The Handbook to English Heraldry Part 37

Members of Fifth Cla.s.s of Victorian Order.

Baronets' Younger Sons.

Knights' Younger Sons.

Esquires:--Including the Eldest Sons of the Sons of Viscounts and Barons, the eldest Sons of all the younger Sons of Peers, and their eldest Sons in perpetual Succession: the younger Sons of Baronets: the Sons of Knights, the eldest Son of the eldest Son of a Knight in perpetual Succession: persons holding the King's Commission, or who may be styled "Esquire" by the King in any Official Doc.u.ment.

Gentlemen.

THE PRECEDENCE OF WOMEN

is determined, before marriage, by the Rank and Dignity, but not by the Office, of their Father.

All the unmarried Sisters in any family have the same Degree, which is the Degree that their eldest Brother holds (or would hold) amongst men.

Thus:--Of the Sons of an Earl the _eldest_ alone has an honorary t.i.tle of n.o.bility and is styled "My Lord," while _all_ the Daughters of an Earl have a similar honorary t.i.tle, and are styled "My Lady."

By Marriage Women share the Dignities and Precedence of their Husbands: but, the strictly Official Dignity of a Husband is not imparted to a wife (except in India), in the case of the Archbishops and Bishops or holders of other offices.

The Dignities which Ladies have by Birth or by right of Inheritance, are not imparted by Marriage to their Husbands: nor does Marriage with an inferior in Dignity in any way affect the Precedence that a Lady may enjoy by Birth, Inheritance, or Creation--both her own Precedence and that of her Husband remain as before their Marriage, unless the Husband be a Peer.

In the ROYAL FAMILY the following Precedence takes effect:--

The Queen.

The Queen Dowager.

The Princess of Wales.

The Daughters of the Sovereign.

The Wives of the Younger Sons of the Sovereign.

The Granddaughters of the Sovereign.

The Wives of the Grandsons of the Sovereign.

The Sovereign's Sisters.

Wives of the Sovereign's Brothers.

The Sovereign's Aunts.

Wives of the Sovereign's Uncles.

The Sovereign's Nieces.

Wives of the Sovereign's Nephews (Brothers' and Sisters' Daughters).

Granddaughters of the Sovereign not bearing the style of Royal Highness.

To whatever Precedence she may be ent.i.tled by Birth, the Wife of a Peer always takes her rank, and therefore takes her actual Precedence, from her Husband.

The Widow of a Peer, so long as she remains a Widow, retains the rank she enjoyed whilst married: but, should she contract a second Marriage, her Precedence then is determined either by the rank of her second Husband, or by the rank that was her own by Birth and which she enjoyed before her first Marriage.

The Wife of the Eldest Son of any degree precedes all her Husband's Sisters, and also all other Ladies having the same degree of rank with them. Thus:--the Wife of the Eldest Son of an Earl takes Precedence of _all_ Daughters of Earls. In actual practice, however, by a principle of Precedence that is accepted and adopted in all families of the same degree amongst themselves, the Sisters in every case have their place immediately after the Wife of their own Eldest Brother.

GENEALOGIES.

GENEALOGIES, the Records of the Descents and Alliances of Families, are necessarily a.s.sociated with the Armorial Ensigns borne by those Families, and by the several Members and Branches of them. Still, it does not apparently follow, in the same manner, as a matter of necessity, that the study and investigation of Genealogies should be interesting and even attractive, because interest and attractiveness are inseparable from Heraldry. And yet, I do not hesitate to claim for genealogical researches the favourable regard of students of Armory, on the very ground of the interest which they are certain to feel in such researches; and also in confident reliance on that inherent power of attraction, inseparable from the subject itself, that will not fail both to win their favourable regard, and to lead them on from one inquiry to another.

The very act of tracing up some eminent and ill.u.s.trious personage, from generation to generation of his forefathers, noting down the alliances that have interwoven one thread of a brilliant line with others not less l.u.s.trous; or, the reverse of this process, the following the lineage of some worthy of the olden time onward down the stream, observing both the tributaries that flow into the main channel and the streamlets that issue from it--all this, when once it has been systematically undertaken, leads the student through the most picturesque regions of historical romance.

The popular idea of Genealogy may be, that it consists in placing in a formal order of arrangement a series of dry names, connected with dates that (if it be possible) are even more dry. It is not uncommon to dispose of many things precisely in the same way, when an opinion is formed without even the slightest attempt to judge of a question by its true merits--it is so easy to decline the trouble and to avoid the effort attendant on inquiry and investigation, and so pleasant to become the possessor of an "opinion" and "views," without any outlay in acquiring them. A Map has no value in the estimation of those who ignore Geography: the claims of Archaeology are disregarded by all who are content to remain in ignorance even of what it implies: and History itself becomes and continues to be a dead letter, so long as an acquaintance is formed only with the exterior of its volumes. And, in like manner, Genealogy appears under a very different aspect to those who know it only by name, and to lovers of Biography and History who are familiar with its lucid and yet ever suggestive guidance. Without written Genealogies, who can clearly understand the political and historical position of the rival Princes of the red and white Roses; or of HENRY VII. and the "last of the Plantagenets"; or of Queens ELIZABETH TUDOR, MARY STUART, and JANE GREY? Or who, without similar aid, will follow out the fortunes of the Houses of BEAUCHAMP and NEVILLE and DUDLEY, and connect them with the existing n.o.ble lord of Warwick Castle; or, when reading of the DE CLARES, the BOHUNS, or the PERCIES, will see at a glance the connection between "STRONGBOW" and the "red Earl GILBERT," or will understand the significance of the white swan Badge of the STAFFORDS, or will read at sight the quartered Shield of the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, of to-day, and will discern the line that connects the living Earl PERCY with the "HOTSPUR" whose fame was two centuries old when SHAKESPEARE wrote of him? And further, who, that is unable to accomplish such things as these, can appreciate History, can enjoy it and apply its lessons aright?

In arranging a Genealogy the utmost conciseness is essential, all details being left for full description elsewhere. All the members of the same family are placed side by side, on the same level, in their order of seniority; and all are connected by lines with one another and with their parents. Successive generations also, throughout all the branches of any family, or in allied families, have their places on the same levels; and the connecting and distinguishing lines are continued throughout. Examples of Genealogies treated in the most scientific and yet simple manner, easy to be understood, and perfect as models for students, may be obtained in any Part of the _Herald and Genealogist_, formerly edited by the late Mr. J. G. NICHOLS, F.S.A., Parliament Street, Westminster. I refer to this excellent Periodical, because it is not possible for me here in the s.p.a.ce at my disposal to set forth a really useful example of a Genealogy: and, I must add, because it is most desirable that students of Heraldry should form such an acquaintance with Mr. Nichols, as may be acquired through his works.

_Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_, now edited by Mr. W. B.

BANNERMAN, is another Periodical, which ought to be in the hands of all Genealogists.

In Genealogies, this mark = denotes alliance by marriage, and it is placed between the names of a husband and wife: and the lines that proceed from this mark, thus,

= | ________/ ________ /

point out their issue. The initials S. P. (of the Latin words _Sine Prole_, "without issue") show where a line or a branch ceases. Other abbreviations and signs in general use will suggest their own signification.

As I began this Chapter with quotations, so with a quotation I conclude it. "There are some persons," writes Mr. LOWER, in his "Curiosities of Heraldry" (p. 292), "who cannot discriminate between the taste for pedigree" (or genealogy) "and the pride of ancestry. Now these two feelings, though they often combine in one individual, have no necessary connection with each other. Man is said to be a hunting animal. Some hunt foxes; others for fame or fortune. Others hunt in the intellectual field; some for the arcana of Nature and of mind; some for the roots of words, or the origin of things. I am fond of hunting out a pedigree."

And, gentle reader, when you have joined the chase genealogical, I promise you, so also will you be.

CHAPTER XXI

_The College of Arms-- The Lyon Office of Scotland-- Grants of Arms-- Tax on "Armorial Bearings," and on "Arms Found"_

"They were conspicuous for judgment, experience, learning, and elegance; they gained honour wherever they were employed."

--n.o.bLE, _History of the College of Arms_.

"What is your Crest and Motto?--Send name and county to ----'s Heraldic Office. For plain Sketch, 3s. 6d. In heraldic colours, 6s."

--_Morning Newspapers._

I. The HERALDS OF ENGLAND, who before had been attached to the Household either of the Sovereign or of some Personage of exalted rank, were incorporated as a Fraternity by RICHARD III., a Prince whose historical reputation is by no means in harmony with that early act of his reign, which has done such good service to English History--the Foundation and Establishment of the COLLEGE OF ARMS, or, as it is commonly called, the HERALDS' COLLEGE.

The Letters Patent, issued for this purpose by RICHARD III., bear date March the 2nd, 1483, the first year of his reign. Very important privileges and immunities, with high powers and authority, were granted to the incorporated Heralds: and the "right fair and stately house,"

called "Pulteney's Inn," situate in the metropolitan parish of All Saints, was a.s.signed to them as their permanent official residence. The Charter granted to the Heralds by the last Plantagenet Sovereign was confirmed by his successors.

The buildings of the College were destroyed by the great fire of 1666; but all the records and doc.u.ments fortunately escaped, having been removed to Whitehall; and the edifice was subsequently rebuilt, chiefly at the cost of the Heralds themselves, where it now stands between St.

Paul's Cathedral and the Thames. There, in the College of Arms, are still carefully preserved all that the early Heralds recorded and transmitted to our times. There, not the least valuable of the contents of the College, an unique Library is in the keeping of Guardians, who understand its true uses, as they appreciate its preciousness. And there also the Headquarters of English Heraldry are as duly established, as those of the British Army are at the Horse Guards in Whitehall.

The great change that has come upon London since the Heralds rebuilt their official home, has already caused some structural alteration in the building, and has resulted in the College of Arms now appearing out of place in its original position in the City. Other changes, which follow in such rapid succession in that busy neighbourhood, render it by no means improbable that the site of their College may be required for some great "City improvement"; and so the Heralds may be constrained to establish themselves in the more congenial regions of the metropolitan "far west." This, as I am disposed to consider, is one of those consummations that are devoutly to be desired.

The times have been in which Heraldry could not number amongst its true friends the official Heralds of the College of Arms: but, happily, a very different, and in many most important respects a thoroughly satisfactory condition of things now obtains at the College. So far as the Heralds are concerned, as a body of learned, accomplished, and courteous gentlemen, Heraldry now is admirably represented amongst us, and faithfully supported. What still is deficient in the existing const.i.tution of the College of Arms, as a National Inst.i.tution, is adaptation to existing circ.u.mstances, sentiments, and requirements. It is but a truism to a.s.sert that, as a National Inst.i.tution, the College of Arms does not fill its proper position: and, to all who are familiar with the facts of the case, it is equally obvious that this is simply because the College does not vindicate its indisputable t.i.tle to that position which really is its own.

Heraldry is decidedly popular. This popularity also is a.s.suming a more practical, and at the same time a more enduring form, through gradually becoming the result of a correct appreciation of the true character of Heraldry, and of its intrinsic value. At a time in which people are beginning to feel and to admit that they _ought to know_ something about Heraldry, the College of Arms _ought to take the lead_ in making Heraldry still better understood, still more justly appreciated, still more popular. The time, also, is indeed come in which it is the bounden duty of the College of Arms to impress upon the community at large, that _the sole source and fountain-head of authority in all matters armorial, under the Sovereign, centres in itself_. This is to be accomplished by the same process, and only by the same process, by which the College of Arms may win for itself thorough popularity and universal confidence. If the College requires fresh or increased powers, application to that effect should be made to the Legislature. The Heraldry of Scotland has been dealt with by Parliament: and it would be equally easy to obtain such a statute as would enable English Heraldry to do justice to itself, while fulfilling its own proper duties.

Without abating or compromising in the slightest degree its own dignity or the dignity of Heraldry, the College of Arms requires to be trans.m.u.ted from an exclusive into a popular Inst.i.tution. It requires, not indeed to have its object and aim and system of action changed, but to have them expanded, and expanded so widely as to comprehend all the heraldic requirements of the age. This is a subject of too urgent importance not to be noticed here; but still, it is not possible to do more than to notice it in very general terms.

Upon one specific point, however, a few plain words may be spoken without hesitation, and may be left by themselves without comment. The Fees and Charges of all kinds for granting, matriculating, confirming, and recording the rightful possession of armorial Insignia must be arranged upon a perfectly fresh system, with such provisions and modifications as may adapt them to every variety of circ.u.mstance and of requirement. This is a question which can be regarded only from one point of view by every true lover of Heraldry, and consequently by every true friend of the College of Arms.

II. The National Heraldic body in Scotland, ent.i.tled the LYON OFFICE, is under the presidency of the _Lyon King of Arms_. The Chief of the Scottish official Heralds from May 1796 to a recent period had been a Peer of that realm; and the duties of the office, accordingly, had been discharged for seventy years by a _Lyon Depute_. But, on the death of the Earl of KINNOUL, in February 1866, it was determined to remodel in some respects the arrangements of the Lyon Office; and Mr. GEORGE BURNETT, who had long been "Lyon Depute," was appointed by Her Majesty to be "Lyon King." He has been succeeded by Sir J. BALFOUR PAUL. The Arms of the Lyon Office I have already given, No. 266.

The action of the Scottish Lyon King of Arms, and of the Inst.i.tution over which he presides, after having degenerated from the worthy standard of earlier days, has revived under far happier conditions, and with prospects that are eminently gratifying. It may be fairly expected, indeed, that the most salutary results will be produced by the very decided "tendency" that for some time has existed, "to cultivate the rules and principles of that earlier age, to which"--writes Mr.

Seton--"we are indebted for a system of Scottish Heraldry, whose purity certainly has not been surpa.s.sed in any other corner of Christendom."

These words occur in a highly interesting memoir of the Lyon Office, in the fourth chapter of the work ent.i.tled "The Law and Practice of Heraldry in Scotland," an able and admirable volume, published in 1863 in Edinburgh, which shows the growing popularity of a true Heraldry north of the Tweed, and proves that in the author, Mr. Seton, Scottish Heraldry possesses an advocate no less powerful than zealous and judicious.