I. A.REYNOLDS

© I96] . I-y 1. ,4.Reynold:

All right: rcservcd Imder llllcmalional and Pan-Amcrican Conventions.Published in New York by nwmas Nelson 5: Sons and simulmncously inToronlo. Canuia. by Thomu Nelson 1:Sons (Canada). Limilzd.

DESIGN BY FRANK KARPELES

Library0/ Congrn:Cnlulug CardNumber: 61-15047

MANUFACTUIED IN na:uunzosumsor AMERICA

For my sonSHERMAN

who, dcspile hisyouth, has learned lo enjoy the science ofheraldry as well as its brave forms and brilliant colors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWhatever is clear and coherent in these pages I owe to my

wife and to our very

good friend Hazel Gragg Sullivan (Mrs. Roy A. Sullivan). Though often resisted

at the time. their suggestions. based on reading and rereading the various stagesof

the manuscript. have always resulted in greater clarity and coneiseness.

Unfortunately. I cannot list separately the many individuals who have given me

permission to display their armorial hearingsin this work; their names, appearing

under the arms, will have to express my thanks and gratitude. Someof them may be

disappointed in a sense: for.whenever twoormore branches of a lamilybore slightly

difierent patterns ol the same arms,I have generally used thebasic lorm. This choice

has allowed me to include a greater number and variety of arms.

1must express mydeep appreciation for the help and cooperation shownme by

Mr. George W. Rosner, Head of the Circulation Departmentin the University of

Miami Library. And l must express aswell my sincere gratitude toMrs.G. T. Prior.

Secretary and Editor of the South Carolina Historical Society: her assistance let me

accomplish during a short visit toCharleston what might otherwisehave takenweeks

of correspondence to achieve.Last. but highly signilieant. is the debt every modern writer owes to those

three

important members of the team: his publisher. his editor,and his production editor.

III

IV

VI

VII

Vl l l

CONTENTSIntroduction

Heraldry and You

You and Your Family Arms

Taking Your Coat-of-Arms Apart

Using Your Coar-of-Arms

How Family Arms Grow

Recording Your Arms

Corporate Arms

The Symbols of Heraldry

A Selected BibIi0g:rupI1y

Index0/Bluzons

21

51

72

97

I06

111

119

175

177

List of Illustrations I

Component Parts of a Coakof-ArmsCrest of theChapel of Ihe Venerable Bede

F[gum Page

Divisions of the Shield and the Relercncc PointsDouble Qualrefoll. TheFnn-Crest, TheFlanchesHeraldic Tinctures and FursLabel, The

Marshalling ArmsParlilion Lines"Plunckctt" and Allied Arms, TheShield, The

List of Illustrations II

Cools-of—Arms

Figure Pu/atAherne I 1) I I7Aherne 12) 163 135Anderson 2 I7Burnwell I43 I26Barren I36 122Barry 135 1:2Beck ( 1) 171 1311Beck (2) I30 I20Berkeley 207 165Blair I95 154BIakc(l ) I53 131Blake (2) 9 23Bayd 152 130Briggs 3 I8Brindley 4 19Brisbane 5 I9Briscoc I55 135Brodie ZIJ I68

697972I5978I8274I90

I2220281

70. 71

Figltru

Bruce I57Bryunl. Ilev.L1nIcs F. Jr. 125Buck | 4IAHull 6Burke I67Burns 7Bullcr I I7Byron I39Cameron 1!Campbell 133Cnrmll I75Carroll. Bishop Coleman F. I24Chamberlain IOChaucer IIChishalm I2Clzlpp 217Clark I3Clay I4

5166

53. 54I3265I4556I52l0lI59

70, 7|52

Page

I32I I5I2520I372294I2423I48I42I I4232324I702425

Cools-of-Arms

CleryClaptonconey (Cofiee)CoflinCollelonCollinsColonnaConnollyCorbettCostelloCrawfordCrosland (Crossland)Cummings (Cummins)CunninghamCusackDacrcDavenporlDavisDevereuxDouglasDowdDrakeDrummondDundusElliotErskineFergusonFitzgeraldFilzpulrickFlemingForbesFrenchGibbsGilioil Ifiilfoylc)GillcntineGradyGraggGrahamGrantGrebyHahnHallidayHamiltonHannonHarleslonHarringtonHarfield

Figure Figure

Hawley 45Hay 176Hayne 199Herim 158Hcyward 46Hillis 47Holbrook 170Hollingsworlh 211Home 48Homer 49Homer 50Houston 51Howard 138Hutson 154Hyncs 160Innes 52lzard 53Jordan 54. Z03Kennedy (1) 55Kennedy (2) 139Kerr 56Klaveness S7Lacy 58Lalimer 183Lnuncelol, Sir 77Lee I42Lindsay 59Lippi: 137Lockharl 150Logan (Maclennun) 60Luring 61Louisiana State University I27Lowy 62Lucy 146Lynch 53Mncoonogn (MacDonough)(McDonugh) 155Macewan 179M.1cFarlane (MacFarlan) 64Mackenzie 145Maclcnnun (Logan) 60Malcolm (McCallum) 65Manners 66Manning 11) 75Manning I2) 67Martin 134Matheson 68

Coats-of-Armsn g m

McAnhur I61McCarthy I32McGill University 128Mechzm (Meighan) 82Menzies 83Meriwethcr I94Middleton IE5Morgan 34Moullrie 214Munro (Monroe) 85Murphy I86NewOrleans. can of :15Noble 86Noble. John T. 70Nugent s7o'Dny soO'Toole E8Percy I93Plowdcn 89Polti-tnck-Porto: 73Power 90Pratt I74Price 91Raleigh I 1) 131Raleigh (2) I92Raid»: 92Reynolds 1I) 206Reynolds (2) I18Reynolds ILSherman Briggs 7|Rhett 93Roach (Roche) I47Rust I81Schradcr 197Scott 94Seabmnk 95Seton (Suntan) 1156Shakespeare I I9Shelley :10Sherman 96Simons 97

Page

I34

116

Snooks I I) lsennocks)Snacks ( 2)StackltouseStalfordStandishStanfordStokesSullivanSutherlandThompsonTicrneyTobinTomkins (Tompkins)Torrcnce (Torrance)TravisTulane UniversityTullyTurnerUnited Slates of America(Armsof the Republic)UrquhartVanceVan RoyViscontiWallarWalshWashingtonWayneWelsh (Welsh )WillardWillsonWoodwardWoolridgcWraggWright (1)Wright (2)Yale UniversityVeamzns ( I)Yeamans ( 2)7amorano y Gonzalez

INTRODUCTIONI believe that until now every book in English currently in print and dealing withheraldry in a general sense is concerned primarily with the several systems in use inthe British Isles. The bibliography in the back of this volume names several. Theyare excellent: but, by their nature, their interest is chiefly academic and peripheralfor Americans.A general book on heraldry to be ol practical value to Americans must cover.

understandably and with a minimum of technical language, two broad areas ofreference:First, the historic. Heraldry isat once a science, an art,and a setof socialpractices.

The arrnigerous (at'ms~bearing) families will want to know the social status andimpliedassertions symbolized by a coat-of-arms aswell as its range of functions andemployment. They will want to know the component pans of a coat-of-arms, therelative importance of those parts, and the relationship thosc pans bear to one an-other. They willwant to know how todccipher a coat-ol—anns with especial referencereference to the divisions and tinctures (colors) of the shield and the charges orsymbols which appear on that shield. They will wan t to know something of theartistic conventions that may largely determine the “cmbl:izoning“ or graphic depic-tion of theanus.Second, a description of current practice. Heraldry has been used extensively in

Europe for more than eight centuries; it has been used sporadically in Anglo-SaxonAmerica for less than four—longer in Latin America. This book is an attempt tosummarize current practice: to give a reasonably unbiased and objective accountof heraldic phenomena as they exist in the United States in the mid-twentieth cen-tury, Enough patterns have become evident to make such gcneralimtions significant.Their validity, of course, can be no greater than my range of data and capacity tosynthesize.The heraldry of the British Isles. especially that of Scotland and England, is the

most rigidly systematized in all the world. (Irish heraldry ismuch more flexible.) InAmerica wehave been laced from the beginning with a curious paradox. Our her-aldry, in its physical forms, derives predominantly from that of the British Isles; butfor the most part we have chosen, almost lrom the beginning, to disregard most ofthe sacred cows of the British systems.We Americans are an independent-mindedpeople: ifwe use heraldry,we'll use it inour own way—which should not be surpris-ing; this is precisely what the English. Scots, and Irish have done with reference toeach other and to the cognate developments on the Continent.

I do not pretend to tell my fellow Americans what we xhould do; I am content.within my limitations, to point out what in fact we are doi g. But no observer canbe completely objective: there is something of the moralist in each of us. However.when I express a pcrlerence of value or make a recommendation. and I do both, Ialways give :1Warning signal of subjectivity. It is then the reader": privilege to exer-cise his own judgment. which he will anyway.Finally. I believe that every illustration of arms appearing in this book—govem-

mental. institutional. commercial. or persona|—hzts been or is presently in use byan American organization or byone or moreAmerican lami

HERALDRY AND YOU

SAND ‘£?©@

Tlux lmuk ix ulmul hUl'lI|dI'} and _\nu. I)|rccII_\ and Im|uccl|_\ awry Hum.

w<\m:m. und child lI\ Arm-rlcu nlukm me n! 4 xurpmxng nnmhcr 01 heraldicdL‘\i\.‘x‘\. I nuk uxlhc luck of .4 \1u||.n hull .|ml _\uu \\||l we u HI”-\Ci|1L‘ vcrximlnf u umxl-0!’-.:I'III~ Ihc mm» at lhc l'xmcd Stale». If _\-vu arc an .v\nwric:mwill/cu. llxmc mun . uc yum». and _\uu|\ In di~p|.:_\‘— prnudl_\. Thcrc un: m:m_\'pmplu in «vlllcr purlx uf Ihc uurld ulm \\u|I|d c\cu‘i~v I|\|~ prlvllcgc if lhc)had il. hul lhcy dun‘! Imvc II.

I AH|k\F (1) 3 -\VnIn:n\

Armory began a: the special d"'

gui~hing mark of the lighting man. It stillEvery American soldier. sailor. airman. marine. or coast guardsman wears

;| specific heraldic device; \\l!CII he doesn't. he ix "out of uniform.“ He isentitled to di~play it in the full glory of ll\ colors in his home. In a specialform. it is item or “di\pluyed" (tome zi technical term) by ltix wife. mother.si<ters. children.But t tr l th are no loitger land haven't been for many centuries) limited to

[lime in the Arnied Sei'\'iee_s, ('liurr:he\ use them. both individual churchescollege. and high school

in the land has in individual L‘(7uI-t!f~i1rl'Il\ to <)mholiZc its corporate entity:and thece arms become the heritage of the students-—past. prexent. and future.Your Nation your State. and most probably your community has a coat-of-arms. and each is yours to display.Each club. .mcict_Vz or fraternal order to which you belong has pr0\‘iLlCK.l

and entire eominunions. Just about every uni\er~it_

3 BRIGGS

te chancex are that the automo-you Mllll a cout~of»urinx that links you to itbile you drne Lllsplilys ii coat-of-;iriIt.~. So pmsibly. due\' the brand of cigaeretlex you xntoke. If you are atmcnibei of u prolemoiuil awiciat io i i , J puliticulorganization. or an athletic club. the likelihood is that it has ;i eozit—ot‘~arntsthat is yours as its member.As an American you probably have the undisputed

' r ht“ to enough co:tl\»

Of-¢'ll'l‘ni to till an entire \\ all of your living room or den with a frieze of bril-liantly colored shields.Notice the trade-nmrks on the inercltzmdixe you buy: many of them are

heraldic in nature or design.

J Htt|‘~.‘ntt\ 5 BRISIHNI

Now tnttch of this l\ “<_;ood“ heraldry. uhielt metms that it accords in spiritand practice \\ill1 a long tradition of heraldic grouth and usage. Much of it.on the other hand. is made up of wistful and pitiful. mere hit-and-mis<. nt—tempts at something barely understood. lteruldicully

'

of this book is to reach you to ditlcrenti:tte#to recognize at :1 glance thesound. the lraditionztl. and ll lltvpcl the im

lliterute." One purpose

nutixe and creative ax opposedto the spurious. the merely hopeful. the imtt.ttive. hr the cheap.But all of lllcxc ltuve been corporate urtlh. There ure. houever. several

millions of /\l\1L'l’iCLll'l\ \\ ho intake uxe ol’ I‘-.nnily or perxonul arms. The numberis growing yeurly: it it \\eren"t. this book uou|dn't he uritten. Are you one oftltetn'.' ll" so. it here did you get your ttrtusl’ Are they “living" or "dead" arms;do you me them in some of the mtmy and varied \ \ .'I)\ in which nrms areproperly dixpluyed. or are the_\ merely 1| ltnlf-forgotten picture tpnwsibly in-herited from Aunt Jettniet on the living-rotnn mil l"Do they grow uitlt your fntnily. do _\on lnou how to "nttmlutl" thetn to

show funtily relntionxltipsl’ Are they somethingAunt Jennie got from her UncleMaxwell‘? And. if so. hou do they relate to um.‘ Do you know hou to "reud“them: or are they a my~tery to you. like .1 frzunetl e from .t Sunxkrit grunt-

'hly:inxt ll only Vlllh the stock reply. "My

Aunt Jennie got them from her Uncle .\l‘.n\\e||: she ‘.1|\\u_ ttid they are theCutlthert arms"

matr hanging on your \\':|ll'.'C.:In}0u1tn~\\er .'l quextton about them inte|l'or do you dread the q|lL‘.\ll0ll. tinned Ll‘

And here you point for triittnplmnt confirmation to the name“Cuthbert" in Old Englixh lettering about an inch and :1 half below the some-what faded but still colorful reprexentation in oil». Incidentally. your ownmaiden name isAndenon and _\our llllshllllti is -.t Plttnekett.

I9

Who is entitled to a coat-of-arms? What is its status‘? What coat-of-armsshould you usc‘? In how many ways can you use such heraldic deviccs withpropriety and in good taste‘? Where and how do you go about getting themrecorded. registered. or matriculated? And how much does it cost?How do you use coat armor with confidence‘? If you want to know, this

book is about heraldry and far you.

6 Hum

20

??©'E3 Z§aN® ‘32?©EllE3

E‘Z%AIt‘¢ClIlE5Z?‘”§ z¥aLi’3.M§

What They Say About You

The moment you claim and use your family coat-ofarms in any way youautomatically make an assertion about yourself. Just Vthul that assertion isdepends on the historic lllI|‘tllCiIIl0l'|\ of coat armor and your willingness tomeet the responsibilities that such use implies. To put it as briefly as possible.the assertion that a coat-of-arms makes is dual:First. it asserts an identification. lt idcntili s you not merely as an individual

but as a member of a family. sepl. or clan. ll it Ctlill-Of-:II’nl.\ were meant toidentify you solely and completely its an individual. unrelated to anyone else.then a serial number would serve just as well. probably better. Within reason-able limits (there are a few miscreants hanging front every family tree). pre-sumably you are proud of your family. its struggles. its successe Its present.past. and possible future position. You hear your arms as you bear yourname. not only for particularized identification (the serial number would dobetter), but also to establish a relationship with Others who bear those arms orname. If you are not proud of the relationship. there is no law that says youmust bear those arms: furthermore. the courts are generally ready to relieveyou of the onus ot' the name as well. And. as you will see later in the discussionof "How Family Arms Grow" (Chapter V). a coat-of-arms is a symbolic lan-guage that can say much in little space: it can tell instantly your relationshipto other families in a way that no "name system“ could accomplish withoutusing half a dozen or more compound forms. In bearing a coat-of-arms you

2!

become an avowed representative of the one or several families represented onthose arms. And this leads naturally to the concomitant second assertion thatyou make when you bear arms.For in the second place the display of arms is a forthright and confident

assertion of status. Here the old expression nnhIt'.m' oblige is particularly apt.for it was historically used to describe just this status: and it means simply thatany rank or position that you inherit , assert for yourself. or accept. carrieswith it the obligation to meet its responsibilities with integrity. courage. and

7 Ht'kNs

honor. In the area of social life. where family arms have no near competitor,these bearings are an avowal that you strive within your physical resourcesand your spiritual capacity to "live like a gentleman" and that you expect tobe considered one. They are not an indication of great wealth, nor pretention.nor even (in the ease of new arms) of "old family." nor for that matter of ahigh level of educational or cultural attainment: but they are a sign of gentil-ity. To put it most succinctly, if you are a product of and exemplify gentlebirth or breeding, or if you have achieved it in yourself. you are entitled bothmorally and in the technical sense to the use of arms. That is still the basis forthe “granting" of arms in every country uherc arms are regulated by law.Theyare an open recognitionof your status as a lady or gentleman.To understand why these two implications of arms hearing are true, it is

necessary to know how and among whom the custom of using these symbolsarose and how they reached their present somewhat divergent status in differ-ent cultures.

22

8 CAMERON 9 BLAKE (2)

Their Origins and Early Use

From the very beginning, a coat-of-arms served as a ready and cruciallynecessary-—in fact, a life-and-death—mcans of identification, especially in thepell-mell and confusion of a Donnybrook.The fighting man of the Middle Ages wore such armor as he could scrape

together. The more fonunate wore a shirt ol chainmail.with or without longsleeves, andcoming as far down to protect as much of his body as his resourcesor resourcefulness provided. He wore one or another shaped head covering.preferably of metal. Both of these were supplemented. inside or outside. bypadding. His shield or huckler went through a variety of shapes and sizes;though it was generally made of tough wood, covered over with some sort ofhide and reinforced by metal strips. Over his body annor he wore a long sur-

I0 Crumaexum 23 11 CHAUCEI

coat of cloth (rough homespun wool. linen. or silk—eostly as his purse couldbear) and girdled at the waist by his sword belt. This surcoat too was probablypadded as an added protection. Some, unable to afiordmetallic body armor.wore only this surcoat with heavy padding beneath it. It is customary to say,as we increasingly view the Middle Ages with romantic eyes and focus onlyon the wealthy knight with his sometimes almost inhibiting heavy metallicarmor. that this surcoat was worn primarily to protect the metal, highly sus-ceptible to rust. from rain and fog and dew. This is to ignore the realities ofthe time; for many a fighting man the heavily padded surcoat was his onlyprotective body armor—unti| or unless. having survived a day of fighting, hecould scavenger more durable pieces at dusk from some fallen foe or friend.And there is still another and perhaps more cogent reasonwhy even the fight-

lz CHISHOLM 13 CLARK

ing man equipped with chain mail would want to wear a surcoat—precise|yto disguise the fact. Hecould thus hide his advantage and encourage combaton the part of an adversary who wore only padding, just as the U.S.S. Kear-rage hid her metallic armor behind a wooden hull when seeking battle withthe unarmored C.S.S. Alabama.So attired in padding, surcoat, and helmet. and carrying a shield, the fight-

ing man, whether knight or foot soldier. was not easily recognizable in the heatof a fray. It became customary then for members of a single family, group.sept, or clan to emblazon—probably at first with crude daubs of paint—someidentifying sign or symbol on the surcoat——front and back. This became auniform identification for members of the group.This device, one large symbolor several repeated smaller ones as fancy dictated, was soon extended in its

24

I4 CLAY I5 CLEILV

use to other items of standard equipment; it was painted boldly on the paddedhorse blankets of the mounted soldiers, on the shields of all members of theunit. and even on the head coverings. Its appearance on morion. helmet. orcap did not yet betokcn what wenow call the crest: it was merely a meaningfulrepetition of the identifying symbol wherever it could be seen.The tradition of highly disciplined teamwork that was so characteristic of

the armies of classical Rome had been dead for centuries. This one new dis-covery of the identifying and linking symbolic device made highly organizedwarfare possible in the MiddleAges; the Crusades could not have been foughtwithout it. Until the development of missiles propelled by gunpowder, thisarmorial bearing was a military development second in importance only to theinvention of the stirrup.In studying the history of coat an'nor we have let ourselves focus attention

16 Corrav (COFFEE) 15 I7 Corrm

too exclusively on the company commander or knight: wehave been understandably swayed by the glamour of rank and position.Because hewore suchbearings, the commanding ofiicer linked himself to hismen: but because theywore identical symbols they linked themselves to him and to each other.This identifying surcoat—the original "coat-of-arms"—was so important

that it has given its name to all annorial bearings that grew out of it. For sev-eral centuries now the depiction of an armorial achievement has normally dis-played a veritable array of military accoutrements—except one: and that. per-haps not incuriously. is the original coat-of-arms, the surcoat. The fanciful and“artfully ragged" mantling so often depicted in armorial achievements is not apictorial representation of the surcoat. It will be discussed in the next chapter.

I8 Coueron I9 Counts

Medieval feudal life-—except in the towns and cities, which were by theirnature a negation of the feudal system-—was much more communal and in-bred than the more sophisticated and highly individualized modem cares toadmit. The feudal estate. when feudalism was at all functional. was largely aself-supporting and interlocking community. a web of interdependence. Pre-cisely as aboard a modern fighting ship. every able-bodied man has at leasttwo primary responsibilities (not to mention collateral duties): he had hishousekeeping duties. whether to till the soil. work in or manage themill, thesmithy, or manage the accounts; and he had his battle station. These menowed battle service to their lord, perhaps a vavasor. just as he in turn owed

‘

similar service to his lord. and he to his. Feudal life was based on a continuousand presumably indissoluble chain of command. Technically speaking. there

26

was no “ownership" of land from most elevated noble to humblest tiller of thesoil (and, in England. there hadn‘t been since the coming of the Normans);certain people merely "held" land from someone else and. in tttrn. sublet it toothers. Ultimate ownership resided in the crovtn. as represented by thesovereign. Theoretically at least. each man in the chain held his land for thebenefit of those who shared it with him. ( Th is concept, unfortunately. wasmore honored in the breach than the observance.) And under such a systemthe basic unit was the agricultural feudal community. the manorial estate.When the fighting was over and the survivors retumed to the community.

often bringing with them for the widows and children the accoutrements ofthose who did not return. the same scene was repeated in each dwelling. Thelord of the land.whether lranklin. knight. or great noble. proudly displayed hisshield and other arms in manor house. hall. or castle: the independent yeomanand humbler rclztittcrs hung theirs in cottage or hovel. as the cane might be;but. if they had fought together. the markings on every one of those shieldxwere basically the same.Even the stranger could be taken “under the protection of the lord." that is.

adopted into the community.where he would probably marry and his childrenwould become an even more integral part of it.ln times of neace. the lord of the land or one or more of his sons would

hear those artmfiand hear them more resplendently than they ever appearedin hattle—into the lists of formal Itvurnumcnls and juuxh, He and hiswife. hissons. and daughters. would wear them richly embroidered on their clothes tothe elaborate and fortnal social gatherings of the day: for formality, order. anddecorum were the characteristics of the age. He and all his family bore them

20 ('0t.oNNA ll (‘0t~‘.\0LLV'27

2'.‘ CORBFIY 23 Co>1’LLLO

proudly on thoie rare slate occasions of an appearance at court. In death theygraced his bicr and proclaimed h’ identity even from the tomb.But there were numerous nccusions in pc: ctimc when the humblcr mem-

bers of the community curried their arms. and ncccwur \' displayed thearmorial devices recorded on them. The) more thcm defensively when travel-ing with their families to the great fairs and to the smaller ( m e g nearby: theywore them as formal attire in the processions (if the great saints’ days: theywore them In participate in thine clathomlc drill» and mock battles (the poormun‘< Imu-muncntxr ;t\\0ci.'I1L'd \\ilh lltc Huck Tucsdny plays. the sworddanccx. tltc St. Gunrgc\ plays. lhc Robin Hood pageants. and the generalMay Day celebrations.

24 ('tIAwI>(:Rn 25 (‘LM.\II\ns (CL‘MMI.\‘s)

28

Then came the decline of feudalism and that long period of transition inwhich ownership of land in the modern sense “as developed. With jealousownership of the land came jealous ounership of the arms: and the new “land-lord" as opposed to the old "lord of the land" claimed both. So completelyenmeshed were the concepts of land and arms that this confusion became thebasic issue of the Scmpe-Grosvenor trial ( r \.D. I390). This was the mostprecedent-making. and perhaps the most famous. of all law cases involvingthe use of armorial bearing» Brielly. a family bought land and claimed thearms of the seller as inherent in the land. The result of that casewas the rulingthat arms are inherent in descent. not in a particular piece of land. implicitin the and its equclae. ltuwever. was the concept that the ownership ofland implied the right to arms. with the assumption that if the purchaserlacked arms he could apply for them as a grant from the sovereign. Suchapplication was unnecessary in the case cited: the purchaser had arms in hisown family and merely continued to use them.

26 DAt;tte 27 DAVIS

But the old cohesion of the feudal community had already been destroyed.at least in England. In Scotland and Ireland. i‘l0Vte\'€f. the relationship (largelyin reality. but partly on an adoptive basis) was transferred to blood, that is.a family or clan relationxhip. and continued much longer,With the new social situation. the “right" to arms became increasingly

associated with the ownership of land and it. attendant social position. Armsbecame the distinguishing mark of the gent ly. the hereditary landowners:the possession of arms set aside the “gentle“ from the "simple." The right to

29

bear them conferred privilegcs that equaled or surpassed those earlier educa-tional advantages that entitled their possessor to claim “benefit of clergy."Thisphrase has become so restricted in modern usage that it nowmeans little morethan a religious marriage ceremony: but in the MiddleAges it had a broaderarea of reference implying privileges inherent in the clerical or “churchly"status. not the least of which was the right to trial by the canonical or churchcourts in preference to being hailed before the king's bench. As late as theRenaissance this right was being sporadically exercised: Ben Jonson claimed“benefit of clergy." basing his claim on the ancient accepted test—he couldread and write Latin.But the Scam and the Irish, with their strong sense of blood relationship as

the basis of the clan. never popularly accepted this newer philosophy. t.l10ughit was official and defended by those most likely to benefit from it, The Celticclansman persisted in regarding the clan and its rcgalia as essentially his own.

28 Down 29 DRUMMOND

The American Concept of Armorial Use

And it is precisely this family. clan, name relationship that has dominatedthe use of armorial insignia in what is now the United States. This has beentrue from the beginning.Those of our early settlers who came from the British Isles—and they

tended to dominate the social picture for the nation as a whole—were largelyfrom north of the Humber, from Scotland. and from northern Ireland. Our

30

population has been reinforced by many elements; but where there is a con-cept of amtorial usage the basic pattern has not changed, except for those fewwho have been overawed by andwished to align themselves with oflicial usageinEngland. Arms to theAmerican are “family arms."reasonably shared byall.

30 Dtmms

Arms and Gentility

In the centuries that followed the decline of feudalism. the concept of“gentry" and “gentility“ underwent changes as well. Because these changestook the form of an orderly growth. the various countries of the British Isleswere spared those excesses of social revolution that took place elsewhere.Originally the term gentility referred to the gentle. that is, “known" or

“reeorded" families. the landowners. The word gentleman was a technicalterm: the man who bore this designation might be saint or scoundrel. but hewas a gentleman if hewas a member of such a family. Bur inherent in the codeof chivalry was the doctrine of nablerre oblige. In tenlts of this doctrine and inaccord with the code of chivalry, certain behavior patterns were expected of“gentlemen" and their “ladies.“ That such behavior was not always forthcom-ingwas regrettable. The disappointment. instead of weakening the expectation.actually heightened it into a demand. a demand associated in extreme caseswith the social ultimatum of ostracism: that is. the gentleman-by-blood whodid not live reasonably within the behavior patterns of the gentleman—by-codewas declared “no gentleman." This does not mean that he stepped gracefully

3|

J] ELLIOT 32 FERGus0.\

into another acceptable social elamfieation: the pariah has no place in anyacceptable class. In da_\s of greater xocial stability. when families lived forgenerations clme to the hind and in ii giten area. ~uch ti threat ofmtracistn wastl mmt pmnerful wciul loruc.At lhix point the concepts ut gentleiiitiii-by-blood and gent|em:tnAby-be-

huvior xupplenient each other to prmide a reasonable guarantee of bothpotential and perftirinunce. The first \\lll1UUI the second guarantees nothingbut a predatory cluxs of lundlords. The other extreme. a concept of gentilitybused solely on the Cl‘ilL‘[‘l0n of gentIenian-by-behavior was little better. Noindividual is an ixlundz he inhentx poientitilx for capacity and lack of it fromall h“ stock. Even when the t2\IllH'tIlL‘ of; nllenian-b)»hehu\‘ior is accurate. itgtiaranteex nothing beyond a single indix uul in a single generation: there isno opportunity for even a crude \l1I|l\lIC.’Jl extimate. This unilateral bgentilit) reuched in peak in the e\p;inding roinanticixm of the nineteenth cen-

of

tury. It may he ~ignilicant and in rcwpunse In the umhrugeuus twilight of aneasy Cguliltlrianlslll that I\ \\t|s during that particular century that the use ofcoat armor reached its louext letel. It has \l|'1L'C recovered.But to lhme uhn continued to hear armxt the “clieek and balance" inherent

in the dual concept of gentiliiy still uttered the best prospect for xocial. family.and indivitltizil l‘€\p0nsll1llll_\. And Illh is the precise amvtal and promise of thearmigerous family. for ll'Il\ is what gentiliiy alill means in the bearing of arms.

The English System of Armorial Use

The historic concept of armorial usage in the United States has been toregard all branches of a related famil_\ bearing the [amily name as sharing

32

equally and freely in the l is t: of the undiffercneed basic arms of that family.This is historically the general picture. though there have always been the fewwho chose to adopt the precinsity of more rigid foreign systems.The American system. if the word is properly applicable. is certainly the

loosest of all. If only to understand hetter what our o\\n usage is, we ought toreview very briefly some contrasttiig system. The most profitable to review forthis purpose is that of England. and for these reasons" ll l The English systemis official and highly codified. (N In its philosophy and rigidity. it offers thegreatest contrast. I3) It is the most articulate: n i o q hunks and articles avail-able to Americans are hased on it. (4) In the past half-century it hih inllu~enced American usage more than any other system.

33 l>-'Ir7t'.IRAIn 1-I I-t t .\ II\ r.

The basic point of dillerence is in the philosophy of usage. Where Anteri-can uxage regards a coat-of—armx as esxentially a "family badge," the officialEnglish viewpoint may be best expressed as "one man. one coat-of-arms," thatis. theoretically no two lning men should bear the same coat«of-arms. This isnecessarily based on the legal concept of Inheritance hy primugenilure. that is.inheritance passing from eldest son to eldest son (or next in l ine). But primo-geniture has never had significant roots in American soil.Such a system. one man. one COa[~Of—urm>. becomes complicated from the

very outset: to be consistent. it requires an elaborate set of cadence rnarkr‘(mino r additions to the father‘: arms! to dilferentinte the sons of even a singleindhidual. (I say the run: because even (hi) )_\'slCm has never attempted to‘All Ieehn’ .1 terms app ring m italics in i n . ) umtmon are explained in mealphabettcal

gltnxary in Chapter V11]. "'1 he Symbol:of Heraldry"

33

“difierentiate“ the daughters.) Furthennore. the system can defeat itself in thenext generation of a man who holds the original grant of a coat-of-arms.Let us assume that a man receives a grant of arms consisting of a silver

shield on which is pictured a blue elephant's head. Now he and he alone hasthe right to bear these arms on a shield in just this form. though his wife anddaughters may display them. not on a shield, but on a lozenge. Even his sonsdo not have the legal right to display the same arms. butmust diflerence themby cadence marks to indicate that they are not the legal owners of such arms.And special cadence marks have been assigned up to the ninth son. For in-stance. the eldest son adds a label (a sort of rakelike figure, usually shownwiththree short tines). and the second son adds a crescent (a figure of the crescentmoon. pointing upward). These marks are normally placed in the upper-central part of the shield and cover anything that happens to be there.Now if. in the lifetime of the father. these sons have children. then the

grandsons are expected to add these same difference marks on top of the onesalready there. The arms of the man‘s granddaughters and daughters-in-law,however. are still indistinguishable for the most part. When the grandfatherdies, certain armorial changes must now take place: the eldest son now re-moves his label. for he has inherited his father's arms: simultaneously, hisseveral children must now remove his label from their anns, but retain theirown cadence marks which were previously placed on his label. However, thesecond son of the grandfather still retains his crescent; and his arms, bearingthe crescent. now become the basic arms of his branch of the family. Thesystem has already (at least from the American viewpoint) gotten itself rathercomplicated. To make matters worse. this second son of the grandfather now

35 Fones 36 FRENCH

37 GILFOIL (Git Fons) JR GILLIENTINE

has anns identical with those of his nephew; that is. the second son of hiselder brother. But the system can be made to take care of this contingencyalso; he and his nephew can color their crescents differently! However, inanother generation or two. this system of in~family differentiation by cadencemarks can become socomplicated as to defeat its own purpose.If I seem to imply some doubt as to the acceptability of this system to the

American scene, the implication is neither wholly brash nor wholly American.One of the most conservative and comprehensive heraldic writers of moderntimes, the distinguished A. C. Fox-Davies, seemed to be equally dubious. Herefers to this system of difference marks as “not a very important matter.”

39 GRANT 40 Cvltlinv‘Fox-Davies, A. (2., Wu Comp ly: Guidr m Heraldry. Edinburgh, London. New York.

Thomas Nelson and sons, 190:. page 24.

35

But any dedicated system ulna}: has at least one alternate plan. If and “henthe ~ystem of L.illlL‘l’CnCll'l‘_ b} cadence marks becomes ttm unuield}. compli-cated‘ or ntliertmc uns;ttt~f.tctor_\ to .1 gi\en f.tmtl_\. I lx ntemben then h.'t\erot-uut's'e to another \)>l€l"l1UfdlfiL’|'Cl'1|.’|n‘_l. h) tnttking xllglll hut b‘.l.~lC citzlngcxto the coat-of-;tnn; itselt L'nder Englixh |a\\r thtx f€qL|ll’C\ re~n1-mrieulutiun orofiiciztl cugniiztnce. In d€\Cl(Ypln‘_1Ii"ll\ zeeond s_\\tem. the twrtgittal chttnges ma)be very <li5:ht: fur instance. the t\t’lgln.'Il elephantl head m:t_\ hane been rnupmlllimshetl ofi at the bmtmn b} u ~tr;u;.~ht line! .\'mx Nome hranch uf the f.'tmil_\nt:t_\‘ carry the eleph:tnt‘~ head ('r'u\L'tI «finishedml at the bottom \\ith :1 stylizedform of three tugged Pflllllx in<tead of bya strtttght l inet, -\nother brunch maychange the enltar of the lllxksl ~till utherx m‘.|} eltttnge the enlur of the head it‘self. ()ther~ mu} re\'er~e the color und the tttetztl. or eltttrtge the metal fromsil\er to gold. or front metal to one at the heruldie fun. Still Others may dividethe xhicld >0 that tt i\ purtt—c0|uretl, or the elephztntl hettd may be meta~

l11t1l'pilD\Ct.i illln the uhnle ztntmul: nr the xtngle he;tt.l mu} \\|L.itiL‘I1i)'pI't\llfCI’€.lIetnttv three or tour. .tnd ~nme ul thexe bltlIk'i\L‘\ inn) plttce the etvllection ofheads umuntl 4] cm» or otherC/luVL't'

-ll Htux ~31 Htt nun’

Thi~ Litter ix certuinh J inure llexthlc «_\~tetu than the uther. hut {m m theAmerictm \te\\pmnt II. mu. h.t\ ll\ ue;t.knes\e~ Thmc \\C‘.lknL‘\\B> wtill grtmout of the bztste phtlnsoph} one man. ti ne enut-ol'».trnis." Cnrrting out thissystem L‘t\I1~lSX€l’l|i_\. the Sc_\ .t and Ch:tr_\hdI< become 0b\'i(\Ih. on the onehand the ehengex mu} represent ~ueh minutiae u» to he merel} uettdemic ratherthan Pfllclltllil on the other. the_\ m a } heeume \0 t.iI'.’.t~lit.‘ i ts to ubscure rclzt»

tionghip

36

41 Hull! In\

The Amcrium \\n>uld regard an n husuc (lhjcfllfln the fact that the unit ofrclznumsllxp Indiczucd bym rcsu||ing runm ixmo Iinlilud. I: can ncver extend\i_L'llIfiCdl\I|) beyond um: mun and Im nmncduuc f.'un|I}: lhtrc xsno coveragefor our "kixxing cou.~im"‘Its one mcrit scam» to be that n prnudes ulnmxt continuum work for the

heruldx. Fcn funnlics hznc the knou-ho\\ to make lhcse cuntxnuom changes.and I suspect that own m England not c\‘cr_\ family ls xulling I0 co»oper;nc tothe extent ncccss-ur_\ In nminluin s|.|Ch un clnhunnc und coxnplicntcd \)§[Cl'l‘lat H:mcnningful best.

Current American Practice

Ncvertllelcss. within lhc last half ccnlur} purllculurl). Ihis Inner English[cm 01' dnfcrcncxng hus had wine vcry rcul inflncncc on urnx; ua borne inAmerica. _ I

A_ "A___t___4_._6_,A,_A_._4,_A_..4A,.u_4_ __4,_4 AA

‘ 5.}A

-$4 HUHH I 1

The opposite is true of the Scottish system of differencing. The presentScottish system is based primarily on the use of bardures surrounding the basicarms.These bordures have various types of edges, internal divisions, and color-ation. But, so far. the bordure system has had no impact on our Americanarmory, and for that reason I am not discussing it here in detail.In stating that the English systemof difierencing arms hasmade some head-

way in the United States, I am not talking about the marshaling of arms(discussed in ChapterV."How Family Arms Grow") : I am speaking rather ofslight though significant changes in the basic arms themselvm. These changesfollow the general pattern that I discussed in terms of English arms; however,they are broader in scope of use—so as to includeour beloved kissingcousins—and somewhat geographical in nature.

45 HAW] Ev

The pattern can best be stated in terms of an example. Several relatedbranches that acknowledge each other of a given family live in the Alabama-Georgia area. The original region of settlement was in the Carolina-Virginiaarea. The Alabama-Georgia related units are aware of each other but overa period of generations have lost contact with those in the original area ofsettlement. Still, the family arms used by the several units of the transplantedAlabama-Georgia branch, perhaps copied diligently and by rote from a paint-ing or from an engraving on family silver once owned by a common great-grandfather, is the same as that used by the Carolina-Virginia units. Some‘where along the line, and probablywithin the past fifty years. someone in theAlabama-Georgia group may have made some basic but slight change in theoriginal arms to set themselves apart from other groups with whom they no

33

longer have contact. The units in this area are in reasonably close touch witheach other, and the new form of the arms iscopied and spreads rapidly amongmost or all of them. The arms are still recognizably those of the larger clanbut have an immediate local application to specific and more closely related

46 H r y w u m

units living, for the most part. within a limited geographical area. Otherbranches of the original family, now living severally in Texas. Missouri. andIllinois, may continue to use the original arms. or they. too, may have made(without reference to any of the other branches) changes of their own.

47 Htuls

39

"Mrs. P|unc|tett"and her “Cuthbert" Arms

The situation discussed so far deals with a family in its various branches allof whom are descended from a common arms-bearing line and all of whomshare the same name. The differences in the arms that one or more particularbranches made. or may make. are normally trifling; they set apart a particularsept without disturbing the ability of those arms to indicate the basic relation-ship to the larger unit. Furthermore. within even the strictest sense of Ameri-can usage. there is no doubt as to the right of all these people to the use of thebasic arms of the family. dilferenced or undiflerenced. as they choose.

48 How:

The problem oi “senior” lines of desccnt—so closely associated with thesystem of primogeniture and consequently highly significant in Britishheraldry—rarely.if ever. enters into the picture of American usage.It is now time to pick up the thread of an almost facetious reference made

in the preceding chapter: the case of "Mrs. Plunckett, née Anderson,"who dis-plays on her living-room wall a well-framed and excellent representation inoils of the “Cuthbert arms." This painting was given to her by her AuntJennie. a “Cuthbert," by the way. who in turn had inherited it along with anumber of other family items and keepsakes from her paternal uncle. “Max-well Cuthbe ."The case is fictitiousbut not hypothetical. It parallels at least half a score of

similar cases ofwhich I have firsthand knowledge. Every aspect of it dealswithoccurrences in reality in American heraldic usage. but every efiort has been

40

J9 Hn\n R

nmde |u inxurc ll)»: '.mnn_\Inu_\ ul ilk‘ r m ] [m l \mrcl.nxcd x . l \L‘ \ mil of \\hich tllix1iL‘IiIiuu~ raw grmvs,Am) [‘|nnckcn'~ 3.-cm-ml pmmun um} huckgrnnnd mm-d \0HIL‘ bruml c\p1iC:|-

(inn In cxluhlixll the \l|||1Ilil\H Shc h\c~ on the |'; |~h‘rlI ~L‘.AhILIf\| III an old hm»m.nH cu) xlm |I.A\ In-cu In| mulc lhzln l\\u cL'nllIHL‘~ the »UIIlL‘I‘ 01 u pncdunwmmlly ;I_urIc\1h\n'.\| an-.« Ihc l’IumL\-u» .m- mu \\x'.x|lh}. hm. uh-ng uuh\.|l'IUll\ Incndx .|I\d In-rulalmn wnuu mmh \\c.n11l1m and mule not \u ucllUIYD. they m]u_\ 4 ~I\u.|| pnxmmv .xm| w n w r x ; A \\.4} at Me Hm xxhig_1|Il_\I‘\‘~]Wk‘A‘lUL1m Ihcll cnImII|II\Il) Hm lu.mImu1 l \ U | 1 \ ' thy) 1u~lI|_\ .uu1c\cxnpht_\m I|u'nhuI\c~ and um‘ uhnlu l|IL"\ h m y mhcntcd In-m Ihcn I-»rcP\c.n\ 'I'!\m|gl\.\1r~. Plnmkcu Imghl nol L a w l«V .u|nm H u]\:|I!}. Lhcrc l\ . | IC .(\un.INC ww-

puuinu than lhg-.um» h.m«. up nn hm um . nc uh-n'll\.xn .1L|L'L|H'Ul an lmrluunu‘

they urc m ull pruh:||\i1iI} .1 \_\n1huIu .:~~c:uuu ul .: (rudumn that whc prcacne: Il l herself .md Much hcr hndwzuml xlmru, and unc uhich hum of (humare making a Clmacimlx e1l'nr| In pm on In I|’\ but .x~pc4:l~ tn thczr children.

in Hokxtil

The Cuthberts were among the original settlers in that region. A maidencousin of Mrs. Pluncketfs mother still has the original land grant, now care-fully framed and sealed under glass. Even before our War of Independence,in which several of her ancesters distinguished themselves at least locally, theCuthbens were ( t o put it modestly) among the well-known families of thecounty. ln all modesty. however. Mrs. Plunekett would be the first to assureher close friends that “there are Cuthbcrts and Cuthbens" in that neck of thewoods. She isn't especially proud of all the members of the clan: still. it isequally obvious that she is happy to belong to a branch that has. in good timesand bad, rich or poor, been ever mindfulof its civic and social responsibilities.

5 l Houston

Her grandfather was Jonas Cuthbert, the father of a fairly large family. Hisbachelor brother was Uncle Maxwell. One daughter was Mrs. PIunckett‘smother: another was her Aunt Jennie. One son was RandolphCuthbert, Mrs.Pluncketfs uncle: and he. in turn. had one son. Edgar Jonas Cuthbert. Edgar,though his gallantry would never let him admit it. is the same age as hiscousin. Amy Plunckett. They grew up together; both are married, and theyhave children of roughly matching ages. Edgar lives in a house not unlike hiscousin Amy's and less than a block away. Their children go to the same schoolsandmaintain a close relationship, as do their parents.Among her other treasured heirlooms. Amy Plunckett has “a very fine

painting" of her grandfather, Jonas Cuthbert, ( I t really isn't a very fine paint-ing at all, but everybody in town says it i s .)When Edgar Cuthberl married (hiswife. by the way. is not a local girl),

they received from the family among their wedding presents a silver teapot

A2

and several spoons,all ofwhich were engraved with theCuthbert arms.Severalyears later, Edgar’s wife borrowed Mrs. Pluncketfs framed picture of theCuthbert arms and had a copy of it made. It is true. of course. that a compe»tent heraldic artist could have produced such a representation from the engrav-ing on the teapot or even from the spoons. but the local lady who did the jobwould not have been able to meet this challenge.

52 INNES

Almost immediately. Edgar's wife, who had been reared in a much moresophisticated community. began to make. not ostentatious. but reasonablyfree use of the Cuthben arms. (Chapter IV. "Using Your Coat—of-Arms" willlist some of these ways.) Furthermore. in recent years. other people that Amyknew began to make a somewhat freer use of armorial bearings than she couldremember as having been general in her own youth. Mrs. Plunckelt, alwaysa conscientious woman. began to be dubious of her "right" to have the Cuth-bert arms hanging on her wall; previously she had always regarded them inmuch the same light asshe did her grandfather's picture.

53 lzum

As time “ e m on. a numbcr of qucsll0n\*~mne clear Cut. UlhCl’s largely.‘11n<>rpl10u\/dmelnped in her mind .-\1 {ha mk of dmng .A\m_\ Pluncketfxclmructcr an lI1]U~IICC. lCl\ t r) In dclinu some ul those \{llC\llUI1> for her andlhcn. still uithm lhc fI‘.11ne\\0rk ut current ; \mcr1c.m l1Cl’;lldlL.' U:.r__'::. try toanswer them.

1 I J The Iim quemon 1\ one that xhc had in fact already asked herself:l~ it at all pmpcr for ms to have Ihu pznming nf Ihc Culhbcrl arm: hangingon my “all?

54 Juxmx

Tlux xx.m c m ) n m : 1 u ; | | I ~ \ \ u Ycx. \h~ |’|umkcu. _wu h.nc cu-r_\ right In~<xdI.~[1l:I_\ Ihmn. '1In-5 .Hc lHl|_\ ulcnlmul ..~ hc|ng mu(mhhurl .mm_ arc xul.1hclcd..uId 1l1c_\ Ilmku nu gm-1;-nxn-nx ul hung culm Plullckcll or Andcrwn;mn ~ I nnlnc llI.I[ Ihu I.;_~um|c wt _\nu| pmurc nl rh»: (ulhbcrz urms thatlldg'.u and ln» \\l|c d|~p|.l_\ 1» .1l~U lalwlcd unh Ihc n.um.- In lhclr LLl\€ tlm ism1.s||_\ uI\I\ccU\~;|l'_\.hllllllcpmxlluc1\n\u~|uI[ll[l1:|lI

‘T’ *Q”55 KI\\n)\ Ill 56 KERR

AA

57 Kl AVENESS

As a matter of fact, you have a legal right to put anything on your walls.especially if properly labeled. You might. if youwished. hang up the arms ofthe King of Siam; or. more appropriately. as an American you might showthe arms of George Washington. which are presently used. incidentally, as thearms and the flag of the District of Columbia.Where propriety is concemed.however, the display onyour walls of any family coat-of-zmns. even ifproperlylabeled. carries with it an assumption of relationship. In the case of the Cuth-bert arms in your own household. this assumption is justified; in the case ofsome other set of arms, it might not be. There is no more reason why youshouldn‘t show your grandfathers arms, properly labeled. than his painting.If you still have qualms. you might—wa|l space pcrmitting—hang both in thesame panel, with the anus immediately below his painting.

(2) The second question that Mrs. Plunckett might conceivably ask is:Have I the right to make any other ormore extensive use of theCuthbert arms.such as my cousin Edgar and his wife do? After all. I am a Cuthbert: Edgar‘swife isn't.

S8 LACY

Here. Mrs. Plunckett. the answer is equally easy; but, from your point ofview. not so satisfactory. l am aware of the fact that quite a few people inAmerica do make fairly extensive use of arms from the maternal lines, butbest usage does not condone it. As you imply. the situation that confrontedyou may seem unfair: it seems even more unfair, when we examine all thefacts carefully, than your question and its attendant comment implied. As youknow, I have gone over your genealogical data with you; and we are bothaware. even within the limited extent that we have examined that genealogy.that you represent not one. but four linesof descent from the Cuthberts. Oneofthose lines is through the Andersons. your father‘: family. It is true that yourcousin Bdgar's wife is not by descent a (‘uthbert at all:what may seem evenstranger to you is that your cousin Edgar himself (so far as l know) is a

59 Lmosu

Cuthbert by three lines of descent. in common with you, and as comparedwith your own four lines. Themathematics of the case, while interesting in thisinstance. are not determining; the fact remains that in best usage wedo notcarry or make free use of unquartered maternal anns. So closely are annsassociated with name. that is. with paternal descent, that in Scotland if youwished to carry your mother‘; arms you would be required to carry hermaiden name also. foregoing your paternal name. As to Edgar‘s wife. themoment she married him and was in accepted as his wife, she shared with himhis status. his name. and his arms. Parenthetically.we both know that she hasher own paternal arms: and, despite the sanctions of current American usage,she has failed to lake adequate advantage of them—either for herself or for

46

her children. But this is a matter that will be discussed in Chapter V. “HowFamily Arms Grow.“(3) The third question, a logical outgrowth of the previous one.might be:

Have1the right to use arms at all?Mrs. Plunckett, by every conceivable standard—not only in the United

States. but elsewhere—you have every right to the use of arms. I'll go further.If the use of arms has any real importance or meaning in your community interms of status and of the standards by which you live and within which youare rearing your children. then you have not only a right but, perhaps, anobligation to use them.

60 Loom (MACLENNAN)

If arms nre a symbol of gentility in the sense that I defined the term earlier.they would be granted to you in any country where arms are still ofileiallyStunted by the law of the land. But you have an even stronger claim than that:the one indisputable right to the use of anns is to he the legitimate and ac-

6| Lnlruc

ccpted descendant of forebears who did carry anns. You qualify on bothscores; what you don‘t qualif) for is the right to use the basic or unquarlcredarms of the Culhberls.(4) Mrs. Pluncketfs final and very practical question might well be: Then

what arms could I. or should I. use‘?And this. Mr». Plunckcn. as _\ou now kn0\\. is the most difiicult question

of all. Perhaps the best thing I can do at [his point is In tell just how that

question was answered.

62 l.nw\'

The obvinu» and ximplc s0l|lll<\l'I vmuld him: been for .\lr~. Plunekexl touse her l) |l\b;|nd'.\ arms. j|l\l u» Fdgark \\|l'c \\u\making use of her husband‘s.However. Mr. Plunckell um in in .\ll|J&|lIUn H0! unlike l|l\ wiles. The husband.Charlcx Hcndcrsun Plunekeu. um nui ;i\\are 0|’ pulcrnul arms. nor vms [here

any predisposition on un_\one‘» pan [0 enierlam a lengthy genealogical studyin cstablixli Ihe p()\slbllll} of such armx. Mr. Pluneken. like Edgaris wife. was

48

63 LYNCH

64 MArFmuA.\E iMArFAnLm) 65 MALKOIM (McC.u.1uM)

not of local origin. Ihough he did conic from [he same slate.His molher wasa Henderson. .1 family that had and slill used \\cl|~c\Iab|ishcd arms of lheirown.There are at this point xcwral pusxibililicx. all too lcnglhy for full discussion

'hc-aring of arms": any nevi cunthem, The basic problem um not mural} lhcwnuld have satisfied that. and it \ \ :I s nut Ihe pnmar) cmiccrn of the I’|unckctt.\.Thc main puim V\‘:|\. in view of the Inca] siuiatinn. that ii the P|unckcll.\ vien:to bear arms at all. L‘.\pL!<.'i'.l”_V arnu lh;Il vmuld he paxscd on In and uxcd bytheir children. mu condilionx had In he \‘.Ill\rIL'dI Ia) the desirable localidcnlificalion xhnuld hewith the Culhbcm: [hi the falhcrk armorial connec-[ion or inheritance had in bu rccngni/cd and given a pmiiinn of prcfcrmcni.The snluiion then lay in lhc crczilioll of a new coal-of-arms for [his par-

Iicular Plunckcn lamii}: and. inasmuch Ah C‘.IL'h side of the iamil_\ had immig-cmus forcbcars. lhcrc acre luo \Ac|I-cxluhiixllcd Nels uf arms from which Indraw in the creation of a nevi cuul. prupcr care being taken not to infringe onthe prcrngalivcs of either set.

49

66 hr1r\V.\‘l:RS

The resulting anns, by the way. were subsequently registered. What wewant to know now, in order to understand this illustration fully, is just whatthe Cuthben arms looked like. what the Henderson arms looked like, andfinally what the new “Plunckett" arms were that “alludcd" to both of themwithoutmaterially infringing on either.But before wecan do this, we must take a coat-oE~arms apart in order to

knowwhat its elementsare and then put it back together again.

67 MANNING (2) 68 MA'mEsoN

50

fi‘Z?AIl3ilINl@a i‘?©U3E%

©©Z?Xfi'=©E‘=ZlAlRM§ Z?~_\.E9Z?AE3fi‘

The figure that you see below (fig. 69) i< wltat is commonly known as acoat-of-armx. Some such term as "armorial rtchievcmenl." "achievement."“armorial bearings." or even “halchment“ might conceivably be preferable ontechnical grounds. but would be an unnccexsary purism_It is desirable at the outset to L‘\[1Ibli\|1 two cnnceptxz first. the coat-of-arms

as depicted represents as complete an achievement (that is. collection of he-raldic elements) as will normally be met with in American family usage: cec-ondly. the emit-of-arms xhown ix said to consist of three component parts.xliivltl, rrrnv/. and mu/In, although the elements as labeled an the drawing morethan double this in number.Tlte purpose of this chapter is tn explain ultieh Hi these elements are neces-

sary and inherituble in a family coat-of-arms and which are optional and/ormerely decorative.

II»; I tVK> ..Wuthl ' k my-..

w.. u...=i....

1-‘; ti.“

t l}t\ M 4171: same V lh l» l.,m..»

t ( mm.m w... lm um :.‘fkut-sk I \.n.».»m

69 (‘omptment Parts of a ( ‘o avo l- A rms

The Shield

The shield, individualized by its distinctive symbolism. is the sin? qllll nonwithout which there is no coat-of-arms; for the shield depicts the colorings anddevices of the primitive surcoat llhe original coat—of»anns) that set ott onegroup of interrelated fightingmen from all other groups. To put it another way.the distinctive shield itself can and often does constitute a complete coat4)f-arms: it is the one basic element. Any other collection of heraldic devices puttogether without the shield. or its appropriate substitute. is at best so manytwigs and branches dissociated from the trunk of the tree.In the graphic representation of coat armor. the shape of the shield is

reasonably optional and depends largely on the taste and judgment of theheraldic artist. Modern heraldic representation‘ though considerably stylized(often too much so). has reverted to the sounder practice that was currentup to and through the eighteenth century: the shields are fairly simple in formand bear some vague relationship to what a medieval shield might in fact havelooked like. This is a healthy aversion to the nineteenthcentury conventionof various gingerbread shields that lookedmore like ornate Italian mirrors andpicture frames than like anything ever carried into battle.Basically the modern heraldic shield takes one of two forms: it is somewhat

triangular in shape (fig. 70) or somewhat squarish (fig. 7| ). The choice is atthe option of the artist and should be appropriate to the contents of the shieldin establishing a feeling of balance or symmetry. Especially where quarteredarms are concerned. the symmetry and balance would be readily lost if thelower section were cramped and squeewd into the narrower pattern of thetriangular shield.

g70 NOBLE, Iona:T. 7! REYNOLDS ll. SHERMAN BRIGGS

The Shield

Though the custom iscomparatively rare inAmerican heraldry, sometimesthe basic arms are carried on a lozenge (a vertically lengthened diamond-shaped figure) or on an oral instead of on a shield. The use of the lozengeis discussed in Chapter IV. “Using Your Coat-of-Arms,“ and the oval is dis-cussed in ChapterVII, “Corporate Arms.“

THE DIVISIONS OF THE SHIELD

Because the “arms" are borne on the face of the shield. heralds have his-torically divided this face into conventional areas and points of reference inorder to facilitate the verbal description of a coat—of-arms. The face of theshield is commonly referred to as the field: its basic divisions have been his-torieally codified as "ordinarics" and “sub-ordinari It is sufiicient. however.to consider both of these classifications as nlirisimtr, and the accompanyingdiagram (fig. 72) indicates the main divisions and points of reference. Theword (fl'.\ll‘r, of course. refers to the right side of the shield. and the term.rini.rI1‘r to the left. As these areas are labeled in the diagram. they seem to bereversed (as in the terms “stage right" and “stage l eft "). but only because theherald traditionally describes a shield from the viewpoint of the man behind it.

n. I ma

tum...

The C/tit’/. the h.'.\‘.t’, and theBllfl‘ 'l he numhclesl l[llllIIl‘I.\ of '-I shield A Item!with ¢'urH'.u'\'72 Divisions of the Shield and the Reference Points

Such divisions as chief, /PS5, base, and pale are ideally considered to occupyone-third of the area of the shield: they are. however. often depicted somewhatsmaller than this in order to accommodztte the various configurations of agiven shield and to avoid crowding.

53

A pale A c/Iernm

During its development over the centuries. heraldry has shown more or lessstrongly marked prcfercnces where certain areas of the shield are concerned.Thus, the chief. or upper area of the shield. enjoys preference over the base. orlower area of the shield: si ilarly, heraldry favors the dextcr as opposed tothe sinister side of the shield. However. these two statements are broad gen-eralities. not universal statements of individual heraldic truth. Of the two. thefirst (that the chief takes precedence over the base) comes closer to beingconsistent than the latter, Although there is a marked preference for the dcxteras opposed to the sinister side in the heraldry of all nations, the avoidance of

A shleldpar/ed /It’! pull: with Dtxler The re/emu‘:point:of a shield:and siniwr areas indicalul 1. Dexter Chic! 5. Fess (center) Point

2. CenterChie[ 6. Nomhril (Navel) Point3. Sinister Chief 7. Dexter Base4. Honor Point 8. Center Base

9. Sinister Base54

the opposite has become almost a compulsion in the heraldry of the Britishlslesz usage on the Continent is not so strict and often varies. it would appear.for artistic reasons alone. An example may be seen in the arms represented byfig. 73. Each silver leaf is depicted sli«__'htl_\ ofi center and leaning tovtardthe sinister side. In all probability the original arms displa)ed the leaf “inpale." Vertically upright in the center of the shield. lts present position isunquestionably intended to match the position of the smaller leaf in the crest;and the position of that leaf is just as unquestionably dictated by artistic exi-gcncy: it creates a better balance.

7t Put Rust »..Pm«me

However. so marked is this preference tltat any nonsyntmetrical r/tarp? isalways presumed to face tlte dcxter side unless 0lhr:r\\i\e \pt.‘LIfiL‘d. And it

diagonal configuration. unless ntherttise specified. is presumed to originate in"dextcr chief." that is. the upper right-hund corner of the shield. Similarly.a vertical charge is presumed to point l0\\1Il’d the chief, unless otherwisespecified.The lines that mark all the divisions of a shield are called /mrtition liner.

Though these lines are most frcquentl} stratgltt. as in the illustrative coat-of»arms at the beginning of this chapter. the} may and often do take otherfnrms~br0ken. wa\_. or 50nIL‘\\l’I.'ll intricately involved. Under the alpha-betical entry. P: \RTlTlu.\' LINES. the} are described and illustrated in ChapterVIII. "The Symbols of Heraldr_\."

55

THE HERALDIC TINCFURES AND FURS

Unless a bare outline of a coat—of-arms is given (a custom that was oncefairly general). each of the varied elements of an armorial achievement isexpected to be represented in some tincture (the term is used here to indicateany color or “metal") or heraldic fur. Now heraldry in full color, as it oughtto be shown, is a vibrant art. Frequently. sometimes by choice, sometimes bynecessity. color is not available in heraldic representations: for example, insingle-run bookplates. in embossings. and in engravings. This leaves a choicebetween the bare outline, on the one hand. or some system of indicatingwhatthe colors are, on the other. The present universally accepted system forindicating the colors. metals. and furs is known as “engravers‘ tricks." Thissystem has been invelghed against by more than one heraldic writer: and.though far from creating the spectacular effect of real color. it serves a purposeand is likely to remain in popular use. The following diagram (fig. 74) givesthe heraldic name. the more common name, and the engravers' trick for themore usual colors. metals. and furs.The particular intensity or shade of any given color is at the discretion of

the artist. Continental heraldry. however. does specify in addition to azure(blue) the separate color cerulean (light blue).

um:mm W. ..w...

u. ......‘.4 . . . mm

74 The Metalsand Principal ColorsW.

Ernmv: "'

lll« M . x..-[Imam

K unc—I<¢l

74 Heraldric Furs

THE CHARGES

A charge is any figure or symbol placed upon the shield or upon any divi-sion of the shield or acroxs two or more di MODS of the field. A charge mayon occasion he "charged." that ix. placed. upon some other charge. In theillustrative arms at the beginning of this chapter (fig. 79). the charges arethree fleurs—de—ly.s and they are charged or placed upon that particular divi-sion of the shield called a baml. (This is properly a bend (letter, that is. adiagonal configuration beginning at the upper right-hand corner of the shield.Because heraldry favors the dexter. the use of the word dexter is optional: ifthe bend ran in the opposite direction. the term "bend sinister"would have tobe specified.) The rrnxx flrnry in lig. 75. however. is superimposed upon all[ourdivisions of theshield. in this case quurlenr.

75 .\lw .\i.\r. t H

The range of figure< and \_\|tlh0i\ used i ts charges is unlimited and com-pletely uninhibitcd. Beginning uith the Finger of God tthe Father). with allsorts of representations of Ottr Lord. Hi,» Blessed Mother. the Saints and Mar-tyrs. the instruments of torture ilixociztlcd with them. and uith every knownChurch symbol. they continue on with the \'1I|’Itl|.|s flrlicics of warfare tmedi»eval or modern). with the simple artifacts of daily life. with creation: ofmodem industry and commerce (the Iucomntite. for instance). with men andanimals. birds. reptiles. and fiches. with- «vell. uith everything on earth. inthe heaven: above. and in the \\'ater.s below. .\'or l\ heraldry content to stopthere: impossible creatures. some of them often fantastic composites of known

57

creatures. are met with as casually in heraldry as Alice met them Through theLooking Glass. A creature half lion and half fish becomes almost common-place next to one half man and half ship. I am waiting to see in a moderncoat-of-arms, and there is no reason why I shouldn‘t, the symbols of atomicstructure.Many of the figures that come dotm to us from an earlier heraldic age have

become so highly conventionalizcd that they bear little resemblance to theirnatural counterparts. This is especially true of animals. For instance. in fig.I27. page I16. the tigers used as charges are glossed as “Bengal tigers" to indi-Cate that they look more or less like the natural animal;but the heraldic tiger.preferably spelled “tygre."~an older spelling that helps to establish the dis-tinction—looks like nothing at all known to the zoologist.Furthermore. for heraldic purposes. any charge may be of any color; with

the result that the heraldist has given uswhat the botanist has failed to achieve——a black rose. A wolf may be green. red. or pnrti-colored. On those com-paratively rare occasions when an object is displayed in its natural colors. itis specified as proper. Though it need not concern ushere. there are.of course.good historic reasons. mostly growing out of the natural needs of heraldryitself. for these most unnatural variations.The most comprehensive study of heraldic charges is that by the late A. C.

Fox-Davies in his (‘nmplem Guide In H:-raldry.In describing a coat«nf~arms. it is necessary to specify the posture or posi-

tion of most animals and birds. because ll is often only the posture of thecreature involved that distinguishes one coat-of-arms from another. The spe-cial jargon of heraldry provides terms for almost every conceivable posture oractivity: the most frequent are listed and explained in alphabetical order inChapterVIII, ”The Symbols of Heraldry.“

BLAZONING

Heraldry makes a sharp distinction between the verbs “to blazon" and “toemblazon." To emblazon a coat-of-arms means to depict it graphically, nor-mally in full color. although byextension any drawing or engraving that indi-cates (as by the engravers” tricks) the colors of the achievement is still re-garded as an cmblazonment.On the other hand. to blazon a coat—of—arms is to describe it verbally. This

Verbal record is very much like a medical man's prescription; it enables the

58

heraldic artist to emblazon the arms so described. Now obviously any verbaldescriptionof acoatof-amts, ifhighly accurate. will serve the intendedpurpose.But the margin of error is very great, as you can easily discover by asking afriend to describe for you in his own words even a simple coat-of-arms. to saynothing ofwhat will happen if he tries to describe one of the more complicatedcoats.And even aminor error can result in the productionof an entirely differ-ent coat-of»arms from the one intended.Just as law, medicine. linguistic. or mathematics each has its specialized

language—and to some extent its specialized grammar—to avoid ambiguityand inaccuracy, heraldry. along with the other sciences—and even earlier thansome—bcgan to develop a language andgrammar of its own to insure accuracyand uniformity. As used in English (andcompare the language of law in thisrespect), the language of heraldry is heavily encrusted with terms and con-structions that derive from the Norman French,or Anglo-Norman. which wasthe polite and educated language of the British Isles during the centuries inwhich the science of heraldry was codified.As a result. blazoning has become a minor science in its own right. The

twin dangers that beset any science. of course. are: first. its practitioners maybecome more enamored of its rules than of its function: and. secondly. (com-pare the medical man’: prescription) it may become a conspiracy againstthe layman. The science of blazon has not been immune to either. but thebetter heraldic writers have consistently fought to keep the language of blazonas simple as accuracy will permit. When the rules of blazon become so com-plex that they obscure meaning. and thus create ambiguity and inaccuracy,they have defeated the purpose for which they exist.Yet the rules of blazon can be simplified to the point that anyone interested

may with a few minutes‘ study and occasional practice read a blazon and thenpicture, either in his mind or onpaper, the arms which that blazon is intendedto convey: and. conversely, he should. with a little more practice. be able toblazon a not too complicated coat-of-arms from its pictorial representation.The basic philosophy of description is to begin with the more important

elements and move to the less important. Remember in describing a shieldthat heraldry favors the chief (upper portion) and the dexter (right) side.Also, with the exception of the terms dexter and sinister. adjectives normallyfollow their nouns. It is a matter of small moment.but I may mention that theposition of dexter and sinister varies in usage according to the noun. If thenoun is an archaic term of Anglo-Norman derivation. the adjective follows

59

(e.g.. a bend dexter): if the noun is of English origin. the adjective precedes(r.g., a dexter hand).Each element of a coat-ol’-arms is described in its own brief paragraph.

preferably in a single sentence: first. the shield: secondly, the crest: and.thirdly, the motto.It is a convention of heraldic blazon not to repeal the name ofa color.metal.

or fur in any givenbrief paragraph, substituting instead the phrase “of the first(second or third)" and meaning the same as the first (second or third) tine»ture mentioned in that paragraph. Nonnally this works out quite well; but ina complicated set of arms it may lead to ambiguity. It is better under suchcircumstances to forget the “conventions“ and insure accuracy by repeatingthe name of the color. metal. or lur.Another convention is that when two or more charges are named in imme-

diate succession and all have the same color. the color is specified alter thefinal object in the series and applies to all.Finally. many charges—cspecially animals or parts of animals—require an

adjective describing the posture. activity. or physical limitation. The order ofblaloning is to name the animal first. then the adjective that describes ' pos-ture or activity. and finally its color.All of these points are illustrated in the hlaI.ons that follow. Try to picture

in your mind the coat-of-arms being described. then turn to the emblamnment(the graphic representation) as ind ed by the figure and page number tocheck the accuracy of your interpretation. We'll begin with a full set of armsto illustrate the separate pztragraphing for shield. crest. and motto, The exam-plc is Fig. 69. page 5|. used as the illustrative arms for this chapter.

"DE LA TOUR"

Arms: Argent. on a bend gules three lleurs-de-lys of the first (orof the field).Crest: On a torse (orwreath) of the colors (or l ivcrics) a fieur-de-lys urgent.Motto: Pnur le Roi

The brief paragraph describing the arms, that is. the shield proper. beginswtih the single word arpvnl (silver).This means. "The basic coloration of theshield is silver." It then moves on to the one basic division of the shield, heredesignated as a "bend."Wemight have said "bend dextcr." though the speci-fication is unnecessary: and the color of the bend isgiven as “gules" (red). On

60

this bend appear, finally. the three charges, the fleuts-de-lys. They, too, areargent or silver, but. following the convention. t.he name of the metal is notrepeated; they are designated instead as “of the first." meaning of the firsttincture meantioned;or they may bedesignated as “of the field." that is. havingthe same tincture as the field.A blazon of the shield shown in fig. 75, page 57. would read as follows:

Quarterly azure and gules. a Cross fleury between four trefoilsargent.

Again webegin with a description of the field: it is divided into quarters, orfour equal parts, and the colors are given as a:urz'(blue)and gules (red). Thefirst color named is blue. so it applies to the most important quarter. the dexterchief: the next color. red. pertains to the second quarter. the sinister chief. Thecolors are then necessarily reversed in the lower halfof the shield or otherwisethe field would not be divided colorwise into four quarters. Next came thecharges. five in number; the first and most important is the crass fleury. (Thissimply means a cross whose arms terminate in a convenlionalized florate pat-tern.) No tincture is immediately indicated for this charge. but it is one of aseries. and the term “argent" (silver) following the four trefoils applies to allfive. Finally wehave mention of the four “trefoils" (shamrocks) that surroundthe cross. Notice that the cros. s described as being "betwcen“ the four tre-foils. Heraldry, like historic English. knows nothing of the modern rule that“between" must be used with two and “among" with a greater number.The arms shown in fig. 76 are blazoned:

Argent. (in base) a hand (ordexter hand) couped (or coupé)gules. clutching a sword azure pommeled and hiltcd or.

76 SIJI.Lwas

Again the field is silver. It is really not necessary to specify that the handis “in base"; it isclutching a sword. and. unless otherwise specified, the swordis assumed to be upright. which would necess rily place the hand toward thebottom of the shield. The hand has a limitation: i is amped or coupe‘, whichmeans that it is linixhed oil‘ at the wrist by a straight line: and. finally, the handis given a color. “gu|es" (red).The sword is described as "azure" (blue). butthis can apply nnly to the blade of the sword. for weare told that its pommeland hilt arecolored “or" (gold).The legendary arms of Sir Launcelot tfig. 77) are blamned:

77 Luzscrtor. Snt

Gules. a gritiin segreant (rampant) or.This time the field is red tgules): the single charge, a grillin, isnamed: then

his position is indicated—he is “rampant." that is. standing on one rear legand with the forelegs elevated in the position shown (andnormally facing thedexter sidcl—-and finally his color is mentioned. He isgold (or ) .

The Crest

There is a marked tendency for the unknowing to use the term crest in refer-ring to any heraldic representation. more especially the completeachievement.or what ismore usually referred to as the coat-of-arms. The student of heraldryproperly regards this usage as an illiteracy and reserves the term crest for thatpart of the representation attached to the crown of the helmet. when the helmetis represented, or surmounting the torse when the helmet is omitted.

62

This popular confusion between the terms crest and coat-of-arms (orachievement), though frowned upon today. reached its height during the nine-teenth century; it was met with in the work of reputable (though nonheraldi-cally trained) writers and in the conversation of people who.born and rearedin armigcrous families. should have known better. No reasonable explanationother than ignorance has been ofiered. though three possible explanations sug-gest themselves. Such usage may be justified as exemplifying what the pros-odlst calls “synecdoche,“ or substitution of a part for the whole. A more rea-sonable explanation perhaps lies in that aspect of Victorian psychology thatFox-Davies once characterized as "ostentatious unostentation." It was duringthat period that the older, large “carriage panel.“ depicting in vivid colors theentire armorial achievement. was replaced by the smaller and more sedategoldand silver representations of the crest alone on the carriage doors of fashion-able families. At the same time. the complete Coat-of-arms was replaced by thecrest alone for engraving on family silverware. especially (andquite appropri-ately) for the smaller pieces. These particular representations were, of course.properly referred to as "crests" rather than “achicvements" or “coats-of-arms."By extension. the unknowing would employ the term to cover any heraldicrepresentation.Still another contributory factor may be the Scottish custom whereby (ex-

cept for the distinguishing feathers of the chief or chieftain) all members ofthe clan wear in their cap the same crest-badge as the chief. Denied for themost part by modern official usage the right to display the full arms. manyregarded this crest-badge as the uniting device for all members of the clan. andit became for all practical purposes the “arrns“ of the related unit.But. technically speaking. the crest is that part of the achievement that sur-

mounts the helmet and is attached to it. generally. by the wreath or torse.Moreover. in the history of heraldry it is a comparative newcomer, that is, inits present form of development. As a matter of fact. Anthony Wagner, in hisHt'raIr1r_\' in England, asserts that the first general employment of the spe-cialized crest in the British Isles was during Edward lll's campaign againstthe Scots in 1327, a campaign that saw simultaneously the introduction of thecrest and gunpowder!Though the history of the present-type crest is somewhat confused, it prob-

ably represented a recognition symbol of a military unit leader. This type ofcrest was generally manufactured of leather that had been softened by boilingin oil and then molded into the desired shape. As a recognition symbol. it

63

might or might not have anything to do with the symbolic structure of the an'nsas carried by the man who bore it. In fact. there was at first little historic sta-bility to the crest form. There are families whose records show accurate con-tinuity of basic arms over a period of several centuries. during which the crestsymbol will vary two or three times. Modern heraldry. on the other hand.regards the crest as an integral and inheritable pan of the heraldic achieve-merit. and it is 50 recorded in grants. confirmations. and matriculations ofanns.The symbol or symbols used in the construction of the crest (like the

charges on the shield) nonnally face the dexter. In British heraldry this is trueeven in cases where families (generally by special augmentation) carry twocrests: each crest. surmounting its own helmet. faces the dexter, On the Con-tinent. however. the two crestswill frequently face each other.I have a feeling that until comparatively modern times the crest was rela-

tively rare and that its startling regularity in Anglo-American heraldry repre-sents “addition." confirmed or unconfirmed as the case may be. A noticeablecharacteristic is that the symbol or symbols of the crest may frequently repro-duce or allude to those in the basic arms or. just as frequently. bear no rela-tionship to the armsat all.In the heraldry of some nations. the crest may be as often absent as it is

present. Irish. French. Spanish. Italian. and with a peculiar modification)German heraldry show no great or universal addiction to the special crest fon'nthat we have been discussing. With the exception of Germany heraldry. theusual practice in the countries named when representing arms that have nospecialized crest is (a) to omit the helmet. (b) to show a plain helmet. or( c ) to surmount the helmet with plumes of variegated color. These plumes areprimarily decorative and need not be assumed to represent an inheritabledevice.A usual practice in the German countries. when there isno specialized crest.

is to surmount the helmet with a fan-shaped figure on which the basic armsare reproduced in toto. An example of this is shown in fig. 78. page 65. Fre-quently this fan-shaped figure is placed between a pair of horns that have intri-cate and gilded points. Properly speaking. these horns are not an integral partof the crest itself but historically form a part of the helmet; they hark back tothe North Germanic or Scandinavian helmet structure that characterized pre-heraldic days.

78 The Fan-Crest

THE TORSE

The torse, or wreath. is a conventionalized representation ofwhat was oncea lashing that secured the light. molded crest to the perforated metal studdingsat the crown of the helmet. it served. too. to provide a reasonably neat finishover the line of juncture. Whatever the original material may have been infact. the heraldic artist conceives of it as two pieces of cloth. each of its sepa-rate tincture. twisted together so as to show six segments of alternating metaland color. The dominant metal of the arms comes’first and then the dominantcolor of the arms. Because these two tinctures were often used in great house-holds as livery colors. it is customary to refer to this as. “a torse (or wreath)of the colors (or liveriesl."When no helmet is shown in the cmblazonment of a heraldic achievement.

it is customary to show the torse as a straight bar placed slightly above theshield. When. however. a helmet is shown, it is customary to show the torsein a somewhat more realistic position following at line around the crown ofthe helmet and with the crest properly rising from it.All too often. unfortunately. inept artists depict the helmet and then show

the torse as a straight bar floating in empty space above. There are enoughnecessary anomalies in good heraldry without the added burden of such inepti-tudes.In the case of certain coats—of-arms. however. this slavish addiction to the

one dominant metal and the one dominant color in constructing the torseresults in a set of colors or liveries not truly representative of the arms them-selves. Although the dominantmetal is usually quite obvious, this is not always

65

true for color, and often a true feeling for the arms would require the use oftwo colors. The modern artistmight, if he knowswhat he is about, well permithimself the latitude of some of the early heraldic artists in this respect, Whenusing two colors. it is considered proper to place the metal between them. I citeas one example the excellent fifteenth-centuryGarter plate of Lord Bourchier.Here the six segments of the torse are alternately blue, gold. and black.

THE CORONETS

Some crests emerge. not from a torse. but out of one or another type ofCoronet. Very frequently in American usage these coronets rest on a terse:just as frequently. so far as I can judge. the torse is omitted. Personally, andon historic grounds. I prefer the latter usage: but the presence or absence ofa torsc in connection with a eoronet isperhaps amatter of nogreat importancein the emblazoning of arms in the United States.What is important is the typeof coronet involved. Some coronets—principal|y the ducal cnrrmet (fig. 79)and. less frequently met with. the naval crown and the mural crown—areprimarily a part of the family achievement andas such are inheritablewhereverthe crest itself is inhcritable. Other eoronets and allied insignia. however.are indicative of ollicial rank or position. such as the mrnnm n/ rank andthe caps 0/ muiI1I1'Imm‘(’. The so-called rlurnl caronel,by the way. is not oneof these and has nothing to do with indicating the position or rank of aduke. These olllcial coronets are all illustrated and explained in detail. so faras those applicable to the English and Scottish peerages are concerned, insuch readily available references as the Encyclopedia Britannica, Fox-Davies‘('nmpIeIz'Guitlr to Heraldry. and Moncreifle and Pottinger‘s SimpleHeraldry.

79 Crest of the Chapel of the Venerable Bede

These coronets of rank, like supporters. have no place whatever in Ameri-can family coat armor. Their presence (I wish I could say rare presence) onthe walls, stationery, and silverware of private American citizens is at best aconfession of ignorance and at worst an indication of fraud on somebody'spart—usually, I believe, on the part of various unqualified ( to put it chari-tably) “genealogists" and “heraldic artists.“

THE HELMET

As in the case of the shield. modern usage prefers a helmet of simple linesand clean design and generally avoids the impossible and ornate representa-tions of knightly headgear so characteristic of the heraldic anistry of the lastcentury. On the other hand, it ought to be admitted in all honesty that therococo drawings of the nineteenth century were not much of an exaggerationof the ornate "display“ or "parade" helmets that were actually carried, if notworn. in the late MiddleAges.The specific type of helmet is largely a matter of artistic choice, but it should

clearly bear a reasonable relationship as to style and period to the shield withwhich it is shown.The size of the helmet in a modern representation is of considerable im-

portance, both in its relationship to the size of the crest which is attached toit and to the size of the shield with which it ixemblazoned. In the case of arather complex crest which must be rather larger than usual for its specifics tobe recognizable at all. it is artistically better judgment to omit the helmet fromthe achievement. lest its relative size dominate the entire emblazonment. Forthe helmet, though highly decorative. martial in aspect. and usually depicted.is not an integral part of the achievement nor, in America. distinguishing.It is conventional to “unify“ the shield and helmet in representations by

having the lower part of the helmet slightly overlap the upper edge of theshield.Where the relation of helmet and shield is concerned. two variations from

older usage should be noticed. In earlier heraldic representations. the helmetwas shown upright and the shield beneath it was frequently drawn as leaningat an angle, in the general position of a bend. This was in imitation of theposition these two component elements would assume when actually worn andcarried by a man on horseback. Modern usage, to achieve a higher degree ofsymmetry, generally avoids the leaning shield.

67

The second variation in modem representation concerns the relative sizeof helmet and shield. Older emblazonments emphasize the size of the helmetat the expense of the shield. and this was in accord with the realitim of thetime. Modern usage. on the other hand. emphasizes the size of the shield(which bears the significant armorial design) at the expense of the helmet.which in American usage is not really necessary to the achievement at all.Up to this point. American usage where the representation of the helmet is

concerned is generally in accord with that of the British Isles or of the Conti~nent. Beyond this point. some noticeable divergencies occur, In the olficialheraldry of the United Kingdom. certain types and shapes of helmets. positionof the visor (whether open or closed). metallic structure of the visor, anddirection of the helmet (whether it is in profile or facing the observer). mayall be indicative of rank or position. starting with certain orders of knighthood.The helmet of the "esquire" or "gentleman" is designated as being in profile.(facing the dexter. of course).with \‘i\or closed. and described as being steelin color. Now generally speaking. though subject to the restrictions of goodtaste, all of this is meaningless in America. Much of this may be disregardedwith impunity. if the artist knows what he is doing: if he doesn't. much of itmay be disregarded at the expense of making a family look ridiculous. NoAmerican cares to carry a helmet in his achievement that anywhere elsewouldproclaim his position as sovereign or as of a specific rank in an establishedpeerage.Although I have never seen in American usage a helmet nflronlé (facing

front) with closed visor when it was surmounted by a crest. I have seen theafironté helmet used as a decorative finish to the shield when there was nocrest (see fig. S0). The argument that this violates the rules of Brilixhusage for simple gentlemen in that it may be confused with the armorial bear-ings of certain knightly orders or those of the knight baronct seems inappli»cable here. In the first place. this is Amcriam usage; secondly. the Britishknight carries the insignia of his order and the baronet his special badge.

80 0'D.u'

The color of the helmet [and this is not a problem limited to Americanheraldry) needs some comment. Theoretically. the helm of the esquire orgentleman is traditionally regarded as steel. Just how the heraldic artist is todistinguish steel from silver in a color representation has long been a problem.In engravings and line drawings. the issue is begged by simply omitting anyindication of co|or—-which omission in itsell. by the way. indicates silver. Incolor representations. however. it has long been the custom to "suggest"a steelhelmet by using some pale neutral color that does not allude to any of theheraldic colors of the arms themselves. This is still the conventional solutionin American coat armor. On the Continent. however. it is not unusual to seethe helmet depicted in black or in one of the basic colors of the arms them-selves. In recent years this latter custnm has been adopted in America as well.(See fig. 70. page 52.) This practice serves to unite the highly decorative butnonessential helmet with the equally decorative and nonessential mantling.

THE MANYLING

The mantling. though historically justified as part of the medieval warrior‘:accoutrements. is purely decorative: its presence or absence is immaterial inamodern achievement. Itderives. of course. from the longish cloth or lambre-quin that the medieval warrior used to protect his helmet and other parts ofhis metallic armor from the blistering sun of southern climates.Early stall plates generally represent it with a fair degree of accuracy, and

conventionally its outer surface reproduces the dominant color of the arms, itsinner surface the dominant metal. To show both tinctures. it is necessary tohave the mantling doubled back in places. It is presently shown asmuch largerthan it was in the earlier representations and. depending as it does from thetorse on either side of the helmet. it is used chiefly as an artistically unifyingframework for the rest of the achievement. During the centuries of heraldicart, the mantling has become increasingly florate and vine shaped. the originalintention of which was clearly to indicate that its wearer had been inmany anactive campaign and that the lamhrequin had been slashed by many a hostilesword. ln engravi . the mantling has frequently degenerated into little morethan a complicated system of curlicues. With the increasing simplicity anddignity of modern representations. the mantling has little function or excuseunless it subordinates itself to form a unifying framework for the rest of theachievement.

69

The Mono and Scroll

The term matlo as referring to the one or morewords generally associatedwith many coatsof-arms isperhaps not the happiest terrn (within the modemmeaning of the word motto) that might be applied. Butmotto it has been forcenturies. and motto it is likely to remain. For many of these heraldic mottoesare not. in the modern sense. a verbal expression of one's guiding principle inlife. Many are in reality ancient war cries: others are references to a real orfancied ancestral achievement; still others are (good or bad) puns on thefamily name. And by no means do all family arms even carry mottoes.Unfortunately. most American families are unaware of the fact that unless

the motto appears in the original grant of arms it is not a necessarily inherita-ble part of the achievement at all. Traditionally. the motto is a matter ofindividual choice for each member of the family, and in that sense it is themost personal part of any coat-of-amts. Some particularly apt or historicallyfamous mottoes are too meaningful to discard or replace, but more Americanfamilies who carry arms should be aware of the fact that the motto isoptionalin the first place and subject to individual choice in the second. Too many ofus assume that anything that appears in the earliest representation of ourfamily arms is necessarily sacrosanct—an assumption that extends in someinstances even to the flourishes of a fanciful mantling.To avoid having the motto exist in empty space. it is shown ona fanciful

piece of scrollwork or a ribbon. Its usual place in American heraldry is justbelow the shield.

V

\\

The “Cuthb¢n"Arms The “Henderson"Arms

8| The “Plunckett" andAllied Arms

70

The “Plunekett" Arms

The "Fluncketl Arms"

We are now ready to return to Amy Plunckett and the solution of her anmorial problem.The three coats-of-arms on pages 70 and 7| show respectively(a) the Cuthbert arms, hereditary in Mrs. Plunckett‘s family, but to the use ofwhich shewas not entitled; (b)the Henderson arms. hereditary in the maternalline of her husband‘s family. and to the use of which hewas not entitled; and(c) the “new" Plunckett arms for that particular family that allude to the twoprevious ones.To review the system of blazoning. thcsc several arms may bedescribed as:

Culhbarl Or, a chevron between three crescents gules.Henderson Vert, a cross pmenl between four scallop shells or.Plunckett Or, two chevmnelles between three crescents gules. On

a chief dancetté vert. a cross potent between two scal-lop shells of the first.

Butwe mentioned earlier that Amy Plunckett's cousin Edgar and hiswife.in limiting themselves (and quite correctly. if they so chose) to the Cuthbertarms, had failed to take advantage of the several sanctions in American usagewhere the wife's paternal arms are concerned. Just what could be done tomake use of the wife's arms in connection with the Cuthbert arms will be dis-cussed more fully in Chapter V, “HowFamily Anns Grow.”

71

@§EiIR’]@ Y?©E3E3

C€3@¢?A@=©E’=-Z}»).E’3Ii"/ES

Where good taste is concerned. the answer to Shakespeare's misqunted ques-tion is yes. one can desire too much of LIgood thing, The ways. any one ofwhich is quite legitimate in itself‘ inwhich you may use your coat-of-arms areso numernus and varied that even {I reuxunubly eurtailed lisl sounds ridiculous:and. indeed. anyone wnuld «non appear quite ridiculnus who tried to use hiscoat-of-urnis in iii] of them. I am listing quite at few uses here for the simplereason that most American families who display cont armor do so in just oneor two stereulyped ways. neglecting nther more meaningful and satisfyingusages.

82 Minus‘ (Mhl(1MAN)72

One way to begin is to review some older and hi<torie armorial customsthat are now obsolete: yet you will find that nearly every one of these oldercustoms has been adapted in some way or another so as to have a moderncounterpart. For example, up through the eighteenth century it was not unu-sual for a person‘s portrait to show. usually in an upper comer of the canvas,his or her armorial bearings. In certain part; of America this custom survivedeven into the nineteenth century. as a visit to almost any historical museumwill attest, The custom is now obsolete. of course: though I see no reasonwhyit shouldn't suggest itsell to the traditional-minded as 11meaningful revival.

R1 .\lt\ItI s

But it has left a curious survival. In the last chapter wementioned the appmpriulcness of our Mrs. Plunekettk hanging her framed painting of the Cuthbenarms immediately below the portrait of her grandfather. This is frequentlyseen. especially in the case of nonpaternal arms associated with a particularancestor.

84 MORGAN

Another and even more ancient custom was the use of "livery colors." Inthe Middle Ages and considerably later the owners of the great houses ofEuropedressed their servants in special liveries of uniform design whose colorsreflected the dominant tinctures of the family arms. These same livery colorswere used as trappings for the horses as well as for the upholstery of furnitureand the various interior draperies of the household. (Colorful as it may havebeen, it could be quite monotonous as well.) Sometimes. at even greater ex-pense, the drapery and upholstery material was woven with repeated designsof the coatof-arms. None of this ever took serious root in the United States,though the decorations of State Mansions and even of the White House have,from time to time, reflected the influence of these old customs.

85 Moreno (MONROE)

And yet these customs. outlandish as they may seem today. have left theirmark in modern dccor. Just as the modern interior decorator. whether a pro-iessionalor the interested householder. will "build" the color scheme of a roomto emphasize and harmonize with the general color motif of a special painting.so often this color scheme is planned with the livery colors in mind. especiallyif a very fine representation of the family arms is the focal point of visualinterest. In this regard. consider the possibilities of the excellent modern wall-papers in satin stripes (say of green and silver) for a family whose arms showthese dominant tinctures. Other combinations come as readily to mind; theseare not custom-made items for unlimited budgets, most of them are readilyavailable. Once the basic color scheme has been determined, the basic princi-ples of modern decoration will take care of the rest: upholstery, floor cover-ings. and treatment of woodwork will all follow suit.

74

Nor is there any reason why the arms themselves may not be used, notmerely as a framed picture on the wall, but as an integral part of the decora-tion. For example, as the central section of a window valance the family armsmay, in best of taste, dominate the tone of a given room.Not many of ux, of course. are likely to maintain racing stables; but the

application of liveries to racing colors is obvious.

86 NOBLE

Another ancient custom (and one that found a certain early acceptance inAmerica. by the way) was the exterior emblazonment of arms to identify thefamily dwelling. These were sometimes carved in stone and then appropriatelycolored: even more frequently they took the form of attached plaques of woodor metal on which the arms were painted; in some cases. the charges on theshield were “raised“ figures, These had long characterized the more pretentioustown houses as well as the large rural estates of Europe. and this was particu-

IAAKAAKAA

AI , 1‘,

4AACIJ

87 NUGEN1’

larly true in the urban Centers of southern Europe,where even modest dwel-lings proclaimed the family by its arms. Most schoolboys used to know thatthe great poet. John Milton. was born at his father's London home, theSpread Eagle. not realizing today that the name derives from the dominantcharge, an “eagle displayed." on the Milton arms.Parenthetically. I am ztvtare that the eagle, though not the heraldic spread

eagle, was the characteristic symbol of the Roman State, a government whosepattern influenced many of our Founding Fathers; and I am aware, as well,that the true heraldic spread eagle (generally with two heads) was charac-teristic of the Germanic reigning houses. though l doubt that our FoundingFathers were much impressed by the constitutions of their states. But eon—sidering the particular pol tl and philosophical sympathies of our FoundingFathers. I rather wonder whether the American single—headed spread eagle,the sole supporter and dominant symbol of our national coat~of—arms, maynot owe a part of its existence to its once well-known association with JohnMilton.

RR O'Toot E

But where private citizens are concerned. these exterior arms are now obso-lete. However. the old custom seemed to have been revivetl in a rather mean-ingless way during the first quarter of the present century. As an architecturalembellishment. many houses of that period were designed with a blank heral~die shield (or sometimes one to which meaningless lines and symbols were

assigned) over the entrance or above the porch.By and large. most Americans don't care to proclaim their identity to the

public streets. despite the occa. nal fads (such as that most recent one in

76

89 PLOWDEN

modern suburbia) for such items as wrought-iron lawn ornaments. cunninglydesigned to trip up the neighbors‘ children.Embassies and consulates. of Course IIuse the exterior heraldic devices.

What the average American won't do individually. his corporate dwelling oftendoes for him. Every city has its plethora of apartment houses that call them-selves the This-or-That Arms. each of which pitifully displays some colorfuland nondeseript device hoping that it may be mistaken for a coat-of-arms.Curiously enough. this illiterate armory is not a mere new attempt at preten-tious sntartness: it once characteri7ed the urban corporate dwellings of Europe.it represents a degeneracy of an older and wander tradition. I believe that theoldest apartment houses in the UnitedStates are the PontalbaApartments. two

90 POWER

77

block-long buildings that flunk the north and south sides of Jackson Squarein New Orleans. The inlrlcule wrought-iron baluslrades Ali” bear the repeatedcrowned monogram of the Baroness Pontalbu.

‘ll Piuu

thatproclaimed the national arms or the urms of the company or even the indivi-At one time many ol the old squurerigged ships carried painted sai '

dual owner under which they sailed. This custom. too. is obsolete. Your per-sonal “yucht" may be u twelve-{out cutbout ofduhious design or :1 John Alden-built racing ketch. You may not carry painted sails: but. if you are a memberof a yacht club. you probably do fly your club burgce. Many a sailing enthusi-ast flies his small personal pennant anwell. and this latter is the one that in allprobability reflects his personal coat-of~arms.

92 Rims

78

The old-fashioned carriage panel‘ especially of the seventeenth and eight-eenth centuries, made no pretense to modesty. Usually the entire lower halfof the coach-door panel was brightly covered with the family arms. But thiscustom had already fallen into disuse by Victorian days; the great brightpanel was replaced by a more sedate silver plate bearing. either engraved orcut out, a monogram, the entire arms, or the crest alone. All three of these arestill to be seen occasionally on private motor cars.

93 RHETT

Wementioned earlier that the medieval warrior normally hung his martialaccoutrements. including the shield with its heraldic devices, above the fire-place, or perhaps elsewhere on the walls. when they were not in actual use.And there they have remained. one way or another. until the present day.Later, of course, the actual weapons themselves were replaced by a colorfulpanoply that still retained the armorial devices. Often this achievement—carved in stone or wood. or painted on a wooden or metallic p|aque—

94 Seen

remained above the fireplace. serving as a focal point of interest and as anintegral part of a simple or elaborate overmantel. In other instances, expeciallywhen the arms were reprexentcd on a detachable plaque, they were movedaway from the mantel. perhaps to a position above a doorway or providingthe main decor of a wall or large panel.

95 Seuanoox

Millions of Americans who have visited Mount Vernon or restored Wil-liamshurg will recall the elaborate display of the official armorial deviceabove the main doorway of the great ballroom in the Governor's Palace atWillizlmsburg and the arms of the Washinglons in the “broken pediment“ thatclimaxes the overmanlel in the west parlor at Mount Vernon.Still later this plaque was frequently replaced by a framed painting of the

arms. Though traditionally and characteristically done in oils in former gen-

96 Snrumm

erations. more modern usage favors water color%r. more properly, whatmodern usage prefers is a more precise and clear-cut draftsmanship renderedin India ink on vellum or a good grade of paper: the colors and metals arethen applied appropriately to this drawing.

Wall Decorations

The use of family arms as a wall decoration is still their m0\l popular andperhaps primary use in America. For the benefit of those families who areconsidering having a new copy made. especially younger married coupleswho are starting a home of their oun. let me uarn against hastily acquiring acheap reproduction. Familiarize yourself well ahead of time with the "feel"of good heraldic art: study sonieuhat carefully Il' l(\\c in other homes you visit:

97 Smoxs

a trip to your local library should rc\c;Il at least half a dozen dillerent styles;museums are often a storehouse of traditional models. And. finally, rememberthat the services of a truly competent heraldic artist (competent not only inaccuracy of heraldic detail but in his artistic capabilities) rarely cost muchmore than the services of a mere copyistr who lacks not unly mastery of hisart but also is delicient in his command of the science of heraldry.But the framed painting is not the only form that coats-of-arms take aswall

decorations in modern America. I have seen quite a few examples of familyarms reproduced on glazed tile—in some instances on a fairly large singletile, in others on four smaller tiles that are then cemented together. These tilerepresentations are then set into the mantel or into the ovetmantel.

9R Snrr-om

A friend of mine whose father was for several years attached to the Amer-ican Embas ' in Madrid has as u memento of that period a wall tapestry intowhich the faintly arms (ratherelaborate ones of German origin) are woven asthe central motif.More popular than the tile reproduction is the wall plaque. This is usually

a polished hardwood plaque. oral or shield shaped, with the arms done inmetal and enamel. In American homes. where the usual living room is charac-teristically less mtnculinc in its decor than in counterpart in the British Isles oron the Continent. the plaque type of representation seems more appropriateto den. xtudy. or library.Must heraldic L‘nli'l|l\l.I\Is are not cunlent to limit themselves to displaying

the pruducts ul professional craftsmen. A \|.Ippl_\ of construction paper invaried cnlorx. some Bristol hoard. \CI\\tIr\. paste pot. a fen drawing instru-

S2 99 Snxursu

mems. and a hculIh_\ cnlhtmzmn on the pan of one or ~e\cr;11 members of :1fumiI_\ can produL’c‘.| n1U~|L'u|urhIl Inc/c forlhc \\.:11» of .1 m.m‘~ dun or s[l|d}’.The ]u>bbyi.\l with u ]ig~;|\\ and \ ur | « »m xl\|ukm-\«c~ of p|v\\u-nd run producchighl) pmfessiunul result». Thu zumtcur c cn m lm mlhacquire: an enlircl) new dumcnswn uf an

knack for pzunxing

Hm Stun \

The zmm d|~p|;|_\cd.In:|ddIlmnluI.III|1l} :um~_ m.:_\ |ndLIdcn.mun;|1.xlulc.

schun] and mllcgc. Imlurnul and n1|\ well us :1 \;1rIcI_\ nl ulhclx Om‘ In-n‘

_nu/.mmI.|L p.|mch|.H 01 dn\cus.n\.-In»_\ In» my): .1[rm/ccmluchnglhc

\\‘:||l.\ nt lm lwdnmln ‘Ihr mun g|n\\ mm! . nc \\VIHv.‘lHHx,‘\ dI.uu;c«1> uuh hhIllk.'!‘I:\l\. I‘hc_\ L‘lIum1[7.l\~ HUI ulll} |hu~u at Im mshcmcx, m.|mJ:ng.' \Ull lL‘f‘.|!'|lUll~ Iilcmr) mun. hnl .¢|\n *.CVI.IHl ”A.xlu:Iuu§' .um~ The L‘IlIh|l\i1I\tIc xlllrdent of urmnr) 1x . m ;m : llml lhc cwn mmc unlhmmxnc hur.I|Lhc urucrx 0! {hr

HI! Sn l m R 1 x \ n 83

Middle Ages provided appropriate arms for just about every prominent figure,real or imagined. who caught their fancy. The Knights of the Round Tablehave their armorial bearings as \\ell as Prester John. and so do the greatfigures of classical literature. The apostles themselves are assigned properbearings, and almost every important figure in the Old Testament is properlyaccounted for. Even Adam and Eve had individual arms!We are certainly alldescended from the most ancient possible armigerous line. And, if you areinterested in the annorial bearings of our common ancestors, they are de—

scribed. for Adam. as a red shield with a border of fig leaves proper. Eve borea silver shield with a solitary charge—a green apple!

102 TI! RNAV

Either with or without tongue in check. the medieval heralds properlyregarded Eve as a true /imilzlir In-in-\-.\ and accordingly had Adam carry hiswife‘s . ield us an (’.\'('I(I('/lt’(Hl of])I‘(’I(’I1(‘1’_i|1 the center of his own. Presumablythen Cain, Abel. and (more significantly) Seth were subsequently entitled toquarter the two coats! (See Chapter V. "How Family Arms Grow.") What iseven more interesting. the fig leaves and the apples were what the heraldistcalls abatmmzlr. Forever attesting to the original sinful act of our earliestparents. they were not considered to be added to the respective arms untilafter the expulsion from Eden.

Bookpluies

The heraldic achievement has been a characteristic device for bookplatesfor centuries. Styles change from time to time: and Washington's bookplate

84

lO3 Tosm

with its oddly shaped roeoco shield sprouting graceful vegetation in lieu ofmantling and with his name engraved as a facsimile of his signature may seemsomewhat old fashioned today. but it still has great dignity and achieves anamazing simplicity of design.Modern bookplates vary somewhat as to sin and shape; most. however,

are rectangular. though a few are square. The color of the paper stock variesalso. though those in oll-white or bufi are in better taste. A lew have deeklededges. though modern simplicity prefers an evenly trimmed edge. Some carrya border. usually a simple one that doesn't "fight" with the arms: others dis-pense with a border altogether.lf you are planning a booltplale. consult a reputable social engraver (i f

none is available locally. it is worthwhile lo seek advice by mail): for in thechoice of a bookplate conservatism and good taste are paramount. Fine books.as examples of the printer's art. have “a life beyond life" even beyond Milton'smeaning of the phrase. There are still quite a few of uswho enjoy the thrill

lO4 TORIILNCF ITORKANCI-2)

of taking clown a well-rubbed leather volume from our shelves and noticingfor thc thousandth time a grandfathers or grcat»grandm0ther's bookplate init. A good bookplatc. like the very book it brands as yours. is at once a chal-lenge and an inspiration to future generations.

I05 Tltltvls

Because bookplates are relatively lurgc—a size of four inches by two andit half is not unusual» the entire hcruldie achievement may be convenientlyrepresented in some detail. Your basic choice is whether to reproduce thearms in full color or in u single color. If you decide on full color, you willneed several “euIs" or plates at a considerable increase in cost. A single-colorhookplute permits the use of just one cut or plate: the tinctures. of course, willhave to he represented by the lines and dots. the engrave-rs‘ tricks, discussed inatprevious chapter. This method is not only less expensive. it is probably ut themoment in somewhat better luslc.

I06 TL‘! I Y

For a long time it was customary to have the bookplate carry the legendEx Libris preceding the owner's name. In recent years the ExLibrix wordinghas been generally dropped, the name appealing directly under the arms.Occasionally Old English or some type of Roman lettering is used for thename.but a simple script ispreferable.If the arms are presented in full color. it is preferable to have the name

beneath them in black. In the case of a single-color bookplate, the color (if itis not to be black, which is generally avoided today) should be a shade of thedominant color appearing in the arms; the exact shade. of course, will bedetermined largely by the color harmony between it and the color of the paperstock selected.

I07 Unovmtrr

Stationery

The family coat-of-annshas longbeen thoroughly at home on social station-ery.Here it is characteristically centered at the top of the page and. unlike therepresentation ona bookplnte, it isof necessity rather small. The usual dimen-sions, for a complete achievement. are from three-quarters of an inch to aninch in height, from one«half to three-quarters of an inch in width. Thesemodest dimensions often demand certain compromises if the arms are to belegible at all. In the case of a very simple coat. it isquite possible to indicatethe heraldic tinctures by the use of engravers‘ tricks without obscuring thearms. Where more complicated patterns are concerned. it is perhaps better

07

to make no attempt at indicating tinctures. merely establishing the divisionsofthe shield and the shape of the charges by outline. Often. too, the legibility ofthe arms can be reasonably increased by omitting the highly decorative butotherwise meaningless mantling to permit an increased size of the shield.Similarly. the helmet can be omitted as well; the crest (if there isone) ixthenplaced on itswreath immediately above the shield.Implicit in the foregoing remarks is the inference that arms on social station-

ery are not usually shown in full colors, The possible exception to thi.‘

the case of those arms where there isonly a single color plus a metal. especiallyif the metal is silver which is characteristically shown without tricking. Buteven here, though the imprint maybe shown in color and that the one colorof the arms. it is perhaps better taste to indicate the color, it the representationis large enough to permit it, with an engravers” trick.Most people. l assume. would prefer to have a hand-engraved die for print-

ing the heraldic device on their social stationery rather than a photoengraving.But the truth of the matter is that the printer's art in recent years has reacheda point where “raised printing“ is just as satisfactory and certainly much lessexpensive.

I08 \ V, \ \ ' \ ' E

For social stationery of everyday use it is usual to have the imprint in colorrather than merely embossed. though the latter usage is often seen and isequally correct. Good taste demands that whatever color is used should notbe merely a matter of whim nor changed to suit the particular pastel shade ofeach new order of stationery. if the color tone of the stationery permits, it isbest to print the coat-of-arms in the dominant color of the arms themselves.

88

If the color of the paper stock does not permit this harmoniously. the armsmay be printed in silver or gold, or merely embossed. This is equally true

109 Win LAID

where the dominant color of the arms (purple or black. for instance) may beofiensivc to the family or subject to misunderstanding.But where social stationery is concerned. the question most often asked is

this: May we use the entire achievement. or nmxr the ladies of the householddisplay the family arms on a lozenge. omitting crest. helmet. and mantling7

Iit) \ \ 'n LSON

If you have little faith in your own quite old and solid tradition. the answeris yes. If you want to follow wellestablished American usage, the answer isno. The entire achievement is quite correct on social stationery for the ladies

B9

l l I WOODWARD

as well as for the gentlemen of the household. As far back as the l8S0's (theElegant Eighties. if you will). a quite proper Bostonian and one of the fewAmerican writers on the subject of heraldry rejects the rules of British usagethat limit women to the uncreslcd lozenge and remarks. “We Americansset its rules at defiance. and do as we choose." His observations of Americanheraldic usage cover a period in American history that anledales the Warbetween the States.

II2 Woouuooe

Heraldry. like language, has iLs own “logic." which may not in all pointsaccord with the logic of philosophy. And. again like language. it has its ownregional dialects; what is right and proper in one region might not be fullyacceptable in another. And often the logic of heraldry, again like that oflanguage. may result from historic accident. In short. the American woman

90

uses the complete (and rather masculine) achievement just as readily as sheuses her rather often masculine family name. I have never heard of a MaryWilliamson, even in England, signing her name "Mary Williamsdaughter."The American woman uses her family arms as she uses her family name, asa symbol of family or clan, and places herself under its identification and pro-tection.One clue to this American usage may indeed indicate historic accident.

Recently I examined some ante-bellum plantation stationery; several examplesbore family arms. The stationery then was not at all individualized: it was thehousehold stationery for use of all who lived on the farm. It is only the latersophistication of city life that has provided the concept of individualizedsta-tionery. And under this newer concept there is certainly no reasonable objec-tion to a woman's carrying her arms on a lozenge if she so wishes, especiallyif her preference runs to rather bright pastels and fanciful papers. The point Iammaking is that she isunder noobligation to do so.When used with wedding invitations or announcements. the bride's family

coat-of-arms is preferably embossed without color and centered at the top of

II3 Wuoo

the page. inasmuch as. in American usage. it is the bride's family alone thatissues such invitations and announcemcnls, theirs is the only armorial devicedepicted. If, in the absence of parents of the bride. the contracting parties tothe marriage announce their marriage themselves. they might well “conjoin"the two ooatsnf-arms. Or. now that they are married and the bride shares herhusband's arms, they might use his alone in making such an announcement.Under no conditions. of course, would they use hers alone.

9|

It should be noted parenthetieally that many Latin families conserve thecustom of issuing wedding invitations and announcements by both sets ofparents and on the same folded sheet. Unlike Anglo-American usage, theinvitation or announcement occurs, not on the first page of the folded paper.but on the two facing inner pages. If both families are armigerous, the respec-tive arms of each family may appear above each announcement. In some casesthe two sets of annsmay appear instead conjoined on the first page of the fold.Obviously, if either family lacks arms. the presence of one set alonewould bein poor taste under the circumstances.

1I4 Wtuatn 12)

What is true of wedding invitations is also true of other formal invitations—to chtistenings. dances. formal dinners. debutante parties. etc.-—that is, thearmorial device may be used centered at the top of the page; and is prefer-ably embossed without color. It may also be so used on seasonal but non-religious greeting cards of a formal nature.The same device reproduced in color. as on one‘s stationery, is appropriate

on fold«over cards. the so-called informals. on place cards at rather large sit-down afiairs. and on those somewhat rare but memorable occasions, the menudinner.

Silverware

The family coatof-arms, an heirloom in itself, becomes most meaningfulwhen associated with heirloom silver. The inheritance and use of often com-pletely unmatched silverware from several generations back is the pride of

92

H5 Y I \ \ n \ s { I )

muny .1 lmmc‘ Thu bridc \\hn c:mIc~ \\)[ |1 hcr mmher new home 41collectionof such pieccx nccd ncxcr uorr) about thc ]HuprIcl_\ of the several arms mayII1uyLlI\p]:|y. Such ll\:|gCI\1|]\\LI}\|I1gund l.'A\l«.'The problem 1114: arm» in thc Illilldx of rc|.m\c» and mcnds who wish to

give SIIVCY In thu hndc 1» \\hcI|Icr in huxc l| cngmxcd mlh (hr arms of thebridck farm]; or \\ilh lhnm.‘ uf hm prmpccllw Imsbandk |';nnil_». .muming thatb0tl1!'.x1m1ic~urc urnni. ruu~. l\.«ge)1cr._-Ix \ur_\ ~implc:}«mnccn|on1_\ rcmem-hcr |h:u all ~uch pI'L‘\cn|\ .m.‘ In lhc hudc and hcuunc pan of hot "n\.\rriu_ucpur|i«m" or duv\x'}‘ \h; II whc mkcx In In-r nc\\ home and hur huxhzmd z\cc<ml—

ing|_\. if sllL‘|1 prcxcnxx .11: [0 hr vuarkcd \\ilh :1 c<I.'|I—nf—1|r!11\ ul all. they areInaxrkcd \\ll|I hcr !'.nmI_\\ . I I 'l\\\. ]lI~| .x~ xhc} uould nIhc1'\\i»c he nmrkcd withhcr iniliulx, If hcr l'.mnl_\ hm no Lu;|I—nf-.1rlu\. it i\ hcllcr In lcuvc such pres»ems unnnnrkcd DI‘ hmc xhcm mggmxmi mmhcr mimix If. after Nhc hm setup hnmckccping. \|IC mm her rc|ul|\c» nr fnundw \\|\hc\ lo huvc hcr hm-b:\nd',~ arnm \\hich \hv: |hen »hare~. cngnncd on her ~ i] \c r . that i~ quite :1

din‘:-rcnt muucr.

116 Yi\\1 .x .\S (2)

It should be noted. however, that silverware given by the groom‘: familyproperly bears their coat-of-arms,And, incidentally, it is quite proper for the bride to bring such armorially

marked presents to her new home whether her husband carries arms or not.If her husband does not, these pieces become heirloom souvenirs: the armsupon them are no longer “active" so far as her branch of the family is con-cerned.Just how much of the complete achievement is to be used on any given

piece of household silver is a matter of practicality and reasonable judgment.It is obvious that the larger pieces—a silver tray. water or wine pitcher, bowl,teapot. or coffee urn—will normally accommodate the entire achievement.(They will. that is. if not too ornately chased.) Each one of the pieces named.by the way. might carry the complete achievement in a dillerent size fromeach of the others. The size of the piece to be marked will determine the sizeof the engraving. This decision isperhaps best left to the judgment of the pro-fessional engraver. In most cases such smaller pieces as a sugar bowl. the old-fashioned spoon holder. or goblets will also aceomnmdate the completeachievement.ln marking smaller pieces where the area for engraving is so restricted that

the complete arms would become illegible. it is better to use the crest alone.

Many coats-of-arms have no attached crest. however. In that case the decision.if small piereference to legibility of detail or using the dominant symbol from the arms.

s are to be marked at all. is between crowding in the arms without

(I know of one instance where the dominant symbol. a dolphin emhowed,was so trsed on the smaller pieces of table silver. A few years later this chargehloxmmed forth as a full crest on the now "augmented" arms in the home ofone of the sons of the family. Let me state in all fairness that I believe thatmany crests now in use had somewhat similar origins.)

I I7 Bl.'1’lLR

ll8 REVNDIDS (2)

Gifts of silverware are not always limited to wedding presents. When suchgifts are made in subsequent years by family or very close friends. there is noreason why they shouldn‘t be marked with the family arms-—or. better yet,provision made to have them 50 marked at the discretion of the receiver.Such engravings on gifts of silverware are most appropriate tor christening

bowls and gohlets. as well as for precious-metal cigarette cases and vanities.

Jewelry

The use of full arms. crest. or symbol are all appropriate for fine jewelry.A man‘s gold cufi links or a woman's locket come readily to mind.The familyarms aremost appropriate on a man's signet ring. where theymay be engravedin the polished metal or on the Hat surface of a semi-precious stone. Becauseweno longer seal letters with waxes or so allix our seal to o 'ial signatures.few men today wear the once popular seal ring. unless it is inherited from aformer generation. In the case of the true seal ring. the device is cut into themetal or stone in reverse. intaglio fashion. so as to produce an embossingwhen applied to the hot wax. And. for the same reasons. one rarely sees anymore—except in curic cabinets—the once universal silver or onyx letterhand seal.

Miscellaneous Uses

Armorial bearings are traditionally correct on fine ehinaware. The cost mayseem prohibitive to the young couple starting a home. but I suspect that abachelor uncle might well find himself a frequent and welcome guest at the

95

newly established board that he has furnished with a set of hand-paintedarmorial service plates.The same dies that mark your stationery and your bookplates (the latter

with your name masked out) will provide gold stampings for your leathergoods. The smaller one is an appropriate size for wallet. letter (old.or keycase as well as for briefcase. attaché case. or small hand luggage; the largerdiewill serve admirably for stamping the larger pieces.As book binderiet will attest. there are still a few bibliophilcs inAmerica

who have special collections uniformly bound. These are most felicitouslystamped in gold with the collectors arms.The rather young men in America are not so addicted to the wearing of

blazers as their counterparts in Europe. but those who do wear them oftencarry a heraldic patch over the left breast. In our country this felt or em-broidered patch generally displays college. fraternity. or club arms: elsewherefamily arms are used as well.Finally. the old-fashioned raised embroidery of our grandmothers‘ day is

still in the best of taste for especially fine and imported bed linens. Either theelaborate monogrammingof another age or the equally elaborate design of thefull heraldic achievement is as befitting to them as it is to the corner of specialdamask table linen.

96

E]©W EEAMHEY?Z«lE3it‘fl§ ©E3©W

A coat—of-arms may grow by augmz'n1an'mt. nmrxlmlling, or mliurtcmm-nl.

The Augmentation of Arms

An augmentation is an addition to an existing coat-of-arms. It is usuallygranted by a grateful sovereign in recognition of some outstanding achievemcnt. This addition m0(.lifit:\ the basic coat—ot-arms to whic it has been added.in eflcct changing the inhcritable arms for the descendants of the individualto whom it has been granted. This is a highly valued honor, oftenmore prizedthan elevation to one of thc orders of knighthood. The honor of knighthood.in even the most respected orders. is necessarily limited to the individual sohonored: but an augmentation of arms becomes part of the “boast of heraldry"for future generations to display.In the United States. where family coats—ol-an11s are not regulated by law.

this most unusual armorial honor is necessarily inactive; though there is nolegal hindrance to any existing “.~overeign" power—that of any of the fiftystates or of the federal government iLself—from recognizing an existing coat-of-urms and granting an augmentation.

The Morshalling of Arms

The marshalling of arms is the process bywhich two or more existing coats-of-arms are put together to form. on a temporary or permanent basis, a newachievement. It is the only method by which family arms may grow in the

97

United States. tfnclmnrmwm,dixcussed later in this chapter, does not affectthe heritable arms and for all practical purposes is limited to a single individ-ual.)The normal methods by which family arms are marshalled are (a) by

impalrmient, (b) by carrying an arrmcheon ofprelmcr, and (C) by quarter-ing. The first two of these methods are limited in use to the arms of husbandand wifc——the technical term is baron‘ at _femme—when both represent armig-erous families. When the wife has brothers. her family arms are impaledwiththose of her husband. This consists of dividing the shield lengthwise down themiddle (such a shield is said to be parli p ( ' r pull‘. or parted per pale) with thehusbands arms displayed fully on the dexter side and the wife's family armssimilarly displayed on the sinister side. In modem usage this new achievementis not the heritable arms of their issue but serve for the baron er femme alone.lt should again be noted that if the wife "s not of an arms-bearing family. butthe husband is. she shares his family status and enjoys full use of her husband'sarms. If. ho\\e\'er. she is armigerous and her husband is not. she no longer hasany claim to active arms: though. of course. she may make free use of heir-looms that display her family arms. Nor does she possess arms that may bepassed on to her children. I believe nearly everyone is aware that WilliamShakespeare applied for a grant of arms. He did not. however. apply for themin his own name. but rather as a posthumous grant to his father. The poet's‘The term baron, as used herei is not the title of nobility, but the old Romance word sig-

nilyinx man.

I I9 SHAKESPEARE

98

mother was a member of a distinguished landed family, the Ardens. Once armshad been granted in the name of his dead father. he could then display withthem the old and distinguished arms of his mother’s family. The irony of it isthat his own reputation so obscured the social position of hismother's familythat when his arms are shown today they are invariably the simple coat grantedhim in the nameof his father (see fig. 119.page 98).I amspeaking of modemheraldic usage when I state that the impaled arms

of husband and wife are not the heritable coat used by their children. In theearly days of heraldry. impaled coats were inherited. as many existing impaledcoatswill testify,An even older system of conjoining the arms of baron er lemme was the

more primitive method called “dimidiation."Here the shield of each family wasliterally divided down the middle: the dexter half of the husband's shield wasthen conjoined with the sinister half of that of the wife‘s family. The resultingcoat~of-arms was always a distortion and sometimes grotesque. If weassumetwo coats-of-arms. with red as the basic color in each case. one ofwhich car-ried three fish “in pale" and the other of which carried three wolves. also inpale. the resultant coat would be red with three outlandish figures. each halffish and half wolf. Some of the more fantastic figures in historic heraldry mayowe their origin to this ancient custom. Fig. l20. page I00. probably representsone of the happier results of a dimidiated coal—of-arms that became hereditary.Dimidiation was soon abandoned. however. in favor of the more reasonablesystem of impalement. A curious survival of the older usage is to be foundin the British custom when impaling two sets of arms, one of which has ahnrdurr. of stopping the bordurc abruptly at the center line. It is thus shownat the top. the outer edge. and the bottom of the shield for the arms which itis supposed to enclose, but does not run down the middle. Obviously, if bothsen of arms to be impaled possess a bordure. this older system defeats itselfagain; here each border must of necessity run down the center line in orderto show that two coats~of-arms are beingconjoined. This use of the incompleteborder in impaling arms has had little acceptance on the Continent; see thefifteenth-century Spanish anns represented in fig. l2 l. page 100.Another method of conjoining the arms of baron et lemme is for the bus-

band to carry the arms of his wife's family on an excurcheon ofpretence.Thissystem of marshalling consists in placing the wife’s family arms on a smallershield (the ercutclteun) and displaying it in the center of the husband's arms.It will necessarily obscure whatever would normally appear on the husband's

99

I20 Gtutmr I21 ZoMou.\o YGONZALEZ

arms in the area that it covers. This is the preferredmethod of joining the armsof husband and wife when the wife is a Imrztlzlic ltt'innt.\'. A heraldic heiress isdefined as a daughter whose father leaves no male issue. She may be theonly daughter or one of several: all \uCl1 daughters are heraldic coheiresses oftheir father.The custom of bearing an escutcheun nf pretence. as well as the very sig»

nification of the term. is much more meaningful in the heraldry of GreatBritain than it is here. The English system. "one man.one coat-of-arms,"obvi-ously implies that if a man dies without male I\\|IL' then his family coat~of-arms. in the particular form in which he carries them.will henceforth cease toexist. Hence. in the case of a heraldic heiress. her hmband, by carrying herarms on an escutchenn of pretence. publicly states lllx “pretentions" to thosearms: he is stating that the. arms will henceforth he carried by their childrenand incorporated into a new coat.In American usage where all children of an arms-bearing father custom-

arily carry his arms. and where all his male issue perpetuate them withoutheraldic difiercnce. the possibility of "lo.st“ arms is not so imminent. A heraldicheiress (in the English sense) may well have in America any nutnber of con»sins who will carry on the arms of her family. It is only in the case of theAmerican heraldic heiress who has no known male relatives on her father'sside who can carry on the arms that this custom seems at all justified as areasonable and just cnnsideratinn to her family. Parenthetically. although herfamily arms may be thus preserved, her immediate family name is likely todisappear. It is sometimes continued for a generation or two as a middle nameamong her issue.

100

Once a husband has laid claim (or pretentious) to his wife's family arms-whether in England or America—he is obviously under obligation to makegood that claim by marshalling the two coats-of»at1ns into a new coat to becarried by the children of that union. The method of so marshalling the twoexisting coats into a new coat-of-anns for the children is known as quarrering.This consists in dividing a shield by a vertical line running down the center(parted per pale) and by another line. horizontal this time (partedper fess),into four sections: each section is a quarter. The upper section on the dexterside ((1911?! chief) is designated the First Quarter: the upper section on thesinister side (sinister chief) is the Second Quarter; the lower section on thedexter side (dexter base) is the Third Quarter; and the lower section on thesinister side (sinirler hate) is known as the Fourth Quartet. The two existingcoats-of-arms are then marshalled so that the father's arms appear in QuartersOne and Four, the arms of the mother's family in Quarters Two and Three.

1 Kiiiiiiiifl

"K’A"£i"'Martin and Fitzgerald impaled Martin bearing Fitzgerald on an

exculchenn oi pretenceu l u . . . . t . . . . . .

t u u u u t u t.122 Marshalling Armsi n . u . . . . uu

...u.......-ut‘l

lIIJAA4cII-All

l iAAIIAIIAm u .. 4 -

Martin quarming Fitzgerald

Fig. 122 illustrates all three methods of marshallingarms. Assuming that aMr. Martin. whose anns are blazoned. “Ermine. three bars gules,"marries aMiss Fitzgerald. whose arms are “Argent. a salute gules," the impaled arms(indicating no more than a union of the two'families in marriage) are shownin ( a ) . If the wife is a heraldic heiress. the conjoined anns of baron at femme.with the wife‘: anns carried on an escutcheon of pretence. are shown in ( b) .Their children will then carry a new coat-of-arms as shown in ( c ) . This newcoat is sometimes referred to as “Martin. quartering Fitzgerald." The armsmay be described as: “Quarterly, 1and 4.Martin; 2 and 3, Fitzgerald.“Or thenew coatmay be blazoned fully as follows: “Quarterly, l and 4, ennine. threebars gules (for Martin) ; 2 and 3, argent, a saltire (or cross saltire) of thesecond (for Fitzgerald).”If the wife's arms are already quartered. they are used in their entirety in

quarters two and three. Each of these quaners. being itself quartered, is com-monly known as a "grand quarter."If the husband's arms are already quartered to accommodate the arms of

a prior heraldic heiress (hismother or grandmother. for instance). then thearms of the new heiress (Fitzgerald) appear only in the second quartering forher children and the arms of her husband's mother (orgrandmother) appearin the third quarter; the basic paternal arms (Martin)will still be displayed inquarters one and four.I have noticed in American usage. however, that when quartered paternal

arms have been carried by a family for a long period of time they are regardedas an indivisible coat and are quartered in toto (occupying the firstand fourthquaners) with those of the new heiress,

Quarterings. by the way. are not limited to four. In a line of descent wherea successive number of heraldic hciresses have married into a family, it ispossible for that family to have a great number of quarterings. In actual prac-tiee. the usual custom is to drop all but the last two; the most recent heiresswill be represented in the second quarter. the next in the third quarter.One major difference between American and British usage in the mar-

shalling of arms concerns the use of quartered arms by the children of a mar-riage where both parents are descended from annigerous families. The Britishcustom, in modern times at least. is to quaner both arms for the children onlywhen the mother is a heraldic heiress. In American usage, arms are frequentlyquartered for the children for the same reason that they are impaled for theparents; that is. to show family relationship. and without reference to whetheror not the mother is a heraldic heiress.

l02

This parallels the custom of bestowing the mother's maiden name as a mid-dle name on the children. But. in this usage. neither the quartered arms northe maternal surname seems to be particularly stable. Either or both may besummarily dropped after one or two generations. In some instances. however.this double surname (like some quartered arms) persists generation aftergeneration so that it becomes for all practical purposes a distinguishing newsurname. This is true even though the double name is not hyphenated andthus is never alphabetized under the first component. As an example. a JohnOverton Mills may be the son of Edward Overton Mills. who. in turn. is theson ofGeorge OvertonMills.Similarly. the persistent use of quartered arms has the practical effect of

creating a new armorial family branch. reasonably distinct from. yet clearlyproclaiming its alliance to. both families. This is true even when the quarter-ing did not originally represent a heraldic heiress. However. such examplesare probably rare. as in the corresponding case of names.This is why it was pointed out. in discussing “Amy Plunckett" and the

“Cuthbert" arms. that Amy's cousin Edgar and his wife (who is herself of anarms-bearing family) did not make as much use of her arms as they mighthave within the framework of accepted armorial customs. Assuming thatEdgar‘s wife had been before her marriage Jane Cruise, whose family borearms blazoned. “Or, two bendlcts sable." then Edgar and his wifemight havemarshalled their arms. for the baron er /Hume. by impaling them. In the eventthat his wife was a heraldic heiress. their conjoined arms. as husband andwife. would consist of the Cuthbert arms bearing the Cruise arms on an escut-cheon of pretence.In either case. within the framework of American usage. the children would

be entitled to bear arms that quartered Cuthbert and Cruise. The purposebehind this freedom of usage (where the wife is not a heraldic heiress) isclearly to show family relationship. Let us assume that Mrs. EdgarCuthbert,neeCruise, is not a heraldic heiress. that she has. in fact. one or more brothersand sisters. The children of any given brother will then carry the Cruise arms,whichmay or may not be quartered with those of the mother; the children ofeach of the sisters will carry the arms of the father (if he has arms). but theytoo may be carried. as the arms of Jane's children might be. quartered withthose of Cruise. It is apparent. then. that as the next generation matures thearms of the children of Edgar and Jane Cuthbert. of the children of Jane'ssisters and brothers. and even of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Plunckett willclearly indicate family relationship. even to some extent.degree of relationship.

I03

All of these family arms may now be different (in the event that Jane has twoormore brothers who have children, the arms of their childrenwill be identicalonly if those children do not quarter them with maternal arms or otherwisedifierence them); but these various armswill still indicate relationship in a waythat it would take a very clumsy name-giving system to approach. much lessduplicate.

Enhancement of Arms

The enhancement of arms differs from the marshallingof arms (that is. theconjoining of two or more existing coats-of-arms to show relationship) or theaugmentation of arms (that is. an oflicial addition to an existing coat-of~armsthat becomes a heritable part of those arms) in that it is concerned with thearms of a particular individual and is not inheritable.A number of Americans have received from time to time and, in fact. now

hold membership in some ofiicial. foreign order of knighthood or the equiva-lent thereof. It is. of course. customary to display such orders in connectionwith the personal arms of the individual so honored. Each of these orders hasits own rules governing the special heraldic form in which its own insigniashould be displayed with the personal arms of the recipient. It may. therefore.be merely noted in passing that recipients of the RomanCatholic Order of St,John of Malta place their shield (without crest. mantling.or motto) upon thewhitecnameled star of that order. with the badge of the order dependingbelow. In other orders. the cross is placed on the shield that displays the per-sonal arms of the knight. the special "collar"of the order surrounding all. andthe badge depending from this collar. The one active French order. the LegionofHonor. designates even its lowest rank as cheralier (knight): the badge ofthe appropriate grade of the order is suspended from its special ribbon belowthe personal arms of the chevalier.These orders are nonhereditary. and the addition of their insignia to a coat-

of-arms immediately individualizcs that coat»of-arms. Although it is commonlyaccepted that a wife shares as a social courtesy any dignity bestowed upon herhusband. she does not do so heraldically and has no claim within heraldicusage to the enhanced arms of her husband. Where it is necessary in suchinstances to display arms for the wife in connection with those of the husband,it is traditional to employ a somewhat complicated representation known as a“double achievement." This is done by showing the husband's arms. properlyenhanced according to the practice of the order into which he has been re-

l04

ceived. on the dexter side of the display with the wife's armorial bearings(necessarily on a lozenge) displayed on the sinister side. As most such en-hancements will entail for the husband a knightly collar that encircls hisachievement. the wife‘s arms balance this with a wreath of leaves for artisticpurposes. To emphasize the union in marriage represented by this doubleachievement. both component parts are usually shown against the backgroundof an elaborate mantle that encompasses both.This type of armorial enhancement is.of course.extremely rare inAmerica.

What justifies greater comment and caution. however. is a type of enhance-ment that has made its appearance here in recent years. I refer to the practiceof placing the medallion of one of the patriotic societies immediately belowthe arms. sometimes suspended from its ribbon. The obvious caution is toremember that such an addition automatically individualizes the arms. This isone instance where the woman who so enhances her arms is obligated to usea lozenge. omitting crest and mantling. It is one thing in American usage forall members of the family to use on their stationery the same armorial device.even in its traditional masculine form. But this is an inappropriate form of thearms from which to suspend the medallion of a woman’s organization, such asthat of the Daughters of the American Revolutionor the United Daughters ofthe Confederacy. If such a medallion is used. the arms to which it is appendedshould be “feminized." that is. borne on a lozenge. Even then the resultingdevice is applicable only to those female members of the family who are them-selves members of the organization. While the basis of membership in suchorganizations is hereditary. membership itself is not automatic but must besought by or for the individual.The same restriction of use applies when the man of the family carries the

medallion of the Society of Cincinnati. Sons of the American Revolution. orSons of Confederate Veterans below his achievement. It then automaticallyapplies to him alone and ceases to be appropriate to any other member ofthe family except those who may sharewith him membership in the organiza-tion indicated.I suppose, though I have never seen it done. that if it were desirable to

display arms for husband and wife where either or both wished to carry sucha medallion. it would be necessary to resort to the double achievement de-scribed above.

105

E3E@©E3@ilN© ??©@El £¥AE3.lt‘vfl§

Heraldry cannot be dissociated from genealogy. Your elaim In use the arms ofa given family depends upon your membership in that famil nd. if you areto use those arms. you must when descent through the paternal line. In coun-tries where heraldic matters (and web matters include genealogy as well asartnorial bearings) are subject to ufiicial or even setttioflicittl cogni/ance. theregistration of such records is no problem.In tlte L'nited States neither tlte federal government nor that of the several

states provides such an oflicial service, In past generations‘. when familiestended to congregate vtilhin reasonably restricted areas or when the varioushranchex. even at mine retnove. “ere well aware of each nther. the establish-men t at relationship and the eonttnun use of armorial devices presented littleditheulty. With the incrcaxed (almost eharaeteristict mobility of modern lifeand the detachment of close family relatiansltips. many families have soughtto record their arms and genealogy against future use. Still others. alreadysubject to such d4.2|Chn1Cl'|I. have sought to re-establish contact with theirroots. both here and abroad.The av tlable resources fur such artnorial and genealogical services in the

United States are varied and not at all centralized. It may be well to considerhere. in a general way. \\‘lt:tt resources are available to American families thatwish to maintain or establish heraldic records.Tu b 'n with. quite a few at‘ the older families support family associations

106

or societies. These societies become repositories of family records and publishannual reports. occasional booklets or brochures devoted to one or anotherspecial branch of the family. and orcompendious genealogical studics devotedto most or all branches of the family: and to this latter type of publication maybe added later supplements. Still other families publish. at one time or an-other. a volume of family history. Although this nonnally concentrates on thatparticular branch of the family represented by its author. there is usuallyenough genealogical data included to permit interested members of otherbranches of the family to tie inwith its material.A visit to the genealogical section of any relatively large city library will

reveal a surprising collection of publications within both the categories justmentioned.University libraries. as well.often possess rather ample collections.though they may be somewhat spotty as to geographical coverage in manyinstances. Perhapsmost fruitful of all. for that particular section of the countryin which your family has long resided. are the collections in state libraries orheld by state library commissions.Every state has an historical association or society: many have an inde-

pendent genealogical society as well. In some instances the two organizationsare combined. The quarterly journals of such organizations occasionally pub«lish articles devoted to family histories. The publications of the genealogicalsocieties will. of course. be devoted primarily to records of families associatedwith the state or region served by the society. A visit to your local library willsupply you with titles and addresses of historical and genealogical societies forthe area in which you are interested. In some instances. the library may alreadyhold files of their publications: if not. they may be available to you throughthe societies themselves or through interlibrary loan.The data in all these publications mentioned so far have already been

organized for you: the material is accordingly relatively em)‘ to use. Theunrelated and not yet organiled material from other sources presents quiteanother picture. There is.of course. a veritable goldmine ofmaterial availablein state. local. and special archives: in court records. in land grants. wills.church (and churchyard) records: in family Bibles. the state record of vitalstatistics. and in early census reports. Collecting and organizing such materialis often beyond the training and dedication of the amateur. For those who areinterested in approaching the subject on a do-it-yourself basis. perhaps thebest reasonably current introduction to the subject is Gilbert H. Doane‘sexcellent treatment. Searching For Your Am‘rrmr.r.

I07

Others prefer to employ the services of a trained genealogist. in selectingone, seek competent advice. Your local librarian. the officers of the statehistorical or genealogical society (especially in the area where the researchis to be undertaken), a member of the state library commission or state his-torical commission. or an ofiicer of a patriotic society in which membershipis based on lineage (such as the Sons or Daughters of the American Revolu-tion)» will be able and generally willing to recommend someone to you.Reputable genealogists are professional men and women; they seldom adver-tise their servces. except in the well-established genealogical magazines.Incidentally. if you are related to someone who is a member of one of the

well-known patriotic societies, much of your work (o r that of the genealogistyou employ) may alreadyhave been done for you.The same sources of recommendation are available to you where primarily

armorial services are required. In addition. the officers or other members ofthe several heraldic societies are generally available as heraldic consultants.It seems almost unnecessary to add that you should beware of the unsolicitedpost card or letter or the public advertisement that alters to send you “yourcoat—of-arms" (“beautifully framed" is usually a further inducement) in ex-change for your family name and a stipulated amount of money.An increasing number of Americans in recent years have availed themselves

of the armorial (as well as the genealogical) services of the oficial office ofarms in the country of their origin; or. in countries where there is noofficialoffice of arms. of the semiofficial society or organization that has cognizanceof heraldic matters.With respect to family arms, the armorial services of an oflice of arms are

concerned with grants, Imuriculatians or confirmations, and registrations orcerlificulioru. Roughly speaking. the distinctions are these: A grant ofarms isthe allocation of a new family coat-of-arms in the name of the specific individ-ual to whom granted and for his use and that of his descendants in perpetuity,in accordance with the heraldic rules of the olfice making the grant. Amatricu-lation or confirmation of anns is the oflicial ratification of existing anns. sub-ject to appropriate differencing. in the nameof the individual. again for his useand that of his descendants within the heraldic rules of the oflice of arms. Aregistration of arm: or cenificate of arms is a statement of heraldic fact. Itmay, at the discretion of theOtfice of Arms. be issued to an individualwhoseestablished ancestor had received a grant or confirmation.

I08

The cost of these services varies with the country concerned. In Ireland, forinstance, the fees are currently as follows: Certificate of Arms, £16 (orapproximately $50.00) ; Confirmation of Arms. including Registration, £30(or approximately $85.00) ; Grant of Arms. including Stamp Duty and Regis-tration, £65 (or approximately $185.00). All of the foregoing include anemblazonment of the arms on vellum. Either a grant or confirmation may bemade to the applicant and to the other dcscendents of a particular ancestor—a father or grandfather, for example.In Scotland, the Matriculation of Arms costs about 18 guineas (or ap-

proximately‘$55.00); Letters Patent (a grant of arms) runs about £48 (orapproximately $135.00). Letters Patent in England cost about £l05 (orapproximately $300.00‘ ): the Registration in your own name of existing armsin established descent (and properly difierenced) will cost somewhere be-tween one and three guineas (a guinea is currently about $3.00 on theexchange) for adding the intervening generations down to yourself.The following, alphabetically arranged by countric is a list of those official

ofiices of arms, semiofiicial organizations. or approved societies in variousEuropean countries to which you may write for further information. If thecountry of your origin is not represented here. a letter addressed to the Em-bassy of that country (and to the attention of the Cultural Attache) in Wash-

ington, D.C. should normally elicit the address of the comparable office ororganization in that country.AUSTRIA Oesterreichsche Siaatsarchiv

Wien 1, Minorilcnplatz IAustria

I am further informed by the Austrian Embassy that the preéminenlly recog-nized authority in this field of research at present is:

Dr. Ernst KrahlWien III. I-leumarkt 9Austria

DENMARK Dansk Genealogisk lnstitut (Danish GenealogicalInstitute)Peblinge Dossering 2613Copenhagen N. Denmark

This institute is not an official branch of the Danish government. It controls itsown fees, and they will be quoted upon request.ENGLAND College of Arms

Queen Victoria StreetLondonE.C. 4England

‘Dollar values are approximated in terms of the current (1961) ra te of exchange.

I09

FRANCE

GERMANY

IRELAND

NETHERLANDS. THE(HOLLAND)

NORWAY

SCOTLAND

SWEDEN

SWITZERLAND

Monsieur le Conservateur aux Archives NalionalesPresident de la S-3cie'te' franqaise d'He'raldique et deSigillographie60. rue des Francs-BourgeoisParis 3e‘FranceZentralstelle fiir deutsche Pers0nen« und Famil.ienge-schichteAbleilung intemalionale genealogische ForschungBerlin-ZehlendorfWestGoerhestrasse 39GennanyChief Herald and Genealogical OflicerOffice of ArmsDublinCastleDublin. IrelandCentraal Bureau voor GenealogieNassaulaan ISThe Hague. The NetherlandsHead ArchivistRiksarkivetBankplasscn 3Oslo. NorwayCourt of the Lord LyonHAM: Register HousePrinces StreetEdinburgh. ScotlandRiksarkiver IThe National Archives)Arkivgntnn 3Stockholm 2. SwedenSchwcizerrischc Gesellschaft fiir FamilienforschungZenlralstelleRietstrasse 25Erlcnbach. ZurichSwitzerland

110

©©J]’3E9©fi’E ZAEMQ

Corporate arms are those borne by communities. associations. and organ-izations rather than by individuals or families. And here. to paraphrase Dick-ens. are at once “the best of arms. the worst of arms" in current Americanpractice: for corporate coat armor necessarily involves. and perhaps to agreater extent than any other kind of armory. a pronounced degree of creativ-ity and imagination. Each such bearing. whether it takes the form of a tradi-tional coat~of-arms. a seal. an isolated device. or. as in the case of yacht clubs.a flag or pennant, is especially designed to exemplify. identify. and generallyallude to the nature of the organization tltat bears it,The result is as good or as bad as the capability and heraldic literacy of the

individual or cotttrnittec that designs it. Here. more than anywhere else. theemphasis is on “distinctinn" rather tltan mere “dillerence": stereotype assumesdecreasing importance. and there is little place for the work of the mere

copyist.Fortunately our National Arms and those of many of our States were de-

signed at a time when there was still a suilicicntly active heraldic tradition inAmerica to produce coat armor that was at once authentic. pleasing. and ingood taste.If only from a purely technical viewpoint. the Arms of the Republic (fig.

123, page I l2)should be studied carefully by anyone interested in the scienceof heraldry. Even the mildly curious should note that the thirteen silver stars,representing the original states, appear not on the shield itself, as so oftenmisrepresented in popular display. but on the blue heraldic rose (in recentyears made increasingly “cloudlike“) that constitutes the crest. And. unlike

HI

123 UNITEDSnrns or AMEIICA[A r m s or THF Rirrtat t ( 'l

most English arms. the motto is not carried at the base of the achievement buton a ribbon clutched in the beak of the supporting eagle. in fact. the presenceof the motto in this upper area is reminiscent of Scottish usage. where mottoesso frequently occur unless relegated below so that they may be replaced bythe cri-de-guerre (warcry) oftenmetwith in Scottishheraldry.The American (or bald) Eagle “proper." (i .e.. depicted in its natural

colors) is a .t14pporI('r, bearing on its breast but not in fact ‘‘holding‘‘ the shielditself.The matter of supporters in a heraldic ' ‘Movement is so poorly understood

by many Americans otherwise reasonably well versed in armorial usage thata brief statement of their role seems necessary. Historically and in accuratemodern usage the supporters are not. like the mantling. mere fanciful deco-ration to please the whim of some member of the family or to satisfy theartistic sense of the heraldic engraver or painter; they are generally a badge ofposition indicating continuing ci "I authority. As such they are appropriate inthe arms of at nation. state. or city. but seen on the living-room walls of a pri-vate citi/en they immediately bring the entire armorial achievement to whichthey have been added into disrepute. This same remark applies equally wellto other regalia of rank and position. especially the various eoronets dis-tinguishing the ranks of the peerage or indicating oflicial positions: and itapplies. of course. to the special insignia of baronets and Scottish chiefs.Generally speaking. the only individuals. either in the British Isles or else-

where. whose arms are Iupporled. are members of the peerage and of certainorders of knighthood.Supporters are either single or double. When a single figure is used as a

supporter—as in our National Arms and as often met with on the Continent

112

—-it normally appears directly behind the shield. ln some few instances, how-ever, it stands to one side as a unilateral support. Dual supporters are regu-larly placed one on either side of the shield and holding it. or at least in a posi-tion suggesting actual support. Supporters run the gamut ofhuman and animallife: men (variously clothed or “savage"). lions. bears. deer. and even squir-rels: Various outsized birds. unieorns. and composite creatures (pan this. partthat) seldom met with outside of medieval treatises. bestiaries. and illustra-tions. Even inanimate objects. though rare. may be used: stone pillars andcolumns.Furthermore.when dual. these supporters need not match each other. The

supporter on one side may be a crocodile in atmost unnatural upright position:the supporter on the other side may be a knight in armor or a monstrous swan.In the United States. there has been in recent years a Very fine revival in the

best tradition of heraldic usage by the Armed Services. The Army. Navy, andAir Force all maintain heraldic oflicers or special sections to design armorialinsignia for their component units. And their work. as the results show. is farfrom a hit-and-miss attempt at originality on the one hand or mere stultifiedcopying on the other. Somewhat modernized and increasingly stylized in con-cept. new charges of all descriptions are now appearing in military and navalheraldry. symbols that meet the demands of funetionalism and still retain thefull flavor and spirit of the older school of heraldic design.By far the most consistent and traditional-minded heraldry in the United

States is ecclesiastical. especially that of the Roman Catholic and EpiscopalChurches. Though arms are occasionally displayed by individual churches ofvarious denominations. the Roman and Anglican communions are moregenerally committed to their use. Each diocese has its special armorial insignia.frequently incorporating local geographic and historic as well as spiritualallusions. In addition to the diocesan arms. many individual churches in thesetwo great historic communions bear individual arms. The practice extendsto college chapels. The crest from the arms of the (Episcopal) Chapel of theVenerable Bede at the University of Miami appears as fig. 79 on page 66:“Out of a coronet or. u dexter hand proper in benediction." Simple and dig-nified in form. this recent crest touches several levels of meaning in its refer-ences and allusions. The golden crown at once recalls Christ the King. atraditional altar crucifix. and symbolizes the spiritual authority of HolyChurch. The right hand raised in benediction is at once the blessing of theChurch, the benediction of the saints, and (as a serious pun) an allusion tothe fact that the patron saint of the chapel was a Benedictine.

H3

Also, in ecclesiastical heraldry in America. the ancient custom of impale-ment of personal and ofiicial am-is is still an active tradition. This is a systemwhereby the holder of an ofiice of greatdignity places his personal arms on thesinister side of the shield. impaling them with the arms of his ofiice. whichappear on the dexter side. Fig. 124 represents the impaled arms of BishopColeman F. Carroll, the Roman Catholic bishop of Miami.

I24 Cumot I. Btsttor ( ‘oLr .wtN F.

Most American clergymen who carry arms. especially those in denomina-tions where the clergy customarily‘ marry. make no distinction in the familycoat-of-arms to indicate vocation; they follow the general American customof displaying family arms rather than more personalized arms. Some, however,are aware of the special clerical accoutrcments of coat armor. Bishops, ofcourse. are entitled to the mitre and the pastoral stafi. Clergymen of lesserrank sometimes pacify their arms also. Several married clergymcn of myacquaintance carry, in efiect. dual armorial bearings; this is, they displaytheir traditional full c0at—of-arms as family arms and carry the more person-ali/.ed pacific arms for their individual use. The distinction between the twoforms may be as simple as replacing the warlike crest and its mantling withthe clerical hat, leaving the remainder of the coat—of-arms unaltered: or theymay go so far in addition as to change the shape of the shield to an oval,girdled by a belt and decorative buckle. This latter feature is to indicate thatthey are under the authority of the Church. The clerical hat, incidentally,presents a somewhat complicated system in itself, indicating by its color andnumber of tassels the clergyman's rank. Traditionally. the parish priest or

III

minister carries the black hat with two tassels. one on either side. Fig. 125shows the arms of a Baptist minister somarshalled.

I25 Bavmr. Rev. JAMlc5 C. In.

It is a safe guess that every college or university in America. as well asmostsecondary or preparatory schools. bears some kind of heraldic device. A few.as we might well expect. are authentic. appropriate. and meaningful: a feware unfortunately inept and. from the point of view of the heraldist. semi-literate. What is Worse. the vast majority are merely mediocre-—to put itcharitably. uninspiring if not uninspired.Page ll6 shows several sets of university coats-of-arms: among them the

more ancient and distinguished arms of Yale University and the more recentarms of the Louisiana State University. These latter arms were designed toemphasi7e the military tradition of the “OleWar School." whose first presidentwas Colonel ( later General) William Tecutusah Sherman. The purple shieldwith the golden Bengal tigers echoes the school colors and recalls the fact thatthe entire student body of the original institution constituted the LouisianaTigers, a young but distinguished regiment in the Confederate Army. Theyfought with honor through most of the long war and were finally defeated nearAtlanta by that same General Sherman during his march to the sea. Subse-quently. he féted the former (then Confederate) ofiicers of his old commandat his headquarters before they were sent to internment in a Federal concen-tration camp, The small blue shield (charged with a silver pelican in herpiety’) placed in the center of the larger shield is called an inerctztcheon. Itdepicts the arms of the State of Louisiana and alludes to the fact that this isa state university. The crossed cavalry sabers in the crest are a further reference

115

l l fi Yu r CNIVFRSITV 127 LOUISIANA Snrr UNIVERSITY

I28 MKGIII U\' l\Hl.\I t\ I29 TlLANl- UNIVERSITY

to Confederate service, The American Eagle's head surmounting them atteststo the continuing militurg tradition: the institution is still a training schoolfor reserve omcers. The motto. .‘\inn Xihi St-d Suit (Not for herself. but for herown). is the motto of the State of Louisiana.The use of coal armor. good. bad. or indiflcrent. is widespread among

business enterprises of everhotels and restaurants in this country should. us a class. be most consistent inthe use of distinguishing armorial devices. The well-traveled man or woman

ind and description. It is not surprising that

has come to expect it. This accords with an established European usage and

H6

has become by now an intemational tradition among hostelries and betterrestaurants. Related to the medieval tavern sign. this usage is an integral partof the heraldic tradition; though most writers on general heraldry seldomdiscuss it.One noticeable characteristic of hotel and restaurant armory is the frequent

use of the written word on the shield itself. almost invariably the name orinitials of the institution being prominently featured. It is this characteristicthat establishes such armorial usage as a historic transition between conven-tional coat armor and the modern commercial trade-mark. In other instances,the name of the institution appears on the ribbon or scroll that appears some-times above but more frequently below the shield. Thus. the St. Ermin's Hotel,Westminster. proclaims its name on the shield itself: the SavoyHotel. London.places its name on the scroll below.Though the written word as part of the body of the arms (asdistinguished

from its appearance as an identifying label on the scroll) is characteristic ofcommercial armory. it is occasionally found in personal arms as well. Twodistinguished examples that immediately come to mind are the name “Dum-barton" on the castle that forms the famous crest of Pollok and the word“Nile" that appears in the augmented chiefof Speke of Iotdans.The traveler meets heraldic devices of one kind or another. not only in

hotels and restaurants. but on almost every conceivable carrier service. wherethe more traditional types are to be found on some railroads and many steam-ship lines. The Canadian Pacific Railway encircles its heraldically authenticensign with the traditional buckled belt. on which its name appears. TheAmerican (Steamship) Line similarly encircles its heraldicemblem. appropri-ately enough the American Eagle displayed and clutching the traditional olivebranch and sheaf of arrows.American airlines. however. use more streamlinedidentifying devices that recall the types of insignia developed for militaryaircraft during World War I.At least a dozen makes of automobiles carry coats—of-arms. Most of them

are fanciful; some ignore the basic rules of the armorial traditions. but othersare quite authentic. The Frazer car bore the Frazer arms. The arms of Buickgenerally allude to those of the Stewan family: and Cadillac reproduces thearms of Antoine de la Molhe. Sieur de Cadillac. French colonial governor inNorth America and founder of Detroit.Stop at any tobacco counter and notice the amazing number of cigarettes

that hear one or another heraldic insigne. Again. these run the gamut from

N7

the fantastic to the sound. The old-line brands of cigars, conversely, whenthey carry heraldic devices at all. nearly always carry traditionally sound ones.The great fraternal orders in America have insignia of a heraldic nature;

in almost every instance these designs are most accurate and in the best tra-dition of armory.Every college fraternity and sorority carries. in addition to its badge. an

armorial insigne. Almost without exception. these are not only authentic indesign, but also far outshine the arms of most of the educational institutionswhere their chapters are established.Not only do “The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street" (The Bank of Eng-

land) and The Bank of Scotland carry arms. and they carry them officially. buta surprising number of American banks bear arms also. Not many of theselatter. unfortunately. appear to result from very knowledgeable effort.Every social club in America that pretends to any status whatsoever has its

coat-of-arms. The older. and relatively few. gentlcmen‘s clubs in the estab-lished urban centers are usually impeccable in their use of coat armor. Un-fortunately. this is not always so true of the new family or country clubs. Thefirst and perhaps the greatest expansion of the country clubs was during theperiod from the end ofWorld War l to the beginning of theGreatDepression;many more sprang up alter World War II. Each one makes an attempt todisplay some sort of armorial achievement. A great many of these displaysare shoddy and perform a genuine disservice to the institutions they represent.inept and unknowing (uncouth is the technical term here) in design. theyhave a commercial quality that belies the social nature of the institution. Tomany. their shie|ds—encrusted as they frequently are with names and initials—give the impression of advertising public restaurants or night clubs.Finally. yacht and boating clubs must be considered: for here there is no

choice. necessarily each one carries its own standard in the form of a flag or.more properly. a pennant. Again. the older clubs generally display soundheraldic bearings: most. however. are content with the mediocre makeshift ofidentifying initials. The most spectacular pennant of all. perhaps. is that of theBaltimore Yacht Club. It carries as does the City of Baltimore itself. a set ofarms famous in American hi ory. those of Cecil Calvert. Lord Baltimore.It is their brilliant black and orange coloring that gives us. in addition, ourname for the Baltimore oriole.

H8

WEE

‘EEEIE §3?It"Al©E§

©i¥‘ RIEEEJEEY?

Heraldry communicates by visual symbols. But throughout the centuries aset of verbal symbols has been codified for referring 10 these symbols. In addirtion. a set of directive and relational terms has grown up to indicate modifi-cations. placement. and relative position of the primary symbols.The alphabetically arranged terms in this section are far. very far. from

being adequately comprehensive. They have been selected to let you blazon

any coat-of-arms shown in this hook; further. to give you a working vocabu-lary for interpreting most other arms;and. finally. to provide a sullicient back-ground for a more advanced study of the science.

ARATEMFNT Any symbol placed on a coat-of-arms for the express pur-pose of lowering the dignity of the individual or family that hears it.

A('HIF.V|-ZMI-1N'l' The term achievement in heraldry denotes an individ-uals armorial bearings; a complete coat»of-anus. It always includes the shield(which may be a complete achievement in itself). the crest, and the motto(when these exist). In addition. it is customary to embellish these elementswith helmet, torse. and mantling (Fig. 69. Page 51). An achievement in-cludes supporters as well. when these are justified.

ADORSED (Anoltsr) A term used to describe animals placed back to back.

H9

AFFRONTE The term afironté is used to indicate that the entire creatureor object it describes is facing front and looking out from the shield.

ANNULET This charge is a small circular figure or ring. a sort of voidedroundel (q.v.). Though it occurs as a regular charge, it is best known in Eng-lish heraldry as the cadence mark my.)of the fifth son (Fig. 130).

ANTIQUE CROWN SOC ( ‘ O R O N ET S

ARGENT See TINCTURES

ARMED When the parts of an animal that are used in fighting. such as theclaws. talons. teeth. beak. horns. fangs. or tusks. are shown in a tincture thatdifiers from that of the body. the animal is said to be armed of the separatetincture.

ARMES PARLANTES See CANTING ARMS

ARMS The heraldic bearings of an individual. family. or corporate entity.

ASPECTANT A term used to describe the position of animals placed faceto face. but not in the position known as (‘OMEATANT Iq.v.) (Fig. 131).

AT GAZE This expression is limited in use to members of the deer family.The animal is standing on all four feet. with body in profile, but with headturned forward to face the observer. It is equivalent to the posture termed“statant guardant" as applied to other animals.

130 BECK (2) I31 RALEIGH (I)

‘I10

ATTIRED When a member of the deer family bears antlers of a differenttincture to that of its head, it is described as attired of the new tincture(Fig. 132).

I32 MCCAITIIV

AUGMENTATION An augmentation is a heritable addition to an existingcoat-of-anus. Where heraldic bearings are recognized and regulated by thesovereign power, this addition is granted oflicially as a reward of honor andin recognition of special service.

AZURE See TINCTURES

an The bar. like the fees (q.v.), is a band or stripe that runs horizontallyacross the shield. lt is smaller than the less and nonnally occupies about one-fifth the area of the field. Unlike the fess. it is not limited to the center posi-tion butmay transverse the shield at any point. It often occurs in pairs (Fig.133).or inmultiples (Fig. 144).

133 WASHINGTON 134 MARTIN

The bar has several diminutives. The CLOSET is one-half its width; and theBARRULET, smallest of the family. is half the width of the closet.The BAR GEMEL, a double or twin bar, is represented not by stripes the

size of the bar but of the size of the barrulet. The two stripes are separatedby a distance equal to one of the stripes. and the two together are consideredone charge. When this charge is used in multiples, the distance between eachpair of stripes (each bar gemel) is increased to emphasize the unit nature ofeach pair. Thus, fig. l 35 hassix stripes: they are.however. arranged in three dis-tinct pairs so that the arms are described as “Argent, three bars gemcls gules."

I35 B u n

When a shield is divided into six or more even number of horizontal stripesof alternating tinctures, it is dscribed as BARRY. (If the number is uneven.the shield is described as havingsomany bars. closets. or barrulets of the tinc-ture that has the lesser number of stripes.) It is necessary to specify the num-ber of stripes and the tinctures. specifying the uppermost tincture first. Fig.I36 is blazoned. “Barry of ten per pale argent and gules countercolored.“When the number of horizontal stripes exceeds ten, it iscustomary to describethe shield as BAIRULV of whatever the number may be.

l 36 BAIRETI’

BARBED (1) When a man is shown with a heard, he is said to bebarbed. If the color of the beard is important, he must be blazoned as“barbed (of such a tincture).” (2)When flowers are shown with leaves at-tached, or, in the case of the heraldic rose, mere tips of leaves, of a differenttincture, the flower is said to be barbed of that tincture. Fig. 137 shows aheraldic rose “barbed vert.”

I 37 LIPPE

BAR GEMEL See mum

BARON ET FEMME The term baron cl lemme (man and wife) refers tothe joint representation of the arms of husband and wife. Most usually this isachieved by impalcmmt (q.v.) or by depicting the arms of the wife on anescutcheon of pretence (q.v.). In some instances it is necessary to use a“double achievement." See Chapter V, “How Family Arms Grow.”

BARRULET See BAR

BARRULY See EAR

BARRY See BAR

BASE The area encompassed by the bottom third of a shield is called itsbase.

BEAKED When a bird is represented with his beak of a tincture thatdiffers from that of the head. he is described as beaked of that tincture.

I23

BEND The bend or ELND DEXTER is {I diagonal stripe extending from thedexter chief to the 51'

' er base (fig. 138). Ideally it occupies one-third ofthe shield. especially if it carries charges: otherwise. it is generally reducedto about one—fifth of the area. The BEND stmst t - .R is a similar diagonal.beginning in the sinister chief and extending to the dexter base.

§IEX Ho\\ AKD

There are several Clll‘nlnLlIl\'L‘S of the bend.The l£lN|)ll-‘I llig. l3‘)r IN one-hztlf the width of the hand. st 'R/wt ‘. is

:1 special term xomelinwx used lur :1 In ,\‘l)l I '1 .»t\'tsTt,R. The RHMND l.\ some-what smaller than the hendlet. hem; uhnut tvm-third» l[.\ width. The (‘OTLSI-‘

(fig. I40) l~ still slflllllcl. being one-hult the width uf the bendlet: it is gen-erally used in paint». Fig, 141 sl ] 0\ \ \ £1]7kl||'0fL'(7[i\(’.\A[tlll('L‘l[_\‘.

139 mo.» ‘M0 W m “

l 4 l CI OPTOV

When the field, or a particular area of a shield, is divided diagonally intoseveral stripes varying inmetal and color, it issaid to be Bl-INDY ofthose tinctures(fig. 141A) .

l41A Bucx I42 LEE

When small charges are placed in a slanting direction, they are said to beIN BEND (fig. 140,page 124).When the tinctures of a shield are divided diagonally. the shield is described

as PARTEDmanBEND.

BENDLET See BEND

BEND SINISTER See arm:

manor See BEND

BEZANT See RDUNDEL

BEZANTIT: (BEZANTY) See sewn’:

BILLET The billet is a rectangular figure in the form of a folded letter, asthe name suggests (fig. 142) . When a shield is covered with an indefinitenumber ofsmall billets,the field isgenerally described asBILLETTY.

BILLETTY See samé

I25

ELAZON To blazon a coat-of-arms is to describe it verbally with sulficientaccuracy so that the original may be reproduced from the description given.A blazon is such a description. Many of the accepted terms of blazon arearchaic and seem to the newcomer unnecessarily pedantic and exotic; but theirvalidity (like that of similar terms in law) lies in the fact that over the cen-turies they have acquired both the centripetal force of reasonable precisionand the centrifugal force of various levels ofmeaning and nuances in variouscontexts. Suddenly to substitute more modern equivalents or synonyms wouldintroduce immediate confusion followed by a period of re-stereotyping, justto get back to where we are now, Part of learning any science (that is, anorganized body of knowledge) is the process of mastering its vocabulary. Itshould be pointed out. however. that mastering a science is not the same (ex-cept. perhaps. at the tyro stage) as enslaving yourself to it. The question pro-pounded by Humpty Dumpty is equally valid here.To emblazon a coat-of-arms is to depict it graphically. This may be done

in full color, in heralds’ TKIFKING. or in ENGRAVI-:Rs‘ TRICKS (q.v.).' such a

representation is an emblazonment.The important thing to remember is that the reality of armory is always

the concrete coat-of~arms.

BORDURE The bordure (border) is a stripe that follows the outer edge ofthe shield. There is no standard width for this stripe. but under ordinary condi-tions it is generally about three-sixteenths the width of the shield. If it has acomplicated internal design or carries charges. it will necessarily be somewhatwider (fig. 121. page 100). In its simplest form the inner edge ofthc bordure isa straight-flowing line that parallels at all points the outer edge of the shield;and, of course. the outer edge of the bordure is always coincident with theouter edge of the shield itself. The inner edge, however, may use any one ofthe several PARTITION LINES Iq .v .). Fig. 143 shows a “bordure engrailed."

143 Bu1NwELi.

The bordure is found in very early armory; it was probably the first meansof indicating DIFFERENCE (([.v.) and is still the basis for the complicated Scot-tish system of differencing.‘Closely related to the bordure, in origin a diminutive and variant form of

it, is the DRLE. This is a smaller stripe that parallels the outer edge of the shieldbut is slightly recessed from it, showing a small part of the field between itselfand the edge. When a number of small charges are arranged in a similar pat-tern, they are said to be IN ours.The TRESSURE is a variant of the orle. It is almost always borne double,

each stripe necessarily quite thin and showing a small space between them.The most famous tressure in heraldry. of course‘ is that borne on the royalarms of Scotland. It is a “tressurc fieury-counter—fleury." which means thatit is transversed by a series of FLEERS-DE«LYS Iq.r.; that alternate in pointinginward and outward. Granted as an augmentation. it is the most highly prizedaddition of honor in Scottish armory.

BROAD ARROW The broad arrow of heraldry is represented by a large andheavy metal arrowhead, regularly depicted without an accompanying shaft(fig. I44). Thrown by a machine. it was the basic artillery missile of theMiddle Ages.

(‘AHOSHED This term describes a full-faced view of an animal's head withnone of the neck showing. It is usually associated with members of the deerfamily (fig. 145) .‘The scheme orcadcncy as now used by the non King in Scotland is illustrated in Fox-

Davies‘ Cnmph.-Ar cum.» in Ht'mIdr'y, page 503.

144 WALSH 145 MACKENZIE127

CANTON See QUARTER

CHARGE Any figure or symbol used on the shield as a distinguishing partof a coat—of-arms is a charge. It is considered to be placed on the shield, and,in this respect, it differs technically from a DIVISION of the shield (q.v.).

CHECKY Any area that is composed of alternate squares of metal and coloror fur in more than one row is described as cheeky (fig. 152). It is neces-sary, of course, to stipulate the tinctures. If it makes a difference as tohow many rows should be represented, the number of rows should be st.ipu~lated. If it makes a difierence as to the number of squares in each row, thattoo should be stipulated. If the first square on the dexter side of the top rowis a color, then that should be named before the alternating metal, thus “A fesscheeky. gules and or.“

I52 Bow

A ringlc row of alternate squares of metal and color or fur is described asCOMPONY rather than “checky."

( ‘ H EV R O N This basic division of the shield. as its name implies, is shapedlikea rafter (fig. 153,page 131) .Whenever possible, its ideal proportion isone-third of the shield. As a practical matter. its height on the shield and its widthare both subject in representation to artistic balance. When the field is dividedinto an equal number of chevrons. the shield is then described as CHEVRDNNY.Or the shield may be divided into two tinctures, the line of division followingthe shape of aCHEVRON, in which case the shield is described as PARTED PER

CHEVRON (fig. 70, page 52) . Fig I54, page 131 shows a shield FARTED PER

I30

CHEVRON EMBATTLED, and fig. 155 shows one PARTED PER CHEVRON IN-

VECTED. When small charges are arranged to follow the lines of an invertedV, they are said to be IN CHEVRON (fig, 156).

I53 BLAKE (I)

I55 MACDONOGH IMACDDNOUGI-1| 155 Sncxuousa

The most usual diminutive of the CHEVRON is the Cl-IEVRONEL (fig. 81,page 71),one half the size of the larger figure. It most frequently appears inpairs or threes. A less usual diminutive is the COUPLE—CLOSE. one half the sizeof the CHEVRONEL: it regularly occurs in multiples and the figures are ofteninterlaced.

CHEVRONEL See CHEVRON

CHEVRDNNY See CHEVRON

I3‘

CH I FF The chief is one of the primary dl\'iSl0n\ of a shield and comprisesits upper third (fig. I571. The chief is un urea of prcfcrmcnt and hcnor. oftenused for displaying,\L'nMINT.-\1'1()xsIq.\-J.

I37 HRH r

CINQUEFOIL See CLOVERS

cmsr A term used to describe the pmition nf a bird with wings at rest,that is. close to the bod) rlig. I30. page IZIII.

( 1nsr.T See HAR

1lIl\‘l-R\ Of the umuus fnlmlc In-ilm mud in nrnmriul rcprcxcntutinm.the mint Hcqimil. hcc.'|u~c of |l\ nh\‘Inu~ nrliginus cnmmiulion. is Ihc I R W 01

ilic sl|2|lHl'nCk or lhfL‘L'—lL‘.If cl<\\cI' llig, 75. page 57). Such variant formsIhc LII‘r\ nu I run . tlic fnur-lcu! c|n\'i:r. and (he ('lN()U|ul-l)ll. with five lcnvcstrig. 158). are less frequent. A rare and unusual variant. the |)()L,'RLF.-

CU.-\TRFFOIL. shoving eight leaves. as in the accompanying illustration (fig.159) is. in English heruldry. the cadence mark assigned to the ninth son.

’}:%’:=‘:

[525 Hnuni 159 The Double Ouulrcloil

comanmr A tenn used to indicate that two beasts are in the act offighting. They are conventionally represented facing one another, each in theposture known as RAMPANT 1q.v.). The outstretched paw of each is close to,but not touching, that of the other (fig. 160).

I60 HYNLS

COMPONY See cmscttv

CORONETS The coroner or small crown that is best known in Americanusage is the crest coroner. Many family crests rise out of a coronet instead ofresting on a TORSE (q.v.).These coronets areof various types. and the particularkind is always specified in the blamn of an achievement that includes one. Byfar the most frequently used is the ducal coronet (which does not indicate therank of duke); it is sometimes called merely a diadem. Fig. 79, page 66 illus-trates a ducal corona out of which rises a hand in benediction. Less frequentlymet are the mural crown, generally associated with communities (an embat-tled crown resembling the top of a tower and divided into rectangular designsto suggest masonry); the naval crmvn, a simple rim on which are shown alter-nate stern and bow-on views of an old-fashioned sailing ship: and the customcrown, also called the unliquv cruu-n, a plain circlet sunnounted by five sharptriangles.The Coronelr ofRank, as used in the British Isles and on the Continent.

are special forms that indicate the bearer has a special position and title in thepeerage. They are readilydistinguished by the cap, usually red, that lines them.Only the specific individual holding the particular title indicated by such aCoronet of rank has any claim to display it. Their use in America is ridiculousand unwarranted.

133

Coronets of various kinds. however. are often used ascharges on the shielditself. The antique (or eastern) crown is shown in fig. l 6] ; and even a royalcrown appears, for good historic reasons, in the arms shown in fig. 162.

I61 MCAIYHUK I62 Douuus

co1‘rsr~: See BEND

COUCHANT This term describes a four-footed beast in the act of lyingdown. The animal is represented in profile, normally facing the dexter, bodyfiat against the ground, but with head erect and also in profile. If the head isin any other position. that position must be specified. (See auunuvr.)Whena member of the deer family is represented in this position. he is described asLODGED rather than couchant.

COUNTEIICHANGED See COUNTERCOLORED

(‘OUNTERCHARGED S6: COUNTERCOLORED

COUNTERCOLORED Often when a shield, or area of a shield, is eaten(122.. divided into a recognized heraldic pattern) into an area of metal andanother area of color, the charges are arranged so that those appearing on themetallic part are in the basic color of the arms and those appearing on thecolor are shown in the basic metal. The charges are then said to be COUNTER-COLORED. COUNTERCHANGED, or COUNTERCHARGED (fig. 163, page 135) . Acharge that lies across the partition line between such areas is said to beCOUNT!-ZRCOLORED if the part of the charge that shows against the metal is in

I34

the basic color and the part that shows against Ihc color is depicted in the basicmetal (fig. 164) .

um AHr—k\\ 1:1 154 ( ‘ m m nu ncxnm mm

COUNTER-PDTENT See HERA! nu‘ I-’l'RS

COUNTER-SALIENT Scc SAL! NT(‘0L‘NTF.R—VA[R See HERALDK‘ runs(‘OUPED ((‘oUl>1':) When only part of :1 crcuturc (animal or human) isshown. Ihut part is hlumncd as cnupcd or cnupé if the rcpruxcnlalinn of it isfinished oli with :1 xlruighl linc. us though the member had hccn ncmly scvcrcdfrom thc body. Fig. 76. page (xl depicts .1 hand cnupcd ;u the \\ri\l.( ‘ o w n I -('|us: See <m \ R ( ) N

(‘l)l‘R»\NI A [ a m used In duxunhc un ummul In the act uf running. Cm-

lomzmly. the bud) is hon/unlul. Ul nc.n1} nu. und lhc l'm'c|cp .nc cucndcd.One or both uf the rear lugs muy bu lnllrhlllg ihc ground. in the). ton,mu)’ beextended (fig. I65)‘

I65 HMSK nr

c o w / u m (rout?) This 5 a term used to indicate that the animal it de-scribes is represented with his tail between his legs.

CRESCENT The crescent in heraldry is represented by the embowed moonwith her points turned upward. Though it frequently occurs as a charge(fig. I 66) . it is, in English heraldry, thc mdence mark (q.v,) of the secondson. When it is depicted with the points facing the dexter side of the shield.it is known as an INCRESCENT; with the points facing toward the sinister, it iscalled a DECRESCENT.

I66 Snot»: (SeA'roN)

CREST The term crest applies properly only to those heredity symbols thatsurmount the helmet in a complete ACHIEVEMENT (q.v.) (fig. 69, page 51) .It usually rests on a wreath or TOIISE (q. r . ) or rises out of a CORONET (q.v.),

(‘REST CORONET SC: CORONETS

(‘RESTED When a gamecock or similar fowl is to be depicted with thecomb of a tincture that differs from that of Ihe head, iof that tincture.

s bltuuncd as crested

CR1-DE-GUERRE See MOTTO

CROSS The cross in its many variations is the most frequent symbol inarmory. Where the shield is concerned, the cross is used both as a DIVISION(qiv.) and as a CHARGE (qiv. ). It is used also as a crest symbol.

136

As a division of die shield, the cross always extends to the edges of theshield, Its two basic forms are the cross. simply so blazoned, and the SALTIREor CROSS SALTIRE, also referred to as ST. ANoxrw's CROSS or 51'. t=ATR1cx'sCROSS, The simple cross consists of two bands crossing each other at rightangles in the center of the shield; one is vertical and the other horizontal(fig. 167). The SALTIRF. is formed by diagonal bands crossing each other atthe center of the shield (fig. I68).

I67 BURKF 16$ Fl'l'I.I>‘r\'lRtcx

When the arms of a cross do not terminate with the edges of the shield.the cross is considered to be a charge. If each arm ends with a straight line.the cross is said to be (‘0l , ' l ’ l - l l ) or (‘0L'l’t’ t r/ .r,l . This is the familiar emblem ofthe Red Cross, whose shield simply reverses the colors of the national arms ofSwitzerland. It is impossible to consider in detail the great variety of crossesthat have been used in armory. Any good dictionary will list and picture upto a score; some of the olderbooks on heraltlry give as many as two hundred———mostly minor variants of a few basic patterns. Listed here are the CROSS

Po1'F,N'r, the CROSS-CROSSLET, the (‘R055 F-LEL‘RYi the (‘ROSS MOLINE, and themoss 1>A'r'nf:.

( ‘R OS S -C R OS S LET This unusual cross. associated originally with the papalstates, is really five Crosses in one. To the plain, square t'ight—angled cross withplain ends is added a small transverse bar on each arm, so that each armbecomes in turn a smaller cross in its o\\n right (fig. 169. page 138).When ashield is strewn with an indefinite number of small cross-crosslets. the field issaid to be (‘RUSILY (fig. 170, page 138).

l37

V*5?169 To.\tK|\'s 1T0.\1|'KI\sl 170 Hm mxuox

CROSS FLEIJRY Sec FLEIJRY

(‘ROSS .\mt1xt- This is :1 right-angled cross with arms of equal length(fig. l 7 l I. vxliusc rzllztruvslcrhtic l\ the lixhtuil termination of ouch urm. Thuname itself is a rather obscure ullu»ion in modern times: it implies a re-semblance to the rind of u millstone. In English hcrttldry this cross is thecadence mark of the eighth son.

9?[71 Eur. I I ) I72 HANNO\‘

( Moss PATTI; The crnss pane is a square. right angled cross whose armsArc ~m‘.tllcr at the center than at their Icrminations (fig. I72).

(‘ROSS POTFNT The medieval crutch, called a p o leme, was fitted with asmall crossbar at the top that gave the upper end a T- or tau-shaped appear

I38

ance. The heraldic cross whose arms are so represented at their ends is calleda crosspotent (fig. 130.page l20).

CRUSILY See sEMi‘

DECRESCENT See CRESCENT

nt -M |- When prefixed to the name of a charge. the term demi- indicatesthat only the front or upper half is to be displayed. A “dcmi-lion" is shown asthe crest of fig. 73.page 55.

DEXTER The right side of the shield with reference to the man who is

carrying the shield before him. therefore the left side of the shield from theview of the observer. This is the honor side of the shield.

DIADEM SOC ( ‘ O R O N ET S

Dll-’l-‘ERENCE Technically speaking. a difference in heraldry is anythingthat sets apart one coat of arms from another. It may involve nothing morethan ( ‘A D EN C E MARKS t q .v . ) that differentiate between separate sons of thesame individual. It may involve permanent additions. such as the bordures ofthe Scottish system that separate difierenl branches of a family. Or it may in-volve structural differences in the bearings themselves to indicate cognatebranches of a family.

DISPLAY!-‘.D A term used to describe the position of a bird. almost invari-ably an eagle, with wings elevated and expanded. with legs spread. and withthe head turned in profile (tn the deuer].An eagle displayed is the sole sup-porter of the Arms of the Republic (fig. I23. page I I2 l. The eagle displayedis frequently met with as a charge (fig. I73D.

I73 \\’RIGt>t‘t' (ll

DIVISIONS or THE Sl>lIF,l,D Most writers on armory place great emphasis onthe classifications that cover the divisions of a shield. designating some con-figurations “honorable ordinaries“ and others “secondary ordinaries." Theimplication is that these. being early divisions in the history of annory, there-fore enjoy a position of special importance. The implication is relatively true,but only with reference to the historic study of general armory. The inference.however. is that the mere presence of one or more of these divisions in a par»ticular coat-of-arms confers prestige and indicates old and distinguished bear-ings. But the inference is not true. The plain fact is that a grant of armsmadetoday or tomorrow might well contain one or several of these early divisions.And the mere fact that a coat-of-arms is old does not necessarily carry anattribute of distinction. The basic truth. aswas well understood in earlier days.is that the bearer distinguishes the arms. not the reverse. The bearing of amtswithout a concommittunt obligation makes arms meaningless.Another difiiculty vtirh these traditional classifications of the divisions of a

shield is that some of the figuresmight be considered moreproperly as chargesthan as dit'i.rions of the shield. Their eventual inclusion in such a listgrows outof complicated historic reasons that cannot be fully discussed here.But. for whatever it is worth. here are the traditional classifications. The

ORDINARIES. also called the HONORABLE oi1oiNAtuF.s. are the CH|EF, PALE,FESS, BEND. CHEVRON. moss. and SAl.TlR|;. The SUBORDINARIES. also calledSUBDRDINATE ORDINARIES and SECONDARIES. are the QUARTER, CANTON,INESCUTCHEON. BORDURE. one, TRESSURE, FLANCHE, LOZENGE, MASCLE,

RUSTRE, FUSIL. GYRON. FRET. BILLET. and ROUNDEL.Each item on this list is discussed more fully in its proper listing in this

section.

DORMANT This term describes a four-footed beast in the act of sleeping.The animal is represented in profile. normally facing the dexter, body fiatagainst the ground, and the head depressed so as to rest upon the ground orupon the extended forelegs. The position of the head differentiates dormantfrom COUCHANT (q.v. ).

DOUBLE—QUATREF0lL See (‘LOVERS

DUCAL CORONET See CORONETS

EASTERN CROWN See COIIONETS

I40

1=.MiaLAzoN(MEN'r) See BLAZON

EMBOWED The term embowed describes anything arched into a roughlysemicircular shape with the ends pointing downward. It is a favorite way ofdisplaying fish or marine animals. especially the dolphin (fig. 78, page 65).

ENDORSE See PALE

ENGKAVERS‘ TRICKS It is generally preferable to display heraldic bearingsin color. When this is impracticable, it is traditionally correct to represent thebearings in outline with no effort to indicate tinctures. For a long time thiswas the preferred method when no color was used. Modern preference, how»ever, clearly is to indicate the colors in a monochrome rendering by meansof the lines,dots. and figures generally known as engravers' tricks. A numberof such systems existed in earlier days; the one in use now has been the uni-versally accepted standard since the late seventeenth century. It may well bethat the various conflicting systems in use prior to that date were responsiblefor the then preferable use of bare outline; under conflicting systems theindications of color would readily become misleading.Fig. 74. page 56 illustrates the engravers' tricks for the principal metals.

colors, and furs. Two additional tinctures (murrey and Ienné) are describedunder the entry TINCTURES (q.v.). Two additional furs (ermine:and paw) arediscussed under HERALDIC FURS (q.v.).Many writers speak of TRICKING or HERALDS‘ TRICKS as a means of indi-

cating the tinctures of arms. This system, however. is used for record purposesonly, never for display of arms. lt consists merely in an outline drawing ofthe arms with colors indicated by abbreviations of their names being insertedin the appropriate areas or, when these areas are too small, by an arrow lead-ing from the name of the color to the applicable point on the arms. The usualabbreviations are: Ar for argent, 0r , which needs no abbreviation, Gu forgulcs. A: for azure (but more frequently B for blue, to avoid confusion withAI), St: for sable,Purp for purpure, and Ppr for proper. The furs are generallyspelled out in full.

A tree or shrub is described as eradicated if it is depictedwith the roots showing, as though it had been pulled up from the ground—roots and all.

ERADICATED

'|4l

ERAS!-ZD When only pan of a creature (animal or human) is shown. thatpart is blazoned as erased if t.he representation of it is finished off with astylized tom of three jagged points. as though the member had been forceablytorn from the body (fig. 174 ).

I74 Flurr

L'RF.(‘T When a charge that might otherwise be presumed to occupy ahorizontal position (or in case of doubt) is to be shown in a vertical position.it is described as erect. A fish in the erect position is frequently described asHAURIANT (q.v.;. When predatory animals are pictured as erect (fig. 175) .both rear feet are shown as though touching the ground. and usually oneforeleg is elevated and one depressed: all this is to avoid confusion withthe positions known as RAMPANT (q.v.) and SALIENT (q.v.).

I75 EARIOI L

ERMINE See HEKALDIC runs

ermmas See HERALDIC runs

ERMINOIS See HERALDIC runs

ESCALLDP See SHELLS

ESCUTCHEON An escutcheon is simply a shield or shieldlike figure.Olderwriters on armory generally prefer it to the English term shield. It is the nor-mal configuration on which a coat-of-anns is represented. It also occurs, how-ever, as a charge. When it does, the term INESCUTCHEON is perhaps preferablein establishing a distinction (fig. 176).The use of the term escutcheon inthe phrase “escutcheon of pretence“ (q.v.) does not vitiate this distinction:for this is not a “charge." but rather a complete coat-of-arms conjoined withanother.

I76 HAY

ESCUTCHEON or PRETENCE When the wife is is HERALDIC HEIRESS (q.v.),her arms are joined with those of her husband. not by IMPALEMENT (q.v.),but by being borne of an escutcheon of pretence. Her family arms are shownon a shield (escutcheon) which is then displayed in the center of her husband'sshield (fig. I22.page 101).

ESTOILE See sun

FESS This primary division of the shield consists of a wide band or stripethat crosses the center of the shield horizontally and ideally occupies about

I43

l77

one-third of the area (fig. 177). If several charges are reprewnted in chiefand or bu~e. the fees ix customaril) drzmn somenliur wmullcr to accom-modate them.When nm or more charges are placed next [0 each other ‘.lCI‘ns< the center

nl’ the shield. theyureMild to be l\' FL53 Hig. [78 ).When u shield is divided hori/nntull) at the center point into areas ofmo

llllL'lUI‘\.'\. n Ix sand to be P \ R | l 1) Pl R 1 I ss trig. I79).

I7‘) .\l\LlW»\\1)» VI Il l | l \ ' *l7h' (Imus

The I!‘lL'LllL'\;|l fctn-iluclt (the term iuniorx refer: to the>811]: figure: i~ reprcwnlcd Ill armor} h) ‘.1 ~zruig|\t bar to \\l1( \sC ends is at-tached it Usluped rod In mine |l1\l‘.Il‘lL’L‘~ or u L'—>h:tped chain in otherslllg.l5U.p‘.|5_1El2‘)l

I-I-‘I ll RI mt’):

FIFLD A term med In refer to the complete face of the shield or to itstincture.

l‘lM[lRlAll-I) Thu term deicribex the fact that u Lll\l)l()l' | of a shield. suchas a chevron. bend. ur cm». is outlined with :1 ver_\ narrow border of a differ-ent tincture.

laid

FITCHY When a cross has its lower arm pointed so that it might be im-planted or fixed (French fiche’) in the ground. it is described as fitchy. Whenso represented, the low am of the cross is generally shown as longer than theothers. The cross-crosslet fitchy is shown in fig. 180; the cross patté fitchy infig. 181.

180 Dnvssmnr l 8 | Rvsr

FLANCHE The flanche is a division of the shield enclosed by an are thatuses the side of the shield as its base. lts innermost extent does not reach thecenter of the shield. Flanches are always borne in pairs. as in the accompany-ing illustration (fig. 182).

182 FlanchesFLEUR-DE-LYS The heraldic fleur-de-lys is an ornate and highly conven-tionalized form of the lily flower (fig. 69, page 5|) In English heraldry it

145

is the cadence mark of the sixth son. Though the fleur-de-lys as a charge andcrest symbol is met with in the heraldry of all European nations, it derivesfrom French armory, where its primary association is with the royal arms.Curiously enough. in origin it may not have represented the lily at all; morelikely it developed gradually out of the "golden bees” associated with Clovis(C.465~A.D.511) in prearmorialdays,The natural LILY,so represented. is also metwith, especially in ecclesiastical

heraldry, where it is the symbol of the Blessed Virgin.

FLEURY (FLORY) The term fleury describes any termination figured ina conventional florate design, usually represented by three petal-like figures.The CROSS FLEURY (q.v.) is a square rightangled cross whose arms are soterminated (fig. 183) .

183 LATIMFR

rounmm See ROUNDEL

FRET The rather intricate figure known as the fret is formed by interlacingtwo diagonal strips with a MASCLE (q.v.) (fig. 184,page 147 ). When the entireshield is covered with interlacing strips, the field is described as FRETTY (fig.185. page 147).rnarrv See FRET

FRUCTED When a plant is shown bearing fruit or seeds of a differenttincture. the plant is said to be fructed of that tincture. Such fruit or seeds,to be visible at all, are always drawn in an outsized proportion (fig. l48, pagel29).

146

Q?IRA Iluznlxurnx m< \ lmn | | rnx

H:sILr. See I o / | . \ 0 1 >

( H R H The heraldic lcrm fur a xhcrnf of grain (fig. I861.

I86 ,\lLR>-u\

CHI 5- See Rr>L‘\h) I

m m x l l mm 11>’! Sc;-s1\n'

<;n\\'n QL \RIl:R Soc ()l'-\RT[R

nu \R[1\\'T When .: huh: I\ reprexcmcd unh hm bod} m prufilu but withhI\ head turned fm'\\.m1 m t..\cclI1e uhxcrxrr. [NC term guurdunl l\ uddcd to themhcr term» of h|.1/an In dcxcrihc um\ .u 1.m | p0\iliUl1 of I11: hmd Thus lhc

VA7

lions in fig. 187, are blazoned for position as PASSAN1’ (44%) GUARDANT.When the head is completely turned so as to face the rear of an animal whosebody is in profile, the term KEGARDANT is used.

I87 GRAOG

ouuas See TINCTURES

GYRON The gyron is a triangular half of a QUARTER (q.v.). It is formed bydrawing a line from the center of the quartered shield (the fess point) to theopposite corner of the shield.A single gyron is a most unusual charge. Usuallythe field is composed entirely of gyrons of alternate metal and color; it is thenblazoned GYRONNY (fig. 188).The tcnn “gyronny.“when used alone. is under-stood to men n“gyronny of eight." each quarter being cut in half to producetwo gyrons. If there are more or less in a particular coat-ol‘-arms, Ihc blazonshould specify the number.

HAURIANT A term often used instead of ERECT (q.v.) to describe a fish inthe verlical position (figs 146.page I28).

IRE CM\1l'BEl|

HELMET In American usage the helmet is nothing more than a decorativeadjunct to the complete A(‘HIl'\‘| MFNT rq.v.;. ElsC\\l'|CI’E the helmet has con<siderable signilicanee. indicating rank by tincture. position. and certain as»

pects of its visor. The closed helmet sh0\\n in profile and facing toward thedealer is indicative of the esquire or gentleman. This is the standard form inthe United States. though certain variations are dixcussed in Chapter III.Taking Your C011!-0fvA/H15 Apart.As a decorative element. the helmet performs in addition the functional

purposes of supporting the (‘RFST 4q .\' .i and unifying the achievement byslightly overlapping the upper edge at the shield. And it provides a point ofattachment for the M-wrtixt‘. l(].\' .) (fig. 69.page 51 i.The helmet sometimes appears as a charge on the shield itself (fig. I89).

I89 K|,\.'~ED\'i2l

iir,itALmr runs The divergent array of "fun" that appear in modernheraldry all stem from two real furs that were \\ell known in the Middle Ages.armiiir and vair.

F .RMlNl:, a costly fur even then. was the more aplendid of the two: it linedthe cloak: of royalty and the great nobles. In time it came to be u~ed as acovering for the entire shield or part of it.When armory passed from the ac-tual carrying of shield» to the graphic representation of them. this fur was de-picted with mastinable accuracy by a white baekgrotind bearing u number ofsmall black tails. These tail: were arranged for .1t'll\llt.' purposes in a seriesof rows. a tail in an) one run being between DH‘) tails in the row above orbelow it. The method of drawing the tails has undergone occasional change,but fig. 74. page 56 illustrate.» the standard modern way of representing this

‘I419

fur. The “argent“ background is nearly always shown aswhite, though in rarecases it is represented in silver.Probably to satisfy the need for differencing arms of various branches of a

given family using ennine. a new and purely heraldic fur was created calledERMINES. This merely reverses t.he colors of the natural fur; the backgroundis black and the tails are white. In time, and again probably for the samereason, two other variants were created. ERMINOIS (fig. 74, page 56) has agold background with black tails; the reverse is PEAN. which has a blackfield with golden tails.The other basic fur. and one that came within the reach of anybody who

could kill a few squirrels and prepare their hides, was mix. This was usedextensively as a lining for cloaks. and eventually found its way onto the sur-face of shields. The best~known and prized variety of squirrel had a fur thatwas bluish-gray above and white below. Because the skin of the entire animalwas used, the result (when several skins were conjoined) was a wavy sequenceof alternating blotches of bluish-gray and white. Heraldic representation soonestablished symmetry. Although the symmetrical patlem has changed withthe centuries. the present method of representing vair is in rows of shield-shaped figures alternately tinctured argent and azure (fig. 74, page 56).Out of this developed the variation known as COUNTER-VAIR, in which theodd numbered rows of “little shields" are shown upside down so that the longline of each “little shield" matches the long line of the “little shield" of the.ram1' Iinrlurc in the row beneath it (fig. 74. page 56). As in the ease ofermine. the "urgent" that is used in vair and counter-vair is generally shownas white rather than silver. though the latter is sometimes found. However.“vair“ may be emblazoned in tinctures other than argent and azure. Theusual variant is “or and gules" (gold and red): in which case it is customarynot to use the term “vair.“ but to describe the fur as “VAIRY of or and gules."In depicting the fur graphically it is a matter of small momentwhich comes

first in the upper row. the metal or the color. However, general practice favorsthe metal.Another geometrical variation of the original “vair" is the fur now known

as POTENT. Herc the alternating argent and azure portions of the squirrelskin are represented by rows of little “crutch heads." or potent: (fig. 74,page 56). (Seealso cnoss POTENT.) These are so arranged that the head ofany one “potent" never overlaps the head of another in the row above orbelow. If other than the standard tinctures are used, the fur is described as“rorsnrv of (such tinctures).”

I50

The variation of this fur is COUNTER-FOTENT (fig. 74. page 56).Here thetincturesvary as in COUNTER-VAIR, formingvertical rowsof color.

l>Il':RALDl(‘ HFJRESS A daughter whose amis-bearing father has no maleheirs is termed a heraldic heiress. She and all sisters (through the paternalline) are considered “coheiresses.“

HesALDs' TRICKS See ENGRAveits' TRICKS

HERALDRY In the historic sense. the term heraldry includes the study ofall the functions of a medieval herald. Among the primary services he per-formed for his lord were diplomatic missions in war and peace. arrangingceremonials, making formal announcements and proclamations. serving as aprotocol ofiicer, and. finally. maintaining genealogies and the regulation ofcoats-of-arms.In modern times. heraldry is usually thought of as the science of coat armor

and allied heraldic trappings. Many writers prefer the term armory as beingof morespecific application.

HILTED When the hilt (including its crossbar and pommel) of the usualrepresentation of a medieval sword is shown in a tincture that difiers fromthat of the blade. it is described as hilted of that tincture (fig. 76. page 61) .

HURT See ROUNDEL

IMPALEMENT A method of conjoining two separate coats-of-anns on asingle shield. The shield is divided vertically down the center and a completecoat-of-arms is depicted on either side of the line of partition. It is the usualmethod of uniting the arms of husband and wife. showing the husband's armson the dexter side and the wife‘: on the sinister (fig. l22a, page l0 l ). It isusedas well to join personal arms with arms of oflice. the official arms occupyingthe dexter half (fig. 124.page I 14).

[N BEND See BEND

IN CHEVRON See CHEVRON

INCRESCENT See CRESCENT

151

INESCUTCHEON SEE ESCUTCHEON

IN FESS See FESS

IN one See BORDURE

IN PALE See PALE

IN FILE See FILE

LABEL The label is a small rakelike figure normally with three short tines.In English heraldry it is the cadence mark of the eldest son. The attachedillustration (fig. 190) shows the simplest and most characteristic form of thelabel.

I90 The Label

LANGED When the tongue of an animal is shown of a separate tincture,the animal is described as Ianged of that tincture (fig. 35, page 34) .

LILY S66 FLEUR-DE-LYS

LIVFRY ( ‘ o w n s The dominant metal and color of a shield constitute thecolors or livery colors of the arms. They are normally used as the tinctures ofthe TORSE (q.v.) or wreath and of the MANTLING (q.v.)

LODGED See COUCHANT

LOZENGE The lozenge in heraldry is a somewhat vertically lengtheneddiamond-shaped figure. It is often used in place of a shield in displaying thearms of a woman (fig. 191. page 152). It also occurs frequently as a charge(fig. 178, page 144) .When the lozenge ispierced in the center with a circular

152

opening. it is called .1 R L ' S ‘ [ R | , When it is “mided.“ it becomes a VASCLF (q.\'.).When the entire shield or :1 specific area is covered with lozenges of alter

tinctures. that area is described as l07,F\‘fi\'. The field in fig. H1. page125 is described as "io7eng_\ bend)." Fig. 192. shows a bend of lozenges,nati

Ni \ \ \ Rm WI K\[I¥lx||l:)

The rlrsn. it nurt'n\\cr and nmru: c]nn:»"med tigurc. |\ :1 \.m.:tmn of theg 193. xltntu :1 fax» uf titc tn«|I~ BL'k‘.Hl\k‘ it» (up and hntmm

.1nglc~;u'c qu i t e .lL’|||t‘ tFrcnt'h uix'ul_ the t'u~|l is nwti in the |Il\|t ! |iL' ( \ \ ' T | V r .

In/mwo F

r\k\I\ H/.\ ' .) of the \Im\t.I1.'u~_ uhcrc the Lnnil) n.um- Ix ptH'Il'ICtJ llpnn '.1\ H u m ]

uigu. "xhurp-pmntctt mount ain ,"

1 ‘ ): PLRL\

I 07!-NGV S66 LUZEVGF

153

LUCY An older name for the fish now known as the pike. It occurs as acharge in the cantingarms of I.uc_\ (fig. No. page 128 ).

.\l- \.VTl.lNG The mantling is an ornamental. cloaklikc decoration depictedin an achievement of arms as depending from the upper portion of the helmet.

the innerIn American usage it is always shown in the Ll\ER\’ COLORS (q.surface representing the dominant metal and the outer surface representingthe dominant color. It is necessarily doubled over in places so as to showbothsurfaces (fig. 69. page 51).

MARSHALLING ARMS A system of representing two or more distinct coats-of-arms on one shield. See IMPr\LIZ.\llZ.\'T. t's(‘L‘1Ctte0N or PRETENCE. QUAR-TER. and Chapter V. “ How Family Arms Grow."

MARTLFT The martlet is an essentially heraldic bird. always depicted with»out legs (fig, 194). In the English system of cadence marks, it is the symbolof the fourth son.

.\1AS(‘l,lE A mascle is a figure the siie and shape of a lozenge. that is. aslightly elongated diamond. uhosc interior has been removed or vomw to

l

°<>°<>°<>° °<>

leave only an outlining border lfig. l95 ).

l9-8 Ml-Riwtlnlk I ‘ )? Mink

MOON IN HER CO?\‘IPLl~.51h.\‘T See SUV IN HIS Sl’lE-.Nl)0R

MOON IN HER DE‘l'Rl!\lE.\'T See sL‘.\' i . \ ' HIS SPLENDOR

I54

MOTTO The motto. u ~hori verbal C\pres\iun (|VSOClalCd with many butby no means all fcimil) CL\;!K\-(If-ilfms. is recorded on :1 n:irro\\ strip meant tosuggest zi SCROI L or RIBBON (fig. 69. page 51 I. When a motto is dixplayed aspart of an achievement. American u<:ige follow: that of England: the scroll isplaced below the shield. In the case of American arms of Scottish origin. theusage of that country is xiill geiicrall} adhered to: the motto surmounts thecrest. The National Arms of the Knited State~ \ho\\' 21 similar preferenceIlig. 123.page Hi»Moi~covei-. Scotii~h ll\il_EL‘ inukes a diqinciiim bctucen the motto. uhieh ma)

be any sort of an C\pl’C\~IOfl. and the more qiecialized (RI-|)l>—(.LER|Kl, towhich preferment i<shovin. The cri—deA2uerre in rir cr)l hat an unmixtciknblemartial air about it . \\‘hen it occur: in conjunction \\llh a mono it ix custo—mar)‘ to display the cri-dc-guerre at the top of the aehicvenient and the mottobelow.

Mt , vi , t . i - ' r Sec ST \R

ML'RRl-'.Y See TINCTURES

. \ l \ l~\\‘ l This term dC)Cl’IbCS the horimntzil or mimming position of «CI

fish tfig. 19(3).C0ll\p1lrcHr\l‘Rlv\VT and 1-\lKt)\\ Fl ’) .

I96 \\ I l SH I\\'ELCHl

NAVAL FROWN Sec CORONETS,N'OWI-D This term is used in heraldr} tn deficribc anything that is tied intoa knot. Fig. Kt). page 68 \l‘l0\\\ “mo xerpents nmxcd van in chief."

155

NOWY A term used to describe one ormore arches in an otherwise straightline. See the bottom leg of the isosceles triangle in fig. 197.

l97 Scnunaa

OGRESS See nounou

on See rmcruiuas

onnnmues See DIVISIONS or THE SHIELD

one See aonnuae

OVAL Any oval-shaped figure substituted for the more warlike shield indisplaying arms. It is often used by clergymen to “pacify" their arms (fig. 125.page 115) .

over ALL (surrour) A term used to indicate that a division of a shield iscarried over one or more other divisions of a shield. partially obscuring thedivision(5)that it covers. In fig. 172.page 138. the bend sable is bume over allinrelation to the quarterly divisions of the shield.

PADLOCK See FETTERLOCK

PALE A vertical stripe running through the central part of the shield(fig. 198,page I57) .When charged it generally occupies aboutone-third of theshield, otherwise it may be somewhat reduced. The PALLET is a diminutive,

I56

one-half the width of the pale; it often occurs in pairs. A further diminutiveis the ENDORSE, which is one-half the width of the PALLET; this is usuallyfound in agroup of three ormore.When a shield or one of its areas isdivided into an even number of vertical

stripes of alternate tinctures. it is said to be PALY of those tinctures. Even acharge may be FALY; (seefig. 199) .When several charges are arranged vertically in the central portion of the

shield, theyare said tobe IN PALE (fig. 165,page 135).When a shield or any area is divided vertically down the center to permit

difierent tinctureson each side. it is PART!-‘.D ran PALE (fig.200) .

I98 EISKINE 199

200 CUSACK

FALL The pall (more properly the ecclesiastical pallium worn by arch-bishop: as a separate garment or embroidered on the chasuble of a celebrant)figures. as might be expected, in olficial church heraldry.When so used, itreproduces with reasonable faithfulness the article of clothing it represents.It is generally shown in silver or gold. It normally extends from the upper cor-ners of the shield. as though hanging from the shoulders of the wearer, andends at the base line with a deep fringe. When represented in this fashion,

I57

H.nmt=.

this Y-shaped figure partakes more of the nature of an anlinury (division ofthe shield) than of at charge: by many authorities it is considered one. It oftencarries Charges on lls surface as. in fact. the real pullium does.Under the more commonplace name of SHAKI-.t~mtK. it appears in personal

arms. It may then appear of any tincture and is usually couped. that is, it doesnot extend to the edges of the shield (fig. 201 ).

20! (‘t:NstNt;mM

PALLET See PALE

PALY See PALE

PARTED PER BEND SCC BEND

PART!-in Pl-ZR CHEVRON See CHEVRON

PARTED PER FESS See FESS

YARTED FER PALE See PALE

PARTI-COLORED Any object in heraldry is parti-colored if it is shown inmore than one tincture. The division of tinctures, however, will normallyfollow an established heraldic pattern.

PARTITION LINES Any line that divides the face of a shield into separateareas and tinctures is a partition line. Originally these lines were straight orsmooth and followed the natural configuration of the division. In time they

I53

developed special or fanciful forms. The most frequently met partition linesare shown in the accompanying illustration (fig. 202) .

‘ g I>\n‘m

r \ / \ r \ / \ / \ / - \ Ensunx‘

M .,.»..J..

__LJ7_l_L_—l_7J’ ‘<':3'~‘5‘

AnwL — l 5 : 7 _ ¢ =2?»

202 Partition Lines

PASSANT A term used to describe a four-footed animal in the act ofwalk-ing. Unless otherwise specified. the animal is shown in profile (moving towardthe dexter) with three feet on the ground and one foreleg elevated. The headis in profile and in line with the direction of the body (fig. 203). If the head isin any other position. the term that describes that position for the head mustbe added. such as in the term, "passant guardant" (fig. I87, page I48).SeeGUARDANT

203 JORDAN

PEAN See HERALDIC FURS

I59

PELICAN in HE)! PIETY The pelican, uniquely represented in the positionknown as “in her piety," is a direct borrowing from the pious symbolism ofthe medieval bestiaries. She is pictured as seated in her nest. surrounded byher young, and wounding her breast so as to feed them with her own blood(fig. I27, page 116).Shown argcnt on an azure field, this is the sole charge onthe arms of the state ofLouisiana.

PELLET See ROUNDEL

PILE This is a wedgevshaped figure and isalways assumed to be “in chief“unless otherwise specified. When originating in chief, the base of this longtriangle forms part of the top line of the shield and may stretch over as muchas two-thirds of the top line. The point extends downward about three-quartersof the way toward the base of the shield. When two or more piles are placedtogether, each is necessarily made much smaller than a single pile would be.A pile may issue from any other line of the shield, but it must be described inthe blazon as issuing from that particular place (fig. 204) . The difiicultyof a single pile in base is that, especially when a pointed shield is used, theresult may be a shield that is divided per chevron. Usually. however, a singlepile in base rises between two piles extending downward from the chief.

204 VANCE

Certain elongated charges, such as swords, darts, arrows, spears, or rods,when arranged in a triangular pattern with points meeting are said to belN FILE.

PLATE See ROUNDEL

160

PLAT!-'2 (PLATY) See SEMI-'1

POMEY See ROUND!-IL

FOMMELLED When a sword or dagger is shown with its pommel (theround knob at the termination of the hilt) of a separate tincture, the blazondescribes it as pomrnelled of that tincture (fig. 76,page 61 ).

POTENT(Y) See HERALDIC PURS

PROPER Describing a heraldic bearing as proper is a shorthand way ofsaying that the object is to be represented in its natural colors. But cautionmust be exercised in using this term when blazoning arms. An “oak treeproper" is not likely to be misunderstood; it will invariably be shown with abrown trunk and green foliage. But a “stallion proper" may readily become ahorse of another color. When there are possible variations in coloration, it ismuch safer to specify the colors involved by their English names.

PURPURE See '[lN("l'U|1ES

QUARTER A quarter isone-fourth the face of the shield; it isproduced bydividing the shield vertically through the center and then horizontally at thecenter. Each of the four resulting sections is a quarter (fig. 72, page 53) . Thefirst quarter. occupying the dexter chief. is the most important heraldieally.A disti.nction must be made between the quarter as a DIVISION or THE

st<ttr.LD(q.v.) in a single or indivisible coat-of-arms (fig. I64.page I35)and thequarter as used in MARSHALLING ARMS. :'.e., in representing several differentcoat-of-arms on one shield (fig. l22c, page I01).For in the latter case it ispossible to have more than four quarters on a single shield. When this hap-pens, the mathematical relationship is disregarded. As an example. if itwere necessary to show five separate arms on a single shield, the so-calledquarters would be drawn by dividing the upper half of the shield intothree matching sections and the lower half into two. If six quarters wereneeded, the lower half would also be divided into three sections. If sevenquarters were required, the upper halfwould consist of four sections and thelower of three. Notice that in marshallingmultiple arms of an uneven numberthe upper half of the shield, being normally vtider than the lower half. wouldcarry the larger number. By the time you reach nine, it would be better to

l 6 l

have three rows instead 01 two. But each of these sectionswould still be calleda quarter. A quarter that is itself “quartered" is called a GRAND QUARTER. Eachof its smaller divisions is it suaouaxrax.

205 Hun esros

ln modern armory the quarter as a division of a unit coat—of»arms normallyappears fourfold. A single quarter is a rarity, What appears instead is theCANTON. This is. in a sense. the diminutive of the quarter. It ideally representsone-ninth of the shield. lhal is. the dextcr third of the chief. lts actual sizevaries in modern usage. When it is il mere square of color, or even when itcarries a single charge. it is frequently reduced in site. In Continental usageit l\‘ sometimes nearly as large as thequarter itself. Fig. 141. page I25 shows a"canton" as carried on :1 shield:the Dutch arms in fig. l9|, page I53 showoneas carried on a woman‘s LUIFNGE 1q.v.I.

QUATRFFOIL See ('l.O\'F.RS

RAMPANT This term describes the raging position of a major beast. Thecreature is shown in prnfilc. normally facing toward the dexter. The body isreasonably crcct: one hind leg touches the ground. the other three legs andthe tail are elevated. The forclegs are in a conventional position of attack. indi-cated by the leg nearer the observer extended horizontally and the other forc-leg raised beyond that roughly at a forty-five—dcgree angle. The head, withjaws open and teeth bared. is also assumed to be in profile and facing thedexter (fig. 206, page I63). If the head is in any other position. that positionmust be specified; see GUARDANT.

I62

206 REVNOLDS (ll

REGARDANT See GUARDANT

NBAND See BEND

RIBBON See MOTTO

xmrn lR0(‘llF.) The roach (Anglo-Norman mclie) is. in America atleast. an archaic name for a variety of carp. This fish is used as a pun on thefamily name in the arms of Reach. Roche (fig. l47. page l28).The same fishoccur in the arms ofWelsh, Welch (fig. I96.page 155).

ROSE The heraldic rose is a stereotyped representation of the wild orsingle rose that was commonly known throughout the Middle Ages. (Thedouble or semidouble garden variety of today is a cultivated variation of it.)Its conventionalized representation in heraldry shows the five distinct petals,between each two of which is seen the tip of a leaf. In the center are five orsix small circles indicating the seeds. It may be of any tincture for heraldicpurposes. When shown red. it is customary to color the leaf tips green andthe seeds yellow or gold. It is then blazoned as "a rosegules. barbed Iq.v.) vertand seeded or." “Barbed and seeded proper"would indicate the same treatment(fig. l38,page 123) .In some instances the rose is shown with a short stem to which two or three

leaves are attached. It is then described as "slipped Iq.v.) and leaved.” If thestem and leaves are to be represented in a tincture difierent from that of the

163

flower itself, that tincture must be specified; thus, “a rose gules, slipped andleaved vert."In English heraldry the heraldic rose is the cadence mark of the seventh

son.

ROUNDEL A small. circular figure. It may be of any color. metal, or fur.It may heblazoned. accordingly. as a “roundel ermine." or a “roundel gules,“etc. However. certain roundels have special names, so that neither the wordroundel nor the specific tincture need be mentioned. The most usual of theseare: bezant. gold: golp. purple: hurt, blue; ogress or pellet, black; plate. silver(fig. l5l. page I29); pomcy. green; and wrteau. red. A very special type ofroundel is the /ounmin. As the name implies. it is intended to represent 5spring or pool; and it is always depicted as "harry wavy of six, argent andazure."

xusrxs See LOZENGE

SABLE See TINCTURES

SALIENT This term describes an animal in the act of leaping or springingforward. The animal is represented in profile, normally facing the dexter; therear legs touch the ground; the body is erect. but inclined forward, and theforelegs are both elevated.When two creatures are shown together in this position. they are nonnally

depicted as leaping in opposite directions. one crossing the other, thus forminga saltire or X-shaped figure. They are then blazoned COUNTER-SALIENT.

SCRAPE See BEND

SCROLL See MDTTO

SEGREANT A griflin in the rampant lq.r.;position is traditionally describedas segreant.SEJANT This term describes a four-footed beast in the act of sitting. Thebasic and unmodified position is to represent the animal as seated onits haunches with the lorelegs straight down and touching the ground. Thecreature is in profile and nonnally faces the dexIer_ If the head is not in profilewith the rest of the body. its position must be specified. (See GUARDANT).In some instances the animal. though seated on his haunches, is shownwith

body erect and forelegs raised in the position of a beast rampant. This positionis glossed SEJANT-ERECT. Here again the head is assumed to be in pmfile; if

I61

not, its variant position must be specified. Thus, a beast depicted sitting onhis haunches, body erect and forelegs elevated in the rampant posture, butwith head turned to the rear, would be described as “sejant-erect regardant.“

SEME The term semé (sown) indicates that the area described is powderedor strewn with an indefinite number of small figures. The repeated figure tobe displayed is then specified. A shield blazoned “Gules, semé of crosses patté"means that the field is red and covered throughout by small crosses of thevariety called “patté” (fig. 207) . Note that these small crosses are not charges,butpart of the field itself.

207 BERKELEY

Some stereotyped expressions have developed over the centuries to indicatethat an area is semé of a particular symbol. Thus, the term VERDE is anotherway of saying “semé of leaves." CRUSILY means “semé of cross crosslets"(fig. 170,page 138) ; PLATY (or PLATE) is “semé of plates" (122,, silver roun-dels); BEZANTY (or EEZANTE), “semé of bezants" (i.e., gold roundels). AndBILLETTY means “semé of billets." In the term SEME-DE-LYS, the “lys” means“fleurs-de»lys." Similarly.GCIUTEmeans “semé of gouttes (i.e., drops)The GOUTTE (drop), a small pear-shaped figure, is a frequently used object

for “powdering" a field. As this drop, or goutte, may be of any tincture,it is necessary to specify that tincture. Thus, a field may be describedas “Argent, semé des gouttesgules" (fig. 208, page I 66) , whichmeans that thesilver shield is strewn with an indefinite number of small red drops. However,when gouttes are used for powdering, it is customary to describe the field as

165

gatmé of the particular Lincture. Thus. a blue shield strewn with goldencolored drops isdescribed, “Azure. goutté d‘or.“

208 TL'l.‘«‘l=ll

But a further nicely has been developed and isoften used in blazon. Dropsof certain colors have been given specific names. These are:

Argent (silver) Gnutté d‘eau (“Droppy"of water)Azure (blue) Gnutté de lannes (tears)Gules (red) Guutté dc sang (blood)Sable (black) Goutté dc pnix (lat)Vcrt (green) (‘mutté de huile (oil)

Thus. the shield in fig. 208. may he blzuoncd in three ways: (3)Argent,WII11‘. (lt‘.\ gnulltnt’ twin.‘ (ht Argent, gnullé dz‘ guI1'.\'.' or (C) Argent gtmllé(la .t'mt;:. All are correct. but the lust l\ the form most frequently uxed.

SHAKEFORK Sec l>‘Al.l

SHELLS The two shells most frequently met with in armory are the ESCAL—

LOP and the WHELK. The ESCALLOP (scallop shell) had the distinction of

209 GRAHAM 210 SHELLEY

serving as a badge ofpilgrimage to the Holy Land, and its appearance inmanyarms may in fact commemorate such a pilgrimage (fig. 209, page 166). TheWHELK, like the scallop, was an important food source in the coastal areas ofmedieval Europe. It occurs as a pun on the name in the canting arms of Shelley(fig. 210, page 166).

SHIELD The shield or escutcheon in armorial representations isalmost anyconfiguration that vaguely suggests this defensive article of armor of the medi-evalwarrior, and upon the surface ofwhich the heraldic bearings are displayed.Modern usage prefers a shield of simple design.

SINISTER The left side of the shield with reference to the man who is carry-ing the shield before him, therefore the right side from the viewpoint of theobserver.

SLIPPED When a leaf is shown with a small piece of the stem attached,it is customary to indicate this nicely by describing the leaf as slipped (fig.211) . This tiny piece of stem is always of the same tincture as the leafitself. However, when a flower is described as slipped, the stem is shown ofgreater length and usually at least one leaf is attached to it. If more than oneleaf is shown, the flower is generally described as “slipped and leaved." Thisaddition to the flower may be of a difierent tincture, which is then specified;thus, “a rose gules, slipped and leaved vert."

21 1 HoLL|Noswonm

spun-nave). See STAR

l 67

STAR (EsTotLE) The unmodified term star is generally avoided in heral-dry. Even when the conventional heraldic terms are used, the situation is

confusing enough. The usual heraldic star is preferably called an ESTOILE;and, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed to be of six points or rays, eachof which is drawn with wavy lines (fig. 212) . Estoiles with a greater num-ber of rays occur; the next most usual number being eight. When thismatters. the number of rays should be specified. 11is usual. but not obligatory,to depict the "estuile of eight rays“ with the four rays that form an up-and»down cross drawn with straight lines and the four that form a saltire (diagonalcross) drawn with wavy lines. But this is an artistic nuance; all eight are fre-quently drawn with the characteristic wavy lines.

212 DRAKI: 2 | } I')R0nlI-1

Our popular American conception of it star is the heraldic M U L L F T , Thisis the familiar star that appears in the arms ofWashington (fig. I33, page 121),on the American flag, and in the crest of the Arms of the Republic (fig. 123,page I 12).And in English heraldry it is the cadence mark of the third son. Itis also known as the SCOTTISH STAR or the AMERICAN STAR. But, in origin, theMULLET (mollet) is the rowel of a spur, not a star at all (fig. 213) . Itis regularly depicted with five points formed by straight, not wavy. lines.Mullets ofmore than five points are used. When they are, the number of pointsmust be specified; for technically these are not mullet: at all, but ratherstraight-pointed stars. As such they will usually show six, sometimes eight,straight-edged points.When the five—pointed mullet is pierced in the center by a circular opening, it

is known as a SPUR-REVEL (fig. 214, page 169) . The void or opening normally

165

shows the color of the field beneath the charge. On occasion, however, thisopening is colored diflerently from the field beneath; in that case, it is neces-sary to describe the spur-revel as “pierced" of the new tincture.

214 MOULTIIE 215 THOMPSON

STATANT When an animal is standing at rest with all four feet on theground, it is described as statant.

SUB-QUARTER See QUARTER

SUN IN Hrs SPLENDOR This term, with its variant, SUN IN ITS GLORY, isrepresented by a disc with rays extended from it in all directions (fig. 215).Though not obligatory. a human face is generally depicted on the disc. It isregularly and naturally tinctured “or" (gold).A corresponding figure. without rays. represents the full moon and is bla-

zoned the MOON IN HER COMPLEMENT. It is usually shown in either silver orgold; its size and the figure of the human face distinguish it from a beam! ora plate. (See KOUNDEL.) On rare occasions it may be shown asblack, and it isthen glossed as the MOON IN HER DETIUMENT.

SUPPORTERS A supporter is any figure—anima1, human. even. in someinstances. inanimate—placed beside a shield as though in the act of supportingit. They are nearly always used in pairs, one on either side of the shield: andthe figure on one side need notbe the same as that on theother. In some casesa shield is supported by a single figure standing beside it; but when one sup~porter is used, it is generally placed behind the shield. as in the Arms of theRepublic (fig. I23, page l l 2 ) .

I69

As an almost invariable rule. supporters are an emblem of rank and au-thority.Where their use by individuals isconcerned. they are associated withmembers of reigning families. members of the peerage (those individualsholding titles of nobility). and. in the British Isles.with members of certainspecified orders of knighthood. Their use is limited to the individual holdingsuch position,and it is not even extended to members of his immediate family.Accordingly, they have no place whatsoever in American family arms.As symbols of authority. they may and do appear in the corporate arms of

cities and states (fig. 216) .

216 Nrw ORLEANS,Cm ! or

SUPPORTERS FOR THE ARMS OF THECITY OF NEW ORLEANS

The unusual feature ol these supporters is that they rep—resent specific individuals. The dexter supporter is blazoned"flicnville" ( . lean Baptiste LeMoyne. Sieur deBienville.founder of the City of New Orleans and French Governorof L0 '~’r.tn;tl: the other figure is identified as "Pere Mat'«queue (FatherJacques Marquette, French Jesuit mission-my and early explorer at the Mississippi River).

SURTOUT See OVER ALL

TENN!’-: See TINCTURES

2l7 CLAPP

TIERCED A shield is said to be tierced or “parted per tierce“ when it isdivided horizontally into three equal parts (corresponding to chief, fess, andbase) each of a separate tincture (fig.217).

TINCTURES Historically and technically, the term tincture may apply toanything that provides a covering in color to the surface of a shield or to itscharges. In this sense it would include not only the heraldic colors and metalsbut also the HERALDIC runs (q.v.). Because of the basic difference in naturebetween furs and colors. modern usage prefers to consider them separately,and they are so treated here.The only heraldic metals are urgent (white or silver) and or (yellow or

gold): the most usual colors are: azure (blue). gules ( red) , vert (green),purpose (purple), and sable (black). The engravers‘ tricks by which thesemetals and colors are represented in monochrome renderings are illustratedin fig. 74, page 56.Two rather unusual colors are mine’ (tawny orange) and murrey (ma-

roon). Tenné is represented in the cngravcrs‘ tricks with vertical lines cross-hatchcd by diagonal lines running in the direction of a bend sinister. Murreyis represented by cross-hatching diagonal lines running in opposite directions.that is. one set in the direction of the bend dcxtcr and the other set in thedirection of the bend sinister.

TORSE The torse or WREATH is a stylized ornament that follows the con-tour of the upper part of the helmet and out of which the crest rises (fig. 69,page 5] ). In some achievements it is replaced by a CORONET (q.v.). Americanusage closely follows that of Britain: the torse is shown in six segments, rep-resenting two twisted pieces of cloth. These segments alternate in presentingthe LIVERY COLORS (q.v.), that is, the dominant metal and color of the armsin that order.Continental usage is considerably freer in depicting the torse. Often. espe-

cially in German armory. an odd number of segments is shown (usually liveor seven), in which case the color comes first and last. In some instances twocolors and a metal art: used. often conveying a more representative picture ofthe armorial tinctures.When. in an abbreviated achievement. the helmet is omitted. the crest torse

is usually represented by a straight bar of six segments (fig. 73. page 55 ).

TDRTEAU See ROUNDEL

I71

TREFOIL See CLOVERS

TRESSURE See aonoue

TRICKING See ENGRAVERS'nucxs

TIIIPPANT The term trippant is used to describe the walking motion of amember of the deer family. The animal is shown in profile (normally facingthe dexter) with three legs on the ground. One foreleg is elevated and bentdownward from the knee (fig. 132.page I21) . It is roughly equivalent to theterm “passant" (q.v.) as applied to other four-footed animals.

VAIR(Y) See HERALDIC runs

venue See same

VERT See TINETURES

votm-:n This term voided is used to describe a figure whose interior por-tion has been removed or voided. so as to leave merely a narrow border.Thus. the MASCLE. (qlv.), is merely a lozenge voided (fig. l95. page 154) .

VORANT The term voranl is used to describe a creature in the actofdevouring another (fig. 218) .

2I8 VISCONTI

172

VULNED When a creature is depicted as wounded. it is blazoned as vulned.and the location of the wound is specified. In the representation. the woundis indicated by drops of blood.

WHELK See SHELLS

-WISE (-WAYS) This suflix is used in some blazons to mean “in the mannerof“ the term to which it is attached. Thus, ifseveral small charges are arrangeddiagonally from dexter chief to si "star base. they are sometimes described asbendwisz or bendways. The term is equivalent here to in bend. Similarly.fesxvvisemeans in less, mltirewise means in mltire, etc. It ismore often used,however, to describe the positionof a singlecharge; thus “a lance bendwise sin-ister" would describe this weapon placed in the direction of a bend sinister.

WREATH See TORSF.

173

A Selected Bibliography

The following references have been selected for three reasons: ( a) they meetthe needs of the beginning student of heraldry; (b) they are in English; and(c) they are readily available. And each of them contains a brief or fairlyextensive bibliography for further study. (Missing from the list are the oldstand-bys, Burke,Debrett, and Fairbairn.)If you have a special interest in the heraldic or genealogical studies of non-

English speaking countries, Constance M. Winchell‘s Guide I0 ReferenceBooks (7th Edition. 1951) with its supplements (l953—l955; 1956-1958) isthe basic bibliographical tool. Look under such headings as “Genea|ogy."“I-leraldry,“ “Names.“ “Orders and Decorations." and “'l'itles."Good luck and pleasant hours!

Encyclopaedia Britannica. The article on “Heraldry" by Oswald Barron isa basic introduction to the science. ll is reprinted in all recent editions, but ifyou are fortunate enough to have available the now-classic Eleventh Edition(1910-191 l ), consult it. in addition to the four full-color plates of historicanns. the many blaek~and-white illustrations are completely blazoned.

Fox-Davies, A. C., Complete Guide 10 Heraldry. Edinburgh, London, NewYork. 1901; Thomas Nelson &Sons, Ltd.. reprinted i956.This is the most comprehensive and rewarding study of British heraldry in

modern times. Every aspect of heraldic usage is covered in complete detail.

Grant, Francis 1.. Manual ofHeraldry. Edinburgh, John Grant. 1937.An excellent manual of general heraldry with special attention to usage in

Scotland.

Hope, W. H. St. John, Heraldry /or Cra/tsmen and Designers. New York.1913.TheMacmillan Company.A storehouse of valuable information for the professional craftsman.

175

Moncreifie, Iain. and Pottinger, Don. Simple Heraldry. Edinburgh, London,New York. Thomas Nelson &Sons, Ltd. reprinted 1957.By far the most effective simple introduction for anyone, it has become both

a “must” and a delight for children.

Wagner, Anthony,Heraldry in England.Penguin Books. Inc, Baltimore.Md.,reprinted 1951.Rich in color and good sense. here are "infinite riches in a little room.“

Doan, Gilbert K, Searching for Your Ancestors. The University of MinnesotaPress, Minneapolis. Minn., revised edition 1948.

I76

INDEX OF BLAZONSThe following verbal descriptions represent several styles of blazoning.This results. in a few instances, from specific requests that I use blazonsas preserved in family papers or recorded in published family histories.Unusual forms of family names are in response to similar requests. Inmost cases. however, I have deliberately varied the styleof the blazons sothat the beginning student may become familiar with an acceptablerange of variations.

A1-IERNI-; (1) (AHEA|lNE)—Vefl, three herons argenl.AHERNE (2)—Pcr fess argon! and azure, three chaplcls, two in chief, one in base,counterchanged.ANDEltsoN—Or, on a chevron gules between three eagles‘ heads erased sable, asmany acorns slipped argent.3ARNWELL—El’1|'lln¢, a bordurecngrailed gules,B;tRnE'r'r—Barry of ten per pale argcnt and gulescounlcrcltanged,BAnY—Argent, three bars gernels gules.BECK (l)—Gules, a crossmuline argent.Becx (2)—Argent, on a fess indented azure, between (in chief) two cocks‘ headserased gules and (inbase) 3 blackbird sable, an nnnulet between two crosses patentor.Bekkeu-:Y—Gules, semé of crosses patle‘ urgent, a chevron of the second.B!.Ant—Argent. ona saltire sable nine masclesof the field.BLAKE (l )——Argent, a chevron between three garbs sable.BLAKE (2)—Argent, a fret gules.Bov1>—Azure, a less cheeky orand gules,Blu6Gs—-Gules, Ihreebarsgemels or, acanton sable.

BruNoLr-:v—Parted per pale or and sable, a chevron countercclored between threeescallops oountercolored.BRISBANI-:—Sable, a chevron cheeky or and gules between three wool packs of thesecond.Bruscot-:—Argent, three greyhounds couiaut sable in pale.BitomE—Argent,a chevron gules between threemullets azure.BRUCI-2—0t‘,a saltire gules, a chiefof the second.BRYANT, THE REVEREND JAMES C., Jrt.—Azure, on a cross or a cinquefoil betweenfour lounges gules; all on an oval within a belt gray, fringed sable, buckled of thesecond, and sun-nountedby a clerical hatwithtwo tassels of the fifth.BUcx—Lozengy bendy of eightor andazure, acanton ermine.BULr.—Gules,anarmored ann bearing a sword argent,Buiu(E—Or, a cross gules.BUItNs—Or,a fessbetween (in chief) three spur-revels and (in base) a huntinghorn,all sable.Bu'rLt~:it—Gules. three covered cupsor.BYRoN—-Argent, three bendlets sinister in chief gules. (A variant blazonwould be:Argent, three scrapes enhanced gules.)CAMERON—Gules, three barsor.CAMPaEr.r.—Gyronny ofeight or and sable.C,uutoLL—Argent. two lions erect aspectant gules supporting a sword proper.CARROLL, THE MOST REVEREND COLEMAN F., Bishop of Miami—lmpaled an-ns.Dexter. Azure, a fess abused or, issuant therefrom a palm tree of the same betweentwo Latin crosses patté argent, in base four barswavy of the last (Dioceseof Miami).Sinister. Per chevron argent and gules, two lions rampant afirontée counterchangedsupporting a prucessional cross patté or, in base two martlets atfrontee of the first(Bishop Carroll). Behind the shield a procession] cross between a mitre and acrosier, all or; the whole ensigned with a pontificalhat bearing six tassels on eitherside vert.Motto: Primum Regnum Dei.CHAMBI-II'(LA|N—G|lle§,a less between three escallops or.CHAUcER—Partedper pale argent and gules. a bend counterchanged.CH|srtoLM-—Gules. a boar‘shead couped or.CLAPP—Pal'led per tierce vair, argent, and gules.CL;uu<——Gules, a cross argent.CLAv—Argent, a chevronengrailed between three trefoils slipped sable.Cu-:n—Or, three nettle leaves verr.CLOPTON—Sable, a bend argent between two ootisesdancette or.COFFEY (COFFEE)——Vert, three covered cups or.CO!-‘FIN or NANTUCKET-—AZul’e, live cross—erosslets in saltire or between fourbezants.

Cm.t.e'roN—Or, three stags‘ heads oouped proper.Cou.tNs—Argent, two lions rampant combatant proper.COLONNA——Cvules,a column argent, base and capital or.CoNNoLLv—Argent, ona saltire sable five esrallops of the field.CORE!-2T'l'—Ol', three corbets sable.COSTELLO-01‘, three fttsils azure.CRAWFORD—Gulcs, afess ennine.CROSLAND (CItossLAND)—0uanerly argent and gules, a cross lleury counter-changed.CUMMINGS (CuMMtNs)—l>urpure, three garbs or.CUNNINGI-tAM—Argeut,a shakefork sable.CUsAcK—Par|ed perpale orand azure, a fess counterchanged,D.\cR£—Gules,three scallop shells argenl.DAveNt>on'r—Argent, a chevron between three cross~crossleIs fitchy sable.DAVIS 01: CAl'(OLlNA—A2ure, a less or between three mullels of six points argent.D:vt=.n:ux—Gules, a fess argent, three plates inchief.DOUGl.AS—Argenl, a heart gules regally crowned or, on a chief azure three mullet:of the first.DoWI>—Vert, a saltire or.DRAKE—SBble, a lesswavy between two estoiles argeut.DRUMMONl>—0r,three barswavy gules.DUNDAS—Al'gelll,a lion rampant gules.ELLIo1'—Gules, a bend engrailed or.E|tsKINe—Argent,a pale sable.FeItousoN—Azure, three boars‘ heads couped or.FITZGERALD-—Al‘genl,a saltire gules.Fl1‘zPAnt1cx—Sable,a saltire argent.FLEMING (FLeMMtNo)—Vair, a chiefcheeky gules and or,FOItBEs—Azure, three boars‘ heads erased argenl, langedand muzzled gules_Fxenct-t—Ennine,a chevron sable.GIB5s—Quarterly. l and 4, argenl, three axes sable; 2 and 3, argent, two lozengesin fess gules.GrLI=otL (GtLroYt.:)—Azure, two bars argent.GILLENTINI-:—Azure, a fess or between three swans proper.GRADY—PBl‘led per pale gules and sable, three lions passant in pale paned per paleargent and or.GnoG—Argent, three lions passanlguardant in paleazure.GnmM—0r.ona chief sable three escallops of the field.C1|'(AN'l'—GulES, three antique crowns or.GIt:aY—Ertnine, two llanches azure, each bearing three ears of wheat or.

HAHN—Sable, three gameeocks or.l>lALLtDAY—Sable, three helmets argent. garnished or, a bordure engrailed of thesecond.

HAMlLTDN—Gules, three cinquefoils argent.H.tNNoN—Quanerly gules and or, on a bend sable three crosses patté argent.HARLESTON—Quatlerly. 1and 4, argent,a fessermine ootised sable (for Harleston);2 and 3,sable, a chevronbetween three leopards‘heads or (for Wentworth).HAR|uNGTON—Sahle,a fret argent.HATI=|El.|>—Ermine,ona chevron sable three cinquefoils argent.HAWLEY—Vefl, a saltire invected argent_HItY—Argent, three inescutcheons gules.HAYNE—AI’gelIl, three crescents paly ofsix gules and azure.l>{t-:aIo'r—Argent, on a lessazure three cinqueloilsof the first.I-levwIuu>—Azure, a chevron per pale or and ermine between three garbs of thesecond.Hu.Lts-—l’arled per pale or and gules. a lion passant guardant proper.I-{oLattoox—Argent, cntsily sable, a chevron gules,l-loLt.tNGswo|t'rH—Azure,on a bend argent three holly leaves slipped ven,HoMI2—Vert, 3 lion rampant argent.l-loMt-:n—Argent_ a crossbow unbenl sable between four gamecocks gules.l-loam-;tt—Sahle, three talbots proper.HOUSTON or GEORG|A—0l’.a chevron checky sable and argent between three mart-lets of the second.HoWAnD——Gules, a bend between six cross-cmsslels fitchy argent.HU'rsoN—Per chevron embattled or and ven, three martlets counterchanged.HYNES—Pal1ed per pale or and gules, two lions rampant combatant countcrculored.lNNEs—Argent, inchief threemulletsazure.lzARD—Argcnt, six leopards‘ faces vert, three, two, andone,.lOl'(DAN—A|'gelll,a less sable. in base a lion passant of the second.KENNEDY ( I )—Argent. a chevron gules between three cross-crosslets fitchy sable.KENNEDY (2)—Sable. three helmets in profileproper.Kl-:Rn—Gules,ona chevron argent threemullets of the field.KLAVENESS, F. A.——Azure, ona cloven ness extending from twomountains a castle,all argent.

l.ACY—0l.',a lion rampant purpure.LA'l‘lMER—GIllcS, a cross fleury or.LAUNCELOT,Snt—C-ules, a griffin segreant or.LEE or VlRG|NlA—AZ|.lI'e, a fesscheeky gulcs and argent between eight brillets or.LlNDSA\'—CIIIleS,a fesscheeky urgent and azure.Lu-P:—Argent, a rosegules barbed and seeded proper.

LOC|(HART—Al'gelIl, a heartgules within a padlock sable.Lo|uNG—«0uarterly argent and gules, a bend engrailed of the second.bowv—Per bend urgent and gules, ona bend sable a lionpassant or.LUCY-—Gules, three lucicshauriant or.LYNCH—AZIH'e, a chevron between three trefoils or.MACDDNDGH (MACDONOUGH) (MCDONOGH |—l’arted per chevron invected orand vcrt, inchief two lions guardant gules, in base aboar passant urgent,MACEWAN—Paflcd per fess purpure and or, in chief a lion passam argent, in base agarb of the first.MACFARLANE (MCFARLAN)—Argent, a saltire wavy between four cinquefnilsgules.MAcK:NzI:—Azure.a stag‘shead caboshedor.MACLENNAN (LOGAN)—Or, a hean gules pierced by a broad-arrow proper.MALCOLM (MACCALLUM )—Argent, on a saltire azure between four snags‘ headserased gules. five rnullelsof the first.MANNEns—-Or, two bars azure,a chief gulcs.MANNING (I )-—QuarIer|y azure and gulcs, a cross fleury between four trefoilsargent.MANNING (2)—Vert,achevron between three trefoils or.M/uu'IN—-Ennine, three bars gules.MATI-lESON—-Argent, three dexter hands couped at the wristgules.McAkmurt—Azure, a cross rnolinc argent between three antique crownsor.MCCAlTHV—A|'gcnl, a stag trippant gules, attired andunguled or.MEEHAN (MEIGHAN )—Gules, an a chevron argent three bucks‘ heads erased of thefirst, attired or.MENzIEs—Argent, a chief gules.MERlWETHER—Or, three marllets sable, on a chief of the second a sun inhis glory.MtDnt.£'roN—Argent, fretty sable, a canton of the second.MORGAN—0r, a griffin segrcant sable.MouL'rarra—Azure, on a chevron between three escallops urgent, a boar’s headcouped sable and two spur-revels gules.MUNRO (Momma)(MoNrto)—Or, aneag|e’s head erased gules.Muiu=HY—Ouarterly argenl and gules, on a fess sable between four lions rampantcountercolored, three garbs or.NoaLE—Argent, three bay leaves slipped vert.NOBLE, JOHN T.—Parter per chevron argent and vert, three bay leaves counter-changed.Crest: on a torse of the colors a bay tree proper.Motto: Virtute et Valore.NucENr—Ennine, twobars gules.O‘DAv—Argent, inbase a hand proper cufled azure,holding a sword erect, blade ofthe third,hilted or; inchief two serpents nuwed vert.

O"l'oot.e—Cvules, a lion passant argent.PEacv——Azure.a fess fusily offiveor.PLowntaN—Azure, a less dancetty. the three upper points tenninating in fleurs—de-lysor.POLLXTSEK-Poaros—Quarlerly sable and gules, a leaf argent. Crest: A derni-lionrampant quarterly sable and gules, langed of the second, armed argent, and chargedwith a leaf ofthe last.Powea—Argent, a chief indented sable.PaA1't'~—Argent, on a fess between three elephants‘ heads erased sable, as manymullets of the field.PRtc£—Gtdes_ a lion rampant argent.RALEIGH (l)—Vert, two lions erect aspectant or, supporting a dexter hand coupedgnles.RALEIGH (2) (RALEGH)—G|.llc§, a band indented argent.READ]! (READ)—AZ|.ll‘c guttee d'or, a eross—cross|et fitehée of the second.REYNOLDS ( 1) Vert, a lion rampant betweenthree escallopsor.REYNOLDS (2)—Azure, a chevron cheeky or and gules between three cross-crossletsfitchy of the second.REYNOLDS, SHERMAN BRIGGS ll—Quarterly; 1 and 4, azure, three foxes statant inpale argenl (for Reynolds); 2 and 3, parted per chevron argent and vert, three bayleaves eountercharged (for Noble). Crest, a fox statant argent. Motto: Virtute etValore.Rt-It-:T1'—0r,a cross engrailed sable.Roactt (ROCHE)—-Gules, three roches naiant in pale argent.RUST or VlllGlNlA—AIgenl, a cross saltire a1ure between (in chic! and base) twobattle axes and ( in dexter and sinister) two crossespatté fitchégules.ScHaADt~:tt—Argent, an isosceles triangle, bottom legnowy, with plumb-bob pendantgules,Sco'rr—0r,ona bend azure anestoile betweentwo crescentsargent.SaAaaooK—Argent. a cross gttles, in dexter chief a cross-crosslet fitchy sable.SETON (SenoN)—Or, three crescents gnles.SHAKESH-2AllE——Ol',ona bend sable a tilting spear of the field.SHELl.EY—-Sable, a fessengrailed betweenthree whelk shells or.5|-lERMAN—0I’, a lion rampant sable between three oak leaves vert.SIMONS or SOUTH Cancun/t—Parted per chevron embattled gates and sable, threentartlets argent.Saooxs ( I ) (SeNNoxs)—0r, an oak tree eradicated proper, fructedwith sevenofthe first.Snooxs (2)—VerL seven acornsor.

SncKHoUsI~:—Argent, three saltires couped gules i.u chevron between (in chief) astackhouseproperand (inbase) a garb vert.S1'.u=t=ottD—0r,a chevron gules,S'rANDtsH—-Sable, three plates. (The plates or roundels argent are frequentlyblawned as “standishes" or“standing dishes.")S1'ANmnD—Vert,ona bendwavy three plates‘STOKESor GnottGIA—Sable, a lion rampantermine.SULLlVAN—At’gent, in base a hand couped and erect gules, clutching a sword azure.hiltedand pommeledor.SU'l’HERLAND——Gules, threemulletsargent.Tr-toMPsoN—0r, on a fess dancetté azure three estoiles argent; on a canton of thesecond the sun in glory proper.Trr~:tzNEv—Argeng a chevron sable, a chiefgules.TontN—Azure, three oak leaves argent.ToMKtNs (ToMrKtNs)—Azure. on a chevron between three moorcocks close or, asmany cross—crosslets sable.TORRENCE (To1uuNcE)—Parted per pale gules and or, two boat’: cars in saltireEZIIIC.

'[‘MVts—-Sable, a chevron between (in chief) two escallops and (in base) a bear’:head erased, all argentl'I‘uLLv—Vert, a chevron between three wolves‘heads erased argent.TUKNl£R—Arg8n!, goutte de sang.a wheel sable.URQUHART-—0l’, three boars‘ heads couped gulcs.VANcE—Argent, three piles issuant in sinister gules.VAN Roy (VAN ANttoov)—/Argent, a chevron sable, ona canton gules a cross or.VtscoNT|—Argent,a serpent azure, crownedor. vorant achild proper.WALLER—Sable, three walnut leaves or in bend between two cotises urgent.WALsH—Argent, 3 chevron gules between three broadarrow heads points upwardsable.WASHlNGTON—Argenl, two bars gules, in chief three mullets of the second,WAYNE—GulCS, a chevronermine between three gauntlets or.WELSH (WEl.CH)—x§Bble, three fish naiant argent.WtLLAttt>—Argent, on 2:chevron sable between three fish weels proper, five enninespots of the first. (The weels are sometimes blazoned “villerdes"; this Old Frenchtenn for the “weel“ or fish trap provides a cunting reference to the name. Anotherblazon might be: Argent, a chevron ennines between three villerdes proper. Insome modern versions of these arms, the fishweel is replaced by a “tlask"or “jar.")Wu.t.soN4Or, a wolf rampant between three inescutchecns sable, on each ines-cutcheon a leaf of the first.

WooDwAnn~Azure, a pale between two eagles displayed argent.WooLx1t>Ge—Argem, a cross quarterpierced sable between four crescents gules.WRAGG—Or, a fess azure, ona canton of the second a fleur-de-lys of the first.WRIGHT (1)—Argent, on a pale gules between two crosses moline azure, an eagledisplayed sable.WRIGHT (2)—Azure,two bars argent, in chief three leopards’ facesor.YEAMANS (1)~Sable, a chevron between three spear heads argent.YEAMANS (2)—Sable, a chevron between three cronels argent.ZAMORANO Y GoNzALEs———Irnpaled arms. Dexter. Gules, a tower argent, on a bor-dure or eight torteaux (for Zamorano)_ Sinister.Quarterly; 1 and 4, or, a lion salientproper; 2 and 3,gules, a saltire couped or (forGonzales).