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stood on the gate pillars of a<br />
bleachworks. It lay on the<br />
route to the Bolton Royal<br />
Infirmary and nervous children<br />
were distracted by being told<br />
that at midnight each New<br />
Year's Eve the elephants<br />
exchanged gateposts so that<br />
they had a slightly different<br />
view for the succeeding year.<br />
That's about as well<br />
evidenced as Perry's and my<br />
explanations.<br />
Mike Cresswell<br />
Seal Enquiry<br />
In reply to Frank Keirl's<br />
query the oldest surviving<br />
grant by an English officer of<br />
arms is that of William Bruges,<br />
Garter, to the Drapers'<br />
Company on 10 March 1439.<br />
<strong>The</strong> original still belongs to the<br />
Company. Not only is it<br />
signed and sealed by Bruges<br />
but very unusually for a patent<br />
also includes a notarial<br />
certificate of its execution.<br />
<strong>The</strong> seal is circular and 26mm<br />
in diameter. It displays<br />
Bruges' arms (checky of nine<br />
pieces [argent and sable]<br />
powdered with ermine spots<br />
countercoloured) and a crest<br />
of a woman's head in a hood<br />
or cowl. <strong>The</strong> legend reads<br />
SIGILLU[M] WILLIMI<br />
BRUGGES. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing<br />
on the seal to denote Bruges'<br />
office as Garter. <strong>The</strong> seal is<br />
the same as that of his father,<br />
Richard, except that the<br />
legend on Richard's seal<br />
reads LANGCASTR ROY DE<br />
ARMYS. William's oval<br />
counter-seal or signet bears a<br />
crown which might well reflect<br />
his office as a king of arms.<br />
For further details and<br />
pictures see Hugh Stanford<br />
London, <strong>The</strong> Life of William<br />
Bruges, the first Garter King of<br />
Arms (Harleian <strong>Society</strong>, cxi<br />
and cxii [in one vol], for 1959<br />
and 1960 (London, 1970)).<br />
<strong>The</strong> seals of both men are<br />
not the earliest known for an<br />
English officer of arms. That<br />
honour belongs to Peter, King<br />
of the Heralds, whose<br />
jurisdiction, like modern-day<br />
Norroy, extended northwards<br />
beyond the Trent. His seal,<br />
attached to a charter now in<br />
the British Library and dated<br />
1276, bears three crowns,<br />
possibly a sign of his kingly<br />
office. Mr Keirl will find further<br />
details in Sir Anthony<br />
Wagner's Heralds of England<br />
(London, 1967), p.6.<br />
Adrian Ailes<br />
Arms of a Lady<br />
In answer to Bob Jones’s<br />
letter of the Gazette of June<br />
20<strong>05</strong> re the arms granted to<br />
my wife Shirley Greenwood.<br />
In Canada a lady’s personal<br />
arms have always been borne<br />
on a shield ever since 4th<br />
June 1988 when H. M. the<br />
Queen transferred the<br />
exercise of her heraldic<br />
prerogative to the Governor-<br />
General of Canada, thus fully<br />
patriating heraldry.<br />
Pure socialism I suppose !?<br />
Alexander Greenwood B.C.<br />
Canada<br />
‘ABEL’ GRANT<br />
We have been approached<br />
by a lady who has the original<br />
grant of arms (1883) to Sir<br />
Frederick Augustus Abel. She<br />
would like to get in touch with<br />
his descendants. If one of<br />
them reads this, perhaps they<br />
would contact the<br />
Hon.Secretary.<br />
CANTERBURY<br />
HERALDRY<br />
WEEKEND<br />
Plans are well advanced for<br />
a <strong>Heraldry</strong> Weekend at<br />
Canterbury Christ Church<br />
University College in<br />
<strong>Sep</strong>tember next year. <strong>The</strong><br />
subject will be "<strong>Heraldry</strong> and<br />
the Medieval Craftsman". It<br />
will be possible to book<br />
residential or non-residential<br />
places provided your booking<br />
is made early! Enclosed with<br />
this issue is a booking form for<br />
the event. Note that there is a<br />
discount of £10 per person for<br />
bookings received before 31st<br />
December 20<strong>05</strong>.<br />
IN MEMORIAM<br />
<strong>The</strong> death of David<br />
Sanctuary Howard was<br />
reported in the June edition of<br />
the "Gazette". <strong>The</strong>re will be a<br />
Service of Thanksgiving for<br />
his life at 2.30 p.m. on<br />
Monday 7th November at the<br />
Guards Chapel, Wellington<br />
Barracks, Birdcage Walk,<br />
London SW1.<br />
Ann Bowen<br />
Calligraphy and<br />
Heraldic<br />
Illuminations<br />
1 DOODS PLACE, DOODS ROAD<br />
REIGATE SURREY RH2 0NS<br />
TELEPHONE/FAX 01737 246171<br />
All opinions expressed in the <strong>Heraldry</strong> Gazette are those of the authors and not<br />
necessarily those of the Editor or of the <strong>Heraldry</strong> <strong>Society</strong>.<br />
E-mail the editor at gazette@theheraldrysociety.com 11