the  term  Jaque  may  well,  in  course  of  time,  have  been  also  applied   to 
that  flag,  as  previously  to  the  jacket. 

Glance  now  at  the  story  of  those  Orders  in  Council  which  created 
the  various  Union  flags.  The  very  union  of  the  two  kingdoms  of 
England  and  Scotland  seems  to  have  accentuated  the  pettier  national 
jealousies,  so  that  Southrons  annoyed  Northerners  by  hoisting  the 
St.  George  above  the  St.  Andrew,  and  the  Scotchmen  retaliated  by  a 
species  of  tu  quoque.  The  King  sought  to  allay  these  quarrels  by 
creating  a  British,  as  other  than  a  purely  English  or  Scottish,  flag. 
But  let  the  Proclamation  speak  for  itself. 

*' By  the  King. 

"  WhereaSy  some  differences  hath  arisen  between  Our  subjects  of  South 
and  North  Britaine  travelling  by  Seas,  about  the  bearing  of  their  Flagges  : 
For  the  avoiding  of  all  contentions  hereafter,  Wee  have,  with  the  advice  of  our 
Councill,  ordered :  That  from  henceforth  all  our  Subjects  of  this  Isle  and 
Kingdome  of  Great  Britaine,  and  all  our  members  thereof,  shall  beare  in  their 
main-toppe  the  Red  Crosse,  commonly  called  St,  Georges  Crosse,  and  the 
White  Crosse,  commonly  called  St,  Andrew's  Crosse^  joyned  together  according 
to  the  forme  made  by  our  heralds,  and  sent  by  Us  to  our  Admerall  to  be 
published  to  our  Subjects:  and  in  their  fore-toppe  our  Subjects  of  South 
Britaine  shall  weare  the  Red  Crosse  onely  as  they  were  wont,  and  our  Subjects 
of  North  Britaine  in  their  fore-toppe  the  White  Crosse  onely  as  they  were 
accustomed.*' — 1606. 

This  attempt  at  conciliating  differences  deserved  but  did  not  win 
success.  *'  The  Kings  Owne  Shipps  "  deemed  themselves  slighted,  since 
all  vessels  were  treated  alike  in  this  matter,  and  so  persistent  was  the 
agitation  that  at  last,  in  Charles  I.'s  reign  (1634),  another  Proclamation 
was  issued  ^*  for  the  honour  of  Oure  Shipps  in  Oure  Navie  Roy  all,  whereby 
those  ships  alone  had  the  right  of  hoisting  ^^  the  Union  Flagge."  The 
days  of  the  Commonwealth  brought  another  change,  for  with  the 
King  the  King's  Flag  disappeared.  The  Protector  caused  two  new 
flags  to  be  made,  viz.  The  Great  Union  (a  flag  little  used,  however, 
although  it  figured  at  his  funeral  obsequies),  and  which  may  be 
thus  blazoned:  Quarterly  i  and  ^,  The  St,  George;  2.  The  St,  Andrew; 
3.  azure,  a  harp  or,  for  Ireland ;  over  all  on  an  inescutcheon  of 
pretence,  sable,  a  lion  rampant  or,  for  the  Protector's  personal  arms, 
and  The  Commonwealth  Ensign,  which  latter  Parliament  treated  as  the 
paramount  flag.  The  most  interesting  features  of  this  flag  are  that  it 
was  of  three  kinds,  one  red,  one  white,  one  blue,  and  that  Ireland 
but  not  Scotland  had  a  place  on  its  folds.     When  the  King  came  to 


PLATE  IX. 


ST  GEORGE'S  CROSS. 


ST   ANDREW'S   CROSS. 


THE   UNION  JACK. 


ST   PATRICK'S   CROSS. 


Z\^ 


UNION   FLAG  OF 
ENGLAND  AND  SCOTLAND. 


THE   UNION  JACK  613 

his  own  again  yet  another  change  was  witnessed.  By  this  Proclama- 
tion ships  in  the  Navy  were  to  carry  The  Union,  and  all  merchantmen 
The  SL  George,  whilst  these  latter  vessels  were  also  to  wear  '^  The 
Red  Ensign  with  the  St,  George,  on  a  Canton,"  Passing  on,  we  reach  the 
days  of  Queen  Anne,  who  as  soon  as  the  union  of  the  two  Parliaments 
was  accomplished,  issued  a  famous  Proclamation  often  quoted. 
Suffice  it  here  to  outline  its  effect. 

The  two  crosses  of  St,  George  and  St,  Andrew  were — as  the  Treaty 
of  Union  had  agreed  should  be — ^^  conjoyned  in  such  a  manner  as  we 
should  think  fit"  ;  and  what  that  manner  was  is  *'  described  on  the  margent" 
in  the  shape  of  a  sketch.  But  further,  in  place  of  the  St.  George  being 
placed   on   the   canton   of  the  Red  Ensign  of  Charles    II.    (itself  the 


Xy 


III  ■■■ 

HI  IIHI! 

XRaHjjA 

r,. 


Swc^isK. 


J^H       2=LLllnl'^= 


Fig.  775. 


*w*5 


Commonwealth  Ensign,  minus  the  harp)  the  Proclamation  ordered  the 
*'  Union  "  as  a  canton,  and  finally  this  new  Red  Ensign  was  confined 
to  the  merchant  ships,  whilst  ^'  Our  Jack  "  was  reserved  for  the  use  of 
the  Navy,  unless  by  particular  warrant.  Thus  things  continued  until 
the  union  of  Ireland  with  England  and  Scotland.  The  Proclamation 
referring  to  this  Act  of  Union  closes  with  the  Herald's  verbal  blazon 
of  the  full  Union  Flag  : — <<  The  Union  Flag  shall  be  Azure,  the  Crosses 
Saltire  of  St.  Andrew  and  St,  Patrick,  Quarterly  per  saltire,  countercharged 
Argent  and  Gules,  the  latter  fimbriated  of  the  second,  surmounted  by  the  Cross 
of  St.  George  of  the  third,  fimbriated  as  the  Saltire."  Thus  the  Union,  as 
displayed  in  bunting,  was  perfected. 

Our  Union  Flag  is  very  remarkable,  even  amongst  the  flags  of 
Christendom,  both  as  a  blending  of  crosses,  and  crosses  only,  and 
also  as  an  emblem  of  the  union  of  two  or  more  countries.  Yet  it  is 
not  unique,  for  the  flags  of  Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Norway  have  a 
somewhat  similar  story  to  tell.     The  last  two  countries  separated  at 


6 14     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

different  dates  from  Denmark,  and  then  together  formed  a  United 
Scandinavian  Kingdom.  In  separating,  they  each  took  to  themselves 
a  separate  flag,  and  again,  in  uniting,  they  called  into  being  a  Union 
Banner.  How  they  treated  these  changes  Fig.  775  will  illustrate. 
Notwithstanding  these  acts  of  union  both  Scandinavians  and  Britons 
have  had,  and  we  still  have,  differences  over  these  Union  Flags. 
Whilst,  however,  they  based  their  protests  on  the  sentiment  of  inde- 
pendence, we  ground  our  grumblings  on  questions  of  heraldic  pre- 
cedence, and  of  the  interpretation  of  verbal  blazons.  Leaving  our 
neighbours  to  settle  their  differences,  let  us  examine  our  own.  Take 
the  subject  of  precedence.     Very  early  in  the  flag's  history,  Scotsmen 

were  indignant  because  the 


o 


m 

iu  fie  Clle*t. 


Fig.  776.— The  Union  Flag  of  1707. 


St.  Andrew  was  not  placed 
over  the  St.  George.  All 
kinds  of  variations  have 
been  suggested  to  lessen 
this  crux  of  precedence, 
but  such  attempts  must 
plainly  be  in  vain.  Do 
what  you  will,  some  kind 
of  precedence  is  unavoid- 
able. The  St  GeorgCf  then, 
as  representing  the  para- 
mount partner,  occupies 
the  centre  of  the  flag, 
whilst  the  St,  Andrew,  as 
senior  in  partnership  to  the  St.  Patrick,  is  placed  above  the  St.  Patrick^ 
in  the  first  quarter^  although  throughout  it  is  counterchanged.  The 
words  in  italic  are  important,  for  when  the  order  is  reversed,  then 
that  particular  flag  is  flying  upside  down. 

The  mode  of  procedure  in  creating  flags  has  been  much  the  same 
from  one  reign  to  another.  Briefly  it  is  this  :  The  Sovereign  seeks 
the  advice  of,  and  receives  a  report  from,  the  Lords  of  the  Privy 
Council.  These  councillors  are  ^^  attended  by  the  King  of  Arms  and 
Heralds,  with  diverse  drafts  prepared  by  them!*  A  decision  being  arrived 
at,  an  Order  in  Council,  followed  by  a  Royal  Proclamation,  makes 
known  the  character  of  the  flag.  In  both  Order  and  Proclamation  it 
is  usual  to  make  reference  to  the  verbal  blazon,  and  to  ^^  the  form  made 
by  our  heralds''  Thus  there  are  three  agents  recognised — (i)  the 
Sovereign,  the  fountain  of  all  honours  ;  (2)  the  heralds,  who  authori- 
tatively blazon,  outline,  and  register  all  achievements  ;  and  (3)  the 
naval  authority,  as  that  in  which  are  vested  the  duty  and  the  power 
of  seeing  the  actual  bunting  properly  made  up  and  properly  flown. 


THE   UNION  JACK  615 

In  keeping  with  this,  the  general  mode  of  procedure,  the  Proclama- 
tions demand  our  attention.  The  Proclamation  of  James  (1606). 
A  high  official  of  the  College  of  Arms  informs  us  that  neither  verbal 
blazon  nor  drawing  of  the  first  Union  Flag  is  extant.  On  the  other 
hand,  in  the  Proclamations  of  1707  and  1801  we  have  both  blazon 
and  drawing.  The  blazon 
has    already    been    given    of  ^^ 

the  1 80 1  flag  (which  is  the 
one  most  needing  a  verbal 
blazon),  and  the  drawings  of 
both  flags  we  here  produce 
(Figs.  776  and  777).  These 
drawings  —  though  slightly 
reduced  in  these  pages — are  u^-^^u«  /A 
most  careful  copies  of  the  (l^y<>/fiim.i 
signed  copies  supplied  to  us 
by  the  official  already  alluded 
to.  In  forwarding  them  he 
writes  :  ''  They  are  not  drawn 
to  scale;"  and  he  adds, 
further  on,  ^^  they  are  exactly  the  same  size  as  recorded  in  our  books," 
So  then  we  have,  in  these  two  drawings,  the  heralds'  interpretation, 
at  the  time  J  of  their  own  verbal  blazon.  Now  comes  the  Admiralty 
part  of  the  work.  In  the  Admiralty  Regulations  we  have  a  '^  Memo- 
randum relative  to  the  origin  of  the  Union  Flag  in  its  present  form"  In  this 
there  is  a  brief  history  of  the  changes  made  in  the  flag  from  time  to 
time,  with  quotations  from  the  warrants,  together  with  the  verbal 
blazon  AND  two  coloured  drawings  (Figs.  778  and  779).  The 
Admiralty  has  also  appended  to  the  Memorandum  the  following 
interesting  and  ingeniously  worked  out  Table  of  Proportions^  adapted  for 
a  flag  1 5  feet  by  7 J  feet.  Presumably  this  table  forms  the  basis  upon 
which  all  Union  Flags  are  made  up  under  Admiralty  supervision  : — 


/- 


trn-Xm 


Fig.  777. — The  Union  Flag  of  1801. 


The    +    of 


The 


of 


ft.       in. 


{Two'^3e;s,Veach    '.     i  }  together  J  {  j     ^}j 
(  St.  Andrew -^ 09J 


The  student  of  heraldry  will  observe  that  this  table  is  based  on 
the  proportions  of  the  Ordinaries  and  Sub-Ordinaries  figuring  on  the 
flag,  as  those  proportions  are  regulated  by  EngHsh  Rules  of  Armory. 
These  rules  give  a  cross  as  ^y  a  saltire  as  ^,  a  fimbriation  about  -^^  of 


6i6     A   COMPLETE   GUIDE  TO   HERALDRY 

the  flag's  width.  By  the  way,  we  notice  here,  yet  only  to  dismiss  it 
as  hypercritical,  the  objection  taken  to  the  employment  (in  the  verbal 
blazon  of  1801)  of  the  term  ^^ fimbriated!'  To  our  mind  this  objection 
seems  a  storm  in  a  teacup.  Further,  it  is  always  admissible  in  armory 
to  lessen  the  size  of  charges  when  these  crowd  a  field,  and  although 
we  are  fully  aware  that  the  laws  of  armory  are  not  always  nor  all  of 
them  applied  to  flags,  yet  there  is  sufficient  evidence  to  show  that  the 
heralds  and  the  Admiralty  did  recognise  the  cases  of  shields  and  flags 

^  to  be  somewhat  analogous. 

But  there  are  two  features 
in  The  Admiralty  pattern 
which  cannot  but  arrest 
the  attention  of  all  those 
who  have  made  a  study  of 
armory.  The  one  is  that 
the  sub-ordinaries,  i,e.  the 
fimbriations,  have  different 
proportions  given  to  them, 
although  they  are  repeti- 
tions of  the  same  sub-ordi- 
nary, and  also  seem  guarded 
against  such  treatment  by 
the  very  wording  of  the 
blazon,  and  by  the  practice 
usual  in  such  cases.  And 
the  other  is  that,  after 
counterchanging  the  sal- 
tires,  the  St.  Patrick  is 
attenuated     by    having     its 


Fig.  778.— Admiralty  Pattern  of  1707  Flag. 


Fig.  779.— Admiralty  Pattern  of  180 1  Flag. 


fimbriation  taken  off  its  own  field,  instead  (as  the  common  custom  is) 
off  the  field  of  the  flag. 

All  Warrants  dealing  with  flags  provide  for  their  being  flown  at  sea 
(Queen  Anne's  Proclamation  is  apparently  the  first  that  adds  ''  and 
land''),  and  gradually  reserve  for  the  Royal  Navy — or  fighting  ships — 
the  honour  of  alone  bearing  the  Union  Jack.  The  accompanying 
diagram  shows  at  a  glance  the  changes  made  by  the  several  Proclama- 
tions. The  latest  word  on  this  subject  is  '^  The  Merchant  Shipping 
(Colours)  Act  of  Queen  Victoria,  1894."  This  Acts  sets  forth  among 
other  things  that — (i)  ^^  The  red  ensign  usually  worn  by  merchant  ships  y  without 
any  defacement  or  modification  whatsoever ,  is  hereby  declared  to  be  the  proper 
national  colours  for  all  ships  and  boats  belonging  to  any  British  subject,  except 
in  the  case  of  Her  Majesty's  ships  or  boats,  or  in  the  case  of  any  other  ship 
or  boat  for    the    time    being  allowed  to  wear  any  other  national  colours  in 


THE    UNION  JACK  617 

pursuance  of  a  warrant  from  Her  Majesty  or  from  the  Admiralty,  {2)  If 
any  distinctive  national  colours  except  such  red  ensigny  or  except  the  Union  Jack 
with  a  white  border j  or  if  any  colours  usually  worn  by  Her  Majesty's  shipSy  <S»c. 
.  .  .  are  or  is  hoisted  on  board  any  ship  .  .  .  without  warrant  .  .  .  for  each 
offence  ,   .   ,  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  pounds. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

''SEIZE-QUARTIERS" 

Proof  of  Ancestry 

IF  any  heraldic  term  has  been  misunderstood  in  this  country,  "  Seize- 
Quartiers"  is  that  term.  One  hears  ^^Seize-Quartiers  "  claimed  right 
and  left,  whereas  in  British  armory  it  is  only  on  the  very  rarest 
occasions  that  proof  of  it  can  be  made.  In  England  there  is  not,  and 
never  has  been,  for  any  purpose  a  real  "  test "  of  blood.  By  the 
statutes  of  various  Orders  of  Knighthood,  esquires  of  knights  of 
those  orders  are  required  to  show  that  their  grandparents  were  of 
gentle  birth  and  entitled  to  bear  arms,  and  a  popular  belief  exists  that 
Knights  of  Justice  of  the  Order  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem 
in  England  need  to  establish  some  test  of  birth.  The  wording  of  the 
statute,  however,  is  very  loose  and  vague,  and  in  fact,  judging  from  the 
names  and  arms  of  some  of  the  knights,  must  be  pretty  generally 
ignored.  But  Peer,  K.G.,  or  C.B.,  alike  need  pass  no  test  of  birth. 
The  present  state  of  affairs  in  this  country  is  the  natural  outcome  of  the 
custom  of  society,  which  always  recognises  the  wife  as  of  the  husband's 
status,  whatever  may  have  been  her  antecedents,  unless  the  discrepancy 
is  too  glaring  to  be  overlooked.  In  England  few  indeed  care  or 
question  whether  this  person  or  that  person  has  even  a  coat  of  arms  ; 
and  in  the  decision  of  Society  upon  a  given  question  as  to  whether 
this  person  or  the  other  has  *^  married  beneath  himself,"  the  judgment 
results  solely  from  the  circle  in  which  the  wife  and  her  people  move. 
By  many  this  curious  result  is  claimed  as  an  example  of,  and  as  a 
telling  instance  to  demonstrate,  the  broad-minded  superiority  of  the 
English  race,  as  evidenced  by  the  equality  which  this  country  concedes 
between  titled  and  untitled  classes,  between  official  and  unofficial 
personages,  between  the  land-owning  and  the  mercantile  communities. 
But  such  a  conclusion  is  most  superficial.  We  draw  no  distinction, 
and  rightly  so,  between  titled  and  untitled  amongst  the  few  remaining 
families  who  have  held  and  owned  their  lands  for  many  generations  ; 
but  outside  this  class  the  confusion  is  great,  and  to  a  close  observer  it 
is  plainly  enough  apparent  that  great  distinctions  are  drawn.  But 
they  are  often   mistaken   ones.     That   the  rigid  and  definite  dividing 

6i8 


"  SEIZE-QU ARTIERS  "  6 1 9 

line  between  patrician  and  plebeian,  which  still  exists  so  much  more 
markedly  upon  the  Continent,  can  only  be  traced  most  sketchily  in 
this  country  is  due  to  two  causes — (i)  the  fact  that  in  early  days, 
when  Society  was  slowly  evolving  itself,  many  younger  sons  of  gentle 
families  embarked  upon  commercial  careers,  natural  family  affection, 
because  of  such  action,  preventing  a  rigid  exclusion  from  the  ranks 
of  Society  of  every  one  tainted  by  commerce  ;  (2)  the  absence  in  this 
country  of  any  equivalent  of  the  patent  distinguishing  marks  "de," 
^<  van,"  or  ''  von,"  which  exist  among  our  neighbours  in  Europe. 

The  result  has  been  that  in  England  there  is  no  possible  way  (short 
of  specific  genealogical  investigation)  in  which  it  can  be  ascertained 
whether  any  given  person  is  of  gentle  birth,  and  the  corollary  of  this 
last-mentioned  fact  is  that  any  real  test  is  ignored.  There  are  few 
families  in  this  country,  outside  the  Roman  Catholic  aristocracy  (whose 
marriages  are  not  quite  so  haphazard  as  are  those  of  other  people), 
who  can  show  that  all  their  sixteen  great-great-grandparents  were  in 
their  own  right  entitled  to  bear  arms.  That  is  the  true  definition  of 
the  "  Proof  of  Seize-Quartiers." 

In  other  w^ords,  to  prove  Seize-Quartiers  you  must  show  this  right 
to  have  existed  for 

Self. 

1.  Your 

2.  Your 

3.  Your 

4.  Your 

5.  Your 

6.  Your 

7.  Your 

8.  Your 

9.  Your 

10.  Your 

11.  Your 

12.  Your 

13.  Your 

14.  Your 

15.  Your 

16.  Your 

It  should  be  distinctly  understood  that  there  is  no  connection  whatever 
between  the  list  of  quarterings  which  may  have  been  inherited,  which 
it  is  permissible  to  display,  and  '^  Seize-Quartiers,"  which  should  never 
be  marshalled  together  or  displayed  as  quarterings. 

Few  people  indeed  in  this  country  can  prove  the  more  coveted 
distinction  of  ^'  Trente  Deux  Quartiers,"  the  only  case  that  has  ever 
come  under  my  notice  being  that  of  the  late  Alfred  Joseph,  Baron 
Mowbray,  Segrave,  and  Stourton,  for  whom  an  emblazonment  of  his 


Grand- 

Gt.-grand- 

Gt.-gt.-grand- 

* 

parents. 

parents. 

parents. 

Father's 

Father's 

Father's 

Father. 

Father's 

Father's 

Father's 

Mother. 

Father's 

Father's 

Mother's 

Father. 

Father's 

Father's 

Mother's 

Mother. 

Father's 

Mother's 

Father's 

Father. 

Father's 

Mother's 

Father's 

Mother. 

Father's 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Father. 

Father's 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Mother. 

Mother's 

Father's 

Father's 

Father. 

Mother's 

Father's 

Father's 

Mother. 

Mother's 

Father's 

Mother's 

Father. 

Mother's 

Father's 

Mother's 

Mother. 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Father's 

Father. 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Father's 

Mother. 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Father. 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Mother's 

Mother. 

620     A    COMPLETE   GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

thirty-two    quarters   was    prepared    under    the    direction   of    Stephen 
Tucker,  Esq.,  Somerset  Herald. 

After  many  futile  trials  (in  order  to  add  an  existing  English 
example);  which  have  only  too  surely  confirmed  my  opinion  as 
to  the  rarity  of  '^  Seize-Quartiers "  in  this  country,  it  has  been 
found  possible  in  the  case  of  the  Duke  of  Leinster,  and  details  of 
the  ^^  proof "  follow  : — 


(3)  (4) 


W5    Q 

H  < 


5h^|(S 


g  w  S  rt 

< 


S  c  o 


Charles  William  (Fitz 
Gerald),  4th  Duke  of 
L  e  i  n  s  t  e  r,  born  30th 
March  1819,  married 
30th  October  1847,  died 
loth  February  1887= 


Lady  Caroline  Suther- 
land -  Leveson  -  Gower, 
born  isth  April  1827,  died 
13th  May  1887. 


Gerald  (Fitz  Gerald),  5th  Duke  of  Leinster,  born 
i6th  August  1851,  married  17th  January  1884,  died 
ist  December  1893.  = 


William  Ernest  (Dun-  Mabel  Violet 

combe),    ist    Earl    of  Graham. 

Feversham  (created 
1868),  born  28th  January 
1829,  married  7th  August 
1851  = 

Lady    Hermione   Wilhelmina    Duncombe,   born 
30th  March  1864,  died  19th  March  1895. 


The  Most  Noble  Maurice  (Fitz  Gerald),  Duke  of  Leinster,  Marquess  and  Earl  of  Kildare,  co.  Kildare,  Earl  and 
Baron  of  Offaly,  all  in  the  Peerage  of  Ireland ;  Viscount  Leinster  of  Taplow,  co.  Bucks,  in  the  Peerage  of  Great 
Britain ;  and  Baron  Kildare  of  Kildare  in  the  Peerage  of  the  United  Kingdom  ;  Premier  Duke,  Marquess,  and 
Earl  of  Ireland  ;  born  ist  March  1887. 


"  SEIZE-QU ARTIERS  "  62 1 

The  following  are  the  heraldic  particulars  of  the  shields  which 
would  occur  were  this  proof  of  ^'  Seize-Quartiers  "  emblazoned  in  the 
ordinary  form  adopted  for  such  a  display.  The  arms  are  numbered 
across  from  left  to  right  in  rows  of  16,  8,  4,  2,  and  i. 

1.  Duke^s  Coronet i^-^hoxi  of  St.  Patrick) :  Argent,  a  saltire  gules  (Fitz  Gerald). 

2.  Lozenge  :  Argent,  a  chief  azure,  over  all  a  lion  rampant  gules,  ducally  crowned 
or  (St.  George). 

3.  Earl's  Coronet  (Ribbon  of  Hanoverian  Guelphic  Order) :  Quarterly  ermine 
and  gules,  in  the  centre  a  crescent  on  a  crescent  for  cadency  (Stanhope). 

4.  Lozenge :  Argent,  a  chevron  gules,  a  double  tressure  flory  and  counterflory 
of  the  last  (Fleming). 

5.  Duke's  Coronet  (Garter) :  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  barry  of  eight  or  and  gules, 
over  all  a  cross  flory  sable ;  2  and  3,  azure,  three  laurel  leaves  or  (Leveson-Gower). 

6.  Lozenge  (surmounted  by  Earl's  coronet) :  Gules,  three  mullets  or,  on  a 
bordure  of  the  second  a  tressure  flory  counterflory  of  the  first  (Sutherland). 

7.  EarVs  Coronet  (Garter):  Quarterly  of  six,  i.  gules,  on  a  bend  between  six 
cross  crosslets  fitchee  argent,  an  inescutcheon  or,  charged  with  a  demi-lion  rampant, 
pierced  through  the  mouth  with  an  arrow,  within  a  double  tressure  flory  counter- 
flory of  the  first ;  2.  gules,  three  lions  passant  guardant  in  pale  or,  in  chief  a  label 
of  three  points  argent ;  3.  chequy  or  and  azure ;  4.  Gules,  a  lion  rampant  argent ; 
5.  gules,  three  escallops  argent;  6.  barry  of  six  argent  and  azure,  three  chaplets 
gules,  in  the  centre  of  the  quarters  a  mullet  for  difference  (Howard). 

8.  Lozenge :  Sable,  three  bucks'  heads  caboshed  argent  (Cavendish). 

9.  Baroji's  Coronet:  Per  chevron  engrailed  gules  and  argent,  three  talbots' 
heads  erased  counterchanged  (Buncombe). 

10.  Lozenge :  Azure,  a  buck's  head  caboshed  argent  (Legge). 

11.  Earl's  Coronet  CKihhon  of  Thistle):  Or,  a  fess  chequy  argent  and  azure, 
surmounted  of  a  bend  engrailed  gules,  within  a  tressure  flory  counterflory  of  the  last 
(Stewart). 

12.  Lozenge :  Sable,  on  a  cross  engrailed  between  four  eagles  displayed  argent, 
five  lions  passant  guardant  of  the  field  (Paget). 

13.  Baronefs  Badge :  Or,  on  a  chief  sable,  three  escallops  of  the  field  (Graham). ' 

14.  Lozenge:  Arms  as  on  No.  11  (Stewart). 

15.  Shield:  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  sable,  a  bend  chequy  or  and  gules  between  six 
billets  of  the  second;  2.  azure,  a  stag's  head  caboshed  or;  3.  gules,  three  legs 
armed  proper,  conjoined  in  the  fess  point  and  flexed  in  triangle,  garnished  and 
spurred  or  (Callander). 

16.  Lozenge:  Quarterly,  i.  or,  a  lion  rampant  gules  ;  2.  or,  a  dexter  arm  issuant 
from  the  sinister  fess  point  out  of  a  cloud  proper,  the  hand  holding  a  cross  crosslet 
fitchee  erect  azure ;  3.  argent,  a  ship  with  sails  furled  sable ;  4.  per  fess  azure  and 
vert,  a  dolphin  naiant  in  fess  proper  (Macdonell). 

17.  As  I.  but  no  ribbon  of  K.P. 

18.  Lozenge:  Arms  as  3. 

19.  Duke's  Coronet  (Garter) :  Quarterly,  i  and  4,  as  in  5 ;  2,  as  in  5 ;  3.  as  in 
No.  6. 

20.  Lozenge  :  As  No  7. 

21.  Barons  Coronet:  As  No.  9. 

22.  Lozenge:  As  No.  14. 

23.  As  No.  13,  but  with  ribbon  of  a  G.C.B. 

24.  Lozenge:  As  No.  15. 

25.  As  17, 


622     A    COMPLETE    GUIDE   TO    HERALDRY 

26.  Lozenge :  As  No.  19. 

27.  As  21,  but  Earl's  coronet. 

28.  Lozenge:  As  No.  13,  but  no  Baronet's  Badge. 

29.  As  17. 

30.  Lozenge:  As  No.  9. 

31.  Arms:  Argent,  a  saltire  gules.  Crest:  a  monkey  statant  proper,  environed 
about  the  middle  with  a  plain  collar,  and  chained  or.  Supporters :  two  monkeys 
(as  the  crest).  Mantling  gules  and  argent  Coronet  of  a  duke.  Motto  :  "  Crom 
a  boo." 


INDEX 


Abank,  arms  of,  264 

Abbey,  282 

Abbot,  mitre  of  an,  601  ;  crosier 
of  an,  601 

Abbot  Ysowilpe,  49 

Abel,  arms,  163 

Abercorn,  Duke  of,  598 

Abercromby,  arms,  260 ;  Sir 
Ralph,  augmentation,  595 

Aberdeen,  arms  of,  145  ;  Earls 
of,  146  ;  Earl  of,  supporters, 
434  ;  Incorporation  of  Tailors, 
arms,  301  ;  Roman  Catholic 
Bishop  of,  605  ;  University  of, 
288 

Abergavenny,  Marquis  of,  arms, 
crest,  supporters  and  badges, 
206,  342  ;  town  of,  arms,  206, 
264 

Abernethy,  114;  arms,  483; 
Alexander,  412 

Abney,  arms,  190 

Aboyne,  Earl  of,  146 

Abraham,  crest,  248 

Accrington,  crest,  265 

Achaius,  143 

Acorn,  277  ;  in  arms,  5 

Actons,  arms,  485  ;  Edward  de, 
arms,  485 

Adam,  163  ;  arms,  285 

Adamoli,  arms,  162 

Adams,  arms,  261 

Addorsed,  187,  235 

Adjutant  Birds  as  supporters,  440 

Adlercron,  arms,  124 

Adlerflugel    mit    Schwerthand, 

234 

Admiral,  the  insignia  of,  581  ; 
Lord  High,  arms,  412;  (in 
Holland),  insignia  of,  582  ; 
of  Castile  (Spain),  insignia  of, 
582 

Adrastus,  6 

Advocates, the  Dean  and  Faculty 
of,  arms,  299  ;  Library,  39 

^schylus,  6 

Agincourt,  33,  34 

Agnew,  Bart.,  supporters,  436 

Ailesbury,  Marquess  of,  sup- 
porters, 433 

Ailettes,  54 

Ailsa,  Marquess  of,  arms,  146 

Aitken,  arms,  246,  265 


Albany,  39 ;  Duke  of,  label, 
497 ;  Duke  of,  John,  145 ; 
Duke  of,  Robert  Stewart, 
seals,  405 

Alberghi,  84 

Alberici,  arms,  84 

Albert  medal,  567 

Alberti,  Marquises,  416 

Aldborough  Church,  55 

Aldeburgh,  Sir  William  de,  55 

Alderberry,  arms,  277 

Alderson,  168 

Alengon,  Count  of,  supporter, 
411 

Alerion,  240 

Alexander  II.,  142 

Alexander  III.,  39,  142 

Alexandra,  H.M.  Queen,  499, 
532 ;  Crown,  361  ;  Corona- 
tion, 365,  366 

Alford,  crest,  289 ;  Earl  of, 
augmentation,  597 

Alfred,  King,  353 

Alington,  arms,  155 

Alishay  or  Aliszai ,  pursuivant,  39 

Allcroft,  arms,  276 

Allhusen,  crest,  214 

Alloa,  burgh  of,  294 

AUocamelus,  230 

Almond,  arms,  265 

Almoner,  Grand,  insignia  of, 
581 

Alpaca,  217 

Alphabet,  letters  of  the,  281 

Alston,  arms,  295 

Altyre,  113 

Aluminium  in  use,  70 

Amadeus  VL,  seal,  408 

Amaranth,  74 

Amelia,  Princess,  label,  499 

Amherst,  Lord,  356  ;  arms,  285  ; 
supporters,  440 

Amman,  Jost,  185,  41 1 

Amphiaraus,  7 

Amphipt^re,  231 

Amphisboena,  231 

Ampthill,  Lord,  345 

Ancaster,  Duke  of,  399;  Lord, 
supporters,  346 

Anchor,  281 

Anderson,  crest,  205 

Anderton,  arms,  284 

Angels,  165 

623 


Anglesey,    Marquess     of,    sup- 
porters, 436 
Angora,  Goats',  217 
Angus,  39 ;  Earl  of,  446 ;  seal, 

445 

Anhalt,  69 ;  Duke  of,  401 ; 
crests,  343 

Animals,  imaginary,  15  ;  mythi- 
cal, 3  ;  supporters,  434 

Anjou,  29,  33,  34;  Count  of, 
Geoffrey,  62,  79,  172,  468 ; 
crest,  326 ;  badge,  453 ;  Dukes 
of,  388  ;  arms,  486 ;  Duke  of, 
Earl  of,  173;  King  of,  arms, 

34 
Anne,  Queen,  144,  470 
Annesley,  550 
Annulet,  153,  156,  488 
Anrep-Elmpt,  Count,  299 
Anselm,  P^re,  397 
Anstis  (Garter),  34,  407 
Anstruther-Duncan,  arms,  553 
Antelope,  210 
A.nthony,  351 
Antique  crowns,  298 ;  coronets, 

"  Antiquities  of  Greece,'  9 
Antrobus,  supporters,  425 
Ants,  261 
Antwerp,  163 
Anvils,  281 
Apaume,  169 
Ape,  215 
Apollo,  164 
Apothecaries'  Co.,  164 
Appenzell,  supporters,  409 
Apperley,  John,  arms,  277 
Appleby,    town   of,  supporters. 

437 
Applegarth,  Robert,  arms,  276 
Apples,  276 
Apple-tree,  263 
Apres,  231 
Aquitaine,  29,  33,  34 
Arabic  figures,  104 
Aragon,   Catharine    of,   Badge, 

468,  597 
Arbroath,  supporters,  433 
Arbuthnot,    Bart.,   Sir   Robert, 

supporters,    438 ;     Viscount, 

supporters,  437 
Arbutt,  256 
Arc,  Joan  of,  arms,  275 


624 


Archbishop,  61,  127,  535  ;  in- 
signia of,  582,  583  ;  mitre  of, 
602 

Arched,  96 

Archer-Houblon,  arms,  264 

Arches,  282 ;  William,  arms, 
282 

Ardilaun,  Lord,  supporters,  420 

Argent,  5,  50,  70 

Argile,  crest,  228 

Argyll,  Duke  of,  69;  insignia, 
586 ;  Duchess  of,  label,  497 

Arina,  13 

Ark,  294 

Arkwright,  arms,  263 

Armadillo,  438 

Armagh,  126;  Archbishops  of, 
584,  602 

Armed,  207,  209,  211,  223, 
227,  238,  241,  246,  313  ; 
and  langued,  173 

Armorial  bearings  mean  and 
include,  61 

"Armorial  de  Gelre,"  144,  397, 

483 
Armory,  1 1  ;  laws  of,  3  ;  origin 

of,  17 
Armour,  171 

Arms,  54;  commanded  to  correct, 
61  ;  defacing,  22  ;  definition 
of,  14  ;  displayed  on,  412  ;  for- 
feited, 73 ;  having  no  charges, 
69  ;  illegal,  began,  22  ;  like  a 
title  73  ;  marshalling,  of,  523- 
560;  necessary  to  use,  20;  older 
coats  of,  5  ;  of  one  tincture,  69  ; 
painted  reversed,  73  ;  purposes 
of  memorial,  24 ;  principal 
methods  of  alterations  in,  483  ; 
recording,  22 

Arquinvilliers,  83 

Arrow-heads,  283 

Arrows,  283 

Arscot,  crest,  166 

Arthur,  Bart.,  arms,  217 

"  Arthur's  Book,  Prince,"  460 

Artillery,  Grand  Master  of  the, 
insignia  of,  581 

Arundel,  Edmund  de,  417  ;  Sir 
Richard,  149;  Earl  of,  Richard, 
362  ;  Sir  Thomas,  413;  Earl 
of,  John  Fitz  Alan,  seal,  149  ; 
K.G.,  Sir  Wm.,  arms,  149; 
Earl  of,  Thomas  Fitz  Alan, 
coronet  of,  362 ;  Countess 
of,  Beatrice,  coronet  of,  362 

Arundell,  arms,  245 

Ash  colour,  74 

Ashen-grey,  74,  79 

Ashikaya,  Minamoto,  13 

Ashley-Cooper,  206 

Ashmolean  collection,  33 

Ash-tree,  263 

Ashua,  74 

Ashwell,  30 

Ashworth,  198 


INDEX 

Asiatic,  10 

Aspilogia,  407 

Aspinall,  arms,  266 

Ass,  203,  438 

Assurgeant,  186,  202 

Astley,  57  ;  crest,  250 

Astronomical  signs,  77 

At  gaze,  208 

Athenians,  9 

Atholl,  Earl  of,  Reginald,  408  ; 
Walter  Stewart's  seal,  446 

Attainder,  73 

Attewater,  arms,  180,  256 

Attired,  209 

Atwater,  arms,  180,  256 

Aubigny,  Dukedom  ot,  598 

Aubrey,  152 

Augmentations,  24,  68,  86,  87, 
132,  134,  136,  139'  145.  166, 
181,  271,  272,  276,291,  298, 
483,492,  518,519,  545,  554, 
569,  598 ;  crests  as,  346,  347, 
377  ;  of  honour,  589  ;  ines- 
cutcheons  of,  541 ;  quarter- 
ings  of,  543,  554 ;  supporters, 
420 

Augusta,  Princess,  label,  498 

Australia,  wattle  or  mimosa  of, 
470 

Austria,  Archduke  of,  Rudolf 
IV.,  seals,  417 

Austria,  crest,  316  ;  supporters, 

417 

Austrian  ducal  herald,  40 

Avoir,  Pierre,  417 

Avondale,  502,  513 

Awoi-mon,  13 

Ayr,  165 

Azure,  50,  70,  1^^  90,  no ;  deri- 
vation of,  13 

Babington,  479;  arms,  154 

Bacharia,  223 

Backhouse,  crest,  257 

Bacquere,  arms,  200 

Baden,  Duke  of,  400 

Badge,  14,  25,  28,  45,  47,  48, 
58,  80,  137,  250,  267,  268, 
284,  288,  293,  296,  299,  389, 
403,  408,  416,  417,  418,  444, 
449,  453,  466,  467,  472,  568  ; 
National,  270 ;  Royal,  269, 
468  ;  and  Standards,  474 

Badger,  215 

Bagnall,  crest,  210 

Bagot,  Lord,  supporters,  437 

Bagwyn,  231 

Baikie,  arms,  291 

Baillie,  arms,  296 

Baines,  171 

Baird  of  Ury,  arms,  91 

Baker,  arms,  246 

Balance,  299 

Balbartan,  168 

Balcarres,  114 

Baldric,  55 


Baldwin,  arms,  265,  277 

Balfour  arms,  215 

Baliol,  John,  357  ;  Alexander  de, 

408 
Ballingall,  121 
Balme,  arms,  265 
Banded,  280 

Bandon,  Earls  of,  arms,  301 
Banff,  Royal  Burgh  of,  159 
Banner,  28,  59,  60,  474 ;  decora- 
tions, 454 
Bannerman,   arms,    299;    crest, 

166 
Bantry,  Earl  of,  supporters,  65 
Banville    De   Trutenine,   arms, 

82 
Bar,  108 ;  embattled,  93  ;  gemel, 

119,  120  ;  sinister,  50S 
Bar,    Countess   of,    Yolante   de 

Flandres,  seal,  408 
Barb,  225,  269 
Barbers,     Livery   Company   of| 

crest,  232 
Barbute,  310,  311 
Barclay,   arms,   485  ;    mitre   as 

a    charge,    605 ;    supporters, 

428 
Bardolph,  arms,  268 
Bard  well,  motto,  451 
Baring,  198 
Barisoni,  84 

Barkele,  Moris  de,  arms,  485 
Barnacles  or  Breys,  287 
Barnard,  198;  Lord,  73;  arms, 

crest  and  motto,  451 
Barnes,  198 ;  arms,  146 
Barnewall,  Sir  Reginald,  crest, 

251 

Baron,  coronet,  365,  368,  371, 
375  ;  robe  or  mantle  of,  365, 
367  ;  supporters,  422 

Baroness,  coronet,  366 ;  robe 
or  mantle,  366 

Baronet,  badge  of,  58 ;  helmet 
of,  303'  3i3»  319;.  insignia 
of,  583;  Nova  Scotian,  137  ; 
British,  supporters,  423  ;  Scot- 
tish, supporters,  423  ;  widow 
of,  534 

Baronetcy,  supporters,  420 

Barrels,  301 

Barret,  227 

Barrington,  71,  479;  arms,  154 

Barrow-in-Furness,  arms,  213, 
294 

Barrulet,  1 19 

Barruly,  120 

Barry,  97,  120,  121  ;  bendy,  121, 
122;  nebuly,  94 

Bars,  119 

Bartan  or  Bertane,  arms,  259 

Bartlett,  146 

Barttelot,,arms,  171,  293;  crest, 

245 
Bascinet,  55,  307,  311 
Basilisk,  225,  227,  438 


36; 


of, 


ol 


Basle,   arms,   438 ;    supporters, 

409 
Bassano,  arms,  261 
Basset,    Ralph,    Garter     plate, 

384,  505 
Bastard,  arms,  286 
Bastardy,    103,    114,    138,   503, 

517 

Bat,  217 

Bates,  crest,  246 

Bath,  city  of,  arms,  88 

Bath  King  of  Arms,  29,  35 
Robes    of  the,  35  ;   insignia 
of,  587 

Bath,  Military  Order  of  the,  29, 
36,  563;  Knights  Commanders 
of  the,  565;  Knights  Grand 
Commanders  of  the,  insignia 
of,  584;  Military  Division, 
585  ;  Companions  of  the,  565  ; 
insignia  of,  584 ;  Knights 
Grand  Cross  of  the  Order  of 
the,  rules,  564 ;  insignia  of, 
584 ;  military  division,  in- 
signia of,  585 

Bath    and    Wells,    Bishop 
Thomas  Beckynton,  455 

Bathurst,  crest,  171 

Baton,    45,    46,    59,     114; 
metal,  515;  sinister,  515 

Batten,  427 

Battenberg,  Princess  Henry  of, 
label,  497 

Battering-ram,  283 

Battle-axes,  283 

Battlements  of  a  tower,  376 

Bavaria,  69,  163,  524;  crest, 
313  ;  King  of,  400;  National 
Museum,  234 

Bavier,  312 

Bawde,  crest,  229 

Bayeux  tapestry,  12,  14 

Baynes,  Sir  Christopher,  sup- 
porters, 420 

Beacons,  284 

Beaconsfield,  Viscountess,  arms, 
276 

Beaked,  223,  242,  249 

Bean-pods,  277 

Bear,  11,  198,  432 

Bearers,  416 

Bearsley,  198 

Beatson,  arms,  260 

Beaufort,  502,  521  ;  Duke  of, 
193  ;  crest,  284;  supporter,  195 

Beaumont,  89;  arms,  103,  III  ; 
Bishop,  49  ;  Lord,  380  ;  Lord, 
mantling,  389 

Beaver,  216 

Beck,  256 

'Bedford,  49  ;  Duke  of,  34 ;  Duke 
of,  crest,  345  ;  Earl  of,  49 ; 
motto,  451 

Bee,  260 

Bee-hive,  260 

Beef-eaters,  25 


INDEX 

Beetles,  261 

Beffroi,  82 

Beguinage,    Lady    Superior    of 

the,  49 
Beizeichen,  477 
Belfast,  city  of,  arms,  325 
Belgium,  75 
Bell,  109,  287 
Bellasis,  crest,  339 
Belled,  241 

Bellegarse,  Comtes  de,  287 
Bellerophon,  10 
Bellomont,  De,  or  De  Beaumont, 

arms,  268 
Belshes,   John    Hepburn,  com- 
partment, 446 
Bend,  91,    107,   108,   no,  112, 

115,482,  483,511;  barry,  in; 

chequy,  112;  compony,   in; 

cottised,    113;   dancettd,  93; 

flory  and   counterflory,    112; 

lozenge,  1 12,  146, 147;  raguly, 

in;  smister,   82,   114,  508; 

wavy,  III 
Bendlet,    113,    114,    115,    149, 

483  ;   sinister,   103,  149,  515, 

554  ;  wavy  sinister,  512 
Bendy,  86,  97,  115 
Bengal  tiger,  436 
Benn,  arms,  217 
Benoit,  arms,  289 
Benson,  arms,  277 
Benwell,  crest,  205 
Bend  wise,  113 
Bentinck,  crest,  375 
Benzoni,  83 
Berendon,  arms,  270 
Berington,  69 
Berkeley,  House  of,  arms,  485  ; 

Maurice   de,    seal,   485 ;    Sir 

Maurice      de,     label,      479; 

Robert    de,    seal,    485 ;     Sir 

Thomas  de,  arms,  485 
Berlin,  Royal  Library  in,  306 
Bermingham,  arms,  550 
Bermondsey,  281 
Berne,  supporters,  409 
Berners,    Lord,  458 ;    arms   of, 

69;  Sir  John  Bourchier,  stall 

plate,    389 ;    mantling,    389 ; 

Torse,  arms,  404 
Berri,  Due  de,  seal,  410;  arms, 

487  ;  supporters,  418 
Berry,  29,  36,  38,  95,  253,  254, 

265,515 
Bersich,  arms,  256 
Bertie,  282 ;  arms,  283 
Besan9on,  83 
Besant,  arms,  263 
Bessborough,  Earls  of,  arms,  299 
Betty,  arms,  266 
Bewes,  crest  of,  75 
Bewley,  arms,  248  ;  crest,  270 
Bezant,  5,  89,  151 
Bezante,  89,  i53 
Bibelspurg,  von,  arms,  558 


625 

Biberach,  town  of,  216 

Bicchieri,  Veronese,  arms,  288 

Bicknell,  crest,  226 

Bigland,  arms,  278 

Billet,  89,  108,  155  ;  urdy,  95 

Billetty  or  Billette,  89,  155 

Billiat,  arms,  246  ;  crest,  280 

Billiers,  crest,  259 

Binney,  crest,  256 

Birch-trees,  263 

Birches,  arms,  266 

Birds  of  Paradise,  250 

Birkin,  arms,  263 

Birmingham,  Mason's  College. 
180  ^ 

Birmingham,  University  of, 
arms,  228 

Birmingham,  town  of,  sup- 
porters, 429 

Birt,  arms,  256 

Biscoe,  crest,  205 

Bishop,  61  ;  crosiers  of,  59 ; 
grant  to  a,  62,  324  ;  insignia 
of  a,  582,  583;  mitre  of,  602 

Bison,  438 

Black,  70,  77 

Blackett-Ord,  255 

Blackpool,  town  of,  arms,  295 

Blazon,  74,  86,  104,   121  ;  rules 

of,  99 
Block,  155 
Blood,  Colonel,  356 
Blood  descent,  mark  of,  103 
Blood-red,  74,  76 
Blount,  crest,  171 
Blue,  70,  77 
Blue-bottle,  272 
Blue-celeste  or  bleu  du  ciel,  74 
Blue  ensign,  471 
Bluemantle,  pursuivant,  38,  43 
Bhit  Fahne^  69 
Blyth,  206 
Boar,  198   \ 
Boden,  arms,  265 
Body,  arms,  290 
Boece,  Hector,  415 
Boehm,  Sir  Edgar,  361;  arms, 

272 
Bohemia,  arms  of,  189 
Bohemian  knight,  grant  to,  74 
Bohn,  crest,  384 
Bohun,  56,  467  ;  arms,  174,  485 ; 

Humphrey  de,  seal,  410 
Boileau,  Bart.,  crest,  375 
Boiler-flue,  corrugated,  301 
Boissiau,  arms,  188 
Bold,  Charles  the,  410 
Bolding,  arms,  112,  147,  288 
Boleslas  IH.,  seal,  410 
Boiler,  arms,  271 
Bollord  or  BoUoure,  arms,  261 
Bologna,  84 
Bolton,  arms,  301 
Bolton,  Baron  of,  Sir  Richard  le 

Scrope,  279 
Bombay,  supporters,  192,  436 
2   R 


626 

Bombs,  5,  284 

Bonar,  Thomas,  213 

Bonefeld,  arms,  277 

Bones,  17 1 

Bonnet,  144 

Books,  299 

*'  Book  of  Arms,"  248,  558  ;  "  of 
Costumes,"  234;  "of  Stan- 
dards," 463 

Boot,  171,  293 

Boothby,  arms,  135 

Bootle,  arms,  301 

Bordures,  87,  loi,  102,  104, 
108,  112,   133,  134,  135,  138, 

139,  248,  481,  482,  483,  494, 
500,  501,  502,  511,  512,  525; 
chequy,   140,   519;  compony, 

140,  502,  519;  counter-com- 
pony,  140,  503,  519;  of 
England,  188  ;  of  Spain,  188  ; 
inescutcheon  within  a,  141  ; 
rule  of,  141  ;  wavy,  139,  514, 

519 

Boroughbridge,  55 

Bosham,  15 

Bossewell,  488 

Boston,  50 ;  arms,  crest,  sup- 
porters,    and     compartment, 

445 

Bothwell,  39 

Botreaux,  258  ;  Lord,  seal,  416 

Bouchage,  83 

Bourchier,  arms,  299 ;  crest,  342 ; 
knots,  390,  469 ;  Sir  Henry 
(mantling),  389 ;  Sir  John 
Torse,  arms,  404  *,  Lord  (Sir 
Lewis  Robsart)  Torse,  arms, 
404  ;  (mantling,  389 

Boutell,  417,  524 

Bow,  II,  283 

Bowden,  arms,  265 

Bower,  171 

Bowes,  arms,  283 

Bowls,  288 

Boyce,  376 

Boycott,  arms,  284 

Boyd,  arms,  430 

Boyle,  arms  of,  69,  162 

Boys,  30 

Brabant,  83 ;  Chancellor  of, 
supporters,  416 

Braced,  124 

Bradbury,  arms,  244 

Bradway,  arms,  276 

Brady,  Major  Richardson,  577 

Branch,  265 

Branches,  265 

Brandenburg,  69  ;  Bailiwick  of, 
570 ;  Prussian  province  of, 
234 

Brassarts,  55 

Brasses,  49 

Braye,  Lord,  badge,  458;  sup- 
porters, 186,  436 

Brecknock,  Baron  of,  arms,  84 

Breslau,  Town  Library  at,  435 


INDEX 

Bretagne,  Count  of,   15  ;  Anne 

of,  579 
Bretessed,  93,  96,  I18 
Breton,  416 
Bricquebec,  Bertrand  de,  arms, 

411 
Bridge,  282 

Bridger,  arms,  crest,  255 
Bridle-bits,  287 
Bridled,  201 
Bridlington  Priory,  281 
Bridport,  Lord,  592 
Brimacombe,  crest,  249 
Brisbane,  arms,  290  ;  crest,  377  ; 

supporters,  428 
Brisbane,  K.C.B.,  Admiral   Sir 

Charles,  593 
Bristol,  city  of,  supporters,  431 ; 

See  of,  arms,  298 
Brisure,  477 
"British  Herald,"  356 
British  Museum,  143 
British  official  regalia,  46 
Brittany,  83  ;  arms  of,  69 ;  Duke 

of,    279 ;    John    of,    Earl    of 

Richmond,  arms  of,  69 
Britton,  badge,  414 
Broad  arrow,  457 
Broadbent,  arms,  86 
Brocas  Collection,  311 
Brock,  215 

Brocklebank,  arms,  215 
Brodribb,  arms,  270 
Broke,  Sir  Philip  Bowes,  crest, 

377,  593 
Brooke,  crest,  215 
Broom,  badge,  271,  453,  468 
Brotherton,    arms,    465,     555 ; 

Thomas  de,  494,  555 
Brotin,  83 
Brown,  74,  76 
Brown-Westhead,  283 
Browne,  arms,  266 
Bruce,  144;  motto,  451 ;  Robert, 

357 

Bruges,  49,  147 ;  William  of, 
28,  41 

Brugg,  Richard  del,  30 

Bruis,  Robert  De,  84 

Brunatre,  74 

Brunner,  arms,  294 

Brunswick,  608  ;  Duke  of,  Mag- 
nus I.,  410;  Duke  of,  crests, 

343 

Brussels,  city  of,  163 

Brussels,  Royal  Library  at, 
144 

Brzostowski,  Counts,  arms,  286 

Buchan,  crest,  272 

Buck,  208 

Buckelrls,  64 

Buckets,  299 

Buckingham,  town  of,  arms, 
460;  Duke  of,  Edward,  por- 
trait, 463  ;  arms,  544  ;  badges, 
462  ;     livery    colours,     388, 


460 ;  Duke  of  (Sir  Humphrey), 

Garter  plate,  374 
Buckingham  and  Chandos,  Duke 

of,  crests,  348 
Buckle,  64,  287 
Buckworth,  58 
Buckworth-Herne-Soame,  Bart., 

crest,  337 
Buffalo,  205 
Buffe,  315 
Bugle-horn,  292 
Bull,  10,  205,  232 
Bulrushes,  280 
Bume,  arms,  258 
Btintfeh,  82 
Buonarotti,  arms,  410 
Burgh,  De,  arms,  148 
Burgh,  Lord,  Sir  Thomas  Burgh, 

Torse,  arms,  404 
Burghclere,    Lord,    supporters, 

437 

Burgkmair,  Hans,  194 

Burgonet,  314 

Burgundy,  arms,  410  ;  Duke  of, 
arms,  524,  561 

Burke,  85,  551  ;  Sir  Bernard, 
374,421;  Peerage,  434 

Burlton,  202 

Burnaby,  supporters,  254 

Burne-Jones,  512;  arms,  1 14,  239 

Burnet,  Bishop,  506 

Burnett,  14 

Burslem,  town  of,  288 

Burton,  72 ;  crest,  293  ;  Lord, 
supporters,  442 

Burton,  De,  iii 

Burton,  Hill-,  415 

Bury,  town  of,  arms,  266 

Bussy,  Sir  John,  seals,  389 

Butcher's  Livery  Company,  sup- 
porters, 207,  230 

Bute,  39 ;  Marquess  of,  crest, 
348 

Butkens,  75 

Butler,  arms,  288 

Butterflies,  83,  261 

Buxton,  179 

Byron,  115,  520 

Byzantine  silk,  233;  coins,  351 

Cabasset,  315 

Caboshed,  207,  213 

Cadency,  115,  138, 140;  bordure, 

207  ;  differencing  to  indicate, 

483;     different    marks,    60; 

markof,  55,  71,  103,  135,  136, 

139,  188,  245,  344,  345,  347. 

463,  477,  47^,481,  483,  510. 

520,  557 ;  marks  of,  rules,  487 ; 

a  seme  field,  484 
Cadifor  ap  Dyfnwal,  85 
Cadman,  arms,  271 
Cadmus,  10 

Cadwallader,  225  ;  banners,  475 
Caerlaverock,  Roll  of,  72 
Cailly,  De,  55 


Caithness,  Earl  of,  arms,  557 
Calabria,  Duke  of,  arms,  234 
Calais  Rolls,  136 
Calcutta,    city    of,    supporters, 

440 
Caledonia,  143 
Calf,  205,  207 
Caligula,  351 
Calli,  56 
Calopus,  232 

Calthorpe,  Lord,  supporters,  433 
Caltraps,  84,  283,  446 
Camail,  55,  308 
Camberwell,  arms,  294 
Cambi,  84 
Cambridge,  Earl  of,  Richard  of 

Conisburgh,    188 ;    Duke    of, 

label,    496 ;  Dukes   of,    label, 

498 
Cambridge,  University  of,  299  ; 

Regius  Professors,  arms,  587 
Camden,     153;     Marquess    of, 

crest,  349 
Camel,  217,  218,  227 
Camelford,  arms,  217 
Camelopard,  218,  227,  438 
Camerino,  Dukes  de,  83 
Cameron,  arms,  228 
Cameron    Highlanders,    tartan, 

25 

Cammell,  arms,  217 

Campbell,  137  ;  arms,  69,  294, 
412;  Baron,  533;  crest,  190, 
2(X) ;  Lord,  arms,  592  ;  sup- 
porters, 204;  Margaret,  seal, 

525 

Campbell  and  Lorn,  525 

Camperdown,  18  r 

Canada,  429 ;  maple,  266,  470 

Canivet,  Nicolas,  145 

Cannon,  285 

Cantelupe,  arms,  275,  276 ; 
Thomas  de,  arms,  276 

Canterbury,  126,  588 ;  arch- 
bishop of,  602,  603;  Cathedral, 
174.  335.  466  ;  Rebus  at,  455  ; 
town  of,  248 

Canting,  arms,  54,  55 

Canton,  102,  108,  134,  135,  136, 
418,  520;  of  augmentation, 
136  ;  of  England,  181,  201 ;  or 
quarter,  483 

Cantonned,  103,  135 

Cap  of  Maintenance,  379,  381, 
and  see  Chapeau 

Capaneus,  7 

Cape  Colony,  supporters,  217, 
429,  436.  438 

Cape  Town,  supporters,  443 

Capel,  Sir  Giles,  helm  of,  310 

Capelin,  384 

Capelot,  378 

Caps,  41,  42 

Caracalla,  351 

Cardinal,  61 

Carew,  Lord,  supporters,  210 


INDEX 

Carinthia,  arms,  417 

Carlisle,  588 

Carlos,  Colonel,  arms,  262,  589, 

591 
Carlyon,  arms,  282 
Carmichael  family,  119 
Carminow,  1 10 
Carnation,  74 
Carnegy,  crest,  295 
Caroline,    Consort   of  Princess, 

597 

Carr,  576 

Carriages,  arms  on,  399 

Carrick,  39 

Carruthers,  165 

Carter,  arms,  302 

Carteret,  De,-  418 

Cartouche,  61 

Carver  to  His  Majesty,  Grand, 
insignia  of,  581 

Carysfort,  Earl  of,  crest,  243 

Case,  252 

Casks,  301 

Casque,  314,  3i 5 

Cassan  crest,  375 

Cassithas,  Conde  de,  augmen- 
tation, 597 

Castile,  bordure  of,  482 

Castile,  Eleanor  of,  543  ;  and 
Leon,  543 

Castille,  King  of,  Don  Pedro, 
360 

Castle,  376 

Castlemaine,  Lord,  Hancock, 
arms,  246 

Castles,  282 

Castlesluart,  Earl  of,  supporters, 

437 
Cat,   195 

Cat-a-mountain,  195 
Catanei,  83 
Catapults,  286 
Catherine  wheel,  302 
Catton,  R.A.,  433 
Cauldron,  289 
Cavalry,  Colonel  of,  the  insignia 

of,  581 
Cave,  motto,  451 
Cavendish,  209;  motto,  451 
Cawston,  arms,  129;  crest,  242 
Ceba,  arms  of,  83 
Cedar-tree,  262 
Celata,  312,  314 
Celestial  coronet,  298,  371 
Cendree,  74 
Centaur,  171,  228,  438 
Chabet,  256  — -^ 
Chad  wick,  crest,  271 
Chafy,  crest,  265 
Chain,  armour,  51,  171 
Chains,  284 

Chaldean  bas-relief,  4000  B.C.,  2 
Challoner,  arms,  230 
Chalmers,  143  ;  arms,  190 
Chamberlain,    Grand,     insignia 

of,  581,  582  ;  (Brandenburg) 


627 


Lord  High,  insignia  of,  582  J 
(of  England)  Lord  High, 
insignia  of,  588;  (Hohen- 
zollern)  Hereditary,  insignia 
of,  582 

Chambers,  arms,  263 

Chamier,  crest,  375;  supporters, 
429 

Champagne,  557 

Champnay,  Richard,  33 

Chancellor,  the,  insignia  of,  580, 
588  ;  of  England,  Lord  High, 
insignia  of,  588 

Chandos  le  Roy  d'  Ireland,  33 

Channel  Islands,  428  ;  coins  of, 
173 

Chapeau,  370,  378,  379,  402 

Chapel  Royal,  Dean  of  the, 
insignia  of,  588 

Chapelle-de-fer,  311,  312,  315 

Chapels  Royal  in  Scotland, Dean 
of,  the  insignia  of,  584 

Chaplet,  108,  156,  157 

Chappel,  283 

Charge,  69,  78,  86,  103,  107, 
108,  128,  135,  151,  155,  158, 
189,  190,  213,  301,  302,  483 

Charges,  addition  of  small,  483  ; 
placed,  102  ;  on  a  bend,  113  ; 
specific  number,  103 

Charlemagne,  143,233;  crown, 
351,  608 

Charles  I.,  39,  201,  263,  413, 
418,  597,  607,  612 ;  corona- 
tion ring,  357  ;  seal,  475 

Charles  II.,  75,  146,  196,  358, 
359,360,363,  371,  379,  475, 
591,  607;  state  crown,  356; 
warrant  of,  589 

Charles  III.,  Spanish  Order  of, 

594 

Charles  IV. ,  44,  274 

Charles  v.,  143,  274,  318;  sup- 
porters, 416 

Charles  VI.,  44 

Charles  VII.,  275 

Charlton,  521 ;  arms,  136 

Chart,  289 

Chatelherault,  Duchy  of,  598 

Chatham,  arms,  369 

Chatloup,  232 

Chaucer,  55,  84 

Chauses,  52 

Cheape,  arms,  278 

Cheeky  or  chequy,  98 

Chemille,  arms,  84 

Cheney,  arms,  207 

Cherleton,  Lord,  190,  3S7, 
404 

Cherries,  277 

Cherry-tree,  263 

Cherubs,  165 

Chess-Rooks,  289 

Chester,  525  ;  Herald,  37  ;  Earl 
of,  126,  279 ;  Hugh  Lupus, 
278  ;  Ranulph,  seal,  278 


628 

Chettle,  arms,  261 

Chevron,  54,  93,  107,  108,  122, 

123,  135  ;  chequy,  123  ;  vair, 

123 
Chevronel,  107,  124;  interlaced, 

124 
Chevronny,  97,  124 
Chevronwise,  123 
Chichester,    Earl   of,    32,   590; 

badge,  288 
Chichester,  See  of,  158 
Chichester-Constable,  arms   of, 

265 
Chief,     91,     102,     108,     132  ; 

arched,    96 ;    double-arched, 

96  ;  embattled,  108 
Chief-Justice,  Lord,  45 
Chiefs,  supporters  of,  422 
Chieftainship,  mark  of,  350 
Child,  arms,  238 
Childebert,  arms,  258 
Childeric,  badge,  260 
Chimera,  229 
Chimrad,  Pellifex,  82 
China-cokar  tree,  264 
Chinese  dragon,  226,  437 
Chinese  white,  70 
Chisholm,  supporters,  427,  428  ; 

Rt.  Rev.  ^neas,  605  ;  Batten, 

arms,  428 
Chivalry,  Court  of,  478 
Chocolate  colour,  73 
Cholmondeley,  arms,  278  ;  Mar- 
quess  of,    399 ;    Marchioness 

of,  arms,  399,  400 
Chorinski,  mantling,  384 
Chorley,  arms,  272 
Christie,  arms,  282 
Christopher,  arms,  216,  289 
Chrysanthemum,  13 
Church,   61 ;  of  England,  laws 

of,  61  ;  flag,  473  ;  vestments,  5 
Church-bell,  287 
Cinque  Ports,  182 
Cinquefoil,  266,  267,  268 
Circles,  58 
Cirencester,  Abbot  of,  Thomas 

Conyston,  455 
Cinti  (now  cini),  74 
Cities,  supporters,  429 
Civic  crown,  157 
Claes  Heynen,  144 
Clare,  32  ;  arms,  525  ;  Earls  of, 

32,  86,  125 
Clare,  Margaret  de,  arms,  524 
Clarence,  Duke  of,  label,  496, 

49S ;  Duke  of,  Lionel,  362  ; 

arms,  494 ;  Duke  of,  Thomas, 
^  32,  505 
Clarenceux  King  of  Arms,  29, 

30,   32,    591  ;    arms    of,   47 ; 

arms  and  insignia  of,  587 
Clarendon,  arms,  250;  Sir  Roger 

de,  466,  521 
Claret  colour,  73 
Clarion,  292 


INDEX 

Clark-Kennedy,  Col.  Alexander, 
augmentation,  594 

Clarke,  arms,  249 

Clayhills,  arms  of,  74,  204 

Cleland,  214 

Clenched,  169 

Clergyman,  61  ;  grant  to,  324 

Clerk  of  Pennycuick,  crest,  167 

Clerke,  Bart.,  arms,  136,  595; 
Sir  John,  596 

Cleves,  Anne  of,  597  ;  lilies,  273 

Clifford,  arms,  263 

Clifton,  55 

Clinton,  De,  arms,  296 

Clippingdale,  crest,  202 

Clisson,  Oliver  de,  supporter,  41 1 

Clogher,  See  of,  arms,  164 

Close,  200,  235,  243,  245 

Clothes,  embroidery  upon,  17 

Clouds,  87,  94,  294  ;  as  compart- 
ment, 444 

Clux,  Sir  Hertong  von,  K.G., 
arms,  crest,  mantling,  387 

Coat  of  arms,  origin,  108;  what 
it  must  consist  of,  69 

Cobbe  (Bart.,  ext.),  arms,  256 

Cobham,  arms,  486 ;  Lord,  arms, 
crest,  mantling,  387  ;  Lord 
(Sir  John  Oldcastle),  596 

Cochrane,  arms,  228 

Cochrane,  Adm.  Sir  Alex.,  K.B., 
augmentation,  4 

Cock,  246 

Cockatrice,  225,  227  ;  as  sup- 
porters, 438 

Cockburn-Campbell,  594 

Cockfish,  231 

Cocoanut-tree,  263 

Codfish,  256 

Coffee-plant,  266 

Coffee -tree,  263 

Cogan,  arms,  266 

Cognisance,  455 

Co-heir,  68  ;  or  co-heiress,  526 

Cokayne,  arms,  246,  344,  489 

Coke,  214 

Coldingham,  Prior  and  Monks 
of,  504 

Cole,  arms,  258 

Coles,  crest,  285 

Col  fox,  198 

Collared  and  chained,  215 

Collars,  58 

College  of  Arms,  28,  29,  38,  61, 

70,  73.  77,  324,  329,  345,  385, 
465  ;    arms  of,  47,  244 

Collingwood,  Lord,  augmenta- 
tion, 592 

Colman,  arms,  96 

Cologne,  49  ;  arms,  297 

Colossus,  166 

Colours,  5,  74,  405  ;  of  nature, 
74  ;  simple  names  of,  77  ;  for 
mantlings,  385,  393;  Rules 
about,  85 

Colston,  arms,  256 


Columbine,  74;  flowers,  271 

Column,  285 

Colville  of  Culross,  Viscount, 
supporters,  217 

Comb,  299 

Combed,  227,  246 

Comber,  crest,  197 

Combination,  rule  against,  81 

Commoner,  arms  of,  58  ;  impal- 
ing, 531 

Companion  of  any  Order,  helmet 
of,  571 

Comparisoned,  201 

Compartments,  441  ;  blazon  of, 
444  ;  mottoes  on,  448 

Composite  charge,  86 

Compton,  arms,  284 

Comyn,  arms,  280,  412 

Conan,  15 

Conder,  iii 

Coney,  2.14 

Conjoined  arms,  rules  as  to,  526 

Conjoined  in  leure,  239 

Connaught,  Duke  of,  label,  497 

Connaught,  Prince  Arthur  of,  364 

Conrad,  the  Furrier,  83 

Conran,  crest,  209 

Consort,  Prince,  597  ;  descend- 
ants of,  bear,  541 

Consort,  Queen,  crown,  361 

Constable,  Lord  High,  27 

Constabulary,  Royal  Irish, 
badge,  457 

Constance,  Queen,  seal,  273 

Continent,  quarterings  on  the, 
548  ;  grant  on  the,  68 

Continental,  arms,  74,  104 

Continental  heraldry,  146 

Contourne,  186 

Contre-hermin,  78 

Contra-naiant,  255 

Contre  Vair,  82 

Conyers,  292  ;  arms,  403,  482 

Cook,  crest,  289 

Cooper,  arms,  206,  265 

Cope,  William,  arms,  269 

Corbet,  arms,  248  ;  crest,  213  ; 
motto,  451 

Corbie,  248 

Cordeliere,  Order  of  the,  579 

Corke,  arms,  190 

Cornfield,  crest,  265 

Cornflower,  272 

Cornish  chough,  248 

Cornwall,  crest,  248  ;  Duchy  of, 
254,  469,  486;  Earl  of, 
Edmond  Plantagenet,  seal, 
524  ;  Earl  of.  Piers  Gaveston, 
238  ;  Earl  of,  Richard,  412  ; 
seal,  237 

Coronation,  42,  45  ;  Invitation 
Cards,  470 

Coronets,  58,  350,  363,  373; 
foreign,  375  ;  of  rank,  362, 
367  ;  Order  concerning,  365 

Corporate  seal,  88 


Cost,  115 

Costume  of  an  officer  of  arms, 
41,  42 

Cotter,  arms,  257,  259 

Cottise,  113,  115,  119 

Cottised,  123,  134 

Cotton,  Sir  Robert,  143 

Cotton-plant,  or  tree,  5,  263,  266 

Counterchanged,  103,  121 

Counter-embowed,  170 

Counter-flory,  96 

Counter-passant,  187 

Counter-potent,  84,  85 

Counter  vair,  82,  83 

Countess,  robe  or  mantle,  366  ; 
coronet,  366 

Couped,  128,  134,  150,  169, 
186,  264 

Courant,  201,  205,  208 

Courcelles,  Marguerite  de,  410 

Courcey,  arms,  84 

Courtenay,  71,  154  ;  arms,  479 

Coutes,  55 

Cow,  205,  207 

Coward,  197,  225 

Cowbridge,  207 

Cowell,  arms,  207 

Cowper,  arms,  301  ;  Earl,  413; 
supporters,  75,  437; 

Cowper-Essex,  crest,  376 

Crab,  255 

Crackanthorpe,  crest,  265 

Craigmore,  1 12 

Crane,  247 

Cranstoun,  arms,  247 ;  crest, 
247  ;  motto,  451 

Cranworth,  Lord,  supporters,437 

Crawford,  crest,  215  ;  Lord 
(Sir  David  Lindsay),  412 ; 
Reginald,  408;  Rev.  J.  R., 
472  ;  Earl  of,  114 

Crawhall,  arms,  248 

Crawshay,  204  ;  arms,  298 

Crenelle,  93 

Crescent,  146,  289,  488,  515 

Crespine,  227 

Crests,  28,  57,  58,  61,  62,  86, 
156,  158,  166,  213,  320,  322, 
323,  324,  326,  331,  332,  333, 
334,  349.  37O'  21^^  402,  419, 
438,  518;  angle  of,  76; 
badge  as  a,  456 ;  bastardis- 
ing, 519;  coronets,  373,375, 
379 ;  differencing  on,  490, 
512 ;  label  upon,  7 1 ;  made  of, 
335  ;  position  of,  346 

Creyke,  arms,  248 

Crined,  168 

Cri-de-guerre,  58,  452 

Crisp,  crest,  227 ;  iMoHneux- 
Montgomerie,  crest,  251 

Crocodile,  217,  218 

Croker,  crest,  288 

Cromwell,  55;  seals,  541 

Crookes,  Sir  William, arms,  294 ; 
crest,  321  ;  motto,  451 


INDEX 

Crosier,  6,  59,  289 

Cross,  arms,  278 

Cross,  15,  91,  93,95,  103,  107, 
108,  no,  127,  135,  158; 
botonny,  128,  130,  132; 
calvary,  128  ;  clech^  voided 
and  pomette,  129  ;  crosslet, 
129,  130,  131 ;  crosslet,  differ- 
encing by,  485  ;  crosslets,  89  ; 
dancette,  93  ;  fleurette,  128  ; 
flory,  128  ;  moline,  128,  488  ; 
of  St.  Andrew,  131  ;  parted 
and  fretty,  129;  patee  or 
formee,  129,  130;  patee  quad- 
rant, 129;  patonce,  129; 
pieces,  109  ;  potent,  85,  129  ; 
quarter-pierced,  129;  tau  or 
St.  Anthony's,  129;  of  St. 
George,  25 

Crow,  248 

Crown,  II,  45,  73,  350;  civic, 
157;  Imperial  State,  359;  of 
England,  358  ;  palisado,  370  ; 
vallary,  370,  378 

Crusades,  17 

Crusilly,  89,  100,  131 

Cubit  arm,  169 

Cuffe,  94 

Cuffed,  171 

Cuirass,  293 

Cuisses,  55 

Cullen,  49 

Cumberland,  Dukes  of,  364, 
496 ;  label,  498 

Cumbrse,  College  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  of,  162 

Cumin,  Alexander,  412 

Cumming-Gordon,  113;  arms, 
138,  541 ;  arms,  crest,  motto, 
and  supporters,  418 

Cummins,  arms,  280 

Cuninghame,  427 

Cunliffe,  arms,  214 

Cunninghame,  arms,  126 ;  sup- 
porters, 428 ;  Montgomery, 
supporters,  214 

Cup-bearer,  Grand  Butler  or, 
insignia  of,  58 1 

Cups,  85,  288 

Cure,  207 

Curiosities  of  blazon,  74 

**  Curiosities  of  Heraldry,"  15, 

417 
Curzon,  arms,  249  ;  motto,  451 
Cushions,  290 
Cypress-trees,  263 

D'Albrets,  supporters,  417 
D'Albrey,   Arnaud,    supporters, 

418 
D'Alen9on,    Due,    360 ;    arms, 
487  ;  Comte,  Jean  IV.,  sup- 
porter, 410 
D'Angouleme,  Counts,  arms,  487 
D'Arcy,    arms,    267,    268,    482, 
484 


629 

d'Artois,  Counts,  arms,  487 
D'Aubernoun,  Sir  John,  50,  51 
d'Auvergne,  Dauphins,  254 
Dabrichecourt,      Sir     Sanchet, 

mantling,  389 
Dacre,    Lord,    arms,    300;    Sir 

Edmond,  arms,  485 
Dakyns,  crest,  377;  motto,  451 
Dalrymple,  J.  D.  G.,  F.S.A.,  148 
Daly,  crest,  205 
Dalzells,  416 
Dalziel,  165,  432 
Dalziell,  165 
Dammant,  arms,  268 
Danby,  68  ;  arms,  286 
Dancette,  91,  93 
Daniels,  163 

Dannebrog,  Order  of  the,  569 
Dannecourt,  229 
Darbishire,  125,  129 
Darcy  de  Knayth,  Baroness,546; 

supporter,  436 ;  see  D'Arcy 
Darnaway,  39 
Dartmouth,  arms,  164 ;  Earl  of, 

arms,  209  ;  supporters,  436 
Darwen,  town  of,  arms,  266 
Dashwood,   Bart.,   Sir    George 

JohnEgerton,  223 ;  supporters, 

436 
Daubeney,  68  ;  arms,  147  ;  crest, 

265  ;   badge,  458  ;   mantling, 

389 

Daughters,  arms  of,  572  ;  differ- 
ence marks,  492 

Dauphin,  253  ;  arms,  486 

Dauphiny,  408 

Davenport,  350,  352,  358,  359  ; 
crest,  165 

David  II.,  40,  144 ;  seal,  274,  409 

Davidson,  crest,  375 

Davies,  169  ;  arms,  296  ;  motto, 
451  ;  Sir  Thomas,  crest,  381 

Davis,  Cecil  T.,  55 

Davis,  Col.  John,  F.S.A.,  crest, 

339 
de  Acton,  see  Acton 
de  Aldeburgh,  see  Aldeburgh 
de  Arundel,  see  Arundel 
de  Bailly,  see  Bailly 
de  Eellomont,  or  De  Beaumont, 

see  Bellomont 
de  Berkeley,  see  Berkeley 
de  Berri,  see  Berri 
de  Bohun,  see  Bohun 
de  Bruges,  see  Bruges 
de  Bruis,  see  Bruis 
de  Burgh,  see  Burgh 
de  Burton,  see  Burton 
de  Carteret,  see  Carteret 
de  Cassilhas,  see  Cassillias 
de  Clare,  see  Clare 
de  Clarendon,  see  Clarendon 
de  Clinton,  see  Clinton 
de  Courcy,  see  Courcy 
de  Davenport,  see  Davenport 
de  Eland  re,  see  Eland  re 


63' 


de  Gevres,  see  Gevres 

de  Giresme,  see  Giresme 

de  Grey,  see  Grey 

de  Guenonville,  see  Guetterville 

de  Hasting,  see  Hasting 

de  Haverington,j-^<?  Haverington 

de  Hoghton,  see  Hoghton 

de  Knayth,  see  Darcy  de  Knayth 

de  Lacy,  see  Lacy 

de  Lowther,  see  Lovvther 

de  Luttiell,  see  Luttrell 

de  Mailly,  see  Mailly 

de  Mandeville,  see  Mandeville 

de  Monbocher,  see  Monbocher 

de  Montfort,  see  Montfort 

de  Montravel,  see  Montravel 

de  Mornay,  see  Mornay 

de  Mundegumbri,   see   Munde- 

gumbri 
de  Nerford,  see  Nerford 
de  Nevers,  see  Nevers 
de  Pelham,  see  Pelham 
de  Quincey,  see  Quincey 
de  Ramsey,  see  Ramsey 
de  Rouck,  see  Rouck 
de  Salis,  see  Salis 
de  Saumerez,  see  Saumerez 
de  Savelli,  see  Savelli 
de  Segrave,  see  Segrave 
de  TrafFord,  see  Trafford 
de  Trutemne,  see  Trutenine 
de  Valence,  see  Valence 
de  Vera,  see  Vera 
de  Vere,  see  Vere 
de  Vesci,  see  Vesci 
de  Warren,  see  Warren 
de  Woodstock,  see  Woodstock 
de  Worms,  see  Worms 
De  la  Ferte,  262 
De  la  Rue,  crest,  289 
De  la  Vache,  crest,  207 
De  la  Warr,  89 

de  la  Zouche,  Sir  W.,  arms,  136 
Deane,  crest,  217 
Debruised,  103,  187 
Dechaussee,  186 
Decollated,  187 
"Decorative  Heraldry,"  2,  65, 

176,  233,  242 
Decrescent,  289 
Deer,  108,  208 
Defamed,  187 
Delves,  155 
Demembre,  186,  187 
Demi-bird,  240 
Demi-falcons,  242 
Demi-griffin,  224 
Demi-horse,  201 
Demi-lamb,  213 
Demi-leopard,  193 
Demi-lions,  189 
Demi-otter,  215 
Demi-ram,  213 
Demi-savage,  165 
Demi-vol,  240 
Denbigh,  Earl  of,  413 


INDEX 

Denham,  arms,  446 

Denmark,  royal  arms,  557  ; 
royal  shield  of,  255;  flag  of  61 3, 

Depicting,  86 

Derby,  Earl  of,  32,  79,  81,  561  ; 
William  de,  seal,  80;  Earls  of, 
Stanleys,  crests,  169,  341,  381 

D'Eresby,  Willoughby,  Barony 
of,  supporters,  400 

Derry,  see  Londonderry 

Desart,  Lord,  94 

Desenberg,  Counts  Spiegel  Zum, 
arms,  293 

Deutscher,  Herold,  313 

Device,  455 

Devil,  229 

Devonport,  arms,  369 

Dewsbury,  249 

D'Harchies,  Gerard,  supporters, 
418 

Diadem,  350 

Diamond,  77 

Diapering,  90 

Dick,  arms,  286 

Dick-Cunningham,  426 

Dickson,  Dr.,  39 

Dickson-Poynder,  126 

"Dictionary  of  Heraldic  Terms, " 
96,  215 

Diffamed,  187 

Difference  marks,  78,  114,  116, 
134,  138,  150,  154,  268,  289, 
344,  345.  477,  487,  488,  502, 
510,  515 ;  optional,  490  ;  bor- 
dures  as,  481  ;  position  of, 
489  ;  compulsory,  490 

Differencing,  482  ;  modes  of,  502 

Diggs,  Dame  Judith,  arms,  575 

Dighton,  210 

Dignity,  cap  of,  378 

Dillon,  Viscount,  433 

Dimidiation,  523 

Dingwall,  39 

Diocletian,  coins  of,  351 

Disarmed,  187 

Dismembered,  186,  187 

Displayed,  233,  235,  269 

Distaff,  290 

Distinction,  512 ;  canton  for,  134 ; 
marks  of,  116,  135,  136,  139, 
344,  380,  477,  554  ;  marks  of, 
practice,  518 

Distinguished  Service  Order, 
567  ;  members  of,  insignia  of, 

584 
Dobree,  428  ;  arms,  267 
Dock  or  Burdock,  arms,  266 
Dodds,  256 
Dodge,  arms,  171  ;  crest  of,  205; 

augmentation,  589 
Doe,  208,  209 
Dog,  54,  203,  204,  432 
Dogfish,  256 
Dolphins,  253 
Dominion  and  Sovereignty,  arms 

of,  607 


Donington,    Lord,    supporters, 

186 
Donnersperg,  arms,  295 
Donoughmore,  Lord,  supporters, 

438 
Dorchester      Church,      stained 

glass,  79 
Dore,  261  ;  arms,  260 
Dormer,  arms,  190 
Double-headed  eagle,  supposed 

origin  of,  3 
Double  quatrefoil,  268 
Doubly  cottised,  1 23 
Douglas,    39,   40,    298  ;    arms, 

292,  484 ;  Bart.,  supporters, 

433  ;  Earl  of,  seal,  41 1,  446  ; 

chapeau,  380;  supporter,  410, 

445  ;  badge,  469  ;  and  Mar, 

Countess  of,  Margaret,  505 
Doulton,  arms,  288 
Dove,  243 
Dover,  164 
Dovetailed,  91,  94,  95 
Downes,  arms,  249 
Dox  or  Doxey,  arms,  256 
Dragance,  39 
Dragon,  10,  15,  195,  219,  224, 

225,  232,  407  ;   ship,    294; 

as  supporters,  437 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  arms,  591 
Dress  of  an   Officer  of  Arms, 

41,  42 
Dreyer,  267 
Drummond,    supporters,    428 ; 

Sir    James    Williams,    arms, 

181;  of  Megginch,  arms  of,  69 

Dublin,    1 26 ;    Archbishop    of, 

584  ;  arms,  602  ;  city  arms, 

381  ;  visitations  of,  341 
Ducal  coronet,   ^yS'     ^^^  also 

Coronet  and  Crest  Coronet 
Duchess,  mantle,  367  ;  coronet. 

Duck,  246 

Duckworth,  arms,  246 
Dudley,     Earl    of,    supporters, 

433  ;  Lord,  crest,  217 
Du'ff-Sutherland-Dunbar,  Bart., 

Sir  George,  319 
Dufferin    and    Ava,    Marquess, 

474 ;  supporters,  436 
Duffield,  arms,  277 
Duke,  robe  or  mantle  of,  365, 

367  ;  coronet,  366,  367,  373  ; 

those  having  rank  and  title  of, 

coronets,  363 
Dukinfield,  129 
Dumas,  arms,  96 
Dumbarton,  arms,  213 
Dunbar,  crest,  298  ;   Bart.,  Sir 

Alexander  James,  crest,  376 ; 

Sir    Archibald,    144;     crest, 

376  ;  Sir  Patrick,  label,  480  ; 

Brander,  arms,  264 
Duncan,  Admiral,  arms,  592 
Duncombe,  crest,  202 


Dundee,  city  of,  arms,  288  ; 
university  of,  arms,  271  ; 
Royal  Burgh  of,  arms,  438 

Dunn,  Bart.,  Sir  W.,arms,  166 

Dunstable,  Sir  Richard,  badge, 
469 

Du  Plessis  Angers,  83 

Durand,  Sir  Mortimer,  sup- 
porter, 436 

D' Urban,  285 

D'Urbino,  Duke,  545 

Durham,  Bishop  of,  324,  603, 
604  ;  insignia  of,  583  ;  Dean 
of,  588;   Cathedral,  49;   Sir 

.     Alex.,  39 

Durning-Lawrence,  arms,  291 

Dusgate,  250 

Dykes,  crest,  255 

Dykmore,  arms  and  crest,  205 

Eagle,  58,  230,  233,  238,  413  ; 
as  supporters,  439 ;  shields 
displayed  on  the  breasts  of,  41 2 

Eaglets,  238 

Ealing,  borough  of,  arms,  287 

Eared,  280 

Earl  Marshal,  27,  28,  29,  35  ; 
and  Hereditary  Marshal  of 
England,  insignia  of,  585  » 
Deputy,  insignia  of,  585  ; 
batons,  59 

Earls,  robe  or  mantle  of,  365  ; 
coronet  of,  366,  367,  375 

Earth-colour,  74,  76 

East  India  Company,  supporters, 
429 

Eastern  coronet,  370,  377 

Ebury,  Lord,  345 

Eccles,  arms,  301  ;  town  of,  282 

Ecclesiastical  banner,  476 ;  em- 
blems, 3  ;  heraldry,  600 

Echlin,  204 

Eddington,  arms,  168 

Edel,  40 

Edgar,  King,  seal,  475 

Edinburgh,  47 ;  College  of 
Surgeons,  167  ;  Castle,  357 

Edock,  266 

Edward  I.,  30,  34,  39,  84,  27S, 
357.494.607 

Edward  II.,  30,  275,  494 

Edward  III.,  30,  31.  32,  34,  37, 
38,  371.453.  456,  465,466,   1 
467,    469.    494.   607;    seal,   ] 
274  I 

Edward   IV.,    31,    32,  33,   34,   i 
37,     333,    354,    469,    607; 
badge,  46S  ;  seal,  354 

Edward  VI.,  467 ;  seal,  372  ; 
supporters,  225 

Edward  VII.,  42,  359,  361  ; 
Coronation  of,  365,  366 

Edward  the  Black  Prince,  360  ; 
crest,  380  ;  helmet,  371 

Edward  the  Confessor,  15,  356, 
371  ;  ring  of,  360;  seal,  353 


INDEX 

Edwards,  arms,  285 

Eel,  255 

Eglinton,  Earl  of,  145;  sup- 
porters, 438 

Ehrenvest,  40 

Eider-duck,  246 

Eighth  son,  48 8 

Eisenhiit-feh,  82 

Eisenhutlein,  82 

Eldest  son,  difference  mark  of, 
i7Z,  479,  487,  488 

Elephant,  2 1 3 

Elgin,  royal  burgh  of,  162 

Elgin  and  Kincardine,  Earl  of, 
supporters,  433 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  61,  164,  272, 
391,414,  508,  590,  591,  607; 
supporters,  225 

Ellis,  255 ;  arms,  228,  254 ; 
crest,  432 

Elmhurst,  crest,  262 

Elphinstone,   Lord,   supporters, 

433 
Ely,  Abbess  of,  arms  of  the  See, 

298 
Embattled,   91,    93,    94,    108; 

counter-embattled,  96 
Emblazon,  99 
Emblazonments,  60  ;  early,  90  ; 

of  mottoes,  452 
Embowed,96,  170, 187,  242,  254 
Emerald,  77 
Empress,  German,    late,    label, 

497 

End,  188 

Endorsed,  116,  187,  223 

Endure,  39 

Enfantleroy,  169 

Enfield,  231 

England,  139;  badge,  457;  a 
bordure  of,  102 ;  canton  of, 
136,  181 ;  Lord  Chief- Justice 
of,  insignia  of,  586  ;  Kings  of 
(George  L  to  William  IV.), 
Arch  Treasurers,  insignia  of, 
583  ;  Lord  High  Constable  of, 
insignia  of,  585  ;  mottoes  in, 
449 ;  regalia  in,  46 ;  rose  of, 
470 ;  Royal  Arms  of,  607 ;  a 
throne  heir-apparent,  label, 
496 

"English  Regalia,"  352 

Engouled,  187 

Engrailed,  91.  108,  115,  137 

Enguerrand  IV.,  84 

Enhanced,  115 

Enniskillen,  Earl  of,  supporters, 

437 
Ensign  455,    471  ;  owl    m,    9  ; 

or  flags,  9 
Enys,  arms,  259 
Epaulieres,  55 
Eradicated,  262,  264 
Erased,  240 
Erect,  223,  257 
Ermine,  69,  77,  215  ;  spot,  83 


631 


Ermine  spots,  78,  112,  123 

Ermines,  78 

Erminites,  78 

Erminois,  78 

Errol,  Earl  of,  415,  585  ;  badge, 
416 

Erskine,  augmentation,  598 

Escallops,  299 

Escarbuncle,  64,  290  • 

Escutcheon,  59, 137;  of  pretence, 
536,  542  ;  of  pretence,  quarter- 
ings  on,  540 

Espin,  arms,  266 

Esquire,  helmet  of,  319; 
Grand,  insignia  of,  581 

Essex,  Earl  of,  mantling,  389 ; 
Torse,  arms,  404 ;  Garter  plate 
of,  372  ;  effigy,  390  ;  Mande- 
villes,  467 

Estoiles,  295 

iLstwere,  arms,  263 

Eton  College,  arms,  269,  271 

Ettrick,  39 

Evans,  arms,  280,  291,  Cap- 
tain John  Viney,  arms,  276 ; 
Sloane,  6,  167. 

Eve,G.W.,2,  65,  176,183,233, 
242,  243,  272,  275,  321,  397 

Every- Halstead,  crest,  376 

Evire,  187 

Exemplification,  71,  72,  145 

Exeter,  Dean  of,  insignia  of, 
588;  Duke  of,  John  de 
Holland,  label,  596;  Mar- 
quesses of,  crest,  381 

Exmouth,  Viscount,  augmenta- 
tion, 593 

Exterior  ornaments,  58 

Eye,  171  ;  crest,  171,  298  ;  town 
of,  crest,  372 

ifiyre,  267  ;  Simon,  arms,  217 

Faerie  Queen,  221 

Faggot,  280 

Falcon,  241,  243  ;   as  a  badge, 

31  ;  King  of  Arms,  31 
Falconer,  arms,  257 
Falconer,    Grand,    insignia    of 

.581 

Falkland,  39 

Falmouth,  Viscount,  suppor- 
ters, 436 ;  arms,  270 

Family  tokens,  Japanese,  12 

Fane-de-Salis,  crest,  375 ; 
Counts,  arms,  263 

Fanhope,  Lord,  crest,  380 

Fanmakers'  Company,  crest,  291 

Fans,  55,  328,  330,  331 

Farmer,  arms,  95 

Farquhar,  crest,  377 

Farquharson,  262 

Farrer,  80,  202 

Farrier,  80 

Fasces,  291 

Fauconberg,  Lord,  Torse,  arms, 
404  ;  Garter  plate,  342 


632 


Fauconbeig  and  Conyers,  Baron- 
ess, 546 

Fauntleroy,  169 

Favours,  403,  404 ;  supporters 
as  marks  of,  420 

Fawside,  Allan,  40 

Feathers,  83 

Fees,  117 

Felbrigge,  K.G.,  Sir  Simon, 
arms,  crest,  mantling,  387 

Fellows,  arms,  112,  209 

Fenton,  arms,  95 

P^ntoun,  Jane,  label,  481 

Ferdinand  III.,  543 

Fergus  I.,  King,  142 

Ferguson,  arms,  260 

Fermoy,  Lord,  crest,  241;  motto, 

451 
Fern-Brake,  265 
Ferrar,  202 
Ferrer,  arms,  80,  81 
Ferrers,  79,  83,  148,  202  ;  Earl, 

arms,  134 ;  Lord,  Garter  plate, 

374 ;  Torse,  arms,  404 
Fess,   91,   93,    107,    108,    119; 

dancette,  118  ;  embattled,  loS, 

118;  flory,  96;  wreathed,  118 
Fest-Buch,  313 
Fetterlocks,  291 
Feversham,  Earl  of,  supporters, 

436 
Ffarington,  crest,  227 
Ffinden,  206 
Field,  5,  69,  70,  86,  87,  88,  89 ; 

104,   115;   composed  of,  97, 

fretty,    148;    gyronny,    137; 

masculy,   148 ;    per  chevron, 

124  ;  quarterly,  98 
Fife,  Duke  of,  crest,   166,  200; 

supporters,  433  ;  Duchess  of, 

label,  497  ;  Princesses  of,  596 
Fifth  son,  488 
File,  154 
Fillet,  402 
Finance,  Superintendent  of  the, 

insignia  of,  581 
Finch,  250 
Finlay,  arms,  255 
Fir-cone,  276 
Fir-trees,  262 
Fire,  291 
Firth,  283 
Fish,  253 

Fisher,  250  ;  Lady,  201 
Fishmongers'  Livery  Company, 

arms,  291 
Fitched,  130 
Fitzalan,  486 
FitzErcald,  214 
Fitzgerald,    215 ;    arms,     525 ; 

motto,  449  ;  Maurice,  525 
Fitzhardinge,  Lord,  -jt, 
Fitz-Herbert,  113  ;  arms,  483 
Fitz-Pernell,  Robert,  268 
Fitz-Simon,  arms,  72,  155 
Fitzwalter,  arms,  102 


INDEX 

Fitzwilliam,    Earl,    supporters, 

433 

Flags,  9,  10,  471,  611-617 

Flanders,  arms,  524  ;  Count  of, 
Philippe  D'Alsace,  Helmet, 
327  ;  Count  of,  Louis  van 
Male,  signet  of,  410 

Flandre,  Jeanne  De,  seal  of,  84 

Flanks,  103 

Flasks,  150 

Flaunch,  102,  108,  150 

Flavel,  291 

Flayed,  187 

Fleam,  292 

Fleas,  261 

Fleece,  211,  212 

Flemings,  86 

Flesh-colour,  74,  76 

Fleshed,  187 

Fletcher,  5  ;  arms,  254,  293  ; 
crest,  229 

Fleur-de-lis,  89,  95,  126,  272, 
273,  275,  488 

Fleurons,  274 

Flies,  261 

Florence,  83,  84;  arms,  275 

Florenc^e,  274,  275 

Florent,  seal,  410 

Florio,  arms,  272 

Flory,  96,  141  ;  counter-flory,95 

Flounders,  256 

Flukes,  256 

Foljambe,  badge,  232 

Forbes,  crest,  375 

Forcene,  201 

Ford,  James,  112 

Foreign  heraldry,  81 

Forrest,  arms,  262 

Fortescue,  motto,  451 

Fortification,  282 

Fortune,  166 

Foulis,  arms,  266 

Foulds,  arms,  266 

Fountain,  151,  294 

Fourth  son,  488 

Fox,  5,  197,  198  ;  arms,  5,  288, 
301;  crest,  210;  -Davis, 
crest,  301 ;  head,  5 ;  hound,  205 

Fraises,  268,  271 

France,  15,  61,  83,  84,  273  ; 
arms,  274 ;  Chancelier,  mant- 
ling, 400  ;  crests,  343  ;  en- 
signs, of, 46  ;  Heralds  in,  44  ; 
High  Constable  of,  insignia 
of,  580;  label,  481  ;  Mar- 
garet of,  arms,  524  ;  Presidents 
of,  mantling,  400 ;  Royal 
Arms  of,  452 

France-Hayhurst,  crest,  262 

Francis  I.,  King  of  France,  230 

Franco,  87 

Franconis,  arms,  83 

Francquart,  75 

Franks,  King  of  the,  273 

Eraser,  arms,  268,  271,  298,  484 

Fraser-Mackintosh,  crest,  169 


Frederick  HL,  Emperor,  motto, 

452 
Frederick  IV.,  Emperor,  216 
Free  Warren,  Licence  of,  73 
Freiburg,  supporters,  409 
French  blazon,   78  ;   coat,    38  ; 

Royal  Arms,  486  ;  term,  74 
Fresnay,  83 
Fret,  108,  149,  150 
Fretty,  148,  149,  150 
P^uit,  276 
Frog,  258 

Froissart,  3I1  33,  40,  44,  5^5 
Fructed,  266 
Full  chase,  208 
Fuller,  Thomas,  219 
Fulton,  arms,  483 
Fur,    50,     77,     79,     86,     151; 

separately,  84 
Furison,  292 
Furnivall,  Baroness,  541 
Fusil,  108,  147 
Fusilly  in  bend,  122  ;  in    bend 

sinister,  122 
Fylfot,  302 
Fysh,  Sir  Philip  Oakley,  crest, 

256 

Gabions,  282 

Gadflies,  261 

Gads,  15s 

Galbraith,  294 

Galley,  294 ;  General  of  the, 
insignia  of,  581 

Galloway,  Earl  of  (Stewart), 
arms,  483  ;  See  of,  162 

Galpin,  arms,  250 

Gamb,  190,  see  Paw 

Gamboa,  arms,  266 

Gamecock,  246 

Gandolfi,  arms,  264 

Gandy,  arms,  217 

Garbett,  motto,  451 

Garbs,  278 

Garioch,  39 

Garland,  156,  157 

Garnished  or,  171 

Gaiter  King  of  Arms,  4,  28,  29, 
30,  34,  41,  45,  47,  58,  96, 
226,  349,  568 ;  arms  and 
insignia  of,  47,  586;  Most 
Noble  Order  of  the,  34; 
Chancellor  of  the  Order  of 
the,  insignia  of,  584  ;  Knight 
of  the,  insignia  of,  78,  583  ; 
Knights  of  the,  rules,  562 ; 
Stall  plates,  mantlings,  389, 
390  ;  Star  of,  25 

Garvey,  256 

Garvinfisher,  256 

Garwynton,  arms,  277 

Garzune,  27 

Gasceline,  arms,  155 

Gascoigne,  34 

Gatehouse,  crest,  25 1 

Gaul,  273 


Gaunt,  John  of,  466,  486,  513 

Gauntlet,  171,  293 

Ged,  255 

Geddes,  255 

Geese,  10 

Gegen-hermelin,  78 

Gegensturzkriickenfeh,  85 

Gellic,  arms,  294 

Gelre,  374,  405  ;  Armorial  de, 
115  ;  Herald,  144 

Gem-rings,  154 

Gemel,  120 

Genealogical  Magazine,  22,  43, 
226,  576,  601 

"Genealogie  des  Comtes  de 
Flandre,"  84 

"General  Armory,"  8$,  551 

Geneva,  82 

Genouilleres,  55 

Gentleman,  meaning  of,  20; 
helmet  of,  319 

George  I.,  29,  608 

George  III.,  29,  274,  356,  359, 
413;  seal,  475 

German,  121  ;  electors,  mant- 
lings,  400;  heraldry,  74,  81, 
82  ;  heralds,  86  ;  inescutcheon 
in,  138;  officers,  40;  terms 
for,  78,  85  ;  "Von," 68 

"German  Bookplates,"  176 

German  Emperor,  arms,  400  ; 
supporters,  433 

Germany,  27,41,  69,  104,  368  ; 
arms  in,  559  ;  bordures,  481  ; 
cadency,  344;  crests,  343, 
344;  differences  in,  481; 
label,  481  ;  method  of  con- 
junction, 560 ;  mottoes  in, 
451,  452  ;  supporters  in,  431 

Gevres,  De,  supporters,  23 1 

Geyss,  arms,  23 1 

Gibsone,  supporters,  428 

Gillman,  171  ;  crest,  287 

Gillyflowers,  271 

Gilmour,  267 

Gilstrap,  283 

Giraff'e,  438 

Giresme,  Nicole  De,  supporters, 
418 

Gladstone,  141,  168  ;  Rt.  Hon. 
W.  E.,41 

Glasford,  crest,  339 

Glasgow,  arms,  263  ;  city  of, 
arms,  439  ;  crest  of,  163 

Glass,  79 

Glaziers'  Livery  Company,  sup- 
porters, 433 

Glevenrad,  64 

Glissant,  257 

"  Glossary  of  Terms  used  in 
Heraldry,"  78,  79,  371,  455 

Gloucester,  29;  Cathedral,  rebus 
at,  455  ;  Duke  of,  33  ;  Duke 
of,  label,  499 ;  Duke  of, 
Richard,  317;  Duke  of, 
Thomas,  badge,  466;  Duchess 


INDEX 

of,  label,  498  ;  Herald,  32  ; 

King  of  Arms,  33,  35,  36 

Gloved,  171 

Gloves,  171,  272 

Gnu,  438 

Goat,  1 1,  213  ;  as  supporter,  437 

Gold,  70,  yj ;  ermine  spots, 
78  ;  ingots  of,  292  ;  use  of,  70 

Gold-hermelin,  78 

Golden  Fleece,  Order  of  the, 
badge,  213,  261 

Goldie,  arms,  217 

Goldie-Scot,  112 

Golpe,  151 

Gomm,  576 

Gooch,  204;  arms,  302 

Goodchief,  arms,  148 

Gooden,  James,  427 

Goodfellow,  164;  arms,  282 

Gordon,  arms,  146;  crest,  25  ; 
Highlanders,  25  ;  tartan  of,  25 

Gorges,  153 

Gorget,  313 

Gostwick,  Sir  John,  helmet,  311 

Gothic,  65;  vShield,  64 

Gough,  Lord,  augmentation,  348, 
594  ;  supporter,  226,  437 

Gourds,  277 

Goutte,  89 

Grace,  Knights  of,  568,  570; 
Ladies  of,  568  ;  Knights  of, 
and  other  members,  insignia 
of,  585 

Graeme,  crest,  171 

Grafton,  Duke  of,  515 

Graham,  crest,  242 

Graham-Wigan,  crest,  291 

Grailly,  John  de  Garter  Hall- 
plate,  229 

"  Grammar  of  Heraldry,"  6,  167 

Granada,  King  of,  360 

Grandchildren,  label,  487 

Grand  quarterings,  104,544,555 

Grantmesnil,  268 

Grants  of  arms,  57,  68  ;  to  a 
Bishop,  62  ;  to  a  woman,  62  ; 
crest,  291  ;  fees,  516 

Granville,  Earls  of  ( De  Carteret), 
210 

Grapes,  276 

Grass,  280 

Grasshopper,  261 

Graves,  Lord,  supporters,  241 

Great  Central  Railway,  arms, 
301 

Great  Torrington,  arms,  275 

Grecians,  9 

Greece,  kingdom  of,  supporters, 
433  ;  arms,  541 

Green,  70,  Tj 

Greenwich,  Mason  of,  arms,  180 

Greg,  262 

Grenades,  284 

Grene,  Henry,  32 

Gresham,  crest,  261  ;  Sir  Wil- 
liam, badge,  469 


633 


Gresley,  83  ;  arms,  81 

Greve,  Henry,  40 

Grey,  76,  480 ;  arms,  486  ;  John 

de,  arms,  486  ;  Sir  John,  380 ; 

of  Ruthin,    K.G.,    Sir  John, 

arms,  crest,  mantling,  388 
Grey  and  Hastings  controversy, 

478,  539 
Greyhounds,  204 
Grid-iron,  315 
Grieces,  128 
Griffin,  3,   108,  223,  224,  232, 

416,  432  ;  as  supporter,  436 
Griffin  or  Gryphon,  222,  223 
Grifton,  Richard,  455 
Grimaldi  Roll,  148 
Grimke-Drayton,  crest,  263 
Grocers'  Livery  Company,  arms, 

277 ;  supporters,  429 
Grosvenor,  22,  28,  204  ;  arms, 

^7^^  554  ;  Sir  Gilbert  le,  278, 

see  Scrope 
Gros  vair,  82 
Ground  of  the  shield,  69 
Grove,  arms,  264 
Grunenberg,  28,  144,  203,  234, 

248 
Gruthuyse,  Lord  of,   Louis  de 

Bruges,  147 
Gryphon,  supposed  origin  of,  3 
Gryphon-marine,  224 
Guard,  Yeomen  of  the,  badge, 

457 
Guards  of  the  Gate,  Captain  of 

the,  insignia  of,  582 
Gudgeon,  256 
Gueldres,  Duke  of,  144  ;  Mary 

of,  seal,  409 
Guige,  54 
Guillim,  77,  94,  95.  108,  152, 

221,  230,  540 
Guise,  arms  of,  146  ;  crest,  245  ; 

supporters,  420 
Gules,  5,  13,  70,  90 
Gull,    Bart.,  arms,   250 ;    crest, 

291  ;  augmentation,  598 
Gulston,  crest,  243 
Gunstone,  151 
Gutte-d'eau,   90  ;    d'huile,    90  ; 

de-larmes,  90 ;  d'or,  90 ;  de- 

poix,  90  ;  de-sang,  90 
Guyenne,  29,  "i^},,  34;  and  Lan- 
caster, a  Herald  of  the  Duke 

of,  32 
Guze,  151 

Gwatkin,  crest,  260 
Gwilt,  crest,  231 
Gynes,  84 
Gyron,  108,  137 
Gyronny,  100,  137,  139 

Habited,  170 
Hacked,  96 

Hadrian,  Emperor,  coin,  273 
Hagelshaimer,  Sigmund,  arms, 
411 


634 


Haig,  arms,  207 

Hailes,  39 

Hainault,  Counts  of,  badge,  465 

Hales,  39,  283  ;  arms,  298 

Halford,  augmentation,  598 ; 
supporters,  420 

Halifax,  Lord,  165 ;  town  of, 
158 

Ham,  200 

Hamilton,  arms,  268  ;  crest, 
374;  Duke  of,  380;  Lady, 
576 

Hamilton-Grace,  594 

Hammers,  301 

Hammersmith,  crest,  301 

Hampshire,  Earl  of,  32 

Hanbury,  crest,  374 

Hand,  169 

Hanover,  49,  201,  473;  arms 
of,  608  ;  E^ng  of,  496  ;  Prin- 
cess   Frederica    of,    coronet, 

Hanoverian  Guelphic  Order,  29 
Hapsburg,  417  ;  Counts  of,  413 
Harben,  arms,  286 
Harcourt,  crest,  247 
Hardinge,  Bart,  arms,  605 
Hare,  214 
Hargenvilliers,  83 
Harington,  150 
Harleian  MSS.,  69,  72 
Harley,  113.  376 
Harman,  arms,  212 
Harmoustier,  John  of,  173 
Harold,  15 
Harp,  292 

Harpy,  171,229,  438 
Harris,  216  ;  crest,  280 
Harrison,    arms,     189  ;     crest, 

339  ;  Rogers,  crest,  378 
Hart,   208;  Sir  Robert,  Bart., 

arms,  267 ;    supporter,   226, 

247,  437 
Harter,  265 
Harvest  flies,  261 
Haseley,  arms,  277 
Hastings,    15,   206,  292,    525; 

arms,  182,  403  ;  Sir  Edward, 

478  ;  Edmund  de,  label,  480 ; 

Lord,  badge,  469 
Hat,  293,  378 
Hatchings,  74,  76 
Hatchments,  578,  609 
Hatton,  crest,  209 
Hauberk,  51,  55 
Hauriant,  253  ;  embowed,  254 
Haverington,  Sir  John  de,  150 
Hawberk,  Sir  Richard,  helm  of, 

308 
Hawk,  241,  412,  413 
Hawke,  Lord,  supporters,  442 
Hawkey,  arms,  271 
Hawk's  lure,  302 ;  bell,  287 
Hawthorn-tree,  263 
Hay,  Bart.,  541  ;  motto,  451  ; 

supporters,  416 


INDEX 

Hayne,  crest,  217 

Hays,  415 

Hazel-leaves,  266 

Heads,  varieties  of,  167 

Heard,  Sir  Isaac,  164 

Hearne,  arms,  248 

Heart,  292;    escutcheon,   138; 

shield,  104 
Heathcock,  249 
Hedgehog,  216 
Heir  or  heiress,  67^  138,  526, 

531,    542,  543;   crests,  546; 

crests  heritable  through,  342  ; 

heirs-general,  527,  528  ;  por- 

tioners,  528;  quarterings,  548 
Hefner- Alteneck,  234 
Helard,  176 
Heldchurchgate,  204 
Helemmes,  83 
Hellenes,  Kings  of  the,  541 
Helmet,  9,   17,  76,  293,    303, 

398,402,  571;  of  a  peer,  319; 

lady's     sleeve     upon,     403  ; 

crests,  335  ;  two,  323 
Helmschau,  28,  318,  336 
Helt,  41 1 
Henderson,  126 
Heneage  knot,  469 
Henry  L,  173,  353;  seal,  354 
Henry  H.,  badge,  468  ;  coins, 

354 
Henry  HL,  117,  226,412,  467, 

607  ;  badge,  468 ;  seal,  354 
Henry  IV.,  30,  31,  32,  34,  39, 

40,   467,   5 1 3,   607  ;   crown, 

362  ;  seal,  274,  466 
Henry  V.,  22,  32,  34,  360,403  ; 

badges,   467 ;    Garter   plate, 

389 
Henry  VL,  33,  34,  355,  480  j 

badges,  195  ;  seal,  354 
Henry  VIL,  31,  33,  269,  270, 

385,  513;  badges,  468,469; 

chapel,  284,  323,  563,  564; 

coins,  354,  355  ;   seal,   355; 

supporters,  38,  225 
Henry  VIIL,  24,  25,  37,  372, 

380,   429,    456,    457,    467, 

474>   597 1    crown  and  seal, 

355;   Privy  seal,  467;   sup- 
porters, 225 
Hepburn  arms,  266 ;  Sir  Patrick, 

505 
Herald,  27,  28,  29,  32,  37,  38, 
40,  41,  44,  45,  46,  47  ;  cos- 
tume of,  43  ;  King  of  Arms, 
31  ;  tabard  of,  41  ;  English, 
insignia  of,  587 ;  Irish,  in- 
signia of,  587  ;  Scottish,  in- 
signia of,  587  ;  incorporated, 
38  ;  wear,  44 ;  and  pursuivants, 

39 
"Heraldic  Atlas,"  75,  78 
Heraldic  courtesy,  558 
Heraldry,  age  of,  3 ;    antiquity 

of|  5  ;  o"gin  of>  3 


"  Heraldry  of  Continental  Na- 
tions," 74 

Herbert,  520 

Hereford,  city  of,  598  ;  Bishop 
of,  arms,  276;  Earls  of,  ^2  ; 
Earls  of,  badge,  410;  Earl 
of,  Richard  Clare,  525 

Hermon,  crest,  339 

Heme,  248 

Herodotus,  6,  9 

Heron,  247  ;  as  supporters,  440 

Herring,  255 

Herring-net,  150 

Herschel,  Sir  Wm.,  arms,  297 

Herschell,  Lord,  supporters,  442 

Hesilrige  orHazlerigg,arms,266 

Hesse,  62 ;  Duke  of,  400 ; 
Grand  Duchess  of,  late,  label, 
497 

Hesse-Homburg,  Princess  of, 
label,  498 

Heyworth,  arms,  217 

Hieroglyphics,  10,  il 

Hill,  arms,  268,  280 

Hilton,  supporters,  421 

Hinckley,  117 

Hind,  208,  209 

Hindlip,  Lord,  supporters,  205 

Hippogriff,  232 

Hippomedon,  7 

Hippopotamus,  217 

Hobart,  arms,  295 

Hobson,  arms,  241 

Hodsoll,  arms,  294 

Hoghton,  De,  207;  supporters, 
421 

Hohenzollern,  flag  of,  476 

Holderness,  Earls  of,  supporters, 
436 

Holdick-Hungerford,  crest,  299 

Holland,  Countess  of,  Margaret 
of  Bavaria,  seal,  524 

Hollis,  125 

Hollist,  arms,  crest,  277 

Holly,  265  ;  branches,  265 ; 
leaves,  266 

Holthouse,  Roger,  arms  of,  81 

Holy  Roman  Empire,  237, 
413;  Arch  Treasurers  of,  608 

Holy  Trinity,  emblem  of,  473 

Holyrood,  40 

Hone,  412 

Honour,  augmentations  of,  60, 
132  ;  marks  of,  57 

Hood,  Lord,  supporters,  229 

Hooded,  242 

Hook,  Theodore,  motto,  45 1 

Hope,  crest,  294 

Hope,  St.  John,  280,  402 

Horse,  200  ;  as  supporter,  437  ; 
in  arms,  5 

Horsely,  William,  32 

Horseshoes,  80 

Hose,  arms,  293 

Hoste,  Sir  William,  augmenta- 
tion, 595 


Houldsvvorth,  arms,  264 
Household,  First  Master  of  the, 
insignia      of,       581  ;       Lord 
Chamberlain  of  the,  insignia  of, 
588 
Hove,  town  of,  arms,  301 
Howard,  70;  Lord,  badge,  469 
Howth,     Earl     of,     supporters, 

436 
Huddersfield,  town  of,  213 
Plulley,  arms,  280 
Human      figures,     158,      432; 

head,  158 
Humbert  I.,  411  ;  IL,  seal,  408 
Hundred  Swiss  Guards,  Captain 

of  the,  insignia  of,  581 
Hungary,  crown,  351 
Hungerford,   crest,    299 ;  Lord, 
Garter  plate,  374;  Heytesbury, 
K.G. ,  Lord,  Sir  Walter  Hun- 
gerford, arms,  crest,  mantling, 

387 
Hunter,  204 

Hunter-Weston,  arms,  424 
Huntingdon,  Lord,  supporters, 

186;  Earl  of,  125,  143 
Hurst,  arms,  296 
Hurt,  151 
Hussey,  arms,  388  ;  crest,  171, 

293 
Hutchinson,  arms,  loi 
Huth,  arms,  277,  293 
Hutton,  arms,  153,  290 
Hybrids,  224 
Hydra,  227 
Hyena,  438 

Ibex,  210,  230 

Iceland,  arms,  255 

Ilchester,  Earl  of,  arms,  197  ; 
town  of,  295 

Illegitimacy,  344,  502,  515; 
mark  of,  114,  136,  139, 
140,  481,  501,  554;  Royal 
Licence,  553,  554;  difference 
marks,  492  ;  sign  of,  508 

Impalement,  57,  140,  144,  524, 
531,  534,  536,  550,  558 

Imperial  Crown,  46,  47,  144  ; 
Service  Order,  567 ;  members 
of,  insignia  of,  584 

Impersonal  arms,  $/ 

In  armour,  171 

In  base,  103 

In  bend,  102,  113 

In  chevron,  102 

In  chief,  103 

In  fess,  103 

In  full  chase,  204 

In  full  course,  204 

In  his  pride,    246 

In  its  piety,  242 

In  orle,  loi 

In  pale,  102,  103 

Inchiquin  and  Youghal,  feudal 
lord,  525 


INDEX 

Indented,  91,  93,  96 

India,  Order  of  the  Crown  of, 
members  of,  insignia  of,  568, 
584  ;  emblem  of,  271  ;  Lotus- 
flower,  470 

Indian  Empire,  Most  Eminent 
Order  of  the,  567,  584 

Inescutcheon,  108,  137,  138, 
418,  419,  541  ;  addition  of 
an,  483  ;  within  an,  141 

Infantry,  Colonel-General  of  the, 
insignia  of,  581 

Ingelram  De  Ghisnes,  arms,  84 

Inheritance,  145 

Inner  Temple,  arms,  203 

Innes,  crest,  265 

Innes,  Cosmo,  415 

Invecked  or  Invected,  91 

Inveraray,  88  ;  burgh  of,  255 

Inverarity,  crest,  265,  270 

Inverness,  arms,  158;  Royal 
Burgh  of,  arms,  supporters, 
430;  town  of,  supporters, 
217 

Inverted,  223,  23$ 

Ireland,  29,  33,  39  ;  badge,  457, 
crest,  468  ;  crests,  520  ;  crest 
of,  373 ;  Duke  of,  augmenta- 
tion, 596 ;  heralds  in,  45  ; 
helmet,  325  ;  King  of  Arms, 
33  ;  mottoes  in,  448  ;  national 
badge,  267  ;  pursuivants  in, 
45  ;  shamrock,  470  j  sup- 
porters in,  421 

Ireland,  badge,  267 ;  Chief 
Secretaries  for,  insignia  of, 
584  ;  Hereditary  Lord  Great 
Seneschal  of,  insignia  of,  586  ; 
Hereditary  Marshal  of,  in- 
signia of,  585 

Irene,  Empress,  351 

Iron  hat  vair,  82 

Iron-grey,  74,  y^ 

Irvine,  266 

Irvine  or  Irwin,  265,  266 

Isham,  arms,  126 

Islay,  39 

Isle  of  Man,  171 

Islip,  rebus,  455 

Italian  differences,  482 

Italy,  61,  82 

Italy,  State  of,  475 

Iveagh,  Lord,  supporters,  442 

Jack,  255 

Jackson,  arms,  246 

Jamaica,  supporters,  429 

Jambes,  55 

James  I.,  439,  446,  607,  608, 

61 1  ;  seal,  475 
James  II.,  409,  467, 607 ;  State 

Crown,  356 
James    HI.,    270,    597  ;    arms, 

559 
James  IV.,  39,  145 
James  V.,  145,  357 


635 


James  VL,  357,  598 

Janssen,  Bart.,  arms,  280 

Japanese  tokens,  12 

Javelin,  285 

Jean,  Dauphin,  seal,  411 

Jedburgh,  arms  of,  166,  20Q 

Jefferson,  Miss,  576 

Jeffrey,  Lord,  426 

Jejeebhoy,  Bart.,  Sir  Jamsetjee, 
crest,  247 

Jellopped,  246 

Jenkinson,  crest,  202 

Jennings,  arms,  293 

Jerningham,  crest,  242  ;  badge, 
288 

Jerusalem,  arms  of,  40,  85 

Jervis,  arms,  250 

Jervoise,  arms,  284 

Jessant-de-lis,  193,  275 

Jess  and  Jessed,  241 

Jessel,  crest,  239 

Jeune,  crest,  209 

Jezierski,  Counts,  arms,  298 

Joass,  arms,  301 

Jocelyn,  arms,  287 

Joerg,  Von  Pauli,  162 

John,  King,  607  ;  seal,  173 

Johnson,  Dr.  455 

Johnston,  207 ;  Graham,  176, 
397  ;  crest,  286 

Johnstone,  arms,  292 

Joicey,  Lord,  supporters,  437 

Joiners'  Livery  Company,  sup- 
porters, 433 

Jonson,  crest,  339 

Jorger,  162 

Joscelin,  crest,  242 

Joseph  III.,  Emperor,  413 

Joslin,  arms,  287 

Jousting-shield,  64;  helm,   311 

Jude,   Dame   Marye,   grant    to, 

574.  575 
Jungingen,  arms,  301 
Jupiter,  10,  TJ 
Jupon,  55 
Justice,   164;  Knights  of,  568, 

570;  Ladies  of,  568 
Justinian,  350,  351 

Kaisar-i-Hind  Medal,  568;  in- 
signia of  those  entitled  to,  584 

Kay,  arms  of,  78 

Kaye,  Rev.  Walter  J. ,  5 1 

Keane,  Lord,  augmentation,  594 

Keates,  195 

Kekitmore,  arms,  281 

Kelly,  arms,  282 

Kemsley,  crest,  438 

Kenneth  III,,  165,  415 

Kenney,  crest,  375^  3  7  3 

Kent,  55  ;  Duke  of,  label,  498  ; 
Earl  of,  Thomas  Holland, 
seal,  410;  badge,  467;  Fair 
Maid  of,  Joan,  badge,  467 

Kerrison,  Sir  Edward,  augmen- 
tation 594 


636 


Kersey,  crest,  268 

Kevilioc,  arms,  278 

Keys,  291 

Keythongs,  195 

Killach,  arms,  266 

Kilmarnock,  town  of,  arms,  sup- 
porters, 430 

Kilvington,  78 

Kimono,  12 

King,  267 

King  of  Arms,  22,  27.  28,  29, 
61  J  crown  of,  45  j  crown  or 
coronet  of,  368 

Kingdom,  Constable  of  the,  in- 
signia of,  582 

King's  flag,  472  ;  livery,  73  ; 
favour  of,  augmentations,  596; 
gamekeeper  to  the,  insignia 
of,  581  ;  Grand  Master  of  the 
Household  to  the,  insignia  of, 
581  ;  Guards,  Captain  of  the, 
insignia  of,  581 

Kinloss,  Baroness,  arms,  534 

Kinnaird,  Lord,  supporters,  433 

Kinnoull,  Earl  of,  425 ;  aug- 
mentation, 597 

Kintore,  Earl  of,  augmentation, 
597  ;  crest,  165 

Kiku-non-hana-mon,  13 

Kiri-mon,  13 

Kirk,  arms,  95 

Kirkcaldy,  Royal  Burgh  of,  160 

Kirk  wood,  291 

Kitchener,  Lord,  augmentation, 
348  ;  arms,  594  ;  Viscount, 
supporter,  217 

Knevet,  Elizabeth,  55 

Knight,  arms,  286;  impales 
arms  of  wife,  570  ;  widow  of, 
533  ;  bachelor,  wife  of,  531  ; 
helmet  of,  319 

•'Knight  and  Rumley's  Her- 
aldry," 65 

Knighthood,  561  ;  banner  of, 
73  ;  Order  of,  29  ;  Companion 
of  any  Order  of,  impaling,  5  3 1 

Knights  of  any  Order,  widow  of, 
570 

Knights  Bachelor,  impaling, 
571  ;  helmet  of,  571  ;  Com- 
manders, helmet  of,  571  ;  in- 
signia of,  584;  Grand  Cross, 
helmet  of,  571  ;  supporters 
to,  569 

Knill,  arms,  291 

Knots,  469 

Koh-i-noor,  361 

Kursch,  85 

La  Cordeliere,  Order  of,  570 
La  Dolce,  195 
La  Tour  du  Pin,  254 
La  Warr,  motto,  450 
Label,  71,  108,  154,  155,  380, 
479,  482,  483,  487,  488, 494 
Lacy,  de,  72 


INDEX 

Ladies,  supporters  to,  424 

Lady,  armorial  bearings  of,  572 ; 
arms  of,  146 

Lady,  colours  of,  403 

Lady's  sleeve,  403 

Lady,  unmarried,  arms,  533 

Laird,  compartment,  446 

Laiterberg,  arms,  285 

Lake,  Dr.  Edward,  augmenta- 
tion, 591 

Laking,  Bart.,  G.C.V.O.,  Sir 
Francis,  78 

Lamb,  211,  212 

Lambel,  154 

Lambert,  268  ;  crest,  228,  229 

Lambeth,  arms,  271 

Lambrequin,  18,  383,401,402  ; 
badges  on,  458 

Lamplugh,  C.E.,  crest,  339 

Lancaster,  29,  50 ;  badge  of, 
48;  Henry  of,  410,  480; 
Herald,  38  ;  King  of  Arms, 
30,  31.  32,  34;  Earl  of, 
Edmund  Cruchback,  511; 
Earl  of,  Thomas,  480 ;  County 
Council,  seal,  467  ;  Duke  of, 
38  ;  motto,  466 ;  Duchy  of, 
253  ;  Duchy  of,  seals,  467, 
475 ;  town  of,  arms,  275  ; 
livery  colours,  513  ;  Roy 
d'Armes  del  North,  31 

Lance,  54,  285 

Land,  conditions  held  under,  19 

Landgrave,  Konrad,  63 

Landscape,  87  ;  augmentation, 
132;  coats,  74 

Landschaden,  crest,  384 

Lane,  crest,  75,  201,  298  ;  arms, 
181,  136  ;  Sir  Thomas,  201  ; 
Mistress  Jane,  75,  201,  591 

Lanesborough,  Lord,  supporter, 
438 

Langridge,  arms,  226  n 

Langton,  crest,  226      , 

Lanigan-O'Keefe,  166 

Lantern,  301 

Lanyon,  137 

Lapwing,  249 

Lark,  249 

Laiham,  412 

Latimer,  Lord,  485  ;  arms, 
crest,  mantling,  387 

Laurel,  265  ;  branches,  265  ; 
leaves,  266  ;  tree,  263 

Laurie,  39  ;  arms,  288 

Lausanne,  83 

Law,  arms,  246;  "Law  and 
Practice  of  Heraldry  in  Scot- 
land," 427,  447 

Lax,  Mrs.  Sarah,  576 

Le  Corbeau,  2^8 

Le  Fitz,  1 50 

Le  Grosvenor,  see  Grosvenor 

Le  Mans,  Cathedral  of,  62 

Le  Moyne,  crest,  341 

Le  Neve,  Sir  Wm.,  166 


Le  Strange,  Styleman,  supporter, 

436 
Lead,  50 
League  of  Mercy,  decoration  of 

the,    568  ;    insignia  of  those 

entitled  to,  584 
I^eake,  Stephen  Martin,  34 
Leaves,  266 
Leconfield,     Lord,    supporters, 

436 
Lee,  43,  118 
Leeds,    arms,    249;    Duke    of, 

supporter,  436 
Lees,  arms,  290 
Leeson,  arms,  294 
Leg,  171 
Leg-Irons,  301 
Legg,  171 
Legge,  arms,  209 
Legged,  242,  244,  249 
Legh,  50 ;  augmentation,  590 
Leicester,  29,  32  ;  Earls  of,  32, 

267,    314,    485  ;    Earls    of, 

Simons    de    Montfort,    117; 

King  of  Arms,  32  ;  town  of, 

arms,  267 
Leigh,    arms,    285  ;     General, 

403  ;  Gerard,  36,  81  ;  town 

of,  290 
Leighton,  Lord,  94 
Leinster,   Duke  of,  supporters, 

215,  620 
Leipzic,  town  library  of,  306 
Leith,  88  ;  town  of,  arms,  159 
Leland,  143,  152 
Leman,  Sir  John,  crest,  263 
Lemon-tree,  263 
Lempriere,  428 
Lennox,  525 
Leon,  arms,  188 
Leopard,  11,  71,  172,  173,  1 74, 

192,  218,  227  ;  face,  275 
Leopard-lionne,  173 
Leopold,  Markgrave,  seal,  237 
Lerwick,  294 
Leslie,  arms,  412;  crest,  165  ; 

motto,  450 
Lestrange,  485 
Lethbridge,    Sir    Roper,    272 ; 

arms,  282 
Lever,  arms,  112 
Leveson-Gower,  arms,  266 
Lewis,  arms,  286,  291 
Licence,  7^ 

Lichfield,  78  ;  Dean  of,  588 
Lichtenstein,  40 
Liebreich,  arms,  214 
Life  Guards,  25 
Lighthouse,  301 
Lilford,  Lord,  arms,  190 
Lilienfield,  82 
Lilienhaspel,  64 
Lilley,  arms,  271 
Lilly,  arms,  271 
Lily,  271,  273 
Lily-staple,  64 


Lincoln  College,  Oxford,  445  ; 

Earl  of,  William  de  Roumare, 

485  ;  Dean  of,  588  ;  Sees  of, 

160 
Lincoln's  Inn,  Hall  of,  414 
Linden  leaves,  266,  316 
Lindsay,  39,  114;  crest,  246; 

Sir  David,  144,  415 
Lindwurm,  225 
Lines,  91,  96,    117,  119,   123, 

124,  501 
Lingen,  crest,  269  ;  arms,  72 
Linlithgow,  163  ;  burgh  of,  204 
Linz,  308 
Lion  Heraud,  40 
Lion,  William  the,  502 
Lion-leoparde,  173 
Lionced,  187 
Lioncels,  174 
Lioness,  188 
Lionne,  187 
Lions,   II,  54,    108,    1 72-181, 

432  ;  as  supporter,  434 
Lippe,  Prince  of,  crests,  343 
Lipton,  Bart.,  crest,  265 
Liskeard,  155  ;  seals,  275 
Lisle,  Baroness,  541 
Lismore,  Lord,  arms,  262 
Liverpool,  Earl  of,  crest,  348  ; 

town  of,  supporters,  429 
Livery,  73  ;  colours,  386,  404, 

474  ;  crests,  463,  464 
Livingstone,  arms,  271 
Lizards,  259,  407 
Llanday-Burratt,  arms,  278 
Lloyd,  78, 167,  265,  285  ;  arms, 

85,  185  ;  augmentation,  596  ; 

quarterings,  545 
Lobkowitz,  75 
Lobster,  255 
Loch,  Lord,  arms,  294 
Lockhart,  arms,  291 
Locomotives,  301 
Loder-Symonds,  arms,  254 
Lodged,  208 
Loffredo,  83 
Loggerheads,  193 
Lombardy,  iron  crown  of,  351 
London,  city  of,  seal,  329  ;  arms, 

325,   329.    330;   crest,    330; 

supporters,    330,   437 ;  Dean 

of,  588  ;  Lord  Mayor  of,  382  ; 

Gazette,  365 
Londonderry,  arms,  166;  town 

of,  augmentation,  598 
Long,  arms,  loi 
Long  cross,  128 
Longueville,    Duke    of,    Louis 

D'Orleans,  596 
Longueville,    Count   de,    arms, 

crest,    torse,    mantling,    388, 

404 
Lopes,  Bart.,  87 
Lopus,  Dr.,  arms,  263 
Lorraine,  83,  188  ;  arms,  240 
Lothian,  Earl  of,  480 


INDEX 

Lotus-flower,  271 

Loudoun,  Earl  of,  badge,  458 

Louis  VIL,  seal,  273  ;  signet, 
274 

Louis  VIIL,  seal  and  counter- 
seal,  274 

Louis  XL,  seals,  400 

Louis  XII.,  597 

Louis  XVI.,  395 

Lovel,  Viscount,  Garter  plate, 
561  ;  Torse,  arms,  404  ;  mant- 
ling, 390 

Lovett,  196 

Low,  arms,  196,  276 

Lowdell,  226 

Lower,  417 

Lower  Austria,  82 

Lownes,  227 

Lowther,  arms,  153 

Lozenge,  60,98,  108,  112,  122, 
146,  546;  arms  on,  532,  572 

Lub-den  Frumen,  40 

Lucas,  255 

Lucerne,  supporter,  409 

Lucy,  255 

Ludlow,  Lord,  87;  arms,  469 

Lumley,  arms,  249 

Lumsden,  arms,  255 

Lundin,  John,  502 

Luneberg,  608 

Lupus,  276 

Lurgan,  Lord,  crest,  381 

Luttrell,  Sir  Geoffrey  de,  effigy, 
329 ;  supporters,  421 

Lygh,  Roger,  32 

Lympago,  186 

Lymphad,  58,  294,  412 

Lynch,  crest,  197 

Lynx,  197 

Lyon  King  of  Arms,  29,  39,  46, 
47,  66,  142,  323,  390,  568  ; 
arms  of,  548,  568  ;  crown  of, 
368 

Lyon  Office,  185,  204,  213  ; 
grants  of,  supporters  by,  420 

Lyveden,  Lord,  supporter,  437 

M'Cammond,  202 
M'Carthy,  crest,  259 
M'Dowille,  Dugal,  40 
M'Larty,  arms,  282 
Macara,  arms,  261 
Macleod,  crest,  207 
MacDermott,  267 
Macdonald,  294 
Macfarlane,  compartment,  446 
Macfie,  294  ;  arms,  286 
Macgregor,  166 
Mackenzie,  445,  446 
Mackerel,  256 
Mackesy,  arms,  286 
Maclachlan,  supporters,  428 
MacLaurin,  arms,  290 
MacMahon,  arms,  243 
MacMurrogh  -  Murphy,      arms, 
263 


637 


Maconochie,  arms,  255  ;  Well- 
wood,  supporters,  434 
Macpherson,  Cluny,  supporters, 

428,  434 
Madden,  arms,  242 
Maddock,  165 
Maddocks,  arms,  286 
Madras,  University  of,  192,  272  ; 

Governor  of,  594 
Magnall,  arms,  286 
Magpie,  250 
Mahon,  arms,  243 
Mahony,  crest,  376 
Mailly,  Gilles  de,  arms,  484 
Maintenance,  cap  of,  378 
Mainwaring,  crest,  203  ;  Eller- 

ker-Onslow,  crest,  226,  348 
Maitland,     arms,      180,      282; 

Major,  James,  501 
Major,  arms,  285 
Malcolm,  Bart.,  crest,  293 
Malet,     Sir     Edward,    G.CB., 

supporters,  4,  228 
Mallerby,  arms,  266 
Mallory,  393,  403 
Malta,    Cross    of,     129,    570; 

German,  Protestant  Order  of, 

570;  Star,  570 
Maltravers,  arms,  149,  150 
Man  in  armour,  433  ;  at-arms, 

64;    head,    167;    lion,     171, 

186,  229;   tiger,   186,   232; 

and   wife,  arms,   533  ;   grant 

to,  576 
Manchester,  115 
Mandeville,  134 
Manners,  grant,  596 
Mansergh,    arms,    294;    crest, 

226 
Mantegre,  232 
Manticora,  232 
Mantle,  399  ;  of  estate,  59 
Mantling,  384,  393,  394,   397, 

398,  400 ;  badges  on,  389  ; 

colours  of,  386;  royal,  391  ; 

rules  for  the  colour  of,  392 
Maories,  16 

Maple-leaf,  266  ;  tree,  263 
Mar,  Earl  of,  39 
Mar  and  Keliie,  Earl  of,  541, 

598  ;  arms,  557  ;  supporters, 

223 
Marburg,  62 
March,  31,  39 ;  White  Lion  of, 

469 ;    Herald,   3 1  ;   King  of 

Arms,  30 
Marches,  29,  30 
Marchioness,  robe    or    mantle, 

366  ;  coronet,  366 
Marchmont,  39 
Mare,  203 
Margens,  arms,  81 
Marigold,  272 
Marindin,  arms  of,  211 
Mariners,  10 
Market  Cross,  Edinburgh,  47 


638 


Markham,  arms,  190 

Marlborough,  Duke  of,  413, 
541  ;  augmentation,  592  ; 
supporters,  226,438;  Duchess 
of  (Henrietta),  413 

Marquess,  coronet,  366,  367, 
375  ;  robe  or  mantle  of,  365, 
367 

Marriage,  impalements  to  indi- 
cate, 60,  540;  signify,  523 

Mars,  y-j 

Marshal  of  the  Empire,  Lord 
High,  insignia  of,  582 

Marshal's,  Earl,  order  concern- 
ing robes,  coronets,  &c.,  365, 
366 

Marshall,  27,  28,  202 ;  crest, 
166;  badge  of,  80;  the  in- 
signia of,  581 

Marshalling,  138,  523-560 

Martin,  motto,  450 

Martlet,  243,  244,  245,  488 

Marwood,  crest,  211 

Mary,  155;  Queen,  357,  607; 
badge,  276 

Maryborough,    town    of,   arms, 

275 
Marylebone,  271  ;  crest,  160 
Mascle,    108,   147,    150;   field, 

148 
Mascles,  81 
Mask,  198 

Mason,  arms,  180;  crest,  228 
Mason's  College,  1 80,  228 
Massey,  Mrs.,  577 
Mastiff,  204 
Matheson,  378 
Mathew,  Dame  Marye,  grant  to, 

574.  575 
Matilda,  Queen,  14 
Matriculation,  145,  536 
Maud,  the  Empress,  141,  173 
Mauerkrone,  368 
Maule,  crest,  226 
Maunch,  292,  403 
Maundeville,  Sir  John,  223 
Mauritanian,  168 
Mawdsley,  arms,  298 
Maxwell,  arms,  216 
Maynard,  576 
Meath,     Earl    of,     supporters, 

437 

Mecklenburg  -  Schwerin,  Duke 
of,  400;  crests,  343 

Medicis,  Pietro  de,  augmenta- 
tion, 597 

Meeking,  arms,  265 

Meergries,  jy 

Meinill,  520;  Barony  of,  509 

Melbourne,  University  of,  164 

Melles,  262 

Melrose  Abbey,  409 

Melusine,  171,  228 

Membered,  238 

Memorials,  537 

Menetrier,  318,  407,  477 


INDEX 

Menteith,  arms,  112;  Earl  of, 
412  ;  label,  480 

Menu-vair,  82 

Menzies,  Bart.,  supporters,  433 

Mercers'  Livery  Company,  arms, 
168 

Merchant  Adventurers'  Com- 
pany, supporters,  429 

Mercury,  yy 

Meredith,  arms,  86 

Merit,  Order  of,  567  ;  members 
of,  insignia  of,  584 

Merlette,  245 

Mermaid,  171,  228;  as  sup- 
porters, 445 

Merman,  171,  227 

Mertz,  crest,  384 

Messarney,  arms,  277 

Metal,  70  ;  baton  of,  515 

Metcalfe,  207 

Methods  of  blazoning,  104 

Methuen,  Lord,  413 

Midas'  head,  229 

Middlemore,  crest,  280 

Middlesex,  arms,  287 

Mieroszewsky,  74 

Mignianelii,  arms,  82 

Mikado,  13 

Milan,  83  ;  Duchy  of,  arms,  257 

Military  men,  grants  to,  5 

Mill-rind  or  Fer-de-moline,  293 

Milner,  287  ;  Viscount,  suppor- 
ters, 217,436 

Minamoto  Ashikaya,  13 

Minamoto  Tokugawa,  1 3 

Miniver,  82 

Minshull,  Sir  Robert,  166 

Minutoli,  arms,  188 

Mirandola,  Princes  and  Dukes 
of,  mantling,  400 

Mirrors,  293 

Mitchell,  arms,  123 

Mitchell-Carruthers,  crest,  163 

Mitford,  arms,  217 

Mitre,  6,  61,  602 

Moir,  168 

Mole,  217 

Molesworth,  138 

Molette,  296 

Mon,  12,  13 

Monastery,  282 

Monbocher,  de,  Bertrand,  289 

Money-Kyrle,  216  ;  quarterings, 
546 

Montagu,  arms,  147 

Montagu,  K.G.,  Marquess  of, 
Garter  plates,  540 

Montagu,  Lord,  485 

Montague,  Lord,  crest,  344 

Montefiore,  arms,  262 

Montendre,  Alianore,  525 

Montfaucon,  16 

Montfort,  De,  268  ;  Simon  de, 
268  ;  badge,  469 

Montgomery,  arms,  275 ;  Vis- 
count, supporters,  416 


Monti,  84  ;  arms,  83 
Montravel,    Comte    Tardy    de, 

arms,  263 
Montrose,    39,    112;  burgh   of, 

arms,     270;     Royal     Burgh, 

arms,     crest,     mantling    and 

compartment,  444 
Monumental  brasses,  49 
Monypenny,  arms,  164,  254 
Moon,  1 1,  yy 
Moorcock,  249 
Moore,  arms,  217,  292;  crest, 

249;    Sir  John,   K.B.,  grant 

to,   4  ;   John,  31  ;    Sir  John 

W.,  lyz 
Moorhen,  246 
Moors,  13 

Mount-Stephen,  Lord,  arms,  263 
Mountain-Ash,  263 
Mountjoye,      44 ;      Lord     (Sir 

Walter   Blount),  arms,  crest, 

mantling,  388 
Moray,  Earls  of,  arms,  290 
Moreau,  Philip,  401 
Moresby,  crest,  210 
Morfyn,  229 
Morgan,  Sylvanus,  143 
Morion,  293,  315,  351 
Mornay,  De,  arms,  185 
Morris,  William,  395,  396 
Morse,  186;  crest,  166 
"  Morte  d' Arthur,  "  333,  403 
Mortimer,  arms,  137  ;  Edmund, 

seal,  417 
Morton,  Earl  of,  supporters,  433; 

Earl  of,  Douglas,  crest,  199 
Moseley  arms,  298 
Moss,  Sir  H.  E.,  arms,  298 
Moiion,  arms,  215 
Motto,  58,  448,  474 
Mowbray,    555,    badges,    465  ; 

supporters, 416;  and  Stourton, 

Lord,  152,  590;  badge,  458; 

supporters,     437;     "Trente 

Deux  Quartiers, "  619 
Mule,  224,  438 
Mullet^^.^46r295,  488,  515 
Mun,  Marquis  of,  arms,  298 
Mundegumbri,   de,  John,  seal, 

275 
Munro,  Sir  Thomas,  594 
Munster,  Earl  of,  5 1 5  ' 
Muntz,  arms,  245 
Mural  crown,  or  coronet,  368, 

370,  376 
Murfyn,  229 
Murray,  arms,  484 
Murrey,  72,  y6 
Muschamp,  261 
Musinion,  231 
Musselburgh,  town  of,  arms,  281 

Naiant,   186,   253;  embowed, 

254 
Nairne,  arms,  157 
Naissant,  190 


Naked  flesh,  74 

Names,  bastards',  516 

Napier,  Alexander,  525  ;  Lord, 
145,446 

Naples,  83 

Napoleon,  238,  260;  L,  mant- 
ling, 400 

Narcissus  flowers,  271 

Narwhal,  219 

Nassau,  arms  of,  107 

National  Bank  of  Scotland,  160 

National  flag,  471 

Nature,  colour  of,  74,  75,  yG 

Naval  crown,  or  coronet,  369, 
370,  177 

Navarre,  arms,  284;  Kingof,483 

Naylor,  Sir  George,  356 

Nebuly,  80,  91,  94 

Needlemakers'  Company,  sup- 
porters, 434 

Nelson,  Admiral,  augmentations, 
592 ;  Earl,  augmentation,  592 ; 
town  of,  arms,  266 

Nenuphar-leaf,  266 

Neptune,  164 

Nerford,  de,  Alice,  arms,  521 

Nevers,  de.  Count,  John,  524 

Nevil,  206  ;  crest,  341  ;  of  Raby, 
arms,  485 

New  Galloway,  town  of,  sup- 
porter, 437 

Newcastle-on-Tyne,  See  of,  606 

Newdigate,  190 

Newlands,  Lord,  supporters,  75 

Newman,  541  ;  arms,  189; 
Colonel,  augmentation,  591 

Newnes,  Sir  George,  Bart.,  215 

Newton,  Lord,  541 

Nicholson,  crest,  374 

Nicholas,  Sir  Harris,  464 

Nightingale,  Bart.,  arms,  270 

Ninth  son,  488 

Nisbet,  82,238,415,418,446, 

458,  504 

Nobility,  arms  as  a  sign  of,  22 

Nombril,  104 

Norfolk,  Duke  of,  5  56 ;  (Thomas 
Mowbray),  596;  Duke  of, 
augmentation,  590,  596;  Duke 
of  (Thomas  Howard),  badge, 
469 

Normandy,  Duke  of,  John,  seal, 
408  ;  Duchy  of,  arms,  525 

Normandy,  Marquess  of,  sup- 
porters, 437 

North  British  Borneo  Company, 
supporters,  429 

Northumberland,  Earl  of,  143  ; 
Earl  of,  badge,  469 ;  Duke 
of  (Percy),  arms,   147  ;  crest, 

183 
Northumbria,  Vicecomes  of,  503 
Norroy  King  of  Arms,  29,  30, 

3 1 ,  48  ;  arms  and  insignia  of, 

587 
Norway,  flag  of,  613 


INDEX 

Norway,  H.M.  Queen  of,  label, 
496,  497 

Norwich,  588  ;  city  of,  suppor- 
ters, 444 

Nottingham,  town  of,  supporters, 
429 ;  Earl  of,  Thomas,  Earl 
Marshal,  crest,  71,  341 

Nova  Scotia,  58  ;  Baronets  of, 
137,  418;  badges  of,  598  ; 
insignia  of,  583 

No  wed,  257 

Nude  figures,  165 

Nugent,  Bart.,  227;  supporter, 

438 
Nlirnberg,  city   of,  arms,  439  ; 

German  National  Museum  at, 

316 
Nuvoloni,  83 

Oak,  265  ;  branch,  265  ;  leaves, 

266  ;  slips,  265  ;  tree,  262 
Oakes,  arms  of,  5 
Oakham,  town  of,  202 
Oban,  town  of,  294 
Obelisk,  293 
Oberwappen,  335 
O'Connor,  Don,  supporters,  421 
Odo,  14,  15 

O'Donovan,  supporters,  421 
Oesel,  163 
OflFice,  rod  of,  47 
Officer  of  Arms,  official  dress  of, 

41 
Official  arms,  impalement,  535 
Official  insignia,  581;  regalia,  46 
Ogilvie,  compartment,  446 
O'Gorman,  supporters,  421 
Ogress,  151 
O'Hara,  arms,  96 
Okapi,  438 

O'Keefe,  Lanigan,  257,  378 
Oldham,  249 
Olive-tree,  263 
O'Loghlen,  165 
Omens,  10 
Ondozant,  256 
Opinicus,  231,  438 
Or,  50,  70 
Orange,  72,  7Z,   74»  76,    151, 

276;  tawny  ribbon,  137 
Orders  of  Knighthood,   58  ;  of 

St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  133 
Ordinary,  91,  93,  97,  102,  106, 

107,  108,  146,  155,  156,483 
Ordnance,    Master-General     of 

the,  insignia  of,  586 
O'Reilly,  supporters,  421 
Orkney,  39 
Orle,    108,    141,    142 ;    gemel, 

142 
Orleans,    Duke   of,   434,    596 ; 

arms,    486,    487 ;     Duchess 

Charlotte   Elizabeth  of,  seal, 

486 
Ormonde,  39  ;  knot,  469  ;  Earls 

of,  195 


639 


Ormsby-Hamilton,  crest,  171 

Ormskirk,  50 

Ory,  arms,  258 

Oryx,  436 

Ost-Friesland,  Reitbergs, Princes 

of,  229 
Osprey,  240 
Ostrich,    243  ;  feathers,   badge, 

450 

Oswald,  165 

Otharlake,  John,  30 

Otter,  215 

Otterburn,  Moir  of,  168 

Otway,  arms,  228  ;  supporters, 
420  ;  Sir  Robert,  593 

Ounce,  193 

Outram,  supporters,  192,  436 

Oval,  61 

Over-all,  103 

Owen,  arms,  265 

Ownership,  badge  as  a  sign  of, 
456 

Owl,  249 

Ox,  207 

Oxford,  arms  of,  88;  Bishops 
of,  insignia  of,  584;  city  of, 
207  ;  city  of,  arms,  205  ;  city 
of,  supporters,  216;  Lincoln 
College  at,  455  ;  University 
of,  299 

Ox-yokes,  415,  416 

Padua,  83,  84 

Painters,  Stainers,  and  Coach- 
makers,  Companies  of,  war- 
rant, 375 

Pairle,  108,  126,  139 

Pale,  107,  108,  115,  126; 
cottised,  1 16  ;  dancetle,  93  ; 
embattled,  93,  108  ;  lozengy, 
146 

Pale  wise,  102 

Palisado  Coronet,  378 

Pall,  108 

Pallet,  116 

Pallium,  6,  127 

Palm,  265  ;  branch,  265  ;  tree, 
263 

Palmer's  Staff",  290 

Palmetto-trees,  263 

Paly,  87,  97,  117,  121  ;  bendy, 
121 

Panes,  519 

Pannetier,  Grand,  insignia  of, 
581 

Panther,  193,  195,  223 

Papacoda,  188 

Papelonne,  83 

Papillon,  arms,  261 

Papingoes,  264 

Papyrus  plant,  266 

Paris,  arms  of,  260,  "^^76 

Paris,  Matthew,  143 

Parish,  Sir  Woodbine,  K.C.H., 
597 

Parker,  78,79,  81,95,371,45s 


X 


640 


Parkin-Moore,  277 

Parkyns,  Bart.,  crest,  277 

Parliament,  opening  of,  42  ; 
President  of  the,  insignia  of, 
852 

Parrot,  249 

Parted,  99 

Parteneck,  Bavarian  family  of, 
481 

Parthenopseus,  7 

Partition,  94;  lines,  91,  no, 
131,  132,  I34>  i35»  139.  141, 
150.  52S»  543;  lines,  chang- 
ing, 483  ;  methods  of,  96 

Party,  87,  99  ;  badge,  268 

Paschal  lamb,  2 1 2 

Passant,  102,  201,  213,  226 

Passion  Cross,  128  ;  nails,  293 

Patent,  68 

Paton,  Sir  Noel,  crest,  239 

Patriarchal  cross,  129 

Paul,  Sir  James  Balfour,  39,  40, 
46,  66,  390,  415,  500 

Paw,  190 

Paynter,  155 

Peacock,  246 

Pean,  78 

Pearce,  Lady,  575 

Pear-tree,  263  ;  pears,  276 

Pearl,  Tj 

Pearson,  arms,  296 

Peascod,  468 

Pease,  crest,  376 

Peebles,  arms,  255 

Peer,  carriage  of,  399  ;  coronet, 
379  ;  helmet,  303,  382  ;  im- 
paling, 532  ;  insignia  of,  583  ; 
mantling  of,  391  ;  order  con- 
cerning robes,  coronets,  &c., 
of,  365  ;  sons  of,  supporters, 
423,  424  ;  supporters,  422  ; 
widow  of,  5  34 ;  widow  of, 
supporters,  423,  424 

"  Peerage  and  Baronetage,"  321 

Peeress,  536  ;  after  marriage, 
534  ;  by  creation,  arms,  533  ; 
in  her  own  right,  532 

Peeresses,  robes  or  mantles,  366 ; 
supporters,  422 

Peewhit,  249 

Pegasus,  10,  202,  203,  220, 
232  ;  as  supporter,  437 

Peke,  Edward,  204 

Pelham,  Sir  John  de,  590 ; 
arms,  augmentation,  590 ; 
badge,  590 

Pelican,  242 

Pellet,  151 

Pellew,  Sir  Edward,  593 

Pelts  or  Hides,  293 

Pemberton,  299 

Pembridge,  Sir  Richard,  helm, 
308 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  32,  480, 
48 1  ;  Earl  of,  badge,  469 

Penhellicke,  arms,  261 


INDEX 

Penned,  251 

Pennon,  54 

Penrose,  arms,  113 

Per  bend,  87,  95,  97;  sinister, 

97  ;    chevron,    87,    95,   97; 

chief,   97  ;    cross,   97,    1 34  ; 

fess,  97,  139  ;  pale,  97,  139  ; 

engrailed,      108  ;     invected, 

108  ;   pile,    97 ;    saltire,   97, 

131.  137 

Perceval,  Dr.,  84 

Percy,  Henry,  seal,  411 

Perring,  Bart.,  arms,  276 

Perrins,  arms,  276 

Perry,  arms,  276 

Perryman,  arms,  276 

Persevanten,  40 

Perth,  Earl  of,  204,  284;  com- 
partment, 446;  city  of,  145  ; 
arms,  414;  county  of,  sup- 
porters, 429 

Pery,  arms,  148 

Pescod,  Walter,  50 

Petilloch,  William,  40 

Petre,  Lord,  590 

Pfahlfeh,  82 

Pfirt,  417 

Pharamond,  arms  of,  273 

Pheasant,  250 

Pheons,  283 

Philip  I.,  seal,  273 

Philip  II.,  seal,  274 

Philippa,  Queen,  464 

Phillips,  205 

Phoenix,  230,  240,  291 

Physiologus,  194 

Picardy,  83 

Pichon,  arms,  32 

Pick,  298 

Pictorial  ensigns,  82 

Picts,  165 

Pigott,  arms,  298 

Pike,  255 

Pile,  91,  93,  107,  108,  124,  126 

Pilkington,  crest  of,  167  ;  motto, 

451 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  416 
Pilter,  arms,  285,  293 
Pily,  126 

Pimpernel  flower,  268 
Pineapple,  276,  277 
Pine-cone,  277 
Pink,  Ti 
Pirie,  arms,  276 
Pirrie,  arms,  202 
Pitcher,  289;  arms,  294 
Pittenweem,  town  of,  162 
Pixley,  crest,  293 
Planche,  5,12,  14,  78, 109,  150, 

240,  275.  485 
Planets,  yj 

Planta  genista,  badge,  468 
Plantagenet,  62 
Plants,  II 
Plasnes,  Dame  de,  Jeanne,  seal, 

408 


Plasterers*  Company,  supporters, 

438 
Plate,  151 
Plates,  153 
Platt-Higgins,  255 
Player,  arms,  272 
Plough,  298 
Plover,  249 
Plowden,  118 
Plumete,  83,  85 
Plummets,  293 ; 
Pocock,  augmentation,  593 
Points,  104 
Pole,  57 
Poleyns,  53 

Pollock,  augmentations,  594 
Polwarth,    Lord,     arms,    276  ; 

augmentation,  596 
Pomeis,  151 
Pomegranate,  264,  276 
Pomeranians,  224 
Ponthieu,  Count  of,  1 5  ;  Joanna 

of,  seal,  543 
Pontifex,  crest,  295 
Pope,  His  Holiness  the,  insignia 

of,  291,  582 
Popinjay,  249 
Poplar-tree,  264 
Porcupine,  217 
Portcullis,  38,  45,  284  ;  badge, 

468 
Porter,  arms,  287 
Porterfield,  114 
Portland,    Duke  of,  supporters, 

436 
Portobello,  burgh  of,  285 
Portsmouth,  Earl  of,  supporters, 

437 

Portugal,  crests,  343  ;  Royal 
Standard  of,  597 ;  Royal  Arms 
of,  482;  marks  of  cadency,  482 

Potent,  84,  85  ;  potente,  91,  94, 
95  ;  counter-potent,  84,  85 

Potier,  arms,  231 

Potter,  9 

Potts,  193 

Poulett,  Earl,  supporters,  433 

Powdered  with,  89 

Poynter,  126 

Prankhelme,  316 

Pranker-Helm,  309,  316 

Prawns,  256 

Precedence,  68 

Precentor,  insignia  of,  588 

Preed,  arms,  258 

Pretence,  escutcheon  of,  138, 
531.  532 

Prevost,  supporters,  420 

Price,  169 

Prideaux-Brune,  71 

Primrose,  268,  272  ;  Viscount, 
145  ;  of  Dalmenie,  146 

•  •  Prince  Arthur's  Book,"  409 

Prince  of  Wales,  supporters,  71 

Princes,  helmets  of,  318;  eccle- 
siastical, insignia  of,  582 


Principal  King  of  Arms,  34 
Pringle,  arms,  300 
Prism,  294 

Private  person,  flag  of,  474 
Proclamation,  47 
Procter,  arms,  293 
Professors,  Regius,  arms,  587 
Proper,  74,  75,   170,  243,  244, 

246 
Provand,  crest,  298 
Provost  of  the  Household,  Grand 

insignia  of,  582 
Prussia,  King  of,  400  ;  kingdom 

of,    475 ;     supporters,    433  ; 

officers  of,  597 
Prussian  flag,  476 
Public  buildings,  flags,  473 
Puckberg,  arms,  289 
Pudsey,  borough  of,  290 
Pugin,  397 
Pujolas,  arms,  211 
PuUici,  arms,  261 
Pulver  Turme,  189 
Purfled,  171 
Purple,  II,  70 

Purpure,  70,  76;  fretty  or,  149 
Pursuivant,  40,  45  ;  badges,  48 

clothes,     39 ;    creation,    38 

duties  of,  38  ;  fees,  3.7..  3^ 

tabard  of,  41  ;  Irish  insignia 

of,  587 
Pursuivant    of    Arms,    28,    29, 

150 
Puttkammer,  Barons  von,  224 
Pyke,  255 
Pyne,  arms,  277 
Pyramid,  293 
Pyrton  or  Peryton,  arms,  263 

QUAIN,  Bart.,  arms,  272  ;  crest, 

374 

Quarter,  102,  108,  134,  540 

Quarterings,  57,  98,  104,  542, 
543  ;  augmentation  takes  the 
form  of,  554;  augmentation, 
superimposed  on,  554;  im- 
portance attached  to,  67  ; 
omitting,  549 ;  order  of, 
548 

Quarterly,  97,  139 

Quartermaster,  Grand,  insignia 
of,  582 

Quatrefoil,  266,  267  ;  double, 
488 

Queensberry,  Marquess  of,  145 

Queensferry,  88;  town  of,  164 

"  Quentin  Durward,"  258 

Queue-fourche,  175 

Quinces,  277 

Quincy,  De,  154  ;  arms,  147 

Rabbit,  214 
Radford,  arms,  186 
Radiometer,  294 
Raglan,   Lord,  supporter,   194 ; 
437 


INDEX 

Raguly,  9 1 ,  94,  96 

Raikes,  224 

Rainbow,  294 

Raised  in  benediction,  169 

Ram,   10,  211  ;  head,  213;  as 

supporters,  437 
Rampant,  102,  172,  213,  226 
Ramsay,  10 
Kamsden,  arms,  213 
Ramsey,  arms,  211 
Ramsey,  de,  Lord,  supporters, 

437 
Ramsgate,     arms,     182,     301, 

369 
Randies,  arms,  214;  crest,  217 
Ranfurly,  141 
Raphael,  arms,  272 
Rashleigh,  arms,  281 
Rat,  217 

Ratton,  arms,  217 
Raven,  248 
Ravenna,  351 
Ravissant,  197 
Rawlinson,  Bart.,  crest,  378 
Rawmarsh,  56 
Rawson,  arms,  282 
Rawtenstall,  207 
Raynor,  arms,  226 
Rayonne,  96 
Reade,  crest,  280 
Reading,  town  of,  arms,  168 
Rebus,  454 

Records,  erased  from,  73 
Red,  70,  "jy 
Red  deer,  208 
Red  dragon,  38,  225 
Red  ensign,  471 
Red  shield,  another  use  of  the 

plain,  69 
Reed,  E.  T.,  258 
Reeds,  280 
Reem,  219 
Regarding,  187 
Regent  of  France,  34 
Reider,  162,  164 
Reinach,  Counts,  188 
Reindeer,  208,  209 
Reid-Cuddon,  553 
Rendel,  Lord,  196 
Renfrew,  88 
Renty,  arms,  283 
Respecting,  187 
Rethel,  arms,  410 
Reynell,  arms,  89 
Rhinoceros,  217,  219 
Rhodes,  166 
Rhys,  Lord,  85 
Rhys  ap  Griffith,  341 
Ribbons,  58,  115,  137 
Richard,  Zi 
Richard  I.,   174,  306;   badge, 

468  ;     banner,    454  ;     crest, 

327  ;  seal,  329 
Richard  II.,  30,  31,  32,  33,  34, 

36,    466,     556,    596,    607; 

badge,  410  ;  white  hart,  467 


641 


L 


Richard   III.,   33,  38  ;   badge, 

.469 
Richardson,  arms,  86,  203,  577 
Richmond,   29  ;   badge  of,  48  ; 

Earl  of,  33  ;  Earl  of,  John  of 

Brittany,    arms   of,  69,    102, 

134,  188  ;  Herald,  37  ;  King 

of  Arms,  33 
Richmond  and  Gordon,  Duke  of, 

25,  598  ;  and  Somerset,  Duke 

of,  Henry  Fitz-Roy,  521 
Richtsritter,  570 
Ridley,  207 

"  Right  to  Bear  Arms,"  21,  22 
Rinach,  arms,  188 
Ringed,  207 

Ripon,  Marquess  of,  crest,  298 
Rise,  arms,  277 
Rising,  235,  236,  245 
Ritchie,  213 
Rivers,  Lord,  Sir  Richard  Wyd- 

ville.  Torse,  arms,  404 ;  Garter 

plate,  135 
Rjevski,  250 
Roach,  255 
Robe  of  Estate,  167 
Robert  II.,  coronation  of,  40 
Roberton,  arms,  293 
Roberts,    213;    Sir    Abraham, 

G.C.B.,  297 
Robertson,  197,438  ;  crest,  228; 

compartment,  446 
Robertson-Glasgow,  arms,  263 
Robes,  Order  concerning,  365 
Robinson,  Bishop,  256 
Robson's,  356 

Rochdale,  town  of,  arms,  266 
Roche,  arms,  255 
Rochefort,  arms,  270 
Rocheid,  168,  299 
Rochester,  Bishops  of,  603 
Rocke,  arms,  289 
Rod  of  office,  47 
Rodd,  166;  arms,  267 
Roderick  the  Great,  85 
Rodolph  II.,  413 
Roebuck,  208 
Roman  Catholic  Bishop,  603  ; 

Empire,  Holy,  Arch  Treasures 

of,  insignia  of,  583  ;  numerals, 

104;  royal  diadem,  351 
Rompu,  124 
Romreich,  40 
Ronquerolles,  84 
Rook,  248 
Rose,  269,  488  ;  George,  575  ; 

badge,  271  ;  leaves,  266  ;  en- 

soliel,  468 
Rosebery,  Earl  of,  145  ;   arms, 

272 
Rosmead,  Lord,  supporters,  431 
Ross,  39  ;  Earl  of,  412  ;  General, 

augmentation,  577,   593  ;  Sir 

John,     augmentation,      595  ; 

Countess  of,  Euphepia,  seal, 

412  ;  See  of,  164 

2  S 


642 


Ross-of-Bladensburg,  474,  593  ; 
arms,  133  ;  grant  to,  374 

Rotherham,  56 

Rothesay,  39 

Rothschild,  supporters,  429 

Rouck,  De,  75 

Rouge-Croix,  38  ;  -Dragon,  38 

Rouillon,  Oliver,  seal,  417 

Roumania,  State  of,  475 

Roundel,  108,  151,  153 

Rousant,  246 

Rowe,  arms,  260 

Rowel  spurs,  55 

Royal  Arms,  144,  174,  181,  182, 
225,  274,343,358,365,372, 
401,479,  522,  525  ;  augmen- 
tation, 145  ;  badges,  31  ; 
crest,  174,  183,  343,  344, 
359>  372,  380;  escutcheon, 
142;  supporters,  87,  430; 
motto,  452  ;  quartering,  555  ; 
house,  145  ;  household,  39  ; 
mantle,  225 ;  shield,  144 ; 
tressure,  145,  146 

Royal  Buck  Hounds,  T}^ 

Royal  family,  71, 154,  250,  391 ; 
arms,  173;  badges,  470; 
members  of,  coronets,  364 ; 
warrants,  494 ;  labels,  87, 
494,  497;  position  of,  499; 
livery,  ']i  ;. mantling,  392 

Royal  favour,  marks  of,  422 

Royal  licence,  58,  78,  ij,  136, 
342,  344,345,346,413,429, 
434.  517.  518,  519,  552,555. 
569 

Royal  Navy,  471 

Royal  prerogatives,  69 

Royal  Proclamations,  47 

Royal  Red  Cross,  568  ;  insignia 
of  those  entitled  to,  584 

Royal  Warrants,  61,  181,  363, 
372,  413, 414,  420, 421,  444  ; 
coronet  assigned  by,  368 

Rubische,  Dr.   Heinrich,  arms, 

435 
Ruby,  T7 

Rudolstadt,  supporters,  433 
Ruspoli,  arms,  264 
Russia,  state  of,  475 
Rustre,  108,  148 
Rutherford,  Lords,  425 
Rutherglen,  crest,  160 
Ruthven,    William,    seal,  416; 

Barony  of,  supporters,  437 
Ruthyn,     Sir   John     Grey    de, 

392 
Ryde,  88  ;  arms,  294 
Rye,  525  ;  arms,  278 
Ryland,  arms,  299 

Sable,  70,  77,  83,  90 
Sacheverell,  214,  514 
Sachsen,  234 
Sackville,  crest,  376 
Sacred  Cross,  128 


INDEX 

Saffron-Flower,  272 

Sagittarius,  171,  228,  229 

Saints,  emblems  of,  606 

Salamander,  230 

Salient,  213 

Salis,  De,  supporters,  429 

Salisbury,     Earl     of,     Richard 

Nevill,  arms,  485;  arms,  crest, 

mantling,    388  ;    Bishops  of, 

584  ;  See  of,  160 
Sailed  or  sallet,  312 
Salmon,  255,  439 
Saltire,    5,  93,   103,   107,    108, 

131,     135;     botonny,     132; 

couped,  131  ;  parted,  132 
Saltire  ways,  132 
Salvesen,  arms,  293 
Samson,  163 
Samuel,  arms,  260 ;  Bart,  crest, 

339 
Samuelson,  arms,  240 
Sandeman,  164 
Sandford,  32,  358 
Sand-Glass,  301 
Sandwich,  525  ;  arms,  182 
Sanglier,  198 
Sanguine,  72,  7^ 
Sapphire,  77 
Saracens,  13,  17 
Saturn,  77 
Satyr,  171,  229 
Satyral,  171,  229 
Saumerez,  De,  428 
Savage,    165,   433  ;    Sir  John, 

badge,  469 
Savelli,  Duca  de,  as  Marshal  of 

the  Conclave,  insignia  of,  582 
Savoy,  83 

Sawbridge,  arms  of,  78 
Saxe-Altenburg,  Duke  of,  401 ; 

Dukedom    of,    475  ;     Grand 

Duke  of,  crests,  343 
Saxe-Coburg,    Prince    Leopold 

of,  499 
Saxe-Coburg   and    Gotha,   late 

Duke    of,    541  ;     Duke    of, 

crests,  343  ;   Dukes  of,  541  ; 

label,  497  ;  Prince  of,  label, 

497 
Saxe-Meiningen,    Grand    Duke 

of,  crests,  343 
Saxe  -  Meiningen  -  Hildburghau- 

sen,  Duke  of,  401 
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach,     Duke 

of,  400 
Saxony,    69 ;    King    of,    400 ; 

King  of,  crests,  343  ;  Dukes 

and  Duchesses  of,  541 
Scabbard,  54 
Scala,   Veronese  Princes  della, 

arms,  285 
Scale,  armour,  171 
Scales,  83 

Scaling-ladders,  285 
Scaltenighi,  arms,  83 
Scandinavia,  323 


Scarf,  109 

Scarisbrick,  50 

Scarsdale,  Lord,  supporter,  442 

Sceptre,  45,  298 

Schafhausen,  supporters,  409 

Schallern,  312 

Schiffskrone,  369 

Schildbuden,  432 

Schildgestell,  64 

Schildwachter,  432 

Schilter,  63 

Schleswig  -  Holstein,  Princess 
Christian,  label,  497 

Schomberg,  crest,  377 

Schwartzburg- Rudolstadt,  Prince 
of,  crest,  343 

Schwartzburg  -  Sondershausen, 
Prince  of,  crests,  343 ;  sup- 
porters, 433 

Schwazer  Bergbute,  Society  of 
the,  234 

Schweidnitz,  town  of,  223 

Schweig,  supporters,  409 

Schwenkel,  476 

Scissors,  301 

Sconce,  arms,  282 

Scot,  John,  145 

Scotland,  29,  103,  138  ;  arms 
of,  143,  162,475  ;  Royal  arms 
of,  163,  418;  badge,  457; 
bordures  in,  502  ;  crests,  342  ; 
Royal  crest,  185;  Royal 
crown,  372;  crown  of,  357; 
differencing  in,  139,  500; 
helmet,  325;  heralds  in,  42; 
King  of,  144. ;  King  of,  arms, 
143  ;  illegitimacy  marks,  519; 
laws  concerning  the  use  of 
supporters,  424 ;  mantling  of 
Peers,  391  ;  mottoes  in,  448  ; 
National  Bank  of,  arms,  271, 
417;  Patron  Saint  of,  131; 
quarterings  in,  546 ;  re-mat- 
riculation, 347  ;  shields  in,  66; 
supporters,  right  to  bear  in, 
422  ;  thistle  of,  470 ;  Earl 
Marischal  of,  insignia  of,  585  ; 
Hereditary  Great  Master  of 
the  Household  in,  insignia  of, 
586;  Hereditary  Justice- 
General  of,  insignia  of,  586  ; 
Lord  High  Chamberlain  of, 
insignia  of,  585  ;  Lord  High 
Constable  of,  insignia  of,  585  ; 
Lord  Justice-Clerk  of,  insignia 
of,  586  ;  Master  of  the  Revels 
in,  arms,  168;  insignia  of,  586 

Scots  Greys,  25 

Scott,  arms,  280 ;  of  Gorren- 
berry,  502;  of  Thirlstane, 
446  ;  Sir  Walter,  258,  357 

Scott-Gatty,  17,1,  195,  265  ; 
crest,  250 

Scottish  bordure,  138,  139; 
cadency,  141  ;  cadency  bor- 
dures, 87;  crests,  520;  field, 


99 ;  Heralds,  39, 46  ;  Heralds, 
King  of,  40;  Parliament,  143  ; 
patents,  crests,  mantling,  394; 
Peer,  insignia  of,  583  ; 
practice,  104  ;  practice,  sup- 
porters, 423  ;  regiments,  25  ; 
seals,  407  ;  wife,  impalement, 
536 

Scrope,  68  ;  and  Grosvenor,  22, 
28,  68,  no,  478,  481  ;  sup- 
porters, 421 

Scruby,  176 

Scudamore,  arms,  286 

Scymitar,  287 

Scythes,  298 

Sea,  88 

Sea-dogs,  65,  205  ;  as  sup- 
porters, 437  ;  dragon,  226  ; 
eagle,  241  ;  griffin,  224,  232  ; 
horse,  202,  232  ;  leaf,  13, 
266  ;  lions,  186;  as  suppor- 
ters, 436  ;  monkey,  230 ; 
stag,  210,  232  ;  unicorn,  219  ; 
urchins,  256;  wolf,  230 

Seal,  316,403,  502  ;  head,  215  ; 
compartment  appears  on,  445 

Seax,  287 

Seccombe,  272 

Seckau,  chapter  of,  309 

Second  shield,  104;  son,  differ- 
ence mark,  488 

Seeded,  275  ;  or,  269 

S^fton,  Lord,  crest,  247 

Segrave,  arms,  486  ;  John,  seal, 
417,  480 

Segreant,  102,  223,  416 

Seize-Quartiers,  618-622 

Sejant,  214 

Selim  HI.,  Sultan,  592 

Seme,  89,  loi,  153,  155  ;  de-lis, 
89,  lOI 

Serjeants-at-Arms,  45  ;  insignia 
of,  586 

Serpent,  257 

Service  badge,  1 2 

Service  Cross,  Conspicuous, 
those  entitled  to,  insignia  of, 

5671 584 
Seton,     166,     427,     447 ;     of 

Mounie,  215  ;  Capt.  Robert, 

446  ;  church  of,  409 
Setvans,  Sir  Robert  de,  55 
Seventh  son,  488 
Sewell,  arms,  260 
Seymour,  arms,  239;  crest,  240; 

augmentation,      597  ;     Jane, 

marriage,  597 
Shaftesbury,  Earl  of,  206 
Shakefork,  108,  126 
Shakerley,  Bart.,  214 
Shakespeare,  arms,  285 
Shamrock,  267 
Shape  of  shield,  61 
Sharpe,  grant  to,  577 
Shearer,  arms,  298 
Sheaves,  26$ 


INDEX 

Sheep,  211 

Sheepshanks,  212 

Sheffield,   town   of,    supporters, 

429 
Sheldon,  Dame  Margaret,  arms, 

575 
Sheldrake,  246 

Sherard,  Lord,  supporters,  437 
Shetland  ponies  as  supporters. 

Shield,  60,  104  ;  of  peace,  446  ; 
colour  of  is  termed,  70,  250; 
divided  by,  97  ;  encircled  by, 
58 ;  earliest  shape,  62  ;  ground 
of,  69  ;  of  gules,  T},  ;  hatching 
of,  76 ;  in  Scotland,  66 ;  made 
of,  64;  no  ordinary  on,  loi  ; 
pageant,  63  ;  shape  of,  61, 
62 

Shiffner,  512;  arms,  114 

Ship,  294  ;  ornaments  and  de- 
vices, 9 

Shirley,  134 

Shogune,  13 

Shoveller,  246 

Shrewsbury,  39;  arms,  193; 
Earl  of,  541,  586;  Earl  of, 
quartering,  70  ;  Earls  of, 
crest,  341  ;  Earls  of  Talbot, 
175;  Earl   of  Talbot,    crest, 

183 
Shrimps,  256 
Shuttle,  290 
Shuttleworth,  arms,  290 
Sicily,  84  ;  Jerusalem,  Ditke  of 

Anjou,  Rene,  318 
Sidney,  crest,  217 
Siebmacher,  224,  320,  558 
Sigismund,  Emperor,  234 
Silesia,  74  ;  arms,  224 
Sillifant,  crest,  259 
Silver,   70,   jj^  90  ;  ingots  of, 

292  ;  use  of,  70 
Sinclair,    Baron,    arms,     557  ; 

Patrick,  502 
Sirr,  arms  of,  124 
Sissinks,  arms,  229 
Sixth  son,  488 
Skeen,  arms,  197 
Skeet,  261 
Skeleton,  166 
Skull,  171 
Slack,  crest,  258 
Sledge,  456 
Slipped,  265,  267,  269  ;  leaved, 

269 
Slips,  265 

Smallshaw,  arms,  270 
Smert,  John,  28,  41 
Smith,    68,    202,    288 ;    arms, 

289  ;  crest,  245 
Smith-Cunningham,  426 
Smitheman,  arms,  238 
Smyth,  arms,  272 
Snail,  258 
Sneds,  298 


643 


Sneyd,  arms,  298 

Snowdon,  39 

Sodor  and  Man,  160,  285 

Soldanieri,  arms,  83 

Soles,  256 

Sollerets,  55 

Soluthurn,  supporters,  409 

Somers,  crest,  263,  293 

Somerscales,  arms,  261 

Somerset,  5  20  ;  Duke  of,  Henry 
Fitzroy,  37  ;  Duke  of,  John 
Beaufort,  Garter  plate,  416, 
arms,  466  ;  Dukes  of,  5 1 3  > 
Herald,  37,  620 

Sophia,  Princess,  label,  499 

Soudan,  de  la  Tran,  K.G. ,  Sir 
Bermond  Arnaud  de  Presac, 
arms,  crest,  mantling,  387 

Southampton,  arms,  270  ;  city 
of,  arms,  crest,  supporters 
and  compartment,  445 

Southwark,  borough  of,  605 

Southwell,  See  of,  160;  Vis- 
count, supporters,  437 

Soutiens,  407 

Sovereign,  helmet  of,  318 

Sovereign's  Privy  Seals,  467 ; 
grand-children  of,  coronets, 
363  ;  sons  and  daughters  or 
brothers  and  sisters  of  a,  coro- 
nets of,  363 

Spain,  61,  81,  83  ;  crests,  343  j 
marks  of  cadency,  482 ;  Queen 
Victoria  Eugenie  of,  1 39,  474, 
596  ;  Philip  of,  607  J  quarter- 
ings  of,  543 

Sparlings,  256 

Spear  and  spear-head,  285 

Specified,  number,  89 

Speke,  crest  and  supporters, 
217  ;  augmentation,  420,  595 

Spelman,  Sir  Henry,  30,  31,  32, 

ZZ,  34 

Spener,  324,  481 

Spenser,  221 

Sphinx,  4,  9,  171,  228 

Spider,  261 

Spikes,  223 

Spokes,  arms,  291 

Springbok,  208,  217;  as  sup- 
porters, 436 

Sprot,  255 

Spry,  arms,  124 

Spur-nowels,  or  Spur-revels, 
286,  296 

Spurs,  54,  286 

Squirrel,  214,  430 

SS,  collar  of,  44 

St.  Adrian,  162 

St.  ^gidius,  162 

St.  Albans,  Boke  of,  2  ;  Duke 
of,  515;  monastery,  143 

St.  Andrew,  47,  160,  162, 
614 

St.  Andrew,  Saltire  of,  25 ; 
Cross  of,  131;  flag  of,  472 


644 


St.  Anthony's  Cross,  129 

St.  Asaph,  Bishop  of,  78 

St.  Aubin,  cloister  of,  228 

St.  Boniface,  164 

St.  Britius,  160 

St.  Bryse,  160 

St.   Catherine,   wheel   of,   473, 

606 
St.  Columba,  162 
St.  Cricq,  Comtes  de,  arms,  281 
St,  Cuthbert,  cross  of,  606 
St.  David's,  588 
St.     Denis,     165,     220,     473 ; 

Abbey  of,  16,  219 
St.  Duthacus,  162 
St.  Edmund,  cross  and  martlets 

of,  473 
St.  Edward,  360 
St.  Edward  the  Confessor,  596, 

607  ;  arms,  244 
St.  Edward's  Crown,  358 
St.  EHzabeth,  62 
St.  Etheldreda,  298 
St.  Etienne,  Abbey  of,  525 
St.  George,  162,  614 ;  arms  of, 

46  ;  banner  of,  471 ;  Cross  of, 

25,  38  ;  flag  of,  472  ;  Chapel, 

78,    149,    505;   stall    plates, 

559 

St.  Giles,  162 

St.  Helens,  borough  of,  arms, 
292 

St.  Ives  (Cornwall),  arms,  264 

St.  John  the  Baptist,  165 

St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  Order  of 
the  Hospital  of,  568  ;  Knights 
of  Justice  of  the  Order,  insignia 
of,  585 

St  John  of  Malta,  Celibate 
Order  of,  569 

St.  Kentigern,  163 

St.  Lawrence,  550 

St.  Leonards,  Lord,  68 

St.  Mark,  185,  186,  220 

St  Martin,  162,  164 

St.  Mary,  lily  of,  473 ;  the 
Virgin,  College  of,  arms,  271 

St.  Maur,  arms,  239 

St.  Michael,  162,  163  ;  and  All 
Angels,  54  ;  St  George,  Most 
Distinguished  Order  of,  29, 
566,  584 

St.  Mungo,  163 

St.  Neots,  75 

St.  Ninian,  162 

St  Oswald,  Lord,  supporters, 
437 

St.  Patrick,  614  ;  Order  of,  46  ; 
Knights  of,  rules,  563  ;  sup- 
porters, 563  ;  insignia  of, 
584 ;  Order  of  Prelate  of  the, 
insignia  of,  584;  Deans  of, 
insignia  of,  584;  Chancellor 
of,  insignia  of,  584 

St.  Patrick,  flag  of,  473 

St.  Paul,  164;  sword  of,  473,  606 


INDEX 

St.  Peter,  emblem,  291  ;  keys 
of,  473,  606 

St.  Petersburg,  351 

St.  Stephen  of  Tuscany,  Knights 
of  the,  569 

St.  Vincent,  Lord,  crest,  377 

Stable,  arms,  277 

Stafford,  56  ;  crest,  246  ;  knot, 
469  ;  Earl  of,  71 

Stafford,  Earl  of,  supporters, 
461  ;  Earl  of.  Sir  Humphrey 
Stafford,  arms,  crest,  mant- 
ling, 388  J  Lord,  badge,  458  ; 
crest,  374 

Stags,  208,  432 

Stains,  72,  73 

Stalbridge,  Lord,  345 

Standard,  28,  59,  474  ;  badges 
upon,  464  ;  bearer  (Wurtem- 
burg),  hereditary  insignia  of, 
582 

Standish,  arms,  289 

Staniland,  arms,  286 

Stanley,  209  ;  Lord,  badge,  240, 
469  ;  Torse,  arms,  404 

Staple,  302 

Stapleton,  Sir  Miles,  K.G.,  arms, 
crest,  mantling,  387 

Stapylton,  supporters,  421 

Starckens,  163 

Star  of  India,  Most  Exalted 
Order  of  the,  565,  584 

Stars,  1 1,  295 

Statant,  102,  172,  213,  226 

State  liveries,  badges  on,  464 

Statute  of  Resumptions,  30 

Steamer,  294 

Stephen,  coins,  354 

Stephen  de  Windesore,  3 1 

Sterling,  William,  seal,  417 

Steuart,  Bart.,  crest,  375 

Steward,  Lord  High,  insignia  of, 
582 

Stewart,  arms,  86;  crest,  164; 
of  Ochiltree,  502,  513 

Stilwell,  crest,  246 

Stirling  -  Maxwell,      supporters, 

431 

Stirrups,  286 

Stoat,  215 

Stockfish,  255 

Stockings,  293 

Stocks  of  Trees,  264 

Stodart,  144,  145,  502,  514 

Stoke-Lyne,  Lord  of  the  Manor, 
arms,  413 

Stones,  286 

Storey,  256 

Stork,  247,  440 

Stothard,  C,  15 

Stourton,  arms,  152,  153,  294; 
badge  as  a  crest,  456 ;  barony 
of,  supporters,  205  ;  crest,  341, 
385  ;  Lord,  supporters,  437  ; 
seal,  153 

Strange,  arms  of,  175 


Strangman,  1 1 1 

Strathcona,  Lord,  crest,  263 ; 
arms,  216 

Stratheden,  Baroness,  late,  533 

Stratherne,  Countess  of,  Muriel, 
seal,  410 

Strigoil  and  Chepstow,  Earls  of, 
32 

Struan,  197 

Stuart-French,  arms,  254 

Stuart-Menteith,  414 

Stubbs,  arms,  264 

Stukele,  arms,  277 

Sturgeon,  256 

Sturzkriickenfeh,  85 

Sturzpfahlfeh,  82 

Styleman,  arms,  222 

Styria,  arms,  194,  417 

Sub-ordinaries,  91,  102,  106, 
107,  108,  155,  156;  complete 
list  of,  108  ;  sub-quarters,  104, 
544 

Suchenwirt,  40 

Suffolk,  32;  Duke  of,  William 
de  la  Pole,  badge,  469 ;  Garter 
plate,  372 

Sugar-cane,  263 

Sun,  1 1,  77  ;  burst,  badge,  468, 
469  ;  in  splendour,  296 

Sunflower,  272 

Superimposed,  86,  554 

Supporters,  58,  86,  158,  162, 
164,  165,  166,  185,  186,193. 
201,  204,  209,  213,  215,  216, 
217,225,  227,  286,319,  346, 
407,411,412,413,414,415, 
416,428,475,  519,  532,533, 
564,  572;  the  first,  432;, 
differencing  on,  492  ;  crested, 
417;  by  prescriptive  right, 
421  ;  in  England,  right  to 
bear,  419  ;  honourable,  446  ; 
origin  of,  417;  position  of, 
430;  single,  410 

Surcoat,  18,  57,  108 

Surgeons,  College  of,  arms, 
167 

Surrey,  50 ;  Duke  of  (Thomas 
de  Holland),  bordure,  596 ; 
Earl  of,  augmentation,  590 

Sussex,  Duke  of,  label,  498 ; 
Earl  of,  32 

Sutton,  arms,  258 

Swaby,  crest,  245 

Swallow,  244,  245 

Swan,  245 

Swanne,  Adam  Fitz,  467 

Swansea,  Lord,  crest,  349 

Sweetland,  arms,  263 

Swindon,  arms,  crest,  301 

Swinton,  503,  504;  arms,  453  ; 
crest,  199  ;  supporters,  425  ; 
Henry  de,  seal,  504  ;  Captain 
Archibald,  506 ;  Captain 
George  C,  506;  Sir  John 
de,  505  ;  John  Edulf  Blagrave 


Laird,     506  ;      arms,     50/  > 

Robert,  505 
Switzerland,  83 
Sword,  5,  II,  286 
Svvynnerton,  113 
Sydenham,  arms,  211 
Sykes,  207  ;  arms,  151,  280 
Symbolism,  5,  11 
Symonds-Taylor,  arms,  254 
Syphium-plant,  272 

Tabard,  41 

"Table  Book,"  413 

Tacitus,  6,  9 

Tain,  Royal  Burgh  of,  162 

Talbot,    175,    203,   204,    554; 

arms   of,   70 ;    Earl   of,    70 ; 

Lord,  crest,  341 
Tallow    Chandlers'    Company, 

41  ;  arms,  28  ;  crest,  165 
Tamworth,  seals,  275 
Tancred,  crest,  263 
Tankerville,    Earl  of  (Bennet), 

arms,  1 89  ;  (Sir  John  Grey), 

Torse,  arms,  404 
Tannenvels,  arms,  188 
Tarieton,  crest,  374 
Tarn  or  loch,  294 
Tarragone,  arms,  81 
Tarsell,  arms,  277 
Tartsche,  or  Tartscher,  64 
Tassa,  85 
Tasselled  Hat,  61 
Tatshall,  55 
Taunton,  278 
Taylor,  193 
Tea- plant,  266 
Teck,  Duke  of,  187 
Teesdale,  arms,  271 
Telescope,  297 
Temperance,  164 
Temple,  282 
Temple    -    Nugent    -   Brydges- 

Chandos-Grenville,  crests,  348 
Templer,  arms,  282 
Tenants,  407 
Tenne,  72,  74,  76 
Tenremonde,  arms,  83 
Teutonic  Order,  63  ;  Masters  of 

the,  569 
Teviot,  Viscount  (Livingstone), 

276 
Thackeray,  165  ;  arms,  86 
Thebes,  King  of,  6 
Theme,  arms,  266 
Theodosia,  Empress,  351 
Thierry,  14 
Third  son,  488 
Thistle,  270  ;  Order  of  the,  271, 

561  ;  Knight  of  the,  insignia 

of,  584;  Knights  of  the,  rules, 

563  ;  supporters,  563 
Thorndyke,  crest,  261 
Thornhill,  crest,  168 
Thornton,  arms,  250,  263,  597  ; 

supporters,  250 


INDEX 

Thunderbolt,  295 
Thuringia,  63 
Thurston,  crest,  295 
Tichborne,  supporters,  421 
Tiger,  191  ;  as  supporters,  436 
Tigress,  192 
Tilting-helm,  54 
Tinctures,  70,   476,  483,    502  ; 

change  of,  483 
Tindal,  30 
Tityron,  231 
Tjader,  250 
Toad,  258 
Tobacco  -  Pipe     Makers,     the 

Company  of,  arms,  265 
Todmorden,  town  of,  arms,  293 
Tokugawa,  13 
Toledo,  arms  of,  298 
Tollemache,  arms,  149 
Topaz,  77 
Topsell,  221 

Torches,  or  Firebrands,  287 
Torphichen,  Lord,  arms,  271 
Torrington,    Lord,    supporters, 

442 
Torse,    2S7,    402,    403,    406 ; 

colours  of,  404 
Torteau,  i  5 1 
Tortoise,  217 
Tournament  helmet,  311 
Tournay,  83 
Tournebu,  Pierre  de,  supporter, 

411 
Tourney,  333 
Towers,  282,  Z76 
Towns,  rules  as  to  supporters, 

429 
Toymote,  13 
Trafford,  De,  crest,  1 67 ;  mottoes, 

451 
Transposed,  103 
Trapaud,  124 
Trappe,  arms,  283 
Trasegnies,  arms,  188 
Trayner,  arms,  293 
Treacher,  arms,  261 
Treason,  73 

Treasurer,  insignia  of,  588 
"  Treatise  on  Heraldry,"  14,  16, 

69,  74,  318,  399,   407,  410 
Trees,  1 1,  94,  262,  407 
Trefoil,  266 

Tregent,  arms,  261  ;  crest,  228 
Trelawney,  arms,  266 
Trutemne,  Banvillede,  arms,  82 
Trente  Deux  Quartiers,  619 
Tresmes,  Dues   de,   supporters, 

231 
Tressure,   108,   112,  133,  142, 

143,  146 
Trevelyan,     arms,     2O1  ;     sup- 
porters, 254 
Treves,  Bart.,  232  ;  arms,  292  ; 

augmentation,  598 
Treves,  Elector  and  Archbishop 

of,  559 


64s 


Trick,  77,  99 

Tricorporate,  180 

Triple- towered,  282 

Trippant,  102,  208 

Trist,  crest,  241 

Triton,  227 

Trononnee,  186 

Trotter,  arms  of,  5 

Trotting,  201 

Trout,  255 

Troutbeck,  arms,  255 

Trumpeter,  costume  of,  43 

Trumpington,  Sir  Roger  de,  54 

Trunk  of  a  tree,  264 

Trunked,  96 

Trupour,  or  Trumpour,  John,  40 

Trussing,  242 

Trussley,  214 

Truth,  164 

Tuam,  See  of,  arms,  160 

Tucker,  Stephen,  620 

Tudor,  Royal  House,  badge,  284 

Tulips,  272 

Tuns,  301 

Tunstall,  arms,  299,  404 

Tupper,  428 

Turbots,  256 

Turner,  arms,  302 

Turnierkragen,  479 

Turnip,  268 

Tuttebury,  Earl  of,  32 

Tweedy,  249 

Tynes,  209 

Tynte,  crest,  222 

Tyrol,  234 

Tyrrell,  crest,  200,  247 

Tyrwhitt,  249 ;  arms,  249 

Tyson,  crest,  287 

Udine,  83 

Udney,  204 

Ulster,  canton  of,  136,  137; 
King  of  Arms,  29,  33,  46,  47, 
421  ;  badges  of,  598  ;  arms 
and  insignia  of,  587  ;  official 
arms  of,  48  ;  office,  72,  86, 
180,  267,416,439 

Umbo,  64 

Umfraville,  89  ;  arms,  268 

Undy,  91 

Unguled,  207 

Unicorn,  39,  202,  219,  220r 
221,  232 

United  Kingdom,  Royal  Arms, 
compartment,  444 

Union  Banner,  611,  614,  615 

Union  Jack,  471,  611 

Unmarried  lady,  lozenge  of,  572 

Unter-Walden,  supporter,  409 

Uphaugh,  Duppa  de,  arms,  284 

Upton,  36 

Urbino,  Duke  of,  Frederick, 
392  ;  mantling,  388 

Urcheon,  216 

Urdy,  91,  95  ;  at  the  foot,  155 

Utermarch,  arms,  266 


646 


Vaile,  113,  207 

Vaillant,  34 

Vair,  50,  77,  79,  81,  84;   ap- 

pointe,    82 ;    in    bend,    82 ; 

bellies,  85  ;  onde,  81  ;  en  pal, 

82  ;  in  pale,  82 
Vaire,   79,   81,  94;    corrupted 

form  of,  81  ;  en  pal,  82 
Vairpiere,  83 

Valence, De,  155  ;  William,  525 
Vallary,  Coronet,  378 
Vambraced,  171 
Vambraces,  45 
Van  Eiden,  Sir  Jacob,  145 
Van  Houthem,  Barons,  arms,  82 
Van  Schorel,  163 
Vane,  arms,  171,  293 
Varano,  83 
Varenchon,  83 
Varroux,  arms,  82 
Varry,  tassy,  85  ;  cuppy,  85 
Varus,  79 
Vase,  288 
Vaughan,  169 
Vavasseur,  arms,  284 
Veitch,  arms,  207 
Venus,  77 
Vera,  De,  83 
Verden,  49 
Verdon,  arms,  149 
Verdun,  Alix  de,  410 
Vere,  arms,  1 34,  296 
Verelst,  crest,  214 
Veret,  83 
Verhanrimes,  200 
Vernon,  motto,  45 1 
Verona,  83,  163 
Verre,  79 
Verschobenes,  85 
Vert,  70,  76^  90 
Veruled,  292 
Vervelled,  241 
Vesci,  de,  Viscount,  supporters, 

433  . 

Vesentina,  163 

Vesili's,  Andreas,  439 

Vested,  170 

Vestments,  5 

Vice-Admiral,  insignia  of,  581 

Vice-Conn^table,  insignia  of, 
582 

Victoria,  Queen,  41,  358,  361, 
364,  421,  488,  496;  seal, 
475  ;  Cross,  567  ;  those  en- 
titled to  the,  insignia  of,  584  ; 
Princess,  label,'  496,  497 ; 
and  Albert,  Order  of,  members 
of,  insignia  of,  584 

Victorian  Order,  Royal,  567 ; 
insignia  of,  584 

Victory,  164 

Viennois,  Dauphin  de,  Charles, 
supporter,  411 

Vigilance,  247,  286 

Vine,  264 

Virgil  de  Solis,  144 


INDEX 

Virgin  Mary,  159  ;  lilies  of  the, 

6o5 
Virolled,  292 
Visconti,  arms,  257 
Viscountess  robe  or  mantle,  366; 

coronet,  366 
Viscounts,robe  or  mantle  of,  365 , 

Z67 ;  coronet  of,  365,  368 
Visitations,  mottoes  in,  449 
Vivian,  crest,  166 
Vohlin,  arms,  41 1 
Void,  7Z 
Voiders,  150 
Vol,  240 

Volant,  34,  245  ;  en  arriere,  266 
Volunteer  Officer's  Decoration, 

568  ;  insignia  of,  584 
"  Von,"  German,  68 
Von  Burtenback,  Captain  Sebas- 
tian Schartlin(Schertel),  arms, 

185 
Von  Dalffin,  GraufF,  arms,  254 
Von  Fronberg,  Herr,  203 
Von  Lechsgemiind,  Count  Hein- 

rich  von,  seal,  195 
Von  Pauli,  164 
Vree,  84 

Vulned,  187,  242 
Vulture,  24 1 
Vyner,  Sir  Robert,  358 

Wade,  crest,  217 
Wake,  knot,  469 
Wakefield,  crest,  217 
Wakefield,  town  of,  arms,  275 
Waldeck-Pyrmont,    Prince    of, 

crests,  343 
Waldegrave,  arms  of,  C9  ;  Lord, 

arms,  252 
Wales,  badge  of,  38,  225,^457  ; 

Herald    of,     33,    36  ;^ruddy 

dragon  of,   225  ;     Prince   of, 

85,  254,  486  ;  coronet,  363  ; 

badge,  225,  458  ;  label,  497  ; 

mantling,  391,  392  ;  Princess 

of,  coronet,  363 
Walker,  arms,  281  ;  Sir  Edward, 

358  ;  Trustees,  insignia  of,  586 
Walkinshaw,  arms,  262 
Wallenrodt,  Counts,  arms,  288 
Waller,  112;  arms,  266;  crest, 

253,     434;      Sir     Jonathan 

Wathen,     supporters,     433  ; 

Richard,  augmentation,  596 
Wallop,  III 

Walnut-leaves,  266  ;  tree,  263 
Walpole,  106 
Walrond,  arms,  207 
Walsh,  86 
Wands,  41 
W^andsworth,  294 
Wappen  und  Stammbuch,  185 
Wappenbuch,  203,  224,  234 
W^appencodex,  28 
Wappenkonige,  40 
Wappenrolle,  von  Zurich,  188 


Warde-Aldam,  arms,  114,  275 

Wareham,  arms,  275 

Warnecke's,  176 

Warren,  70;  Sir  John  de,  521  ; 
William  de,  arms,  486 ; 
Mantling,  389 

Warrington,  town  of,  174; 
arms,  288 

Warwick,  Lord,  458  ;  Earls  of, 
differences,  484 ;  Earl  of, 
Richard  Beauchamp,  541  ; 
Earl  of,  Waleran,  484  ; 'Earl 
of,  Thomas,  4S4  ;  and  Albe- 
marle, Earl  of,  Richard  Beau- 
champ,  540 

Water,  88,  94  ;  colour,  74,  76; 
bougets,  299 

Waterford,  supporters,  245  ; 
Earl  of,  70 ;  Marquess  of, 
supporters,  433 ;  city  of, 
supporters,  439 

Waterlow,  arms,  298 

Watermen  and  Lightermen's 
Livery  Co.,  supporters,  439 

Watkin,  Bart,  arms,  261 

Watney,  crest,  205 

Watson-Taylor,  supporters,  420 

Wattled,  227,  246 

Wave,  vair,  81 

Wavy,  91,  116;  or  undy,  94 

Waye,  arms,  1 1 9 

Weasel,  215 

Wechselfeh,  82 

Weir  wolf,  171,  229 

Welby,  Lord,  196 

Weldon,  Sir  Anthony,  164 

Wellington,  Duke  of,  541 ;  Duke 
of,  augmentation,  594 

Wells,  294 

Welsh  dragon,  225  ;  arms,  545 

Were,  arms,  290 

West  Riding,  56 

Westbury,.arms  of,  188 

Westcar,  crest,  217 

Westmeath,  Earl  of,  supporters, 
227,  438 

Westminster,  Dukes  of,  arms, 
554;  crest,  345;  Marquess 
of,  augmentation,  598  ;  city 
of,  arms,  554;  Abbey,  284, 
524,  543  ;  Dean  of,  585 

Westphalia,  608  ;  arms,  ^o\ 

Westworth,  arms,  296 

Whale,  245,  253,  256 

Whalley,  arms,  245 

Wharton,  292 

Wheat,  278 

Wheel,  302 

Whelks,  256 

Whitby,  arms,  258 

White,  supposed  to  be,  78  ;  en- 
sign, 471  ;  ermine  spots,  78  ; 
label,  71  ;  staff,  41 

White-Thomson,  arms,  270 

Whitgreave,  crest,  298 ;  aug- 
mentation, 592 


Widow,  arms,  146,  533,  573 

Wiergman,  164   ' 

Wife,  impalements,  53S»  536, 
537.  538 

Wigan,  crest,  263,  295 

Wilczek,  Count  Hans,  316 

Wild  cat,  195 

Wildenvels,  arms,  188 

Wildmen,  433 

Wildwerker,  83 

Wilkinson,  256 

Wilson,  196 

William  I.,  15,  354,  355 

William  II.,  seal,  354 

William  III.,  276,  596,  607 

William  IV.,  412,  608  j  State 
Crown,  356 

Williams,  arms,  181 

Williams  -  Drummond,  Bart., 
supporters,  433 

Wilioughby,  282 

Winchester,  Bishops  of,  insignia 
of,  584 ;  Dean  of,  588  ;  Earl 
of,  32,  148  ;  Earl  of,  Seiher 
de  Quincy,  147  f  Marquesses 
of,  379  ;  Captain  Peter,  arms, 
264 

Windsor,  30,  31,78,  149;  badge 
of,  48  ;  Henry  of,  469  ;  Dean 
of,  insignia  of,  584;  Herald, 
^y  ;  Castle  Bookplates,  183; 
Library,  372 

Wingate,  arms,  284 

Winged,  286 

Winged  ape,  215;  lions,  436; 
"Stags,  209 

Winlaw,  255  ;  motto,  451 

Winnowing  fans,  55 

Winterstoke,  Lord,  supporters, 
437 

Winwick,  50 

Wogenfeh,  81,  82 

Wolf,  196 

Wolf-hunter,  Grand,  insignia  of, 
581 


INDEX 

j   Wolfe,    181,    541  ;  crest,   298  ; 

Francis,  196,  592 
Wolkenfeh,  81 
Wolseley,  arms,  204  ;Lord,  195, 

204,  594 
Wolverhampton,  town  of,  arms, 

284,  291 
Woman,  grant  to  a,  57,62,  574; 

illegitimate.    Royal   Licence, 

554  ;  married,  arms,  534 
Wood,    165  ;    late   Sir  Albert, 

264  ;  crests  granted,  339  ;  Sir 

William,  349 
Woodbine-leaves,  266 
Woodman,  433 
Wood-pigeon,  244 
Woodstock,  borough  of,   arms, 

264 
Woodstock,  De,  56;  Thomas  of, 

494 

Woodward,  14,  75,  80,  83,  85, 
90,  136,  150,  162,  185,  188, 
197,200,  50,253,254.255, 
261,  318,  324.  343.  399. 
405,  467,  469,  513,  514, 
598;  and  Burnett,  69,  74, 
94.  95,  407;  arms,  261, 
266 

Woollan,  292 

Wool  pack,  5 

Worcester,  78 

Wordsworth,  287 

"  Workes  of  Armorie,"  489 

Worms,   Baron  de,  supporters, 

444 
Wortford,  arms,  266 
Wreath,  157 
Wright,  126 
Wriothesley,  41 
Wursters,  arms,  200 
Wurtemburg,  supporters,    187; 

Queen  of,  label,  498 
Wyatt,  arms,  287 
Wylcote,  Sir  John,  brass,  389 
Wyndham,  crest,  291 


647 


Wyndham  -  Campbell  -  Pleydell- 

Bouverie,  crests,  348 
Wynn,  Sir  Watkin  Williams,  198 
Wyon,  353 
Wyvern,   186,  225,   226,   227; 

as  supporters,  437,  438 

Xantoigne,  34 

Yacht,  294 

Yarborough,  Earl  of,  205,  590; 

badge,  288,  458;   supporter, 

437 
Yarmouth,  525  ;  arms,  182 
Yeates,  255 

Yeatman- Biggs,  arms,  141 
Yellow,  70 
Verburgh,  crest,  242 
Yeropkin,  250 
Yockney,  arms,  266 
Yonge,  crest,  222 
York,  588  ;  Archbishop  of,  127  ; 

arms,  297,  601,  602;  pallium, 

583  ;  Cardinal,  359  ;  Herald, 

37  ;  badge  of,  48  ;  Duke  of, 

37,  488  ;  Duke  of,  label,  498  ; 

Duke  of  (Edward),  seal,  466  ; 

blazing  sun  of,  badge,   468  ; 

white   rose  of,   badge,    468 ; 

and  Lancaster,  badges,  468 
Yorke,  112;  crest,  215 
Youghal,  Provosts  of,  seal,  525 
Young,  Sir  Charles,  crest,  226, 

348 

Zachary,  514 
Zebra,  217,  438 
Zobel,  77 
Zoe,  Queen,  351 
Zorke,  1 1 2 
Zorn,  crests,  344 
Zug:,  supporters,  409 
Zurich,    384 ;    supporter,    409  ; 
Wappenrolle,  397 


THE    END 


OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 

^LIFORN\hs 


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