[howley] the old royal COAT OF ARMS AT PLACENTIA 38 



now seems to be not far distant, tlie concession to her national aspirations 

 may be made of changing her quarter of the Royal Standard from 

 blue to green ! 



With regard to the 



"Golden Harp" 



of Erin, a few words may be of interest. At what time the harp was 

 selected as the Emblem of Ireland is unknown. It is probably in re- 

 membrance of the Harp of Brian Boru, and distinguishes Ireland as a 

 music-loving country. Moore's beautiful lines on the Origin of the 

 Harp are of the highest order of poetry, but of course all pure romance. 

 It is certain that the Harp was acknowledged as the Emblem of Ireland 

 in the XVI. Century. We have already stated that King James I., who 

 ascended the throne in 1603, placed the harp on the Royal Escutcheon 

 as the achievement of Ireland. In an Edition of Keating's History of 

 Ireland, published in 1725, tliere is given a representation of Brian Boru. 

 We have already mentioned that the colour of his banner was red, and 

 strange to say, on his escutcheon in this engraving the Arms are given 

 exactly as those of England, namely, three lions rampant, guardant 

 " in pale." This is +he Arms of the O'Brien family at present. The 

 harp, however, is represented on this picture as embroidered on a cloth 

 which rests on a table beside him. 



Henry VIII. in 1526 issued coins for Ireland: a groat bearing the 

 harp. This is, I believe, the oldest representation we have of the harp 

 as Ireland's Emblem. It was continued in subsequent reigns. King 

 James II. issued copper coins for Ireland (farthings) in 1613, bearing 

 the harp. It was thought that they might not be received by the people 

 of England, as being only in base metal. Hence the harp was placed on 

 them as they were thouglit good enough for Ireland ! 



Breeches Money, Temp., Cromwell, 1652. — Fig. 17. 



Cromwell also, in 1649, issued special coins for Ireland. They had 

 two shields, one bearing the harp, the other the cross of Saint George. 

 These shields were united at the top, symbolizing the union of the two 

 kingdoms. The shields thus joined bore a fancied resemblance to- a 

 pair of breeches. Hence this coinage was called " Breeches Money." 

 (Fig. 17.) 



