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. XXXIII. Of SLVGHORNS, or the Cry of War. (Book 33)

NOt unlike these Motto's are our Slughorns, which are called Cris de guerre in France. The use of them is either to serve as a Watch∣word to all of one Family, or are the name of the place at which a Family should meet in time of Warr: And thus the M^ckenzies have for their Slughorn, Tulloch Ard, which is the place at which this Clan does meet; and the Name of Hume have for their Slughorn (or Slogan, as our South∣ern Shires terme it) a Hume, a Hume: For it is most ordinar to have ei∣ther the Name of the Family who do meet, or the Name of the Place at which they do meet: And this Word or Cry was proclaimed every∣where, by a person who carried a Cross of wood burning, or a firie Cross, as we call it, by which and by the cry of War or Slogan, all the Cadets of the Family were advertised to meet at the ordinar place; For

of old, all of a Family did dwell in a Neighbour-hood. From which we may conclude, that these Words are the Marks of Greatness and of Antiquity; nor were they of old allowed to any but to the Chiefs of Clans, and to great men, who had many Followers, Vassals, and De∣penders; and in effect they are useless to all others. Menestier allows them only to such as had power of carrying a Displayed Banner, and sayes, that they were taken from the Name of the Princes, or Great Men who did command. 2. From the chief place where they were to ren∣dezvous. 3. Some used the Name of the Family out of which they were descended. 4. The Name of the Saint they adored. 5. The Designe they were about. 6. Some remarkable and happy Accident relating to the Family, and these Slughorns were not only used in publick Rendez∣vouses, but in private Combats, upon which occasions the Heraulds used to cry aloud the Slughorn of the Combatant, when he entred the lists, and the beholders used to cry out chearfully when he prevailed.