A Complete Guide to Heraldry Part 32

_The Swan_ (Fig. 467) is a very favourite charge, and will be found both as a crest and as a charge upon a shield, and in all varieties of position. It is usually, however, when appearing as a charge, to be found "close." A swan couchant appears as the crest of Barttelot, a swan regardant as the crest of Swaby, and a swan "rising" will be found as a crest of Guise and as a charge upon the arms of Muntz. Swimming in water it occurs in the crest of Stilwell, and a swan to which the unusual term of "rousant" is sometimes applied figures as {246} the crest of Stafford: "Out of a ducal coronet per pale gules and sable, a demi-swan rousant, wings elevated and displayed argent, beaked gules." It is, however, more usually blazoned as: "A demi-swan issuant (from the coronet, per pale gules and sable").

Swans' heads and necks are not often met with as a charge, though they occur in the arms of Baker. As a crest they are very common, and will be found in the cases of Lindsay and Bates.

_The Duck_--with its varieties of the moorhen and eider-duck--is sometimes met with, and appears in the arms of Duckworth and Billiat. Few better canting examples can be found than the latter coat, in which the duck is holding the billet in its bill.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 468.--c.o.c.k.]

The other domestic bird--the _c.o.c.k_--is often met with, though it more often figures as a crest than upon a shield. A c.o.c.k "proper" is generally represented of the kind which in farmyard phraseology is known as a gamec.o.c.k (Fig. 468). Nevertheless the gamec.o.c.k--as such--does occur; though in these cases, when so blazoned, it is usually depicted in the artificial form--deprived of its comb and wattles, as was the case when it was prepared for c.o.c.k-fighting. Birds of this cla.s.s are usually met with, with a comb and wattles, &c., of a different colour, and are then termed "combed (or crested), wattled, and jelopped"--if it is desired to be strictly accurate--though it will be generally found that the term is dropped to "combed and jelopped." If the bird is termed "armed," the beak and spurs are thereby referred to. It occurs in the arms of Handc.o.c.k (Lord Castlemaine) ["Ermine, on a chief sable, a dexter hand between two c.o.c.ks argent"] and in the arms of c.o.kayne ["Argent, three c.o.c.ks gules, armed, crested, and jelopped sable"], and also in that of Law. It likewise occurs in the arms of Aitken.

_The Sheldrake_ appears occasionally under another name, _i.e._ that of the _Shoveller_, and as such will be found in the arms of Jackson, of Doncaster.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 469.--Peac.o.c.k in his pride.]

The gorgeous plumage of the _Peac.o.c.k_ has of course resulted in its frequent employment. It has a special term of its own, being stated to be "in his pride" when shown affronte, and with the tail displayed (Fig. 469).

It is seldom met with except in this position, though the well-known crest of Harcourt is an example to the contrary, as is the crest of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Bart., viz. "A mount vert, thereon {247} a peac.o.c.k amidst wheat, and in the beak an ear of wheat all proper." With the tail closed it also figures as one of the supporters of Sir Robert Hart, Bart. ["Sinister, a peac.o.c.k close proper"]: its only appearance in such a position that I am aware of.

A peac.o.c.k's tail is not a familiar figure in British armory, though the exact contrary is the case in German practices. "Issuant from the mouth of a boar's head erect" it occurs as the crest of Tyrell, and "A plume of peac.o.c.k's feathers"--which perhaps is the same thing--"issuant from the side of a chapeau" is the crest of Lord Sefton.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 470.--Crane in its vigilance.]

Another bird for which heraldry has created a term of its own is the _Crane_. It is seldom met with except holding a stone in its claw, the term for which stone is its "vigilance," a curious old fable, which explains the whole matter, being that the crane held the stone in its foot so that if by any chance it fell asleep, the stone, by dropping, would awaken it, and thus act as its "vigilance" (Fig. 470). It is a pity that the truth of such a charming example of the old world should be dissipated by the fact that the crest of Cranstoun is the crane _asleep_--or rather dormant--with its head under its wing, and nevertheless holding its "vigilance" in its foot!

The crane is not often met with, but it occurs in the arms of Cranstoun, with the curious and rather perplexing motto, "Thou shalt want ere I want."

Before leaving the crane, it may be of interest to observe that the derivation of the word "pedigree" is from _pied de grue_, the appearance of a crane's foot and the branching lines indicative of issue being similar in shape.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 471.--Stork holding in its beak a snake.]

Heraldic representation makes little if any difference when depicting a crane, a stork, or a heron, except that the tuft on the head of the latter is never omitted when a heron is intended.

Instances of the _Stork_ are of fairly frequent occurrence, the usual heraldic method of depicting the bird being with the wings close.

More often than not the stork is met with a snake in its beak (Fig. 471); and the fact that a heron is also generally provided with an eel to play with adds to the confusion.

_The Heron_--or, as it was anciently more frequently termed heraldically, the _Herne_ (Fig. 472)--will naturally be found in the arms of Hearne and some number of other coats and crests. {248}

_The Raven_ (Fig. 473) occurs almost as early as any other heraldic bird.

It is said to have been a Danish device. The powerful Norman family of Corbet, one of the few remaining families which can show an unbroken male descent from the time of the Conquest to the present day, have always remained faithful to the raven, though they have added to it sometimes a _bordure_ or additional numbers of its kind. "Or, a raven sable," the well-known Corbet coat, is, of course, a canting allusion to their Norman name, or nickname, "Le Corbeau." Their name, like their pedigree, is unique, inasmuch as it is one of the few names of undoubted Norman origin which are not territorial, and possibly the fact that their lands of Moreton Corbett, one of their chief seats, were known by their name has a.s.sisted in the perpetuation of what was, originally, undoubtedly a personal nickname.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 472.--Heron.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 473.--Raven.]

Fig. 474 is a striking example of the virility which can be imparted to the raven. It is reproduced from Grunenberg's "Book of Arms" (1483). Strohl suggests it may be of "Corbie" in Picardy, but the ident.i.ty of the arms leads one to fancy the name attached may be a misdescription of the English family of Corbet.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 474.]

Heraldically, no difference is made in depicting the raven, the rook, and the crow; and examples of the Crow will be found in the arms of Crawhall, and of the _Rook_ in the crest of Abraham. The arms of the Yorkshire family of Creyke are always blazoned as rooks, but I am inclined to think they may possibly have been originally _creykes_, or corn-crakes.

_The Cornish Chough_ is very much more frequently met with than either the crow, rook, or raven, and it occurs in the arms of Bewley, the town of Canterbury, and (as a crest) of Cornwall.

It can only be distinguished from the raven in heraldic representations by the fact that the Cornish chough is always depicted and frequently blazoned as "beaked and legged gules," as it is found in its natural state. {249}

_The Owl_ (Fig. 475), too, is a very favourite bird. It is always depicted with the face affronte, though the body is not usually so placed. It occurs in the arms of Leeds--which, by the way, are an example of colour upon colour--Oldham, and Dewsbury. In the crest of Brimacombe the wings are open, a most unusual position.

_The Lark_ will be found in many cases of arms or crests for families of the name of Clarke.

_The Parrot_, or, as it is more frequently termed heraldically, the _Popinjay_ (Fig. 476), will be found in the arms of Lumley and other families. It also occurs in the arms of Curzon: "Argent, on a bend sable three popinjays or, collared gules."

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 475.--Owl.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 476.--Popinjay.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 477.--Moorc.o.c.k.]

There is nothing about the bird, or its representations, which needs special remark, and its usual heraldic form follows nature pretty closely.

_The Moorc.o.c.k_ or _Heathc.o.c.k_ is curious, inasmuch as there are two distinct forms in which it is depicted. Neither of them are correct from the natural point of view, and they seem to be pretty well interchangeable from the heraldic point of view. The bird is always represented with the head and body of an ordinary c.o.c.k, but sometimes it is given the wide flat tail of black game, and sometimes a curious tail of two or more erect feathers at right angles to its body (Fig. 477).

Though usually represented close, it occurs sometimes with open wings, as in the crest of a certain family of Moore.

Many other birds are to be met with in heraldry, but they have nothing at all especial in their bearing, and no special rules govern them.

_The Lapwing_, under its alternative names of _Peewhit_, _Plover_, and _Tyrwhitt_, will be found in the arms of Downes, Tyrwhitt, and Tweedy.

_The Pheasant_ will be found in the crest of Scott-Gatty, and the _Kingfisher_ in many cases of arms of the name of Fisher. {250}

_The Magpie_ occurs in the arms of Dusgate, and in those of Finch.

Woodward mentions an instance in which the _Bird of Paradise_ occurs (p.

267); "Argent, on a terrace vert, a cannon mounted or, supporting a Bird of Paradise proper" [Rjevski and Yeropkin]; and the arms of Thornton show upon a canton the Swedish bird _tjader_: "Ermine, a chevron sable between three hawthorn trees eradicated proper, a canton or, thereon the Swedish bird tjader, or c.o.c.k of the wood, also proper." Two similar birds were granted to the first Sir Edward Thornton, G.C.B., as supporters, he being a Knight Grand Cross.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 478.--The "Shield for Peace" of Edward the Black Prince (d. 1376): Sable, three ostrich feathers with scrolls argent. (From his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral.)]

Single feathers as charges upon a shield are sometimes met with, as in the "shield for peace" of Edward the Black Prince (Fig. 478) and in the arms of Clarendon. These two examples are, however, derivatives from the historic ostrich-feather badges of the English Royal Family, and will be more conveniently dealt with later when considering the subject of badges. The single feather enfiled by the circlet of crosses patee and fleurs-de-lis, which is borne upon a canton of augmentation upon the arms of Gull, Bart., is likewise a derivative, but feathers as a charge occur in the arms of Jervis: "Argent, six ostrich feathers, three, two, and one sable." A modern coat founded upon this, in which the ostrich feathers are placed upon a pile, between two bombsh.e.l.ls fracted in base, belongs to a family of a very similar name, and the crest granted therewith is a single ostrich feather between two bombs fired. c.o.c.k's feathers occur as charges in the arms of Galpin.

In relation to the crest, feathers are constantly to be found, which is not to be wondered at, inasmuch as fighting and tournament helmets, when actually in use, frequently did not carry the actual crests of the owners, but were simply adorned with the plume of ostrich feathers. A curious instance of this will be found in the case of the family of Dymoke of Scrivelsby, the Honourable the King's Champions. The crest is really: "Upon a wreath of the colours, the two ears of an a.s.s sable," though other crests ["1. a sword erect proper; 2. a lion as in the arms"] are sometimes made use of. When the Champion performs his service at a Coronation the shield which is carried by his esquire is not that of his sovereign, but is emblazoned with his personal arms of Dymoke: "Sable, two lions pa.s.sant in pale argent, ducally crowned or." The helmet of the Champion is decorated with a triple plume of ostrich feathers and not with the Dymoke crest. In {251} old representations of tournaments and warfare the helmet will far oftener be found simply adorned with a plume of ostrich feathers than with a heritable crest, and consequently such a plume has remained in use as the crest of a very large number of families. This point is, however, more fully dealt with in the chapter upon crests.

The plume of ostrich feathers is, moreover, attributed as a crest to a far greater number of families than it really belongs to, because if a family possessed no crest the helmet was generally ornamented with a plume of ostrich feathers, which later generations have accepted and adopted as their heritable crest, when it never possessed such a character. A notable instance of this will be found in the crest of Astley, as given in the Peerage Books.

The number of feathers in a plume requires to be stated; it will usually be found to be three, five, or seven, though sometimes a larger number are met with. When it is termed a double plume they are arranged in two rows, the one issuing above the other, and a triple plume is arranged in three rows; and though it is correct to speak of any number of feathers as a plume, it will usually be found that the word is reserved for five or more, whilst a plume of three feathers would more frequently be termed three ostrich feathers. Whilst they are usually white, they are also found of varied colours, and there is even an instance to be met with of ostrich feathers of ermine. When the feathers are of different colours they need to be carefully blazoned; if alternately, it is enough to use the word "alternately," the feather at the extreme dexter side being depicted of the colour first mentioned. In a plume which is of three colours, care must be used in noting the arrangement of the colours, the colours first mentioned being that of the dexter feather; the others then follow from dexter to sinister, the fourth feather commencing the series of colours again. If any other arrangement of the colours occurs it must be specifically detailed.

The rainbow-hued plume from which the crest of Sir Reginald Barnewall[19]

issues is the most variegated instance I have met with.

Two peac.o.c.k's feathers in saltire will be found in the crest of a family of Gatehouse, and also occur in the crest of Crisp-Molineux-Montgomerie. The pen in heraldry is always of course of the quill variety, and consequently should not be mistaken for a single feather. The term "penned" is used when the quill of a feather is of a different colour from the remainder of it.

Ostrich and other feathers are very frequently found on either side of a crest, both in British and Continental armory; but though often met with in this position, there is nothing peculiar about this use in such character.

German heraldry {252} has evolved one use of the peac.o.c.k's feather, or rather for the eye from the peac.o.c.k's feather, which happily has not yet reached this country. It will be found adorning the outer edges of every kind of object, and it even occurs on occasion as a kind of dorsal fin down the back of animals. Bunches of c.o.c.k's feathers are also frequently made use of for the same purpose. There has been considerable diversity in the method of depicting the ostrich feather. In its earliest form it was stiff and erect as if cut from a piece of board (Fig. 478), but gradually, as the realistic type of heraldic art came into vogue, it was represented more naturally and with flowing and drooping curves. Of later years, however, we have followed the example of His Majesty when Prince of Wales and reverted to the earlier form, and it is now very general to give to the ostrich feather the stiff and straight appearance which it originally possessed when heraldically depicted. Occasionally a plume of ostrich feathers is found enclosed in a "case," that is, wrapped about the lower part as if it were a bouquet, and this form is the more usual in Germany. In German heraldry these plumes are constantly met with in the colours of the arms, or charged with the whole or a part of the device upon the shield. It is not a common practice in this country, but an instance of it will be found in the arms of Lord Waldegrave: "Per pale argent and gules. Crest: out of a ducal coronet or a plume of five ostrich feathers, the first two argent, the third per pale argent and gules, and the last two gules." {253}

CHAPTER XV