18 INTRODUCTION. 



lions painted on the banner of Richard the 

 First were taken for leopards. 



" Tu vedi ben quella bandiera grande 

 Ch' insieme pou lejiordiligi e i pardi." 



Orland. Fur. Cant. x. st. 76. 



" Yon ensign view, where waving in the wind 

 Appear the fleur-de-lys and leopards join'd." 



This verse alluded to the shield of Richard the 

 First, which was suspended in the hall of the 

 Knights Templars at Paris. Again it is thus 

 mentioned in the romance of Richard " Coeur 

 de Lyon." 



" Upon his shoulders a scheld of stele 

 With the lybbardes painted wele." 



Heraldic emblems were used in this country 

 as long back as the year 1189, they were 

 generally painted on a small shield and worn 

 fastened to the belt. During feasts, and other 

 pacific solemnities, the shield of each knight 

 was suspended behind him. 



" The scheldys hanginge on the hookes." 



Lydgate. 



