History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

6 EXPLANATION OF FRONTISPIECE.
yet it was through younger sons and Supporters were borne only by titled
elder sons. But it has been considered appropriate that a purely American
family may in America adopt the Segreant griffin of their first English ances-
tor Drogo, to uphold their shield, though usually if the sinister Supporter be
a griffin, the dexter is composed of some other device.
Motto.— It is not known what the motto of the Boveney family was; proba-
bly the family flourished in England at so early a date, that mottos had not
come into general use; but it may be said that " Disponendome, non mutando
me " dates back to the time of Henry VIII, and is the most ancient of all the
Montagu mottos. It is used in England by the Dukes of Manchester, and is
said to have originated with Sir Edward Montagu, the executor of the will of
Henry VIII. He was lord chief justice of England. He was removed from
that position by Queen Mary, who also imprisoned him in the Tower of Lon-
don. After his release, it is said that he added the motto to his Arms in
Latin, a free translation of which is, "You may displace me but you cannot
^change me."