By the Bev. J. Baron, D.D., F.S.A. 147 



Eng-land and France, bore the royal arms of England differenced 

 with a label of France. 



Any one visiting the Church can satisfy himself as to the differ- 

 ence of the two coats. On the sculptured stone shield of the G^gy 

 the three lions are merely passant, that is, walking along looking 

 straight before them, following their noses ; the label is of five 

 points, which are waved, apparently in imitation of ribbon, but 

 bear no traces of fleurs de lis} 



On the other hand the coat depicted in the painted glass of the 

 window has three lions passant gardant, i.e., walking along, but 

 looking towards the spectator, and of gold ; the label of five points 

 is azure, and has two fleurs de lis of gold distinctly marked on each 

 point.- The sculptured shield of the effigy bears, indeed, no marks 

 of colour, but the arms of Giffard, with or without a label, are 

 perfectly well known, and so also are those borne by Thomas Plan- 

 taganet. Earl of Lancaster from the decease of his father, Edmund 

 (Crouchback), A.D. 1296, till his own decease in 1322. 



The blazons, or proper heraldic descriptions of the two coats in 

 question, are : — 



Giffard. Gules, three lions passant Argent, with a label azure.* 



Thomas Plantaganet, Earl of Lancaster, &c. Gules, three lions. 



> Cf. Anastatic drawing of the GifEard effigy at Boyton, in Wilts Mag., vol. i., 

 facing p. 237. The label presented special difficulties, and is not successfully 

 shewn. Also seal of Thomas GifEard, showing label of three points, Ibid, vol, ii.,. 

 p. 387. 



* Usually three fleurs de lis on each point. 



^ The blazon, Gules, three lions passant Argent, is given for GifEard in Glover's 

 Ordinary, p. 22 ; and in Edmondson's Alphabet of Arms, art. GifEord, Gloucester- 

 shire, &c., both in Edmondson's Body of Heraldry. 



The following blazons are of special value as being nearly contemporary : Sire 

 Johan Giffard, de goules, a iij lyons passaunz dargent, p. 3. 



OxsENFOKDESCHiEE. Sir Johan Giffard le boef, de goules, a iij lions passanz 

 de argent, e un label de azure, p. 29. 



Gloucestreschiee. Sire Esmoun Giffard, de goulis, a iij lyonz passaunz 

 dai^ent, e un lable de sable [in another but apparently an early hand], p. 76. 



A Roll of Arms of the Reign of Edward the Second, ed. Sir N. H. Nicolas ;. 

 London, Pickering, 1829. For Earl of Lancaster, cf. Ibid, p. 1. 



