Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/855

* HERALDRY. 7'Jl HERALDRY. liave nothing aiiinoaching to an armorial form or disposition, and in some oases the same device is reprcoented on dill'erent shields, llerahlry developed during the Crusades, where it was necessary for a l-tnight to have some mark by which he might be known; it may have been influenced b}' the Saracen custom of wearing richly embroidered devices. Some armorial in- signia were depicted on the shields used in the Third Crusade, which took place in 1189 and the following years; and in the same lialf-century originated the lleurs-de-Iis of France and the lions of England. The transmission of arms from father to son seems to luive been fully recog- nized in the thirteenth century, and in the prac- tice then introduced of embroidering the family insignia on the surcoat, orn over the hauberk or coat of mail, originated the expression cout of arms. Arms were similarly embroidered on the jupon, cyclas, and tabard, which succeeded the surcoat, a practice which survived till the time of Henry VIII., when the tabard came to be entirely disused cxce])t by heralds, who still con- tinue to wear on their tabards the royal arms. It was by slow degrees that the usage of arms grew up into the systematized form which it as- sumes in the works of the established writers on heraldry. The principal existing data for trac- ing its progress are English rolls of arms yet extant of the times of Henry III., Edward I., and Edward III. The earliest formal treatises date no further back than the end of the fourteenth century, before which time the whole historical part of the subject had been obscured by a tissue of gratuitous fiction, which has misled most sub- sequent writers up to a very recent period. The •writers en the subject represented the heraldry of the tenth and eleventh centuries as equally sharply defined with that of the fifteenth and six- teenth. The arms of William the Conqueror and his sons are described with all their differences; arms are ascribed to the Saxon Kings of England, to Charlemagne, to bililical characters, and even to half-mythical persons and heroes of classical times. In the infancy of heraldry, every knight as- sumed what arms he pleased, without consulting sovereign or king-at-arms. Animals, plants, im- aginary monsters, tilings artificial, and objects familiar to pilgrims, were all fixed on. Thus the scallop-shell, the emblem of Saint James and most genprally in heraldry called a 'clam.' was frequently borne by Crusaders. Often the object chosen was one whose name bore sufilcient re- semblance in sound to suggest the name or title of the bearer of it. Devices and mottoes were sometimes chosen on account of their allusive associations: e.g. a broken spear for Brakespeare, or Festina lentc for the Onslows. This is called Canting Herahliy by the English, Anncn prir- lantes by the French. The charge fixed on was H.sed with great latitude, singly or repealed, in any way which the bearer chose, or the form of his shield suggested. But as coats of arms heeanie more numerous, confusion often arose from different knights adopting the same symbol ; and this confusion was increased by a practice which crept in of sovereigns or feudal chiefs allowing their arms, or part of them, to be borne as a mark of honor by their favorite followers in battle. Hence difTercnt coats of arms came in many instances so closely to resemlde eacli other that it was imperative, for distinction's sake, that the fancy of the bearer should be restrained, and regulations laid down regarding the number and piisitidn of the charges, and the altitudes of the animals represented. This necessity led, in the course of time, to the systematizing of heraldry, a process which the rolls alluded to show us was going on gradually throughout the thirtcentli and fourteenth centuries. By the lime that heraldry was consolidated into a science, its true origin had been lost sight of, and the credulity and fertility of imagination of the heralds led them to invest the most common charges with mystical meanings, and to trace their original adoption to the desire of commemorating the ad- ventures or achievements of the founders of the families who bore them. It was only when heraldry began to assume the dignity of a science that augmentations of a commemorative charac- ter were granted. After the science became thoroughly systematized, augmentations and new coats were often granted with a reference to the supposed symbolical meanings of the charges. in England, the assumi)tion of arms by private persons was first restrained by a ])roclamation of Henry V., prohibiting their assumption l)y any one who had not borne arms at Agincourt, except in virtue of inheritance or a grant from the Crown. To enforce the obser^'ance of this rule, heralds' visitations or processions through the counties were instituted, and continued from time to time till the reign of William and Mary. Jurisdiction in questions of arms is executed by the Heralds' College (q.v.) in England, the I.yon Court in Scotland, and the College of Arms in Ireland. No one w'ithin the United Kingdom is entitled to bear arms without an hereditary claim by descent or a grant from the competent authority; and the wrongful assumption of arm"5 is an act for which the assumer may be sub- jected to penalties. The use of arms, whether rightfully or wrongfully, subjects the bearer of them to an annual tax. It is illegal to use without authority not only a coat of arms, but even a crest. Any figure or device placed on an heraldic wreath is considered a crest in ques- tions with the Heralds' College or Lyon Court. Classification. Besides individuals, com- munities and States are entitled to the use of arms, and heralds have classified arms, in respect of the right to bear them, under the following ten heads: (1) Arms of dominion; the arms borne by sovereigns as annexed to their terri- tories. (2) .-riiis of pretension, which sovereigns have borne, who, though not in possession, claim a right to the territories to which the arms be- long. Thus, England bore the arms of France from the time of Edward III. till 1801. (3) Arms of community; the arms of bisho|is' sees, abbeys, universities, towns, and corporations. (4) Arms of assumption: arms which one has a right to assume with the apiirobafion of the sovereign. Thus, it is said, the arms of a pris- oner of war may be borne by his eajitor. and transmitted by him to his heirs, (.'i) .Arms of patronage, aihled by governors of provinces, lords of the manor, patrons of benefices, etc.. to their family arms, as a token of sujieriority, right, or jurisdiction. (6) .rnis of succession, borne quartered with the family arms by those who inherit ficfs or manors, cither by will, entail, or donation. Thus, the Dukes of Atluile. as having been lords of the Isle of M:ni. cpiarter t)p arms of that island, and the Duke of Argyle