The fr. Masse d'armes is a weapon, and somewhat similar to the club called Massue, the latter term being in French armory more frequently employed. See under Staff.
Magnet, or rather Magnetic needle, is represented in one instance, and a Compass-Dial in another. A compass also occurs in the hands of the demi-miner, which serves as the crest of the Company of MINERS ROYAL[Inst. 1568].
Man: although not found in early arms, in later arms the human figure is found represented in all varieties. The man in armour has already been noted as frequent, especially as a supporter: no less frequent is the Savage, or, as he is indifferently termed, the Wild-man, or Wood-man, a manwreathed about the head and loins with leaves, and generally carrying a club. The man is frequently represented naked, or sometimes only vested round the loins, as in the case of the Savage. The Watchman, in the arms of the town of WARWICK, would be represented as a soldier. In the arms of the MINERS' COMPANY the miner is described(see Mine), but more minutely in the description of the supporters of the arms of that Company(see below). Men are also frequently referred to be their nationality, e.g. an African, a Negro(see under Cinnamon), a Moor, a Blackamoor, an Indian, a Beloochee Soldier, a Danish Warrior, &c., &c. A man may also be represented in various positions, e.g. in one coat hanging on a gallows. See under Armour, also under Head.
As already said, the different varieties of men are more frequently exhibited in the supporters of coats of arms, a few examples, therefore, are here given, which speak for themselves: a remarkable one, viz. a student of the University of Oxford will have been noticed under Knitting-frame.
Gyronny of eight gules and sable three mandrakesargent[another or]--BODYHAM.
D'azure à cinq plantes de mandragore d'argent mal ordonnees; au franc quartier d'hermine--CHAMPS, Nivernais.
Maned, of a Horse: rarely of other animal, e.g. of an Antelope, &c., as the term Crined is more frequently used. Mangonel. See Sling. Mantelé, (fr.): while the Chapé (q.v.) is supposed to obscure, as with a hood, a part of the shield, so mantelé is supposed to obscure the same with a mantle, i.e. a greater part is so obscured: (according to some=party per chevron extending to the top of the escutcheon). Not, however. used in any English arms.
Mantle.
Mantle.
Mantle, (Mantling, or Cappeline, fr. Lambrequin): this device of the painter to give prominence to the coat of arms and crest in considered in theoretical heraldry to represent the lambrequin, or covering of the helmet, to protect it from the sun or rain. Some authorities contend it should be of the principal colour and metal of the bearer's arms, but red and white have most frequently been used in England. The Royal mantling should be of gold and ermine; that of peers is often of crimson(representing crimson velvet), lined with ermine. This kind of mantle cannot be used by ladies, being inseparable from the helmet.
The Robe of estate, however, may be used as a mantle(fr. manteau), in which sense it may be borne by all ranks of gentlemen, and by peeresses, and it is represented as encircling the crest, if any, and the whole of the shield or lozenge with its external appendages. The mantle may be embroidered on the outside with the arms, or be powdered with heraldic objects.
No man of lower rank than a knight(or perhaps than a peer) should double his mantle with ermine. Maple-tree: this has been observed but in one coat of arms.
Marcassin. See Boar. Marché, (old fr.): for the cow's hoof. Marigold, (fr. fleur de souci): this is more frequent than might be supposed. It is equally common in French arms. It will be observed that in one coat of arms a French marigold is specified.
Marined, (fr. mariné): a term fancifully applied to any beast having the lower parts of a fish, e.g. a Lionmarined for Sea Lion, q.v. Marlet, Marlion, Merlion. See Martlet. Marquess: the second order in the peerage of England, being below a duke, but above an earl. The title seems to have been originally given to certain officers to whom was committed the government of the Marches, or borders of Wales. We find the word Marchio used in this sense as early as the reign of Henry III. The first Marquess in the modern sense of the word was Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, whose elevation for life to the marquisate of Dublin by King Richard II. (in the year 1386) gave no small offence to the earls, who were obliged to yield him precedence. In Sept. 1397, the same king made John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, Marquess of Dorset, which title was taken from him in the next reign. The oldest existing marquisate is that of Winchester, created by King Edw. VI. in 1551. A special coronet belongs to the Marquess. Marqueté, (fr.): spotted, used of a trout. See under Salmon. Mars. (1.) The planetary name for Gules. (2.) Astronomical sign of. See Letters. Marshal: a title formerly granted by the Sovereign at will. William the Conqueror appointed the Earls of Hereford and Arundel Marshals of England, but in 1672 the office of EarlMarshal was annexed to the Dukedom of Norfolk.
Shields accolées.
Marshalling is the art of arranging several coats of arms in one shield, for the purpose of denoting the alliances of a family.
Before marshalling was introducing rare instances occur of arms composed, i.e. when an addition of a portion of the arms of a wife has been made to those of the husband. The instance usually quoted(though of most doubtful authority) is that of Henry II. taking an additional lion upon his marriage with Eleanor of Guienne.
a. Impaling. The simplest and earliest way of placing the arms of a husband and wife was side by side. Shields thus placed are said to be accolées, or in collateral position. Contemporary with this practice, but continuing much longer, was the custom of impalingarms by dimidiation, the dexter half of the husband's arms being joined to the sinister half of the wife's.
VALENCE-CHASTILLON.
This was much practised about the time of King Edward I. The arms of Aylmer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and Mary his wife, daughter of Guy de Chastillon, may be taken as an example. They are borne by Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, founded by the latter in 1343.
An early instance of dimidiation, though rudely represented, occurs on a brass in Stanton Harcourt Church, Oxfordshire, which commemorates Sir Richard Harcourt(ob. 1330), who married Margaret, daughter of Sir John BEKE of Eresby.
Dimidiation in many cases, however, was found inconvenient, and was exchanged for impaling the coats entire, though bordures, tressures, and orles were usually omitted(as they are still) on the side next the line of impalement.
SEGRAVE-BUTTETOURT.
As an instances of impaling an example from the arms in Dorchester Church, Oxfordshire, is given.
In a few early instances, in which the wife was of much higher rank than the husband, her arms were placed upon the dexterside; a seal of John of Ghent, as King of Castile and Leon, is an example.
When the wife is an heiress(even in expectation) it is now customary for the husband to bear her arms upon an escutcheon or pretence; but it is evident that until the husband has issue by the heiress, and until the death of her father, he should merely impale her arms; because until then be cannot transmit her inheritance to his posterity. Instances might be cited of husbands bearing their wives' arms both upon an escutcheon of pretence over their own, and also as an implement.
Many modern heralds condemn the practice of a knightimpaling the arms of his wife within the garter or collar of his order, but there are many precedents for so doing. The widow of a knight, though she continues to impale the arms of her deceased husband in a lozenge, must of course relinquish his insignia of knighthood. When a man marries a second wife, he should certainly cease to impale the arms of the first. Some, however, have thought proper to impale both, which may be done in two ways, as shewn in the annexed cuts(figs. 1, 2), the bend shewing the position of the man'sarms, and the numerals those of his wives. The other figures shew how the arms of three, five, and seven wives might have been borne, or at least represented. When a widow of a peer marries a second time, her second husband impales her paternal arms only.
Various modes of impaling Wives' arms.
Bishops, deans, heads of colleges, and kings of arms, impale the insignia of their offices with their own arms, giving the dexter, as the place of honour, to the former.
b. Quartering. Arms may be quartered for several reasons. First, a sovereignquarters the ensigns of his several states, generally giving the precedence to the most ancient, unless it be inferior to some other. The first English monarch who bore quarteredarms was Edward III., who assumed,--
in 1340, three years after his taking the title of King of France, his mother, in whose right he claimed the crown of France, being daughter and heiress of Philip the Fair. He is said to have set the example to others.
The arms, however, of Castile and Leon are quarterly(see ante, under Castle), and are sculptured on the tomb of Eleanor, Queen of Edward I., who died 1296, and thus afford an earlier example. Again, in the Inventory of the goods of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, taken in 1322, we find--
"j. autre[quintepoint, i.e. quilt,] quartelé des armes Dengleterre et de Hereford."
An early instance of quarterling arms is that of John Hastings, earl of Pembroke, who married King Edward's youngest daughter Margaret, and died 1375. Their arms are emblazoned upon the north side of the king's tomb at Westminster:--
Feudal Arms are sometimes quartered by subjects, as arms of dominion are by princes; and an augmentation is sometimes so borne. But the most common reason for quartering is to shew what heiresses have married into the family.
An elected king, or one succeeding under any special arrangement, generally places his hereditary arms upon an inescutcheon over the insignia of his dominions, as did the Emperors of Germany, and as William of Orange did, when raised to the throne of Great Britain. This has been the usage in the kingdom of Greece.
It was a frequent practice from the reign of Edward III. to that of Henry VIII. for the husband, if he acquired any great possession through his wife, to quarter her arms with his own, and even to place them in the first quarter; or sometimes to give her arms alone; or, reversing modern usage, to give her arms and others, bearing his own in an escutcheonsurtout.
The rules attending the Quartering of arms are somewhat complicated, and vary according to the attendant circumstances. The general principle is that when a man marries an heiress, all the issue of that marriage are entitled to bear both the maternal and paternal coat quartered; also the quarterings to which the mother may be entitled, so that an escutcheon may be charged with the arms of any number of families. Indeed in an achievement of the KNIGHTLEY family, in the hall at Fawsley, Northamptonshire, there are 334 quarterings.
The manner in which quarterings are acquired will be best shewn by an example. One is therefore given in the three plates annexed, and the frontispiece, which are derived from a pedigree of the WILLOUGHBY family drawn up in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. By attention to the following examples a clearer idea of the system will be obtained than by printing any code of regulations.
I.
Sir Philip MARMION, Knt., nat. circa temp. R. Jo.
=Joan, daughter and coheiress of Sir Hugh, Baron of KILPECK.
Sir P. M. bore the paternal arms alone, viz. Vair, a fessegules, fretty argent. The arms of his wife(which, according to modern practice, would be borne upon an escutcheon of pretence) were Sable, a sword in pale, point downward, argent, hilt and pomel or. The lady being an heiress, this coat descended to her children.
II.
JOAN, daughter and coheiress of Sir Philip MARMION.
=Sir Alex. FREVILE, Knt.
The arms of Sir A. F. were Or, a cross patoncegules. His wife being a coheiress of the families of Marmion and Kilpeck, bore, or by later usage might have borne, their armsquarterly.
III.
Sir Baldwin FREVILE, Knt. son and heir
=Maude, daughter of .... DEVEREUX.
He inherited the arms of Frevile from his father, and those of Marmion and Kilpeck from his mother. As his wife was not an heiress, the coat of Devereux(Argent, a fessegules, in chief three torteaux) was impaled by him during her lifetime only, after which the family of Frevile had nothing further to do with it.
IV.
Sir Baldwin FREVILE, Knt., Baron of Henley in Arden, son and heir
=ELIZABETH, d. and coh. of John de MOUNTFORTE, Baron of Beaudesert.
Sir Baldwin FREVILE, Knt., Lord of Henley in Arden, son and heir
= .. daughter of ... Lord STRANGE.
This Sir B. F. was entitled by inheritance to the following quarters--Frevile, Marmion, Kilpeck, Mountforte, De la Plaunche, and Haversham. His wife's arms(Argent, two lionspassantgules, armed and languedazure) were borne in the same manner as those of Devereux.
VI.
Sir Baldwin FREVILE, Knt., Lord of Henley in Arden, son and heir.
=JOICE, d. and coh. of John, Lord BUTTETOURT, of Welley Castle.
MARGARET, daughter and coheiress of Sir Baldwin FREVILLE, Knt.
=Sir Hugh WILLOUGHBY, of Willoughby on the Wold, Knt.
Sir H. W. bore the paternal arms(Or, on two barsgules, three waterbougetsargent) alone. His lady inherited Frevile, Marmion, Kilpeck, Mountforte, De la Plaunche, Haversham, Buttetourt, Dudley, and De la Zouche.
VIII.
Richard WILLOUGHBY, Esq., son and heir, ob. s. p. 1471.
Stained glass in the windows and brasses on the floors of churches often afford much assistance in determining family connections through the marshalling of the arms. Annexed are the arms as emblazoned upon the brass at Winwick, Lancashire, of Sir Peter Legh, who died 1527; but who, on the death of his wife, had relinquished his secular position for the priestly office, so that he is represented wearing a chasuble over his armour, but over the former a shield is represented bearing seven quarterings. They are respectively:--
I.
Robert LEIGH of Adlington, co. Chester.
=Maud(second wife) daughter and coheiress of Sir Thurston NORLEY,
Lord of Norley, &c., and heiress to BOYDELL.
The arms of this Robert Leigh were Azure, two barsargent, over all a bendcompony or and gules. His marriage was so great a match that the family, now or later, relinquished their own arms, and took those of (2)Norley instead. It seems that by this marriage were brought in the arms of--(3), Ashton(4), and Boydell(5).
II.
Piers LEIGH of Hanley, beheaded 1399
=Margaret(first wife), daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Daniers,
Lord of Grappenhall and Brone, widow of Sir John Savage.
The Leighs did not quarter the arms of Daniers. Probably they never got the lands.
III.
Sir Piers LEIGH, slain at Agincourt, 1415.
=Jane, daughter and heiress of Sir Gilbert Haydock, Lord of
Haydock and of many other manors.
IV.
Sir Piers LEIGH, knighted by Richard Duke of York, at Wakefield, 1460,
=Margaret, daughter(not heiress) of Sir Richard Molineux.
V.
Piers LEIGH, ob. 1468, in his father's lifetime.
=Mabel, daughter and heiress of James Croft, Lord of Dalton and
Claghton, and heiress to her mother, who was heiress of ... Freckelton.
By this match came in the arms of Croft(6), and Freckelton(7). Their arrangement in the shield upon the brass is anomalous; but such anomalies are not unfrequent.
KNEVET.
"Ladies often," says Haines(p. cxiii), "bore arms on their dresses, usually those of their husbands on their mantles or cloaks, and their own on their kirtles or gowns, as at Cardington, Beds, c. 1530; but after the fifteenth century their own are more frequently on the sinisterside of the mantle, their husbands' bearings occupying the dexter. The brass of Elizabeth KNEVET, 1518, at Eastington, Gloucestershire, is a good example of a lady in an heraldic mantle." The six quarters represent the families of 1. KNEVET, 2. CROMWELL, 3. TATERSHALL, 4. CAYLEY, 5. BASSET, and 6. BISHOPSDON.
When the number of coats to which a person is entitled is an odd one he usually fills up the last quarter by repeating the first. The royal arms brought into any family by an heiress(and there are more such cases than might be supposed) are sometimes placed in the first quarter, so e.g. they were borne by Cardinal Pole.
If a man marries two or more heiresses successively, the arms of each will descend only to her own children.
When a manbears a double surname(e.g. DYKE-ACLAND) it is the practice for his first quarter to contain the arms pertaining to those names quarterly, and for the second to contain his own paternal coat. This, however, is a modern usage, and, as it seems, not a very good one.
It is not uncommon, to avoid confusion by marshalling too great a number of coats in one escutcheon, to select a few of the principal, leaving out, for example, the secondary quarters brought in by heiresses. Many families entitled to a hundred or more quarters use but four, e.g. Howard, Duke of Norfolk, has done so for many generations.
In conclusion, it may be observed that quarteredarms may be borne on banners, surcoats, and official seals, just as single coats are. Marteau, (fr.): a large hammer used by smiths. Martel. See Hammer. Marten. See Weasel. Martin. See Swallow.
ADAMS.
BEAUCHAMP.
Martlet, (fr. Merlette, possibly the diminutive of the merula, merle, or blackbird): a bird resembling a swallow, with thighs but no visible legs. They form a very common bearing, being found in early Rolls, and are as common in French arms in English. They may be of any tincture, even of ermine(see example under Crescent), and are very frequently represented in orle(q.v.). It is used also as the difference of the fourth son.
Gules, a fesse between six martlets or--BEAUCHAMP, Powick, co. Worc. Sable, a martletargent--ADAMS, co. Pembroke.
Roger de MERLEY, barrée d'argent et de goulz, a la bordure d'azure et merlots d'or en la bordur--Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Sire Roger de WATEVILL, de argent a iij chevrons de goules, a un merelot de sable--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Sire Henri de APPELBY de azure a vj merelos de or--Ibid.
Monsire TEMPEST d'argent une cheveron de gules entre trois merletts du sable--Roll, temp. ED. III. Argent, five fusilsconjoined in fessegules, in chief two martletts respecting each other--DAUBENE.
Monsire de FENWIKE, port d'argent, chiefgules, a vj merletts de l'une et l'autre[i.e. counterchanged]--Ibid.
Le Conte de WINCHESTER, de goules a six mascles d'or voydes du champ--Roll, temp. HEN. III. Le Comte de WINCHESTER, de goules poudre a faux losenges d'or--Another Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Le Counte de WINCESTRE, de goules a vii lozenges d'or--Roll, temp. ED. II. Gules, seven masclesconjoined, 3, 3, 1, or--Roger DE QUINCY, Earl of Winton.
Sir Johan de GYSE, de goules a vi mascles de veer e un quarter de or--Roll, temp. ED. II. Azure, on a fesseargent, between three mascles or, as many cinquefoils of the first--PURVIS, Suffolk[Comptroller of the Navy, 1735].
Masculy would appear in some few cases to have been used as synonymous with lozengy; since the form 'o mascles voidies' occurs, and a comparison of the different blazoning of the same arms in one case points in this direction; nor is it probable that the charges in the arms of the 'Earl of KENT' were drawn as mascles. Still in many cases the term probably had its present meaning.
Guillemes de FERIERES ... de armes vermeilles ben armés, O mascles de or del champ voidiés--Roll of CAERLAVEROCK.
Sire Allisandre de FREWYLLE, d'or, a une croys mascle de ver e de goulys--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Sire Baudewyne de FREWYLLE, d'or, a une croys de goulis a les mascles de ver--Ibid.
Monsire Baldwin de FREVILL, port les armes de Latymer[i.e. gules a une crois patey or] a cinq loisanes de verre en la crois--Roll, temp. ED. III.
Le Conte de KENT, masculée de verrée et de goules--Ibid.
Sir Toham de BEZOM, mascle d'argent e de sable--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Le bon Richart de la ROKELE ... Mascle de goules et de ermine.
Cil ot son escu fait portraire Roll of Carlaverok.
Masculyn: there is a curious figure composed of a single mascle with the ends terminating in fleurs-de-lis, to which the name seems to have been given in one instance of masculynfleur-de-lisé(i.q. fleury).
Masoned, (fr. maçonné): a term used to describe the lines formed by the junction of the stones in a building. It is sometimes applied applied to the field, but more frequently to a castle, tower, or wall, q.v.
Matchlock: a doubtful figure which has been blazonedmatchlock, bill-head, ploughshare, and crescent. Probably what was intended by the figure is a rest for the gun when firing it, and not the gun itself, to which that name is given.
Maunch, (fr. manche): an ancientsleeve found as a frequent device in the earliest rolls of arms. Sometimes in French arms it is called manche mal taillée, to distinguish it from an ordinarysleeve. Generally but one maunche is borne. No doubt the three little manches[manchelles] are allusive to the name of MANSEL.
Medallion. See Medal. Meiré, or Meirée. See Potent. Melting Pot. See Founder's furnace. Membered, (fr. membré): refers to the legs of birdsargent, and to the talons and tongues of breasts of prey. Même, De, (fr.): of the same tincture. In English blazon, however, to avoid repetition, usually the expression 'of the first' or 'of the second' is employed. Menu, fr.=small and fine, e.g. menu-vair, the old form of miniver applied to a fur. See Vaire; also a menue burlure is found=barrulet(q.v.) as distinguished from grose burlure, used in the same roll and=bar.
A Merchant's Mark.
Merchant's Mark: since those engaged in trade were not formerly allowed to beararms, the merchants adopted 'marks,' often composed of their initials or other special letters intertwined, and sometimes other devices intermingled; and, though contrary to rule, they placed them in shields and sometimes marshalled them with arms. The subject of merchants' marks, found as they are frequently in stained glass, on brasses and carved in wood and tone, is too wide a subject to treat in a short article; besides which they scarcely come under the head of heraldry. One example is given, which is characteristic of very many others. It is from stained glass in S.Michael'sChurch, Oxford. The letters may possibly signify Thomas R ... Merchant of Oxford. From the whiteroses(barbed and seeded or) we may infer that he was attached to the House of York. Mercury. The planetary name for Purpure.
Mermaid, (fr. siréne): composed of the upper half of a woman(with dishevelled hair) joined to the lower half of a fish. It occurs but very seldom as a charge upon true English arms. The Siren seems to be only another name for the mermaid.
A mermaid is found on the Seal of Sir William Bruvire, or Bruere, temp. Richard I., and probably had its origin in the tales told by travellers who joined in the crusades. Mermaids occur frequently as supporters; e.g. to the arms of the Burgh of MONTROSE, as also as crests, e.g. of Lord BYRON; and Sir John WALLOP, temp. Henry VIII., who bore a blackmermaid with golden hair. The German family of DIE ERSTENBERGER bear as their crest a mermaid, but with wings instead of arms. Meslé: mingled. Used by a few old writers in describing a field of metal and colour in equal proportions, as gyronny, paly.
Mill, (fr. moulin): portions of the mill machinery are represented on coats of arms. We find first of all the Mill-stone, and this is generally borne with the mill-rind or fer de moline upon it.
Azure, three mill-stones argent, on each a mill-rind sable--MILVETON, Cheshire.
Next the Mill-wheels are sometimes found, as also the cogs of the same, and mill-clack. See under Tremoile.
Mine: this is shewn but in one coat of arms, and it is characteristic of the extraordinary details which were introduced into coats of arms in the sixteenth century.
Mitre, (fr. Mitre): one of the principal insignia of the episcopal office, although not belonging to it exclusively. There were three kinds of Mitres recognized by old writers--the precious, the 'aurifraged,' and the simple.
The privilege of wearing a mitre was first conceded to abbots and priors about the eleventh century. Soon afterwards it was decreed that mitred abbots exempt from episcopal jurisdiction should wear the second mitre mentioned above, the third being assigned to non-exempt abbots and priors. These rules do not appear to have ever been very strictly observed or enforced. It it the first which is always represented in heraldic drawing.
Though the use of the mitre as a part of the episcopal costume had, until quite recently (a), become obsolete in the Anglican Church, its prelates have continued to bear in above their arms. The mitres of the two archbishops, and the Bishop of Durham, are sometimes encircled with ducal coronets, which, however, is, at least in the two former cases, a practice of late origin, and without authority. The Bishop of Durham might(until lately) with propriety enjoy this mark of temporal dignity, as he was Count Palatine of Durham. His mitre in the sixteenth century was represented with a plume of ostrichfeathers issuing from the sinisterside and with the coronet.
(a) In recent days a mitre was worn by an Anglican Bishop for the first time on June 28, 1885, at S.Andrew's Lincoln.
Mitre.
The annexed figure of a mitre is taken from a roll of the peers of England, dated 1515. The abbots' mitres drawn in that document are precisely similar in form, but differ in the colour of the enclosed triangular spaces. Earlier mitres were generally lower: in later times they have usually been represented much higher and more acutely pointed. In all cases they should be represented with the labels, or pendent ribbons at the sides of the mitre. Sometimes the term stringed is applied to these when denoting their tincture.
As charges, mitres occur in the insignia of several English sees and abbeys, and previous to the introduction of the practice of bishopsimpaling the insignia of their sees, they often differenced their paternal arms by the addition of mitres, keys, or other official insignia within the shield.
Mole, (fr. taupe): this occurs more frequently than might have been expected. With it may be classed the mole-hill, though this is perhaps used to signify any small hill or hillock. See also under Mound.
Mogul, Fish of, (lat. Cyprinus Rohita): this fish, which is allied to the Carp(of which there is no English representation as an armorial bearing, though it is not unfrequent on the Continent) is used as a badge of dignity called the MAHI MARATIB, which dignity is said to have originated with the Mogul dynasty founded in 1206. General(created in 1807 Lord) LAKE had this dignity or order conferred upon him, and bore it on his arms.
Monsters, (fr. monstrueux): bearing in mind how much, in the way of devices, heraldry derived from the crusades and pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and what a taste seems to have been created for romance at the beginning of the twelfth century, as evidenced by the rapid expansion of the stories surrounding the exploits and death of King Arthur, it is no wonder that tales of travellers suggested remarkable animals for the varieties of distinguishing charges. The Griffin, and with it the Dragon, the one a compound of the Lion and Eagle, the king of beasts and of birds, the other an imaginary Crocodile, with the head of a serpent and the wings of a bat, were the two favourites. From the latter the forkedtongue, painted of a different tincture(generally gules), added to the terrible appearance of the monster.
Somewhat similar to these was the Cockatrice, and with it the Wyvern; these animals having but two legs instead of four, and partaking more of the character of the reptile than of the beast. Examples of each will be found under the respective heads of Griffin and Cockatrice; beneath the first of these heads are grouped the Dragon, Alce, and Opinicus; beneath the other the Wyvern, Basilisk, Amphistera, and Hydra.
Another class of monsters arose from adding wings to beasts, i.e. to the Horse, Stag, and Bull, and the python or wingedserpent may be classed with them; these will be found noticed under the heading of Pegasus, the wingedhorse. In the same way the Lion and the Ox, amongst the symbols of the Evangelists, are always represented winged.
After adding birds' and bats'wings to some animals it was only a step to add fishes' tails to others, and such appears to be simply the origin of such monsters as those to which the name of sea-horse, sea-lion, sea-dragon, and sea-dog have been applied. But next we find a group in which men appear combined with portions of animals; the old Satyr from Roman story, with the Satyral and Centaur(or Sagittarius), which last was one of the signs of the Zodiac and King Stephen's badge; also the Lampago, and man-tiger, the last two being probably but one figure. All these appear on shields. Nor is the representation of mythical forms of women overlooked. The Sphinx with the woman'shead standing at the head of them, and the classical Harpy, follows on one side, the Mermaid and Siren on the other. The mystery of fire was associated with the Phœnix and the Salamander. These latter will be found noted under the respective headings of Satyr, Sphinx, Mermaid, and Phœnix.
Lastly, combinations of animals will be found in the examples of the Unicorn and Apre, the one a horse with the tail of lion, the other a bull with the tail of a bear: the Allocamelus, partly an ass and partly a camel; the head of the Goat, which has been varied according to fancy, forming the lion-goat, and the deer-goat; and even the Eagle is in one case represented with hound'sears. Montant, (fr.): used when a charge(which has of itself no definite direction) is directed towards the chief, e.g. insects crustacea and the like: nearest English equivalent perhaps erect. Montegre=Man-tiger. Montjoie, a hill composed of six hillocks. See Mount.
(Decrescent.) DELALUNE.
(Increscent.) BALSWILL.
Moon, (fr. lune, lat. luna): the moon is a common device. It is occasionally borne full, when it is termed in her complement, and it is then figured with a human face. It may also be illuminated, that is, surrounded with very short rays. It propertincture is argent. When sable it is supposed to be eclipsed. When a half moon is represented with the horns towards the dexterside of the shield it is supposed to be increscent, and is described as in her increment; when the horns are turned to the sinisterside it is supposed to be decrescent, and is described as in her decrement(or, as some blunderingly write it, in her detriment). But these terms are chiefly found in theoretical works, and not often in practical blazon. When the horns are represented uppermost the charge is simply a Crescent, and this from the earliest times was the special ensign of the Turks.
Mortcour(so spelt, but qy. an error for Mortarium, or fr. Mortier): a candlestick used at funerals. It occurs only in the insignia of the Company of WAX CHANDLERS. In some drawings the ornamental foliage accidentally resembles small snakes.
Mortier, (fr.): a round cap worn by chancellors, &c., and placed above the crest in some French arms; somewhat similar to the Lord Mayor's Cap.
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM.
Motto: a word or sentence upon a scroll, generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest. The family motto should never be inscribed(as it too often is) upon a garter or circle, nor should it accompany the arms of any woman except the sovereign. In the case of William of WYKEHAM'S arms here given it will be seen the garter is reserved for the motto of the 'order.' His personal motto, adopted by his two colleges, is manners makyth man; and that is always found beneath. Bishops, as a rule, do not use mottoes.
Many ancientmottoes were war-cries. Such it is probable were the following:--
Forward. DOUGLAS, Duke of Queensbury. Crom a boo. (I will burn). FITZGERALD, Duke of Leinster. Courage sans peur. GAVE, Viscount Gage.
Many mottoes refer obviously to the name of the bearer, as--
Cavendo tutus--CAVENDISH. Per se valens--PERCEVAL. Pie repone te--PIERREPONTE, Earl Manvers. Scuto amoris divini--SCUDAMORE. Time Deum, cole regem--COLERIDGE.
Some have reference to a charge in the arms to which they are annexed, or to the crest above it, e.g.--
But the generality of mottoes express a sentiment, hope, or determination. Such are the following:--
Dum spiro spero--DILLON. Garde la foy--COX, POULET, RICH, &c. Spero meliora--CORY. Toujours prest--CARMICHAEL.
Mottoes are often borne by several successive generations, but may be changed at pleasure. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English; but in Scotland they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, in the language of the principality. A few peers use Italian mottoes, and some recent ones are even in Oriental languages. The present royal motto, Dieu et mon Droit, was certainly used as early as the reign of Henry VI. It was probably a war-cry long before, as King Richard I. is recorded to have said, "Not we, but God and our right have vanquished France at Gisors." The Cri de guerre of the kings of France was Mon joye Saint Denis. Scottish heralds term such war-cries Slogans or badly spelt Sloghorns. Moucheté, (fr.): spotted with small leaf pattern like on lace, and in one case used of blackspots on the lamprey. Mouchetor, (fr.), moucheture: said to be an Erminespot without the three specks usually placed at its upper end. Moulin, (fr.), Mill. See also Windmill. Moulin, Fer de. See Fer de Moline. Mound. See Orb, also Mount.
Hillock.
Mount, (fr. montagne); in later heraldry it is not unusual to separate the lower portion of the shield by a curved line, and by tincturing the same vert to represent therein a mount supposed to be covered with grass. The French heralds use a specific term for this device, viz. terrassé. On this some other device is placed, most frequently a tree, but often an animal grazing, e.g. a stag(see one or two examples under Deer). It may be covered with flowers, or be burning, &c. The mount is sometimes incorrectly written mound, which is a very different device. [See under Orb, and note arms of BERWICK below.] It is sometimes blazoned as a hill, or hillock, (fr. tertre), or even mole-hill where there is more than one mount represented. A mountmounted is said to mean a large mount with a smaller one upon it. The French use the term coupeaux for a series of hills. The mountain also occurs, and perhaps may be distinguished somewhat in the drawing from a mount.
D'azur, à un lion d'argent regardant un soleil d'or mouvant de l'angle dextre de l'écu--DU GARDIER, Dauphiné.
De gueules, à lavant bras gantelé d'argent mouvant du flanc senestre de l'écu et tenant une bride de sable--DE L'ESCAILLE, Brabant.
Mulberry, (fr. mûre, old fr. moure): the leaves of this plant occur on arms as early as temp. Henry III. as well as in recent arms. One example only of a branch has been noticed on arms, viz. on those of BASSANO(see under Silkworm), but it was used as a device or cognizance by MOWBRAY.
Mule. See Ass. Mullet. (fr. molette): this bearing is generally taken to represent the rowel of a spur, and in modern French heraldry is called molette d'éperon. In old French blazon it is sometimes termed rouwell, q.v. It might, however, when not pierced be taken to represent a star, and, as will be seen by the examples, it appears originally to have been interchangeable with the estoile. It usually has five points, and this number is always to be understood when no other is mentioned. In French heraldry the normal number of points is six.
DE VERE.
LENTHALL.
Le Conte de OXFORD, quartele d'or et de goules[sic], ung molet d'argent ent le quarter devant--Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Le Counte de OXENFORD, quartile de or e de goules; a un molet de argent--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Le Counte d'OXFORD, portquarterly d'or et gules; a une estoiele d'argent en le quartergules devant--Roll, temp. ED. III. Quarterlygules and or, in the first quarter a mulletargent--VERE, Earl of Oxford.
William de ODINGSELES, d'argent a la fece de goulz a deux molets en le cheif goulz--Roll, temp. HEN III.
William DODINGCELES, dargent a une fesse de goules a deus roueles de gules--Another Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Sire Johan DODINGCELES, de argent a une fesse de goules; en la chef un molet de goules--Roll, temp. ED. II. [Similar in Roll, temp. ED. III.] Nicholas de MOELES, dargent a deux barres de goules a trois molets; en le chiefgoules--Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Rauf DELAHAYE, dargent, a ruell de goules--Another Roll, temp. HEN. III.
Robert de HAMSART, tout apreste' .... Rouge o trois estoiles de argent--Roll of Carlaverock, A.D. 1300. [Cf. Gilbert HANSARDE under Estoile.]
Sire Robert HANSARDE de, goules a iij moles de argent--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Monsire HANSTED, gules a trois mulletts argent--Roll, temp. ED. III.
Sir Renaud de COBHAM[de goules a un chevron de or]; en le cheveron iij moles de azure--Roll, temp. ED. II. [Cf. John de COBHAM under Estoile.]
Sire Johan de WIGKETONE, de sable, a 3 moles de or, od la bordure endente de or--Roll, temp. ED. II.
Le bonBaron de WIGNETONE ... portoit bordure endentee O trois estoiles de or ensable--Roll of Carlaverock. Argent, on a bend cotised sable, three mullets or--LENTHALL, Haseley, co. Oxon. Argent, on a mulletsable an annulet or--ASHTON, co. Lancaster.
HARPEDENE.
HASTYNGES.
Mullet besides having for the sake of variety more than five points(or, as they are termed in one instance, horns), may be pierced of the field, or voided of some other tincture, and this is found to be the case with very early examples. Sometimes, though pierced is not mentioned, it may be understood.
D'azur, à un chevron d'argent accompagné de trois champignons d'or--GUYOT D'ANFREVILLE, Normandie.
Music. See under Book. Musimon: described by Guillim as resembling a ram with goat'shorns as well as its own. Musket. The Musket is found amongst bearings as well as the Potgun, and the Pistol. They appear to have been drawn from the objects themselves. The Petronel, a kind of pistol used by the French, is given in heraldic books, but no case has been observed.
