49 



be a chat "Introductory," "Historical," "Descriptive," "Illus- 

 trative," and " Valedictory." 



The subject was treated under three heads : — 

 1st — As to its origin and history. 

 2nd — The method by which it was reduced to a science, 



and 

 3rdly — An attempt was made to show how it might be 

 useful, and worthy of the attention of that Club. 



After a brief introduction in which the writer hoped that at 

 the close of his chat. Heraldry, although regarded as an obsolete 

 study now, would be found a subject worthy of notice, the 

 "Historical" side was introduced, " Fabulous Heraldry " being 

 first touched upon in relation to what might be termed " Celest- 

 ial," " Patriarchal," and " Classical Heraldry." 



AU Terrestrial Histoxy begins with Eden, and remote heraldiic 

 retrospect should commence there, although its primitive deni- 

 zens did not possess " cotes " at all ; but there is an old 15th 

 century book, known as the " Boke of S. Albans," said to have 

 been written by one Dame Verners, a strong-minded woman of 

 her time, who, in quaint language solemnly declares that there 

 existed " Cote Armouris " in heaven. She saith " that there 

 were 5 Orderis of Aungelis and now there stands but 4. Such are 

 panoplied in "Cote Armouris" of Knowledge, encrowned full 

 large with precious stones," and then she goes on to tell of Lucifer 

 the lost celestial noble who by fell transgression forfeited his 

 place and sullied his armom*. He left behind him the ' ' Gentills 

 of the angels," while he, chief of the celestial churls, found fitting 

 place in hell ! 



Eespecting " Patriarchal" Heraldry the paper went on to say 

 "that the playful imagination of the quaint old Armourists of 

 250 years ago, induced others to enter the same arena. The 

 example is contagious. Sir John Fenn seriously deduces the 

 use of furs in Heraldry from the coats of skins made by the 

 Creator for Adam and Eve after the fall. Eather a mistake this 

 says Lower, " as coats of arms are marks of honour, but these 

 have been generally understood to be badges of disgrace. There 

 is much excuse for these ardent armourists after all, especially 

 when as in the case of Patriarchal story in the Hebrew Script- 

 ures the very texts seem to suggest pictorial emblems of 

 tinctured symbol, and bristle with blazon. It is clear that some 

 of these old Heraldrists, GuUlim, and Morgan, and Fenn and 

 others, were Bible readers, or we should not find them taking 

 pains to associate the lives of Hebrew characters with the glow- 

 ing trophies of their art. 



In alluding to " Classical " Heraldry students were reminded 

 that in very ancient times warriors bore figures on theii- shields. 

 Homer describes that of Agamemnon ornamented with the 



