A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF THE CHIEF OR CHEF. 67
STAMFORD, a branch of the family of Kent, carries the same, with this addition,
viz. barry of six argent and azure, in. chief three torteauxcs, with a label of three
points ermine.
The two branches of the family of CECIL, Thomas and Robert, two brothers,
were both created Earls by King James I. of Great Britain, the tlvird year of hi&
reign.
THOMAS, (the eldest by birth, though the youngest in the title), Earl of EXETER,
carries the principal bearing, viz. barry of ten, argent and azure, over all, six escutcheons
sable, each charged with a lion rampant of the first : And ROBERT, the
younger, though first in the dignity of Earl, by the title of SALISBURY, carries the
same arms, with a crescent for his difference.
. The family of the surname of THYNNE in England were anciently surnamed
BOUTEVILLE. The first of that name came from the countries of Ponton and Gascony
in France, with forces to assist King John of England in his wars against the
Barons ; and his successors, for a long time famous in England, went under the
name of Bouteville l till the reigns of Edward IV. and Richard III. that John Bouteville
of Stratton was first named John le Thynne, and from him the name of
Thynne was derived to the family of Boutevilles. His grandson, Thomas Thynne,
alias Boutevijle, in the reign of Henry VIII. married the daughter and heir of
Bleek, and Bleek a daughter and heir of Gataker, who married with a daughter and
heir of Sir John Burleigh ; upon which account, the Thynnes now quarter the
arms of those three families with their paternal arms, viz. barry of ten or and sable.
This family was raised to the honour and dignity of Baron Thynne of Warminster,
and Viscount of Weymouth, by letters patent, bearing date I ith December 1682.
The surname of MACALZON with us, or, five bars gules, accompanied with two
spear-heads in chief, three martlets in the centre, and four spear-heads in base % of
the last. Font's Manuscript.
MONTAGUE Earl of MONTAGUE, argent, three fusils in fesse gules,
within a bor-
dure sable, for his difference from Salisbury, who carries only the plain coat.
MONTAGUE Earl of MANCHESTER, descended of Montague Earl -of Montague, carries
as he does, with a crescent for a brotherly difference : And MONTAGUE Earl of
SANDWICH, another younger brother, carries the same with Montague Earl of Mon-
tague,
with a star for his difference.
The surname of LEITH, of old, argent, five fusils in fesse sable : Some say, ar-
gent, a fesse fusil sable.
LEITH of Leith-hall, or, a cross croslet fitched sable, between three crescents-' in
chief, and as many fusils in base gules, bar-ways.
LEITH of Overhall, or, a cheveron between three fusils azure, here the fusils
are two and one ;
and LEITH of Hearthill carries his figure that same way, viz. or, a
cross croslet fitched azure, between two crescents in chief, and a fosil in base
gules.
CHAP. XH.
I
OFTHE CHIEF OR CHEF.
THE Chief is that honourable ordinary which possesses the third upper part of
the shield horizontally ; and the French describe it, Une piece honorable qui
occupe le tiers le plus haut de I'ecu. The Latins call it scuti coronis vel caput, taking
it to represent the crown or sign of- sovereignity and eminency j upon which ac-
count, the republics in Italy, jealous of any thing that may be said to represent
sovereignty, will not allow a chief to be used in the armorial ensigns of their no-
as Menestrier
bility : So that most of their arms are coupe, in imitation of the chief,
and others observe who likewise tell ; us, that the chief, in arms, represents the
word is used in blazon
upper part of the consular garment, called capicium, (which
by some for a chief}, and that none can carry a chief in those republics, but by a
special licence or concession ; but in other countries, and with us, it is not in so
high esteem.
It is generally taken as a mark of wisdom and prudence, for chief signifies the