(SAXON, _Wivere_, a serpent) said to represent a flying serpent, an
imaginary creature resembling the dragon, but having only two legs, which
are like an eagle's, and a serpent-like tail, barbed, sometimes
represented nowed after the manner of serpents. It is figured on one of
the standards in the Bayeux tapestry (_see_ Dragon, p. 86). It is
erroneously termed a dragon by some writers, though perhaps they may both
be classed together. Old heralds say of these imaginary monsters that they
are emblems of pestilence, and are represented as strong and fierce
animals covered with invulnerable mail, and fitly typify viciousness and
envy. In armory they are properly applied to tyranny or the overthrow of a
vicious enemy.
[Illustration: A Wyrvern, wings endorsed, tail nowed.]
[Illustration: Wyvern from the Garter plate of Sir John Gray, 1436 A.D.]
Occasionally a wyvern is borne with the tail nowed and without wings.
_Lindworm._--It is not usual to say a wyvern "without wings" or "without
legs," but _sans wings_ or _sans legs_, as the case may be. A dragon or
wyvern sans wings is termed a lindworm. (_See_ page 80.)
[Illustration: Wyvern, or Lindworm. (German version.)]
_Argent, a wyvern, wings endorsed gules_, are the arms of _Drake_, of
Ashe, Devon (Bart.), 1600.
The town of Leicester has for crest a _wyvern, wings expanded, sans legs,
strewed with wounds, gules_.
_Argent on a bend sable, between two lions rampant of the last, a wyvern
volant in bend of the field, langued gules, Ruddings._
_Two wyverns, wings endorsed and emitting flames_, are the supporters of
Viscount _Arbuthnot_.
The arms of the King of Portugal are supported by _two wyverns erect on
their tails or_, each holding a banner, the crest is a _demi-wyvern_ out
of a ducal coronet.
_Guivre._--The wyvern or serpent in the arms of the Visconti, Lords of
Milan, _argent a guivre d'azure couronnée d'or, issante de gules_ (GUIVRE
is represented as a serpent or wingless dragon sans feet, with a child's
body issuing from its mouth), is said to commemorate the victory of a lord
of that house over a fiery dragon or guivre which inhabited a cavern under
the church of St. Denis in that place. "It is hardly possible," says Miss
Millington, "not to think that the story of the dragon as well as its
adoption in the coat-of-arms bears allusion rather to the dragon of
paganism, expelled from the city, as it might seem, by the church built
upon the site of the cave, in which too, by the rite of Holy Baptism,
_children_ especially were delivered from the power of Satan. Indeed, the
innumerable legends of saints who have fought and overcome dragons
sufficiently prove the symbolic light in which that creature was anciently
viewed." (_See_ also Serpent Biscia, p. 117.)
[Illustration: Wyvern, wings displayed. (Early example.)]
[Illustration: Wyvern, wings depressed.]