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CHAPTER 14

HERALDRY

From the earliest ages of antiquity, nations and tribes have had some standard or emblem under which to fight; some insignia to distinguish friend from foe, and around which to rally, and which to defend, when hard pressed and outnumbered by the enemy. The display of these standards has always promoted loyalty, allegiance and courage.

In the "Royal Armorie of Great Britain," by Alexander Brunet, London, published 1839, there is an interesting chapter concerning the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They were represented by the following standards:

1. The tribe of Reuben had the Fess, barred and closeted.

2. Simeon, a broad sword.

3. Levi, book of the laws.
4. Judah, a lion.

5. Zebulum, a ship.

6. Isachar, a horse.

7. Dan, a serpent.

8. Gad, penant with lion rampant.
9. Napthali, an ass.

10. Asher, a chalice.

11. Joseph, a bull.

12. Benjamin, a wolf rampant.

Solomon, of the tribe of Judah, hoisted the standard of the lion in Jerusalem. There he erected a palace and a temple on Mount Zion, the fourth wonder of the world. The ivory throne of this palace was supported by twelve lions of solid gold and this royal animal was embossed on five hundred shields of gold, which ornamented the House of Lebanon.

It is interesting to know that the English coat of arms has been, from earliest times, a lion; while the insignia of Denmark is a serpent, which was that of the tribe of Dan. Denmark is said to be the land of Dan.

In the middle ages and during the 12th century the nations of Europe awakened to the fact that the tomb of the Savior was in the hands of the Turks. It seemed terrible that so sacred a place should be in possession of the infidel.

Kings and rulers and many of the important personages of the nations banded together to form pilgrimages to the Holy Land to redeem Jerusalem from the cruel Turk. These were the Crusades of the Middle Ages, socalled because of the Cross (which sign represented the Christ) that each man wore upon his right arm. The Crusades were seven in number; the first in 1096, the second in 1147, and the third in 1189, being the most important ones.

Richard I, who was King of England during the years 1189 to 1199 and known as "Richard Coeur d' Lion," or "Richard the Lion-hearted," because of his bravery and chivalry, together with Prince Philip Augustus of France and Prince Fredrick Barborossa of Germany, were at the head of the third Crusade.

In the early times the implements of war were so heavy, crude and deadly that entire suits of armor were made to fend off the savage blows of battleax and spear. Helmets of iron were fashioned for the head, with masks or visors that could be let down and closed in time of battle, having bars of grating to protect even the eyes from the sword thrusts of the enemy.

The knight encased in his armor, with helmet upon his head, broad sword at his side and lance in his right hand, was yet not fully armed; he still was wanting his most trusty weapon of defense, his shield. This he carried upon his left arm against his body and moved it to and fro to protect himself, while striving to break down the defense of his opponent.

Shields have been used from the earliest times. Savages made them from the bark of trees. In later centuries they were hammered from various metals. Chambers says, "The shields of the French knights in the first crusade presented a plain face of polished metal."

However, in this prolonged warfare when the fight

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ing was necessarily a hand to hand conflict, men were obliged to wear some sign or emblem to distinguish each from the other and to know friend from foe. Here then was the beginning of the art of Heraldry.

Various devices were selected, or were granted to knights for some deed of valor, by their sovereign. These were placed upon the shield so that when held in battle they could be easily seen and noted.

In the beginning the devices were simple. It was during the reign of Richard I, 1189-99, that the lions of England originated, and about the same time the fleurde-lis of France was adopted.

The Herald was an officer whose duty it was to announce the knights as they rode forward to single combat, or to take part in a tournament or joust. First came the young heralds, four or eight in number, blowing a musical blast upon their trumpets. Then the chief Herald-called later, King-at-arms-who announced in a loud voice the name and title of each knight as he rode forth. The duties of this officer included also the regulation of armorial bearings, the receipt and verification of knightly pedigrees, the marshalling of processions, and the superintendence of public ceremonies.

Heraldry, therefore, is properly the knowledge of the whole multifarious duties devolving upon a Herald; in the more restricted sense in which we shall here consider it, it is the science of armorial bearings.

Heraldry.

Heraldry may be defined as the art of blazoning or describing in proper terms, Armorial Bearings. It treats also of their history, of the rules observed in their employment and transmission.

To Blazon, or emblazon a Coat-of-Arms, is to describe it in the technical language of Heraldry. At the time when Heraldry blossomed out and became not only an art but an exact science, the court language of the most of Europe was the French language. The devices used in Heraldry were so numerous and the materials so varied that short and exact terms were necessary to repre

sent and describe them. These technical terms are all in the French language, with the exception of one word, Gules. This is from the Persian, Gule, being a rose in the Persian language.

The Hauberk was a coat of mail made from chain armor invented in later centuries and used in place of the heavier and more cumbersome sheet armor of the tenth and eleventh centuries. Over this hauberk was worn a Tabard, or Surcoat, which consisted of two straight lengths of satin, velvet or leather, joined at the point of the shoulders, and held in place at the waist by the heavy sword belt. Chambers says, “The transmission of arms from father to son seems to have been fully recognized in the 13th century, and in the practice then introduced of embroidering the family insignia on the surcoat, worn over the hauberk, or coat of mail, originated the expression Coat-of-Arms."

"Historical Blazoning, also entitled Marshalling, denotes the combination and arrangement of several distinct heraldic compositions, with the view to produce a single compound composition. In like manner, the disposition and arrangement of a group or groups of heraldic compositions or objects, is styled Marshalling."*

"Heraldic Language, is most concise, and it is always minutely exact, definite, and explicit; all unnecessary words are omitted, and all repetitions are carefully avoided; and, at the same time, every detail is specified with absolute precision.

"The Nomenclature is equally significant, and its aim is to combine definitive exactness with a brevity that is indeed laconic."*

"In heraldic descriptions, the presence and the position of the stops or points demand especial attention. A comma precedes and follows each item of every descriptive clause, and the consistent intervention of the more important points must be observed with rigid precision. Every abbreviation must be marked by a full stop."

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*From: Heraldry-Historical and Popular, by Rev. Charles Boutell, M. A. Second Edition, 1863. London.

[graphic]

HERALDRY

1.
Shield or
Escutcheon

Metals

{{

Or

A. Dexter Chief

B. Precise Middle Chief
C. Sinister Chief

D. Honor Point
E. Fess Point

Gold (yellow)

[blocks in formation]

Topaz

Sol

Silver (white)

Argent

Pearl

Luna

[blocks in formation]

Jupiter
Amethyst Mars

Purple

Purpure Ruby

Mercury

Colors

Black

Sable

Diamond

Saturn

Green

Vert

Emerald

Venus

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Furs

Ermine-white powdered with black dots and
dashes, represents the white fur and black tail

Vair a sort of squirrel, bluish gray on the back, (See Number 12)
white underneath; the skins resemble small
shields

See Heraldry Plates 3-A and 3-B for illustration of Nos. 1 to 12.

See Plate 1-B for divisions 3 and 4

PLATE 1-A

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