A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society
A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society
viii PREFACE. or in one age ; notwithstanding of which, all advances towards such a history will be serviceable to the public. We have no complete history either of England or Scotland,, nor is it probable that ever we shall have one till the day of judgment, when the thoughts of the hearts of all men shall be revealed : And yet the collections of learned historians and an- tiquaries, in all ages, have been applauded, and very deservedly j as tending to illustrate and improve our national history, though without being ever able actually to complete it. In like manner, though I shall never pretend to make a complete collection of memorials, relative to all our considerable families, yet, in the I Supplement, propose to finish my whole System of Heraldry in all its parts to ; correct what is wrong, and supply what is wanting in the present volume, so far as I am either capable, or may receive assistance from others ; and, wherein I come short, to leave a plan or foundation for those who come after me, to improve and build upon. There are sundry subscribers, who should have been both mentioned in the book, and had their achievements engraven on die copper-plates, but happened either to come in too late for this volume, or neglected to give in either memorials or arms ; however, all care shall be taken to do them jxistice afterwards. I am very sensible that a work of this nature, in which so many different persons and families are more or less concerned, must expose the author to variety of censures, and readily they who are least concerned will be most censorious: But as it is the service of my country, and benefit of posterity that I chiefly write for, so I shall be easy as to the snarls of idle and ignorant critics; and shall be ready, on all occasions, fully to satisfy candid and judicious readers : And whatever fate the following book may undergo in the present age, I shall comfort myself with the thoughts of this, that the older it grows, the more useful and valuable will it be to posterity.
SYSTEM OF HERALDRY, SPECULATIVE AND PRACTICAL: WITH THE TRUE ART OF BLAZON. CHAP. I. OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF ARMORIES. BEFORE I proceed to treat of ARMORIES in all their it parts, will not be improper to premise briefly somewhat concerning their name, rise and progress. Arms have been taken by all nations, and in all ages, for military marks and signs of honour ; by which, not only persons, families and communities are dis- tinguished and known, but nobles also distinguished from plebeians, and nobles among themselves. Which marks and signs were called arms ; because in ancient times, they were painted, or engraven on shields, and other pieces of armour ; as also, upon banners and pennons, from whence they are called armorial ensigns : And being likewise embroidered or painted on the surcoats of military men, which they wore over their armour, to distinguish them in battle, they were called coats of firms. How useful and honourable of old these marks and signs have been, will appear from \vhat some learned men have written on that subject j of whom I shall only mention a few. William Wyrley, in his True Use of Armories, printed at London, an. 1592, " Without , armorial tokens, no martial discipline can be exercised, no army ranged, no attempt of any company achieved, and, by consequence, no conquest made, nor so much as any commonwealth defended, neither from outward enemies, civil discord, or rebellion of any plebeian rout. It will, I hope, reduce into estimation, a matter both of honour, order and necessity, which no doubt was, by the wisest and best governed states, at the first devised, and generally by all of any policy, received to a most necessary end." A
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viii<br />
PREFACE.<br />
or in one age ; notwithstanding <strong>of</strong> which,<br />
all advances towards such a<br />
history will be serviceable to the public. We have no complete history<br />
either <strong>of</strong> England or Scotland,, nor is it probable that ever we shall have<br />
one till the day <strong>of</strong> judgment, when the thoughts <strong>of</strong> the hearts <strong>of</strong> all men<br />
shall be revealed : And<br />
yet the collections <strong>of</strong> learned historians and an-<br />
tiquaries, in all ages, have been applauded, and very deservedly j as<br />
tending to illustrate and improve our national history, though without<br />
being ever able actually to complete it. In like manner, though I shall<br />
never pretend to make a complete collection <strong>of</strong> memorials, relative to all<br />
our considerable families, yet, in the I Supplement, propose to finish my<br />
whole <strong>System</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Heraldry</strong> in all its parts to ; correct what is wrong, and<br />
supply what is wanting in the present volume, so far as I am either<br />
capable, or may receive assistance from others ; and, wherein I come<br />
short, to leave a plan or foundation for those who come after me, to improve<br />
and build upon.<br />
There are sundry subscribers, who should have been both mentioned<br />
in the book, and had their achievements engraven on die<br />
copper-plates,<br />
but happened either to come in too late for this volume, or neglected to<br />
give in either memorials or arms ; however, all care shall be taken to do<br />
them jxistice afterwards.<br />
I am very sensible that a work <strong>of</strong> this nature, in which so many different<br />
persons and families are more or less concerned, must expose the author to<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> censures, and readily they who are least concerned will be<br />
most censorious: But as it is the service <strong>of</strong> my country, and benefit <strong>of</strong><br />
posterity that I chiefly write for, so I shall be easy as to the snarls <strong>of</strong><br />
idle and ignorant critics; and shall be ready, on all occasions, fully to<br />
satisfy candid and judicious readers : And whatever fate the<br />
following<br />
book may undergo in the present age, I shall comfort myself with the<br />
thoughts <strong>of</strong> this, that the older it grows, the more useful and valuable<br />
will it be to posterity.