circumstances to which heraldry owes its power of pleasing, is only to be found in books very rarely met with in modern libraries. The present attempt was suggested by the author's desire to compress the opinions advanced into a reasonable compass, and bring within a single volume the various illustrations required.⁕ Great facility has been afforded for its prosecution by the liberality of the publisher, and by the additional satisfaction of having all the drawings with which the work is embellished, made upon the wood under the author's own inspection, by his daughter, Sophia Barbara Moule, an advantage which will be best appreciated by those who know the great difficulty of obtaining heraldic drawings correctly executed, in which the beauty, in a great measure, depends on the character of the different periods of art. In the limited view of heraldry here taken, calculated rather to excite than gratify curiosity, it has not been considered merely with reference to the contents of the shield, or the simple coats of arms, as found on the banners of the Paladins of Europe.† The custom of marshalling, in which the arms are blended by family alliances, has been the means of affording some illustrations. The modes of representing heraldry on the baronial and municipal seals, exhibiting no want of invention, and differing from the arrangement on the ancient standards, * In France, where Heraldry meets with great encouragement, two volumes have appeared on the fleur-de-lis alone, by M. Rey, in 1837. + Those Rolls of Arms which have been printed, forming the best source of information on English Heraldry, are enumerated in the Rev. J. A. Montagu's excellent "Guide to the Study of Heraldry ;" and since that elegant publication appeared, a MS. collection of the arms and quarterings of the Council of the Marchers, chiefly of the time of Elizabeth, has been printed, by the Hon. R. H. Clive, among the "Documents connected with the History of Ludlow," 1841. are here shown. The lordly cognizance and the household badge have both been noticed; these were in constant use from the time of King Richard II. to that of King Henry VII, when the number of the retainers indicated the greatness of the family. The most magnificent display of heraldry was afforded by the splendid ceremonial of the tournament, Where throngs of knights and barons bold In weeds of peace high triumphs hold. The irregular luxuriance of these gorgeous assemblages gave rise to the tenans, and supporters of arms, additional appendages of rank requisite to be known; almost equal splendour was shown in the rich ecclesiastial embellishments used by the higher orders of prelates, and not less interesting is the monkish rebus, rendered venerable by antiquity. Another description of illustration is derived from coins and tokens, the devices on which have an interest in connexion with the subject. The badges of tenure, the badges of trade, and of merchants enriched by commerce, the marks of printers, and even the signs of inns, have been found entitled to inquiry. The examples afforded by this variety of representation furnish models which may prove useful to the artist who wishes to cultivate, successfully, heraldic embellishments. In a professional point of view, the utility of heraldry will be readily admitted; its devices form evidence, in many cases, connected with property and honours, and frequently identify or separate persons of the same name when other means fail—a difficulty constantly occurring. Its use also, without overrating its claims, soon becomes apparent to all who wish to attain any proficiency in history, where its importance in fixing in the memory the series and connexion of events proves its value. The painter will do well to seek the assistance of heraldry in his representations of historical subjects; he who feels its introduction as an accessary to pictorial effect, need not be told, that chronological accuracy in armorial design is equally requisite with fidelity of costume or the correct portraiture of the persons represented. To the architect heraldry affords an unlimited extent of enrichment in exterior sculpture; and the judgment of C. Barry, R. A., the architect of the House of Lords, has admitted it, as an important feature, in the principal facade of that splendid edifice. The introduction of arms in windows and pavements also renders it necessary that the architect should be acquainted, not only with the rules, but with the peculiar character of the heraldry of different periods. To the naturalist it is not entirely without interest: the late illustrious Cuvier added a knowledge of heraldry to his other pursuits; and the patient investigation of the swan-marks of antiquity by Mr. Yarrell, in his "History of British Birds," shows considerable attention to the subject: some of these marks, as the key, the crozier, and the arrow, on the swans of the Lord Chamberlain, the Abbot of Swinstead, and of Eton College, bear a close affinity to the devices of heraldry. It has been the custom, from the time that heraldry was first reduced to system, to arrange the variety of armorial bearings under the natural and artificial figures of which they are composed; the division of natural history relating to fish forms but a very small part of the principal books in use whenever heraldry is required. Guillim, in his celebrated Display, devotes one chapter⁕ to skinned and scaled fish, and in another he treats of crusted and shelled fish. Nisbet, the herald of Scotland, also, in his System,‡ describes the heraldry of fish in general; but both writers are necessarily very brief. This part of the subject appeared capable of sustaining a more minute inquiry, without descending into tediousness; there is found to be no want of distinguished names to give attraction to the particular branch the author has chosen, in which he has endeavoured to explain the principles of early heraldry, which is shown to have been rather territorial than personal. A greater number of the various species of fish have been enumerated; the dolphin, the herring, and the fish of the sea, have afforded several engravings, but the salmon and trout, with the pike, barbel, and roach, and the other fish of the rivers, present the widest field for inquiry; where the illustrations selected for this work are professedly taken from old examples, the copy has been rigidly followed, and in the original designs the peculiar characters of the different fish are given with the same attempt at accuracy which the ancient heralds would have practised with the same opportunities: this feature will not be overlooked by the angler, the naturalist, or the antiquary. Although military service was the principal tenure by which lands. were anciently held, yet the different modes of taking fish by the spear, the net, or the hook, are shown to have been indicated in the armorial ensigns of the lords of manors deriving revenue from the produce of the fishery. The boats employed in the same service, which were + Chapter xxiii. * Chapter xxii. of his third section. at the command of the sovereign in time of war, and formed the original Navy of Britain, distinguish the ensigns of the maritime lords, and the corporate bodies to whom the jurisdiction of the ports was entrusted. Heraldry partaking largely of allegory, it became necessary to allude to the mythological and religious emblems consisting of fish, as well as to notice the many compound animals, the fanciful creations of the classical poets; these conceptions, which excite so much inquiry, rendered it more difficult to do justice within a small space to a subject which appeared to merit farther investigation. March, 1842. |