BERKELEY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 
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THE 
 
 OF 
 
 MlEIlAlLllIliri 
 
 on, 
 A DISSERTATION 
 
 ov 
 
 togetluT vrith 
 THE ORIGIN OF NAMKS, SAXON ETYMOLOGIES, 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Shewing, at cnc View, the ini['ort and peculiar Design 
 of ihe Aimoiial System; 
 
 WITH MANY OTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS 
 BELONGING TO THE SCIENCE. 
 
 By J. Thorold, Heraldic Artist. 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; 
 
 And sold by Mr. H. George, Argyle Buildingfl, BaUi; 
 
 also by Bulgin, Lomas, and Tvsox, Bristol, 
 
Printed by W. Browmjo^, 
 Broad Street, Bdth. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In laying the following pages before the public, 
 it is presumed no apology need be offered : the utility 
 of a work which embraces History, Antiquity, and 
 Heraldry, must be obvious to all. 
 
 The ancient and excellent works to which fre- 
 quent reference is made, are, nevertheless, so compli- 
 cated, that the reader is often left in the dark respect- 
 ing the object in view. I have therefore endeavoured 
 to compress the whole into one focus, omitting those 
 controversies and jarring opinions which so much 
 distract and even perplex the mind of the connoisseur 
 himself. 
 
 In the pursuit of my profession, I have met with 
 many persons of distinction, who have frankly con- 
 fessed that they were unacquainted with the symbolical 
 allusions in the Heraldic System, and consequently 
 unable to decypher the figures and partition lines 
 which so frequently occur in family arms ; but that 
 object is now rendered intelligent and pleasing; and 
 in addition, much important and instructive matter, 
 
 f. 176 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 in reference to the Names of persons, is also given ; 
 yea, it may be said, that such an arrangement of 
 rational invention and historical record touch ins: 
 Arms and Names, is aot to be met with in any other 
 book of the kind; and be it observed, that (although 
 the work is small) much expence and labour has at- 
 tended its completion, (and not many copies printed;) 
 only, being the result of a favourite pursuit, the task 
 has been less difficult than it would otherwise have 
 been. 
 
 This cheap and portable production, so dissimilar 
 to any other, and embracing two great topics, viz. 
 Arms and Names, must, it is presumed, be read with 
 avidity nnd satlsfartion Ky all parties. And that it 
 may be still more acceptable to the public, many his- 
 torical rarities are introduced: yea, all the best 
 authorities have been consulted, which, together with 
 my own practice and experience, it is hoped, will 
 meet with some degree of approbation. Arms have 
 been regarded by many, as mere marks of distinction, 
 instead of being, as they are, a mirror, wherein is 
 pourtrayed the character and exploits of our ances- 
 tors; and one great design in heraldry, is to have the 
 art universal, and the arms described to be understood 
 in all nations. Thus a Treatise, like the following, 
 must at the present period, when science and the 
 pursuit of knowledge engrosses so large a portion of 
 public attention, be highly gratifying to the enqui- 
 ring mind 
 
PREFACE. IF 
 
 Heraldry is now freed from that charge of con- 
 fusion under which it formerly laboured, and many 
 writers have set forth, in a very extensive manner, 
 the nature of this science ; yet the reader who has 
 not a general taste for the subject, would soon grow 
 weary in pursuing their voluminous discourses. I 
 have, in consequence, culled the choicest flowers from 
 every approved work on Arms and Names, endeavour- 
 ing to represent at one short, yet comprehensive view, 
 the excellency and glory of these Ancient Signs ! 
 
 The inducement to perform this task, arises from 
 two general considerations. First, to obviate that 
 calumny and contempt, with which some ignoble 
 
 persons, who neither rog-ard virtiip or merit, have 
 
 treated this art. Secondly, to stimulate the generous 
 minded unto a greater inquiry into the nature and 
 use of such insignia as may pertain to their families; 
 for many respectable individuals, in tracing their pe- 
 diorees, have been lost as in a labyrinth, through the 
 want of a true knowledge of Heraldry, which is a 
 clue to their origin, and has oftentimes restored the 
 rightful possessor to his property. 
 
 J. T, 
 
COXVI3VIENDATORV EPZSTXiS. 
 
 BY MR. WM. HALL, 
 
 HISTORIAN AND ANTIQUARY. 
 
 I, William Hall, of this persuasion, 
 
 To make the best use of Occasion, 
 
 Do recommend my friend, John Thorold, 
 
 To call upon you as an Herald ! 
 
 Letting you know I hold my Quality, 
 
 Still pushing nn Originallify. 
 
 And, 'though he is a knight at Arms, 
 
 He ne'er intends to cause alarms ; 
 
 Mov'd by no other instigation. 
 
 But your both accommodation j 
 
 And very soon in him you'll find, 
 
 A well-inform'd and social mind: 
 
 Upon this mystic science rare. 
 
 His like I never could compare. 
 
 This Garland must increase his reputation. 
 
 And fill the mind with double admiration. 
 
 W. H. 
 
THE 
 
 WREATH OF HERALDRY; 
 
 OB, 
 
 GARLAND OF SYMBOLICAL ENSIGNS. 
 
 " Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch bj his 
 own standard, with the ensign of their father's house," Sec. 
 
 Num. ch. ii. v. 2 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pag« 
 
 The remote Antiquity of Symbolical Figures 1 
 
 Hieroglyphical Character thereof 5 
 
 Modeni English Heraldry 8 
 
 Arms passed from one person to another 13 
 
 Utility of Arms in reference to descent 20 
 
 Saxon Heraldry — its Systematic Arrangement 24 
 
 A Challenge of three French Kuighis 30 
 
 The Occasion of the Crusades 32 
 
 Painting of Arms on Glass, &c S7 
 
 Mystic Devices substituted for Arms 40 
 
 The Origin of Siruames 45 
 
 Illegitimacy — Remarks thereon .51 
 
 Saxon Etymologies, alphabetically arranged '. . . 53 
 
 Derivations from proper Names 60 
 
 Norman Adventurers (three lists) 62 
 
 Occasional Arms and Names 74 
 
 How different Names arise in the same descent 84 
 
 The Fall of Chivalry 86 
 
 Badges of the Highland Clans 69 
 
 The Shield, and its honourable Divisions 90 
 
 Abatements, or Tokens of Dishonour 98 
 
 Signification of Heraldic Figures 101 
 
 Explanation of Colours peculiar to this Science 105 
 
 Observations on Crests and Mottos 110 
 
 Curious Account of Seals, or Hand Stamps HI 
 
 Subscribers' Names and Arms 1 13 
 
THE 
 
 WREATH OF HERALDRY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 GARLAND OF SYMBOLICAL ARMOUR. 
 
 Th e Laud of Egypt is the source to which 
 we may trace all the arts of the civilized world, and 
 consequently the parent country of Heraldry. His- 
 tory would sufficiently corroborate this assertion, were 
 we not capable of establishing it by occular demon- 
 stration. In short, a variety of extant monuments 
 and paintings attest its early existence in that coun- 
 try. The gods and heroes of Egypt were distin- 
 guished, not only by particular vizors or masks, but 
 by particular crests on their helmets ; their priests 
 and votaries also assumed distinguishing symbols or 
 signs for themselves, whence originated the crests 
 worn on the helmets of the heroic in feudal times. 
 
 ^\ e are not aware of any extant figure on Egyp- 
 tian shields which will approximate to our armorial 
 bearings, but the nature of the hieroglyphic langua^-e 
 
 B 
 
 ■^' 
 
seems to require that the names of people should be 
 pictorially represented, as is indeed the case in many 
 instances of modern heraldry; and the figure of a 
 beetle, said to be worn by the Egyptian soldiery, is 
 often observable in their oval shields. One point 
 however can be ascertained. The Egyptians cer- 
 tainly distinguished their cities and their tribes by 
 armorial banners, of which many representations are 
 extant. Thus the standard of Leontopolis was a 
 lion, of Lycopolis a wolf, &c., and it is most likely 
 that individuals were classed in the same manner. 
 The heraldry of the Egyptians seem naturally to have 
 passed to the Hebrews, so long their bondsmen, and 
 it is pretty evident that the twelve tribes distinguished 
 themselves by the signs of the zodiac. This idea, 
 revived by Sir William Drummond, is by no means 
 new, nor does the supposed allusion to those signs by 
 Jacob, imply any thing impious, magical, or offensive 
 to the Deity — where could he search for any lasting 
 monument of his blessing more appropriate than the 
 xodiac ? The landmarks of earth are transitory ; the 
 ocean itself is liable to change; but the starry signs 
 preserve for ever the magnificent character which 
 they presented to the first man. 
 
 If we turn from Palestine to Greece, which drank 
 from the breast of Egypt her taste and genius, the 
 first proof of connexion iu heraldry is not inapposite 
 to the foregoing remarks; for instance, the shield of 
 Achilles, on which, among a variety of other objects, 
 the zodiacal signs and planets appear to have been 
 engraved ; and in the age which succeeded the heroic 
 the Grecians certainly distinguished individuals by 
 personal ensigns. 
 
 Of Persian heraldry we can glean little informa- 
 tion; but the modern Arms of Persia (sol in dorso 
 
Honis), viz. a lion surmounted of a sun, are evidently? 
 of Mithraic origin. It is however curious that in 
 the Persian bas-reliefs exhibited at Shapour, the 
 standard there borne consists of three balls on the 
 extreme of a cross, which was afterwards assumed 
 by the Lombards, and from them descended to the 
 pawnbrokers, who anciently bore that name. This 
 was no doubt like the Tau, a mysterious symbol, and 
 it is not unworthy remark, that the same figure 
 entered into Saxon achievements, and is found upon 
 both Saxon and British coins. 
 
 It would be an unnecessary task to attempt to 
 prove that the Romans bore heraldic distinctions on 
 their shields, for we are assured that the thundering- 
 legion was distinguished by the symbol of a thunder- 
 bolt ; and that in the earliest times different legion^ 
 were represented by various animals. But their 
 vases establish the point beyond dispute, as animals 
 frequently appear in shields represented on them. 
 There is one shield at the British Museum distin- 
 guished by a goat, which, if heraldic analogy avails, 
 belonged to a person named Caprus. But the most 
 remarkable approximation of ancient and modern 
 heraldry is preserved in a coin of Dacle, in Sicily: 
 it is a cross with a shell in the middle, wedges in the 
 quarters, and precisely agrees with the armorial bear- 
 ings of several Saxon kings. 
 
 Our Saxon ancestry appear to have adopted a 
 more settled system of heraldry (if we except the 
 Egyptians) than any of the foregoing nations, with 
 whom it is very doubtful whether armorial bearings 
 were transmitted from father to son. Nevertheless, 
 even hereditary transmission is not lightly to be given 
 up. The fact of Egyptian cities having heraldic 
 bearings argues something transmissible, and the 
 b2 
 
same may be inferred from the symbols of priesthood* 
 So the Greek mode of applying the postfix to a name 
 like the English Son, the Scotch Mac, and the Irish 
 0, seems to imply a vocal mode of preserving the 
 ancestral name in a family, agreeable to heraldic dis- 
 tinctions, the sound being analogous to the affixed 
 crescent, mullet, rose, &c. employed to express a son 
 by the rules of heraldic art. But to return to the 
 Saxons, the charge of wanting the hereditary portion 
 of heraldry may be proved as far as regards them to 
 be misapplied, because it is evident from Saxon and 
 Danish coins, and other memorials, that the whole 
 race of Danish and Saxon kings assumed the cross 
 for their arms, with distinctions and additions ac- 
 cording to their peculiar fancy. For instance, the 
 ensign of Egbert was the cross; Edward I. added 
 four martlets to it; Canute, four griffins; Edward 
 the Confessor, five martlets. Harold, as an interloper, 
 dropped the martlets, which however were still retain- 
 ed by Edgar Atheling, when made Earl of Oxford. 
 
 The arms of Hengist, it appears, were a horse, 
 which his name signified, and it is from this that the 
 Brunswick family derive that symbol. From a Saxon 
 coin, preserved in Camden, it appears that Anlaf, a 
 Pagan prince, bore the very common emblazonment 
 of an eagle for his arms. The billet and the distaff 
 conferred upon Hugh Despencer for cowardice are of 
 Egyptian original. The hammer of the two families, 
 called Mallets and Martels, is derivable either from 
 that of the god Thor, or the sacred Tau of the Phoe- 
 nicians, as well as Egyptian priesthood. The truth 
 is, that as the whole science is traceable to the 
 Egyptians, so are a great proportion of the heraldic 
 figures. 
 
 The patera, the cross, the mullet, the martlet, the 
 
crescent, the dragon, griffins, winged horses, and 
 mermen, are all noted Egyptian emblems, of which 
 the third somewhat resembles the talismanic penta- 
 glyph adopted by Antiochus. 
 
 The combined heraldic figure, composed of a star 
 and crescent, is also an Egyptian hieroglyphic. This, 
 which is by all heralds considered as a sign of the 
 first bearer having fought under the red cross, the 
 crusaders doubtlessly borrowed from similar armorial 
 bearings of the Saracens and Arabs. Indeed, the 
 Christian cross itself (i. e. a cross with the lower 
 member prolonged) is frequently seen among the 
 hieroglyphics, and even the cross keys of St. Peter 
 himself belonged to Horus and Mithra, and are of 
 Egyptian invention; thence they descended to the 
 Druids, a cognate branch of the same priesthood. 
 
 That most leading symbol of heraldry, a dragon, 
 was that Avhich figured most among the hieroglyphics : 
 to this source may be traced the famous Urgunda of 
 the Mexicans ; the great serpent depicted on the 
 Chinese banner; and the sea snake of the Scan- 
 dinavians. It became a substitute after Trajan's 
 Dacian war for the eagle of the Romans, and pass- 
 ed from them to several European nations; but among 
 none was it so great a favourite as among our British 
 progenitors. It was the banner of the Mercian, 
 East- Anglian, and West Saxon kings. It was borne 
 by Cadwallo and the kings of Wales, from Avhom it 
 descended to Henry VII. and by him it was introduced 
 into the British arms. It was a favourite symbol of 
 the Druids, who built their great temple of Abury in 
 the form of a winged serpent, and like the orientals, 
 represented good and evil by the contest of two 
 dragons. It was afterwards introduced into the armo- 
 rial bearings of London and Dublin; and according 
 B 3 
 
6 
 
 to heralds, it was borne by the Milesian kings of 
 Ireland, and during* the Crusades was considered as 
 the symbol of the universal British nation. 
 
 Hence the introduction of the griffin, so prevalent 
 in arms, especially with the Germans. Those who 
 have been, or are vassals, and dependants, and carry 
 a lion for their proper arms, and whose Over-Lords 
 bear an eagle, frequently use this cresture as composed 
 of both. Some say the griifin is the symbol of 
 ecclesiastical and civil authority joined together: the 
 first shown by the forepart of the eagle, and the civil 
 power by the hinderpart of tlie lion ; consequently 
 this compound figure represents wisdom united with 
 fortitude ; and here we may notice, that Sable, a 
 griffin sergreant Or, is the coat of the Honourable 
 »Society of Gray's Inn, being one of the four Inns at 
 Court. This position is an evident testimony of 
 determined resolution, as this animal will never be 
 taken alive; which device well becomes an hero in 
 the field of Mars. 
 
 The whole science of heraldiy may, in short, be 
 called a portion of the hieroglyphical language, and 
 the only portion o f which we have the key ; it repre- 
 sents the names of persons, their birth, their family, 
 their titles, their great actions, by certain signs imi- 
 tative or conventional. Under this point of view it is 
 capable of a much greater improvement than it lias 
 hitherto undergone, and a shield might be practically 
 made to represent (Avhat the mnemonic art fails 
 effectually to do) in a small compass, a synopsis of 
 biography, chronology, and history. Here it may bo 
 necessary to notice the word arms (in Latin, anna,) 
 as applied to this science; sometimes it is taken for 
 the weapons wherewith nature has armed various 
 creatures as the lion with his talons, the antelope. 
 
bull, and other quadrupeds, their horns, the cock 
 his spurs, &c. Again it may be applied to all manner 
 of warlike implements ; but arms here meant is not to 
 be understood in any of these significations, but must 
 be taken in a metaphorical sense, for they assume a 
 name borrowed by a figure from the shields, targets, 
 banners, military cassocs, and other martial habili- 
 ments, whereupon they were engraven, embossed, 
 embroidered, or depicted, and from these, in process 
 of time, were called arms, consequently they retain 
 that appellation from being first used by men in arms 
 upon their shields, &c. 
 
 These symbols were the only method that the 
 ancients had before the invention of letters, whereby 
 to express the nature and meaning of things, and 
 as Dr. E. WaterhousG observes, this symbola is in 
 resemblance what parables are in speech, it is an 
 index referring to something more excellent that is 
 concealed, to which it is the fescue or finger. 
 
 This sublime idea of the Doctor's will be found 
 verified in a variety of instances, among which for 
 the present, we may notice the circumstance of Sir 
 E. Lake, at the battle of Edge Hill, in the civil wars, 
 who having' received sixteen wounds, and his left arm 
 being disabled by a shot, was obliged to hold his 
 bridle in his teeth while he continued in action, for 
 which service he received a coat of augmentation to 
 be borne before his own private arms, vi."^. in a field 
 gules a dexter arm in armour, carrying upon a sword 
 a banner argent, charged with a cross between six- 
 teen shields of the first, and a lion of England in the 
 fesse point ; and for a crest, a chevalier in a fighting 
 posture, his scarf red, his left arm hanging down 
 useless, and holding his bridle in his teeth. 
 
 Nor was the use of these figures confined to hel- 
 
inets and shields alone, but ships and other navigable 
 vessels were beautified with such like marks in their 
 foredecks, and that in very ancient times, for the dis- 
 tinguishing of one vessel from another, as we may read 
 in Acts, chap, xxviii. v. 11, where St. Paul saith he 
 went into a ship, whose sign was Castor and Pollux: 
 so the custom has continued of naming ships accord- 
 ing to what is carved or painted on them to this day. 
 But, as Sir George Mackenzie observes, those ancient 
 hieroglyphics required no fixed colours as arms do, 
 the emblem represented some moral lesson, but arms 
 with us are the testimony of some noble action ; and 
 Mr. Nisbet remarks, that they are hereditabie marks 
 or signs of honour, taken or granted by sovereign 
 princes, or others deputed by them, to reward the 
 virtuous, as well as the distinguishing of families, and 
 should ever continue in their original colours. 
 
 Moreover similar marks or ensigns were com- 
 manded by the Almighty himself, as vv^e read in Num- 
 bers, chap, ii. V. 2, '' every man of the children of 
 Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign 
 of their father's house," ^c. in which words there are 
 two sorts of marks or arms mentioned, namely, the 
 common standard of the tribe, and the particular 
 family ensignia, yet both of them of one nature, and 
 depicted with some animal, vegetable, or other things, 
 for distinctions' sake. 
 
 But modern heraldry being the reward of merit, 
 granted to our forefathers for their services in either 
 church or state, should be transmitted from one gene- 
 ration to another, down to the latest posterity, in a 
 direct descent. But, alas, how few now-a-days, can 
 give any tolerable account of their progenitors, even 
 for a generation or two, or seem to have any concern 
 about it; yet to the praise of the Scotch and Irish, 
 
9 
 
 it can be said, that many of them are able to trace 
 their descents to very remote times. I have met with 
 an instance of one of the latter nation, pointing- out 
 his pedigree in regular succession to the days of Noah. 
 Herein we may see the propriety of arms, and even 
 the necessity of using them, that therein, as in a 
 mirror, we may behold the virtues of our ancestors, 
 and strive to preserve the same unsullied, by a well 
 regulated life ; there being no part of these devices 
 without its proper signification, even the colours of 
 the field as well as the charge thereof, which we 
 shall more particularly notice in a proper place. 
 
 Between arms and names there is, therefore, a 
 certain degree of conformity, insomuch that it is a 
 thing unlawful for a man, but upon great occasions, 
 to change his arms or name. Again, there are some 
 arms that seem to have been devised according to the 
 surnames of their bearers, as three castles for Castle- 
 ton, three conies for Conesby, a bear for Bernard, a 
 pine tree for Pine, salmons for the name of Salmon^ 
 &:c. &c. which the French term, des arms parlentes 
 vis, speaking coats, and are considered by some to be 
 most ancient. Furthermore, there is between such 
 arms and their bearers a kind of sympathy or natural 
 participation of quality, insomuch that whosoever 
 dishonourably useth the arms of any man, offereth in- 
 dignity to his person, and according to some ancient 
 writers, the owner thereof shall right himself against 
 such an offender by an action of trespass. Hence 
 these signs have ever been held in high estimation, 
 and practised by almost all nations in the world, so 
 that they are not (what some ignorant and malicious 
 perverters of nobility and merit Avould vainly suggest) 
 bare marks to distinguish one family from another, 
 which in itself is necessary, but are the unerring 
 
10 
 
 witnesses of the wisdom, fidelity, courage, and mag- 
 nanimity of our ancestors, and ought to be regarded 
 accordingly. Now as these figures or marks were 
 not confined to a few nations, Mr. Bolton concludes 
 the notion to be natural, alleging that whatever all 
 countries, civil or barbarous, agree to in a general 
 way, must undoubtedly proceed from the dictates of 
 reason. This being true, as Mr. Nisbet also notices 
 in his Essay on Cadency, it is more than probable 
 that arms are founded upon natural ideas, and if we 
 consider the figures in heraldry with the tinctures 
 and pieces, whether ancient or modern, whereof arms 
 are composed, we may arrive at some probability 
 concerning their gradual improvement, and by this 
 we shall sooner discover how that arms from a rude 
 and simple beginning, have grown up to their present 
 perfection and splendour throughout the whole world ; 
 and this we know, that they were much encouraged 
 during the imperial government of Theodocius, and 
 also in the time of Charles the Great, and that 
 they have long existed, and do yet continue, noble 
 marks of antiquity and merit. About the reign of 
 king Arthur, or a little before, viz. in the days of 
 Pharamond, first king of the Gauls (French), anno. 
 420, there began a distinction betwixt metals and 
 colours somewhat after the modern manner; for 
 previous to that time, they did only sketch, or rather 
 dead colour, those excellent tokens, leaving posterity 
 to give those master touches, as time alone gives the 
 opportunity of improving invention, which they have 
 done in their more orderly and general use, making 
 them appropriate to families, as testimonies of virtue 
 and loyal descent ; which custom, it is said, and very 
 probably too, came into mode at the irruption of the 
 iSaracens and rude barbarians into Christendom, be- 
 
11 
 
 cause against them did vast numbers of Christians 
 from all parts unite themselves, and in their expedi- 
 tions performed many memorable achievments. 
 
 The learned Sir Henry Spelman is of opinion that 
 it is a difficult matter for a person to trace his pedig-ree 
 more than four or five hundred years back, on account 
 of the many distracting- wars and invasions which 
 this country has endured prior to that time; yet 
 nevertheless (although it is more than a century 
 since he wrote) there are several families to be found 
 who can trace their descents beyond the Norman 
 Conquest, though we might receive the hereditary 
 use of them immediately afte r the Holy Wars, which 
 is also Mr. Cambden's opinion, and what is asserted 
 of the French; for in those days it was accounted 
 the most honourable to carry such arms as had been 
 displayed in the Holy Land against the professed 
 enemies of Christianity. And this hereditary use of 
 arms was established or made general in the time of 
 Henry the Third. 
 
 Waterhouse, in his defence of arms, affirms that 
 the first users of them in England were such of the 
 British nobility and Saxon line as kept their honours, 
 fortunes, and seats under the various changes of 
 government, not being frowned upon by the Con- 
 queror or his sons, but retaining their places in 
 court or camp, at last became blended as one people, 
 and from these Saxon or Norman Lords sprang most 
 of our ancient gentry, being issues from them, depen- 
 dants on them, or preferred by them ; yea, sometimes 
 dignified with badges of trust and honour, nearly re- 
 sembling the arms of those great men ; and it is likely 
 they called these their followers armigeri, or esquires, 
 as being furnished with their arms, together with 
 which they bestowed knights' fees upon them, and by 
 
12 
 
 tliis means, in a great measure, have the lesser nobi- 
 lity been increased. This also accounts for similar 
 arms being borne by very different names, which I 
 shall further endeavour to illustrate. 
 
 There is no one acquainted with history but must 
 know that of old most of the great estates in England 
 were in the hands of such families as the Conqueror 
 invested therewith, who with their tenants, servants, 
 and dependants, were to attend him in his wars. 
 These great personages granted parts of their tenures 
 to others, who were closely allied to them by mar- 
 riage, sei-vice, or affection, upon such terms as were 
 convenient, giving them also coat armour which were 
 usually parts of their own, with such difference as 
 best suited them. Many of the Cheshire gentry re- 
 ceived arms in this manner, whose houses or families 
 flourished by the aforesaid means, from the patronage 
 o-f those great Earls who had pov>'er to erect baronies 
 and other titles within their jurisdiction, which they 
 granted to be held as freely as they themselves held 
 them of the crown. These dependants, in imitation 
 of the said Cheshire Earls (whose arms were garbs 
 or wheat sheaves), did bear the like, with some alte- 
 rations, additional or subtractive, and sometimes by 
 diversifying- the colours only, consequently such arms 
 must have descended into many different families. 
 So also from the houses of Albany, Vere, Strange, 
 and Ufford (alias Orford), have sprung many noble 
 families in Norfolk. And Avhereas the old Earl of 
 Warwick's arms being cheeky, or and azure, a chev- 
 ron ermine, many gentlemen in that country side 
 bore cheeky and ermine. In Leicestershire and the 
 neighbouring country the cinquefoil prevailed, and 
 was borne in the arms oi Astley, Moton, Martival, 
 and others, through the aforementioned means, the 
 
13 
 
 ancient Earls of that country bearing gules, a cinque- 
 foil ermine. In Cumberland and the adjacent country, 
 where the old Baron of Kendall's possessions lay, 
 and whose arms were argent, two bars gules, on a 
 canton of the second, a lion passant or, many gen- 
 tlemen assumed the same in different colours and 
 charges of the canton. Vipont, an ancient baron in 
 Westmoreland, bearing for his coat six annulets, was 
 imitated by the Musgraves and the Lowthers, both 
 eminent Baron's families; and by many others in 
 and about the said country. Hubert de Burgo, Earl 
 of Kent, who bare gules, seven lozenges, vaire, 
 granted lands to Anselme de Guise, in the counties 
 of Buckingham and Gloucestershire, whereupon the 
 said Anselme took the same arms with the addition 
 of a canton, charged with a mullet of six points 
 pierced. Thus also the ancient family of Har dress, 
 in Kent, bears for their arms, gules, a lion rampant, 
 ermine, debruised by a chevron, or, denoting thereby 
 that they held the said manor of Hardress, by knights' 
 service of the Castle of Tunbridge, in Kent, which 
 was the ancient seigniory of the Clares, Earls of 
 Gloucester. Many other instances of this kind are 
 mentioned by the learned Mr. Cambden. Before the 
 reduction of heralds under one regulation, these great 
 personages granted arms, and suffered the passing 
 of coats from one private person to another, by cer- 
 tain deeds, the form of which may probably be grati- 
 fying to some of our readers. 
 
 Arms granted by Robert de Morle, Marshal of 
 Ireland, to Robert de Corby. 
 
 A touz ceux que ceste lettres verront ou orront, 
 Robert de Morle, Mariscall d'lrlande, saluz en Dieu. 
 c 
 
14 
 
 Sacbes mol avoir donne et grante a mon bon amee 
 Robert de Corby et a ces beires, les armes que me 
 soiit descenduz per voie de heritage, apres le deces 
 Monsieur Baldwine, de Manoires ; cestascavoir d'ar- 
 argent, ove une saltier engraile de sable; avoir et 
 porter entirement les armes jusdits au dit Robert de 
 Corby, et ses heires a tout jours, sans impechment 
 ou challenge du moy ou des mes heires apres ses 
 heires. Et moy avant-dit Robert de Morley et mes 
 heires, au dit Robert de Corby at a ces heires, les 
 armes avantdites, en quanq en nous est, envers toutz 
 homes a toutz joures garranterons. En tesmoignance 
 de quel chose a cestes mes lettrs overtees iaimis mon 
 seale. Donne au Chasteau de Risinge, le jour de la 
 Tiffanie, le sisme jour de Januare, Tan du Regno 
 Edward tiers puis le Conq. d'Engleterre 22, et de 
 France, neofisme. 
 
 A grant of Arms from Daniel to Savage. 
 
 This is a similar grant to the above mentioned, 
 which the family of Savage received for Margaret, 
 daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Daniers, of Bradley, 
 in Appleton, commonly called Daniel, having issue 
 by her second husband, John Savage, of Clifton, 
 (in her right) a son of the same name, she granted 
 to him and his heirs the liberty of using and bearing 
 her coat of arms, which descended to her after the 
 death of her father. The arms were argent, a pale 
 fusile, sable; and the crest a unicorn's head erased, 
 arge?it, and w^ere both used for several years by vir- 
 tue of that grant or deed, which Sir Peter Leicester, 
 who saw the original, informs us was written in 
 French, dated 3 Henry V. and was to be seen among 
 the evidences of Thomas, Earl of Rivers, at Rock 
 Savage, anno. 1669. 
 
15 
 
 Another example of the like nature we have in 
 the family of Booth, from whence the Right Honour- 
 able th-e present Earl of Warrington is descended. 
 Their arms were originally a chevron engrailed, and a 
 canton charged with a mullet, as appears by a char- 
 ter of Thomas del Booth, bearing date 43 Edward III. 
 but at present argent, three boaiV heads erased and 
 erected, sable; which coat was the ancient arms of the 
 Bartons, of Barton in Com Lane, and granted anno. 
 5 Hen. I. 1404. And though it was usual for great 
 men, both of the clergy and laity, to give arms and 
 titles with places of dignity to inferior gentry, yet we 
 must not infer from hence that all our ancient gentry 
 or lesser nobility acquired their arms in that manner. 
 No, in this and the succeeding reigns, whenever an 
 expedition was undertaken, such as were gentlemen 
 of blood repaired to the Earl IVIarshal, and by his 
 authority took upon them coat armour, which were 
 registered by the officers of arms in their records, 
 made out for such services, whereof many yet remain ; 
 as that of the siege of Caerlaverac, the battle of 
 Sterling, the siege of Calais, and various tourna- 
 ments. At this time there was a distinction between 
 gentlemen of blood and gentlemen of coat-armour; 
 but the third from him that first had coat-armour, 
 was to all purposes held a gentlemen of blood. 
 
 In the first assumption of these signs, every man 
 did take to himself some such beast, bird, fish, ser- 
 pent, or other creature, as best suited his taste or 
 condition ; for men in general are most pleased with 
 things that are like unto themselves, and that wherein 
 any man is particularly delighted, himself is found to 
 be in some respects like unto. 
 
 But many reasons may be assigned for the diversity 
 of figures, animate or inanimate, found in armorial 
 c 2 
 
16 
 
 bearings, as unexpected accidents and events, the 
 singularity of a country, the inclinations to certain 
 exercises and things, offices or employments, devo- 
 tion, the nature and situation of the fiefs or posses- 
 sions of the nobility, a conformity to the arms of a 
 superior already noticed, in speaking of the Earls of 
 Kent, Cheshire, &c. 
 
 Also pilgrimages, tournaments, descent, filiation, 
 or the adoption into other families, new discoveries, 
 inventions, and conformity to the name ; these are 
 the principal causes, the last of which is not the least 
 considerable. If many families had not changed the 
 names they had at first, there would have been many 
 more arms implying their bearer's names in England, 
 for it is but ignorance to suppose such allusive coats 
 to be altogether novel, the bearers thereof thinking 
 their names sufficiently illustrious, without assuming 
 any other device to notify them. 
 
 We may also conclude, that not very many fami- 
 lies whose names signify any thing, but originally 
 had something in their arms alluding thereunto. 
 And when a dispute arose between two persons laying- 
 claim to one and the same coat, it was generally con- 
 sidered his whose appellation or name agreed best 
 therewith. But in allusive arms, we must not expect 
 all imaginable exactness, for the nature of the thing 
 will not always admit of it; it is sufficient to deno- 
 minate them such when there is some near resem- 
 blance — instance the following cases : 
 
 The Lord Stoiirton derives his name from the 
 river Stoure; Wallop, from Wellhope ; or as it is 
 now written. Wallop. The first bears as a part of 
 his arms, six fountains : the other as his coat, a bend 
 wavy, both alluding to the said rivers. So likewise 
 others have been named from corporeal marks, as 
 
If 
 
 Biiint, from his yellow hair J Fairfax, from his fair 
 bush of hair : yea, there is scarce any name or family, 
 but what has in some measure partaken of the una- 
 voidable vicissitudes of life. Most of the surnames 
 in Annandale carry the arms of Bruce ; in Murry, 
 some part of the Murray's arms prevail; and in Te- 
 vidale the Douglass' arms, in whole or part, which is 
 termed using their superior or over Lord's arms. 
 
 The Earl of Southesk's predecessors carried a 
 cup in an escutcheon upon an eagle's breast, to shew 
 that his progenitors were cup-bearers to the king ; 
 and Wood, of Largo, two ships, to shew that his 
 ancestors were admirals; also Burnet carries a bugle 
 horn in his shield, to denote thereby that he was the 
 King's Forester in the northern parts, as Forester of 
 that Ilk was in the south, for which he also carries 
 three hunting horns in his coat. 
 
 The arms of most families in Spain, demonstrate 
 some services and undertakings for the Christian 
 religion, against its enemies the Moors and Turks, 
 and their shields of late are filled with Ave Marias, 
 I US, and such other devout characters. The arms 
 of the Italians are generally emblems and witty 
 hieroglyphics. 
 
 The German achievements consist of multitudes 
 of coats marshalled in one shield, to gratify the hu- 
 mour of their country, who are particularly proud of 
 their pedigrees. Those of Poland and Denmark are 
 as wild and monstrous as the people who bear them; 
 but the French, who are good armourists, have re- 
 duced these things to certain and fixed rules of art. 
 The Turks frequently use letters of the alphabet as 
 a cognizance, because their religion prohibits their 
 using any figures or images ; and it is observable, 
 that the Spaniards sometimes use letters in imitation 
 c 3 
 
18 
 
 of the Turkish Moors, their neighbours, which it may 
 be presumed crept in amongst them when the latter 
 possessed their country. Amongst the accidental al- 
 terations of arms from the Crusades, we may remark 
 that of Lord Barkley or Berkeley j who originally 
 bore gules J a chevron, argent : but when one of that 
 family took upon him the cross (that being the phrase 
 in those days) to serve in those wars, afterwards 
 added ten crosses in his shield, which are continued 
 by his descendants down to this day. Beauchamp, 
 Earl of Warwick, upon the same occasion, added six 
 cross crosslets to his arms. — Most people acquainted 
 with history, know the great esteem in which those 
 services were held, being in defence of the Christian 
 religion; therefore the cross was the most proper 
 emblem they could bear to distinguish them from the 
 Infidels they had to encounter. And at this time 
 and place of rendezvous, most probably came into use 
 the great variety of crosses which are found in coat 
 armour, particularly among our ancient nobility and 
 gentry. 
 
 But there are other bearings besides the cross, 
 occasioned by the Crusades, for the Pringles and 
 others, carried escalop shells to shew their devout pil- 
 grimages. Those shells were the pilgrim's ensign 
 in their expedition to holy places, which they fastened 
 to their hoods and hats, and they were held in such 
 esteem at that time, that Pope Alexander IV. allowed 
 them to none but pilgrims who were truly noble. 
 Likewise the family of the Douglasses carry a heart 
 in their arms, in remembrance of their pilgrimage to 
 the Holy Land with the heart of King Robert Bruce, 
 in the year 1330, which was there interred according 
 to that pious king's request. Moreover both bezants 
 and martlets were first brought into use in that land ; 
 
19 
 
 and probably by the old French and Turkish wars, 
 were introduced great numbers of fleur de lis and 
 crescents, an instance of which we have in the arms 
 of Sir Cloudsly Shovel, who had granted to him a 
 chevron between two fleur de lis in chief, and a 
 crescent in base, indicating thereby two great victories 
 over the French, and one over the Turks, in which 
 he was eminently serviceable. Arms therefore beino^ 
 taken in a general sense, may be said to be either 
 public or private. Such are said to be public which 
 have some sovereign authority or jurisdiction annexed 
 to them. Of this sort are those borne by Emperors, 
 Kings, and absolute Princes; these, in propriety of 
 speech, cannot be said to be the arms of their stock 
 or family, whereof they are descended, but do rather 
 represent the nature of banners or ensigns, because 
 whosoever succeedeth them in their authority use the 
 same device, though they maybe of foreign extraction. 
 Private arms are such as are proper to private houses 
 and persons, whether of a higher or lower degree, be- 
 ing peculiar to their family, and may be transferred 
 to their latest posterity lawfully begotten. 
 
 The reasons which that learned author, Sir George 
 Mackenzie gives for the invention of this art, are cer- 
 tainly good, being first, the great design that men had 
 to perpetuate their own valour; secondly, the desire 
 that governors had to encourage others to noble ac- 
 tions, by rewarding them Avith a cheap kind of immor- 
 tality (or renown). Thus King Robert Bruce gave the 
 house of Wintoun a falling crown, supported by a 
 sword, to shew that the Seatons had supported the 
 Crown when it was in a distressed condition; which 
 Seaton, of Barns, yet bears, because he got the land 
 which was disposed by adoption with the arms. And 
 to Veitch was given a bullock's head, to remember 
 
20 
 
 posterit}', that the bearer had assisted that King with 
 aliment, in bringing- him some bullocks in his great 
 distress: so that whatever the charge of any coat 
 may be, some reasons can be assigned for its being 
 so. How necessary then for such as bear arms, and 
 those whose arms are lying dormant, to be properly 
 acquainted with them. 
 
 Moreover, the utility of arms may be considered 
 from the following observations : first, they shew us 
 from what country or person their bearers have de- 
 scended ; thus the MaxAvells and Ramsays bear the 
 eagle, to shew their descent from Germany; the 
 Ruthwens, the arms of Portugal, being descended 
 from a king of that country ; and the name of Mar- 
 jorribank bears the cushion, to shew that they were 
 Johnstowns originally ; thus the Weems and Fyfes 
 are known to be cadets of Mackduff ; and the Colqu- 
 houns and Mac Farlans, cadets of the family of Lenox ; 
 and these, saith Mackenzie, are more sure marks of 
 consanguinity than the surnames themselves, as may 
 be known by many instances; and among others, the 
 Shaws, in the North, are known to be Mac Intoshes 
 by their arms. Secondly, they shew us the alliance of 
 their bearers to other families, by the heiress from 
 whom they are descended, whose arms are continued 
 to be borne by their descendants; and by this means 
 the memory of many great families, and even of clans 
 and surnames in Scotland are preserved. Thus Scot- 
 land beareth a double tressure, flory counter-liory, in 
 remembrance of the league betwixt France and them, 
 in the reigns of Achaius and Charlemaign ; yea, there 
 are no better monuments to preserve the memory of 
 many ancient and worthy families in England, than 
 the quartering of such arms by their successors. 
 By arms also we know whether the bearers are noble- 
 
21 
 
 men or gentlemen, and of what dignity they are by 
 their helmets, coronets, &;c.; and in ancient days 
 shields, and oftentimes the signet or seal, caused 
 the bearers, who were killed in battle, to be known, 
 that they might be honourably buried according to 
 their rank. And by arms we are made acquainted 
 with the original way of writing surnames ; for in- 
 stance, the name of Tarbet is wrong written, which 
 should be Turbet, seeing they have three tuibets 
 fretted for their arms. 
 
 Again, they represent to our view who were the 
 founders of towns, castles, churches, colleges, and 
 other public buildings, as well as the ancient seats of 
 our gentry. And it was a maxim in former ages, 
 when a dispute arose concerning the right to any 
 ruined building, that he whose arms were found 
 thereon, was considered the most interested in it. 
 
 And what contributes more to the decoration of 
 our antique buildings than the various armorial de- 
 signs with which they generally abound, especially 
 our religious establishments? Do they not excite in 
 the spectator's breast pleasing sensations of admira- 
 tion? Do they not fully evince that the owners 
 thereof were benefactors to the edifice, whose arms 
 in general are affixed to that part of the building- 
 erected by their donations? And in attending to 
 these devices, we are oftentimes enabled to discover 
 the names of the persons who founded this or that 
 edifice. And is it not probable, that the descen- 
 dants of those very persons may sometimes be gazing 
 on the arms and property of their ancestors, and yet 
 not know it, through the inattention Avhich has been 
 so long paid to this generous science. 
 
 Likewise there is much more implied in these 
 things than the bare family insignia, which in itself 
 
90 
 
 «)ught to be regarded, not only through respect to him 
 or them who first so honoured our names, but in me- 
 mory of our own immediate ancestors, from whose 
 loins we ourselves may be descended, either directly 
 or indirectly ; for in former times the son was proud 
 to inherit the shield of his father, which insensibly 
 became a family emblem. 
 
 Thus it was that heraldry, originating- in the 
 earliest times of the feudal system, and encouraged 
 by the employments and amusements of chivalry, 
 gradually rose into a complete system, and adapted 
 itself to the habits and manners of the times. It 
 became intimately connected with the most important 
 institutions of the state, it followed in the train of 
 peace and war, an attendant upon national glory, 
 and the guardian of private renown : yea, its myste- 
 ries were so profound, that it was deemed impiety to 
 divulge them, and into which the Sovereign himself 
 had no right to inquire. And it must be admitted, 
 that it is interesting when some memorial of antiquity 
 is preserved, and the knowledge of it must not only 
 be grateful to individuals, but useful in a country 
 Avhere the wisdom of the people has established a 
 difference in rank. 
 
 But as armorial bearings succeeded in place of 
 the Roman images and statues, it may not be amiss 
 to give a brief account of that practice. He who 
 had the privilege of using the image of his ancestor, 
 was termed Nobilis ; he who had only his own, was 
 calted Novus (equal to the first of the family using 
 arms); and he who had neither his own statue nor 
 those of his fathers, went under the name of Ignobilis 
 (the lowest order of society). 
 
 These images or statues were made of wood, 
 brass, marble, and sometimes in waxv.ork, or other- 
 
23 
 
 wise depicted ; and the better to represent the person 
 intended, painted according to the life, and dressed 
 out answerable to their quality, adorned with the 
 robes of the offices they had borne, with marks of 
 their magistracy, and the spoils they had taken from 
 he enemy ; and when any of the family died, these 
 figures were carried in the funeral procession, instead 
 of arms or escutcheons, as with us at this dav. 
 
 '^^^^-- 
 
 
24 
 
 SAXON HERALDRY. 
 
 ITS SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 
 
 Having taken a cursory view of the science, it is 
 evidently not confined exclusively to the rules of coat 
 armour, nor the honours which they specifically im- 
 ply; but is also used as a characteristic for the 
 proper arrangement and discrimination of the several 
 degrees of rank and power that have their basis in the 
 feudal laws. This science being particularly con- 
 nected with the institutions of that system, a know- 
 ledge whereof is calculated to elucidate history, by 
 representing to our view many of the customs peculiar 
 to the early inhabitants of Europe. The variety of 
 changes produced by the contingencies of time, have 
 effected considerable alterations with regard to the 
 uses of heraldry. The warlike habits of our illustri- 
 ous ancestors, and the feats of prowess in which they 
 delighted, are now become obsolete; but whilst the 
 honours of ancestry form such proud distinguishments 
 among mankind, the science of heraldry will ever be 
 considered with the deepest interest. A retrospect 
 will evidence its then extensive application, and shew 
 the relative situation it holds with modern times. 
 
25 
 
 A Survey of the Heraldic System generally. 
 
 fii the earlier ages, when Europe was emerging 
 from a state of barbarism, and a general ignorance of 
 written language prevailed, heraldic devices were 
 designed to record the exploits of the noble and 
 brave. These devices embellished the shield and 
 vestment in war, and were also introduced amidst the 
 appurtenances of grandeur and magnificence in the 
 intervals of peace : they enriched the most splendid 
 apparel, and formed decorations the most estimable 
 to the dwellings of the great. In the hall of the 
 fortified castle were displayed pensile against the 
 spacious walls, the shields and helmets of its warrior- 
 lord ; ornamented with these honourable trophies, 
 which addressed the imagination in the most impres- 
 sive manner, they acted as a memento of past 
 achievements, and as a powerful stimilus to a perform- 
 ance of the lik 3 heroic actions. 
 
 In the middle ages the bold and romantic adven- 
 tures in search of fame, with which we are amply 
 furnished by the history of the Crusaders, added to 
 the pomp of chivalry, then at its acme, led further to 
 the advancement of heraldry as a science. Devices 
 then became more general, and were transferred t^ 
 more durable materials, appropriated to use as -well 
 as ornament. Applied as monumental, and placed 
 over the dormitories of the dead, they commemorate 
 the honours of the deceased. Many of our venerable 
 Gothic piles still contain these relics, which, to the 
 scientific and cultivated mind, are pleasing reminis- 
 ences of antiquity, and illustrations of family and 
 national history. Thus it is apparent, that heraldry, 
 as a science, still concentrates utility and interest in 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 the highest degree, although its ancient customs and 
 applications differ widely from modern times. 
 
 After the dissolution of the Roman power, and 
 amidst the confusion of the dark ages, a new principal 
 of subordination was introduced by the Goths, and 
 established throughout all the kingdoms that arose 
 on the ruins of the western empire. The territory of 
 every kingdom was formed into districts, usually knovrn 
 by the general name of baronies, though differing in 
 extent as well as in rank and influence. The greater 
 barons were lords of entire provinces, where they 
 exercised the rights and enjoyed the dignity attached 
 to sovereign power. Their provinces were subdi- 
 vided into other fiefs, whose possessors were, by the 
 tenure of military service, vassals of the baron, and 
 peers of the barony; in like manner the baron was a 
 vassal of the king, and a peer of the kingdom. But 
 the usage of fiefs varying in different countries, and 
 in the same country at different periods, many other 
 tenures sprang up besides those immediately relative 
 to war. 
 
 After the establishment of the feudal system, 
 already specified, those institutions which so forcibly 
 mark that period of history, designated the " Ages of 
 Chivalry," were produced by former habits, and the 
 existing order of things. It is natural to suppose, 
 that although their mode of life would be altered b}'^ 
 their new situation, yet many of their former senti- 
 ments would still regulate their conduct ; and that 
 the honours of war, so assiduously sought after in 
 their forests, would be their darling aim, when there 
 was still greater scope for displaying them. In fact, 
 the ardent and enterprizing spirit which generally 
 characterised the people of the northern nations, con- 
 tinually inspired them to deeds whereby they might 
 
27 
 
 attain glory and eminence. In progress of time, there 
 not being- vacant fiefs wherewith to reward the meri- 
 torious, or to gratify the ambitious, another order of 
 dignity was conferred, with the greatest solemnity : 
 this was the honour of knighthood, which was the 
 highest degree that could be obtained from warlike 
 achievements. It is from those knights or chevaliers 
 that the feudal times are styled the ages of chivalry. 
 We are informed by Tacitus, that the first honours 
 conferred on the German youth, was the public in- 
 vestiture with the shield and javelin; and it is also 
 observed by Camden, that those military youths were 
 called, in their language, knechts, as they are in ours. 
 The spirit of chivalry, and the ideas which dictated 
 it, also partook much of the general cast of their 
 early manners: their character, even then, was 
 marked by traits of the most elevated kind. An 
 enthusiastic love of honour, a detestation of treachery 
 and falsehood, the highest sentiments of generosity, 
 and the influential bonds of friendship, were habitual 
 virtues brought to the highest perfection among them. 
 War being the element in which they delighted, the 
 channel through which these feelings flowed was con- 
 sequently impregnated thereby, and the rank they 
 held in the favour of heaven, as well as in the hearts 
 of the females, was estimated by their valour in arms. 
 Influenced by such motives, it was not unusual for 
 them, when on the point of some dangerous expedi- 
 tion, to bind themselves by the most solemn oaths, 
 not to sui-vive their chieftain; and for friends, as 
 among the fraternity of knights in later times, to 
 unite in mutual defence, or the revenge of each 
 other's death. These ruling principles and inviolable 
 attachments, being copied by posterity, became their 
 general maxims, which diffusing themselves into the 
 d2 
 
28 
 
 education of the youth, early instilled similar feelingg 
 into their minds. These sentiments were afterwards 
 considerably increased by the enthusiasm created in 
 the youthful mind, from viewing the emblazoned tro- 
 phies of the herald, which so conspicuously ennobled 
 their acquirer; from listening to the songs of the 
 troubadours, whose lays extolled the gallant knight, 
 whose conquests had raised him to honour and re- 
 nown, or who had gloriously fallen in defence of his 
 country. 
 
 Hence it was the custom of the great, in order 
 to mark the extent of their power and magnificencej 
 to keep in constant attendance a numerous retinue of 
 youth, children of their superior tenants, who thereby 
 acquired the accomplishments conducive to their fu- 
 ture fortune. The denomination, page, was given to 
 such, previous to their investiture with arms. When 
 arrived at proper age, the condition of esquire was 
 next assumed; in that chara€ter they received arms, 
 with which they were invested : the page was pre- 
 sented at the altar, where, after some ceremonies, the 
 priest delivered to him a sword and girdle, bestowed 
 with many benedictions. So soon as the youth was 
 advanced to that estate, he attached himself to some 
 valourous knight, of high renown, each knight being 
 allowed the attendance of a certain number of 
 esquires, according to his dignity. This excited to 
 personal bravery : for the only path to the attainment 
 of the highest honours of chivalry, was by the 
 aspirant evincing courage, united with the finer sen- 
 timents of the heart. 
 
 The path to the highest elevation of chivalry, 
 being thus open to the meritorious, it is not to be 
 wondered, that every avenue to its attainment became 
 crowded with competitors, especially when we con* 
 
^ 
 
 sider that the necessary virtues for the acquisition 
 were so congenial to their nature, and that their 
 ecclesiastical government imposed its ofi&ces as a 
 duty. The aged too, adverted to their triumphs with 
 pleasure; recounted their marvellous exploits, and 
 used every means whereby they might incite the suc- 
 ceeding generation to exert themselves in meritorious 
 acts. The mode of life also recommended itself to 
 the youthful gallant, or the stout warrior, it being- 
 necessary for them, that they might extend their 
 knowledge, and gain an acquaintance with the chi- 
 valry of the neighbouring nations, to visit their se- 
 parate courts. Here they were received with the 
 greatest distinction, each prince being desirous of 
 attaching to himself as many of those brave partisans 
 as he could induce by his magnificence, and the most 
 flattering testimonials of respect. When publicly 
 travelling, the armour of the knight, and the gorgeous 
 caparison of his steed, were both highly embellished 
 with his hereditary armorial bearings ; his shield was 
 constantly displayed, and by the badges thereon he 
 was known, and this also proclaimed the birth of the 
 visitant at the tournaments, tilts or justs, which were 
 then so comruonly held. Such customs contributed 
 much to the improvement of heraldry ; hence it was, 
 that those warlike exercises were instituted as an 
 impulse to heroic actions, which, together with the 
 crusades, begun in 1096, rendered arms more elegant, 
 by additional embellishments, and still more diversi- 
 fied by extending the number of charges; they also 
 attached higher value to their acquirements, as with- 
 out possessing such insignia of nobility, none could 
 become candidates for the acquisition of honour, at 
 the Olympic games of chivalry. The honour of the 
 victory was also more enhanced by the prizes beinsr 
 D 3 
 
30 
 
 presented by ladies, who constantly prepared chaplet^^ 
 and other ornaments, to reward the bravest knights. 
 They also presented them with ribbons, or scarfs, 
 which were termed ladies favours. This appears to 
 have been the origin of the ribbons, which distinguish 
 so many orders of knighthood. 
 
 The English nobility, whose predilection for those 
 exercises was great, gained much renown for their 
 general superiority in tournaments, &c. ; to which 
 they, in common with those of other nations, were 
 also invited, when any such were held by the different 
 European states. Segar gives an account of a splen- 
 did pageant of this sort, held in France, occasioned 
 by the challenge of three French knights, named 
 Bongequanty Roy, and »S'^. Pie; which challenge, 
 according to that author, was as follows : 
 
 " The great desire wee have to know the noble 
 gentlemen inhabiting neere the kingdome of France, 
 and therewith longing to make triall of their valour 
 in armes, have mooved us to appeare at Ingueluert, 
 the 20 of May next, and there to remain thirty dayes. 
 We also determine to be accompanyed with other 
 noble gentlemen, lovers of armes and honour, there 
 to encounter all commers with lances, either sharp, 
 blunt, or both; and every man shall be permitted to 
 run five courses. 
 
 " We likewise hereby give yo\i to understand, 
 . that such order is taken, as every one of us shall have 
 his shield and empreaze hanging on the outside of 
 the pavilion, to the end if any of you desire to runne, 
 then the day before, you may with a wand, or such a 
 lance as you intend to run with, touch the shield, and 
 whoso meaneth to try his fortune, both with blunt 
 and sharpe, must touch the shield with either, and 
 
ai 
 
 slgnifie his name to him that has our said shields 
 in keeping-. 
 
 *' It is moreover ordered, that every defender may 
 bring- with him one other g-entleman, in lieu of a 
 padrin, to encounter us both, or single, as it shall 
 please them. Wherewith, we pray and desire all 
 noble and worthy gentlemen (of what nation soever) 
 to believe, that no pride or malice hath moved us to 
 this enterprise, but rather an earnest desire to see 
 and know all such noble gentlemen as are willing to 
 make proof of their vertue and valour, v.ithout fraude 
 or covin. In witnesse whereof, every one of us have 
 signed these letters with our scales and empreaze. 
 Written and dated at Montepesolane, the 20 of No- 
 vember, 1389. 
 
 (Subscribed) '' B0N9EQUANT. Roy. S. Pye. 
 
 It is said, that above one hundred knights and 
 gentlemen repaired from this country to France, to 
 accept this challenge, among whom were many noble- 
 men of the first rank, and the English monarch 
 (Richard II.) incognito. At the place appointed, 
 they caused green pavilions to be erected, over the 
 entrance of which they suspended their respective 
 shields, &c. The sports lasted four days; during 
 which the English knights gained much commenda- 
 tion for their honourable and skilful behaviour in 
 the contest. 
 
 We shall now return to the earlier history of 
 heraldry, and having set forth the reciprocal value 
 which acted between armories and those splendid 
 pageants that so oft recurred, especially in France, 
 during the reign of Hugh Capet, will pass on to that 
 interesting- era, when the chivalrous and valiant of 
 Europe united in one common cause, which had the 
 
32 
 
 lionoui* and protection of the Christian religion fof 
 its foundation ; and although the ardour and enthu- 
 siasm evinced in its prosecution, were infuscated by 
 superstition, and attended with cruelty, yet many 
 benefits accrued from the association and union of so 
 many different nations. Amongst the inventions 
 and alterations which the necessities of the times 
 produced, luminous additions were made to personal 
 armorial ensigns, the principal of which we shall 
 here notice. 
 
 The Turks, having got possession of Judea, de- 
 manded exhorbitant tribute of the Christians, who, 
 from religious motives, visited the Holy land; and 
 the pilgrims who possessed not the means of pay- 
 ment, were oft suffered to perish, even at the gates of 
 Jerusalem, without the gratification of having fulfilled 
 their vows. This conduct much incensed the Euro- 
 pean princes ; and at the general council of Clermont, 
 held in the year 1095, the hermit Peter, animated 
 by zealous fervour, depicted the horrid barbarities of 
 the Infidels, in such an alarming manner, that the 
 council finally adopted the resolution of recovering- 
 the Holy Land by force of arms. Besides the infa- 
 tuated bigotry which possessed every mind, the pre- 
 dominancy of the ecclesiastical power, which was 
 sanguine in such a cause, rendered an active part in 
 these expeditions eligible, for thereby absolution from 
 sin in this world, and eternal happiness in the next, 
 were supposed to be obtained. The martial spirit of 
 the age also forwarded such designs : the noble, the 
 brave, the devout, all hastened to enlist themselves in 
 such a glorious undertaking; kings and princes dis- 
 regarded their splendour and ease, and devoted them- 
 selves to the call of the church, and of its persecuted 
 sons. By this means a numerous army was collected 
 
33 
 
 from every part of Europe, and in the following' year 
 began the expedition, under the command of the 
 brave Godfrey, Count of Bouillon. 
 
 Every individual engaged in those wars, had, as 
 a badge of distinction, the form of a cross sewed or 
 embroidered on the right shoulder of his surcoat: 
 hence the expeditions received the appellation of 
 Crusades. The cross was also varied in colour and 
 form, in order that the different nations might thereby 
 be distinguished. The national distinction of the 
 English, was the white cross, as may be gathered 
 from Tasso, Avho hoAvever more particularly refers to 
 the third crusade, achieved within the same century 
 as the first. The colour which the French then ge- 
 nerally adopted was red, and their banner, whicli the 
 King of France received in vassalage, from the Abbot 
 of St. Dennis, was composed of red taffeta, or strong 
 silk, plain, Avithout portraiture thereon; it was called 
 Oriflamme, and waved at the head of the French 
 armies from the twelfth to the fifteenth century. 
 The Flemings assumed the green cross; and those 
 Avho belonged to the states of the church, were dis- 
 tinguished by the cross keys. Tasso, Bonjardo, 
 Ariosto, &c. poets contemporary with different pe- 
 riods of the crusades, have exemplified in a beautiful 
 manner, the splendid banners, and armorial ensigns, 
 borne by the assembled nobles, which illustrated the 
 then general bearings, which before that period were 
 but simple in their design. 
 
 Much excitement was afforded to the Christian 
 soldiers, during their campaign in Palestine, for the 
 beautifying and adorning the armour, with ornaments 
 as splendid and dazzling as their fancies could sug- 
 gest, from the glittering grandeur of their adversaries* 
 equipage. The military attire of the Saracens, was 
 
34 
 
 Hclily and profusely adorned, and the luxuriant 
 treasures of the East were combined with great 
 warlike display in their camps. The high renown 
 which attended those expeditions, and the desire of 
 being considered to have acted w4th the greatest per- 
 sonal courage therein, which in those unenlightened 
 times was generally believed to add to eternal, as well 
 as mundane glory, caused the armorial acquisitions 
 that had been so attained, to be continued and dis- 
 played in every way possible, with the greatest degree 
 of elegance. The same causes also rendered them 
 dear to the offspring of the acquirer, as symbols which 
 perpetuated the memory of the piety, virtue, and va- 
 lour of their ancestor; so that those bearings, thus 
 assumed, became the hereditary gentilitial marks of 
 families. Thus we have now taken a general view of 
 the grand occasions which gave birth to heraldry, 
 and effected its present useful, elegant, and scientific 
 form. 
 
 Having now taken a general view of the science, 
 we shall proceed to notice, more particularly, the 
 progress of British Heraldry : but it may not be im- 
 proper to observe, that devices, similar to heraldic 
 figures, were early used in Wales ; for Roderic, sur- 
 named the Great, prince of that country, in 843, 
 bore azure, a cross pattee fitchee in the foot, or ; he 
 was descended from Cadwallader, who died about 
 690. Aviragus, the brother of Guiderus, and King 
 of South Britain, so early as the year 45, is said to 
 have borne the same; from whom the pedigree of 
 Cadwallader has been traced It is remarked by 
 Mr. DallaAvay, that the different tribes of the princi- 
 pality of Wales, and the duchy of Cornwall, had not 
 adopted the heraldic symbols of other nations before 
 their subjection to the English, by the conquest of 
 
35 
 
 King Edward I. and that by many of those families, 
 scenes or dehneations of particular circumstances, 
 real or legendary, are still used as their paternal 
 ensigns: such as the wolf issuing from a cave; a 
 cradle under a tree, with a child, guarded by a goat, 
 as. used by the Davies's ; and many others of a like 
 nature; and that, since their intercourse with the 
 English nation, the lion rampant, and the plain ordi- 
 naries, compose, with few exceptions, all the escut- 
 cheons they have adopted. That such symbols should 
 have been used, is not to be wondered at ; for, in the 
 choice of simple emblems, they accorded with all other 
 nations. It was natural that they should place on 
 their shields the figures of wolves, which they hunted; 
 or of goats, which were of such use to them; for in 
 the early days of heraldry, men took for their armorial 
 bearings, those things which were most useful and 
 natural to them in their various pursuits. 
 
 The best authenticated and most early accounts 
 we find on English record, of any devices having been 
 used as marks of distin'.^tion, are about the period of 
 the Saxon conquest. It appears, that when these 
 conquerors made a partition of this kingdom, and 
 established the Heptarchy, a particular device was 
 assigned to each of the principalities, to be borne on 
 their banners, whereby they might be distinguished. 
 These devices were also considered as the gentilitial 
 arms of the Sovereign of each principality; for when 
 one of their princes succeeded to the supreme power, 
 he still retained the device, or distinction which he 
 had formerly borne. This was generally the case, 
 till Edgar, surnamed the Peaceable, ascended the 
 throne, when he added to the cross patonce, which we 
 suppose was his provincial ensign, four martlets; 
 which number was increased to five by Edward the 
 
36 
 
 Confessor. On the completion of the conquest by 
 William, we find the arms of Edward abandoned for 
 those of the Norman Rollo ; viz. gules, two lions pas- 
 sant, or; to those Richard I. added a third lion, 
 which, from that time, became the hereditary bearing 
 of his successors, and still continues to be the first and 
 iourth quarterings of oui national standard and coins. 
 
 The rapid progress and high estimation which 
 attended heraldry in England, after the period of the 
 Norman conquest, is apparent, from the early custom 
 of uniting it with every branch of the arts; so that 
 the display might be more public, and the effect more 
 brilliant and imposing in the eyes of the commonality. 
 The sculpture of the Saxons, especially in baso relief, 
 the Normans applied to armorial figures, rendering 
 them fit to be used as ornaments of buildings; and 
 thus connected them with the lasting- monuments of 
 architecture. 
 
 The introduction of the mode that made armour 
 the general internal embellishments of castle-halls, 
 is supposed to have sprung from the custom prevalent 
 during feasts, and other public solemnities, of sus- 
 pending behind each knight his shield, &c. Painting 
 in enamel and distemper, attained great perfection, 
 even in those early centuries; and we are informed, 
 that, during the reigns of the three Edwards, Greek 
 enamellers resided in England, who both practised 
 and taught the art. In the researches of antiquari- 
 ans, specimens have been discovered which justify 
 every conjecture. Among the decorations of this 
 kind, in the nave of Westminster Abbey were forty 
 escutcheons, supposed to have been painted about the 
 year 1270. The figures discovered round the tomb 
 of Edward Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, who died 
 in 1295; and the painting of the assassination of 
 
37 
 
 Thomas a Becket, in Canterbury cathedral, both fur- 
 nish armorial devices in this mode. The art of 
 staining glass is contemporary with enamelling, and 
 appears to have been much used as ornamental for 
 the windows of churches. The uses of painting on 
 glass, of the earliest antiquity, were appropriated to 
 armories, scrolls bearing inscriptions, and portraits. 
 In the windows of the cathedral atChartres, Thebault, 
 Earl of Blois, living in 1218, is represented "■ revetu 
 son blazon," as it was then usually expressed. Seve- 
 ral accounts of delineations in this mode, so frequent 
 in this country, are given by antiquarians so early as 
 the reign of Edward I.; and Mr. Warton places this 
 custom in an era prior to the reign of Edward II. 
 
 At first, however, the cost of procuring the dis- 
 play of the arts was so great, that none but the nobles, 
 and more wealthy knights, were able to procure it ; 
 but, in process of time, as this became more necessary, 
 and the demand consequently greater, artists of infe- 
 rior skill were encouraged, and in such numbers as 
 sufficiently to evince the general usage of arms. 
 Much information on this science has also been ob- 
 tained from old rolls, illuminations of arms upon vel- 
 lum, monastic chronicles and manuscripts, lists of 
 knights serving in the royal camp, &c. In many of 
 these last, the name and arms of each chief are very 
 particularly detailed : one of the most ancient is en- 
 titled, " Les noms de Chevaliers en le Champ du 
 Roo, Henri III. A. D. 1220." Another is the cele- 
 brated roll of Karlaverok, written in old French verse, 
 wherein the banners and escutcheons of the chiefs, 
 Vvho attended King Edward I. in his expedition to 
 Scotland, are m-ost minutely described, and furnish 
 specimens of the peculiarities of ancient blazonry. 
 There is also another roll extant, in which is inserted 
 
 E 
 
38 
 
 the names and arms of nobles, bannerets, and knights, 
 in the reign of Edward II. amounting to tAvo hundred 
 and sixty. 
 
 Thus far, assisted by history and the researches 
 of antiquity, we have attempted to prove the manner 
 of the introduction, the original uses, and Ukewise 
 the causes which produced the dissemination and ge- 
 neral adoption of those distinguished symbols termed 
 arms : but as it is the case with all sciences and arts, 
 that when first established, they are in a comparative 
 state of imperfection, with regard to the form they 
 afterAvards attain, so it has been with the science of 
 heraldry. 
 
 In the reign of Richard II. were introduced seve- 
 ral novel modes of blazonry. This monarch delighted 
 in magnificent attire and personal splendour, and was 
 the cause of every ornament being added that would 
 more sumptuously adorn the apparel of the courtiers 
 iand nobles. Armorial bearings being found suitable 
 for such purposes, they were no longer confined to the 
 gorgeous array of the armed warrior, but formed the 
 chief embellishment of the common habits of those 
 who attended his court; and were frequently repeated 
 on the just-au-corps, or bodice, the surcoat, and the 
 mantle. A wider field was therefore now opened, 
 not only for heraldic display, but also for invention, 
 as it became common for the coat of arms, which be- 
 fore only admitted the hereditary bearings, now to be 
 charged with those of the wife, by way of dimidiation 
 or impalement, and likewise marshalling or quartering 
 of heirs general. 
 
 Crests and cognizances were also multiplied ; and 
 the mode of placing the escutcheon between two ani- 
 mals, as supporters, became more frequent. Indeed 
 ievery custom, Avhereto was attached an idea of gran- 
 
39 
 
 deur, utility, or value, included the use of them; and 
 not only on dress were displayed those distinguishing 
 ornaments, but they were exhibited on household fur- 
 niture, in architecture, on floors executed in Mosaic 
 work, as may be seen on the pavements of the cathe- 
 dral at Gloucester, and many other of our cathedral 
 churches; also on plate, on the rich sepulchral 
 brasses, the pilasters of the superb canopies, and 
 often placed at each corner of the slabs of monu- 
 ments; and, in fact, were introduced wherever any 
 of their uses might be appropriated. 
 
 It is also related by Guillim, that Charles IV. of 
 France, in consideration of the services of Bartholus, 
 an eminent civilian, as a reward, gave him for his 
 arms, or, a lion rampant, his tail forked, gules; which, 
 at first, he feared to assume, judging himself unfit, 
 as not being of martial renown; but that afterwards 
 they were used by him and his posterity. The author 
 also goes on to enlarge upon the utility of this pre- 
 cedent, and the benefit which accrued from such 
 rewards being assigned to men, eminent for their 
 virtues, which distinguish civil merit. 
 
 It frequently happening, that the superiors of re- 
 ligious houses were of noble families, they of course 
 retained their own devices, and often gave them as 
 the badges of their societies; but the arms of the 
 monastery were mostly those of the founder. In the 
 papal hierarchy, the gradations thereof were, in a 
 great measure, analogous to the higher degrees of 
 secular dignity; and many of the bishopricks and 
 other prelacies had temporal baronies annexed to 
 them, termed " dignified fiefs." Thus, in several 
 cases, the secular and ecclesiastical powers were vest- 
 ed in one clerical prince or lord, which would thus 
 connect with them many of the feudal customs. 
 E 2 
 
40 
 
 Even chivalry itself was introduced into the churchy 
 and many of the clerical order acted as warriors. In 
 the commencement of the twelfth century, Baldwin^ 
 King of Jerusalem, and Baldwin II. his successor, 
 converted several of the fraternities of the monks 
 (of the orders of St. Augustine and St. Benedict) 
 into classes of knights, that they might defend the 
 pilgrims who resorted to the holy sepulchre. Hence 
 originated the various orders of chivalry, headed by 
 a grand master, and joining the clerical regulations 
 with a military profession. In addition to the ordi- 
 nary badges of knighthood, there were certain forms 
 of the cross prescribed for the devices of the respec- 
 tive orders. In war, these were displayed on scarlet 
 surcoats, as armorial insignia, above their coats of 
 mail; and in peace, were worn embroidered on their 
 clerical mantles, on the left side near the heart. 
 
 After it was thought eligible to possess arms, and 
 the bearing of them was restricted, it became cus- 
 tomary for many who were not entitled to coat ar- 
 mour, to invent and use certain marks, though not 
 fashioned according to heraldic rules. These were 
 generally used by wealthy merchants and citizens; 
 and when first invented, were adapted for the purpose 
 of marking merchandise; but when they were dis- 
 played on escutcheons, they were found to answer the 
 uses of distinguishing symbols: specimens are still 
 to be seen, annealed on windows, or carved in wood 
 and stone, about such buildings as they have erected. 
 A shield of this kind is noticed in the Harleian MSS. 
 and the following description given: " Theys be none 
 armys, but a marke as marchaunts vse ; for every 
 man may take hyme a marke, but not armys, without 
 an herawde or pureyvaunte." They were mostly 
 composed of lines curiously joined together, by which 
 
41 
 
 Either the initial letters of the owner's name were 
 formed, or whatever else his fancy suggested. Ano- 
 ther piactice had also become common, and of much 
 esteem, especially among the ecclesiastics; this was 
 the mode of using as arms, certain familiar figures, 
 which were representative of the name of the bearer ; 
 such a mark of allusion w-as called a rebus. The 
 custom is of French origin, and by them termed des 
 armes parlantes. It was chiefly the employment of 
 the monks to apply those rebusses to proper names; 
 and so much was it approved by them, that almost 
 every church dignitary had his rebus, although enti- 
 tled to hereditary arms. The analogy was sometimes 
 very remote, and could only be understood by inter- 
 pretation. If the name ended with " ton,' the tun 
 or vessel, was generally used to illustrate it; as in the 
 instance of Thomas Compton, Abbot of Cirencester, 
 A. D. 1480, which was a comb and tun: it is exhibited 
 in a window of stained glass, to which he contributed, 
 in Our Lady's chapel, at St. Peter's, Gloucester. 
 
 Subsequent to the fifteenth century, cognizances 
 became more generally used, and were worn by their 
 retainers, and by the servants of the nobility, that 
 thereby they might be distinguished. A more gene- 
 ral knoAvledge of the elements of heraldry now became 
 necessary, as they were introduced to domestic and 
 com.mon notice. Although, in the following reigns 
 of Elizabeth and James, chivalry lost much of its 
 original splendour, yet they were, in a peculiar man- 
 ner, favourable to the diffusion of heraldic knowledge. 
 The more ancient and honourable in family, were 
 particularly tenacious of their bearings ; whilst those 
 who had risen, through a legal capacity, or commer- 
 cial gains, to the rank of gentility, were ambitious to 
 procure those ensigns. 
 E 3 
 
42 
 
 The general distinctions made, were with respect 
 to the rank of the bearer; the subjects were his pre- 
 cise gradation in the line of his descent, and his ac- 
 quirements of honour and property. All coat armour 
 was reduced under nine divisions, four of which were 
 deemed perfect, and five imperfect. Of the perfect 
 kind, were those warranted by regular descent, and 
 called abstract, or of the heir male, without differ- 
 ence ; terminal, or of the brethren of the right line ; 
 collateral, or of the brethren of the heir male; Jixal, 
 third degree by right line of male heirs. The imper- 
 fect arms were those granted by the king with a lord- 
 ship ; the gift of a king devised by a herald ; the 
 ensign of a Saracen won in the field ; the heir female 
 of the elder branch, and of bastardy ; which last case 
 is generally expressed by a baton, or truncheon, that 
 is a short staff couped at both ends, called by the 
 French a baton peri. 
 
 The art of quartering arms is undoubtedly an 
 admirable means of showing, at one view, the repre- 
 sentation of several different families; we cannot, 
 therefore, be surprised to find that it was resorted to 
 at so early a period as the fourteenth century, when 
 armorial insignia were held in such high repute ; and 
 a nobleman, proud of the honours of his ancestors, 
 coilld adopt no means to call to the mind of a be- 
 holder, the warlike deeds of his renowned progenitors 
 more strikingly, than by placing their respective arms 
 oh his own shining buckler. Thus having traced the 
 science through all its progressive stages of improve- 
 ment, shewing its historical character and usefulness, 
 we shall close this part of the subject with an inge- 
 nious and appropriate eulogium on heraldry, extract- 
 ed from the " Londonensis/' a work of considerable 
 interest and merit. 
 
43 
 
 " Heraldry, as clearly appears by the foregoing 
 pages, is the constant and faithful companion of man 
 through the different periods of his life. At his 
 birth, she ushers him into the world by the real and 
 appropriate title he ought to bear; in his youth, she 
 amuses and instructs his mind by the display of her 
 scientific rules and significant enluminures ; when of 
 age<, she teaches him how to erect and decorate his 
 family mansion, what shields of arms should swell in 
 bold relievo over the portals of his castle, or adorn in 
 historical array the frieze and cornices of his halls. 
 Her classical pencil transfers the splendid honours of 
 her pallet to the pannels of his carriage, enlivens with 
 her seven-fold tinctures the liveries of his attendants, 
 and embroiders his mantle with hereditary armories, 
 which characterise and honourably distinguish him 
 through public and private life. Heraldry has direct- 
 ed him in what rank to seek for his lovely consort, 
 the fair partner of every social enjoyment; the pedi- 
 gree of his ancestors is again unfolded to his view; 
 and heraldry, with unerring hand, points out the 
 names which courtesy of family distinctions have se- 
 lected for his children. If the sound of the trumpet 
 call him from these domestic comforts to nobler em- 
 ployments in defence of his country, the genius of 
 heraldry stands by his side, holding as a mirror his 
 trusty buckler, which she has so curiously wrought 
 with the achievements of his ancestors, that we may 
 say of him, as Virgil does of his hero, in a different 
 view, " Avorum attollens humero famamque et fata 
 suorum." So also, when his earthly career is run, 
 and the tomb of his ancestors opens its storied valves^ 
 to receive the remains of one whose life was gloriously 
 spent in the service of his country; who so highly 
 merited the affections of his relations, and the regard 
 
44 
 
 ■•^f his friends, heraldry is still .at hand, endeavour- 
 ing to console the mourners for the loss they have 
 sustained, by amusing the eye with armorial pagean- 
 try, calculated to animate and raise the drooping 
 heart from grief. The family banners that proudly 
 iioat around the hearse, or that wave in solemn pro- 
 cession through the streets, amid the admiring crowd, 
 the sable vehicle, and the family escutcheons, the 
 trappings of the horses, and the numerous shields 
 which ornament the Gothic pile where the body is to 
 be deposited; in one word, the whole of the pomp is 
 marshalled by the hands of Heraldry, who, to defeat 
 as much as possible the combined eiforts of time and 
 of death, officially consigns his name to her sacred 
 records, as the last tribute she can pay to the memory 
 of her friend." From all which it is evident, that 
 neither our ancestors, or the learned of the present 
 day, ever looked upon armorial bearings merely as a 
 piece of pagentry to amuse the eye, but as matter of 
 great moment and importance, not only to indivi- 
 <iuals, but to the nation at large. 
 
 We shall now lay aside the shield awhile, to look 
 into the various appellations of the bearer, viz. the 
 origin and use of names, which seems to have been 
 siearlv as ancient as that of man. 
 
45 
 
 ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICATION 
 
 OF 
 
 PERSONAL AND FAMILY NAMES. 
 
 The first trace of surnames in history, is to be 
 found in the pact made between the Romans and the 
 Sabines, in which a special clause was inserted, that 
 the Romans should add to their OAvn names a Sabine 
 name, and that the Sabines should in like manner 
 take a Roman name, in addition to their own. 
 These new names became the family or surname, 
 and the old names continued to be proper in personal 
 names; the former were called cognomina, and gen- 
 tilitia nomina, and the latter prsenomina; and in 
 process of time, this custom was received into France 
 and England. 
 
 Surnames began to be adopted in England under 
 the reign of Edward the Confessor; but did not be- 
 gin to be general until the reig-n of Edward the Se- 
 cond. Proper names with us are of two sorts, and 
 are either called Christian names, as given at baptism, 
 or surnames, being superadded thereunto. Here it 
 may be proper to remark, that sirname, or surname^ 
 are both right, but used upon different considerations; 
 the first being derived from sire and tiame, viz. the 
 father's name : the second from the French word 
 
\ 
 
 46 
 
 stir, upon or over, and nomme, a name which signi- 
 fies one name added to, or written over another. 
 
 The choice and use of these names have heen 
 various, according to the different customs of na- 
 tions. Camden observes, that he never could find an 
 hereditary surname in England before the conquest, 
 and in Nesbit's Armory it is asserted, that surnames 
 were not known until the tenth century. If not 
 hereditary, however, they were certainly used in Eng- 
 land before that period ; but the ordinary distinctions 
 then in use, were personal, and not descending to the 
 children and succeeding generations of families. 
 
 The oldest and most natural names, seem to be 
 those that are derived from complexion or stature, as 
 brown, white, long, short, /airhead, golightly, heavy- 
 side, &c. Many are derived from trades or employ- 
 ments, as smith, wright, taylor, cook, gardener, 
 ivaller, capper, or bonnet maker. Others are patro- 
 nymies, as Richardson, Robertson, Robinson, John- 
 son, Harrison, Thomson, Wilson, &c. The system 
 of distinguishing a person as the son of such a man, 
 was also held in Wales, but in course of time, (for the 
 sake of brevity) the a in ap was omitted ; as Evan-ap- 
 Rice, thus Evan, the son of Rice, became Evan Price. 
 Another class from the place of birth, as Garrick, 
 Wilton, Bolinghroke, Eaton, Leeds, Teasdale, Thorpe, 
 East, West, Eastcott, Westcott, Prescott, &c. Ano- 
 ther class from offices, or dignities, as King, Lord, 
 Noble, Knight, Steward, Clark, Major, &c. Another 
 class from animals, vegetables, or utensils, as Swan, 
 Crow, Dove, Rose, Bloom, Berry, Patten, Buckle, 
 Scales, Wall, Chambers, and Kitchen. Another 
 class from astronomy, and agriculture, as Heaven, 
 Moo7i, Star, Cloud, Fielder, Hedger, Ditcher, Close, 
 Lane, «fec. 
 
47 
 
 The surnames in Domesday Book were brought in 
 by the Normans, who not long before had taken them 
 themselves, but they were mostly noted with the parti- 
 cle de before them, as John de Babington, Nicholas de 
 Yateinan, Robert de Marisco, Aiithonij a Wood, or at 
 Wood, whence the very common names of Wood and 
 At or A ttiuood, Richard de Gravesend, &c. The pre- 
 position or connecting particle de, between the Chris- 
 tian and surname, is of French extraction, and was 
 introduced into England with William the Conqueror. 
 It continued tolerable pure for about three centuries, 
 after which it assumed in some degree an English 
 garb, in the particle of. In process of time this also 
 was dropped for the sake of currency and expedition, 
 both in speaking and writing. In observations upon 
 surnames, written by a peer of Scotland, in the reign 
 of William the Third, it is stated, that when Marga- 
 ret, Queen to Malcolm Cannier, King of Scots, with 
 her brother Edgar Atheling, fled into Scotland from 
 William the Conqueror, many of the English who 
 came with them, and got lands in Scotland, had their 
 proper surnames, as Mourbray, Lovell, Lisle, &c. 
 using the particle de or of before them, which makes 
 it probable, that those surnames had been derived from 
 the lands which they or their ancestors had possessed. 
 At this time there were no such surnames in Scotland, 
 but after the arrival of the English (as above men- 
 tioned) those who then were possessed of baronies or 
 lordships, began to take surnames from their lands, 
 as Patrick of Dumbar, James of Douglass, John of 
 Gordon, and yet it was a considerable time after, ere 
 these surnames were transmitted to their children. 
 Others though inheritors of lands, took for surname 
 the name of some eminent person of their ancestors ; 
 the Highlanders adding Mack before it, as Mackdo- 
 
48 
 
 nald, i. e. the son of Donald ; and the Lowlanders 
 adding son after it, as Donaldson, Robertson, &c. 
 It is further to be observed, that those who had lands 
 did at that time choose rather to take designation from 
 them, than from the families whence they were de- 
 scended, especially in the lowlands of Scotland, as for 
 example, William I. of the House of Hume, is called 
 Guiielmus, iliius Gulielmi de Hume, and a while after, 
 all the succeeding generations were called Hume; 
 whereas in the orher family whence they descend, 
 there is found Pa,tricius iilius, Patricii Comitis, and 
 Patricias de Dumbar Comes, and Patricius filius Pa- 
 tricii de Dumbar Comitis, and afterwards they were 
 designed Patricius de Dumbar Comes Marchise, 
 whence the surname of Dumbar became common to 
 all his descendants. 
 
 Whence it is evident that the ancient descent of 
 families is not so much to be found out by surnames, 
 as by their armorial bearings, which are far more 
 ancient, as appears by the families of Dumbar and 
 Hume, whose arms differ only in tincture, the ancient 
 way of distinguishing coats, especially in Scotland. 
 Thus Gordon, Ridpath, Nisbit, surnames taken from 
 the distinct baronies which they possessed in the 
 same country, are certainly of one family, their arms 
 differing only in tincture. It is also observable, that 
 many who agree in surname, are not of the same 
 family, their arms being anciently very different; 
 and especially such surnames as were taken by those 
 of low fortunes, or vulgar extraction, who were 
 nam.ed from their occupations, and therefore persons 
 of such surnames, being afterwards advanced to a 
 higher rank for their virtue, had coats of arms grant- 
 ed tliem, and this occasioned the arma cantantia, 
 which are sometimes found in heraldry. It is like- 
 
49 
 
 wise clear that those who have surnames from lands 
 in Scotland, are descended from such families as were 
 possessed of these lands when surnames were first 
 assumed, except such as have of late changed the 
 names of their lands to their surnames, which are 
 generally known in the neighbourhood. These obser- 
 vations, though they may be taken from the customs 
 of Scotland, will generally be found to hold good in 
 England, and do certainly denote the antiquity of 
 families; thus, Warton, Widdrington, &c. Sur- 
 names taken from baronies, are noted and ancient 
 families in the north; and Hastings, Berkeley, &c. 
 in the south. The same observations hold good also 
 in France, Germany, and Italy, and most other coun- 
 tries where surnames are in use. 
 
 In addition to these remarks upon Scotish names, 
 we are told by Pennant, tbat most of the old names 
 of the Highlanders were derived firom personal pro- 
 perties. Thus, Dojiald, or Don-shuil^ signifies 
 brown-eye; Finlay, white-head; Duncan, brow^n- 
 head; Colin, or Co-a/wm, beautiful ; and Gorm-la, 
 a blue eye. 
 
 Surnames, however, have been assumed from 
 innumerable other sources ; some have taken their 
 names from their offices, others from towns or villages, 
 forests, hills, dales, trees, &:c. From the alteration 
 of names in early times it is, that at this day, many 
 families who have neglected to keep up their pedigrees, 
 are at a loss to account for the similar bearings of 
 arms, by persons whose names are widely different, 
 though they might all originally have been descended 
 from one and the same common ancestor. Who, for 
 instance, would ever think to look for the family and 
 arms of Botteville, in the Marquis of Bath; and this 
 onlv because in the reign of Edward VI. John de 
 
 F 
 
50 
 
 Botteville resided at one of the Inns at Court, and 
 thence was named John of TK Inne (Thynne); or 
 who would suspect that the poor deserted and exposed 
 infant at Newark-upon-Trent, well known by the 
 appellation of Tom among- us, should afterwards be 
 metamorphosed into the great Dr. Thomas Magnus. 
 In treating- of the places and families of Furness, 
 it is observed by West, that " when the conquest by 
 the Saxons was completed, and the country divided 
 amongst the chiefs, each conferred his name on his 
 allotment; thus there is DaZ^ow, Penyiington, Ulver- 
 ston, Aldiiigham, Broughton; originally written 
 Daltun, Ulverstun, &c. tun being- the termination 
 commonly used by the Saxons in forming local names 
 of familes;" hence Verstigan remarks, that. 
 
 On Ford and Ham and Ley and Tuyi^ 
 The most of English surnames run. 
 
 In Cornwall they have an old proverb, applicable 
 to the first, instead of the last syllable of surnames 
 with them; thus, 
 
 '' By Tre, Pol, and Pen, 
 
 You shall know the Cornish men," 
 
 Dr. Fuller, in his Worthies of England, under 
 the head of Cornwall, says, these three words are the 
 dictionary of such surnames as are originally Cornish, 
 and though nouns in sense, yet they may be called 
 prepositions. 
 
 Thus, tre, signifieth a town; hence Trefry, Tre- 
 lawjiey, Tre-vanion, &c. Pol, signifieth an head ; 
 hence Pol-wheel, Pol-grean, &c. Pen, a top ; hence 
 Pen~kie, Pen-rose, Pen-kevil, &c. 
 
51 
 
 The ancestor of the noble family of Spencer , Duke 
 o£ Marlborough, was Robert de Spencer, steward to 
 William the Conquerer, from which office (dispenser) 
 the name is derived. 
 
 The Saxons made little use of scripture names, 
 and they frequently annexed the word ling or ing, to 
 the father's Christian name, to denote the son, or 
 younger, as Edmmidling, the son of Edmund, &c. &c. 
 About the middle of the tenth century, surnames 
 were first introduced into Ireland, and in the eleventh, 
 were adopted throughout that kingdom; when every 
 family was obliged to add to the Christian name, that 
 of some particular ancestor, renowned for piety or 
 courage. The surname with the adjunct 0, or Mac, 
 was assumed only by the chief of the name. To this 
 may be added from good, as quoted by Camden, that 
 it was a custom among the ancient Irish, when the 
 father died, for his son to take the name, lest it should 
 be forgotten; hence the names Fitz-herhert, Fitz- 
 gerald, derive their origin; not as denoting the indi- 
 viduals to be of spurious birth, as some have imagined, 
 but in compliance with the custom observed before 
 the use of surnames, when a person took his father's 
 name, with the addition of his being his son, the prefix 
 Fitz being a Norman word, derived from the French 
 Jils, a son. 
 
 But the remark which has been often made, that 
 illegitimates may be known by their surnames, is 
 perhaps not entirely unfounded; for it is highly pro- 
 bable that in cases where the father is unknown, or 
 where he may not choose to have his offspring called 
 after him, the mother's Christian name with son, has 
 often been conveniently resorted to. Thus we have 
 Mollison, Bettison, or Betson, Anson, Jennison, Nel- 
 son, viz. the son of Molly, Betty, Ann, &c. Some- 
 f2 
 
52 
 
 times the father's Christian name may be used for the 
 same purpose ; whence the great number of Richard- 
 sons, Robertsons, Williamsons, Jacksons, &c. The 
 Hebrews, who were the first people that inhabited the 
 earth, gave the infant its name as soon as born, from 
 some striking accident relative to it. Names thus 
 became commemoratives of the most remarkable 
 pieces of family history, and there could be no doubt 
 of who was meant by them, since there could be but 
 one man of a name, and no man had more than one 
 name, as Adam, Jacob, Joseph, &c. Thus if any 
 one at that time happened to mention an action of 
 Noah, or oi Abraham, it would have been perfectly 
 unnecessary and ridiculous to have inquired whether 
 he meant that Abraham who was the father of 
 Isaac, or that Noah who lived at the deluge. 
 
 The late Lord Orford used to relate, that a dispute 
 once arose in his presence, in the way of raillery, be- 
 tween the late Earl Temple and the first Lord Lyttle- 
 ton, on the comparative antiquity of their families. 
 Lord Lyttleton concluded that the name of Grenville 
 was originally green-Jield : Earl Temple insisted that 
 it was derived from Grand-Ville. " Well then," 
 said Lord Lyttleton, " if you will have it so, my 
 family may boast of the higher antiquity, for little 
 towns were certainly antecedent to great cities: but 
 if you will be content with the more humble deriva- 
 tion, I will give up the point, for green Jields were 
 certainly more ancient than either." 
 
 ^fi 
 
53 
 
 SAXOX ETYMOLOGIES. 
 
 Selected arid compiled luith considerable care, from 
 various sources of unquestionable Authority. 
 
 Alder, signifieth of all, and is abridged of the words 
 of all that are, and used in the superlative degree, 
 as for example: Alder-best, best of all; Alder- 
 ear st, first of all; Alder -lest, last of all; &c. 
 Hence the name of 
 
 Aldersox, the son of Alder, the best of ail. 
 
 Ash, is derived from the first person having his dwel- 
 ling near such a tree. 
 
 Albert, signifies noble or magnanimous. 
 
 Allen or Allin, is derived from the Saxon Avord 
 Alwine, signifying beloved of all. 
 
 Arnold, cometh from Earnhold, one that upholds 
 or maintains honour. 
 
 Alfred, is peaceful, oy all peace. 
 
 Archer, from his skill in archery. 
 
 Arrowsmith, so named from the old trade of mak- 
 ing the heads of arrows. 
 
 Bacoit, of the beechen-tree, anciently called Bucon ; 
 and whereas swine's flesh is now called by the 
 name of bacon, it was only at first applied to such 
 as were fattened with bucon, or beech-mast tree. 
 f3 
 
54 
 
 Bold, was originally written Bald, and signified 
 quick, swift, or sudden ; hence the name 
 
 Baldwin, is as much as to say, quick in vanquish- 
 ing or overcoming. 
 
 Barnard, the true orthography of which was, in 
 the time of the Saxons, beam-heart : here ob- 
 serve, that our ancestors while yet they were 
 Pagans, being a veiy valiant and warlike people, 
 would sometimes desire to have their children 
 imitate some such properties of courage, as they 
 observed to be in certain kind of beasts, such I 
 mean as they esteemed beasts of battle, as is 
 among others, the bear, consequently beaini-hart 
 (bear's heart) was first given to him who possessed 
 a strong, resolute, and valiant disposition. The 
 n in beam makes the plural for bears : hence the 
 plural of children, oxen, &c. 
 
 Bill, so called from the use of that weapon (battle- 
 axe) in war, or otherwise. 
 
 Bond, not being free when that name was first given. 
 
 Bolt, of the straightness of his body, hence the 
 term boltupright. 
 
 BowYER, he that made or sold bows. 
 
 Bowes, of having charge in war of bowes or bowmen. 
 
 Cope, of his merchandise ; hence the word cope or 
 exchange. 
 
 Charles, in the ancient Teutonic, Careal, (which 
 in Latin is written Carolus, and in modern English 
 Charles) is as much as to say, all or wholly noble. 
 
 Crozier or Crosier, was first so called from bear- 
 ing the ancient pastoral staft of our prelates. 
 
 CuTHBERT, in the old Saxon language, signified a 
 person well acquainted with learning, and of 
 good understanding. 
 
 Dodd, of that thing anciently so called, which grow- 
 
55 
 
 eth in the sides of waters among flags, and is of 
 boys called a fox-tail. 
 
 DuNSTANE, a name given, as it seemeth, in recom- 
 mendation of constancy or stability. Dun, is 
 anciently a hill or mountain; stane, we now pro- 
 nounce stone, consequently Dunstane is the 
 mountain-stone, or as we might say, the stone in 
 the rock or mountain (almost as much in signifi- 
 cation as is in Hebrew the name of Peter.) 
 
 DuNX, a hill, commonly that which stretcheth or 
 extendeth itself out in length. They call, in Hol- 
 land, the sand banks which lie upon the sea side, 
 dunes. The town of Dunkirke, rightly (in En- 
 glish) Dunchiirch, first had that appellation by 
 being situate in the dimes, or sand-banks. We 
 yet in some parts of England call hills, downs. 
 
 Edgar, was originally written Eadgard, and signi- 
 fied one who is faithful to his oath and covenant. 
 
 Eberard or EvERARD, is also varied into Everett ; 
 and observe, that£'?;er, is in our ancient language, 
 a ^oild hoar, therefore Everard, or thus, Ever- 
 hart (heart), is as much as to say, the heart or 
 courage of a wild boar. 
 
 Edmund, irom. Ead or Eath, an oath; and miind 
 or muth, for mouth; ihereioTe Edmund im^lieth 
 a mouth of truth and loyalty. 
 
 Edward or Eadward, is properly a keeper of his 
 oath, voic, promise, or covenant, and is equiva- 
 lent Avith Edgar, both importing one sense and 
 meaning, gard and icard, ivarders and garders, 
 being all one signification, namely, a keeper. 
 
 Fare, of a passage, or dwelling at at a ferry. 
 
 Frank, now expanded into Francis, signifying 
 frank, generous, and free; and first given in 
 respect of bounty, liberality, or freedom. 
 
56 
 
 FoRfeSTER, and by contraction Forsfer, was an oiH- 
 cer of account whilst the forest laws were in 
 force; but here observe, that the name of 
 
 Foster, is 7iot of the same derivation, it cometh 
 from Fodster-father , or Foodster -father. Food- 
 ster was he who should provide food for the chil- 
 dren, where the father was not found. 
 
 Fletcher (Norman extraction), he whose business 
 it was to put the feathers to the arrows ; from the 
 English word to fiedge, or from the French fleche. 
 
 Garrard, anciently Gar-hart ; here gar stands for 
 all, and consequently gar-hart is all heart, or 
 courage. 
 
 Gilbert, is a contraction of Gilberight, a gild- 
 brother, or one that is of a liberal and bountiful 
 disposition. 
 
 Godwin, originally written Gods-wine. Wine, in 
 the ancient Saxon language, signified beloved, 
 consequently Godwin should be the beloved of 
 God, and is in the Netherlands written gosen, 
 or goson. 
 
 Heath, first so named from his dwelling on such 
 a soil. 
 
 Holt, of his dwelling in, or at a wood. 
 
 liuRST, is also an old Saxon word for a woody place, 
 as Stoneyhurst, &c. 
 
 Hunt or Hunter, of his office, dexterity, or skill 
 in hunting. 
 
 Hum prey; /mm, originally home, and frey, varied 
 from frid, quietude, signifies home-peace, or 
 domestic quietness. 
 
 Hugh, anciently written Heiighe, and in the Ne- 
 therlands they have a festive season which they 
 call Hcughtyde, which signifies joy and gladness. 
 
 Kemp, properly one that fighteth hand to hand; 
 
57 
 
 hence, to kemp is to combat, and camp-Jighters, 
 or kemp-Jighters, were those who made a pro- 
 fession thereof. 
 
 Lambert, is derived from Lamb-hart, the heart of 
 a lamb, and first so named from possessing" a 
 meek and lamb-like disposition. 
 
 Leonard, originally written Leon-hart, namely, the 
 heart of a Lion. 
 
 Lord, derived from Laford or Hlafurd, viz. an 
 afforder of laf (loaf), namely, a bread giver. 
 
 Mills, formerly Milles, from his residence near, or 
 at some mills. 
 
 Moore or More, of his dwelling by a moor, or 
 moorish ground. 
 
 Milbour>"E, a local name, from residing near a 
 burn or stream of water belonging to a mill. 
 
 Norman (properly Northman), the first of this name 
 was so called from following Wiliam the Con- 
 queror into this land. 
 
 NoRDEN, or rather Northden, is as much as to say, 
 the north dean or den, being opposite the south 
 dean or den. 
 
 Osborne, from Ouse, a river, and bourne, a stream 
 connected therewith. 
 
 Osmond or Osmund, from os or hus, a house, and 
 miind or muth, a mouth; therefore Osmund is 
 the mouth of the house, or speaker for his 
 family ; and 
 
 Oswald, a ruler or manager of the affairs of the 
 house. 
 
 Palmer, a pilgrim returning from Jerusalem, and 
 carrying a palm branch. Here we shall make a 
 slight digression, with a view to gratify any fami- 
 ly or curious individual of the above name. In 
 the chancel of Snodland church, in Kent, lies 
 
58 
 
 Thomas Palmer, gent, who died in May, 1407, 
 and whose Epitaph runs thus : (the name of Pal- 
 mer, signifying a pilgrim.) 
 
 Palmers all our Faders were, 
 
 I a Palmer lived here, 
 
 And travell'd still, 'till worne wud Age, 
 
 I ended this Worlds Prilgrimage : 
 
 On the blest Ascension Day, 
 
 In the cheereful Month of May ; 
 
 A thousand with foure hundred seaven, 
 
 I tooke my Jorney hence to Heaven. 
 
 Pointer, a maker of points or galtraps, an iron 
 instrument, formerly much used in war ; it con-v 
 sisted of four points, so placed, as one always lay 
 uppermost, thereby wounding the enemy's feet. 
 
 Pool, first so called from his habitation beside some 
 lake or standing water. 
 
 Perkin, is a term of diminution, implying Little 
 Peter. 
 
 Reve or Port-Reve, a name of office or jurisdiction, 
 equivalent M'ith our Sheriff, derived from the 
 Shyre-reve ; to wit, the Reve of the shyre. 
 
 Reynard, originally written Reyn-hart, signifying 
 a pure and clean heart. 
 
 Rein A LD or Rein old, meaneth a true champion, 
 unblemished in honour, and without corruption. 
 
 Reynolds, is the abreviation of Reynoldson, or the 
 son of Reinold, as above. 
 
 Richard, formerly written jRic-Aar^; that is, Rich- 
 hart, an abundant, plentiful, and liberal mind, 
 
 Roger. It was at first Rugard, and afterward Ru- 
 gar, and with us lastly, Roger. Ron., or ru, in 
 old Saxon, is rest or quietness', gard, to keep or 
 
59 
 
 preserve : thus Rugard (now Roger), is a keeper 
 or preserver of rest and quietude. 
 
 Russell or Rassf.l, first so called in consequence 
 of personal fatness. 
 
 Smith or Smythe, properly sig-nifieth to smite; 
 hence cometh our name of a smith, viz. a smiter, 
 or one who strikes with a hammer; but before 
 we borrowed the French word carpenter, all who 
 used the hammer or axe, were called smiths or 
 smitters, and for distinction, the one was named 
 2i icood-smith, and the other an ^Vo7^-sm^7/i; thus 
 in Latin we have faber-ferrarius, and faber- 
 lignarius. 
 
 Snyde, from which the surname of Sneyd or Snead 
 is derived, is to cut, and snydre, a cutter^ which 
 was also our ancient name for a tailor, before Ave 
 had the name of talieur from the French. 
 
 Stringer, from making the strings of bows. 
 
 Theobald, now Theobald, signified in the old Saxon 
 language, speedy in virtue. 
 
 Thorpe, our ancient word for a village, as lang- 
 thorpe, &e. 
 
 Thorn, so named from some great thorn, or dwel- 
 ling at a thorny place. 
 
 Thwaites or Thwaits, of cutting down, or fel- 
 ling wood. 
 
 Vandall, originally FawfZa/e: ira?zc?eZ in the Teu- 
 tonic, is the same as luander in English; hence 
 the Vandales were so called from their moving 
 and wandering mode of life. 
 
 Wade, of his dwelling at a meadow. 
 
 Wake, of watchfulness. 
 
 Walter is synonimous with /'ores^er. Forest smd 
 Walt, Wald or Weald, being all one with Wont 
 or Wood, consequently Walter, being the name 
 
60 
 
 of the officer or commander in the wood, is there- 
 by become a surname. 
 
 Waiiuener or Warender, the name of office of 
 him that had the charge or oversight of a War- 
 ren, which by contraction now becomes Warner. 
 
 Ward, cometh from the office of icarden or guar- 
 dian, and is of the old vSaxon School ; hence we 
 call him that keepeth watch at the Tower, a 
 Warder or Warden, and they that keep watch at 
 the Palace, the guard. 
 
 Wright, first so named from living by labour or 
 handicraft; and 
 
 Young, of his fewness of years; hence the name of 
 
 Younger, &c. 
 
 By the following List will be seen the Derivations 
 of many other Names. 
 
 Of the proper name of Alexander, cometh the sir- 
 names of Sanders and Saunderson. 
 
 Of Andrew, cometh Androwes, Andros, and An- 
 derson. 
 
 Of Bartholomew, cometh Bat, Bats, and Batson. 
 
 Of CriRiSTorHER, cometh Kit, Kits, and Kitson. 
 
 Of David, cometh Davis, Davison, Daws, and 
 Dawson. 
 
 Of Edmund, cometh Edmunds and Edmundson (alias 
 Edmondson.) 
 
 Of Gilbert, cometh Gibson and Gibbons. 
 
 Of Henry, cometh Harris, Harrison, and also Haw- 
 kins. 
 
61 
 
 Of John, cometh Johnson, Jackson, and Jenkinson; 
 
 which being contracted, becomes Johns, Jacks, 
 
 and Jenkins. 
 Of Laurence, cometh Larkin, and Laiison, (alias 
 
 Lawson.) 
 Of Nicholas, cometh Nicols, Nicolson, and Nic- 
 
 son (alias Nixon.) 
 Of Pete II, cometh Piers, Pierson, Peterson, Perkins, 
 
 and Perkinson. 
 Of Richard, cometh Richardson, Dicks, Dicson, 
 
 Dickins, and Dickinson. 
 Of Robert, cometh Roberts, Robins, Robinson, 
 
 Hobkins, otherwise written Hopkins, and Hobson. 
 Of Rogers, cometh Hodges, Hodgeson, Hodgeskins, 
 
 and Hodgekinson. 
 Of Simon, cometh Simmes, Simpson, Simpkins, and 
 
 Simcocks. 
 Of Thomas, cometh Thomson, Tomkins, and Tom- 
 
 kinson. 
 Of William, comethWilliams, Williamson, Wilson, 
 
 and Willes. 
 Of WiLKiNS, cometh Wilkinson, Wilcocks, and 
 
 Bilson. 
 Of Walter, cometh Wats, Watson, Watkins, and 
 
 Watkinson, and probably also Atkins & Atkinson. 
 
 Here we are to understand, that the ancestors of 
 all such now-a-days, in this country, whose names 
 end in sow, or whose sirnames are derived from pro- 
 per names, as above, have had other sirnames in times 
 past, but by some means have lost them. 
 
 G 
 
62 
 
 NORMAxV ADVENTURERS. 
 
 And now, in order that those Houses may not be 
 forgot unto whom the Conqueror disposed the Lands 
 and Possessions of this Realm for their good services. 
 I have here transcribed, out of Stow's History of 
 England, the Names of his chief followers, as found 
 in the Chronicles of Normandie, written in French, 
 by Wm. Tayleur, of Rhoane. 
 
 sus 
 
 le 
 
 Guilliam Mallet 
 Guilliam Fitz Osberne 
 Le Sire de Montfort 
 
 Rille 
 Gidlliam de Vielz Pont 
 Neel de Saint Saueur 
 
 Vicont 
 Le Sire de Feugiers 
 Henry Sire de Ferrers 
 Le Sire Dambemare 
 Guilliam Sire de Romare 
 Le Sire de Lichare 
 Le Sire de Tonque 
 Le Sire de la Mare 
 Le Sire de Nehabon 
 Le Sire de Piron 
 
 'Le Sire de Beauson 
 Le Sire de Damnon 
 Le Sire de Soteuile 
 Le Sire de Margneuille 
 Le Sire de Tankeruille 
 Eustace Dambleuille 
 Le Sire de Magneuille 
 Le Sire de Grimsuille 
 Guilliam Crespin 
 Le Sire de Sainet Martin 
 Guilliam de Moulinous 
 Le Sire de Pins 
 Gieffray Sire de Mayenne 
 Aifroy de Behunt 
 Affroy and Mauigr de 
 Cartaict 
 
63 
 
 Guilliam de Garennes 
 Hue de Gournay Sire le 
 
 de Bray 
 Le Conte Hue de Dournay 
 Enguemount le Laigle 
 Le V'^icont de Touars 
 Richart Donnemchni 
 Le Sire de Biars 
 Le Sire de Salligny 
 Le Boutellier Daubegny 
 Le Sire de Marre 
 Le Sire de Victry 
 Le Sire de Lacy 
 Le Sire du vail Darie 
 Le Sire de Tracy 
 Hue Sire de Montfort 
 Le Sire de Piqgny 
 Hamon de Brayen 
 Le Sire de Spinay 
 Le Sire de Port 
 Le Sire de Torchy 
 Le Sire de Jort 
 Le Sire de Riuers 
 Guilliam Moyon 
 
 RaoulTesson deChignelois 
 
 Rogier Marmion 
 
 Raoul de Gael 
 
 Aue Neel de Biars 
 
 Parnel du Monstier 
 
 Bertram le Tort 
 
 Hubert Robert 
 
 Le Sire de Seukee 
 
 Le Sire de Dormal 
 
 Le Sire de Brenall 
 
 Le Sire de Sainct Jehan 
 
 Le Sire de Bois 
 
 Le Sire de Homme 
 
 Le Sire de Saussay 
 
 Le Sire de Cailly 
 
 Le Sire de Semilly 
 
 Le Sire de Tilly 
 
 Le Sire de Romely 
 
 Martell de Basqueuill 
 
 Le Sire de Praux 
 
 Le Sir de Gonys 
 
 Le Sire de Sainteaulx 
 
 De Mullox. 
 
 The Archers of the Vale of Rueill, and of Bretueill, 
 and of many other places. 
 
 Le Sire de Sainct Saen 
 Le Sire de la Rimer 
 Le Sire de Salnarinlle 
 Le Sire de Tony 
 Eude de Beaugien 
 Le Sire de Ollie 
 g2 
 
 Le Sire de Sacy 
 
 Le Sire de Vassye 
 
 Le Bisquams de Chaymes 
 
 Le Sire de Sap 
 
 Le Sire Duglosse 
 
 Le Sire de Blamuille 
 
64 
 
 Le Sire de Brencon 
 
 Levidam de Partenay 
 
 Raoult de Mormont 
 
 Pierre de Bailleul 
 
 Sire de Fescamp 
 
 Le Sire de Beaufault 
 
 Le Sire de Tillieres 
 
 Le Sire de Pacy 
 
 Le Seneschall de Torchy 
 
 Le Sire de Gacy 
 
 Le Sire de Doully 
 
 Le Sire de Sancy 
 
 Le Sire de Bacy 
 
 Le Sire de Tourneur 
 
 Le Sire de Praores 
 
 Guilliam de Colombiers 
 
 Hue Sire de Bollebec 
 
 Richart Sire Dorbec 
 
 Le Sire de Donnebos 
 
 Le Sire de Trois Gros 
 
 Le Sire Mont Fiquet 
 
 Hue le Vigot, alias Bigot 
 
 de Maletot 
 Le Sire de la Haye 
 Le Sire de Bracy 
 Le Sire de Moubray 
 Le Sire de Say 
 Le Sire de Lasert 
 Bonteuillam Tronsebours 
 Guilliam Patris de la Land 
 Hue de Morlemer 
 Le Sire Donuiller 
 Le Sire Donnebant 
 Le Sire de Sainct Cler 
 
 Robert le Fits Herneys, 
 
 Duke Dorlians 
 Le Sire de Harecourt 
 Le Sire Creuecure 
 Le Sire de Dancourt 
 Le Sire de Brunetot 
 Le Sire de Cambray 
 Le Sire Dauncy 
 Le Sire Fonteney 
 Le Counte Deureux 
 Le Sire de Roberchil 
 Alan Sergent, Count de 
 
 Britaigne 
 Le Sire de Sainct Wallery 
 Le Counte Deden 
 Gualtar Guisart, Counte 
 
 de Longneuille 
 Le Sire de Scouteuille 
 Le Counte Thomas Dan- 
 
 binale 
 Guilliam de Hoimes and 
 
 Darques 
 Le Sire de Barreuile 
 Le Sire de Breanto 
 Le Sire de Freanuile 
 Le Sire de Panilly 
 Le Sire de Glere 
 Tostamdubec 
 Le Sire de Mangny 
 Rooer du Mont Gomcrv 
 
 Comes 
 Almary de Touaers 
 Le Sire de Nime» 
 
65 
 
 Besides a very great number of Knights and 
 Esquires that were under them. Thus far out of the 
 Chronicles of Normandy: the others following, are 
 taken out of a Table some time in BaLtaile Abbey, 
 Sussex. 
 
 Aumele 
 
 Bonylayne 
 
 Berrcuyley 
 
 Audeley 
 
 Barbayon 
 
 Bar re 
 
 Angilliam 
 
 Berners 
 
 Basseuile 
 
 Argentoun 
 
 Braybuf 
 
 Blunt 
 
 Arundell 
 
 Brand 
 
 Beawper 
 
 Auenant 
 
 Bonuile 
 
 Bret 
 
 Abel 
 
 Burgh 
 
 Barret 
 
 Awgers 
 
 Busshy 
 
 Barneuale 
 
 Angenoun 
 
 Blundel 
 
 Barry 
 
 Archer 
 
 Breton 
 
 Bodyt 
 
 Asperuile 
 
 Belasyse 
 
 Berteuile 
 
 Amonerduile 
 
 Bowser 
 
 Bertine 
 
 Arey Albeny 
 
 Ba3'ons 
 
 Belew 
 
 Akeny 
 
 Bulmere 
 
 Bushell 
 
 Asperemound 
 
 Broune 
 
 Beleners 
 
 
 Beke 
 
 Buffard 
 
 Bertram 
 
 Bowlers 
 
 Boteier 
 
 Butrecourt 
 
 Banestre 
 
 Botuile 
 
 Brsehus 
 
 Belomy 
 
 Brasard 
 
 Byseg 
 
 Belknape 
 
 Belhelme 
 
 Bardolf 
 
 Beauchamp 
 
 Braunche 
 
 Basset 
 
 Bandy 
 
 Bolesur 
 
 Bohun 
 
 Broyleby 
 
 Blundel 
 
 Baylife 
 
 Burneli 
 
 Burdet 
 
 Bondeuile . 
 
 Belot 
 
 Bagot 
 
 Barbason 
 
 Beaufort 
 
 Beawpount 
 
 Beer 
 
 Baudeiwne 
 
 Bools 
 
 Bares 
 
 Burdon 
 
 \ Belefroun 
 
 G 3 
 
 
 
66 
 
 Barchampe 
 
 Carbonell 
 
 Datintre 
 
 X 
 
 Charles 
 
 Desnye 
 
 Camos 
 
 Chareberge 
 
 Dabernoune 
 
 Canuille 
 
 Chawnes 
 
 Damry 
 
 Chawent 
 
 Chawmont 
 
 Daucros 
 
 Chancy 
 
 Cheyne 
 
 De la Vere 
 
 Couderay 
 
 Cursen 
 
 De Liele 
 
 Coluile 
 
 Conell 
 
 De la Wardc 
 
 Chamberlaine 
 
 Chayters 
 
 De la Planch 
 
 Chambernoune 
 
 Cheynes 
 
 Danway 
 
 Cribet 
 
 Cateray 
 
 De Hewse 
 
 Corbine 
 
 Cherecourt 
 
 Disard 
 
 Corbet 
 
 Chaunuile 
 
 Durant 
 
 Coniers 
 
 Clereney 
 
 Drury 
 
 Chaundos 
 
 Curly 
 
 
 Coucy 
 
 Clifford 
 
 Estrange 
 
 Chaworthe 
 
 
 Escutauile 
 
 Claremaus 
 
 Deamiile 
 
 Escriols 
 
 Clarell 
 
 Dercy 
 
 Engayne 
 
 Camuine 
 
 Dine 
 
 Euers 
 
 Chaunduyt 
 
 Dispencer 
 
 Esturney 
 
 Claruays 
 
 Daniell 
 
 
 Chantilowe 
 
 Denyse 
 
 Foluile 
 
 Colet 
 
 Druell 
 
 Fitz Water 
 
 Cressy 
 
 Deuaus 
 
 Fitz Marmaduk 
 
 Courtenay 
 
 Dauers 
 
 Fibert 
 
 Constable 
 
 Doningsels 
 
 Fitz Roger 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 Darell 
 
 Fitz Robort 
 
 Cholmelay 
 
 Delabere 
 
 Fanecourt 
 
 Corneuile 
 
 Delapole 
 
 Fitz Philip 
 
 Champeney 
 
 De la Lind 
 
 Fitz William 
 
 Carew 
 
 De la Hill 
 
 Pitz Payne 
 
 Chawnos 
 
 De la Wate 
 
 Fitz Alyne 
 
 Claruaile 
 
 De la Watche 
 
 Fitz Raulfe 
 
 Champaine 
 
 Dakeny 
 
 Fitz Brown* 
 
67 
 
 Foke 
 
 Hanlay 
 
 Lindsey 
 
 Freuile 
 
 Husie 
 
 Longuaila 
 
 Facoubridge 
 
 Heme 
 
 Le Vawse 
 
 Frisseil 
 
 Hamelyn 
 
 Loy 
 
 Filioll 
 
 Harewell 
 
 Lane 
 
 Fitz Thomas 
 
 Hardei 
 
 Le Dispenser 
 
 Fitz Morice 
 
 Hecket 
 
 
 Fitz Hughe 
 
 Hamound 
 
 Marmilou 
 
 Fitz Warren 
 
 Harecord 
 
 Moribray 
 
 Faunuile 
 
 
 Moruile 
 
 Form ay 
 
 Jarden 
 
 Manley 
 
 Formiband 
 
 Jay 
 
 Malebranche 
 
 Frison 
 
 Januile 
 
 Malemaine 
 
 Finer 
 
 Jasparuile 
 
 Muschampe 
 
 Fitz Urcy 
 
 
 Musgraue 
 
 Furniuall 
 
 Karre 
 
 Menilebiller* 
 
 Fitz Herbert 
 
 Karron 
 
 Mortmaine 
 
 Fitz John 
 
 Kyriell 
 
 Muse 
 Marteine 
 
 Gargraue 
 
 Lestrange 
 
 Mountbocher 
 
 Graunson 
 
 Leuony 
 
 Malcuile 
 
 Gracy 
 
 Latomere 
 
 Mountney 
 
 Glaunuile 
 
 Loueday 
 
 Maleherbe 
 
 Gouer 
 
 Logenton 
 
 Musgros 
 
 Gascoyne 
 
 Leuell 
 
 Musard 
 
 Gray 
 
 Le Scrope 
 
 Mautrauer^ 
 
 Golofer 
 
 Lemare 
 
 Merke 
 
 Grauns 
 
 Litterile 
 
 Murres 
 
 Gurly 
 
 Lucv 
 
 t/ 
 
 Montague 
 
 Gurdon 
 
 Lislay or Liele 
 
 Mantalent 
 
 Gamages 
 
 Longspes 
 
 Mandute 
 
 Gaunt 
 
 Longschampe 
 
 Manle 
 
 
 Lastels 
 
 Malory 
 
 Hansard 
 
 Lind-sey 
 
 Merny 
 
 Hastings 
 
 Loterell 
 
 Mufifet 
 
68 
 
 Menpincoy 
 
 Peurell 
 
 San ford 
 
 Mainard 
 
 Perot 
 
 S ornery 
 
 Morell 
 
 Picard 
 
 Seint George 
 
 Morley 
 
 Pudsey 
 
 Seint Les 
 
 Mountmartin 
 
 Pimeray 
 
 Sauine 
 
 Myneis 
 
 Pouiisey 
 
 Seint Glo 
 
 Mauley 
 
 Punchardon 
 
 Seint Albine 
 
 Main waring' 
 
 Pynchard 
 
 Seint Barbe 
 
 Manteii 
 
 Placy 
 
 Sandevill 
 
 Mayei 
 
 Patine 
 
 Seint More 
 
 Morton 
 
 Pampilion 
 
 
 
 Poterell 
 
 Towrs 
 
 Neuile 
 
 Pekeney 
 
 Toget 
 
 Neumarche 
 
 Peruinke 
 
 Talyboig 
 
 Norton 
 
 Penicord 
 
 Tuchet 
 
 Norbet 
 
 
 Truslot 
 
 Norece 
 
 Quincy 
 
 Trusbut 
 
 Newborough 
 
 Quintine 
 
 Traynel 
 
 Neele 
 
 
 Taket 
 
 Normanuile 
 
 Rose 
 
 Talbot 
 
 
 Ridle 
 
 Tanny 
 
 Otenel 
 
 Rynel 
 
 Tibtote 
 
 Olibef 
 
 Rous 
 
 Trussell 
 
 Olifaime 
 
 Russel 
 
 Turbeuile 
 
 Oyseil 
 
 Rond 
 
 Turnile 
 
 Oliford 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Toter 
 
 Oryoll 
 
 Rocheford 
 
 Tauers 
 
 
 Reymond 
 
 Torel 
 
 Pigot 
 
 
 Til ell 
 
 Percy 
 
 Seuche 
 
 Totels 
 
 Perecount 
 
 Seint Quintine 
 
 Tauerner 
 
 Per shale 
 
 Seint Omer 
 
 
 Power 
 
 Seint Amond 
 
 Valence 
 
 Paynel 
 
 Seint Leger 
 
 Vancbrd 
 
 Peche 
 
 Soueruile 
 
 Vauasour 
 
69 
 
 Vender 
 
 Vernois 
 
 Warde 
 
 Verder 
 
 Verny 
 
 Wardebus 
 
 Verdon 
 
 Vilaii 
 
 Waren 
 
 Aubriede Vere 
 
 Umframuile 
 
 Wate 
 
 Vernoune 
 
 Unket 
 
 Wateline 
 
 Venables 
 
 Urnall 
 
 Wateuile 
 
 VenoLire 
 
 
 Woly 
 
 Verland 
 
 Wake 
 
 Wyuell. 
 
 Verlay 
 
 Walenger 
 
 
 Here followeth the Sirnames of the chief Noble- 
 men and Gentlemen who came into England with 
 William the Conqueror, as found set down in a very 
 ancient Roll, in the possession of Thomas Scriven, 
 esquire, 1615. 
 
 Achard 
 
 Bastarde 
 
 Biset 
 
 Aucrenges 
 
 Baignard 
 
 Blundel 
 
 Aielard 
 
 Baruile 
 
 Burdet 
 
 Aubeny 
 
 Brassard 
 
 Blete 
 
 Auenel 
 
 Berad 
 
 Barry 
 
 Aspreuil 
 
 Boy guard 
 
 Berri 
 
 Audeny 
 
 Barkaruile 
 
 Bracy 
 
 Akein 
 
 Baret 
 
 Brenenile 
 
 Arcy 
 
 Basset 
 
 Bounttuile 
 
 Alard 
 
 Bars 
 
 Butenile 
 
 Amile 
 
 Belet 
 
 Beamehampe 
 
 Aunmiduile 
 
 Beil 
 
 Burnel 
 
 Abbeuile 
 
 Breit 
 
 Bussel 
 
 Anduile 
 
 Boneit 
 
 Beleice 
 
 Albemarke 
 
 Bluet 
 
 Bonere 
 
 Aubrey 
 
 Brachet 
 
 Bodler 
 
 Archer 
 
 Buket 
 
 Botiler 
 
70 
 
 Bogod 
 
 Chalenges 
 
 Estotkirke 
 
 Burle 
 
 Chastlem 
 
 
 Baul 
 
 Courtueis 
 
 Faherburt 
 
 Brenbe 
 
 Cbawers 
 
 Fossard 
 
 Brus 
 
 Curly 
 
 Fresel 
 
 Butelem 
 
 Conim 
 
 Freuile 
 
 Bricourt 
 
 Crioile 
 
 Fressenile 
 
 Brian 
 
 Charles 
 
 Folenile 
 
 Boch 
 
 Chen 
 
 Firmunde 
 
 Bozim 
 
 Chaucer 
 
 Fitzgeffray 
 
 Bion 
 
 Chandos 
 
 Firpers 
 
 Bailoil 
 
 Cunly 
 
 Fizwaters 
 
 Brocheris 
 
 Curly 
 
 Feskampe 
 
 Bardulse 
 
 Crely 
 
 Fizhu 
 
 Bancan 
 
 Colenile 
 
 Fizurs 
 
 Bussey 
 
 Cabot 
 
 Ferrer 
 
 Beamuis 
 
 Charnel 
 
 Fornitall 
 
 Bleis 
 
 Chamel 
 
 Fineis 
 
 Bauentre 
 
 Charel 
 
 Fizbrian 
 
 
 Cheinie 
 
 Frison 
 
 Camule 
 
 
 Ferrers 
 
 Carenile 
 
 Darcy 
 
 Fohamble 
 
 Cardeuile 
 
 Dunstreuile 
 
 Frignes 
 
 Condrey 
 
 Douchampe 
 
 Fizgariz 
 
 Cursey 
 
 Despenser 
 
 Formentin 
 
 Caulton 
 
 Duredent 
 
 
 Caily 
 
 Driuall 
 
 Gangy 
 
 Corbet 
 
 Duket 
 
 Greminle 
 
 Clare 
 
 D reward 
 
 Gieunile 
 
 Curtais 
 
 Delamare 
 
 Gornumile 
 
 Curthose 
 
 Drunall 
 
 Gemile 
 
 Chamlin 
 
 Dela 
 
 Gerard 
 
 Costentin 
 
 Denicourt 
 
 Giffard 
 
 Conithense 
 
 
 Gondrell 
 
 Cozmir 
 
 Enrous 
 
 Gorger 
 
71 
 
 Goner 
 
 Jardin 
 
 Mungomer 
 
 Gigod 
 
 
 Moruile 
 
 Gaibit 
 
 Kernes 
 
 Meisy 
 
 Gibtot 
 
 Keines 
 
 Munty 
 
 Garin 
 
 Kusac 
 
 Mounteni 
 
 Gunter 
 
 Kosin 
 
 Mulet 
 
 Gros 
 
 Kamais 
 
 Mumfichet 
 
 Grauntson 
 
 
 Murtell 
 
 Gournay 
 
 Laci 
 
 Morell 
 
 Greis 
 
 Liar 
 
 Musard 
 
 Gamage 
 
 Lunccy 
 
 Maleit 
 
 Gautere 
 
 Luret 
 
 Milere 
 
 Gorge 
 
 Lucy 
 
 Moleuorer 
 
 
 Lidet 
 
 Manturners 
 
 Hamule 
 
 Linguenile 
 
 Moreijs 
 
 Hantuile 
 
 Leuener 
 
 Muelent 
 
 Humchampe 
 
 Licot 
 
 Meigne 
 
 Herebrace 
 
 Lonecot 
 
 Menul 
 
 Henile 
 
 Louell 
 
 Manne 
 
 Herenile 
 
 Lescei 
 
 Maceis 
 
 Hauet 
 
 Lambert 
 
 Mabuom 
 
 Hachet 
 
 Lenn 
 
 Mortem 
 
 Haket 
 
 Limare 
 
 Maiisey 
 
 Haruy 
 
 Lisle 
 
 Maresthali 
 
 Hanesy 
 
 La 
 
 Morley 
 
 Hersy 
 
 
 Martinas 
 
 Hai 
 
 Maignard 
 
 Merdacke 
 
 Hasard 
 
 Maureward 
 
 Metun 
 
 Hansard 
 
 Moimtford 
 
 Mameisin 
 
 Hasser 
 
 Mountague 
 
 iVIorin 
 
 Hubert 
 
 Mountbray 
 
 Mire 
 
 Hamelin 
 
 Maundeuile 
 
 Moriiii 
 
 Harecurte 
 
 Mortmer 
 
 
 Hus 
 
 Mansel 
 
 Neemarch 
 
 Hense 
 
 Maschv 
 
 Nepunt 
 
72 
 
 Orniall 
 
 Parteben 
 
 Seintleger 
 
 Oscuile 
 
 Puntfrait 
 
 Saundenall 
 
 Or ware 
 
 
 Sauage 
 
 
 Quinsi 
 
 Semtion 
 
 Passemer 
 
 Quatramars 
 
 Saint- Mareis 
 
 Passenaunt 
 
 
 Saucei 
 
 Picot 
 
 Russel 
 
 Sal 
 
 Pooriianger 
 
 Rydel 
 
 Seignes 
 
 Pers 
 
 Roter 
 
 Seintlis 
 
 Purcel 
 
 Rochell 
 
 Seintmoris 
 
 Pichard 
 
 Rooz; 
 
 Seintgorge 
 
 Pypard 
 
 Richmount 
 
 oemtiore 
 
 Pamel 
 
 
 Seint Qiiintiii 
 
 Panel 
 
 Seintenile 
 
 Seintmore 
 
 Piterel 
 
 S ornery 
 
 Sauntzire 
 
 Peneral 
 
 Say 
 
 Saintchy 
 
 Pleisy 
 
 Suneli 
 
 Setuans 
 
 Paueli 
 
 Sorel 
 
 Seint Royiz 
 
 Pilet 
 
 •Seteplace 
 
 Seinteleme 
 
 Parly 
 
 Spiuenile 
 
 
 Palet 
 
 Saundernile 
 
 Toret 
 
 Piket 
 
 Sonule 
 
 Turpet 
 
 Percy 
 
 Soler 
 
 Tramel 
 
 Punchet 
 
 Sourrile 
 
 Torchapel 
 
 Pachet 
 
 Stutenile 
 
 Tonny 
 
 Punis 
 
 Soleny 
 
 Tnissel 
 
 Pandulfe 
 
 Spigurnel 
 
 Tnchet 
 
 Pill em 
 
 Seintbrenel 
 
 Toreiiile 
 
 Penir 
 
 Soylard 
 
 Truet 
 
 Penne 
 
 Swywar 
 
 Tirel 
 
 Phanecourt 
 
 Saucer 
 
 Trans 
 
 Pales 
 
 Sausauer 
 
 Talebot 
 
 Prouz 
 
 Seniler 
 
 Turbenile 
 
 Pirim 
 
 Saintcler 
 
 Tracy 
 
 Peisim 
 
 Senittomer 
 
 Trussebut 
 
73 
 
 Toe 
 
 Vinframile 
 
 Wimle 
 
 Tailpas 
 
 Veily 
 
 Wilby 
 
 Truan 
 
 Vaily 
 
 Wadel 
 
 Tener 
 
 Vaieus 
 
 Ward 
 
 Tisiure 
 
 Veisin 
 
 Wyschard 
 
 Tayleboys 
 
 Voriil 
 
 Waldeboef 
 
 Tauit 
 
 Venur 
 
 Wastucis 
 
 
 Vauause 
 
 Warem 
 
 Verer 
 
 Vaus 
 
 Weirim 
 
 Vilers 
 
 
 
 Vesty 
 
 Wydeuile 
 
 Yuoire. 
 
 Cognomina Conquisitorum Anglice. cum Domino 
 Gulielmo Duce Normania et Conquestore Anglice. 
 
 King William first brought the Jews into Eng- 
 land ; and after receiving homage and oaths of fide- 
 lity from the Nobles, commanded that in every town 
 and village, a bell should be rung at eight o'clock at 
 night, and all fires and candles then to be put out, 
 and all people go to bed ; and also shaving of 
 beards then became general throughout the land. 
 
 H 
 
\ 
 
 74 
 
 Amongst accidental or circumstantial Names avd 
 Arms, may be noticed the following i7istances. 
 
 Skene or Skeen. 
 
 The traditional account of the family of Skene, or 
 Skeen, is, that about the year 1014, King Malcolm 
 II. having- defeated the Danes at Morlick, and killed 
 their General, being- then on his road south from the 
 battle, was attacked by a ravenous wolf, and fiercely 
 pursued for some miles, through the wood of Kilblain, 
 w^hich at that time stretched itself from the hill, still 
 bearing the name of Culblein, and which hill is the 
 boundary, and divides Cromar from Braemarr, all the 
 way to the forest of Stocket, in the town of Aberdeen's 
 freedom, and bounded with the burn of Broadtach, 
 near to which burn the wolf came up with the king, 
 and was going to devour him, when a younger son of 
 Donald, of the Isles, seeing the king's great danger^^ 
 wrapped his plaid about his left arm, and rushing in 
 betwixt the king and the wolf, he thrust his left hand 
 into the wolf's mouth, and drawing- his skene, which 
 in the Gaelic language signifies a durk or knife, he 
 struck it to the wolfs heart and then cut of his head 
 and presented it to the king, for which piece of ser- 
 vice, the king gave him all the lands from the said 
 burn of Broadtach, which bounded the town of Aber- 
 deen's freedom, for five miles west, to the place where 
 the wolf had first attacked the king ; and caused him 
 and the lands with the great loch thereof to be called- 
 Skene, from the durk or knife with which he had 
 killed the wolf. The durk or knife is still preserved 
 in the charter-chest of the family at Skene, and bears 
 the marks of great antiquity. 
 
75 
 
 Dalziel alias Dalzell. 
 
 The arms of this ancient family, together with 
 the origin of the name, arose from the following cir- 
 cumstance. About the year 840, King Kenneth II. 
 being involved in war with the Picts, a favourite and 
 near kinsman of his was taken by the enemy, and dis- 
 gracefully treated and hung upon a gibbet; where- 
 upon the King being exceedingly grieved, that the 
 body of his friend should be so exposed, proffered a 
 great reward to any one who would dare to rescue it; 
 when, after some delay, a gentleman came forward 
 and said to the king, dalziel, which signifies, / dare, 
 and which he effectually performed to the King's 
 satisfaction. Hence he and his posterity had given 
 them for arms, sable, a naked man, proper, (and 
 some old paintings represented the body hanging on a 
 gibbet.) Crest, a sword in pale, proper. Sup- 
 porters, two men in armour, cap-a-pie, with round 
 targets. Motto, / dare. Thus the circumstance 
 will be perpetuated to the latest generation. 
 
 Hay. 
 
 This is an occurrence of equal interest, relative 
 to the illustrious family of Hay, a name famous all 
 over Europe; descended from one Hay, a labourer, 
 who in the time of King Keneth III. about 980, when 
 the Danes had invaded the nation, gave battle and 
 routed the Scots, near Perthe. This Hay perceiving 
 his countrymen flying before the enemy, he and his two 
 sons stopped them with their plow-gear, and upbraid- 
 ing them for their cowardice, obliged them to rally ; 
 and the Danes supposing them to be fresh succours, 
 the Scots got the victory, and the old man lying on the 
 h2 
 
76 
 
 ground wounded and fatigued, exclaimed, Hei, Hei, 
 which word became a surname to his posterity. For 
 which exploit, King Keneth made him one of the first 
 rank about him, and rewarded him with as much land 
 as a falcon flying- from his hand, should measure out 
 before he settled ; on which account a falcon became 
 the family crest; and for arms, argent, three escut- 
 cheons, gules; intimating- that the father and his two 
 sons had been the three shields of Scotland. 
 
 AiKMAN or Oakmai*? . 
 
 This name originated in the officer who command- 
 ed the troops besieging Macbeath in the castle of 
 Dunfinnan, ordering- all his soldiers to march to the 
 attack with branches of oak from Dunfinnan wood, 
 in their hands ; consequently he thereby acquired the 
 name of Oakman ; and from him all the Aikmans in 
 Scotland are descended. 
 
 Macgrf.gor. 
 
 The arms of this noble family was occasioned by 
 the following circumstance : Sh- Malcolm Macgregor 
 was a man of incredible strength of body, and being 
 one of the King's retinue at a certain hunting party, 
 in a forest, his Majesty, having attacked a wild boar, 
 was like to be worsted, and in great danger of his life, 
 when Sir Malcolm coming up, asked his Majesty's 
 permission to encounter the animal, and the king 
 having hastily answered, " In do, bait, spair nocht," 
 Sir Malcolm immediately torn up a young oak by the 
 root, and throwing himself between his Majesty and 
 the fierce assailant, with the oak in one hand, kept 
 the animal at bay, till with the other he got an oppor- 
 
HI 
 
 tunity of running it through the heart. In honour 
 whereof, his Majesty was pleased to raise him to the 
 peerage, by the title of Lord Macgregor; and in order 
 to perpetuate the remembrance of that brave action, 
 gave him an oak tree radicated, in place of the fir 
 tree, which the family had formerly carried in their 
 arms; viz. argent, a sword in bend, azure, and an 
 oak tree eradicated, in bend sinister, proper; in chief, 
 a crown, gules. Crest, a lion's head, crowned with 
 an antique crown, with points, supported on the 
 dexter with a unicorn, argent, crowned and horned, 
 or ; and on the sinister side, with a deer, proper, 
 tyned, azure; and for motto, In do, bait, spair nocht. 
 
 Graham or Graeme. 
 
 If the true orthography of this name be Graham, 
 it is compounded of gray-ham, the dwelling place of 
 Gray. But if grame or graeme is the proper spelling, 
 then it is purely Saxon, and signifies angry, fierce, 
 grim, austere, &c ; and whereas the name was first 
 taken in memory of that valiant man called Graham^ 
 who threw down part of the Roman wall, it is not 
 improbable that the latter form is the most correct. 
 There are at present families in England of the names 
 of Grime, Graeme, and Gream ; hence the names of 
 Gramston, Grivision, &c. Also one of the Orkney 
 Isles is named Grames-ey, that is, Grames Island, 
 to this day. The ancient arms of this family is or, 
 a wall in fesse, masoned proper, the top broken, in 
 base a rose, gules, on a chief, sable, three escallops, 
 gold. Crest, a cubit arm erect, holding in the hand, 
 a chaplet of laurel, all proper. 
 
 H 3 
 
78 
 
 CUNNINGHAME. 
 
 The origin of the name and arms of Cunniiigharfie , 
 are as follows : Malcome the son of Friskine, who 
 assisted Prince Malcome (afterward king, surnamed 
 Canmore) to escape from Macbeth's tyranny, and 
 being- hotly pursued by the Usurper's men, was forced 
 at a certain place to hide his master, by forking- straw 
 or hay over him ; and afterwards upon that prince's 
 happy accession to the crown, he rewarded his pre- 
 server, Malcome, with the Thanedom of Cunniny- 
 hame, from w hich he and his posterity have the sur- 
 name of Cunninghame ; which, in the old Saxon 
 language, signifies the King's habitation, and the 
 shake fork in the family arms, is to perpetuate the 
 above circumstance, to w^hich also the motto, over 
 fork over, refers. 
 
 Drummond, 
 
 The name and arms of Drummond, are also of 
 peculiar origin, viz. Or, three bars wavy yules, rela- 
 tive to the name. Drum, in the ancient Gaelic, sig- 
 nifies high, and und or ond, is from the Latin word 
 wida, a wave ; and so Drummond is an high wave, 
 and that his family got such arms for services at sea 
 is evident from the following narrative. The first 
 ancestor of this family, was one Morice, son of 
 George, a younger son of Andreas, King of Hungary, 
 who succeeded his brother Solomon, whose Queen 
 was aunt to St. Margaret, with whom Maurice came 
 to Scotland as master of the ship ; for besides the 
 former derivation of Drummond, the word in several 
 nations signifies a ship of swift course, the captains 
 of which were called Drammont or Drommoners ; 
 
79 
 
 and the wavy lines refer to storms endured on that 
 voyage. 
 
 Meldrum or Melgdrum. 
 
 The sirname of Meldrum or Melgdrum^ is of 
 great antiquity in Scotland ; but whether the pro* 
 prietors gave their name to the lands, or assumed 
 their sirname from them, is not very certain. Their 
 barony, or ancient inheritance, was sometimes called 
 Fe-darg, or Fen-darg ; also Melg-drum, or Old and 
 Neiu Melg-drum; the etymology of both is easily 
 accounted for. Fe or yeac/«, signifies a mire, and 
 darg, red; Melg, is death, and drum, the back or 
 ridge of a hill, so called either from the church-yard 
 there, or from a battle fought near that place where 
 many lives have been lost. 
 
 Trotter. 
 
 The traditional account of this family is, that a 
 brother of the Lord Giffard having got a message 
 from King James III. to repair to his court without 
 delay, he made such haste on a hard trotting horse, 
 that he v;as with his Majesty much sooner than 
 could have been expected, and being asked how he 
 came so quickly, he answered, that he had trotted on 
 2is fast as the beast could carry him ; upon which he 
 had the sirname of Trotter assigned him; and for 
 arms, argent, a horse trotting, sable; furnished, 
 0ules, on a mount in base, vert; and in chief, a star 
 of the third. 
 
 MUNRO. 
 
 The sirname of Munro is of great antiquity in the 
 North. In a manuscript history of the family they 
 
80 
 
 are said to be of the ancient Scots, who being ba^ 
 nished their country by the Romans, fled to Ireland 
 and the Western Islands, about the year 357, whence 
 they returned some centuries afterwards; and that 
 ane Donald, son of Occaan, an Irish nobleman, 
 who lived upon the water of Ro, in the county of 
 Derry, came to Scotland Avith some forces to the as- 
 sistance of King- Malcolm II. against the Danes. 
 Malcolm for his good services conferred great honours 
 upon him, and gave him the lands of East Dingwall. 
 in Rossshire, where he settled, which from him were 
 called Ferrin Donald, or Donald's lands. He was 
 also called Bunro, from the residence of his ances- 
 tors on the water of Ro, and thereafter by changing 
 the letter B into M, was called Munro, and from 
 hence the sirname. The arms of this family is, or, 
 an eagle's head erased, gules. Crest, an eagle, close, 
 proper. Motto, Dread God. 
 
 Macpherson. 
 
 The Macphersons deduce their descent from a 
 warlike people in Germany, called the Chatti, who 
 long resisted the Roman power, but being at last 
 forced from their habitations by the Emperor Tiberius 
 Caesar, they embarked for Britain, and by stress of 
 weather were driven to the north of Scotland, Avhere 
 they landed at a place called after themselves, Chatti'jai 
 ness (or point), which afterwards gave the name of 
 Caithness to all that part of the country. This ii 
 said to have happened in the reign of King Corbred II. 
 about the seventy-sixth year of the Christian era. 
 The name itself is derived from Engine, the son of 
 Murich, or Murdoch, who being born a younger bro- 
 ther, was bred to the church, and was parson of 
 
81 
 
 Kingoiisie, then a large and honourable benefice. 
 He lived in the reign of King Alexander II. and as 
 sirnames about that time were become hereditary, he 
 was called Macparson, or the son of he parson; and 
 from hence the sirname of the famil}-. The arra« 
 are, parted per fesse, or and azure, a lymphad or 
 galley, with her sails furled up, her oars in action of 
 the first, in the dexter chief point, a hand couped, 
 grasping a dagger, point upwards, gules (for killing- 
 Cuming), and in the sinister chief point, a cross 
 crosslet fitched of the last. Crest, a cat sejant, pro- 
 per. Motto, Touch not a cat but a glove. 
 
 Maclean. 
 
 The sirname of Maclean, or more properly Mac- 
 gillean, is derived from one Gillean, progenitor of 
 this family. He was a man of remarkable fortitude, 
 and a celebrated warrior ; he was called Gillean ni 
 Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle axe, in 
 Gaelic tuoidh, which is descendants wear to this day 
 in their crest, twixt a laurel and cypress branch; and 
 the posterity of this Gillean were called Macgilleans, 
 in all ancient writs, or Macleans in the modern. The 
 Macgilleans had their bards and senachies, as all 
 other great families in the highlands had, and pre- 
 tended to deduce their descent as far as King Fergus II. 
 and some even higher; though they do not fix the 
 precise time of their settling in the Isle of Mull. 
 
 Callendar. 
 
 The sirname of Callendar, carries sable, a bend 
 betwixt six billets, or. This sirname is from the 
 lands and castle of Callendar, anciently called Callo- 
 
82 
 
 tier J from a Roman who founded that castle of Cal- 
 lendar, and called it after his own name Calloner, 
 from calo, a fagot or log of wood, whose office it was 
 to provide fuel for the Roman camp, and when arms 
 came into use, those of that name took such figures. 
 
 Cameron. 
 
 This sirname is of great antiquity in Scotland, 
 and the first of them had his name from his crooked 
 7iose, which the word Cameron, in the Celtic or Gaelic 
 language imports. This name in ancient times was 
 variously written, viz. Cameron, Cambron, and Cam- 
 brun, which are all the same; and Lochyell is the 
 undoubted chieftain of this brave and numerous clan. 
 In the MS. history of the family, as recorded by their 
 bards and seuachies, their origin is traced as far back 
 as the reign of Fergus II. It is indeed acknowledged 
 by good authors, that Angus, one of the progenitors 
 of this famJly, married Marian, daughter of Kenneth, 
 Thane of Lochabar, and sister of Bancho, who was 
 murdered by Macbeth, the usurper, anno. 1020. 
 Arms, gules, three bars, or. Crest, an armed arm, 
 grasping a sword, proper. 
 
 Dick. 
 
 This sirname is also of considerable antiquity in 
 Scotland, and it is the general opinion of our anti- 
 quaries, that they are of Danish extraction. That 
 Dick or Dyck, in this country, has the same origin 
 with Van-Dyke, or Lords of the Dykes or Dyke- 
 Graafs, as they are called, an office of great trust 
 and eminence, being the guardians of the bulwarks 
 against the sea and rirers in the flat countries of 
 Germany. 
 
83 
 
 Smith. 
 
 The sirname of Smith, is also of great antiquity 
 in Scotland, and of old was variously written, for 
 Smyf, Smyth, and Smith, are all the same name, and 
 sometimes they have been called Gow, which is Gaelic 
 for Smith. The traditional account of their origin 
 is, that they are descended from the clan Chattan ; 
 that Neil-Cromb, third son of Murdoch, of that clan, 
 who lived in the reign of King William the Lion, 
 was progenitor of all the Smiths in Scotland. This 
 Neil-Cromb was so called from his stooping and 
 round shoulders; he had a rare mechanical genius, 
 applied himself to the business of a smith, and made 
 and contrived several utensils of iron of very curious 
 workmanship, and consequently took his name from 
 his trade. The Davidsons are also descended from 
 the above named Muriach or Murdoch, whose fifth 
 son was called David Dow, or the Black, from his 
 swarthy complexion, and was progenitor of all the 
 Davidsons of Scotland. 
 
 Keith. 
 
 The origin of the arms of Keith, as anciently , 
 given, viz. Argent, on a chief, gules, three pallets, or, 
 is thus transmitted to posterity. In anno. 1006, at 
 the battle of Panbride, one Robert, chieftain amongst 
 the Chatti, having joined Malcolm II. King of Scot- 
 land, with his followers, was very instrumental in 
 obtaining a notable victory over the Danes where 
 their king, Camus, was killed by the hands of this 
 Robert, v»'hich King Malcolm perceiving, dipped his 
 dingers in Camus's blood, and drew long strokes or 
 pales of blood on the top of Robert's shield, which 
 
84 
 
 have ever since continued in this arms a momento 
 thereof. 
 
 But having- already gone through many instances 
 of English and Scotish achievements, it may be ne- 
 cessary to glance at our sister country Ireland, and 
 notice, amongst others, the name of 
 
 O'Hara, 
 
 A family of high antiquity, who deduce their descent 
 from Iberius, eldest of the four sons of Milesius, 
 King of Spain, who, 1400 years before Christ, came 
 into Ireland and subdued it. The arms of this ancient 
 house are, Vei^t, on a pale, radiated, or, a lion ram- 
 pant, sable. Crest, a demi-lion, ermine, gorged with 
 a chaplet of laurel, proper, and holding between his 
 paws, a like chaplet, fructed, proper. Besides the 
 O'Haras, the O'Brians, Maccarties, O'Carrois, and 
 several others, are of the same race. 
 
 But to demonstrate more fully, that families of 
 different names, as above, are descended from one 
 ancestor, we shall advert to the genealogy of the 
 
 Fitz-Geralds. 
 
 First, Walter Fitz-Other, at the time of the 
 General Survey by William the Conqueror, was Cas- 
 tellan of Windsor; William, the eldest son of that 
 Walter, took the sirname of Wbidsor, from his father's 
 offico, and was ancestor to the Lord Windsor, whose 
 heir is the present Earl of Plymouth. From Gerald, 
 brother to this W^illiam, the Gerrards of Brynn, and 
 several other families are descended. The said Ge- 
 rald, v;as in many old evidences styled Fitz-Walter, 
 and some of his posterity on that account assumed 
 
85 
 
 to themselves that sirname. Maurice, his second 
 son, called himself Fitz- Gerald, and from him the 
 family of Fitz-Gerald, whose mention occasioned 
 this discourse, are derived. Now M'illiam, eldest 
 son of the said Gerald, being possessed of the castle 
 of Karrin or Carrio, in South Wales, his son Odo 
 took to himself, and conveyed to his posterity, the 
 name of Carew. And from Raymond, another son 
 of the said AVilliam, descended the family of Fitz- 
 Maurice, of Kerry, in Ireland. Hence it appears, 
 that there are no less than six eminent families de- 
 rived from the loins of Walter Fitz- Other, first men- 
 tioned, viz. Windsor, Gerrard, Fitz-Gerald, Fitz- 
 Walter, Carew, and Fitz-Maurice ; and all these 
 bear the same arms, though sometimes with, but most 
 commonly without any material differences, that is 
 originally so ; but where modern grants of augmen- 
 tation occur (for personal services), the variation in 
 this our day, is greater to a common observer unac- 
 quainted with original lines and figures. 
 
 But we shall conclude these interesting memoirs, 
 with a brief account of the Macalpin race. This 
 clan is universally admitted to be the most ancient in 
 the Highlands. We find frequent mention made by 
 Ossian, of Alpin, a friend and one of Fingal's most 
 celebrated bards. In p. 258, he exclaims. " Son of 
 Alpin, i. e. Mhic Alpin, art thou near? Where is 
 the daughter of Toscar? Draw near, Mhic 41pin, to 
 the song of the aged, the actions of other times are 
 on my soul, &c. Draw near, Mhic Alpin, to the 
 last sound of Cona's voice," &c. And after relating 
 his own and Toscar's mighty actions, he concludes, 
 " Such were my deeds, Mhic Alpin, when my arm 
 of youth was strong, &c." The Macalpins are de- 
 scended of these venerable sons of antiquity, whoso 
 I 
 
86 
 
 successors became kings of Scotland for the [space of 
 twenty-five generations. The ancient crest of the 
 Macalpins, is a man's head conped, gules, gutty san- 
 guine; with the Gaelic motto, Cuinich has Alpin 
 (i. e. Remember the death of Alpin), alluding to the 
 murder of King Alpin, by Brudus, after the Picts 
 defeated the Scots near Dundee, anno. 834. 
 
 The ancient seat of the family of Macalpin, is 
 said to have been at Dunstaffnage, in Argyleshire, 
 and there is a very remarkable cairn of stones at 
 Longfeuchan, within a few miles of this place, vvhere 
 one of them is supposed to have died, or been buried, 
 called Carn-Alpin, i. e. Alpin's monument. Here 
 observe, that the families of Bruce, Baliol, SteA\*an, 
 and the Macgregors, Macguaries, Mackinnons, 
 Grants, and Macnabs, are all from this great Alpi- 
 nian race. 
 
 The following lines by Mr. Hood will no doubt 
 (in this place) be acceptable to the curious reader, 
 and awaken many pleasing reminiscences of ancient 
 times, contrasted with the customs of modern days. 
 
 A LAMENT FOR THE DECLINE OF CHIVALRY 
 
 BY THOMAS HOOD, ESQ. 
 
 Well hast thou cried, departed Burke, 
 All chivalrous romantic work. 
 
 Is ended now and past ! — 
 That iron age — which some have thouglit 
 Of metal rather over\^TOught — • 
 
 Is now all overcast ! 
 
87 
 
 Ay, — where are those heroic knights 
 Of old — those armadillo •wdghts 
 
 Who wore the plated vest, — 
 Great Charlemagne, and all his peers 
 Are cold — enjoying with their spears 
 
 An everlasting rest! — 
 
 The bold King Arthur sleepeth sound, 
 So sleep his knights who gave that Round 
 
 Old Table such eclat ! 
 Oh Time has pluck'd that plumy brow ! 
 And none engage at tumeys now 
 
 But those who go to law ! 
 
 Grim John o'Gaunt is quite gone by. 
 And Guy is nothing but a Guy, 
 
 Orlando lies forlorn ! — 
 Bold Sidney, and his kidney — nay. 
 Those " early champions" — what are they 
 
 But Knights without a mom ! 
 
 No Percy branch now perseveres 
 Like those of old in breaking spears — 
 
 The name is now a lie ! — 
 Surgeons, alone, by any chance, 
 Are all that ever couch a lance 
 
 To couch a body's eye ! 
 
 Alas ! for Lion-Hearted Dick, 
 That cut the Moslem to the quick. 
 
 His weapon lies in peace, — 
 Oh, it would warm them in a trice. 
 If they could only have a spice 
 
 Of his old mace in Greece ! 
 
 The fam'd Rinaldo lies a-cold. 
 And Tancred too, and Godfrey bold. 
 
 That scal'd the holy wall ! 
 No Saracen meets Paladin, 
 We hear of no great Saladin, 
 
 But only grow the small ! 
 
 Our Cressys too have dwindled since 
 To penny things — at our Blaek Prince 
 
 Historic pens would scoff — 
 The only one we modems had 
 Was nothing but a Sandwich lad. 
 
 And measles took him off, — 
 
88 
 
 Where are those old and feudal clans. 
 Their pikes, and bills, and partizans t 
 
 Their hauberks — -jerkins — buffs ? 
 A battle was a battle then, 
 A breathing piece of work — but men 
 
 Fight now with powder pufts ! 
 
 The ciu-tal-axe is out of date ! 
 
 The good old cross-bow bends to Fate^ 
 
 'Tis gone — the archer's craft ! 
 No tough arm bends the springing yew 
 And jolly draymen ride, in lieu 
 
 Of Death upon the shaft. — • 
 
 The spear — the gallant tilter's pride 
 The rusty spear is laid aside. 
 
 Oh spits now domineer ! — 
 The coat of mail is left alone, — 
 And where is all chain armour gone ? 
 
 Go ask at Brighton Pier. 
 
 We fight in ropes and not in lists. 
 Bestowing hand-cuffs with our fists , 
 
 A low and vulgar art ! 
 No mounted man is overthrown — 
 A tilt ! — It is a thing unknown — 
 
 Except upon a cart. 
 
 Methinks T see the bounding barb. 
 Clad like his Chief in steely garb. 
 
 For warding steel's appliance ! — 
 Methinks I hear the trumpet stir ! 
 'Tis but the guard to Exeter, 
 
 That bugles the "Defiance !" 
 
 In cavils when will cavaliers 
 Set ringing helmets by the ears. 
 
 And scatter plumes about 1 
 Or blood— if they are in the vein 1 
 That tap will never run again — 
 
 Alas the Casque is out? 
 
 No iron-crackling now is scor'd 
 By dint of battle-axe or eword, 
 
 To find a vital place — 
 Though certain Doctors still pretend 
 Awhile, before they kill a friend, 
 
 To labour through his case« 
 
89 
 
 Farewell, then, ancient men of might ] 
 Crusader ! errant square, and knight ! 
 
 Our coats and customs soften, — 
 To rise would only make ye weep — 
 Sleep on, in rusty iron sleep. 
 
 As in a safety-coffin ! 
 
 Names. 
 
 Badges 
 
 Buchanan 
 
 . . Birch 
 
 Cameron . . 
 
 ..Oak 
 
 Campbell 
 
 . . Myrtle 
 
 Chisholm 
 
 . . Alder 
 
 The following- is an alphabetical List of all the 
 known Clans of Scotland, with a description of the 
 particular Badges of Distinction anciently worn by 
 each Clan respectively, and which served as the dis- 
 tinguishing mark of their Chiefs. 
 
 Names. Badges. 
 
 M'Kay ....Bull rush 
 ]\l*Kenzie ..Deer grass 
 M'Kinnon . .St. John's wort 
 M'Lachlan . . Mountain ash 
 
 Colquhoun . .Hazel 
 
 Cumminor . . Common sallow 
 
 Drummond. .Holly 
 
 Farquharson Pui-ple foxglove 
 
 Ferguson . . Po])lar 
 
 Forbes .... Broom 
 
 Frazer Yew 
 
 Gordon . . ..Ivy 
 
 Graham .... Laurel 
 
 Grant Cranberry heath 
 
 Gunn Rose wort 
 
 Lamont .... Crab- apple tree 
 
 M' Allister . . Five-leav'd heath 
 
 M'Donald . . Bell heath 
 
 M'Donnell . . Mountain heath 
 
 M 'Dougall . . Cypress 
 
 M'Farlane ..Cloud berry bush 
 
 M'Gregor ..Pine 
 
 M'Intosh . . Boxwood 
 
 N.B. The Chief of each respective Clan to wear 
 two eagle's feathers in his bonnet, in addition to ths 
 distinguishing badge of his tribe. 
 I 3 
 
 M'Lean . . . 
 M'Leod.. . 
 
 .BlackbeiTy heath 
 . Redwortle berries 
 
 M'Nab . . . 
 
 . Rose buck berries 
 
 M'iVeil ... 
 
 .Sea ware 
 
 M'Pherson . 
 
 . Variegated box- 
 
 
 wood 
 
 M'Quarrie . 
 
 .Black thorn 
 
 M'Rae ... 
 
 .Fir club moss 
 
 Munro. . . . 
 
 . .Eagles' feather* 
 
 ]\Jenzies .. 
 
 . . A sh 
 
 jMurray . . 
 Ogilvie . . 
 
 . . Juniper 
 . . Hawthorn 
 
 Oliphant.. 
 Robertson 
 
 . . The great maple 
 ..Fern, or brechins 
 
 Rose .... 
 
 . .Brier-Rose 
 
 Ross .... 
 
 . . Bear berries 
 
 Sinclair . . 
 
 . . Clover 
 
 Stewart . . 
 
 . . Thistle 
 
 Sutherland 
 
 ..Cat's tail grass 
 
90 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE SHIELD, AND 
 ITS VARIOUS DIVISIONS. 
 
 In proceeding- to illustrate the principal figures in 
 Coat Armour, it will, in the first place, be neces- 
 sary to observe, that the shield, of whatsoever shape 
 or make, was defensive armour for the body: there- 
 fore taking- it hieroglyphicly, it represents the 
 human figure, and for the sake of science, is divided 
 into certain parts or points, as in example. 
 
 A. is the dexter chief point. — 
 B. precise middle chief. — C. sinis- 
 ter chief. — D. honour point. — E. 
 fesse point. — -F. nombril point. — 
 G. dexter base. — H. exact middle 
 base. — I. sinister base ; which 
 shews the body with its members 
 extended. 
 
 Some assert that the form of shields used bv men, 
 was taken from Adam's spade; and Avomen's lozenge 
 shaped shields from Eve's spindle. The Carthagini- 
 ans made their shields of gold, the Romans of silver, 
 and the Numidians of elephants' hides. The Gre- 
 cians used russet shields. The people of Lucania, 
 in Italy, situated between Calabria and Apulia, had 
 their shields wrought of osiers or twigs, covered over 
 with leather. 
 
 Now the most ancient, as well as the most ho- 
 nourable figures found depicted on a shield, are cer- 
 tain lines or divisions called Ordinaries, nine of which 
 
91 
 
 are honourable, and the remainder termed Sub-Ordi- 
 naries, that is less in esteem. Hence 
 
 The Chief, is so called.fTOni oc- 
 cupying the head or chiet part of 
 the field. Smithurst rightly de- 
 fines its place, content <and signifi- 
 cation, in the following words : " a 
 Chief, contains the upper third part 
 ^, of the escutcheon, and shews that 
 
 ^^ the first bearer was in authority 
 
 or place of command when he received his coat, or 
 had gained the place by his deserts." And this is 
 the only ordinary which is composed of a single line, 
 and for its esteem it occupies the first place amongst 
 the honourable ordinaries. 
 
 "7 The Pale, consisteth of two lines 
 drawn perpendicularly from the top 
 to the base of the escutcheon, com- 
 prehending the third part of the 
 shield down the middle. The 
 French inform us that soldiers of 
 old carried pales of wood to en- 
 camp themselves, which they fixed 
 in the earth. The word palus, signifies those pales 
 with which cities or camps were guarded. The pale, 
 according to the author of the British Compendium, 
 signifies the bearer thereof to be one that stood up- 
 right to his prince and country, and according to the 
 common adage, a downright well meaning man, one 
 that boundeth himself within the pales of reason for 
 the achievement of the common good. This ordinary 
 is subdivided into the pallet and endorse. The first 
 contains one half of the pale, the latter one fourth 
 part of the pallet, consequently one eighth part of 
 the pale. 
 
92 
 
 "7 The Bendy is an ordinary con-- 
 sisting of two lines drawn from 
 the right corner at top, called the 
 dexter chief, to the left corner at 
 bottom, called the sinister base, 
 in form of a belt, shewing the first 
 bearer to be valiant in war, and 
 one who mounted on the enemy's 
 walls. The content of the hend when charged, is 
 the third part of the field; but uncharged, it is only 
 the fifth. The word hend, is derived from the French 
 word bender, wdiich signifies to stretch forth, because 
 it is extended betwixt those opposite points of the 
 escutcheon in manner of a ladder used to scale the 
 Avails of forts and castles. Two bends may be borne 
 in one field, but when more, they are termed hendlets, 
 which is the dimunition of a beiid. There are also 
 the gartier and cotise belonging to this ordinary, the 
 first being the same wath the bendlet, viz. one half of 
 the bend, the other one fourth part of the breadth 
 thereof. But the bend sinister with its diminutives 
 are placed exactly the reverse. 
 
 7 The Fesse, is formed of a two- 
 fold line drawn across the breadth 
 of the escutcheon, in the midst 
 whereof is the very centre of the 
 shield. Now this word fesse, is 
 French, and signifies the loins of 
 a man; wherefore it is by some 
 taken to signify that which we 
 call Baltheum militaris, or cingulum honoris, a 
 belt of honour, because it divideth the field into two 
 equal parts, itself occupying the middle between both. 
 The bearing of this fesse or girdle, signifies that the 
 
93 
 
 owner of such arms had performed some special ser-^ 
 vice in the wars, it being- usual for kings and gene- 
 rals, on such extraordinary occasions, to reward their 
 soldiers with these military belts in token thereof. 
 And this interpretation is warranted by great anti- 
 quity, for thus saith Joab, 2 Sam. xviii. II, to the 
 messenger that brought him the news of Absalom's 
 being hung in an oak by his hair: " Why hast thou 
 not killed him, that so I might have reAvarded thy 
 service with ten shekels of silver, and a girdle" (or 
 an arming belt). 
 
 ~^ The Chevron is formed of a two- 
 fold line spire wise, or pyramid ical, 
 like the ridge of a house. The 
 foundation is in the dexter and 
 sinister base points of the escut- 
 cheon, and the acute angle of the 
 spire near the top thereof. The 
 signification of the chevron ixi 
 arms, is, that the first bearer was the promoter of his 
 family, or the carrier-on and finisher of some great 
 building. The chevronel contains one half of the 
 above ordinary (in breadth), Avhich is further divided 
 into the couple-close, being one fourth part of the 
 chevron, and is always borne by pairs. 
 
 The Barr differs from the Fesse, 
 not only in that it occupies but a 
 fifth part of the field, whereas the 
 fesse takes up a third part thereof, 
 but also because the fesse is limited 
 to one certain place of the escut- 
 cheon, viz. the exact centre or 
 fesse point thereof, whereas the 
 barr is not confined to any particular place, but may 
 
94 
 
 be transferred to any part of the escutcheon. Ob- 
 serve, first, if there be only one bar in an escutcheon, 
 then must the same be placed as a fesse. Secondly, 
 if two barrs in a field, the same must be so placed, 
 as that the field may be divided into five equal parts, 
 then shall each of them receive their just quantity. 
 The barr in arms, signifies that the first bearer was 
 serviceable in raising batteries or fortifications to the 
 damage of his enemy, and security of his prince's 
 army. This honourable ordinary is also subdivided 
 into the closet and harulet, the first of which contains 
 half the breadth of the barr, the latter one fourth part 
 thereof, and must be borne by couples, or a fesse 
 between two. 
 
 The Cross, is an ordinary com- 
 posed of a four-fold line, whereof 
 two are perpendicular, and the 
 other two are transverse, for so we 
 must conceive of them though they 
 are not drawn throughout, but 
 meet by couples in right angles, 
 near about the fesse point of the 
 escutcheon. The content of the cross is not always 
 the same, for when it is charged, it must contain the 
 third part of the field, but uncharged, it hath only a 
 fifth part thereof. This, above all other ordinaries, 
 is subject to various alterations, both in form and 
 name, as couping, voiding, piercing, &c. Besides, 
 there are a vast many smaller crosses and crosslets, 
 which would be too tedious to enumerate. The bear- 
 ing of this ordinary signifies affliction for the cause 
 of religion ; or that the ancestors of those who bear 
 it in their arms, were in the wars against the Infidels, 
 dining the conflict to restore the Christian cause. 
 
95 
 
 And of all crosses, the cross waved, shews the great- 
 est affliction. The next figure amongst these ho- 
 nourable ordinaries to be treated of, is the Saltire, 
 commonly called St. AndreAv's Cross. 
 
 The Saltire, is an ordinar}^ con- 
 sisting of a fourfold line, whereof 
 two are drawn from the dexter 
 chief towards the sinister base cor- 
 ners, and the other two from the 
 sinister chief, toAvards the dexter 
 base points, and do meet about the 
 middle by couples in acute angles. 
 In former times this was made of the height of a man, 
 and was driven full of pins, the use of which was to 
 scale the walls of towns, which then were but low. 
 From hence its bearing is said to signify honourable 
 service at some siege. Now the content of the Saltire 
 is the fifth part of the field uncharged, and a third 
 part thereof, if charged (having any thing upon it). 
 The Saltire is not altogether so much subj ect to vari- 
 ation by the different lines, as the cross and other 
 ordinaries are; the chiefest in use is the saltire 
 engrailed. 
 
 y' The Escutcheon, is an ordinary 
 formed exactly to the shape of the 
 outer shield, containing a third 
 part thereof; and in heraldry de- 
 notes the first bearer to have won 
 his enemy's arms, and also seems 
 to testify that the bearer's ances- 
 tors carried arms in defence of 
 their sovereign and country. This fig-ure is also 
 called an Inescutcheon, and is the same on which a. 
 man bears the arms of his wife when an heiress. 
 
96 
 
 ~^ The Quarter, is an ordinary of 
 a quadrangular form, resembling- 
 a banner, and laid as a charge up- 
 on the field, of which it contains 
 one fourth part, as the term im- 
 plies. The Canton is of like form, 
 but of less content ; the only dif- 
 ference between them, is, that the 
 canton occupies but a cartel, or small part of the 
 escutcheon, and the quarter comprehendeth a full 
 fourth part thereof. Some authors are of opinion 
 that a canton is a reward given to gentlemen, esquires, 
 and knights, for service done by them ; yet the quar- 
 ter, in point of dignity, is to be preferred before it, 
 and the escutcheon of pretence to them both. 
 
 The Orle, is an ordinary com- 
 posed of a three-fold line dupli- 
 cated, admitting the field to be 
 seen throuoh the innermost snaco 
 therein, inclosed, and is always 
 borne voided. It shews the first 
 bearer v:as so valiant as to fight 
 till his shield was hewn through. 
 Which interpretation itself doth in some measure in- 
 dicate, and may be borne double or tripple. 
 
 The Pile, consisteth of two lines 
 formed after the manner of a wedge, 
 that is to say, broad at the upper 
 end, and lessening by degrees 
 throughout with a comely narrow- 
 ness, and meeting together at tlie 
 lower end in an acute angle. The 
 Pile is supposed to be a piece of 
 timber, the nether part of which is sharpened to the 
 
97 
 
 end, that it may be more commodioiisly driven into 
 the ground for strengthening of foundations, whereof 
 in heraldry it is taken to signify one that is excellent 
 in fortifications, or rich buildings. But observe, 
 when there is but one pile in the field, it must contain 
 the third part of the same at the top, as in example. 
 
 The Gyron, is an ordinary con- 
 sisting of two straight lines drawn 
 from any part of the escutcheon, 
 and making an acute angle in the 
 fesse point of the same. A Gyron 
 is the same which in Latin is called 
 Gremium, which signifies a lapp, 
 and is the space between the 
 and thence perchance we call it a Gyron, 
 from groyne. 
 
 thighs, 
 
 W The Flasque, is formed of one 
 arch line drawn somewhat distant 
 from the corner of the chief, gently 
 swelling till it approaches the mid- 
 dle of the escutcheon, 
 thence 
 
 again 
 
 decreasing 
 
 and from 
 in the 
 like deg:ree to the base noint. — 
 This reward is given by a king, for 
 virtue and learning, and especially for service in 
 ambassage, for therein a gentleman may serve his 
 sovereign as well as the knight does in the field. — The 
 Flanch is of the same form as the Flasque, but of 
 smaller extent, and consequently of less signification ; 
 yet it is good armoury, and is derived from the French 
 \\OYi\. jlans (the flanks of an animal); yet is of more 
 esteem than the following, vrhich is solely for females. 
 
 K 
 
98 
 
 The Voider, is of similar shape 
 and make with the above, but of 
 less content. This is given as a 
 re'.vard to a gentlewoman for ser- 
 vice done by her to the prince. 
 But in such cases the Voider must 
 be of some of the furs or doublings. 
 
 Having now furnished what is not generally to be 
 met with, viz. the signification of these Ordinaries ; 
 I shall proceed, as a still greater rarity, to shew what is 
 technically termed Abatements, or tokens of disgrace. 
 
 ABATEMENTS!!; 
 
 T 
 
 ^ The first figure is the Delf, delve 
 or spit of earth, exactly square, 
 and placed in the middle of the 
 coat, which is given to one that 
 revoketh his challenge, or eateth 
 his word; signifying that such a 
 man deserves to have dirt thrown 
 in his face. 
 
 7^ The second is an Inescocheon 
 reversed, which is a small escut- 
 cheon turned upside down in the 
 middle of the coat. This is due 
 to him that discourteously useth 
 widow, maid, or wife, against her 
 will ; or flies from his sovereign's 
 banner. 
 
99 
 
 "7 The third is a part pointed Dex- 
 ter^ that is when the upper right 
 corner of the escutcheon is parted 
 from the whole; and is given to 
 him who boasteth too much of his 
 deeds in war. 
 
 rThe fourth is a Point in Point, 
 which consisteth of two curved 
 lines, the ends joined in the mid- 
 dle of the escutcheon, and so both 
 pass circularly to the sides near 
 the bottom, thereby cutting ojff as 
 it were a great part of the escut- 
 cheon ; and is given to him who is 
 
 unwilling to fight, or does not behave valiantly in 
 
 the battle. 
 
 7 The fifth is called a point Cham- 
 pagne : it is made of one hollow 
 arched line, which seems to hide 
 or cut off the bottom of the escut- 
 cheon, but more at each side than 
 in the middle. It is due to him 
 that kills his prisoner in cold blood. 
 
 7 The sixth is called a plain Point. 
 wherein the bottom of the escut- 
 cheon seems to be covered by a 
 straight line, drawn from side to 
 side, and is proper for him that 
 inventeth lies or false news to 
 amuse his prince. 
 
 k2 
 
100 
 
 The seventh Abatement is called 
 a Gore: it consisteth of two hol- 
 low lines, one of which begins at 
 the upper left corner, or sinister 
 chief of the escutcheon, and the 
 other at the middle of the base 
 point, and so meet in the fesse 
 point. It is proper for him that is 
 a coward, or feminine hearted. 
 
 The eighth Abatement is called 
 a Gusset, and is made by drawing 
 a line a little sloping from the up- 
 per corner of the escutcheon, above 
 one third of the breadth, and then 
 letting it fall perpendicular to the 
 bottom. The dexter Gusset is 
 given to a lustful person, and the 
 sinister to a drunkard. 
 
 The ninth and last, is when the 
 whole coat is reversed, or turned up- 
 side down, which is never done but 
 to the arms of the finished traitor. 
 And if such coats are at any time 
 after to be blazoned, it shall be by 
 the common and usual names for 
 'tinctures, whereof it does consist, 
 as yellow, red, black, &c. (not, or, gules, &c.) they 
 being esteemed unworthy of any degrees, tokens or 
 marks of honour. There are also other sorts of 
 Abatements or marks of disgrace, yet they are such 
 as heralds by oath at their creation are bound never 
 to disclose, and consequently Ave must pass them over 
 in silence. 
 
101 
 
 As to the dignity of a Coat of Arms, that is to 
 be inferred from the figures therein; and observe, 
 that every animal must be interpreted in its best 
 sense; as for example, — the fox is remarkable for his 
 wit, and withal given to filching for his prey. If 
 then this be the charge of an escutcheon, we must 
 conceive the quality represented, to be his wit and 
 cunning, but not his pilfering and stealing ; and so on 
 of all others. And since every empire, kingdom, and 
 nation, have their distinct ensigns of sovereignty; of 
 whatsoever beast, bird, or fish, it may be, that, is es- 
 teemed the most honourable amongst the people. 
 Thus the bearing of the Lion is in chief esteem with 
 us in England, and when rampant, shews a person 
 ready upon all occasions for noble actions; conse- 
 quently it is an hieroglyphic of a valiant man. — 
 Thus the ancient and noble family of Mowbray, de- 
 scended from Roger Mowbray, a Norman, who was 
 made Earl of Northumberland by William the Con- 
 queror, and slew in battle Malcolmbe, King of Scots. 
 
 bore for arms, gules, a lion ram- 
 pant, argent, as in example. The 
 lion passant, shews absolute juris- 
 diction, or an ambassador. The 
 lion couchant, signifies one who has 
 given over public affairs ; and the 
 lion dormant, represents one who 
 having been victorious, retires 
 from the toils of war, and takes his ease. When a 
 lion is crowned (as in the arms of M'Dowal, and 
 others) it indicates complete success in war; and a 
 lion with two heads (as in the coat of Maso7i) implies 
 that the first bearer was a vassal to two princes, or 
 over-lords, vvho each bore a lion in his arms at that 
 time. 
 
 K 3 
 
102 
 
 ^ ~| Amongst birds, the Eagle stands 
 '"' ^ first in estimation. This bird is 
 altivolans avis, an high soaring- 
 bird; her head is also enlarged 
 with baldness as her years in- 
 crease: see Micah, ch. i. v. 16. 
 " Make thee bald and shave thee 
 for thy delicate children ; enlarge 
 thy baldness as the eagle," &c. The eagle having 
 her wings thus displayed, doth manifest her indus- 
 trious exercise, in that she is not idle, but continually 
 practiseth that course of life whereunto nature hath 
 ordained her; and doth signify a man of action, ever 
 occupied in high and weighty affairs, and one of a 
 lofty spirit, ingenious, speedy in apprehension, and 
 judicious in matters of ambiguity. For amongst 
 other noble qualities in the eagle, her sharpness and 
 strength of sight is much commended, and it is 
 greater honour to one of noble offspring to be wise 
 and of a sharp and deep understanding, than to be 
 rich, powerful, or great, by birth. The eagle is the 
 most honourable bearing of birds, and for its swift- 
 ness of flight, was called the Messenger of the Gods. 
 
 Again, the Unicorn^ may also 
 be used as a principal bearing. 
 Concerning this invincible animal, 
 Job saith, " Wilt thou trust him 
 because his strength is great, and 
 cast thy labour unto him? Wilt 
 thou believe him, that he will bring 
 home thy seed, and gather it into 
 thy barn?" And his virtue is no less famed than his 
 strength, in that his horn is supposed to be the most 
 powerful antidote against poison ; insomuch, as the 
 
103 
 
 wild beasts of the wilderness will not drink of the 
 pools of water until the unicorn hath stirred it with 
 his horn. From whence, the bearing- of the unicorn 
 is a representation both of strength and courage; 
 and also of virtuous dispositions, and ability to do 
 good ; for to have strength of body without the gifts 
 and good qualities of the mind, is but the quality of 
 the ox; but where both concur, that may truly be 
 called manliness. 
 
 Amongst birds, next to the Eagle, 
 may be ranked the Pelican. The 
 Egyptian priests used the pelican 
 for an hieroglyphic to express the 
 four duties of a father towards his 
 children, viz. generation, educa- 
 tion, good instructioji, and exam- 
 ple. But the object of these re- 
 marks being to render the subject sufficiently inter- 
 esting by contrast and variety, we shall next notice 
 the Wild Boar, as in the arms of Gilpin, viz. sable, 
 a boar passant, or. 
 
 This animal is counted the most 
 absolute champion amongst beasts, 
 for that he hath both weapons to 
 wound his foe, which are his strong 
 and sharp tusks, and also his tar- 
 get to defend himself, for which 
 he useth often to rub his shoul- 
 ders and sides against trees, there- 
 by to harden them against the stroke of his adversary. 
 The bearing of a boar, signifies a man of a bold spi- 
 rit, skilful, politic in warlike feats, and one of that 
 high resolution, that he would rather die valorously 
 in the field, than secure himself by ignominious flight. 
 
104 
 
 Among- the feathered tribe, the 
 Cock is next to be noticed. This 
 bird is esteemed for his courage 
 and perseverence, and is not to be 
 restrained when victor, he crows 
 in testimony of conquest; he is 
 brave and vigilant ; rather than 
 yield to his adversary, he fre- 
 quently fights until he drops down dead. Being the 
 herald of the day, and the sentinel of the night, he 
 may be properly termed the emblem of watchfulness 
 and wisdom. 
 
 But as it is not my intention to enter into a sys- 
 tematic display of heraldry, but rather to furnish 
 such historical matter as is not usually to be met 
 with in reference to this science, I shall conclude 
 this head with one more representation of rather a 
 
 peculiar description, viz. or, a 
 pillar, sable, entwined round with 
 an adder, argent, by the name of 
 Myntur, The adder thus en- 
 wrapped about the pillar, signifies 
 prudence joined with constancy , 
 both of which being united in men 
 of high minds, do greatly avail to 
 the achieving of noble enterprises. Hence the ne- 
 cessity of prudence in a prince, to manage the public 
 weal in time of peace, and constancy or fortitude in 
 the events of war. But as our limits will not allow 
 of more examples, we shall proceed to lay before our 
 readers, the nature and import of Armorial Colours. 
 
105 
 
 COLOURS USED IN COAT ARMOUR. 
 
 Having now illustrated, both by rule and example, 
 all the Ordinaries, together with several Charges used 
 in Heraldry, it may now be necessary, for the further 
 completion of this Treatise, to define the nature of 
 tincture or colours, Avhich shall be given in their tru- 
 est interpretation. Tincture, is the different hue of 
 arms and things therein. Colour, is the external dye 
 vrherewith any thing is coloured or stained, and this 
 colour is either general or special. 
 
 By general colour is understood the proper and 
 natural colour of each particular thing, whether the 
 same be natural or artificial, of what kind soever, that 
 are depicted in their external and proper beauty. In 
 this respect, all colours may seem to pertain to this 
 science, forasmuch as there is nothing in this world 
 subject to the sight of man, but either is or may be 
 borne in arms. Special colours are such as by a sort 
 of peculiar propriety belong to this art. These colours 
 are simple or mixed. The simple are white and 
 black, and so called because they are the foundations 
 of all other colours. The mixed are red, yellow, 
 green, blue, purple, tawny, and sanguine, v»'hich shall 
 be treated of according to their different degrees of 
 dignity. 
 
 Yellotv, is the first in estimation, and represents 
 the glorious sun : among precious stones, the shining 
 topaz; and among metals (the most valuable of all 
 
106 
 
 others), gold. It is called in blazon, or, from the 
 Latin word aurum, which signifies gold; or rather 
 from the French word or, of the same interpretation. 
 This colour, by reason of its similitude to so excellent 
 and valuable things in the elementary world, doth 
 signify wisdom, riches, magnanimity, joyfulness, and 
 elation of mind. 
 
 White is accounted the next in dignity, inasmuch 
 as it holdeth similitude with the moon, the sun's vice- 
 gerent; with precious pearls, and the metal silver; a 
 metal so useful in traflSc, that the copious French lan- 
 guage use the word argent for silver and for money, 
 which word is also the proper name of this colour in 
 heraldry. It signifies chastity, virginity, a clear con- 
 science, and charity. 
 
 These two are called metals, and it must be ob- 
 served, that all arms consist of metal and colour, in 
 a greater or lesser degree. 
 
 Red, among colours, is the first in rank, it repre- 
 sents Mars, the mighty god of battle ; among preci- 
 ous stones, the durable ruby, and is the true Vermil- 
 lion. It is called in armoury, gules, from the Latin 
 word gula, the throat or gills of a fish, which is 
 always red ; or it may be from the Arabic word gule, 
 a red rose. In arms, it implies strength and boldness 
 with hardihood. 
 
 Blue follows next, and is the colour of the hea- 
 venly canopy, representing the planet Jupiter, and the 
 beautiful sapphire. It is called azure, by a corrup- 
 tion of the word lazulus, of lapis-lazulus, a certain 
 sort of blue stone. It shews the bearer to be of a 
 godly disposition and lasting renown. 
 
 Black is the most ancient of all colours (for dark- 
 ness was before light, and without light all is black.) 
 It is the colour of mourning, and possesses the fifth 
 
107 
 
 place. Saturn is the planet to which it is compared ; 
 and also represents the valuable diamond. It is 
 termed Sable, from the Latin word sahulum, that is, 
 grcss-sand or gravel. It signifies to the bearer, con- 
 stancy, divine doctrine, and loss of friends. 
 
 Green is a most beautiful colour to the sight, 
 being resembled to the gladsome planet Venus and lo 
 the glittering emerald. In blazon, we call it vert, 
 from the French verd, which is derived of the Latin 
 viridus, signifying green. It shews in the bearer, 
 joyful love, bountiful mirth, and great gladness, with 
 continuance. 
 
 Purple is a mixture of all the rest, and is the last 
 that is in general use in English heraldry. This is a 
 princely colour, yet appropriated to the planet Mer- 
 cury, which is by the poets said to be serviter to the 
 rest. Its stone is the amethist. We term it in bla- 
 zon purpure, from the Latin word purpura, the name 
 of a sort of shell-fish, of whose blood this colour was 
 first made. It shews jurisdiction and justice. 
 
 Taiuny, is compounded of red and yellow, and is 
 by some heralds called hruske; but the proper term 
 is tenne, deduced from the French, tanne; or the Ita- 
 lian, tanetto, a chesnut colour, to v/hich it is not 
 much unlike. It is not compared to a planet, the 
 seven being taken up already, but to the dragon's head, 
 a star which partakes of the nature of a planet ; and 
 among stones, to the jacinth. This being one of the 
 stained colours, can have no very good interpretation. 
 It signifies, vain glory. 
 
 Murrey, but in blazon sanguine (blood-red), is the 
 other stained colour, and the last we have to treat of. 
 To this is attributed the dragon's-tail, and the stone 
 sardonix. The signification of it in arms, is. that 
 the bearer was not over hasty to battle, yet overcame. 
 
108 
 
 And observe, that both tawny and murrey, beino' 
 stained colours, are never used for the fields of coat 
 armour, but with the abatements, to express some 
 blemish of honour or virtue in the bearer. But here 
 let me remark, that these interpretations do not im- 
 mediately apply to persons who may bear such things 
 in their arms; for all the above named virtues and 
 qualifications were peculiar to the first person only, 
 to whom such coats were granted, that thereby pos- 
 terity might behold in their arms what sort of charac- 
 ters their ancestors were. To this end it is requisite 
 that all families, who have arms belonging to them, 
 should be furnished therewith, which, bypassing- from 
 one generation to another, would ultimately tend to 
 the better distinguishing- of their kindred, and pre- 
 serve their immediate posterity from that confusion 
 in which so many families are involved. 
 
 FURTHER ILLUSTRATIONS OF COLOURS. 
 
 
 , ^''' 
 
 Argent, 
 
 when 
 
 borne with 
 
 when borne with 
 
 Gules 
 
 ^ Courage. 
 
 Gules Boldness. 
 
 Azure 
 
 ^ Trust. 
 
 Azure J Courtesy. 
 
 Vert 
 
 ■fl^ Joy. 
 
 Vert -"1 Virtue. 
 Purpure .?P Favour. 
 
 Purpura 
 
 ■^^ Charity. 
 Constaucy. 
 
 Sable 
 
 Sable "^^ Religion. 
 
 G 
 
 ules. 
 
 Azure, 
 
 when 
 
 borne with 
 
 when borne with 
 
 Or 
 
 Desire. 
 
 Or Cheerfulness. 
 
 Argent 
 
 m Fnvy. 
 
 Argent «3 Vigilance. 
 
 Azure 
 
 ^ Ardour. 
 
 Gules .^ Readiness. 
 
 Vert 
 
 §3 Strength. 
 
 Vert ^Q Enterprize. 
 
 Purpure 
 
 c?2 Justice. 
 
 Purpure 'en Goodness. 
 
 Sable 
 
 Weariness. 
 
 Sable JMournfulncas 
 
109 
 
 
 Sable, 
 
 
 
 Vert, 
 
 
 when borne with 
 
 
 when borne with 
 
 Or 
 
 
 Honour. 
 
 
 Or 
 
 
 Pleasure. 
 
 Argent 
 
 
 Fame. 
 
 
 Argent 
 
 1> 
 
 Safety. 
 
 Gules 
 
 y= 
 
 Respect. 
 
 
 Gules 
 
 • 1-4 
 
 Freedom. 
 
 Azure 
 
 
 Application. 
 
 
 Azure 
 
 a 
 
 Gladness. 
 
 Vert 
 
 • 1—1 
 
 Comfort. 
 
 
 Purpure 
 
 
 Change. 
 
 Purpure 
 
 
 Austerity. 
 
 
 i Sable 
 
 
 Gaiety. 
 
 
 
 F 
 
 'urpiire, 
 
 
 
 
 
 when born 
 
 e with 
 
 
 
 
 
 Or 
 
 
 Riches. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Argent 
 
 =0 
 
 Quietness. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gules 
 
 
 Politics. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Azure 
 
 
 Fidelity. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vert 
 
 
 Cruelty. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sable 
 
 
 Sadness. 
 
 
 
 Thus having- laid out, in a pleasing, and at the 
 same time instructive manner, the mystic parts of 
 this comprehensive science, we shall briefly notice 
 such colours as were formerly used with great preci- 
 sion in the ancient church. 
 
 The colours held sacred in the Church of Rome, 
 are, white, red, black, and green. White is worn in 
 the festivities of saints, confessors, and virgins, if 
 they were not martyrs, to shew their integrity and 
 innocency ; and in festivities of angels. — Red is used 
 in the solemnities of the apostles, evangelists, and 
 martyrs, who shed their blood for Christ. — Black is 
 worn in lent, and other fasting days. — Green, which 
 is made up of the three former colours, is worn be- 
 tween Epiphany and Septuagesima, between Pente- 
 cost and Advent. 
 
 Finally, that nothing of interest might be want- 
 ing, connected with this department of science, I 
 shall here add a few remarks upon Crests, as detached 
 from other armorial bearings. 
 
110 
 
 A full coat of arms consists of the shield, sup- 
 porters, crest, and motto. The shield and crest are 
 independent of each other ; but the supporters are 
 dependant on the shield. The motto is applied either 
 to the shield or crest. The ancients seem to have 
 had very imperfect defensive armour, and their wea- 
 pons to have been such as are common in countries 
 in a state next to barbarity. But by the gradual in- 
 troduction of the arts, and by conquest, complete 
 armour was adopted ; and the part formed to protect 
 the head, undoubtedly must have been attended to, 
 as of the greatest consequence. At first, the helmet 
 appears to have been a conical cap, which came no 
 lower than the ears, and even when it was curved to 
 fit the head, it is likel-^ that part of the face was unpro- 
 tected. The form gradually improved, though at the 
 same period it is to be found very various : it was 
 flat, conical, curved, and bell-shaped, with a few 
 holes before, for the admission of light and air; and 
 it probably joined to the mail covering the neck. 
 
 There v.'as a projection over the top of the helmet, 
 the better to secure the head, w^hich was called a 
 crest, from crista, the comb of a cock; but the crest, 
 in its proper acceptation, is an emblematic device, 
 placed above all the other parts of the achievement. 
 But when these figures were first used, they consisted 
 of tin, iron, stiff leather, wood, and the like, being 
 of some substance that could be fashioned into shape, 
 and at the same time light and convenient ; and this 
 was fastened to the top of the helmet. When applied 
 to ornament, plate, furniture, houses, or tombs, or 
 embroidered on the vestments of the attendants on 
 the great, they wore painted exact resemblances of 
 what w^as designed to be represented, or graven, ac- 
 cording to the heraldic tinctures. One of the most 
 
Ill 
 
 useful purposes to which both armorial shields and 
 crests were applied, was in the seals appended to 
 written instruments, &c. 
 
 Indeed, the use of the sigili, or " autograph seals," 
 is very ancient, for we find them mentioned in various 
 parts of scripture, as in the following passages, viz. 
 Exodus xxviii. 11, xxxix. 14 and 30. 1st Kings 
 xxi. 8. Nehemiah ix. 38. Esther iii. 12, & viii. 8. 
 Jeremiah xxxii. 10. and Daniel vi. 17. These, how- 
 ever, were engraved on the collets or stones of rings, 
 and it was not till a much later date, that hand stamps 
 v/ere applied to that purpose. A decree was issued 
 by Cardinal Otto, who was Papal legate in 1237, by 
 which the bishous were to bear on their seals, their 
 title, oiHce, dignity, and even their proper names. 
 About this period mottos were likewise generally in- 
 troduced. But the Marquis of Worcester's inven- 
 tion, in reference to hand seals, far exceeds every 
 other effort of ingenuity for secret correspondence; 
 in fact, before this time, there was no known method 
 of combining movable characters in the matrix, for 
 the purpose of varying the impression : the principle 
 is simply this : — A frame, similar to those in which 
 seals are generally mounted, having been first pre- 
 pared, a number of moveable circles may be made to 
 slide within each other, on one common- centre. If 
 three are employed, they should be engraved with the 
 numerals, the alphabet, and, if intended for secret 
 writing, the third circle may be furnished with any 
 arbitrary signs that may suggest themselves. These, 
 by means of a key, of which both the corresponding 
 parties must possess a duplicate, may be combined to 
 form the day of the week, month, year, &c. It would 
 be found very useful in preventing and detecting the 
 mistakes which so frequently occur in the delivery of 
 l2 
 
112 
 
 letters, if the seals in common use were provided with 
 at least, two of these revolving circles, with the day 
 of the month and hour engraved on their face, paral- 
 lel to the stone. A particular part of the arms or 
 cypher being used as an index hand, it would then 
 show the precise hour the letter was sent, without 
 the trouble of dating, &c. 
 
 It is not unlikely, that one source of the immense 
 variety of crests, has arose from the younger branches 
 of a family retaining the paternal coat, and assum- 
 ing a different crest, and this may have given occasion 
 to admit, that the crest may be changed, though arms 
 may not. 
 
 But as crests and mottos, are usually borne toge- 
 ther, it may be proper to observe, that the variety of 
 the latter is very great. The meaning of an infinite 
 member is now lost, consequently they appear intelli- 
 gible. Some allude to historical events, some to pub- 
 lic affairs, and others to private occurrences. Several 
 relate to a family name, or the martial deeds of a 
 progenitor. Many families have two mottos, one 
 allusive to the arms, the other a sentiment, expressive 
 of virtue or valour; but generally in a foreign lan- 
 guage. Indeed, whatev^er tends to dark and myste- 
 rious purposes, and is only understood by a few, has 
 always been more favoured than otherwise: hence 
 heraldry is a sort of historical record ; a memorial of 
 antiquity ; the most concise method of preserving the 
 actions of the brave, and distinguishing the memory 
 of the illustrious. 
 
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