EdwardIV. is by Shakespeare made to say that he would bear Three fair shining Suns on his Target, from the time he is said to have seen Three Suns at one time. (Hen. VI. Part III. Act ii. Sc. i.)[262]
Monteagle.—Stanley, Baron of Monteagle, so entitled for his valour at Flodden Field, because his Ancestors bore an Eagle for their Crest. Vide Hon. Anglic, p. 109.
Carey.—In the Reign of Henry V. was held, at Smithfield, a Just between Robert Careyof the West, Son of Sir John Carey, Knight, and a Foreign Knight, of the Kingdom of Aragon. Carey vanquished the Aragonese, and took his Coat Armour in lieuof his own;viz."Argent, on a Bend Sable, Three Roses of the First:" which have ever since been borne by the name ofCarey, whose antient Coat was "Gules, a Chevron between Three Swans Proper, one whereof they still retain in their Crest[263]."
N. B. These are the Arms ofCarey; though, from the words "of the West," one would thinkCarewwas intended. But the account agrees with the Arms of ViscountFalkland.
CooperandCowper.—Cooper Earl of Shaftesbury bears Three Bulls: Cowper Earl Cowper does not.
"The Eagle and Child" having been adopted as the Crest of the Earl ofDerby, its Origin is a circumstance of no small curiosity.
Nothing is more common than for a Tenant or Dependant to take the Crest of his Lord or Chief for a Sign; which will account for the greatest part of the Bulls' Heads, Griffins,Falcons, Lions, Boars, &c. in the Kingdom. Thus from one quarter they straggled into different places, as those people who had occasion for Signs emigrated from their own Counties and Districts. Amongst these the Sign in question is one; and is to be found in various places that have no present connexion with the original, the Importer of such Device being, perhaps, long since dead. This, being the Crest or Cognizance of the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, it most probably was first used in Lancashire, and the parts contiguous, as a Sign.
I at first conceived it to be a fabulous affair; but find, from good and respectable authorities, that there is not only probable, but substantial History contained in it; as the major part of the Estate is derived to the Family from the Issue of the very Child in question. The first account of this matter I shall give from "A Survey of theIsle of Man[264]," of which theStanleyswere for several ages Kings and Lords, holding of theKings of England, by Grant of Henry IV. (anno 7), by Homage and the Service of a[265]Cast (of Falcons), payable on Coronations. TheStanleyswere Kings as much as any Tributary King whatsoever, making Laws, &c. They appeared on a certain day in Royal Array, sitting in a Chair, covered with a Royal Cloth and Cushions, with their Visage to the East; the Sword borne before them, with the point upwards; with their Barons, Knights, Squires, &c. about them. Such were the Descendants of the Child we are going to speak of more largely.
Sir John Stanley(temp. Richard II.) was a Knight of the greatest fame in matters of Chivalry; who, having been a great Traveller, was known for his prowess in most parts of Europe. On his return, he was followed by aFrenchman, who challenged the whole English Nation.Sir Johnaccepted his challenge, fought, and slew him in the presence of the King. This addition to his fame raised his reputation among the men, and procured him so much favour with theladies, that he attracted the particular attention of the Heiress of the Family ofLatham, who was young, rich, and beautiful.Sir John, with the true spirit of Errantry, declared it was for her he fought; and at length, contrary to the inclination of her Father, married the Lady.
Mr. Sacheverell then relates the story which gave birth to this appendage to the Armorial Bearing of theStanleyFamily. These are his words:
"The Lord ofLathamand his Lady, being Childless, as they were walking in the Park, heard a Child crying in an Eagle's nest: they immediately ordered their servants to search the Eyery, who presented them with a beautiful Boy, in rich swadling-cloaths. The good old lady looked upon it as a present sent from Heaven, ordered it to be carefully educated, and gave it the Surname ofLatham. He (the Child) was knighted by King Edward III. by the name of SirOskytel Latham, and left sole Heir of that vast estate. He had one daughter, namedIsabella, who by marriage brought the honoursofLathamandKnowsley, with many other Lordships, toSir John Stanley."
Mr. Sacheverell goes no further into the Story; and the Reader will be naturally inclined to know whose Child this was, and how it was conveyed into the Eagle's nest. For this we must have recourse to Sir William Dugdale[266], who relates the Story more circumstantially, and, as he says, upon credible tradition;viz.That aSir Thomas de Lathamhad a natural Son, calledOskytel, by an obscure woman, who lived near him; and, "having no Child by his Lady, he designed to adopt thisOskytelfor his Heir; but so that he himself might not be suspected to have been the Father. Observing, therefore, that an Eagle had built her Nest in a large spread oak within his Park at Lathom, he caused the Child in swadling cloaths to be privily conveyed thither; and (as a wonder) presently called forth his Wife to see it; representing to her, that, having no Issue, God Almighty had thus sent him a Male Child, and so preserved, that he looked uponit as a miracle; disguising the truth so artificially from her, that she forthwith took him (the Child) with great fondness into the house, educating him with no less affection than if she had been his natural Mother; whereupon he became Heir to that fair inheritance; and that, in token thereof, not only his Descendants, whilst the Male Line endured, but theStanleysproceeding from the said Isabel (the Heir Female), have ever since borne the Child in the Eagle's Nest, with the Eagle thereon, for their Crest.
Francis Bourgeois, Member of the Royal Academy, had leave from King George III. to wear the Polish Order "Merentibus." The Diploma is dated Warsaw, February 16, 1791. Ordered to be registered in the College of Arms.
Lewkenor.—Sir Lewis, Master of the Ceremonies; from one of the Hundreds of Lincolnshire, called ancientlyLevechenora[267].
Kempe.—The same asChampion. The Danish word[268].
Misenor.—FromMesonero, an Inn-keeper; Spanish.
Muncaster.—The old name of Newcastle upon Tyne; quasiMonk-Caster. The present name was perhaps taken on its being rebuilt.
Mease.—FromMeze, a messuage[269].
Hugesson.—CardinalHugezuncame over as the Pope's Legate, temp. Henry II.[270]
Dempster.—The Judges of the Isle of Man were called Deemsters[271].
Eldred.—There was an Archbishop of York of the name ofAldred, temp. William the Conqueror. Perhaps contracted fromAlured, the Latin of Alfred.
Brettell.—There is a Seignory in Normandy of the name of Bretteville. So we have corrupted the name ofFreschevilleintoFretwell.
Belassis.—Something of this name may be seen in Brady's History, p. 196.
Larpent.—From the French,L'Arpent;Arpentsignifying an acre. We drop the apostrophe.
Duppa.—De Uphaughand, by apostrophe,D'Uphaugh, according to Anthony Wood.
Firmin.—From St. Fermin in France.
Paliser.—An official name of such person or persons who had the care of the pales of a forest[272].
Ord.—Signifies a Promontory in the Highland; and, I presume, is Erse[273].
BownasandBonas.—Corrupted fromBuchan-Ness, the seat of the Earl of Errol[274].
Ridgeway.—A local term for the way of the ford, or passage over a stream.RydandRithsignifying a ford[275].
Fitzherbert.—It is written Filius-Herberti in very old deeds[276]. TheFincheswere calledFinch-Herbertformerly; which led Daniel Earl of Winchelsea to think he was related to the Fitzherberts. Thus Leland: "The Finches that be now, say, that theire propre name isHereberte; and that with mariage of the Finche-Heyre, they tooke the Finche's name, and were called Finche-Herebert, joining booth names[277]."
Herbertof Kent married the heiress of Finch, and took that name as a prefix, which they soon corrupted intoFitz-herbert. But the Fitzherberts were a family before theFincheswere fledged; and in old deeds the name is givenFilius Herberti.
Champernoun.—Devonshire: a corruption ofCampernulph, orDe Campo Arnulphi; called, says Camden,Champernoun[278].
Smelt.—Ralph Luvel (or Lovel) an ancestor of the Percivals, was, in the time of King Stephen, called alsoSimelt, for which no reason is given[279].
Names of Men, of Places, and Things, have changed, and by seeming corruption have come right again.
Thus, for Men.
TollemacheTalmashTollemacheLegardeLedgiardLegardeLytteltonLittletonLytteltonFauconbergFalconbridgeFauconberg[280]CholmondeleyCholmleyCholmondeleyOsbaldiston.OsbertonOsbaldiston.
I take this to be a local name, fromOsbaldistonin Lancashire, q.Osbald his Town. There is in YorkshireOsbaldwick, pronouncedOsberwick. It should beOswald, a Bishop of York and Martyr, in both cases.
We have the nameBernardiston, from a place of the name in Suffolk[281].
Robertsbridge, in Sussex, appears to be a corruption ofRothersbridge, as it was long called, and with plausibility; for it is situated on the riverRother: but the former is the truth, as I have been informed that in old Latin deeds it is styledPons Roberti.
There are some terms which, by a double corruption, have got home again; asCrevisses, in Derbyshire; whereCrevise, the word for aCray-fish, is a corruption: but it gets home by it; for the French word from whencecray-fishwas first formed, isecrevisse. This too is the radical word; for the lobster is but a species of it, and calledl'ecrevisse de mer, orsea-cray-fish; what is now called the sea-cray-fish, is properly the lobster. This difference consists in the want of claws.
OR,
An Attempt to Elucidate some of the more Obscure Armorial Bearings, principally theMottoesused by many of the Scottish Families.
In a Letter to the Earl ofLeicester, President of the Society of Antiquaries,
"Arma Viramque."
There seems to be something peculiarly significant and quaint in the greatest part of the Mottoes and Devices used by the Scottish Nobility, and perhaps in those of many Families of inferior Rank; though these last do not so easily come under our observation.
My intention is, to trouble your Lordship with my thoughts on a few of these Mottoes (as we call them); and refer to your extensive knowledge in the science of Heraldry, and your love of investigation, for the rest of these obscure impreses.
We must, however, distinguish between the Motto and theSlug horn(or, as Sir George Mackenzie gives it, upon the moreSouthern pronunciation,Slogan[282]); the latter being acry de guerre, whereas the former (though one may sometimes answer both purposes) seems more to relate to some historical circumstance by which the Family have been signalized. The original idea of these words, I have no doubt, related to War, and operated as what we now call the Watch-Word, and more emphaticallythe Wordby the circulation of which the King can, at this day, call his guards about him, as the Chiefs of Scotland formerly assembled their Vassals in their respective divisions or clans. The French call it aMot; and the Italians, by an augmentation,Motto; which last we have adopted when we speak in an heraldic style. The true Scottish term is aDitton, theSlughornbeing properly thecry de Guerre. Not to go into the antiquity of Mottoes, or Armory, further than the subject in question shall lead me, I shall content myself with observing that Armorial Bearings in general, with us in England, have littlemore than the fancy of the party, with Heraldic sanction, for their foundation; or some distant allusion to the name. Take one singular instance of this last case, which Mr. Boyer (in his Theatre of Honour) gives, as a whimsical bearing. The Arms of the name ofMatthiasare three Dice (sixes as the highest throw), having, I make no doubt (though Mr. Boyer gives no reason for it), a reference to the election of St. Matthias into the Apostleship: "And the lot fell upon Matthias." One of the writers in the Antiquarian Discourses (Mr. Agarde) thinks the old Motto of theCaves, of Stanford, in Northamptonshire, a happy conceit; the ancient Crest being a Grey-hound currant, with a label issuing out of its mouth, with these words, "Adsum; Cave." Had theCavèstood alone, without the Dog or theAdsum, it might have been very well, and have operated religiously, morally, or politically: but otherwise the Dog seems to run away with the Wit. The Family, since Mr. Agarde's time, appear to have been sensible of this awkward compound, and have adoptedthe French wordGardezfor the Motto; though I think they had better have kept theCavè(as I have observed), and hanged the Grey-hound; though perhaps it was conceived at the time theAdsumwas dropped, that Ca-vè, in the Latin, might be confounded with the English,Cave; and that it would have appeared as if they had taken the name for the Motto, without another Latin word to denote that language; and therefore might takeGardez, which shews itself to be French.
Mr. Agarde's own Motto is much more apposite to his name; which, he tells us at the end of his Memoir, was,Dieu me Garde; but at the same time this would have admitted of improvement; for the French verbGarderwas originallyAgarder, which, had he known it, would have enabled him to have made the pun complete—Dieu m'Agarde.
Before I quit the subject in general, I cannot help mentioning abon motof a friend of mine (and he has so much wit that I shall not rob him in the least by the repetition), on his visiting Chatsworth, to see the house. TheMotto of the noble owner is, as your Lordship well knows,Cavendo Tutus, to which the Family has happily adhered in their Political concerns. The state rooms in that house are floored with old oak, waxed, and very slippery, in consequence of which my friend had very near fallen down; when, recovering his equilibrium, he observed, "that he rather supposed the Motto related to the floors than the name."
But it is time to lead to the matter I proposed,viz.theScottish Mottoes; and yet, before I proceed to them, I wish to premise something on the grounds of a few of theArmorial Bearingsamong the most ancient Scottish Families, which have originated from History.
The principal Family of the name ofDouglas
carries "A Man's Heart Gules," as a fixed principal Charge, because the Good Sir James Douglas, as he is styled, carried the Heart ofKing Robert I. (of the name of Bruce) to Jerusalem, and there interred it[283]. The original Coat Armour of Douglas was, "Azure, in chief Three Stars Argent[284]." The Heart is now imperially crowned; but that is a later introduction[285], not borne at least by those who merely quartered the Arms.
Campbell,
Duke of Argyle, Marquis of Lorn, &c. bears in the Second and Third Quarters (for the Lordship of Lorn) a Feudal Charge of "Or, a Limphad (or small Ship) Sable, with Flames of Fire issuing out of the Top of the Mast, and from the Fore and Hindermost Parts of the Ship:" which Fire, says my Author, was called in old blazonry St. Anthony's Fire. The reason is, that, as the Territory lay upon the Coast, this Bearing was indicative of the Tenure by which the Lands were held in capite;viz. by supplying a Ship with twenty Oars in time of War, ifrequired. TheReddendumruns, for the provision of "Unam navem viginti Remorum, si petatur, tempore Belli, &c."[286]
By Marriage, this Lordship, after many generations, came into the Family of Campbell, then Earl of Argyle; but, in process of time, the Flames issuing from the Ship have been extinguished.
This was not an uncommon Armorial Appendage to other Feudal Lords, and Lordships similarly situated.
Thus the Arms of the Isle of Arran are, "Argent, a Ship, with its Sails furled, Sable."
The Earls of Orkney and Caithness have the Bearing of a Ship for the like reason; being Lordships, or Feudal Earldoms, situate on the Coast; but with Differences.
The Earl of Orkney (and from thence the Earl of Caithness) bears a Ship of a more modern form, with three Masts; but it has the honour of being within a double Tressure, counter-fleured, to shew its connexion with Royalty.
Drummond
carries, "Or, Three Bars wavy Gules." This simple Bearing, we are told, involves a Piece of History; for that an Hungarian Gentleman, of the name of Maurice, in the Reign of Malcolm III. had the command of a Ship in which Edgar Atheline, his Mother Agatha, and his Sisters Margaret and Christian, were embarked, in their return from England to Hungary. A Storm arose, and drove them on the Coast of Scotland, where they were landed in the Frith of Forth, and entertained by the King, who afterwards married Margaret. This Maurice so ingratiated himself with King Malcolm, that he was solicited by the King to settle in Scotland, which he did, and had grants of many Lands; and particularly those at Drymen or Drummond, of which last he took the name. Drummond, as we must now call him, was afterwards appointed Seneschal of Lenox; and the King assigned him the above Arms, alluding to his original Profession of a Naval Officer, and in memory of his having conducted thethen Queen safe through the Storm into the Port in Scotland[287].
Seton Earl of Winton.
The Paternal Arms of Seton, afterwards Earls of Winton, wereCrescents, for which no particular reason appears: but the Lords of Seton have for some hundreds of years carried, "Or, a Sword erected in pale, supporting an Imperial Crown Proper, betwixt Three Crescents within a Double Tressure, counter-fleured, Gules." This honourable Augmentation was granted by Robert the Bruce to his Nephew Sir Alexander Seton, of that Ilk, for the special and seasonable services performed by him and his Father Sir Christopher to that Monarch during the time of his troubles. Sir Christopher Seton, it seems, had lost two Estates of great value, one in Scotland, the other in England, togetherwith his Life, in the Service of his King and Country; upon which account King Robert (whose Sister, Christian Bruce, Sir Christopher had married), when he had overcome his Enemies, restored his Nephew, Sir Alexander Seton, to the Lands in Scotland which his Father had lost, though he could not re-possess him of the English Estate; granted the Augmentation of theSword and Crownto his Paternal Coat-Armour, to perpetuate their gallant Actions; and added the Double Tressure, which at that time was given to none but such as had married, or were descended from, Daughters of the Blood-Royal[288]. One branch of the Family,viz.Sir Alexander Seton of Pitwedden (at one time a Lord of Session), upon the event of the death of his Father, who, in the Reign of King Charles I. (during the Civil Commotions) was killed by a Shot from the King's Enemies, with a Banner in his hand, assumed the Armorial Bearing of "An Heart distilling Drops of Blood[289]."
These, my Lord, I offer in the line ofNobility, as Historical Bearings; but many may likewise be found among theGentry, who have Armorial Devices allusive to gallant actions, high employments, or other honourable circumstances.
Of those, the few that follow, most easily occur, from the works of that laborious Herald, Mr. Alexander Nisbet.
Graham
of Inchbrackie, descended of an eldest Son, of a second Marriage, of the first Earl of Montrose, gives, "Or, a Dyke [or Wall] fess-wise, Azure, broken down in several parts, &c." The Dyke there is assumed, to difference the Bearer from his Chief, and to perpetuate that action of Gramus (one of the Predecessors of the noble Family of Graham) in pulling down the Wall [anno 420] built by the Roman Emperor Severus, which was thereafter called "Graham's Dyke."
N. B. By the Dyke the Scots seem to mean the Wall,i.e.the Vallum, which is formed out of the Dyke.
Clark
of Pennycuik. Sir John Clark, of Pennycuik, had this Motto, "Free for a Blast," which is explained in part by the Crest, which is a Man blowing a Horn: but for both the Crest itself, and the Motto, we must look into the Tenure of the Estate, which they derived, most probably by Marriage, from the Pennycuiks of that Ilk, an old Family in Mid-Lothian, who bore "Or, a Fess between Three Hunting Horns Sable, stringed Gules;" and, by the ancient Tenure of their Lands, were obliged, once a year, to attend in the Forest of Drumsleich, since called Barrowmuir, to give a Blast of a Horn at the King's Hunting.
TheClarks, holding by the same Tenure, preserved the Motto.
Kirkpatrick,
who gave the last Blow to Cummin, supposed to have been slain, cried out, "Lest he should not be quite dead,I will secure him," and stabbed him with his Dagger. Hence the Family took the Crest of "AHand holding a Dagger in Pale, distilling Drops of Blood;" and with the Motto "I'll make sicker (sure);" or, "I'll make sure."[290]
Carrick.
Stewart, Earl of Carrick. The Paternal Arms of Stewart, out of which was aLion naissant, all within a Double Tressure, counter-fleured Gules: the Lion naissant intimating his original right to the Crown[291].
Farquharson,
of Invercald, carries, in addition to his Paternal Coat, "Argent, a Fir Tree growing out of a Mount Proper on a Chief Gules,—the Banner of Scotland in Bend, and on a Canton of the first (viz.Or), a Dexter Hand couped at the wrist, grasping a Dagger, point downwards, Gules." Mr. Nisbet says[292], they carried the Fir Trees because their Country abounded with such Trees; the Hand grasping a Dagger, forkilling the Cumming; and the Banner is lately added, because the Grand-father of the present John Farquharson (1702) was killed at the Battle of Pinkie, carrying the Banner of Scotland.
Wood.
The Chiefs of this name have given Trees in different forms; but Wood of Largoe placed his Tree between Two Ships under sail, as Admiral to King James III. and IV. in whose reigns he defeated the English with an inferior Force. Another Branch of the Family gave a Hunting-horn hanging upon the Branch of a Tree, to shew he was the King's Forester[293].
Forbes,
of Watertown, charges his Coat with an "Escocheon Argent, a Sword and Key in Saltire Gules," as being Constable of Aberdeen: and for a Difference from the Grays, places a Quill or Pen in the Paw of the Lion in the Arms of Gray, because his Ancestor was Sheriff's Clerk of Angus[294].
John Ramsay,
descended of the Ramsays of Wylicleuch in the Merss, who was Page to King James VI. thereafter Earl of Holdernesse, got for addition to his Paternal Bearing, "An Arm holding a naked Sword enfilé of a Crown, with a Man's Heart on the point," because he rescued King James VI. from the Conspiracy of the Earl of Gowrie and his Confederates. The Paternal Coat was, "Argent, an Eagle displayed Sable."[295]These are what the Scottish Heralds call "Arms of Special Concession."[296]
Ayton,
of Kippo. This Family bears "A Baton Peri Or, couped;" which, Mr. Nisbet says, is an uncommon Bearing for a younger legitimate Son, it being a mark of Bastardy by its position; but he tells us, the Baton of this description, and thus borne, was granted to Sir John Ayton of Kippo, Knight, by King Charles II. as an Augmentation, because he had been Gentleman Usher of the Black Rodto that King. Upon the Family Coat he therefore carried "A Baton Sable, charged on the top with one of the Lions of England."
Stirling,
of Glorat, carries "Argent, on a Bend engrailed Azure, Three Buckles Or; a Chief Gules, charged with a Naked Arm issuing out of a Cloud from the Sinister side, grasping a Sword in pale, and therewith guarding an Imperial Crown; all within a double Tressure, counterfleured of Thistles Vert." Which honourable Addition was granted to this Family for special Services done to King Charles I. and King Charles II. in their Troubles.
Binning,
of Easter Binning, a Cadet of Binning of that Ilk, who carried "Argent, a Bend engrailed Sable," added, for Difference, on the Bend, a Waggon of the first, because he and his seven Sons went in a Waggon covered with Hay, and surprised and took the Castleof Linlithgow, then in the possession of the English, in the Reign of David the Bruce[297].
Lockart.
This Name now bears a Man's Heart Proper, within a Padlock Sable, in perpetuation, they tell you, that one of the Name accompanied the good Sir James Douglas to Jerusalem, with the Heart of King Robert the Bruce. Be that as it may, it is intended to play upon the Name; and, to preserve the Story the more entire, some Branches of the Family have strengthened it by the Motto, "Corda serata Pando" [some have it, Fero]. These Devices are differently placed by different Branches; but Mr. Nisbet insinuates[298]that this Bearing is an assumption of a modern date; and that the old Arms were, till within a century before he wrote [1702], "Three Boars' Heads erazed; the Crest, a Dexter Hand holding a Boar's Head erazed, Proper; the Motto, 'Feroci Fortior.'"
Norfolk.
The Duke of Norfolk has an augmentation,viz.anEscocheon Or, in the middle of the Bend, charged with aDemi-LionRampant,pierced through the Mouth with an Arrow, within a double Tressure counterfleur'd Gules; which was granted by King Henry VIII. for his services at the Battle of Flodden Field[299].
Besides these and many other Bearings, not at this day easily, if at all, to be accounted for, the Scots have, like ourselves, several that are responsive to the Name. Of these I have selected the few which follow, and have given their material Charge, without attending to the Colours, or to the Blazonry of the whole. Thus
Cockburnhas a Charge of Three Cocks.
CrawandCraufurd, Three Crows[300].
Fraser, Three Frases or Cinquefoils.
Falconer, a Falcon.
Forester, Three Bugle Horns; and the Peer of that Name and Title has for his Motto, "Blow, Hunter, thy Horn."
Heart, Three Men's Hearts.
Hog, Three Boars' Heads.
Justice, A Sword in Pale, supporting a Balance.
Skene, Three Daggers, in the Scottish Language called Skenes.
The Motto ofDalziel, Earl ofCarnwarth, now an attainted Title, is, "I Dare;" the reason of which is given by Crawfurd, in his Peerage of Scotland. The ancient armorial bearing of this Family was,A Man hanging on a Gallows, though it is now only a Naked Man with his Arms expanded. Some one of the Family having, perhaps, dropped the Gallows and the Rope, as deeming it an ignominious Bearing.
But to proceed to the Motto. The Historian says, that a Favourite of Kenneth II. having been hanged by the Picts, and the King being much concerned that the Body should be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large Reward to him who would rescue the Body. Alpinus, the Father of Kenneth, with many of his Nobles, had been inhumanly put to death; and the Head of the King (Alpinus), placed upon a Pole, was exposed to the Populace. It was not for the redemption of his Father's Body, that the new King, Kenneth, offered the Reward; but for that of some young Favourite, perhaps of equal age, who was thus ignominiously hanging as a public spectacle, for the King appears to have been beheaded.[301]This being an enterprize of great danger, no one was found bold enough to undertakeit, till a Gentleman came to the King and said, "Dal Ziel,"i.e."I Dare," and accordingly performed the hazardous exploit. In memory of this circumstance, the Family took the above-mentioned Coat-Armour, and likewise the Name ofDalziel, with the interpretation of it, "I Dare," as a Motto. The Maiden Name (as I may call it) of this Family is not recorded, neither is the original Coat Armour of the Gentleman mentioned. These circumstances are related by Crawfurd, upon the authority of Mr. Nisbet, in his Marks of Cadency, p. 41.
Occasional changes in Coats of Arms, it is very well known, have always been common, owing to accidents and incidents, as well as atchievements, several instances of which may be seen in Camden's Remains.
Similar to the case of Dalziel, is the reason given for the Motto ofMaclellan, Lord Kircudbright, which is, "Think on." Crawfurd's account is to this effect. A Company of Saracens, from Ireland, in the Reign of King James II. infested the County of Galloway, whereupon the King issued a Proclamation,declaring that "Whoever should disperse them, and bring their Captain, dead or alive, should have the Barony of Bombie for his reward." This was performed by the Son of the Laird of Bombie, who brought the Head of the Captain, on the Point of his Sword, to the King, who put him into the immediate possession of the Barony; to perpetuate which action, the Baron took for his Crest a Moor's Head, on the Point of a Sword, with the words "Think on," for his Motto.
It may be difficult to ascertain the meaning of these words; and one is at liberty either to suppose he addressed them to the King on the occasion, as if he had said "Think on your Promise:"—or they may apply to Posterity, advising them to Think on the gallant Action whereby they became ennobled: but I more incline to the former interpretation, because, in Yorkshire, which abounds with Scottish idioms, words, and proverbs, they say, "I will do so and so when I think on;" and "I would have done so and so, but I did not think on," Our expression is, "Think of it."
Maxwell, of Calderwood, has the same Motto, on a different idea. TheCrestis "A Man's Head looking upright," to which theMottoseems to give a religious interpretation, and to imply, "Think on"Eternity[302].
A similar change appears to have been brought about, by religious attachments, in theCrestandMottoofBannerman, which seems to extend to the rest of the Armorial Bearings. Sir Alexander Bannerman of Elsick, the chief, bore, "Gules, a Banner displayed Argent, and thereon a Canton Azure, charged with a St. Andrew's Cross. Crest, a Demi-Man in Armour, holding in his Right Hand a Sword Proper. Motto,Pro Patriâ." This Bearing is by Grant, 1692; but a younger Son of this House bore (when Mr. Nisbet wrote) the Field and Banner as above, "within a Bordure Argent, charged with Four Buckles Azure, and as many Holly-Leaves Vert, alternately." Buckles, in certain case we shall see hereafter, admit of a religious interpretation, and the Holly-Leaves (quasiHoly-Leaves), seem to have a similar import, especially when added to the new Crest,viz. "A Man issuing out of the Wreath in a Priest's habit, and praying posture," with this Motto, "Hæc prestat Militia[303]." This change might possibly take place about the enthusiastic time of the Union of the two Kingdoms, when religious party spirit ran high in Scotland[304].
Ross, Lord Ross, has the same Motto as Dalziel Earl of Carnwath; but on what pretensions does not appear.
I shall now proceed to another conjectural interpretation, as to the Motto of LordNapier; which is, "Ready, aye Ready." Sir Alexander Napier was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field (1513), leaving Issue Alexander, who married Margaret, the Daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, ancestor of the Earls of Breadalbine. The Motto, or rather, perhaps, Slug-Horn, of theLaird of Glenorchy, was, "Follow me." On this marriage, therefore, I am led to believe that Alexander Napier might take the responsive Slug-Horn of "Ready, aye Ready," as if he had said, "always ready to follow you." This may, perhaps,primâ facie, appear too hypothetical; but it is grounded upon the authority of a Friend, a Native of Scotland, who once told me that the Mottoes of the Lairds often had a reference to that of their Chief.
Something like this appears in the Motto ofFraser, late Lord Lovat, which is, "I am Ready." That Family is descended from a younger Branch, the elder having ended in Daughters. They had for their Ancestor, in the Female line, the Sister of King Robert I.; and the Motto seems, if not responsive, at least expressive of Loyalty.
This sort of Motto seems to prevail in the Family ofDouglas. That of the elder Branches is, "Forward;" to which the younger Branches reply, "Jamais Arrière," which may, perhaps, be best translated by the vulgar Scottish expression, "Hard at your Back."
The Motto ofHay, Earl ofErrol, which is, "Serva Jugum," deserves our particular attention; and is founded on a well-attested historical fact, related to this effect by Mr. Crawfurd. In the Reign of Kenneth III. (anno 980), when the Danes invaded this Island, and gave Battle to the Scots, whom they had routed at the Village of Loncarty, near Perth, a certain Husbandman of the name of Hay, who was tilling his Land, perceived his Countrymen flying before the Enemy; when he and his two Sons, arming themselves with their Plough-gear, the old Man having the Yoke of the Oxen for his own Weapon, upbraided the Scots for their Cowardice, and, after much difficulty, persuaded them to rally. They accordingly, under the Command of this unexpected Leader and his Sons, armed with Yokes and Plough-shares, renewed the Engagement; when the Danes, supposing their Enemy had received a reinforcement, fled in their turn. The King, in reward for this uncommon Service, advancedHayto the Rank of Noblesse, and gave him as muchLand as a Falcon, let loose from the Fists, should compass at one flight. The lucky Bird, says Dr. Abercrombie, seemed sensible of the merits of those that were to enjoy it; for she made a circuit of seven or eight miles long, and four or five broad; the limits of which are still extant. This Tract of Ground, continues my Author, being calledErrol, the Family took from thence its designation, or title.
To these circumstances the Armorial Bearings of the Family have very strong allusions; for the Supporters are Two Labourers with each a Yoke on his Shoulder; the Crest is a Falcon; and the Motto "Serva Jugum." The Coat Armour likewise is, Argent, Three Escocheons Gules; or, to speak in the language of noble Blazonry, Pearl, Three Escutcheons Ruby; to intimate that the Father and his Two Sons had been the three fortunate Shields by which Scotland had been defended and saved.
Another Branch of the Family (Hay, Earl ofKinnoul,) gives the same Coat, with a Bordure for difference; the Supportersare likewise Two Husbandmen, the one having a Plough-share, and the other a Pick, or Spade, upon his Shoulder. The Yoke is preserved in the Crest, upon the Shoulder of a Demi-Man, from the waist upwards; and the Motto seems to refer to the rallying of the Scottish Army in these words, "Renovate Animos."
Buchanan, further tells us, with regard to the modesty of these unexpected Conquerors, that, when they were brought to the King, rich and splendid Garments were offered to them, that they might be distinguished in a Triumphal Entry which was to be made into the Town of Perth; but the old Man rejected them with a decent contempt; and, wiping the dust from his ordinary Clothes, joined the Procession, with no other distinction than the Yoke upon his shoulder, preceded and followed by the King's Train. More minute circumstances of this extraordinary Victory, obtained, after a palpable Defeat, at the instigation of one obscure Man, are related by Buchanan, to whom I refer your Lordship; and you will find it equal to any instance wehave of Roman Virtue, and theAmor Patriæ, so much boasted of among the Ancients.
Lloyd, in his Worthies, among his observations on the Life of James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, tells us a chimerical story, but on what authority I do not discover; after having mentioned slightly the above fact, that James Hay, 600 years afterwards, "saved the King of that Country from the Gowries at their House with a Cultre (or Plough-share) in his hand;" and that he had as much Land assigned him as he could ride round in two days. It does not appear from the accounts we have of the Gowry conspiracy, that any person of the name of Hay was concerned; but rather that this story has been confounded with the other, because, according to Dr. Abercrombie's account, the Land over which the Falcon flew in the first case, was in a part of Scotland known by the name of Gowry.
Conyngham, Earl ofGlencairn, has this very singular Motto, "Over Fork Over,"alluding to the principal Charge upon the Shield, which is the rude and ancient Hay-Fork, called in Scotland a Shake-Fork, and is in shape not unlike the Roman letter Y.
This Bearing, some of their Heralds tell us, was official, because, they say, the Family had been Hereditary Masters of the King's Horses and Stables, of which employment this instrument was indicative. Such official Charges and Sur-charges were common in Scotland: thus,Carnegie, Earls of Southesk, charge the Breast of their Blue Eagle with a Cup of Gold, being Hereditary Cup-Bearers to the Kings of Scotland. But this will not hold good as to theConynghams; though their Sur-charge of a Man on Horseback upon the Shake-Fork may perhaps be such an official Bearing. Different conjectures have been brought forward; and Mr. Camden and some others have interpreted the Fork to have been an Archiepiscopal Pall; for which surmise a very vague reason is given, viz. that an Ancestor of the Family was concerned in the Murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Which Bearing,Mr. Nisbet observes, would in such case operate rather as an abatement than a badge of honour[305]. This conjecture, however, will not hold good on heraldic principles; for a Pall, when used as a Charge, is very differently represented, the three ends of it being square, and even touching the borders of the Escocheon; whereas the device before us is pointed at the ends, and does not come in contact with the edges of the Shield. But what has the Pall to do with the Motto? We must therefore advert to other circumstances for an interpretation of both the reason of the Armorial Bearing and the Motto, which generally assist to explain each other. The account which comes nearest the point in the present question is given by Mr. Nisbet from Frederick Van Bassen, a Norwegian, who, he says, was a good Genealogist, and left in MS. an account of the rise of some Scottish Families, and among the rest of this of Conyngham;from which MS. Mr. Nisbet gives this account—"that Malcome, the Son of Friskine, assisting Prince Malcom (afterwards surnamed Canmore) to escape from Macbeth's tyranny, and being hotly pursued by the Usurper's Men, was forced at a place to hide his Master by forking Straw or Hay above him. And after, upon that Prince's happy accession to the Crown, he, the King, rewarded his Preserver Malcome with the Thanedom of Cunnigham, from which he and his Posterity have their Surname, and took this Figure to represent the Shake-Fork with which he, Malcome, forked Hay or Straw above the Prince, to perpetuate the happy deliverance their Progenitor had the good fortune to give to their Prince." Admitting this to be a fact, or even a legendary tale, credited by the Family when this Bearing was granted or assumed, there is an affinity between the Device and the Motto not to be found among the other conjectures.
There is another Family where the true Armorial Ensigns are illustrated by the Motto;viz.the Arms ofBailieof Lanington,which have often been blazoned as Nine Mullets or Spurrials (or 3, 3, 2, and 1); whereas it is evident they were Stars from the Motto, which is, "Quid clarius Astris?"
I make no doubt there are many others of a like kind to be found, arising from inattention or ignorance. It has been observed, that the Shake-Fork is now much obscured by an Armed Man on Horseback within an Inescocheon, which is supposed to allude to the Hereditary Office of Master of the Horse; though whether this was the case, or whether that Bearing came by alliance, may be doubtful; for Mr. Crawfurd, in his Peerage, does not give it as a part of the Family Coat of Conyngham in 1716; though the more modern Peerages have it. The shape of the Fork is more discernible in the Arms of Conyngham, Peers of Ireland, where it is not covered by a Sur-charge. The meaning of the name is local,Konyng-Ham; i.e.The King's Village or Habitation; which Etymon has been so long obscured by age, that the Lion Office, on granting Supporters to the Family, have given Two Rabbits,or Conies. The Irish Branch has different Supporters;viz.a Horse and a Buck; though it preserves the Motto.
The Earl ofTraquairhas for his Motto "Judge noucht;" though there is nothing in his Armorial Bearings to which it can allude. One is therefore to look for some event interesting to the Family to ground it upon, which probably was this: Sir John Stewart, first created Baron, and afterwards Earl, of Traquair, by King Charles I. was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, anno 1635, and remained a firm friend to the Royal Cause to the last. His adherence to it, however, drew on him the resentment of the opposite party, insomuch that he was, 1641, impeached of High Treason, and found guilty; but the Parliament submitted his punishment to the King, who ordered him a Pardon under the Great Seal, the Preamble to which sets forth the King's high opinion of his abilities and his integrity in the discharge of his duty. Upon this transaction, it seems morethan possible that the Earl, alluding to the rash and cruel treatment he had received from the Parliament for his loyalty to the King, might assume the Motto "Judge noucht;" the complement of which, we all know, is, "That ye be not judged."
Johnston, Marquis ofAnnandale.—The modernMottois "Nunquam non paratus;" but in the originalMottothere is History, which connects with other parts of the Bearing. TheCrestis "A winged Spur," and one of theSupportersis "A Horse furnished." TheCrestwas taken, because theJohnstonswere often Wardens of the West Borders, and active in suppressing Thieves and Plunderers, who infested them during the Wars between England and Scotland; whence was derived the originalMotto, "Alight Thieves all;" commanding, either by their authority or prowess, those Thieves to surrender. TheHorseas aSupporteralludes to the same circumstance, or might be considered as a Bearing of Conquest,from aHorsetaken from some famous Marauder[306].
The Johnstons of Westrow, or Westerhall, have a different principal Bearing in their Arms;viz."A Man's Heart, ensigned with an Imperial Crown proper, in base," being part of the Arms of Douglas, in memory of the apprehension of Douglas Earl of Ormond, when in rebellion against James II.[307]
Hamilton, Duke ofHamilton.—Motto, "Through." This Motto is older than the Nobility of the Family, if my conjecture be true; as it seems to have originated from a circumstance which happened in the Reign of the Scottish King, Robert I. in England, at the Court of our King Edward II. Battles, sieges, &c. had been maintained, with various success, between the two Kings, for a long time. During these animosities Sir Gilbert Hamilton, an Englishman, happening to speak in praise of the intrepidity of Robert I. King of Scots, one of the DeSpencers (John, Mr. Crawfurd says,) who was of King Edward's Bed-chamber, drew his falchion, and wounded him. Sir Gilbert, more concerned at the contumely than at the wound, and being prevented at the moment from resenting it; yet when he met his antagonist the next day in the same place, ran himthroughthe body. On this he immediately fled for protection to the King of Scots, who gave him lands and honours for this bold vindication of his valour[308].
The Motto ofMurray, now Duke ofAthol, is, "Furth, Fortune, and fill the Fetters;" but it was originally given to JohnStewart, Earlof Athol, and came to the Family of Murray by an intermarriagewith the Heiress of Stewart. The firstEarlof Athol of the name ofStewartwas constituted Lieutenant to King James III. (1457); and for his defeating, and bringing to submission, Mac-Donald, Lord of the Isles, who had rebelled, he had a special grant of several lands, and the above Motto added to his Arms[309], which seems to mean,Go forth, be successful, and fill the Fetters with the Feet of all other rebellious Subjects; for I understand "Fortune" to be a verb, and chosen probably for the sake of the alliteration. One appendage to the Arms ofMurray, probably received from Stewart, has an allusion to the Motto; for the Supporter, on the Sinister side, is a Savage, with his Feet in Fetters.
Seton, Earl ofWinton(attainted). The original Motto ofLordSeton was "Invia Virtuti Via nulla;" but another was assumed by the firstEarl, alluding to an additional charge which he took, by grant Ipresume, when he was created into that dignity with great pomp (1601) at Holy-Rood House. To the originalSwordand ImperialCrownwhich he bore in an Inescocheon with a Tressure, was added a Blazing Star of Twelve Points, with this new Motto, "Intaminatis fulget honoribus[310]," expressive of the unshaken Loyalty of the Family, which the last Peer unhappily forgot, and forfeited in the Rebellion 1715.
The Slughorn of the Family isSet on[311], which, by amplification, I apprehend, meansSet upon your Enemy, as an incitement to ardour; and is rather analogous to the MottoThink on, of the LordKirkcudbright, before-mentioned.
Bruce, Earl ofElgin. This, and other Branches of that ancient and once Kingly Family, has, for its Motto, "Fuimus," alluding strongly to their having been formerly in possession of the Crown of Scotland.The Crest is likewise denotative of Royal pretensions,viz."A Hand holding a Sceptre." Something, however, is worth observing in several of the subordinate Branches, more distant from the original Stock, where one may discern the gradual dispirited declension of the Family, in point of Regal claims. One private House, indeed, bears the Lion Rampant in the Arms, and likewise the Crest, and the Motto of the Peer. Another descendant drops the Lion in the Arms, and only bears for Crest, "A Hand holding a Sword," with this modest Motto, "Venture forward." A third seems to give up all for lost, by the Crest,viz."A Setting Sun," with this Motto, "Irrevocable;" while a fourth appears to relinquish a Temporal for the hope of an Eternal Crown, by this Motto, "Spes mea supernè."[312]
Gordon, Duke ofGordon. The primitive Bearing of this Family was, "Azure, a Boar's Head couped, Or;" though at present it carries "Azure,ThreeBoars Heads couped, Or." The first is the more honourable Charge, as the Unit is always accounted in Heraldry preferable to Numbers, not only on account of its simplicity[313], but in a religious sense (often couched in Armory), as it betokens God the Father, while the Charge of Three has the like reference to the Trinity. The traditional story, however, relating to the particular Coat Armour before us, is told by Douglas, in his Peerage of Scotland, to this effect;viz.that in the Reign of King Malcolm Canmore, in the eleventh century, a valiant Knight, of the name ofGordon, came into Scotland, but from whence is not said, and was kindly received by that Prince. The Knight, not long afterwards, killed a WildBoar, which greatly infested the Borders[314], when Malcolmgave him a grant of lands in the Shire of Berwick. These lands, according to the custom of those times, the Knight calledGordon, after his own name, and settled upon them, taking aBoar'sHead for his Armorial Ensign, in memory of his having killed "that monstrous animal[315]." Thismay seem a trivial reason in itself, but we have another similar tradition in the Arms of Forbes[316].
In process of time the Gordons, according to the practice in Heraldry, increased the number ofBoars Headstothree, two and one; and thus they continue to be borne at this day, with proper differences; one of which, being particular, I shall mention,viz.Gordon,EarlofAboyne. The reference contained in the Motto of this Branch seems merely to be confined to theCheveronplaced between theBoars Heads, in these words, "Stant cætera Tigno," which last word is the acknowledged Latin word for theCheveron[317]. This is, perhaps, the greatest compliment ever paid to theCheveron, which is accounted one of the humblest Charges known, in Heraldic language, by the name of Ordinaries.
Thus much for the Arms of theDuke of Gordon, and for what has been said both ofthe Arms and Motto of the Earl of Aboyne; but the Motto of the Ducal Branch of the Family is yet unaccounted for, which is "Bydand." This, I make no doubt, is a compound word, and of no little antiquity; and I take the resolution of it to be, by contraction,Byde th' End, with the letter D in the place of the TH; for the Glossarist to some ancient Scottish Poems, published from the MSS. of George Bannatyne, at Edinburgh, 1770, p. 247, renders the wordBidand, pendente Lite. See also the Glossary, ad calcem. As to its import, it may refer to Family transactions, in two points of view;viz.either to loyal or religious attachments. In support of the first, we find that Sir Adam Gordon was a strenuous asserter of the claims of the Bruces, and peculiarly active in the cause of King Robert I. (in that long contest), who accordingly rewarded him with a large grant of land, sufficient to secure his interest, and make himbyde the endof the contest as a feudatory under that King. The Son and Grandson of Sir Adam were both faithful to the interest of theBruces, and had the above grant confirmed by King David II.[318]If this is not satisfactory, we have instances of acts of piety done by the early Branches of this Family, sufficient to warrant the Motto on the interpretation here given; for in the Reign of Malcolm IV. the Family had large possessions, part of which they devoted to religious purposes, by considerable endowments and benefactions given to the Abbey of Kelso[319].
I incline, however, more strongly to the military sense of the Motto; and the more, as it is borne by other Families, manifestly with that reference, though I cannot account for the connexion of the two Houses. Thus, for instance,Leith, in one Branch, has for the Motto, "Semper Fidus;" in another, "Trusty to the End;" and in a third, "Trusty and Bydand;" in this last, I think the contraction of the last word, as above suggested, is more clearly established[320].
In these Mottoes ofLeith, it must be confessed there is more appearance of a religious application than in that of the Duke ofGordon, as the Armorial Bearings are partly compounded of Cross-Croslets, and the Crest of the first is likewise a Turtle-dove.
Elphinston, LordElphinston; has for his Motto "Caus Causit[321]," or, as written by Mr. Nisbet, "Cause caused it."[322]
In Almon's Short Peerage of ScotlandCausorCauseis interpretedChance, which leads us to search for some casual circumstance in the history of the Family, whereby it was elevated.
Alexander Elphinston was ennobled by King James IV. in the time of our Henry VIII.; to whom a fatal incident happened, to which his Descendants might have a retrospect when the Motto was assumed. Some branches of the story are controverted; but enough is left by tradition to found our conjecture, and for the Family to rest the choiceof their Motto upon. This Alexander, the first Peer, was slain at the Battle of Flodden Field (1513), together with King James IV.; and being, in his person and face, very like the King, his body was carried by the English to Berwick, instead of that of the King, and treated with some indignity. The controvertible part of the circumstance is, that the King escaped by this means, and lived to reward the Family who had thus lost their valiant Chief; but strong proofs are to be found, that the King was actually slain, though by some accounts not in the Battle, as his body was identified by more than one of his confidential Servants, who recognized it by certain private indelible marks[323].
Buchanan allows that the King escaped from the Battle; but adds, that he was killed the same day by a party of his own Subjects, whose interest it was to take him off, to avoid a punishment due to themselves for cowardice in the preceding Battle[324].
Holinshed tells us, that in order to deceive the Enemy, and encourage his own Troops, the King caused several of his Nobles to be armed and apparelled like himself[325]; and this practice, at that time of day, seems not to have been uncommon; for Shakspeare makes Richard say, during the Battle of Bosworth Field,