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A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

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OF THE DEFINITION AND DIVISION OF ARMS. Q .<br />

Hiied to be admitted into jousts and tournaments, though but gentlemen hud<br />

ri^ht to carry supporters ; but now they are allowed to none under the dignity ol<br />

a lord-baron, except those who have right to them by prescription. But more <strong>of</strong><br />

this afterwards, when I come to treat ot" the exterior ornaments.<br />

Having given my reader a general idea <strong>of</strong> the rise, growth, and improvement <strong>of</strong><br />

arms, to the present structure we now find them 1<br />

in, called Armorial Achievement -.<br />

I must put an end to this general discourse, to begin and proceed to treat ,sepa<br />

rutely, as 1 have proposed, .<strong>of</strong> all the figures and pieces <strong>of</strong> !<br />

armories, with i<br />

attributes and proper terms, in the following chapters <strong>of</strong> this treat;<br />

CHAP. II.<br />

'<br />

OF THE DEFINITION AND DIVISION OF AR<br />

I DEFINE Arms, hereditary marks <strong>of</strong> honour, regularly composed <strong>of</strong> certain tinelures<br />

and figures, granted or authorised by sovereigns, for distinguishing, differencing,<br />

and illustrating persons, families, and communities.<br />

These marks <strong>of</strong> honour being represented upon shields, surcoats, banners, pennons,<br />

and other military instruments and ensigns, as is said before, are called arms,<br />

coats <strong>of</strong> arms, and armorial ensigns ; by the French, armories ; and in Latin, Anna<br />

Centilitia, Tessera; Gentilities, Insignia, Phren<strong>of</strong>chemata, i3 Deigmata.<br />

Hereditary marks <strong>of</strong> honour, regularly composed <strong>of</strong> certain tinctures and figures,<br />

distinguish arms from other signs and marks <strong>of</strong> soldiers, merchants and tradesmen,<br />

which are but arbitrary, during pleasure ; as also from hieroglyphics, symbols,<br />

emblems and devices, which have no fixed and certain tinctures, but may be com-<br />

posed <strong>of</strong> any colours or figures.<br />

The words, Granted or authorised by sovereigns, exclude all arbitrary marks<br />

and signs ; such as those assumed by the ignoble at their own pleasure, which<br />

cannot be called ensigns <strong>of</strong> honour, however like to arms they may seem : For,<br />

" Nemo potest dignitatem sibi arrogare sine principis licentia. None can assume the<br />

" marks <strong>of</strong> honour, without the allowance" <strong>of</strong> the sovereign ;" arms being only allow-<br />

ed to the noble, and the ignoble are discharged the use <strong>of</strong> them, by the laws <strong>of</strong> all<br />

well-governed nations.<br />

The words, For distinguishing, differencing, and illustrating persons, families, and<br />

communities, show the three principal ends <strong>of</strong> arms.<br />

The first, is to distinguish the noble from the ignoble, the worthy from the un-<br />

worthy, by marks <strong>of</strong> honour and noble descent, conferred by princes upon their<br />

well-deserving subjects and their families, in reward <strong>of</strong> their virtuous actions and<br />

brave attempts.<br />

The second end <strong>of</strong> arms, is to difference the branches or cadets <strong>of</strong> one and<br />

the same family ; that the first may be known from the second, and he again<br />

from the third, and the third from the fourth, and so on, were there never so many<br />

<strong>of</strong> them.<br />

The third end and design <strong>of</strong> arms, is to illustrate persons, families, and communities,<br />

with ensigns <strong>of</strong> noble descent, and other additaments <strong>of</strong> honour, within<br />

and without the shield : All which I shall fully handle in this Treatise <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Heraldry</strong>.<br />

The division which I make <strong>of</strong> arms, in order to my intended method, is, into<br />

essential parts, and accidental ones, and <strong>of</strong> parts within and without the shield, and<br />

ot their various species and kinds.<br />

By the first, I understand tinctures and figures, without which, no arms can be.<br />

By accidental, attributes which follow figures in their various shapes,<br />

as ingrailed,<br />

invccted, embattelled, &-c. The parts within the shield, are those contained within<br />

the limits <strong>of</strong> the shield : And, by parts without the shield, I understand the exterior<br />

ornaments, such as crests, helmets, mantlings, supporters,<br />

&-c. And as for<br />

the species and kinds <strong>of</strong> arms, such as, arms <strong>of</strong> alliance, <strong>of</strong> patronage, gratitude,<br />

concession, dominion, noble feus and pretensions all which I shall ; fully treat <strong>of</strong><br />

in their proper places. And, before I proceed, I shall here give a description <strong>of</strong><br />

C

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