ploits and extraordinary services done to the republic. Examples of some of these crowns are frequently met with in modern achievements. Modern crowns are only used as an ornament, which emperors, kings, and independent princes set on their heads, in great solemnities, to denote their sovereign authority. These are described in heraldry as follow: The imperial crown is made of a circle of gold, adorned with precious stones and pearls, heightened with fleurs-de-lis, bordered and seeded with pearls, raised in the form of a cap voided at the top, like a crescent. From the middle of this cap rises an arched fillet enriched with pearls, and surmounted of a mound, whereon is a cross of pearls. See Plate 85. The crown of the kings of Great Britain is a circle of gold, bordered with ermine, enriched with pearls and precious stones, and heightened up with four crosses pattce, and four large fleurs-de-lis alternately; from these rise four arched diadems adorned with pearls, which close under a mound, surmounted of a cross like those at bottom. The crowns of Spain and Portugal are a ducal coronet, heightened up with eight arched diadems that support a mound, ensigned with a plain cross. Those of Denmark and Sweden are beth of the same form; and consist of eight arched dia lens, rising from a marquis's coronet, which conjoin at the top under a mound ensigned with a cross botone. The crowns of most other kings in Europe are circles of gold, adorned with precious stones, and heightened up with large trefoils, and closed by four, six, or eight diadems, supporting a mound, surmounted of a cross. The great Turk bears over his arms a turban, enriched with pearls and diamonds, under two coronets, the first of which is made of pyramidical points heightened up with large pearls, and the uppermost is surmounted with crescents. The pope appropiates to himself a tiara or long cap of golden cloth, from which hang two pendants embroidered and fringed at the ends, semée of crosses of gold. This cap is inclosed by three marquis's coronets; and has on its top a mound of gold, whereon is a cross of the same, which cross is sometimes represented by engravers and painters pometted, recrossed, flowery, or plain. It is a difficult matter to ascertain the time when these haughty prelates assumed the three forementioned coronets. See Piate 84. Coronets The coronet of the prince of Wales, or eldest son of the king of Great Britain, was anciently a circle of gold set round with four crossespattee, and as many fleurs-de-lis alternately; but since the Restoration it has been closed with one arch only, adorned with pearls, and surmounted of a mound and cross, and bordered with ermine like the king's. But besides the coronet his royal highness has another distinguishing mark of honour, peculiar to himself, viz. a plume of three ostrich feathers, with an ancient coronet of a prince of Wales. Under it, in a scroll, is this motto, Ick dien, which in the German or old Saxon language signifies "I serve." This device was at first taken by Edward prince of Wales, commonly called the black prince, after the famous battle of Cressy, in 1346, where baving with bis own hand killed John, king of Bohemia, he took from his head such a plume, and put it on his own. See Plate 85. The coronet of all the immediate sons and brothers of the kings of Great Britain is a circle of gold, bordered with ermine, heightened up with four fleurs-de-lis, and as many crosses-pattee alternate. The particular and distinguishing form of such coronets as are appropriated to princes of the blood royal is described and settled in a grant of Charles II. in the 13th of his reign. See Plate 84. The coronet of the princesses of Great Britain is a circle of gold, bordered with ermine, and heightened up with crosses-pattee, fleurs-de-lis, and strawberry leaves alternate; whereas a prince's corouet has only fleurs-de-lis and crosses. A duke's coronet is a circle of gold bordered with ermine, enriched with precious stones and pearls, and set round with eight large strawberry or parsley leaves. See Plate 84. A marquis's coronet is a circle of gold, bordered with ermine, set round with four strawberry leaves, and as many pearls on pyramidical points of equal height, alternate. Sce Plate 84. An earl's coronet is a circle of gold, bordered with ermine, heightened up with eight pyramidical points or rays, on the tops of which are as many large pearls, that are placed alternately with as many strawberry leavcs, but the pearls much higher than the leaves. See Plato 84. A viscount's coronet differs from the preceding ones as being only a circle of gold bordered with ermine, with large pearls set close together on the rim, without any united number, which is his prerogative above the baron, who is limited. See Plate 81. A baron's coronet, which it appears was granted by king Charles 11, is formed with six pearls set at equal distances on a gold circle, bordered with ermine, our of which only are seen on engravings, paintings, &c. to shew he is inferior to the visSee Plate 84. count. The eldest sons of peers, above the degree of a baron, bear their father's arms and supporters with a label, and use the coronet appertaining to their father's second title; and all the younger sons bear their arms with proper differences, but use no coronets. As the crown of the king of Great Britain is not quite like that of other potentates, so do most of the coronets of foreign noblemen differ a little from those of the British nobility. Mitres.-The archbishops and bishops of England and Ireland place a mitre over their coat of arms. It is a round cap pointed and cleft at the top, from which bang two pendants fringed at both ends; with this difference, that the bishop's initre is only surrounded with a fillet of gold, set with precious stones, whereas the archbishop's issues out of a ducal coronet. See Plate 84. This ornament, with other ecclesiastical garments, is still worn by all the archbishops and bishops of the church of Rome, whenever they officiate with solemnity; but it is never used in England otherwise than on coats of arms, as before mentioned. The first archbishop's consecration in England was in the year 568. No mitre but an archbishop's is borne upon a ducal coronet, except the bishop of Durham, that see being a principality. The first bishop's consecration in England was in the year 516. Chapeaux, wreaths, and crests.A chapeau is an ancient hat, or rather cap, of dignity, worn by dukes, generally scarlet-coloured velvet on the outside, lined and turned up with fur; frequently to be met with above an helmet, instead of a wreath, under gentlemen's and noblemen's crests, Heretofore they were seldom to be found, as of right appertaining to primate families; but by the grants of Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, and other succeeding heralds, these, together with ducal coronets, are now frequently to be met with in families, who yet claim not above the degree of gentlemen. See Plate 85. The wreath is a kind of roll made of two skains of silk of different colours twisted together, which ancient knights wore as a head-dress when equipped for tournaments. The colours of the silk are always taken from the principal metal and colour contained in the coat of arms of the bearer. They are still accounted as one of the lesser ornaments of escutcheons, and are placed between the helmet and the crest (see Plate 85). In the time of Henry I. and long after, no man who was under the degree of a knight had his crest set on a wreath; but this, like other prerogatives, has been infringed so far that every body now-a-days wears a wreath. The crest is the highest part of the ornaments of a coat of arms. It is called crest from the Latin word crista, which signifies comb or tuft, such as many birds have upon their heads, as the peacock, pheasant, &c. in allusion to the place on which it is fixed. See Plate 85, crest of the prince of Wales. Crests were formerly great marks of honour, because they were only worn by heroes of great valour, or by such as were advanced to some superior military command, in order that they might be the better distinguished in an engagement, and there by rally their men if dispersed; but they are at present considered as a mere ornament. The crest is frequently a part either of the supporters, or of the charge borne in the escutcheon. Thus the crest of the royal achievement of Great Britain is a "lion guardant crowned." There are several instances of crests that are relative to alliances, employments, or names; and which on that account have been changed. See CREST. The scroll and supporters.-The scroll is the ornament usually placed below the crest, containing a motto, or short sentence, sanding thereto, or to the bearings, or to the bearer's name, as in the two following instances. The motto of the noble earl of Cholmondeley is, "Cassis tutissima virtus;" i. e. "Virtue is the safest helmet;" on account of the helmet in the coat of arms. The motto of the right hon. loid Fortescue is," Forte scutum salus ducum;" i. e." A strong shield is the safety of the commanders;" alluding to the name of that ancient family. Sometimes it has reference to neither, but expresses something divine or heroic; as that of the earl of Scarborough, which is, "Murus æreus conscientia sana ;" i. e. "A good conscience is a wall of brass." Others are enigmatical; as that of the royal achieve ment, which is, "Dieu et mon droit;" i. e." God and my right;" introduced by Edward III. in 1340, when he assumed the arms and title of king of France, and began to prosecute his claim, which occasioned long and bloody wars, fatal, by turns, to both kingdoms. Mottos, though hereditary in the families that first took them up, have been changed on some particular occasions, and others appropriated in their stead, instances of which are sometimes met with in the history of families. Supporters are figures standing on a scroll, and placed at the side of the escutcheon; they are so called because they seem to support or hold up the shield. Supporters have formerly been taken from such animals or birds as are borne in the shields, and sometimes they have been chosen as bearing some allusion to the names of those whose arms they are made to support. The supporters of the arms of Great Britain, since king James the First's accession to the throne, are, a lion rampant guardant crowned or, on the dexter side, and an unicorn argent, crowned, arıned, unguled, maned and gorged with an antique crown, to which a chain is affixed, all or, on the sinister. It is to be observed, that bearing coats of arms supported, is, according to the heraldic rules of England, the prerogative, 1st, Of those called nobiles majores, viz. dukes, marquisses, earls, viscounts, barons: 2d, Of all knights of the garter, though they should be under the degree of barons: 3d. Of knights of the Bath, who both receive on their creation a grant of supporters; and, lastly, of such knights as the king chooses to bestow this honour upon. v Of the laws of heraldry, and the method of marshalling coats of arms.-1. The first and most general rule is, to express heraldic distinctions in proper terms, so as not to omit any thing that ought to be specified, and at the same time to be clear and concise without tautology. 2. Begin with the tincture of the field, and then proceed to the principal charges which possess the most honourable place in the shield, such as fess, chevron, &c. always naming that charge first which lies next and immediately upon the field. 3. After naming the tincture of the field, the honourable ordinaries, or other principal figures, you must specify their attributes, and afterwards their metal or colour. 4. When an honourable ordinary, or some one figure, is placed upon another, whether it be a fess, cheveron, cross, &c. it is always to be named after the ordinary or figure over which it is placed, with one of these expressions, surtout, or over all. 5. In the blazoning of such ordinaries as are plain, the bare mention of them is sufficient; but if an ordinary should be made of any of the crooked lines mentioned above, its form must be specified; that is, whether it be engrailed, wavy, &c. 6. When a principal figure possesses the centre of the field, its position is not to be expressed, or (which amounts to the same thing) when a bearing is named, without specifying the point where it is placed, then it is understood to possess the middle of the shield. 7. The number of the points of mullets or stars must be specified when more than five; and also if a mullet or any other charge be pierced, it must be mentioned as such, to distinguish it from what is plain. 8. When a ray of the sun, or other single figure, is borne in any other part of the escutcheon than the centre, the point it issues from must be named. 9. The natural colour of trees, plants, fruits, birds, &c. is no otherwise to be expressed in blazoning but by the word proper; but if discoloured, that is, if they differ from their natural colour, it must be parti cularised. 10. When three figures are in a field, and their position is not mentioned in the blazon ing, they are always understood to be placed two above and one below. 11. When there are many figures of the same species borne in a coat of arms, their number must be observed as they stand, and must be distinctly expressed. By marshalling coats of arms is to be understood the art of disposing divers of them in one escutcheon, and of distributing their contingent ornaments in proper places. Various causes may occasion arms to be thus conjoined, which are comprised under two heads, viz. inanifest and obscure. What is meant by mani est causes in the marshalling of coats of arms, are such as betoken marriages, or a sovereign's gift, granted either through the special favour of the prince, or for some eminent services. Concerning marriages it is to be observed, 1. When the coats of arms of a married couple, descended of distinct families, are to be put together in one escutcheon, the field of their respective arms is conjoined paleways, and blazoned parted per pale, baron and femme, two coats; first, &c. In which case the baron's arms are always to be placed on the dexter side, and the femme's arms on the sinister side. 2. If a widower marry again, his late and present wife's arms are "to be placed on the sinister side, in the escutcheon with his own, and parted per pale. The first wife's coat shall stand on the chief, and the second on the base; or he may set them both in pale with his own, the first wife's coat next to himself, and his second outermost. If he should marry a third wife, then the two first matches shall stand on the chief, and the third shall have the whole base. And if he take a fourth wife, she must participate one-half of the base with the third wife, and so will they seem to be so many coats quartered." But it must be observed, that these forms of impaling are meant of hereditary coats, whereby the husband stands in expectation of having the hereditary possessions of his wife united to his patrimony.-Note. If a man marry a widow, he marshals her maiden arms only. 3. In the arms of femmes joined to the paternal coat of the baron, the proper differences by which they were borne by the fathers of such women must be inserted. 4. If a coat of arms that has a bordure be impaled with another, as by marriage, then the bordure must be wholly omitted in the side of the arms next the centre. 5. The person that marries an heiress, instead of impaling his arms with those of his wife, is to bear them in an escutcheon placed in the centre of his shield, which, on account of its showing forth his pretension to her estate, is called an escutcheon of pretence, and is blazoned surtout, that is, over all. But the children are to bear the hereditary coat of arms of their father and mother quarterly, which denotes a fixed inheritance, and so transmit them to posterity. The first and fourth quarters generally contain the father's arms, and the second and third the mother's; except the heirs should derive not only their estate but also their title and dignity from their mo ther. 6. If a maiden or dowager lady of quality marry a commoner, or a nobleman inferior to her in rank, their coats of arms may be set beside one another, in two separate escutcheons, upon one mantle or drapery, and the lady's arms ornamented according to her title. See Plate 84. 7. Archbishops and bishops impale their arms differently from the fore-mentioned coats, in give ing the place of honour, that is, the dexter side, to the arms of their dignity, as it is expressed in Plate 84, which represents the coat of arms of a supposed archbishop of Canterbury and bishop of an English see, With respect to such armorial ensigns as the sovereign thinks fit to augment a coat of arms with, they may be marshalled in various ways, as may be seen in the arms of his grace the duke of Rutland, and many others. So far the causes for marshalling divers arms in one shield, &c. are manifest. As to such as are called obscure, that is, when coats of arms are marshalled in such a manner that no probable reason can be given why they are so conjoined, the explanation of them must be left to the heralds. V Of the orders of knighthood, &c.—The baronet's mark of distinction, or the arms of the province of Uister in Ireland, granted and made hereditary in the male line by king James I. who erected this dignity on the 22d of May, 1611, in the 9th year of his reign, in order to propagate a plantation in the fore-mentioned province. This mark is argent, a sinister hand couped at the wrist, and erected gules; which may be borne either in a cantou, or in an escutcheon, as will best suit the figures of the arms. The ancient and respectable badge of the most noble order of the garter was instituted by king Edward III. 1319, in the 27th year of his reign. This honourable augmentation is a deep blue garter, surrounding the arms of such knights, and inscribed with this motto, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." The arms of those who are knights of the orders of the Eath, of the Thistle, or of St. Patrick, are marshalled in the same manner, with this differ ence only, that the colour and motto accord with the order to which it belongs. Thus the motto, "Quis separabit 1783" on the light blue ribbon of the order, surrounds the escutcheon of a knight of St. Patrick. "Nemo me impune lacessit," on a green riband, distinguishes a knight of the Thistle; and "Tria juncta in uno," on red, a knight of the Bath. It is to be observed, that none of the orders of knighthood are hereditary. The honours of a baronet of Ulster, and of a baronet of Nova Scotia (created by patent in 1602), descend to the heirs-male. For representations of the badges of the several orders of knighthood, see Plate 85. Of funeral escutcheons.-After having treated of the essential parts of coats-of-arms, of the various charges and ornaments usually borne therewith, of their attributes and dispositions, and of the rules for blazoning and marshalling them, we shall next describe the several funeral escutcheons, usually called hatchments; whereby may be known, after any person's decease, what rank either he or she held when living; and if it be a gentleman's hatchment, whether he was a bachelor, married man, or widower, with the like distinctions for gentlewomen. The hatchment is usually affixed to the fronts of houses, when any of the nobility or gentry die. The arms, if the deceased be a private gentleman, are parted per pale with those of his wife. The ground without the escutcheon being black, denotes the man to be dead; and the ground on the sinister side being white, signifies that the wife is living, which is distinctly shown in Plate 85, where also all the varieties of hatchments are displayed, according to the following descriptions. When a married gentlewoman dies first, the hatchment is distinguished by a contrary colour from the former; that is, the arms on the sinister side have the ground without the escutcheon black; whereas those on the dexter side, for her surviving |