ATCHIEVEMENTS in general AN Atchievement is the whole Arms adorn'd with their exterior parts and ornaments which are the Helmet Wreath Crest Mantlings Supporters and Motto's or Words and because these are but accidental parts of the Arms and of late institution as Ferme observes Therefore we are not ty'd superstitiously to all the nice Rules of Art but may speak of and express one colour twice and use and within or such relative particles as oft as we please I shall first treat of such of these exterior parts separatly and then I shall show how they are marshall'd together in blazoning a compleat Atchievement CHAP. XXVI Of the HELMET ONe of the chief parts of Armour is a Helmet because it covers the chief part of man which is his Head and therefore it is made by Heraulds one of the chief ornaments of their Coat Armours It was of old called Galea from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Cats skin whereof it was made Cassis by the Romans It is now call'd Helm by the Germans from the Dutch word Helm which signifies the Head hence comes the French word Heaume the English word Helmet and the Italian Elmo Who should bear Helmets and in what manner they should be born is much controverted And whole Nations rather than private Authors do here disagree amongst themselves and yet most of them agree in this that it is nobler to bear an open Helmet than a closs one because the open Helm is given to and is only fit for such as have command and so must see what others do and must speak to them and tell them what they ought to do Whereas such as are obliged to thrust themselves into all dangers and need little to see others and speak none should bear a Helmet closse Nostri mores sayes Besold thesaur Pract. duplicem faciunt stech-vnd Thermer helm illam plebeiorum clausam hanc nobilium opertam and yet this Rule is not without all exception for Hopping cap. 9. Aldrovand tom-1 pag. 91. observe that in Spain and Italie some great Families bear no Helmets upon their Coat Armours and others bear their Helmets closs and gives an instance in the Dukes of Brunswick but generally all Nations use Helmets in their Heraldrie and distinguish betwixt open and closs Helmets Because the English and French do differ so much in their Rules here I resolve to give an account of both their principles and to begin with the English The English allow a Gentleman to bear a side-standing Helmet with the baver closs which was the Roman custom as appears by Iuvenal Et statua meditatur Praelia Lusca To a Knight a Helmet standing direct forward with a baver open without guards To all Persons above the dignity of a Knight and below that of a Duke a side-Helmet with an open-fac'd guard visure To Dukes and all above them a Helmet which is full forward open-fac'd with guard visures To a Knight they allow a side-standing Helmet with 5 Barrs in his Guard vizur Fenestras distinctas clathris seu cancellis To a Barron they allow to carry his Helm half side-wise half in Front en Tiers as the French call it with 7 Griles or Barrs To Counts Vidames and Viscounts a direct standing Helmet with 9 Barrs To Marquesses a direct standing Helmet with 11 Barrs To Kings and Emperours a direct Helmet altogether open Though Scotland agrees with England in the Bearing of their Helmets yet I must confess that both by the consent of all other Nations and in reason also it were fitter to give Kings Helmets fully open without Garde visurs as the French do than to Knights as we do for Knights are in more danger and have less need to command and seing all Nations agree that a direct standing is more noble than a side-wise standing I see not why the Helmet of a Knight should stand direct and a Dukes only side-wise Sculptura sive ornamentâ—m quod in fronte est plus prae se fert quam illud quod a latere est nam oculum habet ubique Limneus lib. 6. cap. 6. There is likewise this difference betwixt them that the English make no difference betwixt the Bearers from the Metall of which the Helmets is made whereas the French allow only the Knights a Helmet adorn'd with Silver to Counts and all above them they allow Helmets adorn'd with Gold and to Kings all the Helmet damasquin'd But Limneus lib. 6. cap. 6. sayes thus Altora est differentia quod Duces uti possunt aureis Comites argenteis reliqui verò ferreis Ovid. Scuta sed Galeae gemmis radientur auro Timbre is ordinarily us'd amongst the French and Italians for a Helmet and was frequently us'd by the English of old It is a general word which comprehends all sorts of Ornaments of the Head and comes from la forme d'un timbre de cloche the shape of a Bell which it resembles somewhat And as L'oseau observes des ordres des gentils-hommes cap. 5. Gentlemen did not adorn their Atchievements with Helmets till they found that the Burgesses of Paris did by warrand from Charles V. bear Coat-armours Whereupon to distinguish themselves from those Gentlemen did assume Helmets and by the 200 Article of the Statutes of Orleance all who were not Gentlemen by birth were discharg'd to bear Helmets on their Arms. Helmets being a part of the Souldiers Arms it is only us'd by Sword-men or Gentle-men Bishops use Mitres Cardinals a Hat and therefore L'oseau cap. 5. remarks justly That Gown-men should not bear a Helmet but a Corner'd Cap and my reason allowes rather his Judgement than our Custom which is contrary CHAP. XXVII of MANTLINGS OF old Knights and such as did wear Helmets took great pains to keep them very neat and clear and therefore they did cover them with Linning or Stuff doubled with Silk which served also to distinguish them in the Battel And when they went to Battel these Coverings being very much cut and torn they did thereafter paint them with their Casques in their Atchievement or Arms and these we call Mantlings in English which hang down cut now with Art and Curiosity The French call them Lambreqains from the Latine Lamberare it may be which as Festus observes signifies to cut or tear because these were torn the Germans Helm-deâ—ken and Helmzter the Latine Fascae seu Lacinlae utrinque dependentes Paul Iov oiim hae nihil aâ—iud quam galearum tegâ—ina Crus pag. 477. and that their Institution was very old appears from Diod. Sieul iib. 5. cap. 30. And that such were us'd by Knights appears from all the old Seals Menest cap. 8. Sometimes Skins of Beasts as Lyons Bears c. were thus born to make the Bearer more terrible and that gave occasion to the Doubling our Mantlings with Furrs In Scotland all the Mantlings of Noblemen are G. doubl'd with Ermine because the Robes of our Earls and above are Scarlet doubled with Ermins and therefore oftentimes
surmounted of a Bar as Dempster does CHAP. XIV Of the CHEVERON A Cheveron is an ordinar French word signifying a couple by Vitruvius Capreolus and therefore this Ordinar represents a couple in its Shape fig. 1. by the Latine now it is call'd tignum or cantherius by the Italian capriolo or caviletto and is given by Heralds to such as have supply'd their Prince Countrey or Family and thus the Hepburns carry G on a Cheveron arg two Lyons pulling at a rose the reason of which was that when the Scots were near beat at the Battel of two Brothers of that name came in with a fresh Supply and recovered the Battel as Holins-bead also confesses for which they got the Cheveron to signifie the Supply they brought the two Lyons to represent the two Brothers and that they were Scots pulling at a Rose which is the Arms of England As also Robertsone of Struan got a Cheveron added to his Shield for taking Graham who kill'd King Iames the First but he has not us'd it of late because he thought it a mark of Cadency Leigh sayes That a Cheveron represents a womans attire for her head but the conjecture is very groundless and proceeds from waâ—â— of French and for the same want of French some use to say a Cheveron rompé for a broken Cheveron which is in French un cheveron rompu or brisé Spelman well observes That it is given to men for â—ompleating and having brought any great design to perfection since the putting on of the couple shews the work to be compleated And therefore the Greeks us'd to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It comprehends also the third of the Shield and the reason why a Cheveron is taken broken in its top is because the Principle House was ruin'd and sold and therefore the Cadets to show that they are fallen from the original height of the Familie take the Cognizance bruis'd in its top If there be more Cheverons they are call'd Cheveronells of which Leigh and all the English write that there can be three in a Field but the French say three Cheverons and why not three Cheverons as well as three Bends Bars c. the French mark 1.3.4 or 5. Cheverons at pleasure and in this as in many other things we follow the French For the Mclellans bear Or two Cheverons sable A Couple close contains the fourth part of a Cheveron and are not born but by pairs except there be a Cheveron betwixt them If the Cheveron be turn'd down with the point to the base it is call'd a Cheveron inverted If two Cheverons be joyn'd together the English call them Brazed from the French word Bras as I conceive which signifies Arms because they are interlac'd as Arms the French accrochete The description of the PLATE belonging to the 14. Chapter I. ARgent a cheveron sable Ermine a cheveron Gules Argent a cheveron Gules and chief azur Azur a cheveron Ermine II. Gules on a cheveron argent three mollets of the first Argent on a cheveron Gules three mollets of the first Gules on a cheveron argent a rose betwixt two Lyons or Lyon cells as some wil have it combatant of the first III. Argent a cheveron sable betwixt three mollets Gules Gules a cheveron argent betwixt three mollets Or. IV. Argent a cheveron sable betwixt three Boar heads erased Gules armed of the first Argent a cheveron Gules betwixt three Boar-heads erazed azur armed and langued of the first Argent a cheveron Gules betwixt three Boar-heads erased sable V. Argent a cheveron checkie Gules and of the first betwixt three Bugles sable garnished as the second Or a cheveron checkie sable and argent betwixt three martlets or kaes of the second VI. Argent a cheveron betwixt three roses Gules Gules a cheveron betwixt three Flowers de lis Or. VII Or two cheverons sable Or two cheverons sable and three mollets in pale Gules Gules two cheverons engrailed betwixt three Flowers de lis Or. VIII Ermine two cheverons Gules Gules a cheveron voided betwixt three cinquefoils Or. Argent a cheveron voided Gules betwixt three pheons in chief and an Unicorns head erased in base sable Argent a cheveron Gules surmounted of another Ermine betwixt three laurel slips vert IX Argent two Swords cheveron-wayes azur pearcing a mans heart in chief proper and in base a cinquifoil of the second Argent two daggers azur the pomells divided in chief and the points conjoined piercing a mans heart in base proper in the honor point a cinquifoil sable X. In French de sable aù cheuron d'argent brisé où eclatté par le haut i. e. Sable a cheveron argent burst or split on the top by Syl. Pet. Sta. Capreolus fractus diminutus capite mutilus c. XI Gules a cheveron reversed argent XII Argent three cheverons brased or rather interlac'd one with the other in base a Sun in chief azur CHAP. XV. Of the BORDUR and ORLE SHields had Bordurs for their ornament and sometimes for their difference as vestiments had fringes and thence did the Bordur grow an honourable Ordinarie amongst Heralds It possesses the fifth part of the Shield amongst the English but the third amongst the French An Orle is a little Bordur from the Latine word Orula which signifies a little Bordur but both the one and the other are given to recompense such as have given protection and defence For the Bordur defends what is within it and therefore Scotland got the Orle Flower deluc'd from the French to recompense the assistance the French got from the Scots in all the Wars At which time and for the same reason the Scots got the guarding of the French King's body which honour they retain to this day It is now us'd as a mark of distinction by Cadets because they ought to defend their elder Brothers Family as the Bordur defends the Shield All nations use few terms in describing Borders except the English who use very many and such as are unnecessar and have proceeded from affecting French words for terms of art For if the Bordur be charg'd with dead things it is call'd a Bordur entoire as of Annulets Besants c. which word is from the French word entoure about corrupted this word is also improper for all Bordurs go about the Shield If the Bordur be charg'd with Fowles it is call'd by them enalauron if it be charg'd with other beasts it is term'd enurny if with Flowers Fruits or Leaves verdoi and then the particulars and their numbers are exprest as Verdoy of eight 〈…〉 if with furre it is call'd Purflew generally and then the Furr is specified as he bears G. a Bordur purflew ermine The French say only G. a Bordur Ermine as also they say he bears Or a Bordur of 8 Pigeons If the Bordur be of moe colours it is said to be componed of such and such colours when
of the first and in the dexter base a Horse-head couped Sable Or three Helmets bavers open proper Gules three Boars-heads erased argent betwixt a Lance issuing out of the dexter base and an Lochaber-axe issuing out of the sinister both erected in pale of the second Gules a Closs Helmet argent IX Or a Sword erected in Pale surmounted on the top with an Imperial Crown proper betwixt three Crescents within a double tressure counterflowred Gules Azur a Sword in pale argent hilted and pomelled Or betwixt three Crescents of the second Or a two handed Sword in pale azur X. Azur three Broad axes argent 2. and 1. XI Azur a Ship under sail argent And the same Earle for the first Coat as representing Spar sometime Duke of Orkney bears Azur a Ship at anchor her Oars in Saltire within a double tressure counterflowred Or. Azur in the sea vert a Ship in full course Or Masts Sails and Taiklings proper flagged Gules Argent a Ship with her Sails trussed up sable quartered in the atchievement of the Duke of Hamilton XII Or a Lumfad her oars erected in Saltire Sable in chief a dexter hand couped fesse-wayes holding a mans heart palewayese according to some a flower de lis Gules But Mckintosh has altred this and gives now four Coats quarterly first Or a Lyon rampant Gules as being come of Mcduff Second argent a dexter hand couped fesse-wayes grasping a Mans heart pale-wayes Gules Third azur a Boars head couped Or. Fourth Or a Lumfad her oars erected in Saltire sable Argent a Lumfad with her oars in action sable now quartered in the atchievements of the Earle of Argyle and Glenurqhie Argent an ark in the waters proper surmounted of a dove azur bearing in her beck an olive-branch vert Of Vtensils Crowns and others used in Armory I. ARgent a Saltire Sable on a chief of the second three Cusheons Or. Argent a Saint Andrews Cross and chief azur The second charged with three Cusheons Or. Argent a mollet or rather a Spur-revel Gules on a chief sable a Cusheon Or. Or three Cusheons Gules each charged with a Crescent argent Or three Cusheons within a double tressure countefloured Gules II. Or a Cheveron betwixt three purses Gules Some give the Cheveron checki◠azur and argent Others give a fess checkie III. Gules on a fess Or a mollet azur betwixt three quadrangular locks argent Gules a Sword in pale proper hilted and pomelled Or betwixt three Padlocks argent IV. Azur a fetterlock argent on a chief of the second three Sanglier heads as the first But others give it argent a mans heart proper within a fetter-lock sable on a chief azur three boars heads erased of the first And there are lately some other alterations made in this Coat Argent on a bend sable three-fetterlocks Or. V. Gules three keyes barr-wayes Or or as the English blazon fesse-wayes in pale The same within a bordur Verry VI. Or a Cheveron checkie sable and argent betwixt three water budgets of the second quartered with the Coat of Melvil Azur three water Budgets Or quartered in the second place in the achievement of the Earle of Drumfreis Or a bears head couped Gules betwixt three Water budgets sable The same within a bordur VII Azur three covered cups Or 2. and 1. Azur three mollets in fess betwixt alse many covered cups argent Gules two cups covered Or and in the midle chief a Star argent Sable a Cup argent with a garland betwixt two Lawrel-branches all issuing out of the same Vert. VIII Sable a Catharine-wheel argent quartered in the atchievement of Sir Iames Turner with argent three gut de sang proper IX Azur theee Bells Or. Azur a fesse betwixt three Bells Or. X. Or three Candlesticks Sable 2. and 1. XI Argent a Cheveron gules betwixt three Chess rooks sable But now he gives sable on a Cheveron Or betwixt three mollets argent alse many Chess rooks of the field Azur a burning cup betwixt two Chess rooks in fess Or. XII Gules three Antique Crowns Or. Gules a boars head couped betwixt three Antique Crowns Or. With his paternal Coat by the name of Fraser gives Second and third argent three antique or open Crowns Gules Or a fesse chekie azur and argent betwixt three open Crowns Gules CHAP. XX. Why ARMS are chang'd ARms once taken ought not to be chang'd without a sufficient cause The ordinary causes of changing Arms are six First When the bearer becomes subject to another and thus William the Conqueror chang'd the arms of England 2. The succeeding to a greater Fortune and thus the Familie of Stewarts arms were chang'd by our Kings when they succeeded to the Crown 3. Adoption as by Tailies with us 4. Some considerable new exploit and thus a Savoyard having preserv'd Francis 1. at the Battle of Pavie crav'd liberty to change his arms and take a sword arg accompany'd with a flower de luce 5. Some new devote enterprise as those who went to the holy War 6. Marks of cadency and defamation and marriage of which three last I shall treat in separate Chapters What was meant by a Gentleman of Name and Arms in ancient Records is doubted For some interpret this of those who made profession of arms Others do more justly interpret this of these who came to the honour of having sirnames and Coat-armour for till William the Conqueror's time in England and King Malcome Canmor's Reign in Scotland there were no sirnames but men were call'd by their Fathers name as Gulielmus filius Iacobi but thereafter they got sirnames from the lands they possest and therefore it was a mark of Nobility in those dayes to have a Few or Lands But now a Gentleman of Name and Arms is he whose Name and Arms are registrated by Heraulds as Menestier observes CHAP. XXI Marks of CADENCIE and DIFFERENCES ARms are sometimes given upon a personal account by a Prince thus Kings give sometimes to such Strangers who have mediat happily as Ambassadors betwixt them and their own Masters the Arms of their Kingdom in a Canton and generally in these cases Arms are personal and descend not to his Successors And such Arms are called insignia personalia Noal de Transmis casu 33. and Cartwright pag. 20. gives an instance of this in the person of S. Henry St. George who got the Arms of Swede in a Canton when he was Ambassadour there and the Italians give many instances of this Rule in arms given by Princes to Cardinals But if Successors be not secluded then Arms descends to his Heirs though they be not exprest Bart. ad l. 1. c. de dignit Hoping c. 7. § 1. and these succeed to their arms though the arms were bestow'd upon the Father after their birth even as they would succeed to a Crown falling to
their father after their birth Tiraquel c. 15. Hot. quaest illust 2. But when they are given by the Prince to a man or to his posterity then his Successors who are descended of him do carry the Arms and have right thereto and that though they renounce to be Heirs Noal ibid. Because these are marks of their Princes favour and no lucrative parts of succession And therefore possiblie it is that our Nobility bear the Titles and enjoy the honours of their Predecessors though they renounce to be Heirs and though these Honours and Titles were given at first to their Predecessors and their Heir But it is here questioned by the Doctors whether Daughters have right to bear arms of the Family as Iason observes consil 63. Virile officium est arma insignia deferre the carrying Arms belongs only to men yet it is generally concluded that Women who were never marry'd may carry their Predecessors arms Tiraquel de nobil cap. ult Tacit. lib. 3. annual de funere juniae ait Viginti clarissimarum familiarum imagines antilatae sunt sed praefulgeâ—ant Cassius atque Brutus eo ipso quod effigies eorum non visebantur idem probatur per l. mulieres C. de dignitat and the Custom both in France and Scotland is That they bear the Paternal Coat in a lozenge limneus de jure Reipublicae cap. 6. But they should be born in a fusil which is a figure longer then a lozen and signifies a Spindle in French which is a womanly Instrument Yet when women have been once marry'd they can no more carry their paternal Coat or Arms because by marriage transeunt ex familia patris in familiam mariti Bart. ad l. quoties C. de privil Schol. menoch consil 197. and yet to show whence they sprung they carry their paternal Coat marshall'd with their husbands as shall be hereafter observ'd But the children born by them cannot carry their grand-Fathers Arms Noal ibid. No man can bear his Mothers Arms for Children follow the condition of their Father not of their Mother and yet the mother may by Paction or Testament provide that they shall not succced except they bear her Arms in which case they may be forc'd to carry them if the Prince consent For He only can bestow Arms and without this the Son cannot bear them Peleus act forens c. 96. Whither agnati transversales such as Nephews Uncles c. have right to carry the Arms that are given by the Prince to their Uncles and those of his family may be doubted and that they may is concluded by the Doctors nam agnati intelliguntur esse de familia l. pronunciatio f. de verb. signif But if the Arms be granted to a man and these descending of his body they will thereby or by any such expresse concession be secluded It is most ordinar in Scotland to tailye Estates to the eldest Heir fernal she marrying one who shall bear the name and arms of the disponers family but whether the person who marries that Heretrix or Heiresse as the English speak may lawfully carry the disponners Arms according to the Laws of Heraldry wants not its scruple seeing Arma gentilitia which are presumed still to be granted to a man and his Heirs non transeunt ad extraneos else any man might give Arms as well as the Prince or Heralds Yet Lawyers are very positive that their pactions are lawful qui liberâ—s non habet potest in alium transferre suum feudum ea conditione ut adoptatus nomen arma insignia ferat Former tract feud tit de his qui feudum accipere possunt and that because Arms are given not only to reward the Receivers vertue but to distinguish Families quia adoptatus transit in familiam agnationem adoptantâ— Some Lawyers do here distinguish betwixt him who is so assum'd or adopted by one of his own Predecessors or Family for these surely may bear the Arms of the adopter And these who were strangers before the adoption and they conclude that these cannot have right to the Arms and this is asserted by Hopping de jur insig cap. 7.5 num 251. to be the common opinion of the best Lawyers But I think it may be more justly distinguisht whether the disposition be made to a daughter she marrying one who shall bear the Name and Arms for in that case certainly the children may bear the Arms for she was Heiresse her self But if Lands were disponed to a meer stranger not upon condition that he should marry a daughter but that he should bear the Name and Arms it may be in that case asserted that the Receiver of the disposition cannot bear the Arms for that was not in the disponners power to bestow except the Prince consent And suitable to this it is observed by Co. 4. inst 126. that Edmond de Eincourt obtain'd from E. 1. a liberty under the great Seal to assign his Name and Arms but that the Parliament of England did finde that such an assignation without the Kings consent was voyd And with us if the King either confirm a right made of Name and Arms or accept a Resignation upon that condition this is thought equivalent to an original right Though the descendent of him to whom the Arms were first granted may bear them yet the eldest Son who represents the Receiver of the Arms properly can only bear them intire by the Laws of Spain Molim l. 2. de hisp primog The same is observed in France Colomb tit de Brisurs and Expilly relates à decis of the Parliament of Grenoble anno 1496. wherein they found that the Cadets of the family could not bear the Arms of it simply and without distinction the like was found by the Parliament of Tholouse anno 1509. in Scotland and England the same is observ'd In Piemount all the Sons of Counts bear the same Arms without any other distinction save that the eldest carrys the Crown of a Count but the Cadets do not tessaur decis 270. nu 6. In Germany the several branches of great Families distinguish themselves only by different Crests without inserting any addition in the Arms themselves as Menestrier observes pag. 389. The eldest also of the three secular Electors use in each of their Coats the badge of their office as a mark of their office rather then as a distinction Hop c. 7. and Gaspar Bombaci observes that there are few or no differences us'd in Italy che vuole essempi frequenti di arme di un medisimo liguaggio ln varie guise non sostantialmente maaccidentalmente diversificate bisogna que esca fuori d' Italia And I think that the reason why the Germans use none is because all succeed equally there to the Honours and Estate Likeas it seems that in Italy the reason of frequent omitting them is because there the cadets are ordinarily Church-men and these use nor need no marks of difference or cadency because they are to have no succession
of Seatoun in the 2. and 3. arg a wing'd Dragon vert vomiting fire which Dragon is the Crest of his eldest brother the Earl of Winton But I approve not this way of Marshalling and I would rather allow a second Brother or any Cadet when nobilitated to bear the Arms of the house with a difference except he were oblig'd by his marrying an Heretrix to quarter her Arms or had got some Symbole of his Majesties Favour to reward some great service done him Some get Cognizances and Rewards of Honour from their Prince not by way of impaling or quartering but in a Canton thus the Earl of Annandale got from King Iames the sixth in a Canton arg a Thistle vert crown'd Or and the Earl of Elgin got in a Canton a Lyon rampant Gules arm'd azur Sometimes also a Shield over all is given as a reward of Honour thus the Earl of Stirling did bear two Coats quarterly and over all an Inescutcheon of Nova Scotia because he was the first Planter of it When any Nobleman at his creation takes or gets a new additional Symbole as Earl as Montrose carries the Roses not as Grahame but as Earl I think that these Coats or Symbols should not be transmitted to their Cadets but are incommunicable as the Honours are to signifie which they were granted And such as are descended from the Dukes of Lennox may as well take the Symbole which he bears as Admiral as such as are descended from the Earl of Montrose may take these Roses which he bears as Earl And yet custome has prevailed against this Rule Follows the Blazon of the Coats in the Plate of the quarterings I. QUarterly first and last azur three flowers de lis within a bordure ingrailed Or by the title of Obignie in France 2. and 3. Or a fess checkie azure and argent within a bordur Gules charged with 8 buckles as the first by the name of Stewart On a Shield over all Argent a Saltire ingrailed some give it plain betwixt 4 roses Gules by the name of Lennox II. Four Coats quarterlie first azure 3 boar heads couped Or by the name of Gordone Second Or 3 Lyons heads erased Gules lingued azure by the name or title of Badzenoch 3. Or 3 Crescents within a double tressure counterflowered Gules by the name of Seaton fourth azure 3 frazes argent by the name of Frazer III. Quarterly viz. first azur a Lyon rampant argent crowned Or by the name of Mcdoual Second Or a Lyon rampant Gules surmounted of a ribbon by some a cost Sable by the name of Abernethie Third argent three Pyles conjoyning at the point Gules by the name of Wishart Fourth Or a fess checkie azur and argent surmounted of a bend Sable charged with 3 buckles of the first by the name of Stewart Over all his Paternal Coat being argent a mans heart crowned Gules on a chief azur 3 Stars of the first by the name of Dowglas IV. Two Coats quarterly first Or on a chief Sable three Escallops of the Field by the name of Grahame second argent three Roses Gules by the title of Montrose third as the second the fourth as the first V. Gave the Coats of Huntly and over all that of Sutherland but it is now changed thus Quarterly quartered first Gules three starrs Or by the name of Sutherland second and third the Arms of Huntly viz. Gordone Badzenoch Seaton and Frazer as may be seen before in Huntlies Atchievement the last as the first VI. Two Coats quarterly first argent on a bend azur three buckles Or by the name of Lesly second Or a Lyon rampant Gules surmounted of a ribbon sable be the name of Abernethie third as the second the fourth as the first VII Two Coats quarterly first and last azur three flowers de lis Or by the name of Montgomery second and third Gules three annulets or stoned azur by the name of Eglinton third as the second the fourth as the first all within a bordure Or charged with a double Tressure counterflowred Gules VIII Quarterly first azur a Ship at anchor her oars erected in saltire within a double tressure counterflowred Or by the name of Spar second and third Or a Lyon rampant Gules by the name of fourth azur a Ship under sail Or by some argent by the title of Caithness over all dividing the Coats a Crosse ingrailed sable by the name of Stclair IX Quarterly first and last vert a Lyon rampant argent by the name of Home second and third argent 3 Pepingo's vert becked and membred Gules by the name Pepdie over all on a Shield Or ane Orle azur by the name of Landel X. Two Coats quarterly first Gules an Imperial Crown within a double tressure counterflowred Or as a Coat of augmentation for his good service against the Earl of Gowrie second argent a pale sable by the name of Areskine third as the second the fourth as the first XI Two Coats quarterly first Or a Lyon rampant Gules by the name of Weem or Mcduff second argent a Lyon rampant sable by the name of Glen third as the second fourth as the first XII Two Coats quarterly first and fourth argent a Lyon rampant azur armed and langued Gules as the old Arms of the Bruces when they were Earls of Carrick second and third Or a saltire and chief Gules by the name of Bruce The reason why Bishops and other Officers have their own Coats impal'd with those of their Office is because they are in Law in place of Husbands to their Office and therefore the Canon Law calls a Bishop or other beneficâ—d person maritus Ecclesiae But if so It may be askt why the Bishops proper Coat is not impal'd on the right syde as the Husbands is when his wifes Coat is impal'd with his own to which the proper answer is that the Churches Arms take place as the more nobleâ— and the Bishop is Husband by a figurative speech only The Guarter of England who is the principle King at Arms bears the Arms pertaining to the Office which is argent a crosse Gules on a chief azur a crown environ'd with a Guarter buckled and now'd betwixt a Lyon passant gardant and a flowr de lis impal'd with his own Coat Sir Charles Areskin Lyon King of Arms gives the Coat of the Office being argent a Lyon sejant full-faced Gules holding in his dexter paw a thistle slipped vert and in the sinister an Escutcheon of the second on a chief azur a St Andrews crosse as the first likewise impaled with that belonging to himself as the second brother of the Earl of Kellie But sometimes the Office has no known Shield but ane other Symbol which is plac'd without the Shield thus the Admiral carries an Anchor the Chancellor a Purse the Theasaurer a Whyt rod the Lord Chamberlain a Key The Constable two Swords and the Marshal Battons CHAP. XXV Of
the Name thus the Lord Cranston has for his Crest a Crane sleeping with her head under her wing And sometimes Crests are taken by Noblemen from the Name of the Countrey as the Earl of Sutherland takes a Cat for his Crest because Sutherland is call'd Cattu in Irish and was so called from the great number of Wild Cats which were of old and yet are to be found in that Shire Sometimes Crests are taken from some considerable Deliverance Thus the Laird of Anstruther gives two Hands grasping a Pole-axe with the Word Perâ—issem ni periâ—ssem because his Predecessor as is commonly reported did strike off the head of the Laird of Barns with a Pole-axe when he was coming to his house with an intentiâ—n to kill him It is lawfull to change the Crest and Colomb pag. 4. tells us that it is lawfull for such as change their Arms to retain a part of their old Arms as a Crest Cadets also do and may change their Crests Thus Dumfermling keeps not the Crest of Winton nor Kellie the Crest of Marr but it is most proper for Cadets when they take Crests to take a Member or some small part of their Chiefs Crest or Arms as Ogilvie of Birnies has taken the Lyons Paw though it be ordinar to retein the Chiefs Crest markt by the ordinar differences or of a different Colour CHAP. XXX Of CROWNS THe first Origine of Crowns in Arms was from the Romans App. lib. 2. de Bell. Civil For they rewarded the great Actions of their Citizens and Warriours with different and suitable Crowns which I have set down out of ingenious Mr. Cartwright Corona Muralis this was due to him that was first seen upon the Wall of the Enemy Corona Castrensis for him that made a breach in the Wall of the Enemy The first a Crown embattail'd or made with Battlement being of Gold the other of Towers And then they had Corona Navalis garnish'd with Fore-Castle for Service at Sea made of Gold too Then Corona Ovalis of Mirtle for Victorie gotten with little hazard Corona Obsidialis which was made of Grass for him that preserved an Army besieged Corona Civica for him that saved a Citizen from the Enemy made of Oaken boughs Corona Olivaris of Olive leaves for Victory in the Olympick Games and Corona Populea for young men that were found Industrious and Studious in the Exercises of Virtues But I find that amongst these Rewards of Honor that of Ivie called Corona Hederalis was only appropriated to the Poets Crowns were still the infallible Mark of Kingly Power and therefore Sueâ—on in Calligula's Life observes Parum abfuit quin Diadema sumeret speciem Principatus in Regnum converteret which Expression I have set down to show that the Roman Emperours were then less than Kings in their Titles though greater in their Power As to the Crowns now born they differ not only according to the Quality of the Bearerâ— but according to the Nation wherein they are born for England and France differ much in this though the English acknowledge that they owe their Heraldry to the French I have here set down the different Shapes of the English Crowns The first whereof is the Crown of the Empire of Germany which is but little different from that of England in the second which is Imperial too The third is a Coronet of the Prince which is the same with the Kings only the Arches Mound and Cross wanting The fourth is a Crownet of an Arch-Duke which is the same with a Duke the Arch only added The fifth is a Crownet Florial only proper to a Duke The sixth is the Crownet of a Marquess which differs thus It is of Leaves and Points the Leaves or Flowers above the points The seventh is proper to an Earl which hath Points and Flowers but the Points are above the Flowers The eighth is due to a Viscount which is a Circulet pearl'd and neither Flowers nor points As to the French the French Kings Crown is closs above like the Imperial and rais'd into eight Demy-Diadems enriched with Diamonds c. The Dolphine Crown differs only from the Kings in that it rises upon four Demy-Diadems the Kings upon eight The Circle of their Ducal Crown is enriched with Stones and Pearles and is raised with eight Flowers Their Marquess Crown has its Circle adorned only with Pearles tempeste de Perls and raised into four Flowers betwixt 12 Points or Pearls as the French call them Their Counts carry only a Circle of Gold raised unto nine Points ane Cercle d' or garny de pier reries rehausse de 9 grosses perle de Comte The Viscount has only a Circle of Gold plain or enambled and rais'd unto four Points or as the French term them four Pearls Baroâ—s have also in France a Circle of Gold enambled mounted by a Bracelet of Pearls Of late both the Barons in England and Lords in Scotland have got Coronets by His Majesties concession The Bannerets carried only a plain Circle of Gold adorn'd with three ordinar Pearls Our Baronets cary no crown nor circle The Regal Crown of Scotland hath Arches Mound and Cross like to that of England adorned with precious Stones and Pearls and having four Flowers de lis and as many Crosses patâ—é interchanged Farme pag. 79. The ninth Figure here represented is by Silvanus Morgan said to be than Crown which is born by Homager Kings and by Iohn Baliol when he held the Crown of Scotland of Edward the First but I begg the Gentlemans pardon to tell him that of old the Roman Emperours carried no other than these after their Apotheosis and being numbred amongst the the gods Lucan Fulminibus Manes radiisque ornabit Astris A Lords Coronet CHAP. XXXI Of SUPPORTERS SUpporters are these Exterior Ornaments which are plac'd without the Shield at its side and were at first invented as Pet. Sancta observes to represent the Armour-Bearers of Knights but why then are they ordinarily two and therefore I rather believe that their first Origine and Use was from the Custom which ever was and is of leading such as are invested with any great Honoâ— to the Prince who confers it Thus when any man is created a Duke Marquess or Knight of St. Andrew of the Garter or any other order either in Scotland or else where he is supported by and led to thâ— Prince betwixt two of the Quality and so receives from him the Symboles of that Honour and in remembrance of that Solemnity his Arms are thereafter supported by any two Creatures which he chooses and therefore in the received Opinion of al Heraulds only Nobiles Majores who have been so invested in these Honours are allowed to have Supporters And albeit Chiefs of old Families have used Supporters with us yet they owe these to Prescription and not to the original Institution of Heraldry as shall be observed Others as Menestier think that when Knights hung up their Shields to provoke all Passengers