THE ARMS OF DORCHESTER AND DORSET. 105 



effect of this view is, that Dorchester must be held to have a 

 " Badge " rather than a Coat of Arms proper an extremely hand- 

 some Badge and one of very early date.] 



II. ARMS OF DORSET. 



When we come to the Arms of the County the record is simple, 

 for Dorset has no Arms. In the Natural History of Ireland under 

 the head of " Snakes " it is recorded that Ireland has no snakes. 

 Of Dorset under the head of " Arms " we may enter up a parallel 

 record. It is true that wherever the County Council of Dorset 

 makes its presence known, whether it be in advertisements in the 

 newspapers, on documentary records, on certificates for proficiency 

 in mental or manual education, on notices in public places in town 

 or in village or in hamlet, there it marks its ubiquitous influence 

 with the ensign of three emaciated heraldic lions passant. How is 

 this, and can the use of these three lions be justified 1 Counties in 

 England had no right to Arms until the passing of the County 

 Council Act in 1888. Before that time counties as having no 

 corporate existence could have no right to Arms. Two counties 

 were in an exceptional position in this respect namely, Lancashire 

 and Cornwall. These enjoyed Arms by courtesy the first as the 

 Duchy of the Sovereign, the second as the Duchy of the Prince. 

 The white horse of Kent was regarded by heralds at best as a 

 badge, and not as the Arms of the County. The establishment of 

 County Councils entitled counties, by calling them into corporate 

 existence (Local Government Act, 1888, sec. 79), to Arms, and the 

 same sec. directs that they shall have a seal. There is nothing in 

 the Act which prescribes that such a seal should bear a device of 

 Arms ; that is a matter for each county to determine as it pleases. 

 Such a seal may be quite plain and merely be inscribed " The seal 

 of the Administrative County of Dorset." It may, on the other 

 hand, be adorned with Arms, but in this case there is one way, 

 and one legitimate way only, of obtaining Arms, and that is by due 

 application through the Heralds' College to the Earl Marshal. I 

 cannot do better than quote what Mr. Fox-Davies says as to this : 



