HERALDRY was employed in the feudal ages to display
the exploits of chivalry, and to reward as well as commemorate its
triumphs over oppression and violence. Amidst the imperfections of
uncultivated eloquence and a general ignorance of written language, the
ensigns of heraldry were peculiarly significant. They addressed the
imagination by a more direct channel and in a more striking manner than
words; while at one glance they recalled the most important events in
the history of persons, families, and nations. Their immediate relations
to war, and to the honourable distinctions arising from it, connected
them with the deeds and manners of former times. Exhibited on the
shields and vestments of warriors, they also adorned the most splendid
apparel of peace; and were often transferred to more durable materials,
to perpetuate the memory of those who bore them. They formed the chief
ornaments in the palaces of the great, were chosen by artists of various
professions to embellish their respective works, were set up in courts
of judicature, and impressed on the public money. Thus, to the utmost
extent of their application, did armorial bearings become the symbolical
language of Europe.
In all the countries of Europe, rank, title, and
precedence are the grand prizes in the race of life. This is especially
true of Great Britain, where, from many causes, these honours are
universally and justly believed to be endowed with a "mortal
immortality," to be stable as the rocks that gird our isle; but that the
avenues to the titled platform, until a recent period of our history,
have been too jealously guarded, and that the honours due to genius,
valour, patriotism, and industry have been too much bestowed in the
spirit of party, will hardly be denied.
The nobles of a land should constitute at once its
glory and its strength; they should be in some respects its "turrets and
foundationstone." In no country are these requirements so generally met
as in our own, where diadems and coronets cannot shelter from the
consequences of dishonour, but, on the contrary, derive additional
lustre from the practice of virtue and the efforts of patriotism.
A Crest is the uppermost part of an Armoury, or that
part of the casque, or helmet, next to the mantle. It derives its name
from Crista, a cock's comb, as it was supposed to have been originally a
projection over the top of some helmets (many of which, however, had
none), and it has been supposed by Antiquarians that the first hint of
the Crest arose from this projection. The Crest was deemed a greater
mark of Nobility than the Armoury, as it was borne at tournaments, to
which none were admitted until they had given strong proofs of their
magnanimity. Hence, the word Crest is figuratively used for spirit or
courage. The original purpose of a Crest, as some Authors affirm, was to
make a commander known to his men in battle; or, if it represented a
monster, or other tremendous object, to render him warlike and terrific.
But there is no satisfactory proof whether the Crest was really meant to
render a leader easily recognised by his men, to make him look more
formidable in battle, or as an ornamental mark of distinction.
Some Writers imagine that Crests were originally
plumes of feathers; but, in all probability, these were nothing more
than a particular kind of Crest. The earliest Crests with which we are
acquainted, were animals of different kinds, and their parts, monsters,
branches of trees, plumes of hair or feathers, and the like.
The Crest was an honourable emblem of distinction,
which frequently characterised the bearer as much as his arms, and was
sometimes constituted by Royal Grant. Crests are said to have been of
particular use in tilts and joustings, where no shield was borne, for
the bearer was thus distinguished who would otherwise have been known by
his armorial bearings. We find in the representations of ancient
encounters, that the combatants appear with enormous Crests, almost as
large as the helmets.
Those Knights and Gentlemen, who repaired to
tournaments, were distinguished by their Crests. None were deemed .
worthy of partaking of such fetes who did not bear arms of some kind,
unless of undoubted superiority by birth or merit. Crests were likewise
embroidered on the vestments of the attendants at the processions of
Parliament, Coronations, and public solemnities; they were also engraven,
carved, or printed on property in the same manner as coats of arms.
According to the general opinion, the Crest was not hereditable like the
arms of a family, and, consequently, every successor might assume a new
one. This, however, was not the practice of this kingdom; for it is well
known that the Crest of many families, being esteemed as distinctive as
the bearings in the shield, has been transmitted from one generation to
another for several centuries. The immense variety of Crests has
probably arisen from the younger branches of a family retaining the
paternal coat, and assuming a different Crest ; and this may be the
cause for supposing that the Crest may be changed though the arms may
not. Some declare a Crest is a mere ornament, but it has been so much
considered a mark of distinction that different Sovereigns have made
additions to the Crests of their subjects. Indeed, it was uniformly
esteemed an honourable symbol. In addition to Crests being the subject
of Royal Grant, there are instances of some having been assumed and
confirmed in commemoration of warlike deeds or other honourable events.
Some were taken to preserve the fame of a progenitor, whose name implied
something martial or illustrious, and others were allusive to dignified
offices. Several have been granted for certain services. It appears from
ancient monuments, that the Crest consisted of some plain and simple
device, or what was. applicable to the assumer only; as appears from an
eagle's head, a bird's wing, a peacock's tail, a banner, &c. But so
great has been the deviation from this practice, that it is impossible
to assign any rule for the subsequent assumption of Crests. Many persons
of different names bear similar Crests, and as many of the same name
bear different ones. Every day we may behold the most uncommon,
complicated, and unintelligible Crests, chosen without design or reason.
Women, it is generally asserted, may not bear Crests, because in ancient
times they could not wear a helmet. We have, however, innumerable
instances of women bearing coats armorial ; a fact particularly
illustrated by their seals, which are still preserved : and here,
undoubtedly, is a gross inconsistency, for a woman was as incapable of
using a shield as of bearing a helmet.
The period when Crests were first introduced into
Britain cannot be ascertained. We find in a drawing of the thirteenth
century, relative to a military encounter of Ofia, there is a figure
with a kind of Crest on the helmet; and the same figure occurs again in
another transaction of that time. The great seal of Richard L, who died
A.D. 1199, first represents the English King with something on his
helmet resembling a plume of feathers. After this reign most of the
English Kings had crowns on their helmets. On that of Richard II., prior
to the year 1377, is a lion on a cap of state. On the helmet of Henry
IV. is his Crest, as also on the head of his horse.
Alexander III., who began to reign I 249, is the
first of the Scottish Kings who appears with a Crest: he has a flat
helmet with a square grated visor, and a Crest consisting of a plume of
feathers; a plume is likewise on the head of the horse. The helmet of
Robert I., who began to reign 1306, is found with a triangular grated
visor, a crown above it, and plumes on the horse's head. Ornaments are
on the head of Edward Baliol's horse, nearly of the same period. The
visor of David, the successor of Robert, is in front, but no Crest on
the helmet, nor have the two succeeding Kings any. James I., in the
beginning of the fifteenth century, has a lion on his helmet for a
Crest.
At the time the Royal Seal exhibited no Crest they
were common on those of subjects. It is affirmed that, before the year
1286, the Crest, accompanied by the mantlings and wreath, was known in
England. In 1292 there is a seal of Hugh le Despencer, with a warlike
figure on the helmet and horse's head. These figures are frequently to
be met with in the thirteenth century, but what they represented, or
what their utility was, is doubtful. There is a dragon on the helmet of
Thomas Earl of Lancaster, who was beheaded A.D. 1322. On the reverse is
a swan above the shield, just where a Crest should be, on the one, and
on the other a lion ; but whether they were designed for Crests, or for
figures on which the shield was hung, as was then usual, cannot be
positively said, for it was sometimes suspended from an eagle's back
around the neck, or hung on a tree.
The same may be said of Scottish Crests; though none
are on the great seal they are frequent on those of subjects. There is a
writing of great importance, dated 1371, to which many seals are
affixed, and most of them have a Crest. On a seal of the Earl of
Strathern, attached to a writing, 1320, is a shield placed between
eagles, so that the head of the bird appears above, like a Crest. The
helmet of Robert, Governor of Scotland, bears a lion, 1413; and the same
is on that of Murdac, his successor, both being Crests.
The chief sources from which Heraldic instruction is
to be derived are the seals which are appendages to ancient writings,
illuminated manuscripts, tombs, and buildings. Seals are the most
authentic, but proper illuminations probably afforded better
illustrations, because seals bear the armour only in a particular
character. It is also very probable that the same seal hath served for
several generations. Indeed, one of the most useful purposes to which
both Crests and armorial shields were applied, was in the seals affixed
to written instruments, as already intimated.
To a volume like the present, further preliminary
observations would be superfluous; we shall therefore close this brief
introduction with informing the reader that the objects of this work are
to encourage the study of this important branch of the Heraldic science;
to present as full a collection of Crests as the limits of the work will
admit; and to exhibit a large number of subjects, which for drawing and
engraving have never been equalled, and which will serve as a standard
of excellence for all future time.
29 ALWYNE ROAD,
LONDON, September 1883.
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