A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

i66
OF FOUR-FOOTED BEASTS.
ROBERT HART, a valiant man, (as by our historians) was killed with the Lord
Douglas, fighting against the English in the battle of Otterburn.
The name of HOWISON, argent, a heart, proper, and, on a chief, azure, three
flower-de-luces or. Font's Manuscript.
THORNTON of that Ilk, gules, on a fesse argent, three mens' hearts of the first.
Crawford's Manuscript.
The name of ALGOE, argent, three hearts conjoined in triangle by the points
gules, and in base by a martlet sable. Og. Manuscript.
The first of this name is said to have come from Italy with one of the Abbots
of Paisley. And his grandchild, Peter Algoe, got the lands of Easter Walkin-
shaw, by marrying Marion Morton, heiress thereof, 1547.
The name of CLUNIE, argent, three mens' hearts, proper. Ogilvy's Manuscript,
The religious of the Order of ST AUGUSTINE have for arms, argent, the heart of
that saint, proper, with flames of fire issuing out of it on a chief sable.
The JESUITS carry on their arms a heart pierced, with three passion-nails.
The Royal bearing of DENMARK, or, seme of hearts gules, three lions passant
of
the same, crowned^ armed, and langued azure.
CHAP. IV.
OF FOUR-FOOTED BEASTS..
THESE are esteemed by some more worthy bearings than fowls and fishes, for
their more lively and noble qualities ; they prefer the male to. the female,
and rapacious,
fierce beasts, to tame, meek, and serviceable ones. As Cornelius
Agrip. a'Art Herald. " Quae hominibus servituti vel usui necessaria sunt in ar-
"
mis gerere, nefas est &- infamia ; sed omnes a crudelibus, bellicis &- rapacibus,
"
nobilitatis suae insignia auspiciari oportebat." Whatever might have been the opinion
of the ancients of the natural qualities of things,
in their first assumption, and in
the infancy of heraldry, yet now, in its perfection,
these qualities, though commen-
dable, are not so much considered, as their long
continuance in ancient families as
signs of nobility ; being, in their formal armorial dress, in position, disposition, and
situation, with their armorial attributes ; of which particularly, as I go along ;
.treating separately of animals most used, in armories, in their proper terms of blazon.
And first then,
OF THE LION.
FOR his heroic qualities he is used as the emblem of strength, courage, generosity,
power, and royalty, being called the king of beasts. His noble posture, or
position in arms, is, to be erect on his hinder feet, with his fore feet towards the
right side and upper angle of the shield ; his head direct forward, showing but one
ear and one eye; in which position, as the best, he is called by the French a Lion;
but we, and the English, add the term rampant. As Plate XI. fig.
i.
In this posture the lion has been carried on the armorial ensign of Scotland,
since the first founding of its monarchy by King Fergus I. which is
; not only as-
serted by our own historians and antiquaries, but also by foreign writers. Favin, in
his Theatre of Honour, Book Third, Chap.Third, says, " Fergus I. of Scotland, for the
" magnanimity of his courage, took, for his arms apd device, the creature counted
" the symbol of valiancy and generosity, viz. d'or, un lion rampant de gueules "
which his successors, the Kings of Scotland, have retained without change to
this time.
And Hopingius, cap. 6. " Cum Picti in agros Scotorum copias primum ducerent,
" quibushaud minus cupide quam strenue obviam ivit Fergusius, sublatis signis &-
" rumpendo ipsorum claustra, assumpsitque leonem rubeum erectum, in aurea
" facie descriptum, cauda tergum, ut fere mos est, dum se ad pugnam incitat,
" verberans; eaque generosam iracundiam significans." For which our author