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A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

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OF FOWLS AND BIRDS.. 345<br />

by the Lyon in the New Register, to Mr James Forsyth <strong>of</strong> Tailzerton, sometime<br />

Minister <strong>of</strong> Stir 1<br />

ing, descended <strong>of</strong> the family <strong>of</strong> Dykes, commonly designed <strong>of</strong><br />

Hallliill ; and, for crest, a demi-griffin vert ; with the motto, Instaurator ruina.<br />

The griflin has been, <strong>of</strong> old, frequent in the arms <strong>of</strong> many families in England.<br />

Sandford, in his Genealogical History, tells us, that he has seen the armorial seal <strong>of</strong><br />

Richard Ripariis, or Rivers, Earl <strong>of</strong> Devon, and <strong>of</strong> the Isle <strong>of</strong> Wight, who died<br />

in the year 1162, gules, a griffin segreant or.<br />

GRIFFIN Lord GRIFFIN, in England, as relative to his name, sable, a griffin<br />

segreant argent.<br />

FINCH Earl <strong>of</strong> WINCHELSEA, argent, a cheveron between three griffins passant<br />

sable.<br />

OF THE HAWK, FALCON, AND OTHER BFRDS.<br />

THESE <strong>of</strong> old have adorned the ensigns and other regalia <strong>of</strong> the ancients, and<br />

are frequent in the armorial bearings <strong>of</strong> noble families^ Some writers are <strong>of</strong> the<br />

opinion, that they are more excellent in arms than four-footed beasts, because they<br />

participate more <strong>of</strong> the most noble elements, air and fire, than water and earth,<br />

as Aldrovandus in his Treatise <strong>of</strong> Arms, " Praestantiora sunt in insignibus volatilia<br />

" ipsis quadrupedibus, nam aves aerem, magis & ignem, quae elementorum excel-<br />

" lentissima sunt, quam aquam & terrain participant:" But, as it is observed be-<br />

fore, the dignity <strong>of</strong> armorial figures is not drawn from the nature <strong>of</strong> the creature,<br />

but from the high dignity <strong>of</strong> the giver <strong>of</strong> arms, and the quality <strong>of</strong> the bearers.<br />

" Accipiter nomen est (says Hopingius) ab accipiendis avibus, & aucupio ;" and<br />

Sylvester Petra Sancta, " Marti dicatus, utpote pugnax, &- pncdae avidus."<br />

The )Mwk or falcon is carried by many eminent families in Germany, as by the<br />

FALCKENSTEINII, (as Hopingius) tres albos falcones in campo cteruleo, i. e. azure,<br />

three falcons argent.<br />

With us the surname <strong>of</strong> FALCONER, <strong>of</strong> old, carried for arms, gtiles, three hawklures<br />

or. (Workman's MS.) Afterwards Falconer <strong>of</strong> Halkerton, the chief <strong>of</strong> the<br />

name, altered them to or, a falcon's head, proper, issuing out <strong>of</strong> a man's heart<br />

gules, between three stars azure, upon the account that one <strong>of</strong> the family married a<br />

daughter <strong>of</strong> Douglas Earl <strong>of</strong> Angus, the heart and star being the armorial figures<br />

<strong>of</strong> Douglas.<br />

But now the family <strong>of</strong> Halkerton carries azure, a falcon displayed between three<br />

stars argent, and, on his breast, a man's heart gules. These arms are so illuminated<br />

on the House <strong>of</strong> Falahall, with the other barons <strong>of</strong> Parliament 1604; crest, an<br />

angel in a praying posture or, within an orle <strong>of</strong> laurel, proper ; supporters, two<br />

falcons, proper : motto, Vive ut vivas.<br />

The first to be met with on record, <strong>of</strong> this family and name, was Ranulph, son<br />

<strong>of</strong> Walter de Lenorp, falconer to King William, as by that king's charter <strong>of</strong> lands<br />

in the shire <strong>of</strong> Merns, Ranulpho Falconario nostro filio Walteri de Lenorp ; which<br />

lands were called Halkerton, from his <strong>of</strong>fice; and the arms, ancient and modern, are<br />

relative thereto : From whom is descended DAVID the present Lord HALKERTON,<br />

whose grandfather, Sir Alexander Falconer <strong>of</strong> Halkerton, was the first <strong>of</strong> the fa-<br />

mily that was dignified with the title <strong>of</strong> Lord Halkerton, the 29th <strong>of</strong> July 1647,<br />

and upon the Restoration <strong>of</strong> King Charles II. he was one <strong>of</strong> the Senators <strong>of</strong> the<br />

College <strong>of</strong> Justice.<br />

I have seen the seal <strong>of</strong> one Robert Falconer <strong>of</strong> Bellandro, appended to a charter<br />

<strong>of</strong> his granted by him to Rait <strong>of</strong> Halgreen, <strong>of</strong> the date the loth <strong>of</strong> May 1611,<br />

was a fesse between three hawks in chief and a lure in base.<br />

whereupon<br />

Sir DAVID FALCONER <strong>of</strong> Newton, sometime President <strong>of</strong> the Session, or, a falcon's<br />

head crowned with an open crown, issuing out <strong>of</strong> a man's heart, all proper, between<br />

three stars azure ; crest, a falcon perching, between two branches <strong>of</strong> laurel<br />

vert: motto, Armis potentius aquum. N. R.<br />

This Sir David was a younger son <strong>of</strong> Sir David Falconer <strong>of</strong> Glenfarquhar, who<br />

was a younger brother <strong>of</strong> the first Lord Halkerton.<br />

Sir JOHN FALCONER <strong>of</strong> Balmakellie, Master <strong>of</strong> the Mint in the reign <strong>of</strong> King<br />

Charles II. who was also a younger brother <strong>of</strong> the first Lord Halkerton, or, a fal-<br />

4.S

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