A Complete Guide to Heraldry Part 47

"Barons, two rows.

"Viscounts, two rows and a half.

"Earls, three rows.

"Marquesses, three rows and a half.

"Dukes, four rows.

"The said mantles or robes to be worn over full Court dress, uniform, or regimentals.

"The coronets to be of silver-gilt; the caps of crimson velvet turned up with ermine, with a gold ta.s.sel on the top; and no jewels or precious stones are to be set or used in the coronets, or counterfeit pearls instead of silver b.a.l.l.s.

"The coronet of a Baron to have, on the circle or rim, six silver b.a.l.l.s at equal distances.

"The coronet of a Viscount to have, on the circle, sixteen silver b.a.l.l.s.

{366} "The coronet of an Earl to have, on the circle, eight silver b.a.l.l.s, raised upon points, with gold strawberry leaves between the points.

"The coronet of a Marquess to have, on the circle, four gold strawberry leaves and four silver b.a.l.l.s alternately, the latter a little raised on points above the rim.

"The coronet of a Duke to have, on the circle, eight gold strawberry leaves.

"By His Majesty's Command, "NORFOLK, _Earl Marshal_."

"EARL MARSHAL'S OFFICE, NORFOLK HOUSE, ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, S.W., _October 1, 1901_.

"The Earl Marshal's Order concerning the Robes, Coronets, &c., which are to be worn by the Peeresses at the Coronation of Their Most Sacred Majesties King Edward the Seventh and Queen Alexandra.

"These are to give notice to all Peeresses who attend at the Coronation of Their Majesties, that the robes or mantles appertaining to their respective ranks are to be worn over the usual full Court dress.

"That the robe or mantle of a Baroness be of crimson velvet, the cape whereof to be furred with miniver pure, and powdered with two bars or rows of ermine (_i.e._ narrow pieces of black fur); the said mantle to be edged round with miniver pure 2 inches in breadth, and the train to be 3 feet on the ground; the coronet to be according to her degree--viz. a rim or circle with six pearls (represented by silver b.a.l.l.s) upon the same, not raised upon points.

"That the robe or mantle of a Viscountess be like that of a Baroness, only the cape powdered with two rows and a half of ermine, the edging of the mantle 2 inches as before, and the train 1 yards; the coronet to be according to her degree--viz. a rim or circle with pearls (represented by silver b.a.l.l.s) thereon, sixteen in number, and not raised upon points.

"That the robe or mantle of a Countess be as before, only the cape powdered with three rows of ermine, the edging 3 inches in breadth, and the train 1 yards; the coronet to be composed of eight pearls (represented by silver b.a.l.l.s) raised upon points or rays, with small strawberry leaves between, above the rim.

"That the robe or mantle of a Marchioness be as before, only the cape powdered with three rows and a half of ermine, the edging 4 inches in breadth, the train 1 yards; the coronet to be composed of four strawberry leaves and four pearls (represented by silver b.a.l.l.s) {367} raised upon points of the same height as the leaves, alternately, above the rim.

"That the robe or mantle of a d.u.c.h.ess be as before, only the cape powdered with four rows of ermine, the edging 5 inches broad, the train 2 yards; the coronet to be composed of eight strawberry leaves, all of equal height, above the rim.

"And that the caps of all the said coronets be of crimson velvet, turned up with ermine, with a ta.s.sel of gold on the top.

"By His Majesty's Command, "NORFOLK, _Earl Marshal_."

The Coronation Robe of a peer is not identical with his Parliamentary Robe of Estate. This latter is of fine scarlet cloth, lined with taffeta. The distinction between the degrees of rank is effected by the guards or bands of fur. The robe of a duke has four guards of _ermine_ at equal distances, with gold lace above each guard and tied up to the left shoulder by a white riband. The robe of a marquess has four guards of _ermine_ on the right side, and three on the left, with gold lace above each guard and tied up to the left shoulder by a white riband. An earl's robe has three guards of ermine and gold lace. The robes of a viscount and baron are identical, each having two guards of plain _white_ fur.

By virtue of various warrants of Earls Marshal, duly recorded in the College of Arms, the use or display of a coronet of rank by any person other than a peer is stringently forbidden. This rule, unfortunately, is too often ignored by many eldest sons of peers, who use peerage t.i.tles by courtesy.

The heraldic representations of these coronets of rank are as follows:--

The coronet of a duke shows five strawberry leaves (Fig. 648). This coronet should not be confused with the ducal _crest_ coronet.

The coronet of a marquess shows two b.a.l.l.s of silver technically known as "pearls," and three strawberry leaves (Fig. 649).

The coronet of an earl shows five "pearls" raised on tall spikes, alternating with four strawberry leaves (Fig. 650). {368}

The coronet of a viscount shows nine "pearls," all set closely together, directly upon the circlet (Fig. 651).

The coronet of a baron shows four "pearls" upon the circlet (Fig. 652).

This coronet was a.s.signed by Royal Warrant, dated 7th August, 12 Charles II., to Barons of England, and to Barons of Ireland by warrant 16th May, 5 James II.

All coronets of degree actually, and are usually represented to, enclose a cap of crimson velvet, turned up with ermine. None of them are permitted to be jewelled, but the coronet of a duke, marquess, earl, or viscount is chased in the form of jewels. In recent times, however, it has become very usual for peers to use, heraldically, for more informal purposes a representation of the circlet only, omitting the cap and the ermine edging.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 648.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 649.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 650.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 651.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 652.]

The crown or coronet of a king of arms (Fig. 653) is of silver-gilt formed of a circlet, upon which is inscribed part of the first verse of the 51st Psalm, viz.: "Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam." The rim is surmounted with sixteen leaves, in shape resembling the oak-leaf, every alternate one being somewhat higher than the rest, nine of which appear in the profile view of it or in heraldic representations. The cap is of crimson satin, closed at the top by a gold ta.s.sel and turned up with ermine.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 653.--The Crown of a King of Arms.]

Anciently, the crown of Lyon King of Arms was, in shape, an exact replica of the crown of the King of Scotland, the only difference being that it was not jewelled.

Coronets of rank are used very indiscriminately on the Continent, particularly in France and the Low Countries. Their use by no means implies the same as with us, and frequently indicates little if anything beyond mere "n.o.ble" birth.

The _Mauerkrone_ [mural crown] (Fig. 654) is used in Germany princ.i.p.ally as an adornment to the arms of towns. It is borne with three, four, or five battlemented towers. The tincture, likewise, is not {369} always the same: gold, silver, red, or the natural colour of a wall being variously employed. Residential [_i.e._ having a _royal_ residence] and capital towns usually bear a Mauerkrone with five towers, large towns one with four towers, smaller towns one with three. Strict regulations in the matter do not yet exist. It should be carefully noted that this practice is peculiar to Germany and is quite incorrect in Great Britain.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 654.--Mauerkrone.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 655.--Naval crown.]

The _Naval Crown_ [Schiffskrone] (Fig. 655), on the circlet of which sails and sterns of ships are alternately introduced, is very rarely used on the Continent. With us it appears as a charge in the arms of the towns of Chatham, Ramsgate, Devonport, &c. The Naval Coronet, however, is more properly a crest coronet, and as such will be more fully considered in the next chapter. It had, however, a limited use as a coronet of rank at one time, inasmuch as the admirals of the United Provinces of the Netherlands placed a crown composed of prows of ships above their escutcheons, as may be seen from various monuments. {370}

CHAPTER XXIII

CREST CORONETS AND CHAPEAUX