(Vol. viii., pp. 174. 255. 440.)
I was not aware that the Query at page 174. was not fully answered by me in
page 255., but the following may be more satisfactory.
Camden, in his Life of Queen Elizabeth (_Annals of Queen Elizabeth_, p.
32.), says her first and chiefest care was for the most constant defence of
the Protestant religion as established by the authority of parliament. "Her
second care to hold an even course in her whole life and in all her
actions, whereupon she took for her motto (1559), _Semper eadem_ (Always
the same)."
In his _Remains_ (p. 347. 4to. 1637), Camden says, "Queen Elizabeth upon
occasions used so many heroical devices as would require a volume: but most
commonly a sive without a motte for her words _Video_, _Taceo_, and _Semper
eadem_, which she as truly and constantly performed."
Sandford is silent as to her motto.
Leake says this motto, _Semper eadem_, was only a personal motto; as queen,
the old motto, _Dieu et mon Droit_, was used, and is so given in Segar's
_Honour, Military and Civil_, dedicated to her majesty in 1602, and which
is also on her tomb. In some churches where there are arms put up to her
memory, it is probable the motto _Semper eadem_ may sometimes have been
seen as being a personal motto to distinguish it from her brothers. Queen
Anne, before the union with Scotland, bore the same arms, crest, and
supporters as her father King James II., but discontinued the use of the
old motto, _Dieu et mon Droit_, and instead thereof used _Semper eadem_.
The motto ascribed to Queen Elizabeth she took for the same reason to
express her constancy; but this, which was personal as to Queen Elizabeth,
was then made the motto of the royal achievement, and seems the first
instance of discontinuing the old motto of _Dieu et mon Droit_, from the
first assumption of it by King Edward III.; for as to the different ones
attributed to Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and King James I., they were
personal only.
The motto is indeed no part of the arms but personal, and therefore is
frequently varied according to the fancy of the bearer; nevertheless, when
particular mottoes have been taken to perpetuate the memory of great
events, either in families or kingdoms, and have been established by long
usage, such should be esteemed as family or national mottoes, and it is
honourable to continue them.
In 1702 (_Gazette_, No. 3874) Queen Anne commanded the Earl Marshal to
signify her pleasure that wheresoever her royal arms were to be used with a
motto, that of _Semper eadem_ should be used; and upon the union with
Scotland in 1707, by her order in council it was ordered to be continued.
King George I., upon his accession, thought proper to discontinue it, and
restored the old motto, _Dieu et mon Droit_.