51 



distinguished the combatants by mantles or Hvery, and narrow 

 pieces of stuff of various colors, fi-om ■which perhaps originated 

 the pale, bend, &c., to be afterwards referred to. The French 

 subsequently took up the idea and became the promoters of the 

 art. 



In Henry Ill's time the hereditary principal of Heraldry comes 

 into prominence, but it was reserved for a later English sovereign 

 still, to foster and develope it. Eichard II presided over the 

 Augustan era of its history, for in his day England blossomed 

 into a most gorgeous blazon, and prettily picturesque must the 

 quaint old gable-roofed plantagenet towns have looKed in the 

 days of pageantry and triumph. The parti-coloured cotes of 

 knights and squires and caparisoned steeds, the variegated pen- 

 nons on lance and banner pole, — the larger banner borne nearer 

 the commander — the emblazoned shields of warriors on horse 

 and foot would make a "fayreand goodlie show" in summer 

 sun and sheen, of which we in these prosier and less poetical 

 days can have only a feeble idea. 



But Heraldric symbol and emblem were not confined alone to 

 gay and gallant cavalier, sacred fane and domestic hall had their 

 ornamental escutcheons, the walls, roofs and pavements were 

 crowded with the tiuctm-ed memorials of illustrious achievements. 

 No wonder it had its influence on the age. The sight of the 

 recognised token of a valourous chivahy stirred up the blood in 

 mediaeval British veins, and helped to foster a not ignoble 

 patriotism which lent a powerful aid to the formation of that 

 national character which has led the Englishman never to know 

 when he is beaten, and planted firmly in his breast that indomit- 

 able pluck and enthusiasm that has carried the grand old flag to 

 victory in every part of the globe, building up and consolidating 

 an empire on which the sun never sets, the glorious heritage of 

 all her sons, and the admiration and envy of the world ! 



Eichard III instituted the College of Arms, and the history of 

 Blazon during succeeding reigns may be said to be that of the 

 college. 



The descriptive portion of the paper dealt with the " Escutch- 

 eon," its meaning, points and shape. " The Field," its tinctures 

 and markings, 'Divisions' 'Ordinaries' 'Grosses' and 'Charges,' 

 and entered into a fuU Definition of Principal Ordinaries, such 

 as the " Chief," "Bend," " Fess," "Bar," "Chevron," "Dim- 

 inutives," "Distinctions of Houses," &c., while the illustrative 

 section was explanative of the symbolical meaning of the em- 

 blazoned " cotes " read in the light of the tinctures and heraldric 

 charges of the field. The heraldric colors are red, blue, green, 

 piurple, black, orange, and murrey, techninally called in the 

 language of Blazon — gules, azure, vert, purpure, sable, tenne, and 

 sanf/uine, such tinctures could be borne by gentlemen to the 



