In the introduction to a work entitled _A Collection of Coats of Arms borne
by the Nobility and Gentry of the County of Gloucester_, London, J. Good,
159. New Bond Street, 1792, and which I believe was written by Sir George
Nayler, it is asserted that--
"_Armes parlantes_, or canting arms, were not common till the
commencement of the seventeenth century, when they prevailed under the
auspices of King James."
Now doubtless they were _more_ common in the seventeenth century, but I am
of opinion that there are many instances of them _centuries_ previous to
the reign of King James; as, for example, in a roll of arms of the time of
Edward II. (A.D. 1308-14), published by Sir Harris Nicolas from a
manuscript in the British Museum, there are the following:
"Sire Peres Corbet, d'or, à un _corbyn_ de sable.
Sire Johan le Fauconer, d'argent, à iii _faucouns_ de goules.
Sire Johan Heroun, d'azure, à iii _herouns_ d'argent.
Sire Richard de Cokfeld, d'azure, à une crois e iiii _coks_ d'or.
Sire Richard de Barlingham, de goules, à iii ours (_bears_) d'argent.
Sire Johan de Swyneford, d'argent, à un cheveroun de sable, à iii
testes de _cenglers_ (_swines' heads_) d'or."
Sire Ammon de Lucy bore three _luces_; Sire William Bernak a fers between
three barnacles, &c. There are many other examples in the same work, but as
I think I have made my communication quite long enough, I forbear giving
them.