THE HANDBOOK TO ENGLISH HERALDRY
by CHARLES BOUTELL, M.A.
THE HANDBOOK TO
ENGLISH
HERALDRY
by
CHARLES BOUTELL, M.A.
Author of “The Monumental Brasses of England,”
Editor and Part Author of “Arms and Armour
in Antiquity and The Middle Ages,” etc.
with
NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS
Drawn and Engraved on Wood
by Mr. R. B. UTTING and Others
_ELEVENTH EDITION_
Thoroughly Revised with an Additional Chapter by
A. C. FOX-DAVIES
of Lincoln’s Inn Barrister-At-Law
[Illustration: ROYAL ARMS (1340-1405)]
LONDON: REEVES & TURNER
1914
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
at the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh
PREFACE
TO THE ELEVENTH EDITION
This standard work of reference has been revised throughout, and
enlarged by the addition of an extra chapter on Peerage Dignities.
A. C. FOX-DAVIES.
LINCOLN’S INN, _November 1913_.
PREFACE
TO THE TENTH EDITION
In the revision of this well-known work I have held my hand, rather than
the contrary, trying to bear always in mind that it was the hand-book of
Mr. Charles Boutell and not a production of my own. My alterations have
been concerned chiefly in bringing the volume up to date, a necessity
imposed by the creation of new orders of knighthood, and change of
Sovereign. I have certainly omitted a few remarks which I have thought
might be the cause of leading students of the science astray: I have
altered ambiguous wording to emphasise the real, and I have no doubt the
originally intended meaning. But in many points which, being deductions,
are naturally matters of opinion, I have left herein various expressions
of Mr. Boutell’s opinion, with which I can hardly say I personally
altogether agree or would myself put forward. I hold that it is no part
of an editor’s duty to air his own opinions under the protection or
repute of another’s name, and herein I have inserted nothing for which
my own opinion is the only authority.
A. C. FOX-DAVIES.
LINCOLN’S INN, _June 1908_.
[Illustration: No. 2.--St. Edward.
No. 1.--St. George.
No. 3.--St. Edmund.]
AUTHOR’S PREFACE
This Volume, specially prepared for the use of students at an early
period of their study of English Heraldry, commends itself also to those
inquirers who may desire to obtain some general information on the same
subject, without having any intention to devote to Heraldry much either
of their time or of their serious regard.
The success, no less extraordinary than gratifying, of my larger work on
Heraldry, led me to hope that a not less favourable reception might be
extended to a simpler and much shorter essay, more decidedly elementary
in its aim and character, and yet as far as possible within its limits
complete. Such a treatise I have endeavoured to produce in this Volume.
Inseparably associated with the History of our Country, and more
particularly when our national History becomes the Biography of eminent
Englishmen, English Heraldry has the strongest claims upon the attention
not only of all Historians, but also of all who desire to become
familiar with their writings. In like manner, Heraldry may be studied
with no less of advantage than of satisfaction by all Artists, whether
Architects, Sculptors, Painters, or Engravers. Nor is it too much to
assert that some knowledge of Heraldry, in consequence of its singular
and comprehensive utility, ought to be estimated as a necessary element
of a liberal education. In confirmation of my own views, I am tempted to
quote the following passage from M. GOURDON DE GENOUILLAC’S introduction
to his excellent “Grammaire Héraldique,” published at Paris:-- “Le
blason,” says M. de Genouillac, “est une langue qui s’est conservée dans
sa pureté primitive depuis les siècles, langue dont la connaissance, est
indispensable aux familles nobles, qui y trouvent un signe d’alliance ou
de reconnaissance, aux numismates, aux antiquaires, aux archéologues,
enfin à tous les artistes, gens de lettres, &c.; cependant cette langue
est presque inconnue, et la plupart des personnes qui possedent le droit
de porter des armoiries seraient fort en peine de les expliquer selon
les termes techniques!” Heraldry, indeed, I believe to be a study worthy
to be universally regarded with affectionate respect, as it certainly is
eminently qualified to inspire such a sentiment in every class of
student.
In this spirit I have here treated the elements of the Heraldry of
England, confident that, of those who may accompany me as far as I shall
lead them, very many will not be content to stop where I shall take
leave of them. Thus much I promise my companions--I will be to them a
faithful guide. They may trust to my accuracy. I have made no statement,
have adduced no example, nor have I exhibited any illustration, except
upon authority. I myself like and admire what is real and true in
Heraldry; and it is by the attractiveness of truth and reality that I
desire to win for Heraldry fresh friends, and to secure for it firm
friendships.
It will be understood that from the authority, the practice, and the
associations of the early Heraldry of the best and most artistic eras,
I seek to derive a Heraldry which we may rightly consider to be our own,
and which we may transmit with honour to our successors. I do not
suggest the adoption, for present use, of an obsolete system. But, while
I earnestly repudiate the acceptance and the maintenance amongst
ourselves of a most degenerate substitute for a noble Science, I do
aspire to aid in restoring HERALDRY to its becoming rank, and
consequently to its early popularity, now in our own times. This is to
revive the fine old Heraldry of the past, to give to it a fresh
animation, and to apply it under existing conditions to existing uses
and requirements: not, to adjust ourselves to the circumstances of its
first development, and to reproduce as copyists its original
expressions. It is not by any means a necessary condition of a
consistent revival of early Heraldry, that our revived Heraldry should
admit no deviation from original usage or precedent. So long as we are
thoroughly animated by the spirit of the early Heralds, we may lead our
Heraldry onwards with the advance of time. It is for us, indeed, to
prepare a Heraldry for the future, no less than to revive true Heraldry
in the time now present. We may rightly modify, therefore, and adapt
many things, in order to establish a true conformity between our
Heraldry and the circumstances of our own era: for example, with
advantage as well as propriety we may, in a great measure, substitute
Badges for Crests; and we shall do well to adopt a style of drawing
which will be perfectly heraldic, without being positively unnatural.
The greater number of my Illustrations have been engraved only in
outline, with the twofold object of my being thus enabled to increase
the number of the examples, and to adapt the engravings themselves to
the reception of colour. It will be very desirable for students to
blazon the illustrations, or the majority of them, in their proper
tinctures: and those who are thoroughly in earnest will not fail to form
their own collections of additional examples, which, as a matter of
course, they will seek to obtain from original authorities. With the
exception of a few examples, my Illustrations, considerably over 400,
have all been executed expressly for this work; and they all have been
engraved by Mr. R. B. UTTING. The chief exceptions are thirteen
admirable woodcuts of Scottish Seals, all of them good illustrations of
Heraldry south of the Tweed, originally engraved for Laing’s noble
quarto upon “The Ancient Seals of Scotland,” published in Edinburgh.
Scottish Heraldry, I must add, as in any particulars of law and practice
it may differ from our Heraldry on this side of the Tweed, I have left
in the able hands of the Heralds of the North: at the same time,
however, the Heraldry of which I have been treating has so much that is
equally at home on either side of “the Border,” that I have never
hesitated to look for my examples and authorities to both the fair
realms which now form one Great Britain.
C. B.
[Signature]
CONTENTS
Page
PREFACE TO PRESENT EDITION vii
AUTHOR’S PREFACE ix
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xix
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY-- Early Popularity of Heraldry in England-- Origin of
English Heraldry; Definition; Characteristics; Development; Early
Uses; Not connected with Earlier Systems-- Ancient Heraldry-- Past
and Present Treatment of the Subject 1
CHAPTER II
EARLY HERALDIC AUTHORITIES-- Seals; Monumental Effigies, &c.;
Rolls of Arms, Official Heraldic Records, &c.-- Earliest Heraldic
Shields and Banners-- Allusive Quality of Early Armory--
Attributed Arms 10
CHAPTER III
The English Heraldry that is now in existence-- First Debasement
of Heraldry-- Later Debasement-- Revival of English Heraldry--
Heraldic Art 20
CHAPTER IV
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section I.-- Language-- Nomenclature-- Style
and Forms of Expression-- Blazon-- The Shield: its Parts, Points,
Divisions, Dividing Lines, Varieties of Form, and Heraldic
Treatment 29
CHAPTER V
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section II.-- Tinctures: Metals, Colours,
Furs-- Varied Fields-- Law of Tinctures-- Counter-changing--
Diaper-- Disposition-- Blazoning-- Emblazoning in Tinctures 40
CHAPTER VI
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section III.-- The Ordinaries:-- Chief:
Fesse: Bar: Pale: Cross; its Heraldic Varieties: Bend: Saltire:
Chevron: and Pile 49
CHAPTER VII
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section IV.-- The Subordinaries:-- Canton or
Quarter: Inescutcheon: Oile: Tressure: Bordure: Flanches: Lozenge,
Mascle, Rustre: Fusil: Billet: Gyron: Frette-- The Roundles 64
CHAPTER VIII
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section V.-- Miscellaneous Charges:-- Human
Beings: Animals: Birds: Fish: Reptiles and Insects: Imaginary
Beings: Natural Objects: Various Artificial Figures and Devices--
Appropriate Descriptive Epithets 73
CHAPTER IX
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section VI.-- The Lion and the Eagle in
Heraldry 83
CHAPTER X
GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY: Section VII.-- Glossary of Titles, Names, and
Terms 100
CHAPTER XI
MARSHALLING:-- Aggroupment: Combination: Quartering: Dimidiation:
Impalement: Escutcheon of Pretence: Marshalling the Arms of
Widowers, Widows, and others: Official Arms; and the Accessories
of Shields 158
CHAPTER XII
CADENCY:-- Marks of Cadency are temporary, or permanent: the
Label: the Bordure: the Bendlet, Barrulet, and Canton: Change of
Tincture: Secondary Charges: Single Small Charges: Differences of
Illegitimacy: Cadency of Crests, Badges, &c.: Modern Cadency 176
CHAPTER XIII
DIFFERENCING:-- Differencing to denote Feudal Alliance or
Dependency: Differencing without any Alliance-- Augmentation--
Abatement 194
CHAPTER XIV
CRESTS 209
CHAPTER XV
BADGES 220
CHAPTER XVI
SUPPORTERS 237
CHAPTER XVII
FLAGS:-- The Pennon: the Banner: the Standard: the Royal Standard:
the “Union Jack”: Ensigns: Military Standards and Colours:
Blazoning: Hoisting and Displaying Flags 246
CHAPTER XVIII
THE ROYAL HERALDRY OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND:-- Shields of Arms of
the Reigning Sovereigns of England, of Scotland, of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: Crests: Supporters: Mottoes:
Crowns: Banners: Armorial Insignia of the late Prince Consort; of
the Prince and Princess of Wales; of the other Princes and
Princesses 258
CHAPTER XIX
ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD AND INSIGNIA OF HONOUR:-- Feudal Knighthood--
Orders of Knighthood:
