The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition

The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth
Edition, by

Anonymous
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Title: The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition Being a Concise
Description of the Several Terms Used, and Containing a Dictionary of
Every Designation in the Science
Author: Anonymous

Release Date: July 12, 2005 [eBook #16273]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's
Note: The following changes have been made to | | inconsistent spelling
in the original text: Chap. IV.: 'scarpe' | | for 'scrape'; and, in the
dictionary: SEMÉ/semé for SEME/seme. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

THE MANUAL OF HERALDRY:
Being a Concise Description of the Several Terms Used, and
Containing a Dictionary of Every Designation in the Science
Illustrated by Four Hundred Engravings on Wood
Fifth Edition
London: Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co. 25, Paternoster Row. London: R.
Clay, Printer, Bread Street Hill.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF COATS OF ARMS.
Heraldry is the science which teaches how to blazon or describe in
proper terms armorial bearings and their accessories.
Many volumes have been written on the origin of Heraldry and even on
the antiquity of separate charges contained in an escutcheon: it would
be filling the pages of an elementary work on Heraldry to little purpose
to enter upon an inquiry as to the exact period of the introduction of an
art that has existed in some degree in all countries whose inhabitants

have emerged from barbarism to civilization. In all ages men have
made use of figures of living creatures, trees, flowers, and inanimate
objects, as symbolical signs to distinguish themselves in war, or denote
the bravery and courage of their chief or nation.
The allegorical designs emblazoned on the standards, shields, and
armour of the Greeks and Romans--the White Horse of the Saxons, the
Raven of the Danes, and the Lion of the Normans, may all be termed
heraldic devices; but according to the opinions of Camden, Spelman,
and other high authorities, hereditary arms of families were first
introduced at the commencement of the twelfth century. When
numerous armies engaged in the expeditions to the Holy Land,
consisting of the troops of twenty different nations, they were obliged
to adopt some ensign or mark in order to marshal the vassals under the
banners of the various leaders. The regulation of the symbols whereby
the Sovereigns and Lords of Europe should be distinguished, all of
whom were ardent in maintaining the honour of the several nations to
which they belonged, was a matter of great nicety, and it was properly
entrusted to the Heralds who invented signs of honour which could not
be construed into offence, and made general regulations for their
display on the banners and shields of the chiefs of the different nations.
The ornaments and regulations were sanctioned by the sovereigns
engaged in the Crusade, and hence the origin of the present system of
Heraldry, which prevails with trifling variations in every kingdom of
Europe.
The passion for military fame which prevailed at this period led to the
introduction of mock battles, called Tournaments. Here the Knights
appeared with the Heraldic honours conferred upon them for deeds of
prowess in actual battle. All were emulous of such distinctions. The
subordinate followers appeared with the distinctive arms of their Lord,
with the addition of some mark denoting inferiority. These marks of
honour at first were merely pieces of stuff of various colours cut into
strips and sewn on the surcoat or garment worn over armour, to protect
it from the effect of exposure to the atmosphere. These strips were
disposed in various ways, and gave the idea of the chief, bend, chevron,
&c. Figures of animals and other objects were gradually introduced;

and as none could legally claim or use those honourable distinctions
unless they were granted by the Kings of Arms, those Heraldic
sovereigns formed a code of laws for the regulation of titles and
insignia of honour, which the Sovereigns and Knights of Europe have
bound themselves to protect; and those rules constitute the science of
Heraldry which forms the subject of the following pages.

CHAP. II.
VARIOUS SORTS OF ARMS.
Arms are not only granted to individuals and families, but also to cities,
corporate bodies, and learned societies. They may therefore be classed
as follows:--
Arms