Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/513

 478

grant the same arms twice. The ultimate selection is a matter of careful arrangement, the object being to let the arms mean some thing applicable to the case. There is less false pride about it than there used to be. A man whose grandfather made his money out of cotton does not ob ject to a cotton hank on his spoons, nor a woolen manufacturer to a fleece. When Mr. Cubbitt, the contractor, became Lord Asheombe, he was not too proud to have granted to him a mason and a carpenter as his " supporters." The desire for ancestral distinctions is evidenced by the extension of heraldry in the United States, where there are several excellent genealogical societies and many persons are anxious to trace their pedigees and adopt the proper arms. Many an American of rank or influence can say like Miles Standish : — "He was a gentleman bom, could trace his pedigree plainly Back to Hugh Standish of Duxbury Hall, in Lan cashire, England, Who was the son of Ralph, and the grandson of Thurston de Standish; Still bore the family arms, and had for his crest a cock argent Combed and wattled gules, and all the rest of the blazon."

The method of obtaining a grant of arms is as follows. The applicant employs any member of the Heralds' College he pleases, and through him presents a memorial to the earl marshal, setting forth that the memori alist is not entitled to bear arms, or cannot prove his right to do so; and praying that his grace will issue a warrant to the kingof-arms, authorizing him to grant and con firm to the applicant due and proper armorial ensigns, to be borne, according to the laws of heraldry, by him and his descendants. This memorial is presented, and a warrant is issued by the earl marshal, under which a patent is made out, exhibiting in the corner the armorial ensigns granted, and describing in official terms, the proceedings that have

taken place, and the correct blazon of the arms. This patent is registered in the books of the Heralds' College, and receives the signatures of the Garter and of one of the provincial kings-of-arms. No prescription, however long, will confer a right to a coat of arms. Those that are not held under a grant, must descend to the bearer from an ancestor and be recorded in the books of the heralds' visitations, which down to 1686 were periodically made in every English county for the purpose of examining into the title of those who assumed to bear arms. Grants are sometimes made to public com panies, the most recent example being the case of the Great Central railway, which has just obtained a grant of arms, on which amid other devices, a " locomotive proper" is depicted. The heraldic stationers compete very seri ously with the college by designing arms for customers, and though these tradesmen will supply a coat of arms at a lower rate than the college, still anyone who desires his arms to be historically and artistically correct and in accordance with his name and ancestry, will prefer to make his application to the college. The chapter of the College of Arms consists of three kings-of-arms — Garter, Clarenceux and Narroy, and six heralds — Chester, Lancaster, York, Somerset, Rich mond, and Windsor, and four pursuivants — Rouge Croix, Blue Mantle, Rouge Dragon, and Portcullis. The writer above referred to explains that names have nothing to do with the places. York herald has no connection with York shire, nor Richmond with Surrey. Generally, the name of the office follows the title of the king who created it. Clarenceux perpetu ates the memory of the Duke of Clarence, who had a fatal bath of Malmsey. Garter king is attached to the Order of the Garter, and carries the ensign to foreign courts. Norroy is king-of-arms for the north of England, Clarenceux for the south.