About the end of the fifteenth century, arms are frequently found
surrounded by a wreath of laurel or bay leaves, usually, at this
date, divided into four parts by ribbands. Menestrier gives the date
1480 as the earliest instance he has found [his most learned works
seem too little known by English heralds: the _Origine des Armoiries_
was published in Paris 1679, and the _Origine des Ornemens des
Armoiries_ in Paris 1680]. We see an example in the tomb of Margaret,
Countess of Richmond, 1509, in Westminster Abbey (engraved Sandford's
_Genealogical History_, 1677, p. 326)--see No. 74. We find similar
wreaths or garlands in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, published
1661, vol. i, p. 22, and vol. ii, p. 68; and engravings of several
fanciful varieties are also there given. Wreaths of olive, formed of
two branches tied at the top and bottom with ribbands, appear several
times surrounding coats of arms in W. Hollar's beautiful engravings in
Thoroton's _History of Nottinghamshire_, published 1677 (see pages 199,
200, 203, 310, 486 and 487).
After a while, such wreaths were frequently introduced in the outer
edge surrounding official and also personal round seals, and so
arranged that they more resemble bell-shaped flowers of three leaves
(like the side view of blue bells), and without any dividing ribbands.
The annexed wood-cut of the Statute Merchants' seal of Carlisle, 1670,
will show this. This seal was in two halves to be kept in separate
custody, and when used, these were screwed together into a handle to
make it complete before affixing to any deed. The seal and handle are
here shown from the engraving in the Proceedings of the Society of
Antiquaries, 16th May, 1889. Throughout the eighteenth century, the
blue bell ornament appears in corporate seals, and book-plates about
1800 are found surrounded by such oval bell-flowered wreaths.
[Illustration]