The science of herauldry, treated as a part of the civil law, and law of nations wherein reasons are given for its principles, and etymologies for its harder terms.

CHAP. XXIV. MARSHALING. (Book 24)

TIll now, I have only treated of distinct Coats Armours, and other abatments: in the next, my method obliges me to consider mo Coats Armours joyn'd together, the disposing of which is call'd to marshal. The French allow moe Coats to be marshall'd, to the number of 32. and the English, and Germans to the number of 40. as Colomb observes, cap. 8. but I find not the number exprest by any English Heraulds in their own books. In Scotland we exceed not six; only the Viscount of Falk∣land (who was an English man) did bear 33.

Coat-armours are marshall'd together either to signifie an additione by marriage, by estate, by office, or by dignitie.

The learndest Antiquaries, and Lawyers (who call quartring cumula∣tio armorum) do observe that the quartring of Coats, did proceed at first from the vanity of Kings and Princes, who added the Arms of the con∣quired, or acquired Kingdoms to these which they bore formerly, Bart. tract, de insign. num. 13. the first instance whereof is given, in the arms of Castill, and Arragon, and they conclude, that when a person leaves his Estate to another, upon condition that he shall bear the disponers name, and arms; he who is to succeed, is not by condition oblidged to lay a∣side his own name and arms: but may quarter his own arms, with these of the disponer, except the disponer do, in the institution, prohibite the bearing of any arms, beside his own, Fachin. lib. 2. Concil. 6. num. 3. and the Heir in Marshalling his own, and the disponers arms, may use what order he pleases, by giving the first quarter either to his own, or to the disponers; except the contrair be exprest in the institution, Thes∣saur. decis. Pedemont. 270. upon which condition Percey got the Estate of the Lucies in England, Cambd. Brit. page 630.

When a man joyns in the arms of his wife, with his own in one Shield, he does it by dividing the Shield per pale, in two parts; on the right side the mans, and on the left the wifes are plac'd; and therefore this form of bearing is call'd impaling, from the pale that divides the arms, and Bar∣ron and femme from the different arms that are born; Barron signifies a man, and femme is the only French word for a woman: So that Barron, and Femme is a mixt expression; and man and wife would do much better: for now neither French nor English understand it.

If a man marry an Heretrix, he himself impales only her Arms; but his children procreat of that marriage quarters them; the first, and fourth quarters should contain the fathers arms, and the third, and fourth, the mothers: Thus the Earl of Rothes bears two Coats quarterly, first and fourth, (some say last) arg. on a bend azur three buckles Or, by the name of Lesly his Paternal Coat: second and third Or, a Lyon rampand g••les, Surmounted of a Ribband Sable, by the name of Abernethie: and yet sometimes the Paternal Coat is not the first, which falls out upon many accounts, as for instance, when the Heirs derive not only their Heritage,

[illustration]

but their Title and Dignity, from the Mother: And thus the Earl of Marr bears two Coats quarterly, First and Fourth azur, a Bend betwixt six Cross Cressets fitchée Or, by the Name of Marr; 2. and 3. arg. a pale sable, for his Paternal Coat as Areskin.

Sometimes also there are four, or moe Coats marshall'd together upon this account, according to the number of the Heretrices, whom the Bearers predecessors have married, and then all the Coats are not twice born.

Sometimes also (sayes Guilims) he who marries an Heretrix, may car∣ry her Arms in an Inescutcheon upon his own; because the husband pre∣tends, that his heirs shall one day inherit an Estate by her; it is therefore called an Escutcheon of pretence: but this way of Bearing is not known abroad upon that occasion.

With us in Scotland, and in France also it is ordinar, where many Coats must be Marshal'd, That the Bearers own Arms are born in an In∣escutcheon, as the English and we terme it improperly; for an Inescut∣cheon is properly that which is born within the Shield; but the French doe better terme it Sur-tout, a Shield over all, because it covers some piece of all the other Shields which are plac'd about it: Thus the Marquess of Dowglass beareth 4 Coats, 1. azur, a Lyon Rampant arg. crown'd Or, for the Name of Mcdowald. 2. Or, a Lyon Rampant gules, surmounted of a Ribband Bend-wise sable, by the Name of Abernethy. 3. Azur, 3 Pyles in point gules, for the Name of Wishart; I call them rather Passion-Nails; born by the Iesuits also, and an ordinar Bearing among such as went to the Holy-war. 4. Or, a Fesse checkie azur and arg. surmounted of a Bend sable, charg'd with three Buckles, above all his paternal Coat, which is arg. a crown'd Heart in the point of Honour on a Chief azur, three Mollets of the first. I must here take notice of an errour in some of our Heraulds, who call, a Shield above all, a Shield of pretence: for it is absurd to say, that a man carries his paternal Coat, as a Shield of pretence; and therefore I say only above all; this of old was call'd, a Fesse Target, Fern. 207.

Sometimes the Arms of one of the Heretrices are born in a sur-toutes, or above all: thus the Earl of Sutherland bear Huntlies four Coats; and above all gules, three Mollets Or, for the Name of Sutherland; this our Heraulds terme erroneously, a Shield of pretence also, for a Shield of pre∣tence is only born by him who marries the Heretrix; but not by the Heirs procreat of the marriage, who should quarter the Arms. Here there seem'd a necessity to place the Sutherlands in a sur-tout, or above all, be∣cause there were four Coats born by him, as a son of the Earl of Huntly; but this is lately alter'd, and that of Sutherland is placed first and fourth, and the Coats of Huntly in the second and third place. I finde this Bearing us'd, where the Shield above all might have been in one of the Quarters: thus the Earl of Hume bears quarterly 1. and 4. vert, a Lyon Rampant arg. by the Name of Humes 2. and 3. three Pepingoes, by the Name of Pepdie, a∣bove all Or, an Orle azur, by the Name of Landells; but these Coats might have been better marshall'd thus, 1. and 4. Pepdies, 2. and 3. Landells, and the Humes Arms in a sur-tout, or above all; or 1. and 4. Hume, 2. Pepdies, and 3. Landells, either of which had been more proper.

When the Arms which are quartered, are the Arms of private Families, we say not, That he bears the Arms of that Family in general, but we Blazon the particular Bearing; but when the Quarters are the Arms of great, and

well known Families, then it is good Heraldry to say in general, He bears the Arms of such a Family in general, without Blazoning them: as in Blazoning the Earl of Sutherland's Arms, we say, he bears the Arms of Huntly, without Blazoning the particulars of Huntlys Coats.

That the Terms of Marshalling may be know in Latine, I have blazon'd the Earl of Wintons Coat thus, In solo quadrifido gestatur primo Setonius, nempe in auro tres Lunae crescentes Ambiente teniâ gemellâ exlil••is utrinque florente rubicundâ, in secundo Buchania, Umboni superinducitur Vintoniae ce∣rulius insignitus Cometa ignescente tenia gemella florida aurea concepta.

If the Shield above all had been an Escutcheon of pretence, the Latine had said, Pretenditur Clypeus.

It was very ordinar in Scotland not to quarter the Heretrix's Coat, but to take a part of it into the Husbands paternal Shield; and thus Hamiltoun of Innerveik did take the Face checkie, when he married Stewart Heretrix of Bancreef: And this seems very proper, when the Husband is not tyed to bear the Father in Law's Arms by tailzie or express paction.

Sometimes the Husband did of old assume only the Wifes Arms who was an Heretrix, as Scot of Balcleuch the Arms of Murdiston, and Naper the Arms of Lennox, and did not bear their own native Arms.

Coat-Armours are Marshall'd sometimes for Honour, and signifie not Alliances, nor an Estate come by Heretrices; but when Earls are created, they get honourable Additions, which are quarter'd or impal'd with their paternal Coat, of Impaling I formerly gave an example in the Earl of Hol∣derness Coat.

As to quartering we have many instances; Thus the Marquess of Mon∣trose bears two Coats quarterly, first and fourth arg. on a Chief sable, 3. Es∣calops Or, by the Name of Grahame, second and third arg. three Roses as Montrose.

Sometimes the Coats of Augmentation are plac'd first, and fourth, and sometimes the paternal Coat is first plac'd; as to which these Rules should be observed, 1. If the person whose Coat is to be augmented be a person of an old Family, and its Representative, he ought to keep his own Coat 1. and 4. as Montrose doth; but a Cadet may place his Coat of augmenta∣tion 2. and 3. because his Honour is above his Birth: But if His Majesty bestow any part of His own Arms, even upon an ancient Family in their Coat of Augmentation, then the Coat of Augmentation is to be first.

Some when they are advanc'd to dignities, if they be not obliged to quarter the Coat of some Heretrix, they do for a difference take Crest or Supporters of the Family out of which they are descended, and quar∣ter with their paternal Coat: As the Viscount of Kingston bears 1. and 4. the Arms of Seatoun, in the 2. and 3. arg. a wing'd Dragon vert. vomit∣ing fire, which Dragon is the Crest of his eldest brother the Earl of Win∣ton: But I approve not this way of Marshalling, and I would rather al∣low a second Brother, or any Cadet, when nobilitated, to bear the Arms of the house with a difference, except he were oblig'd by his marrying an Heretrix, to quarter her Arms, or had got some Symbole of his Majesties Favour to reward some great service done him.

Some get Cognizances and Rewards of Honour from their Prince, not by way of impaling, or quartering, but in a Canton; thus the Earl of Annandale got from King Iames the sixth in a Canton, arg. a Thistle vert.

crown'd Or; and the Earl of Elgin got in a Canton, a Lyon rampant Gules, arm'd azur.

Sometimes also a Shield over all is given, as a reward of Honour: thus the Earl of Stirling did bear two Coats quarterly, and over all, an Inescutcheon of Nova Scotia, because he was the first Planter of it.

When any Nobleman at his creation, takes or gets a new additional Symbole, as Earl, (as Montrose carries the Roses, not as Grahame, but as Earl) I think that these Coats, or Symbols, should not be transmit∣ted to their Cadets; but are incommunicable, as the Honours are, to signifie which they were granted. And such as are descended from the Dukes of Lennox, may as well take the Symbole, which he bears as Admiral, as such as are descended from the Earl of Montrose, may take these Roses, which he bears as Earl: And yet custome has prevailed against this Rule.

Follows the Blazon of the Coats in the Plate of the quarterings.

I.

QUarterly, first and last, azur, three flowers de lis within a bordure ingrailed Or,* 1.1 by the title of Obignie in France; 2. and 3. Or, a fess checkie azure and argent within a bordur Gules, charged with 8 buckles as the first, by the name of Stewart; On a Shield over all Argent, a Saltire ingrailed (some give it plain) be∣twixt 4 roses Gules, by the name of Lennox.

II.

Four Coats quarterlie, first azure, 3 boar heads couped Or,* 1.2 by the name of Gordone; Second Or, 3 Lyons heads e∣rased Gules lingued azure, by the name, or title of Badzenoch; 3. Or, 3 Crescents within a double tressure counterflowered Gules, by the name of Seaton; fourth azure, 3 frazes argent, by the name of Frazer.

III.

Quarterly, viz. first azur, a Lyon rampant argent, crowned Or,* 1.3 by the name of Mcdoual; Second Or, a Lyon rampant Gules, surmounted of a ribbon (by some a cost) Sable, by the name of Abernethie; Third argent, three Pyles conjoyning at the point Gules, by the name of Wishart; Fourth, Or, a fess checkie azur and argent, surmounted of a bend Sable charged with 3 buckles of the first, by the name of Stewart; Over all, his Paternal Coat being argent, a mans heart crowned Gules on a chief azur, 3 Stars of the first, by the name of Dowglas.

IV.

Two Coats quarterly, first Or, on a chief Sable, three Es∣callops of the Field by the name of Grahame;* 1.4 second argent, three Roses Gules, by the title of Montrose; third as the second, the fourth as the first.

V.

* 1.5Gave the Coats of Huntly, and over all, that of Sutherland; but it is now changed thus, Quarterly quartered first, Gules, three starrs Or, by the name of Sutherland; second and third, the Arms of Huntly, viz. Gordone, Badzenoch, Seaton, and Fra∣zer (as may be seen before in Huntlies Atchievement) the last as the first.

VI.

* 1.6Two Coats quarterly, first argent, on a bend azur; three buckles Or, by the name of Lesly; second Or, a Lyon rampant Gules, surmounted of a ribbon sable, be the name of Abernethie; third as the second, the fourth as the first.

VII.

* 1.7Two Coats quarterly, first and last azur, three flowers de lis Or, by the name of Montgomery; second and third, Gules, three annulets or stoned azur, by the name of Eglinton; third as the second, the fourth as the first; all within a bordure Or, charged with a double Tressure counterflowred Gules.

VIII.

* 1.8Quarterly, first azur a Ship at anchor, her oars erected in sal∣tire within a double tressure counterflowred Or, by the name of Spar; second and third Or, a Lyon rampant Gules, by the name of fourth azur, a Ship under sail Or, (by some ar∣gent) by the title of Caithness; over all dividing the Coats, a Crosse ingrailed sable, by the name of Stclair.

IX.

* 1.9Quarterly, first and last, vert. a Lyon rampant argent, by the name of Home; second and third argent, 3 Pepingo's vert bec∣ked and membred Gules, by the name Pepdie; over all on a Shield Or, ane Orle azur, by the name of Landel.

X.

* 1.10Two Coats quarterly, first Gules an Imperial Crown with∣in a double tressure counterflowred Or, as a Coat of augmentation for his good service against the Earl of Gowrie; second argent a pale sable by the name of Areskine; third as the second; the fourth as the first.

XI.

* 1.11Two Coats quarterly, first Or, a Lyon rampant Gules, by the name of Weem, or Mcduff; second argent, a Lyon rampant sable, by the name of Glen; third as the second, fourth as the first.

XII.

* 1.12Two Coats quarterly, first and fourth argent, a Lyon rampant azur armed and langued Gules, as the old Arms of the Bruces when they were Earls of Carrick, second and third Or, a saltire and chief Gules, by the name of Bruce.

Where the Office has an known Coat, there it is impal'd with the Coat of him, to whom it belongs; and the Arms of the Office are

[illustration]

plac'd upon the dexter side of the impaling: Thus the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrew's bears azure, a St. Andrews crosse argent, as the Coat of the See conjoyned in pale with his Paternal bearing, being, argent, a fess azure betwixt two crosse crosselets in chief, and a mollet in base sable, by the name of Sharp. When the difference arose for Precedency betwixt the Patriarch of Rome, and Constantinople, the Roman Patriarch did under Phocas the Emperour, assume the Keyes for their Arms, to shew that they were Saint Peters Successors, Anno 800. or thereby, Hopp. pag. 233. No Pope marshald or joyn'd his own Arms, to those of the Church which he govern'd, till the year 1045. at which time, Damasus the second, being a German, brought in from Germany, (where Arms were much honoured) this custom to the Church, and to Italy, and from him it descended to the infe∣riour Clergie. Sometimes the Italian Church-men, instead of Impaling, Marshal their Bearing, Per Fesse, giving the Coat of the See above, and their own below: Likewise some of them, give the Coat of their Patron above, and that of the See impaled with their own underneath.

The reason why Bishops, and other Officers have their own Coats impal'd with those of their Office, is because they are in Law, in place of Husbands to their Office: and therefore the Canon Law calls a Bishop, or other benefic••d person, maritus Ecclesiae: But if so, It may be askt, why the Bishops proper Coat, is not impal'd on the right syde, as the Husbands is, when his wifes Coat is impal'd with his own: to which the proper answer is, that the Churches Arms take place as the more noble•• and the Bishop is Husband by a figurative speech only.

The Guarter of England, who is the principle King at Arms, bears the Arms pertaining to the Office, which is argent, a crosse Gules on a chief azur; a crown environ'd with a Guarter, buckled and now'd betwixt a Lyon passant gardant, and a flowr de lis impal'd with his own Coat.

Sir Charles Areskin Lyon King of Arms, gives the Coat of the Office, being argent, a Lyon sejant full-faced Gules, holding in his dexter paw a thistle slipped vert, and in the sinister, an Escutcheon of the second, on a chief azur, a St Andrews crosse as the first, likewise impaled with that belonging to himself, as the second brother of the Earl of Kellie.

But sometimes the Office has no known Shield, but ane other Symbol which is plac'd without the Shield: thus the Admiral carries an Anchor, the Chancellor a Purse, the Theasaurer a Whyt rod, the Lord Cham∣berlain a Key, The Constable two Swords, and the Marshal Battons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Stewart late Duke of Lennox.
• * 1.2

  Gordone Marquess of Huntly.
• * 1.3

  Dowglas Marquess of Dow∣glas.
• * 1.4

  Grahame Marquess of Mon∣trose.
• * 1.5

  Gordone Earl of Suther∣land.
• * 1.6

  Lesly Earl of Rothes.
• * 1.7

  Montgo∣mery Earl of Eglin∣tone.
• * 1.8

  Stclair (or Sinclar, Earl of Caithness.
• * 1.9

  Home Earl of Home.
• * 1.10

  Areskine Earl of Kellie.
• * 1.11

  Weems Earle of Weems.
• * 1.12

  Bruce Earl of Kincardin.