XXI. A Roll of Arms of the Thirteenth Century: with Introductory Remarks

Weston Styleman Walford Esq.

doi:10.1017/S0261340900004410

XXI. A Roll of Arms of the Thirteenth Century: with Introductory Remarks

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 January 2012

Weston Styleman Walford Esq.

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As no one appreciates more justly than yourself the value and importance of early heraldry in archæological pursuits, I address to you this communication, the object of which is to bring before the Society of Antiquaries a Roll of Arms comprised in the MS. No. 6589 of the Harleian Collection. Unfortunately nothing is known of the original, nor does it appear to whom it at any time belonged. The copy in the Harleian Collection was written in 1606 by Nicholas Charles, Lancaster Herald, who supposed the original to be of the time of Henry III. Judging from internal evidence, it is not quite so early; yet it should seem to have been not later than about 1280. It will be seen from the copy which follows, that it consisted of about 180 coats, comprising the arms of the emperors of Germany and Constantinople, and of most of the kings of Christendom, of several French and German dukes and counts, and about an equal number of English coats, among which are those of a few earls and several barons; and intermixed with the English arms are others with French names prefixed, possibly those of persons from the English dominions in the south of France.

Type: Research Article
Information: Archaeologia , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , 1864 , pp. 373 - 388

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900004410 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1864

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^{page 377 note a} See Rymer, i. pp. 297, 324. He is called Earl of Pembroke in the latter place but not in the former.

^{page 378 note a} In the Archæological Journal, vol. xvii. p. 22, is a minute description of the glass in that window; and near the end are some remarks on the early use of the eagle with two heads.

^{page 378 note b} My attention was directed to these very early examples of the heraldic use of the eagle with two heads for the Emperor of Germany by Sir Frederic Madden. The illuminations in that copy of the Historia Minor of M. Paris are so exceedingly curious and interesting, especially in regard to early heraldry and mediæval usages, that it is extremely desirable the printed copy of it about to be published under the sanction of the Master of the Rolls should be enriched with woodcuts of these unique sketches, which are believed to be by the author himself. This might be done at no great cost, and it could hardly be considered other than a judicious expenditure.

^{page 380 note a} The heading to Leland's copy is, “The Copy of an ould Roule of Armes.” In the following Notes that copy is referred to by the letter L.

^{page 380 note b} This term, crois passant, occurs in other early Rolls, though I do not remember to have met with it in any glossary or treatise on heraldry. It should seem to have been the plain cross, and it is so figured in the original of the Roll printed in Collectanea Topogr. et Gen., ii. p. 320. It may have been equivalent to Passion cross, i.e. the Latin cross; for on the long shields of the thirteenth century the plain cross had nearly that form. The term crois (simply) will be seen, however, to occur also when the same charge must in all probability have been intended. The use of the term crois passant is an indication that the original blason of this Roll was an early one, though the spelling has been in many places modernised.

^{page 380 note c} un Croysille. L.

^{page 380 note d} This word is represented by a fleur-de-lys tricked.

^{page 380 note e} crois seems omitted.

^{page 380 note f} armes o tutte le quisses et chek un cornere seyt un pee. L.

^{page 380 note g} See p. 379 as to this coat.

^{page 381 note a} Le baucent L.

^{page 381 note b} Le baueent L.

^{page 381 note c} The arms are those of Dreux. The name probably had been misread.

^{page 381 note d} No doubt d'Eu was intended; see L. The arms are those of the Counts of Eu of the family of Brienne.

^{page 381 note e} These were not the arms of Barre, but seem intended for those of Artois, circle being substituted for castels. Accordingly in L. we find as follows:—

Le counte de Bar Dazur pudre a croisile dor a deus bars de mere.

Le counte Dartoys dazur pudre a florette dor a une labeu de goules pudre a circle dor.

^{page 381 note f} Probably for Vaudemont. L. has Waldemond.

^{page 381 note g} Doubtless for Vendome.

^{page 381 note h} Perhaps for Soissons. In support of this conjecture I may mention that L. has Messons or Sessons, and that there was a capital S of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries very like an M; whence the story of the monk who would read Mumpsimus for Sumpsimus. At least one example of a like mistake occurs in the sequel of this Roll, where Manford has been substituted for Sanford. There are several such errors in L. If the name in the text should be Soissons, the arms are with a brisure.

^{page 382 note a} Hainault.

^{page 382 note b} This mention of diapres favours the opinion that the arms in the original Roll were drawn and coloured.

^{page 382 note c} The MS. has in the margin Polony. A writer in Notes and Queries, N. S. vol. xiii. p. 131, has mistaken this name for Toeny; but it is no doubt an old form of Joigny. The arms are those of Joigny de Bellebrune.

^{page 382 note d} dor fluretes. L.

^{page 382 note e} Belingne L.

This reading is evidently erroneous: probably for roses harges should be read rosers charges. L. has the name Rampsuile, and the arms dor a treis rosers sur chek une roser une rose chek une roser verte.

^{page 382 note g} This coat has undergone a remarkable change: the modern blason of it is “de gueules un chevron d'argent a la plaine d'or”; the plaine being only one-ninth of the field in base. Thus the chief and its chevron have come to occupy eight-ninths of the field.

^{page 382 note h} estant sus une mote L.

^{page 382 note i} Atholl. Asceles was the family name or surname.

^{page 383 note a} dor flurte. L.

^{page 383 note b} Musein L. The coat resembles that of Mussy in Burgundy, which was, Gules a lion rampant or.

^{page 383 note c} a une labeu dazur. L. The r of laber in the MS. may have been a slip for v.

^{page 383 note d} Probably for Thierstein in the Zürich Roll mentioned above, p. 3.

^{page 383 note e} No doubt for Oetingen in Bavaria. See Spener.

^{page 383 note f} This name and coat are at the bottom of a column of the MS., and almost worn off. With the aid of L. I read the fragments of the letters as above. Breban here, doubtless, means Brabant.

^{page 384 note a} Azure is added after gulez as if instead of it, and in the margin Guy de Bryen, apparently by a later hand. In L. the name is Brequyn. William de Brechin was no doubt intended: he bore, Or three piles gules; and died 1284.

^{page 384 note b} See note p. 382, where the diaper is also mentioned.

^{page 385 note a} Manford L., but no doubt for Sanford or Samford; probably the Nicholas mentioned in the Roll temp. Hen. III. edited by Nicolas, p. 11.

^{page 385 note b} In the margin is anulettes credo; which is probably correct. See Roll temp. Hen. III. p. 5.

^{page 385 note c} In the MS. this name is written Ca mois, and has been read la mois. L. has Camoys, which is no doubt correct.

^{page 385 note d} This is the same coat as Mowbray, supra, No. [104]. Probably a bordure is omitted.

^{page 386 note a} So much of this coat as followed pre is missing. When complete the conclusion was probably premier cantell. L. has 6. cantel dor, the 6 being, I suppose, a mistake for en, as the like occurs there again and again.

^{page 386 note b} This name and coat are at the bottom of a column, and nearly worn off; but with the aid of L. I read the fragments of the letters as above. In the margin opposite the name are a few words I cannot read, being almost obliterated.

^{page 386 note c} L. has Augeuyn; possibly for Angevyn.

^{page 387 note a} Creseques L. Cresecques of Artois bore, “D'azure à deux tierces d'or au chef du même.”

^{page 387 note b} le labiau L. Some partition seems omitted. Bauçay of Poitou bore, Or a cross ancre gules. Le labyn was probably a soubriquet, possibly for le lambin. In the margin is written, “Ingham's cote.”

^{page 387 note c} S. Marc of the Isle of France bore, Gules a bend engrailed argent.

^{page 387 note d} This name is probably misspelt: L. has mont Tyrelle.

^{page 387 note e} Basseges or Basseches L. Basoches of Artois bore, Gules 3 pallets vair on a chief or a fleur-de-lys sable.

^{page 387 note f} Probably Chauvigny was intended; that coat was, Argent five fusils in fess gules.

^{page 387 note g} Bertrant L.

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XXI. A Roll of Arms of the Thirteenth Century: with Introductory Remarks

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