Gules, on a fess argent, between three congers' or dragons' heads erased or, as many trefoils slipped sable, are the arms of the family of Congleton of Northamptonshire. Argent, a chevron between three demi-congers naiant gules, are the arms of the family of Shambrooke. Congers acquire a very large size, and are recorded by naturalists to have occasionally measured more than ten feet in length and eighteen inches in circumference, weighing from eighty to one hundred and thirty pounds. They are borne in arms by the family of Conghurst, azure, three congers hauriant argent. The head of this fish is more frequently found in heraldry. Sable, three congers' heads erased and erect argent, are the arms of Hotoft, an ancient family of Nottinghamshire. Some branches of the family bear for crest, a conger's head erect and erased azure, gorged with a mural coronet or, with chain and ring of the last. Argent, a chevron between three congers' heads erased, are the arms of the family of Canbrook; and, per chevron gules and or, three sea-dragons ducally crowned counterchanged, are the arms of the family of Easton of Devonshire. The conger is known to be so voracious as not to spare even those of its own species; it has the power to crush with its jaws the strong shells of lobsters and other crustaceous fish. It possesses great tenacity of life, together with great strength, and often proves a formidable antagonist to the fisherman, if assailed in its quarters among the rocks. These characteristics support the assumption that the conger is the prototype not only of the wivern, or sea-dragon of English heraldry, but of the poetical dragon, the dragon of the monkish legends, the representation of Evil, and the serpent of the romances. It would not be difficult to show that the dragon, a leading symbol of heraldry, has the same source as the Urgunda of the Mexicans, the great serpent on the Chinese banner, and the sea-snake of the Scandinavians. The destruction of dragons appears to have been one of the most common of all miracles in the earlier ages of the Church; besides the well-known exploits of Saint George, Saint Michael, and Saint Margaret, ecclesiastical history abounds in similar legends. The simple explanation of these, lies in considering the various victories represented to have been gained over dragons, as so many conquests obtained by virtue over vice. Some of these miracles have another allegorical signification, and are supposed to be intended to typify the confining of rivers within their proper channels, or limiting the incursions of the sea. The emblem of St. Margaret, their patron saint, is borne in the arms of the corporation of the ancient borough of Lynn, in Norfolk. Azure, three congers' or dragons' heads erased and erect, the jaws of each pierced with a cross crosslet fitchy or, were the arms of the priory founded by Bishop Herbert de Losing, in the time of William Rufus; the same as now borne by the town of Lynn. Margaret the Virgin, the tutelary saint and especial patroness of Lynn, is represented on the corporation seal on a dragon, and wounding it with the cross: the inscription is, "SVB. MARGARETA. TERITVR. DRACO. STAT. CRVCE. LETA. The same saint, subduing and trampling upon the dragon, is also represented on the conventual seals of West Acre Priory, Thetford, and Norwich Priories, and that of Saint Margaret at Hilburgh, all in the same county. The Order of the Dragon Overthrown, the knighthood of Hungary, was instituted by the Emperor Sigismund in 1418, for the purpose of engaging the Hungarian nobility in the defence of the frontiers of that country against the Turks. A dragon was an ancient ensign of this part of Germany, and, after Trajan's Dacian war, was substituted for the eagle of the Romans, and from them passed as a standard to several European nations. A dragon was depicted on the banners of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, and was so borne by the Milesian kings of Ireland: during the Crusades it was considered as the symbol of the British nation. From having been used by Cadwallo, and other potentates of Wales, it descended to King Henry VII, and by him the red dragon was assumed as one of the supporters of the royal arms of England; and Rouge dragon pursuivant was created. Two dragons argent, were afterwards used by the city of London in the same manner, but charged on the wing with the cross of Saint George. THE LAMPREY. Azure, on a bend or, three lampreys of the field, are the arms of the family of Castleton of Suffolk; and, or, three lampreys, are the arms of the family of Lamprell. The proper colour of the body of the lamprey is olive brown, spotted on the back and sides with dark green. Sable, three lampreys in pale argent, are the arms of the family of Radford of Dawlish, in Devonshire. The lamprey is a fish common in some of the rivers on the southern coast of England, and particularly so in the Severn. At Worcester, where it is prepared in various ways for the table, the lamprey is in high estimation; and it has been a custom for the citizens of Gloucester annually to present the sovereign with a lamprey pie. The lamproun, which often occurs in old accounts of provisions, is supposed to be a different fish from the lamprey; both are mentioned as provided for Archbishop Warham's installation feast in 1503. The muræna of the Romans, from the Mediterranean, generally translated lamprey, is also a different fish, more of the eel kind. The remora, or sucking-fish, common in the Mediterranean, was well known to the Romans, and is famed for its power over the vessel of the mariner : : The sucking-fish beneath, with secret chains It is mentioned as borne in arms on the authority of Peacham.⁕ That quaint writer says, "Of fishes you shall find in armes the whale, the dolphin, the salmon, the trout, barbel, turbot, herring, roach, remora, and escallop shells; " and adds, that “you must be very heedful in the blazoning of fishes, by reason of the variety of their natures." The arms bearing the remora, alluded to by Peacham, are not known; but as an emblem of prudence this fish is used in heraldry. The dexter supporter of the arms of the Earl Howe is described, in some authorities, as Prudence habited argent, mantled azure, holding a javelin entwined with a It is a fish seldom exceeding a foot in length; the tail and fins are comparatively very small. remora. * On Blazoning Arms, in the Gentleman's Exercise, 1630. XI. The Sturgeon. The Sturgeon, a large sea fish, is occasionally caught on the eastern coast of England, and, when taken near land, is considered a royal fish, and is sent to the king. Whatever fish the vulgar fry excell Belong to Cæsar, wheresoe'er they swim, By their own worth confiscated to him. In the northern parts of Europe this fish is numerous. A great sturgeon fishery is at the mouth of the Wolga, in the Caspian Sea. They are caught in weirs, similar to those used in Scotland for salmon. Sturgeon are abundant in the Danube, and attain a large size; but those taken in the Theiss, one of the branches of that river, are remarkable for fatness and delicate flavour. The flesh of this fish, when fresh, is very fine, and more like veal than even turtle. It is of the roe that the caviar, so much prized at Constantinople, is prepared. Azure, three sturgeons argent, fretty gules, are the arms of the family of Sturgney; and, azure, three sturgeons naiant in pale or, over all fretty gules, are the arms of the family of Sturgeon of Whepstead, near Bury, in Suffolk, who bear for crest a sturgeon naiant or, fretty gules. On the monument of Sir John Spelman, 1545, in Narborough Church, Norfolk, are inlaid portraits, engraved on brass, of the knight and his lady: on the lady's mantle are the arms of Sturgeon, quartered with those of her own family, Frowick of Gunnesbury, in Middlesex. She is represented kneeling at a priedieu, and over the figures is an engraving of the Resurrection.⁕ ⁕ Engraved in Cotman's Sepulchral Brasses in Norfolk, 1819. |