Chapter II: Part 2

In Cutts' valuable book, p. 454 (see No. 59), two unmounted knights, from an engraving by Hans Burgmaier, are represented in combat, about 1450, carrying two very curious shields, somewhat similar in idea to these Gothic shields. Being divided lengthways into three partitions; both are broader at the top and narrowed at the lower end, and they seem to be about 3 feet 6 inches long. One is convex at the top and engrailed, with a bluntly-pointed base; the other is flat but slightly engrailed, and the rounded base somewhat broken by the three divisions, which evidently suggest that these shields were curved round the body. But the old plain heater continues as by far the most prevalent shape throughout this century. It is usually very square, and in several instances there is an approach to the French base of Mr. Rylands' nomenclature.

As already remarked, foot soldiers of all ages, down to the middle of the eighteenth century, appear with round shields. During this century and the next these are shown with handsome decorations, but never with heraldry on the face: foot soldiers, perhaps, were not considered heraldically armigerous. In an Italian painting of this century, foot soldiers are represented with square and diamond shaped shields, each side shaped out in curves; and in one heraldry is painted; perhaps he was a dismounted knight and the others only retainers. This may be seen engraved in Jacquemart's _History of Furniture_, p. 24 (see No. 60).

In many other shields at the end of this century the heater shape has gradually arrived at what is named square No. 7, and in the charter granted to the waxchandlers, 1484 (see No. 61), and in many other instances, these shields were very long in proportion to their width. The same elongated shape appears in a shield on Christ Church gate, Canterbury, date 1517; engraved _Archæologia_, vol. xvi, p. 194.

MANTLINGS.

The first observed instance of a mantling or lambrequin, as it was then called,--a term still applied to it by the modern French heralds,--occurs in the large seal of Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, 1299. This is engraved in Nicholas Upton, _De Usu Militari_ [Bisse edition, 1654, p. 63]. In Planché's _Poursuivant_ the helmet and mantling alone are engraved from this seal. It is represented as a square handkerchief or shawl fastened at one end under the crest, and flying out loose behind. There is no hacking (see No. 62). Ralph de Monthermer was a "plain esquire," but attracted the attention and secured the love of Joan of Acres, daughter of Edward I. and relict of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. May we be allowed to fancy we see here the kerchief of the fair lady whose favour led to his advancement, and whose marriage eventually brought him his title? His second wife was also a widow, namely, the relict of John de Hastings and sister of Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke.

In Planché's _Poursuivant_ is engraved another very similar, from the seal of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (see No. 63). He was beheaded by Edward II. (1321). This seems to be of some thick material and bordered. It is better shown in the full-sized engraving in Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 102. Boutell (_Heraldry_, p. 212) describes No. 64 as a "contoise," and says it was used until the middle of the fourteenth century. These seem to have been stiff to stand out, but I have not found representations of any more of them. Mr. Boutell refers to two effigies showing them in Exeter Cathedral, and another in Westminster Abbey. In the seal of John de Tilneye to a deed, 1353 [engraved in the _Visit. Hunts._, p. 29], a voluminous and square folded mantling, without any hacks, is extended out to the inscription on each side, and is fixed under a broad-brimmed hat which stands on the top of the helm, and on this hat is the crest, viz., a tree supported by two lions gambs. There is another instance on the monument at Norton Brize, Oxfordshire, to John Daubygné, 1346, where the mantling is extended out square in folds, without any hacking, and hangs on each side of the helmet, while below is placed the shield. This is engraved in Boutell's _Heraldry_, p. 156 (see No. 65). Another such squarely-folded and unhacked mantle is shown on the seal of Elizabeth de Lucy, 1354, with a man's helmet and crest (!!)--see No. 66--and yet another in that of Sir William de Lucy, 1392. Both of these are engraved in Nicholas Upton, p. 73 (see No. 67). But these must all be taken as rare exceptions. Usually mantlings of so early a date as the fourteenth century are of very small dimensions, hacked and lying close on their helmets, clinging to them, as it were, and so fastened under the crest that they could not hang otherwise. As we see in the seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, about 1350-70 (illustrated at p. 27), also in the seals of Sir Thomas Bysshe, 1381 [Nicholas Upton, p. 53], see No. 68; and in that of John de Clinton, 1386 [Nicholas Upton, p. 82], see No. 69; but seals of the fourteenth century more commonly show no mantlings: they were only just beginning to be introduced.

At the beginning of the fifteenth century the same small hacked mantlings, hanging closely upon their helmets, still continue, and become the rule; it was the exception to have any mantling at all in the fourteenth. About 1420, however, they begin to spread over the field of the seal, in free and bold curves and waves. In the seal of John, Lord Clinton de Say, 1438 (No. 54), and in that of Humphrey, Earl of Stafford and Perche, 1438, both engraved _Archæologia_, vol. xxxviii, p. 272, they are seen hacked, wandering away from the helm, and half way down the shield. But a noteworthy characteristic of the mantlings of this early date, and one to which I must draw your particular attention, is that, although stretching their arms boldly about the field, and in MSS. where space will allow, they may extend down below the base of the shield, they are not, perhaps never, seen to _hide themselves behind it_! The spirit of those old times when the mantling would probably be the gift of some fair lady, perhaps her kerchief or mantle, and borne with chivalrous fervour through the many adventures in which the knight of those days sought to gain fame and experience--this spirit of honouring the mantlet still remained burning brightly; a fold was therefore too precious to be hidden behind the shield. When we come to consider such decorations in later times, when such sentiment had departed, you will see why [beyond the valuable indication of date supplied] I have drawn your attention particularly to this peculiarity to be noted in the fifteenth century. The seal of Thomas Strange, 1419, shows a curious arrangement of mantling. This is engraved in _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, 1884, p. 59. In the very curious and interesting seal of Sir John Pelham, 1469, engraved in _Archæological Journal_, vol. vii, p. 323, and already illustrated on p. 32, the field of the seal is filled up with bold contortions of the hacked mantling, while on the helmet appears the most extraordinary crest--a large birdcage which is higher than the helmet itself; it is divided into three tiers of wickerwork, and has a pointed roof, while on the field appear two buckles. Sir John Pelham, at Poictiers in 1356, personally assisted at the capture of the French King, when the honorary distinction of the buckle as a family badge was accorded to him. His descendants sometimes used the birdcage crest, in remembrance of the same exploit and the imprisoned king.

In illuminations of this date, say of the latter half of the fifteenth century, we see the same characters--the mantlings so divided into narrow ribbon-like folds, much hacked and twisted to show the lining, and thrown out into bold arms around the shield and extending some way below it with fine artistic effect. I would refer to the grant of arms to the Fellowship of Ironmongers of London, 1st September, 1455, already illustrated on p. 35, also to the shield of Edward IV., 1460, in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_. There are also two beautiful specimens engraved in Boutell's _Brasses_; one, the stall plate at Windsor of Sir Humphrey Stafford, K.G., 1460, at p. 219 (see No. 70), and at p. 207 the brass of Sir William Say, at Broxbourne, Herts, 1473 (see No. 71): the mantling in the last ends in four tassels; this addition of tassels becomes the ordinary usage in the MS. illuminations and in grants of arms, but not in seals of the sixteenth century.

I refer to No. 72 for the lithograph of that very curious mantling carved in stone at Wyverton, Nottinghamshire (Thoroton's _History_, p. 98), which displays _three_ tassels. This stands with two other helmets, each over its respective shield of heraldry, and on examination I am able to declare their date to be about 1440-50.

Licence of free warren and to make a park here was granted 24 Henry VI. (1445), at which time Thoroton supposes this house was built.

Following our entirely different lines of enquiry, I am able to state, to within twenty or thirty years, the date of these carvings; and I would further say that as to one of the quarterings displayed, the Chaworth family did not inherit the right to bear it until 1422; thus confirming very exactly Thoroton's date.

Perhaps the first appearance of a tassel on a mantling is on a monument to -- Harsyck in Southacre Church, Norfolk, 1384; engraved in Boutell's _Heraldry_, plate I (see No. 73). This is also interesting as being a very early example of the wreath or torse which supports the crest, consisting of a twisted cord of silk of two colours. In a brass to Sir Hugh Hastings, at Elsing, co. Norfolk, 1347, the same is shown. In the effigy of Sir Richard Pembruge, 1375, now in the nave of Hereford Cathedral, the crest and helmet are attached with a wreath of leaves, above which rises a great panache of feathers.

The earliest instance of a _date_ upon the face of a shield is said to occur about the middle of the thirteenth century, but such are very uncommon until the sixteenth century, when they are found both on personal and official seals.

The inscriptions on English seals of this fifteenth century are almost universally in Latin and in Gothic lettering. I have, so far, only noted one seal with Roman letters, and that occurs in 1403.

SIXTEENTH AND FOLLOWING CENTURIES.

Before entering upon our subject during this period, it is necessary to consider the great changes, social and legal, which passed over England from say 1450 to the end of the reign of Henry VIII.

Events for thirty years before the accession of Henry VII. (1485) had been gradually reducing the power of the nobility. Enactments had been passed which facilitated the transfer of lands; and the disastrous wars of the Roses, in which the blood of the nobility flowed like water, brought also the dispersion of a large portion of their estates, and the consequence was that when Henry VII. began his reign, and the conflicts between the rival Houses of York and Lancaster were completely hushed [say 1485], he found himself in possession of the sole power. The great nobles who had hampered the actions of his predecessors had disappeared from the scene. At his first Parliament Henry VII. only summoned twenty-eight peers; and so gradually did this class recover itself that we find at the first Parliament of Henry VIII. only thirty-eight peers were summoned to attend.

We can thus understand how those seals of exceeding size and magnificence, which we found prevailing during the middle and third quarter of the fifteenth century, entirely disappear. The greater nobility, as an assertion of their dignity and importance, had then attached to their charters seals of great pretensions, and gradually increasing in size until, as Sandford [_Genealogical History_, p. 108] remarks of those of the Dukes of Lancaster, they rivalled or even exceeded in size what were used by the crown itself. Had their embarrassed affairs allowed them to enter again into mutual rivalry, the stern government of Henry VII. would have regarded such an assumption of dignity as treason to the throne, and therefore we can fix the date 1485 for the disappearance of such large and splendid seals. Only occasionally do they continue to appear, and within the limit of ten years after this time.

The landed gentry, the descendants in many instances of a much earlier feudal aristocracy, had suffered almost as much from the rivalries and conflicts which had devastated the country. They, too, laboured under the same depression and necessity for retirement; and hence, if we take up a bundle of deeds, say of the third quarter of the fifteenth century, we shall find them loaded with large and beautiful seals, while in a similar parcel, dated early in the sixteenth, small bits of wax only are found, many of them bearing one or more initials, or a crest surrounded by a circle of large dots, and the coats of arms, which do occur, are altogether small and insignificant: in fact, personal seals are now reduced in size to what may be conveniently hung on a watch chain, or worn as a somewhat large signet ring. I annex some heraldic seals just to show what after this time are looked upon as unusually fine. They are a very great contrast to those we have been considering.

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But still further reasons have to be considered. The ancient form of drawing charters was gradually disappearing, which after declaring the transaction, ended with the all-important seal, put on in the presence of such responsible witnesses as could be got together, and who were afterwards always to be found to come forward and vouch for the transaction. Writing also now, early in the sixteenth century, was becoming much more common, and the sense of the nation showed that a deed signed and sealed by the parties was much more satisfactory than any number of witnesses, the limit of whose testimony was bounded by that of their lives. I am only putting into few words what is ably pointed out by Williams in his work on _Real Property_, ed. 1882, p. 153, and by Blackstone in his _Commentaries_, ed. 1823, book ii, p. 305. But the curious thing is that this change seems to have gradually taken place without any enactment directing it. The Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, 29 Charles II. (1677-8, cap. 5), is the first instance where it is expressly declared by act of Parliament that all devises of lands or tenements must be in writing and signed by the party and three or four credible witnesses. Such had already been occasionally the practice for at least two hundred years, for I find a deed of gift of Thomas Hoo to the Abbot of the Monastery of Battle is thus established "Sigillum meum, una cum subscriptione propria manu et signo manuali apposito"; the date is 21st September, 1480 [Thorpe's _Battle Abbey Deeds_, 1835, p. 124]. Occasional instances occur of the old system of sealing only before a number of witnesses, but after say 1520 the almost universal method of executing deeds was by sign manual and seal, and two or three attesting witnesses.

The earliest instance I have noticed of executing a deed by sign manual is as above, in 1480. The latest which I have met with, in which the ancient form of execution had been followed, is a charter printed in the Salop Archæological Society's vol. x, p. 222:--"Thomas Scriven, armig., grants a yearly payment of 8/ sterling out of his meadow at Coleham, juta sive prope Ville Salop, hiis testibus &c. &c., dat. Salop 25th Sept., 10 Henry VIII., 1518"; but probably yet later instances may be found.

The further reason, lying at the root of the whole matter, was the wonderful expansion of trade, wealth, and intelligence which broke upon England at this time,--the English renaissance, as it is called, and which culminated in the brilliant company of poets and authors of Elizabeth's reign. Following upon the breaking-up of the old nobility, and the resumption of peace at home, wealth was rapidly accumulated by many self-made men, and by many younger sons of old families, who entered into trade. These purchased lands and became the county gentry. So expansive was this spirit of trade, that ancient towns like York, Chester, Lancaster, Coventry, and Lincoln, where long-established guilds restricted trading to the burghers alone, fell off in population and importance, while new districts without such restrictions, such as Manchester and Birmingham, as rapidly increased. In an act, 33 Henry VIII., c. 15 [1541], it is stated that the people of Manchester were then "well set to work in making of cloths, as well of linen as of woollen, whereby the inhabitants of the said town have gotten and come into riches and wealthy livings: and by reason of great occupying, good order, strict and true dealing of the inhabitants of the said town, many strangers, as well of Ireland as of other places, had resorted thither."

Over all this boiling-up of busy-ness sat Henry VII. and Henry VIII., as almost irresponsible sovereigns, and out of it grew the Commons of England! The population meantime increased with wonderful strides. In 1377 the population of England and Wales did not exceed 2,500,000. By the military musters, taken 1574-5, there were 1,172,674 of able men for service, which it is estimated would give a total population of about 4,700,000. This astonishing revolution of trade and learning is so remarkable that I must quote a portion of what old Harrison says on the changes he had noticed within fifty years. His most curious _Description of Britain_ was printed with Hollingshed's _Chronicle_ in 1586, but was probably written some ten years earlier: an exacter date I have not yet been able to fix. "There are old men yet dwelling in the village where I remaine which have noted three things to be marvellouslie altered in England within their sound remembrance: and other three things too, too much increased. One is the multitude of chimnies latelie erected, whereas in their young daies there were not abouve two or three, if so many, in most uplandish townes of the realme [the religious houses and manor places of their lords alwaies excepted, and peradventure some great personages], but eche one made his fire against a reredosse in the haull where he lived and dressed his meat; secondly, the bedding [now feathers and comfort, &c., then straw or wood only, &c.]; thirdly, the exchange of vessells as of treene platters into pewter, and wooden spoones into silver or tin. So common were all sorts of treene stuff in old time, that a man should hardlie find four pieces of pewter [of which one was peradventure a salt] in a good farmer's house, &c., &c., &c. Whereas, in my time, altho' peradventure £4 of old rent be improved to £40, £50 or £100, yet will the farmer, as another palm or date tree, think his gaines verie small toward the end of his term if he have not six or seven years' rent lieng by him, therewith to purchase a new lease, besides a faire garnish of pewter on his cupbord, with so much more in od vessell going about the house, three or four feather bedds, so many coverlids and carpets of tapistrie, a silver salt, a bowle for wine [if not an whole neast], and a dozzen of spoones to furnish up the sute."

But, alas, there is another side to all this national prosperity. From this time, also, agriculturists--required in fewer numbers under the new styles of cultivation (which aimed at grazing and the production of wool)--crowded into the towns in hope of work, and large portions of the population began to sink into the lowest depths of poverty.

In our researches as to the shapes of shields we have now, therefore, lost that rich body of evidence supplied by the seals on charters, which extended to nearly the end of the fifteenth century, and the MS. pictures of knights and tournaments. The evidences now available consist of pedigrees, the smaller heraldic seals attached to documents and deeds, heraldic visitations and grants of arms, printed books on heraldry, which begin 1496, stained glass, the stone carvings on buildings, tombs, and ledger stones, and, from the end of the seventeenth century or a little earlier, book-plates. Coins, too, now prove of some value to us, showing what were prevailing types of shields.

But inasmuch as there were no shields actually in use, the shapes prevailing now became entirely a matter of fashion and taste. Randle Holme prints sixty-five varieties of shields, and remarks (p. 10 in his _Academy of Armoury_, Chester, 1688):--"But [as to the former shield] so to this, a question may be made, whether such an one was used by him, or only the invention of the cutter? If so, then the shapes and forms of shields, targets, and bucklers would be as many as carvers, stone cutters, engravers, and painters please." Gerard Legh gets the credit of having greatly multiplied, in his _Accedens of Armoury_, 1562, the fanciful shapes of shields; and later writers on heraldry seem to have followed him. [_Herald and Genealogist_, vol. i, p. 191.] But an examination of the _Wappenbüch_, published in Germany in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and similar heraldic drawings of Italian coats, have opened out to me a vastly wider field for variety than old Randle Holme ever supposed. I have before me a copy of _Virgil Solis_, which was published at Nurnberg in 1555. This contains hundreds of coats, in shields of an endless variety of shapes and great boldness of design; and when we come to critically compare these shields with one another, we discover that their outlines depend upon the charges! These were _first_ laid down with grotesque boldness, and the outline of the shield to bear them was then drawn around them, to the artist's fancy of what best suited the bearings and would most reduce the amount of empty field. This is, after all, only reversing the ancient method, where a lion was distorted to suit a pointed heater; and it is suggested that a pale, for a similar reason, might sometimes be pointed into a pile. With this revelation from _Virgil Solis_, we can detect that the same method of designing prevails elsewhere. We must therefore multiply Randle Holme's carvers, stone cutters, engravers, and painters by the possible variety of their fancies, and then multiply the quotient by the number of all the heraldic bearings--plus all the positions and forms they may be made to assume--if we wish to arrive at the variety of shields possible during the period we are now about to consider.

In deference to this unanswerable position, I find it necessary to alter entirely the classification pursued in the earlier centuries--to take Mr. Rylands' drawings seriatim, and to give for each shape the earliest and latest dates at which, in my limited researches, I have found them in use. This method of treatment eliminates from our enquiry all strictly fanciful shields which did not gain a hold on public taste, and leaves us still with a sufficiently heavy list of variations to which it is possible, from their frequent recurrence, to attach the dates.

A few leading remarks on points bearing on our subject will prove useful at this stage of our enquiry.

Before watches became common, seals were sometimes attached to the arms, like bracelets. In _Mercurius Rusticus_, No. 30 (for 19/20 July, 1660), an advertisement appears for "a gold seal, being a coat of arms, cut in a piece of gold, in the form of a lozenge, fastened to a black ribband to tye about the wrist." In the _Visitation of Essex, 1634_ [Harleian Society, p. 455], appears the following certificate:--"This coate is certiffied by Thomas Scott to bee by him seen on a seale some 40 years since, and to be the seale of armes of Thomas Moore Esq. father of the said Hunting Moore, and that Robert Scott his father did weare the same about his neck in a scarffe about xx yeares--in witnes whearof I have sett to my hand. Tho. Scott." [Robert Scott had married Anne, daughter of Richard Hunting and relict of Thomas Moore, of Orsett, co. Essex.] This seal was, of course, a ring.

Watches, which naturally suggest small attached seals, were, however, in pretty general use in Queen Elizabeth's reign. In Shakespeare's _Twelfth Night_, Malvolio says:--"I frown the while, and perchance _wind up my watch_, or play with some rich jewel." A watch was found upon Guy Fawkes, 3 James I. (1605/6), which he and Percy had bought the day before, "to try conclusions for the long and short burning of the powder."--Stow's _Chronicle_, p. 878, and introduction to Mr. Reuben Burrow's _Almanac_ for 1778.

LINES FOR TINCTURES.

The first English examples of seals with lines in the engraving, to indicate the tinctures, are said to be on some of those attached to the death warrant of Charles I., 1648-9 [Planché's _Pursuivant of Arms_]. Now, as this system was unquestionably first devised by Father Silvester de Petra Sancta--whose two books, _L'Armorial ou la Science du Blason_, 4to, and _Soumaire Armorial_, 4to, were both published in Paris 1638--it seems curious that within ten years we should find such conventional lines in use in England; and it follows, also, that such of these seals as were so treated in 1648 must all have been recently cut! A diagram, showing the colours so indicated, is given by Sir Edward Bysse in his edition of Nicholas Upton's work, _De Usu Militari_, published in 1654. The earlier works on heraldry, which I have been able to consult, have the illustrations in somewhat rough wood blocks--it would have been difficult and expensive at that time to have got finer work in wood; but we must remember that Sylvanus Morgan, in his _Armilogia_, published 1666, refers to Silvester de Petra Sancta's Epistles, and elaborately describes--as if they were something quite startling and new--why the several conventional lines were selected. John Gibbon, in his _Introductio ad Latinam Blazoniam_, published London 1682, p. 152, says, "for the distinction of colours in arms [which was devised by the Rev. Father S. de Petra Sancta]," and he (Gibbon) frames some Latin verses for the better remembering thereof; but in the woodcuts which adorn his book he does not follow the system which he recommends. The earliest English book which shows them in the copper plate engravings is Bysse's edition of Nicholas Upton, published, as already noticed, in 1654. I am aware that Boutell, in his _Heraldry_, chap. v, says that such lining may be occasionally found before 1630. Now there seems no manner of doubt as to the inventor; and any references with dates, which Mr. Boutell could have given, would have been valuable indeed! At present we are involved in a paradox: if Father Silvester invented the idea; did he discuss it for years, perhaps before committing it to print, and having his own beautiful copper plate illustrations so drawn in 1638? I point out this interesting question. Any instance of a seal or engraving so treated with the proper lines to represent tinctures and occurring before 1638 should be carefully noted with the exact dates; and I venture to think any such solitary instance would prove to be purely accidental. The seal of Sir Edward Nicholas, secretary to Charles II., engraved for him by the celebrated Thomas Simon, does not show any tincture lines (see the woodcut at p. 45). In this seal the second and third quarters are the paternal arms of Nicholas, while in the first and fourth are displayed that honourable augmentation granted to Sir Edward in 1649. We may safely conclude that this seal was cut immediately after he received that distinction. Particulars of Sir Edward's career may be learned from Manning and Bray's _History of Surrey_, vol. iii, p. 40; also from Hoare's _South Wiltshire_, p. 88. He was Secretary to Charles I., followed Charles II. into exile, and was continued by him in his post of Secretary. He eventually returned with him, and died in 1669, at the age of seventy-seven.

I regret I have never had the opportunity to examine for myself the original death-warrant which was carried out on that chill thirtieth day of January, 1648-9; and so I am not able to say with exactness which of the seals show tincture lines, as it is said they do.

CHAPLETS OR WREATHS.

About the end of the fifteenth century, arms are frequently found surrounded by a wreath of laurel or bay leaves, usually, at this date, divided into four parts by ribbands. Menestrier gives the date 1480 as the earliest instance he has found [his most learned works seem too little known by English heralds: the _Origine des Armoiries_ was published in Paris 1679, and the _Origine des Ornemens des Armoiries_ in Paris 1680]. We see an example in the tomb of Margaret, Countess of Richmond, 1509, in Westminster Abbey (engraved Sandford's _Genealogical History_, 1677, p. 326)--see No. 74. We find similar wreaths or garlands in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, published 1661, vol. i, p. 22, and vol. ii, p. 68; and engravings of several fanciful varieties are also there given. Wreaths of olive, formed of two branches tied at the top and bottom with ribbands, appear several times surrounding coats of arms in W. Hollar's beautiful engravings in Thoroton's _History of Nottinghamshire_, published 1677 (see pages 199, 200, 203, 310, 486 and 487).

After a while, such wreaths were frequently introduced in the outer edge surrounding official and also personal round seals, and so arranged that they more resemble bell-shaped flowers of three leaves (like the side view of blue bells), and without any dividing ribbands. The annexed wood-cut of the Statute Merchants' seal of Carlisle, 1670, will show this. This seal was in two halves to be kept in separate custody, and when used, these were screwed together into a handle to make it complete before affixing to any deed. The seal and handle are here shown from the engraving in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, 16th May, 1889. Throughout the eighteenth century, the blue bell ornament appears in corporate seals, and book-plates about 1800 are found surrounded by such oval bell-flowered wreaths.

PALM BRANCHES.

Menestrier [_Origine des Ornemens_, published 1680] writes:--"Now [_aujourd'hui_] persons of quality, particularly married ladies [_femmes_], place two palms together on the escutcheon of their arms, which makes an agreeable ornament, and is, at the same time, the symbol of conjugal love, which the ancients have represented by the palms, male and female." The earliest instance I have noted in England is on the cups of Sir E. B. Godfrey, who died in 1678 [engraved in _Gentleman's Magazine_, 1848, and in _Topographer and Genealogist_, vol. ii, p. 467]. They occur beneath a shield of Bridgeman, Bart. (the plain arms not impaled), in Sandford's _Genealogical History_, 1677, p. 228; also on a monumental slab, 1671, engraved in _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, 1884, vol. i, p. 151. About 1765 we see two palms extensively used as decorations below Georgian shields (see the plates in Dugdale's _Warwickshire_, 1765; Hasted's _Kent_, 1778; Rudder's _Gloucestershire_, 1779; and Hutchin's _Dorsetshire_, 1774). Such are extensively seen throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and were frequently painted, as a pleasing decoration, below the arms on carriage panels, almost to our own times. But they must have lost the original symbolism, for they occur constantly on ledger tombs [see _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, Mar., 1885, p. 233; dated 1696], and must then refer to the resurrection life. They are found in book-plates in the middle of the eighteenth century, and continue down to 1800 or later. The ledger tomb to Ashley Palmer and his wife at Hawstead, dated 1792, shows a pleasing example. This engraving is from _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, 1885, p. 307.

SUPPORTERS.

It is hard to say when we may so name the grotesque animals, which first appeared to fill up the fields in seals even earlier than the fourteenth century--see that of Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, 1299 [engraved, Nicholas Upton, edition 1654, p. 63], and several of those attached to the Baron's letter, 1301 (_Monumenta Vetusta_, vol. i). These gradually, as the fourteenth century progresses, assume an appearance on seals exactly corresponding with our modern supporters. We have "S' Fratris Thome Archer," 1325 (Nicholas Upton, p. 73), supported by two lions rampant counter-regardant (see No. 75); "Sigillum Petri de Veel," 1361 (on the same page) supported by two helmets with panaches, very similar to those of Edmund de Arundel still earlier 1301, given on p. 23, and Edmund Mortimer, 1372, engraved on p. 26; and we have two griffins supporting the helmet in the seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, 1330-75, see p. 27. In the next century, supporting animals appear on many of the large and beautiful seals: two greyhounds in that of John, Lord Clinton de Say, 1438 (see No. 54); two horses in that of John, Earl of Arundel, 1415-21 (see _Herald and Genealogist_, vol. ii, p. 55); two heraldic antelopes support the crest of Humfrey, Earl of Stafford and Perche, 1438 (_Archæologia_, vol. xxxviii, p. 273); and many others might be quoted. It is quite impossible to say when we may begin to call such decorative adjuncts "supporters." Planché (_Pursuivant_, p. 177) says that at the close of the fourteenth century, in one instance, Richard II. (1377) used two white harts, his favourite badge, as supporters; but that those of Henry VI. (1422) are considered to begin the Royal series. In France, one supporter is frequently seen and is then called a "tenant." In Scotland, where French influence is in many ways visible, we frequently meet with seals where a single tree, man, bird, fabulous beast, &c., &c., supports the shield of arms. Menestrier [_Origine des Ornemens_, p. 93] traces many of these grotesque animals to the attendants at tournaments who paraded in such disguises, carrying the shields and weapons of the knights.

Supporters also occur in illuminations and carvings, and not being then confined within the narrow sphere of a seal, they stand much as in modern drawings--see the arms of Edward IV., 1460, in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_; also the carving on the Founder's pew in North Witham Church, co. Lincoln, being the arms and supporters of Sir Thomas de la Laund, 1470 (_Archæological Journal_, vol. ii, p. 87).

From the above remarks it will be seen that no datings, at any rate in the earlier centuries, can be deduced from the presence of supporters; indeed, there are instances of stone carvings on dwellings, in which it seems to me that the cutter, as in early seals, has added supporters merely to beautify his design and balance his shield, without any heraldic intention or authority whatever. Heraldry was a "mystery" as well as a science, and if the cutter had placed supporters, when decorating the mansion of a neighbouring lord, he might, in the same way, balance his design on the house of some obscure gentleman.

MOTTOES.

Called in French "Devises" or, when of ancient origin, "Cri de guerre." Menestrier (_Origine des Ornemens_) traces such to very ancient, even Roman, times. These arose from various circumstances, often accidental and frivolous, and as fresh mottoes were frequently assumed by English families, it is sometimes possible to establish an approximate date by discovering when the accompanying motto was adopted.

HELMETS,

sometimes, on early seals and carvings, are valuable as indications of date and examples of the types then prevalent; but, in other and later instances, they seem to be fancifully treated, and so would not be reliable. They form too large a subject for discussion here, and one that has been most ably and exhaustively treated in works on Armour.

* * * * *

I now proceed to consider the shapes as sketched, taking the several numbers by the groups into which they naturally fall. Many more instances might have been quoted for the various shapes, but I have selected these to show, so far as I have been able to gather them, the extreme range of dates.

Perhaps I may venture here to remark that the search for ancient shapes of shields, with a view to their slavish reproduction, which is now so usual, does not seem to have been so prevalent before about the year 1840. This is the date which seems generally accepted as that when originality in the matter of seals and book-plates ceased, and every variety of old examples began to be sedulously searched out and copied.

All of these shields are subject to slight variations of outline, according to the fancy of the artist and their necessary adaptation to their surroundings.

No. 8 in the accompanying plate of shapes appears in stained glass to the memory of Sir Wm. Berdwell (will, dated 1434), Blomefield's _Norfolk_, vol. i, p. 203.

An Irish instance, but of very ungraceful proportions, date 1507, is engraved _Archæological Journal_, vol. xv, p. 188.

It also occurs in the mantelpiece at Helmdon, Northants, 1533; described in _Archæologia_, vol. xiii, plate 12.

* * * * *

Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12 all occur on the beautiful monument to Abbot Thomas Ramrage, in St. Alban's Cathedral,--of the date 1529; Boutell's _Heraldry_, p. 357. Engravings of which may also be frequently found elsewhere.

No. 10 occurs in a small signet seal, two impressions of which are attached as a counterseal to a lease by the Priory of Dartford, co. Kent, bearing date 24th December, 1529. This sealing on the back rendered it impossible to detach the large wax seal and apply it fraudulently to another document. This is engraved _Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries_, 27th May, 1875.

Occurs also in a brass, Okeover impaling Aston, date 1520 (Boutell's _Brasses_, p. 127), see No. 75.

Also in another brass, at Sprouston, Norfolk, dated 1559.

No. 11 occurs without the bouche on a chimney-piece at the Episcopal Palace, Exeter, 1486.

With the bouche, in the Ramrage Chantry, St. Alban's Abbey, of about the same date (Boutell's _Heraldry_, p. 98).

Also in heraldic drawings of 1536, in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_.

No. 12, but without the bouche, occurs in Henry VII.'s chapel (_Archæologia_, vol. xvi, p. 194).

The annexed engraving shows a most interesting knightly shield of the Schutz family, of Shotover, co. Oxford, dating from the fifteenth century. It is 2 feet 8 inches long by 1 foot 1½ inches broad, and was, when Mr. Hewitt wrote his book, in the possession of the Rev. J. Wilson, President of Trinity College, Oxford. It is engraved and described, _Ancient Arms and Armour_, vol. ii, p. 496.

It will be remembered that John of Gaunt's shield, described at p. 29, very closely resembles No. 12.

* * * * *

Nos. 13, 14, and 15.

No. 13 is shown in the seal of the Free School of Richmond, Yorkshire, founded 1535-6 (Gale's _Registrum Honoris de Richmond_, p. 254).

In an old engraving, showing Henry VIII. and his Parliament, in Hall's _Chronicle_, published 1548, a shield of this shape appears on the curtain extending behind the throne.

No. 14--In a heraldic drawing, 1558, of the arms of Elizabeth, in Harl. MS. 6096, three of these shields are grouped (Willement's _Regal Heraldry_).

Annexed engraving of an enamelled plaque, supposed to have formed originally the centre of a large salver or dish, is taken from _Proceed. Soc. Antiq._, 7th Dec., 1876, and shows our shield No. 14 with the date 1563. Sir Thomas Bell died in 1566; he was thrice Mayor of the City of Gloucester, and also represented it in Parliament.

A Scotch seal, Francis Earl of Bothwell, 1587 (engraved _Herald and Genealogist_, vol. iv, p. 19).

Another Scotch seal, the Earl of Eglinton, 1620 (engraved _Herald and Genealogist_, vol. iv, p. 18).

Engravings in _The English Baronetage, 1741_, show the same.

Also in _Principal Historical and Allusive Arms_, by De la Motte, 1803, which work, indeed, aims at variety in its shapes and designs.

No. 15--In the printer's mark of Ant. du Ry, of Leyden, 1525.

In the shield of Anne Bullen, 1533 (Willement's _Regal Heraldry_).

Also a seal, 1575, _Miscell. Genealogica_, vol. ii, p. 170.

These shapes lend themselves particularly to decorations in stained glass, where variations may be constantly found, but it is generally difficult in such cases to give an exact date.

From all which it appears that these shapes--Nos. 13 to 15--began about 1520, and prevailed till about the third quarter of the sixteenth century; and from their beautiful outlines, they occasionally are used even to the present day. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries they may often be found hacked and scrolled.

* * * * *

No. 16 occurs in a monument to Raynes, 1689 (engraved in Drake's _Eboracum_, p. 515).

This is a shape which would lend itself peculiarly to monuments or stained glass.

The shields engraved in Chauncey's _History of Hertfordshire_, 1700, are of this shape, slightly eared, and very slightly hollowed out in the sides.

* * * * *

Nos. 17 and 18.--In these a decidedly German influence is visible.

They occur in the German book of _Virgil Solis_, 1555.

The earliest English instance of No. 17 which I have noticed appears in the _Visit. Hunts, 1613_ (Camden Society), p. 4, with the arms of Clifton, but no exact date is attached.

In the 1724 edition of Guillim's _Display_ similar shields are engraved, with scroll work round the edges.

* * * * *

Nos. 19, 20, 21, and 22.

No. 19 is found on the tomb of Margaret, Countess of Richmond, in Westminster Abbey, who died 1509 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 326), see No. 73.

Again in a ledger tomb at Brent-eleigh, in memory of Mrs. Sawyer, and dated 1734 (_Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for January, 1886).

Also in the engravings in Blomfield's _Norfolk_, 1739, with a shaped base.

No. 20, may be seen in stained glass, in Grappenhall Old Rectory window, of date about 1527.

Again in a brass in Antringham Church, Suffolk, dated 1562.

No. 21, a brass at St. Mary Quay, Ipswich, 1525 (Boutell's _Brasses_, p. 132).

Also on a seal, 1575 (engraved, _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, vol. ii, p. 170).

Also on a seal, 1578, in Oliver Vredius (_Seals of the Counts of Flanders_).

Again in a grant of arms, 1715 (_Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, second series, vol. i, p. 188).

A ledger at Kelston churchyard, Gibbes quartering Harrington and Specott, 1730 (engraved in _Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for Jan., 1884).

Thus showing that its present use so extensively by the College of Arms is a return to an old pattern existing at any rate since 1509.

Shields very similar occur in _The Ancient Order of Prince Arthure_, published by R. Robinson, 1583; also in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, 1661; while the College of Arms shield No. 22 appears in the Great Seal of Edward VI., 1547.

This group, therefore, extends from about 1500 to the present day.

* * * * *

It is convenient to take Nos. 23 and 24 Stuart, together with 25 and 26 the Georgian.

No. 23, the annexed seal of Robert Greysbrooke of Middleton, is appended to his will, dated 1st September, 1668, and printed _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_ for 1878.

It appears very constantly in seals from about 1610 to 1694.

The shape is used in Sir Peter Leycester's _Historical Antiquities of Cheshire_, published in 1673.

Again in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, published 1661.

No. 24 appears in stone carving at Penshurst Place, Kent, showing the arms of Edward VI., 1547. The side points are curled round, and the centre one is capped with a fillet and half globe: an improvement by the stone cutter (Willement's _Regal Heraldry_), see No. 77.

It is found in the seals and in the crown-pieces of the Commonwealth, dated 1650.

Taking then the Georgian No. 25--In Willement's _Regal Heraldry_, the arms of Henrietta Maria, the wife of Chas. I., 1625, are reproduced in this shape.

It becomes very frequent 1783-92, and up to 1806 in monuments and book-plates--see page 56.

The shield is used in a work published at Worcester 1795, _Historical Anecdotes of Heraldry and Chivalry_.

Very many of the bulky seals so common during the last thirty years of the eighteenth century display coats of arms on shields of this shape, which seems to have been much used about this date. The Liverpool halfpenny, 1791, see No. 78; the Leeds halfpenny, 1791; and the Cronebane halfpenny, 1789; and no doubt many other copper tokens show No. 25.

No. 26 is figured by Randle Holme (_Academy of Armoury_, 1688), who took it from Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, 1661. He explains it is from old and decayed monuments. It is really adapted from ancient shields, which were used by the Amazons, and they are constantly represented with such shields and with double-headed battle axes on Greek coins (see _Petiti de Amazonibus Dissertatio_, 1687, p. 180, &c.)

The only change noticeable in these shields is that the Stuart, which extended down to certainly as late as 1694, have perpendicular sides,--with an occasional exception, as that quoted 1625,--while in the Georgian the sides are always more or less bulged out.

* * * * *

Nos. 27, 28, 29, and 30, with which may conveniently be taken the tops, designated "eared couped."

No. 27--This shape occurs in Brussels tapestry, dated 1610. The sides are more hollowed-out, and the ears more projected (Jacquemart's _History of Furniture_, p. 102, English translation).

Very frequently in ledger tombs, 1718, 1749, 1750, and in 1680 (see _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, November, 1884, p. 172).

In a MS. dated 1710;

Also in the Radcliffe book-plate, _circa_ 1720, engraved in Mr. Rylands' _Notes on Book-Plates_, 1889, p. 30.

No. 28--The arms of Caroline of Brandenburg, wife of George II., 1727, are given on this shield in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_.

No. 29--Several of the engravings in Guillim's _Display_, edition 1724, and in _The English Baronetage_, 1741, partake of this character, thus giving a range from 1610 to 1741 for this group.

* * * * *

No. 31 is a shield very extensively used in Germany and Holland.

It first appears in the seals of the Counts of Flanders (Oliver Vredius) in 1477 and 1487, and disappears in 1602.

It is figured fo. 1_b_ in the _Nuremberg Chronicle_, published 1493.

It may be constantly found at all dates, and down to the present day in German heraldry.

* * * * *

Nos. 32, 33, and 34.

No. 32--This shield has a very extensive range of date; the first I have noticed is on the tomb of Anne of Cleves, in Westminster Abbey, 1539 (engraved in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_).

Engravings in an illustrated edition of Ariosto, printed Venetia, 1572, repeat the same shape.

In Bolton's _Elements of Armories_, 1610, where such arms as those of Paracoussi, King of Plate, The Navatalcas, early Mexicans, and the Incas of Peru, are placed in such shields.

The sixpences and York half-crowns of Charles I., 1614, and the arms on his Great Seal, 1627 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 515).

In a MS., 1652, reproduced in _Miscell. Genealogica_ for January, 1885, p. 204.

The Great Seal of Charles II., 1653 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 517).

The seals of the Commonwealth in 1651 and 1656.

Engravings in Bisse's edition of Nicholas Upton, published 1654;

Also in Sandford's _Genealogical History_, 1677.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, seals with this shape are common enough, many of most beautiful execution, supported by cornucopiæ, fruit and flowers issuant therefrom; these extend from 1670 to 1700. We need only look at our Britannia's shield in a modern penny to see the same, adapted from that coin of Antoninus Pius where occurs the first representation of the figure of Britannia, A.D. 138.

No. 33.--The earliest I have noted is on the seal of Sir Thomas de Bikenore, Knt., attached to a charter, _s.d._, but about 1300; this is engraved _Archæolog. Cantiana_, vol. ii, p. 41.

It occurs upon the seals of the Counts of Flanders from 1403 to 1623 (Oliver Vredius); it also appears elsewhere in his work.

It is also on the tomb in Maidstone Church to John Wotton, 1417 (_Arch. Cantiana_, vol. i, p. 181).

It may be seen in the printer's mark of Richard Pynson, 1530.

I have also noticed No. 33 in one of Camden's grants, dated 2nd May, 1608, to James Master of East Landen, Kent: this is engraved _Archæologia Cantiana_, vol. v, p. 238.

No. 34 is, I think, chiefly restricted to foreign seals and engravings. I have not, so far, noticed an English example.

* * * * *

Nos. 35, 42, and 43.

No. 35--Egg-shaped may be regarded very much as a variation of No. 32, some artists considering it more graceful and better adapted to hold the arms and leave less of the field vacant. The shield of Edward the Black Prince, preserved at Canterbury, and already noticed at p. 30, was of this shape. He died 1376 (Bolton's _Elements_, p. 67).

But there is a large number of such seals as may be described egg-shaped, with hollowed-out sides, and frequently framed in scrolls; these are classed as cardioid Nos. 42 and 43, the outlines having been altered by scroll work, although sometimes the scrolls are omitted.

These occur in _Divi Britannici_, by Sir Winston Churchill, 1675;

In monuments of 1684, &c., in Blomefield's _Norfolk_;

And of 1699, _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_ for December, 1884, p. 185;

Again in 1715, _Herald and Genealogist_, vol. ii, p. 230; and they are constantly to be found in monumental tablets.

Very frequently the bases of shields with hollowed-out sides are turned either to dexter or sinister, as noticed in seals throughout the eighteenth century; and in some later Jacobean, and in Chippendale book-plates say from 1720 to nearly the end of the century.

No. 36--French shields, so constantly represented in French heraldry, appear also in English grants of arms, 1557, 1561, 1582, 1612.

This is just an ordinary square shield, No. 7, with a pointed French base.

This shield, however, may be found at much earlier dates--see remarks on Simon de Montacute's seal to the Baron's letter, 1301, on p. 22; also the very curious brass formerly in St. Nicholas' Church, Lynn, to Thomas Waterdeyn, Mayor of Lynn in 1397 and 1404. This shows two shields, No. 36, which bear his merchant's mark, and stand on either side of a tree. He was alive in 1410 (see engraving, _Archæologia_, vol. xxxix, p. 505).

* * * * *

No. 39.--This curious Italian shield occurs in Gerard Leigh's _Accedens of Armoury_, 1562.

Also with curious scroll-work, dated 1589, in a timber house at Norwich, engraved, _Archæologia_, vol. xvi, p. 194.

In the Great Seal of Charles I., 1640, Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 516.

In the halfpenny of Charles II., 1660.

In the halfpenny of James II., 1685.

Randle Holme, book i, p. 6, would have us believe this was "the veritable shape of the Christal shield given by the goddess Minerva to Perseus, to enable him to slay the Gorgon Medusa, and which was after dedicated to Pallas," and this conceit may account for a monster's head introduced in the Great Seal of Charles I., 1640.

Grotesque shields, somewhat of this shape, are given to Ancient Britons, as in Speed's _Theatre of Great Britain_, 1676, and in MS. pedigrees of early seventeenth century, for the arms of Welsh princes and early potentates. Randle Holme (_Academy of Armoury_) gives one of these as from the monument of Mahomet, Emperor of Turkey, and another from the monument of Tamerlane, Emperor of Tartaria.

* * * * *

Nos. 40 and 41 actually do occur frequently in Roman bronzes and monuments, and are reproduced in engravings in Bolton's _Elements of Armories_, 1610, p. 147, &c. Bolton explains that it (41) occurs on the Column to Antoninus at Rome, but later discoveries have shown that this column was really erected to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus in 174 A.D.

Nos. 42 and 43 cardioid shields (see the remarks upon 33, 34 and 35).--I think these arose from the decorative scroll-work placed around egg-shaped shields, and especially in late Jacobean and Chippendale times, when they may be found in monuments and book-plates. The earliest mural tablet I have noticed is dated 1699, at Winchester Cathedral. This is engraved _Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for December, 1884, p. 185.

The engravings in _Divi Britannici_, noticed under the variations of 35, nearly approach these.

* * * * *

Instances of pure heart-shaped shields occur in the brass to Willem Wenemaer, slain 1325. This is in the vestibule to the hospital which he founded at Ghent (_Archæological Journal_, vol. vii, p. 287);

Also in a monument at St. Margaret's, Hertford, 1691-2, shown in the annexed illustration. This is from _Miscell. Geneal. et Heraldica_, January, 1887, p. 197; and the shape may also be found at later dates.

My readers will also refer to that very interesting seal of Richard Basset, about 1145, described at p. 13, and No. 44: it is heart-shaped, greatly lengthened out.