Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/242

 1(51. MARKS OF CADENCY a different label, namely, one having the points counter coni- pony. The points of the label in No. 5 are clearly counter couipony, and of eight pieces each. This differs, as is well known, from chequ}^, in having laterally only two squares in a row, while the latter has three or more ; but in medieval heraldry it was no uncommon thing for the former to be put for the latter, especially where the space hardly admitted of three squares laterally with effect ; which was peculiarly the case with the points of this label. It is, therefore, by no means improbable that this label may have been intended for chequy. Taking it otherwise, I am not able to account for it ; but as chequy, I have no difficulty in doing so. Edmund of Langley was born in 1341, and was consequently about six years of age in 1347, when the last John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, of the family of Plantagenet, died without lawful issue. On which event, in consequence of an arrangement between that Earl and King Edward IL, the large possessions of the Warennes, except a part which had been settled, fell to the Crown ; and out of them Edward III. took the opportunity of providing for this son by a grant to him of the honours and lordships which they had held north of the Trent.' It had been an object with the Earl, as appears by an agreement between him and the King in 20th Edward III., to have his distin- guished name and arms continued in one of the royal family, should he die without lawful issue male.^ That agreement failed of effect for reasons which I need not specify ; but the desire expressed in it, and the high rank which the Warennes had long held, and their connexion both by blood and mar- riage with the house of Plantagenet, may have induced the King to difference the coat of this son, who thus succeeded them in the north, by a label of their well-known arms. Surely, therefore, it is not unreasonable to conclude that such was the fact, and that this label Avas in reality intended for chequy. When, however, Edmund altered his label to one of argent, having each point charged with tortcaux, I have not been able to ascertain; but presume it was either on his being created Earl of Cambridge in 1362, or on his marriage hi 1372 with the younger of tlic two coheiresses of ^ See Dugd., Baron., vol. i., p. fil ; Watson's History of the Earls of Warren, vol. ii., p. 10, ct seq. ; and Dugd., liaron., vol. ii.,p. 154. ^ Dugd., Baron., vol. i., p. Ol.