By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 811 
badges, I would point out that the White Hartpwith gold chain, was 
the cognizance of King Richard II.; the WAite Swan, with a duke’s 
coronet round its neck, that of Henry IV.; the Blue Boar, that of 
Richard III.; the Red Dragon, that of Henry VII., who adopted 
that device for his standard on Bosworth Field; the Crowned Lion, 
the badge of Henry VIII.; and the Zag/le, that of Queen Mary. 
Loyal landlords would sometimes prefer to the King’s Arms the 
crest of their sovereign, and hence the prevalence of these and similar 
signs. But besides this, we may be sure that if the occupants of 
the throne thought fit to adopt such crests or badges, their example 
was followed by their loyal subjects throughout the length and 
breadth of the land; and this was without doubt the most prolific 
origin of the many various zoological signs which are to be met 
with throughout the county. But I must not delay longer on this 
portion of my subject ; enough if I claim for the first, or heraldic, 
division (coats of arms, portions of coats of arms, and crests), about 
one hundred and fifty of the tavern signs of Wiltshire. 
(2) Next in order stand the “ Loyal” emblems ; for Wiltshire was 
ever constant to the throne: and so the sign of the “ Crown,” as 
the emblem and ornament of royalty, was the chief favorite with 
loyal subjects: we find it at this moment repeated no less than 
twenty-five times in this county; while, coupled with the “ Rose,” 
the national emblem, it occurs fourteen times more. 
Next to it in point of numbers stands the “ Royal Oak,” a great 
favourite ever since the Restoration, commemorating Charles the 
Second’s escape at Boscobel; repeated in Wiltshire twenty-one 
times. Then we have the “ King’s Arms,” eighteen times, the 
“ King’s Head,” seven; and the “ Queen’s Head,” eight times 
repeated. The painting of the “ Royal Oak” is oftentimes a marvel 
of village art: King Charles is always the most conspicuous figure 
in the picture, usually represented as dressed in a bright scarlet 
coat, and invariably wearing a colossal crown of gold, the inappro- 
priateness of such marks of royalty for the moment of disguise being 
boldly ignored by our village artists ; and verily the troopers riding 
_ beneath must have been blind, if they failed to see so brilliant, so 
_ attractive, and so conspicuous a gentleman, 
