sometimes, on early seals and carvings, are valuable as indications of
date and examples of the types then prevalent; but, in other and later
instances, they seem to be fancifully treated, and so would not be
reliable. They form too large a subject for discussion here, and one
that has been most ably and exhaustively treated in works on Armour.
* * * * *
I now proceed to consider the shapes as sketched, taking the several
numbers by the groups into which they naturally fall. Many more
instances might have been quoted for the various shapes, but I have
selected these to show, so far as I have been able to gather them, the
extreme range of dates.
Perhaps I may venture here to remark that the search for ancient shapes
of shields, with a view to their slavish reproduction, which is now so
usual, does not seem to have been so prevalent before about the year
1840. This is the date which seems generally accepted as that when
originality in the matter of seals and book-plates ceased, and every
variety of old examples began to be sedulously searched out and copied.
All of these shields are subject to slight variations of outline,
according to the fancy of the artist and their necessary adaptation to
their surroundings.
No. 8 in the accompanying plate of shapes appears in stained glass
to the memory of Sir Wm. Berdwell (will, dated 1434), Blomefield's
_Norfolk_, vol. i, p. 203.
An Irish instance, but of very ungraceful proportions, date 1507, is
engraved _Archæological Journal_, vol. xv, p. 188.
It also occurs in the mantelpiece at Helmdon, Northants, 1533;
described in _Archæologia_, vol. xiii, plate 12.
* * * * *
Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12 all occur on the beautiful monument to Abbot
Thomas Ramrage, in St. Alban's Cathedral,--of the date 1529; Boutell's
_Heraldry_, p. 357. Engravings of which may also be frequently found
elsewhere.
No. 10 occurs in a small signet seal, two impressions of which are
attached as a counterseal to a lease by the Priory of Dartford, co.
Kent, bearing date 24th December, 1529. This sealing on the back
rendered it impossible to detach the large wax seal and apply it
fraudulently to another document. This is engraved _Proceedings of the
Society of Antiquaries_, 27th May, 1875.
[Illustration]
Occurs also in a brass, Okeover impaling Aston, date 1520 (Boutell's
_Brasses_, p. 127), see No. 75.
Also in another brass, at Sprouston, Norfolk, dated 1559.
No. 11 occurs without the bouche on a chimney-piece at the Episcopal
Palace, Exeter, 1486.
With the bouche, in the Ramrage Chantry, St. Alban's Abbey, of about
the same date (Boutell's _Heraldry_, p. 98).
Also in heraldic drawings of 1536, in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_.
No. 12, but without the bouche, occurs in Henry VII.'s chapel
(_Archæologia_, vol. xvi, p. 194).
The annexed engraving shows a most interesting knightly shield of the
Schutz family, of Shotover, co. Oxford, dating from the fifteenth
century. It is 2 feet 8 inches long by 1 foot 1½ inches broad, and
was, when Mr. Hewitt wrote his book, in the possession of the Rev.
J. Wilson, President of Trinity College, Oxford. It is engraved and
described, _Ancient Arms and Armour_, vol. ii, p. 496.
It will be remembered that John of Gaunt's shield, described at p. 29,
very closely resembles No. 12.
* * * * *
Nos. 13, 14, and 15.
No. 13 is shown in the seal of the Free School of Richmond, Yorkshire,
founded 1535-6 (Gale's _Registrum Honoris de Richmond_, p. 254).
In an old engraving, showing Henry VIII. and his Parliament, in Hall's
_Chronicle_, published 1548, a shield of this shape appears on the
curtain extending behind the throne.
No. 14--In a heraldic drawing, 1558, of the arms of Elizabeth, in
Harl. MS. 6096, three of these shields are grouped (Willement's _Regal
Heraldry_).
Annexed engraving of an enamelled plaque, supposed to have formed
originally the centre of a large salver or dish, is taken from
_Proceed. Soc. Antiq._, 7th Dec., 1876, and shows our shield No. 14
with the date 1563. Sir Thomas Bell died in 1566; he was thrice Mayor
of the City of Gloucester, and also represented it in Parliament.
[Illustration]
A Scotch seal, Francis Earl of Bothwell, 1587 (engraved _Herald and
Genealogist_, vol. iv, p. 19).
Another Scotch seal, the Earl of Eglinton, 1620 (engraved _Herald and
Genealogist_, vol. iv, p. 18).
Engravings in _The English Baronetage, 1741_, show the same.
Also in _Principal Historical and Allusive Arms_, by De la Motte, 1803,
which work, indeed, aims at variety in its shapes and designs.
No. 15--In the printer's mark of Ant. du Ry, of Leyden, 1525.
In the shield of Anne Bullen, 1533 (Willement's _Regal Heraldry_).
Also a seal, 1575, _Miscell. Genealogica_, vol. ii, p. 170.
These shapes lend themselves particularly to decorations in stained
glass, where variations may be constantly found, but it is generally
difficult in such cases to give an exact date.
From all which it appears that these shapes--Nos. 13 to 15--began about
1520, and prevailed till about the third quarter of the sixteenth
century; and from their beautiful outlines, they occasionally are used
even to the present day. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
they may often be found hacked and scrolled.
* * * * *
No. 16 occurs in a monument to Raynes, 1689 (engraved in Drake's
_Eboracum_, p. 515).
This is a shape which would lend itself peculiarly to monuments or
stained glass.
The shields engraved in Chauncey's _History of Hertfordshire_, 1700,
are of this shape, slightly eared, and very slightly hollowed out in
the sides.
* * * * *
Nos. 17 and 18.--In these a decidedly German influence is visible.
They occur in the German book of _Virgil Solis_, 1555.
The earliest English instance of No. 17 which I have noticed appears
in the _Visit. Hunts, 1613_ (Camden Society), p. 4, with the arms of
Clifton, but no exact date is attached.
In the 1724 edition of Guillim's _Display_ similar shields are
engraved, with scroll work round the edges.
* * * * *
Nos. 19, 20, 21, and 22.
No. 19 is found on the tomb of Margaret, Countess of Richmond, in
Westminster Abbey, who died 1509 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p.
326), see No. 73.
[Illustration]
Again in a ledger tomb at Brent-eleigh, in memory of Mrs. Sawyer, and
dated 1734 (_Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for January, 1886).
Also in the engravings in Blomfield's _Norfolk_, 1739, with a shaped
base.
No. 20, may be seen in stained glass, in Grappenhall Old Rectory
window, of date about 1527.
Again in a brass in Antringham Church, Suffolk, dated 1562.
No. 21, a brass at St. Mary Quay, Ipswich, 1525 (Boutell's _Brasses_,
p. 132).
Also on a seal, 1575 (engraved, _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_,
vol. ii, p. 170).
Also on a seal, 1578, in Oliver Vredius (_Seals of the Counts of
Flanders_).
Again in a grant of arms, 1715 (_Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_,
second series, vol. i, p. 188).
A ledger at Kelston churchyard, Gibbes quartering Harrington and
Specott, 1730 (engraved in _Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for
Jan., 1884).
[Illustration]
Thus showing that its present use so extensively by the College of Arms
is a return to an old pattern existing at any rate since 1509.
Shields very similar occur in _The Ancient Order of Prince Arthure_,
published by R. Robinson, 1583; also in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of
Gentry_, 1661; while the College of Arms shield No. 22 appears in the
Great Seal of Edward VI., 1547.
This group, therefore, extends from about 1500 to the present day.
* * * * *
It is convenient to take Nos. 23 and 24 Stuart, together with 25 and 26
the Georgian.
No. 23, the annexed seal of Robert Greysbrooke of Middleton, is
appended to his will, dated 1st September, 1668, and printed _Miscell.
Genealogica et Heraldica_ for 1878.
[Illustration]
It appears very constantly in seals from about 1610 to 1694.
The shape is used in Sir Peter Leycester's _Historical Antiquities of
Cheshire_, published in 1673.
Again in Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, published 1661.
No. 24 appears in stone carving at Penshurst Place, Kent, showing the
arms of Edward VI., 1547. The side points are curled round, and the
centre one is capped with a fillet and half globe: an improvement by
the stone cutter (Willement's _Regal Heraldry_), see No. 77.
It is found in the seals and in the crown-pieces of the Commonwealth,
dated 1650.
Taking then the Georgian No. 25--In Willement's _Regal Heraldry_, the
arms of Henrietta Maria, the wife of Chas. I., 1625, are reproduced in
this shape.
It becomes very frequent 1783-92, and up to 1806 in monuments and
book-plates--see page 56.
The shield is used in a work published at Worcester 1795, _Historical
Anecdotes of Heraldry and Chivalry_.
Very many of the bulky seals so common during the last thirty years of
the eighteenth century display coats of arms on shields of this shape,
which seems to have been much used about this date. The Liverpool
halfpenny, 1791, see No. 78; the Leeds halfpenny, 1791; and the
Cronebane halfpenny, 1789; and no doubt many other copper tokens show
No. 25.
No. 26 is figured by Randle Holme (_Academy of Armoury_, 1688), who
took it from Sylvanus Morgan's _Sphere of Gentry_, 1661. He explains it
is from old and decayed monuments. It is really adapted from ancient
shields, which were used by the Amazons, and they are constantly
represented with such shields and with double-headed battle axes on
Greek coins (see _Petiti de Amazonibus Dissertatio_, 1687, p. 180, &c.)
The only change noticeable in these shields is that the Stuart,
which extended down to certainly as late as 1694, have perpendicular
sides,--with an occasional exception, as that quoted 1625,--while in
the Georgian the sides are always more or less bulged out.
* * * * *
Nos. 27, 28, 29, and 30, with which may conveniently be taken the tops,
designated "eared couped."
No. 27--This shape occurs in Brussels tapestry, dated 1610. The sides
are more hollowed-out, and the ears more projected (Jacquemart's
_History of Furniture_, p. 102, English translation).
Very frequently in ledger tombs, 1718, 1749, 1750, and in 1680 (see
_Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, November, 1884, p. 172).
In a MS. dated 1710;
Also in the Radcliffe book-plate, _circa_ 1720, engraved in Mr.
Rylands' _Notes on Book-Plates_, 1889, p. 30.
No. 28--The arms of Caroline of Brandenburg, wife of George II., 1727,
are given on this shield in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_.
No. 29--Several of the engravings in Guillim's _Display_, edition 1724,
and in _The English Baronetage_, 1741, partake of this character, thus
giving a range from 1610 to 1741 for this group.
* * * * *
No. 31 is a shield very extensively used in Germany and Holland.
It first appears in the seals of the Counts of Flanders (Oliver
Vredius) in 1477 and 1487, and disappears in 1602.
It is figured fo. 1_b_ in the _Nuremberg Chronicle_, published 1493.
It may be constantly found at all dates, and down to the present day in
German heraldry.
* * * * *
Nos. 32, 33, and 34.
No. 32--This shield has a very extensive range of date; the first I
have noticed is on the tomb of Anne of Cleves, in Westminster Abbey,
1539 (engraved in Willement's _Regal Heraldry_).
Engravings in an illustrated edition of Ariosto, printed Venetia, 1572,
repeat the same shape.
In Bolton's _Elements of Armories_, 1610, where such arms as those of
Paracoussi, King of Plate, The Navatalcas, early Mexicans, and the
Incas of Peru, are placed in such shields.
The sixpences and York half-crowns of Charles I., 1614, and the arms on
his Great Seal, 1627 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_, p. 515).
In a MS., 1652, reproduced in _Miscell. Genealogica_ for January, 1885,
p. 204.
The Great Seal of Charles II., 1653 (Sandford's _Genealogical History_,
p. 517).
The seals of the Commonwealth in 1651 and 1656.
Engravings in Bisse's edition of Nicholas Upton, published 1654;
Also in Sandford's _Genealogical History_, 1677.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, seals with this shape
are common enough, many of most beautiful execution, supported by
cornucopiæ, fruit and flowers issuant therefrom; these extend from 1670
to 1700. We need only look at our Britannia's shield in a modern penny
to see the same, adapted from that coin of Antoninus Pius where occurs
the first representation of the figure of Britannia, A.D. 138.
No. 33.--The earliest I have noted is on the seal of Sir Thomas de
Bikenore, Knt., attached to a charter, _s.d._, but about 1300; this is
engraved _Archæolog. Cantiana_, vol. ii, p. 41.
It occurs upon the seals of the Counts of Flanders from 1403 to 1623
(Oliver Vredius); it also appears elsewhere in his work.
It is also on the tomb in Maidstone Church to John Wotton, 1417 (_Arch.
Cantiana_, vol. i, p. 181).
It may be seen in the printer's mark of Richard Pynson, 1530.
I have also noticed No. 33 in one of Camden's grants, dated 2nd
May, 1608, to James Master of East Landen, Kent: this is engraved
_Archæologia Cantiana_, vol. v, p. 238.
No. 34 is, I think, chiefly restricted to foreign seals and engravings.
I have not, so far, noticed an English example.
* * * * *
Nos. 35, 42, and 43.
No. 35--Egg-shaped may be regarded very much as a variation of No. 32,
some artists considering it more graceful and better adapted to hold
the arms and leave less of the field vacant. The shield of Edward the
Black Prince, preserved at Canterbury, and already noticed at p. 30,
was of this shape. He died 1376 (Bolton's _Elements_, p. 67).
But there is a large number of such seals as may be described
egg-shaped, with hollowed-out sides, and frequently framed in scrolls;
these are classed as cardioid Nos. 42 and 43, the outlines having been
altered by scroll work, although sometimes the scrolls are omitted.
These occur in _Divi Britannici_, by Sir Winston Churchill, 1675;
In monuments of 1684, &c., in Blomefield's _Norfolk_;
And of 1699, _Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_ for December, 1884, p.
185;
Again in 1715, _Herald and Genealogist_, vol. ii, p. 230; and they are
constantly to be found in monumental tablets.
Very frequently the bases of shields with hollowed-out sides are
turned either to dexter or sinister, as noticed in seals throughout
the eighteenth century; and in some later Jacobean, and in Chippendale
book-plates say from 1720 to nearly the end of the century.
[Illustration: Seal of Bartlett of Marldon and Exeter, co. Devon
(_Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_ for June, 1887).]
[Illustration: Seal of Michael Grazebrooke of Audnam: born 1723, died
1766 (_Miscell. Gen. et Heraldica_ for 1878).]
[Illustration: Seal of Joseph Palmer, King's Messenger: born 1683, died
1759 (_Miscell. Genealogica et Heraldica_, second series, vol. i, p.
86).]
[Illustration: Seal of Joseph Siket to his will, 1758 (_Herald and
Genealogist_, vol. iii, p. 316; also vol. vi, p. 211.)]
No. 36--French shields, so constantly represented in French heraldry,
appear also in English grants of arms, 1557, 1561, 1582, 1612.
This is just an ordinary square shield, No. 7, with a pointed French
base.
This shield, however, may be found at much earlier dates--see remarks
on Simon de Montacute's seal to the Baron's letter, 1301, on p. 22;
also the very curious brass formerly in St. Nicholas' Church, Lynn,
to Thomas Waterdeyn, Mayor of Lynn in 1397 and 1404. This shows two
shields, No. 36, which bear his merchant's mark, and stand on either
side of a tree. He was alive in 1410 (see engraving, _Archæologia_,
vol. xxxix, p. 505).
* * * * *
No. 39.--This curious Italian shield occurs in Gerard Leigh's _Accedens
of Armoury_, 1562.
Also with curious scroll-work, dated 1589, in a timber house at
Norwich, engraved, _Archæologia_, vol. xvi, p. 194.
In the Great Seal of Charles I., 1640, Sandford's _Genealogical
History_, p. 516.
In the halfpenny of Charles II., 1660.
In the halfpenny of James II., 1685.
Randle Holme, book i, p. 6, would have us believe this was "the
veritable shape of the Christal shield given by the goddess Minerva to
Perseus, to enable him to slay the Gorgon Medusa, and which was after
dedicated to Pallas," and this conceit may account for a monster's head
introduced in the Great Seal of Charles I., 1640.
Grotesque shields, somewhat of this shape, are given to Ancient
Britons, as in Speed's _Theatre of Great Britain_, 1676, and in MS.
pedigrees of early seventeenth century, for the arms of Welsh princes
and early potentates. Randle Holme (_Academy of Armoury_) gives one of
these as from the monument of Mahomet, Emperor of Turkey, and another
from the monument of Tamerlane, Emperor of Tartaria.
* * * * *
Nos. 40 and 41 actually do occur frequently in Roman bronzes and
monuments, and are reproduced in engravings in Bolton's _Elements of
Armories_, 1610, p. 147, &c. Bolton explains that it (41) occurs on the
Column to Antoninus at Rome, but later discoveries have shown that this
column was really erected to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus in 174 A.D.
[Illustration]
Nos. 42 and 43 cardioid shields (see the remarks upon 33, 34 and
35).--I think these arose from the decorative scroll-work placed around
egg-shaped shields, and especially in late Jacobean and Chippendale
times, when they may be found in monuments and book-plates. The
earliest mural tablet I have noticed is dated 1699, at Winchester
Cathedral. This is engraved _Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica_ for
December, 1884, p. 185.
The engravings in _Divi Britannici_, noticed under the variations of
35, nearly approach these.
* * * * *
Instances of pure heart-shaped shields occur in the brass to Willem
Wenemaer, slain 1325. This is in the vestibule to the hospital which he
founded at Ghent (_Archæological Journal_, vol. vii, p. 287);
[Illustration]
Also in a monument at St. Margaret's, Hertford, 1691-2, shown in the
annexed illustration. This is from _Miscell. Geneal. et Heraldica_,
January, 1887, p. 197; and the shape may also be found at later dates.
My readers will also refer to that very interesting seal of Richard
Basset, about 1145, described at p. 13, and No. 44: it is heart-shaped,
greatly lengthened out.
A very curious heart-shaped shield, with the point turned round and
scrolled, appears in the wooden effigy to one of the family of Oglander
in Brading Church, Isle of Wight. This is supposed to be of sixteenth
century. It is engraved in the Anastatic Drawing Society's vol. for
1883.
A curious instance of the recrudescence of early forms occurs when
Sylvanus Morgan, vol. i, p. 27, places the arms of one Gill in a
triangular shield, such as we noticed in the thirteenth century, and
figured No. 1 in the sheet.
Again, heater-pear shields, No. 6, frequently occur in early monuments,
as they accorded well with the style of decoration--see the monument to
Henry Willoughby, 1581, at Wollaton (Thoroton's _Notts_, p. 27); also
that to Richard Mansfield, 1624, at West Lake Church (Thoroton, p. 27);
also that to Thomas Atkinson, 1661, at Newark-on-Trent (Thoroton, p.
200); also in a monument to the Clifton family, about 1670, engraved p.
61 in the same book.
* * * * *
It would be possible to give much more fully the exacter history of
several of these shields, showing their various slight variations
prevailing at different dates, but such would extend my "attempt"
beyond a convenient length.
I have, however, selected one of the most common occurrence, feeling
sure that its history will therefore be the more interesting. In _A
Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry_, published by Parker,
Oxford, 1847, the date 1724 is given as the "earliest shield that has
been noticed of this tasteless, though still prevalent form," No. 81.
Now, here is the exact sequence with the small variations which I have
been able to trace:--
No. 79--Occurs in a book printed by W. Rastell in 1533, quoted in
Parker's _Glossary_.
In an inlaid chimney-piece at Bolsover Castle, with the arms Cavendish
impaling Ogle, and therefore the date is 1590-1600.
Also in a MS. pedigree of Howard, date 1580, in the possession of Col.
Crosse at Shaw Hill, co. Lancaster.
The next instance I have found is carved on a pew in Warrington
Church, and bears the inscription "Richard Massye, 1617." This shows
arms quarterly, (1) Rixton of Rixton, (2) Mascy of Rixton, (3)
Warburton (?), see Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire vol.
xxxix, p. 154, where this quartering is discussed; (4) Horton of
Horton.
The same shaped shield appears in a monument to Richard Wiatt, who
died in 1619. This stands in Isleworth Church, and is engraved in
_Herald and Gen._, vol. iii, p. 500.
No. 84--Is frequently found in MSS. about 1620. I can refer to the
pedigree of the Holland and Dukenfield families, which is dated 1622.
The same shield is used in Bysse's edition of Nicholas Upton, which
was published in 1654.
Also in a certificate of arms by Segar Garter, 1625, Historic Society
of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. xxxviii, p. 72.
It is also carved in oak in Prescot Church, with the arms of Ogle of
Whiston quartering Bertram, and the date 1650.
It again occurs on the gravestone of Richard Clegg, Vicar of Kirkham;
the earliest date on which is 1677 (Chetham Society, vol. xcii, p.
128).
The same, but more slightly eared, occurs frequently with the
dedicatory arms of the donors of the plates to Sandford's
_Genealogical History_, published 1677.
A ledger stone, dated 1690, with the ears still less strongly marked,
is engraved _Miscell. Genealog._ for February, 1885, p. 242.
No. 82--Occurs in a grant of arms, dated 1684, _Miscell. Genealogica_,
second series, vol. i, p. 397.
The same shield appears in a grant, dated 1696, printed in the same
work, first series, vol. ii, p. 191.
Such shields with very slightly marked ears, and with pointed or
angular, also with French bases, are found very frequently in
book-plates of 1700 and for ten years or so later, and sometimes with
the sides very slightly hollowed-out.
No. 83--Is a shield with Queen Anne's arms, 1706, engraved in
Willement's _Regal Heraldry_.
No. 80--May be seen in the monument to Tho. Norreys, 1624, in Rainham
Church, Kent (_Archæologia Cantiana_, vol. vi, p. 295).
A grant of arms, dated 1720, is engraved in _Miscell. Genealogica_,
vol. ii, p. 252, and shews the same shield.
Seals about the year 1718 appear with this same shape, of rather broad
proportions, and with French bases rather flattened.
No. 81--In Wright's edition of Peter Heylin's _Helps to History_,
published 1773, this variation is used, but of rather longer
proportions.
About 1780, seals are noticed to follow the same character, and with
angular or French bases, just as we see them prevailing even to the
present day.
[Illustration: _Plate VI._]
This shield therefore, with slight variations in the ears, may be found
from 1533 to the present day; and the date given in Parker's _Glossary_
was fixed upon insufficient research.