THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF

G A Z E T T E THE HERALDRY SOCIETY

VOL I No. 21 JAN. 1962 1/- (Members—Gratis)

NEWS AND COMMENT

A C A L L T O ARMS

"Heraldry Enjoys a Boom in Britain" is the sub-heading of a factual article with the above caption, and a portrait of Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter K i n g of Arms, that appeared in The L i v e r ­p o o l E c h o last September (13. 9. 61). The last six months of 1961 saw what appears to us to be a remarkable flowering of interest in heraldry, and that there is a boom is reflected by the numerous articles on the subject that have seen print lately. These vary immensely in quality and the sources of their information are most diverse. The Echo's article, above mentioned, is refreshingly accurate, although the proclaimed eligibility for arms of a potential grantee, "Today anyone with a clean record may apply for a grant", does not quite match up to Henry VIII's requirement, that a man must be of "good honest reputation".

The magazine Weekend, in a strivingly bright article (13-17. 9. 61). repeated the usual terminological in­exactitudes, and discovered that the College of Arms was older than we knew : " . . . Henry V decreed that no coats of arms were valid unless they were issued by the royal heralds, whom he set up in a college of their own . . . "

The New Y o r k Times (20. 11. 61), in a long column devoted to a variety of heraldic topics, including one of heraldry's latest adaptations,the devising (in the sense of designing) in England of insignia for municipalities in America, turned the College of Arms into the Court of Chivalry: "Someone seeking legal redress against a person believed to be improperly using. . . arms may not bring action in an ordinary English Court. It has now been established that such action must come before the College of Arms. Unt i l 1953. . . there was some doubt that the College legally existed at a l l " . A new

C O N T E N T S Page

News and Comment — A Cal l to Arms -Freeman and Chancellor .... 1

Not Understanded of the People — To Each His Family Tree — Summer in Autumn — A Gown of Arms — The Value of Arms .... .... .... 2

Heraldry Society — Ties — Blazer Badges — Obituary — Burke's General Armory — Honorary Members — London Office — Annual Dinner — Programme 4

fillip was given to the old confusion of musician with herald: "Each of the College of Arms officers has a name, dress and accoutrements such as trumpets and tabards. . . . "

In the kindred field of genealogy statements as wild have appeared, on this side of the Atlantic: "There are more than 4,000 parishes in Britain, and the records of birth ( s i c ) , marriage, and death ( s i c ) are kept by the rectors. They vary in age, but may go back more than 500 ( s i c ) years". ( T h e Sunday Express. 5. 11. 61)

In pleasing contrast to all this, we commend Garter K ing of Arms' article, "Still Work for the Heralds", in The D a i l y T e l e g r a p h last month (27. 1. 62), which, a model of lucidity, summarises 800 years of heralds and heraldry in some two half-columns. A particularly telling passage, fundamental to an understanding of the English practice, and incidentally of how this has con­tributed to the present boom, is repeated here for that reason :

"Nobility in the Continental sense of a fixed, hereditary, noble caste with legal privilege has not existed in England since the Norman Conquest. In France, one could tell a nobleman by his exemption from payment of

taxes ; but in England one could tell a gentleman (the nearest equivalent) only by his way of life and social position.

"This explains the importance of armorial bearings as " ensigns of gentility" under the Tudors, when those sagacious monarchs Henry VII , Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were concerned to assist, but at the same time control, a social revolution ".

F R E E M A N A N D C H A N C E L L O R

The presentation to M r . Macmillan of the Court of Common Council's resolution granting him the Freedom of the City of London, the scroll being contained in a casket embellished with the City's Arms and those of Oxford University, occasioned h e r a l d i c comment in the D a i l y T e l e g r a p h recently (15. 12. 61). Peterborough remarked that the Prime Minister has no coat of arms of his own : " H e has taken those of the University for which he is Chancel lor" . If this were an accurate analysis of the situation, it would express a disregard of the laws of Arms surprising in one as aware of his family background as M r . Macmillan, for to take and bear and use the arms of a body of which one is the head, as i f the same were one's own, or in circumstances which might imply that they were, is indeed an heraldic wrong. Viewed in another light, the presence of the arms of Oxford University on M r . Macmillan's Freedom casket can be regarded as a commemorative display of them, quite proper to the occasion, which must be assumed — to judge by the heraldry — to be one on which the City was honouring the Prime Minister in his capacity as Chancellor of Oxford. If the occasion were more than that however, we begin to grown uneasy ; on M r . Macmillian's decease, will the arms of Oxford University be put up for him, i f he still lacks a coat of his own, on a hatchment with its back­ground conventionally sable, the

H E R A L D R Y

HERALDRY GAZETTE

University done to death at last by the passing of a Freeman of London ?

N O T U N D E R S T A N D E D O F T H E P E O P L E

" Sid Brown is a happy man", says The P e o p l e . At 48 he has a good wife, a nice house, a fleet of 22 lorries, . . a n d a C o a t of A r m s " . The italics are theirs, and well they may use them, for if The P e o p l e is to be believed M r . Brown's coat is something quite remarkable. Firstly, "i t proclaims Sid's membership of the Royal Victorian Order by virtue of a personal service done to a sovereign by one of his ancestors", and secondly "the Royal Crest gleams proudly on the front of Sid's big house near Bishop Auckland, Co . Durham".

M r . Brown is indeed the worthy recipient of a grant of armorial bearings, and we are quite sure that he is fully appreciative of the dignity they represent without spinning a yarn to embroider his coat. Not he but The P e o p l e needs to be told that membership of the Royal Victorian Order is not hereditary, and that what M r . Brown has put up on his house is, no doubt, not the Royal Crest but his own personal insignia.

T O E A C H HIS F A M I L Y T R E E

By his lecture "Genealogy and the Common M a n " given last year (15. 12. 61) to the Society of Genea­logists — fifty years old last year — and his article in the Sunday Times (17. 12. 61), captioned as above, Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter King of Arms and a Vice-President of the Heraldry Society, has drawn public attention to a proposal, near to his own heart, which should commend itself to all genea­logists, heraldists, and social historians, and many others — a history of all the families who have made up the English people. The project is so vast as to appear daunting, but Garter King of Arms reminds us that the majority of English families (unlike most other families in the world) have had on the whole, distinctive surnames for six centuries ; and that in England there is an unsurpassed richness of public and private records throughout this period. As a springboard, Sir Anthony recommends the study and comparison

of various name returns, from which the distribution, development and move­ment of surnames could be worked out, from the 14th century onwards. Such a task as this, which will be sponsored by the Marc Fitch Fund, demands devoted and skilful! attention from local historians and ultimately, we believe, i f it is to succeed as it deserves, the co-operation of County Archivists, Somerset House, the Public Record Office, the College of Arms, and even the creation of a special Research Bureau on a national basis backed by ministerial support. A l l those who are willing to help in the first stage, are urged to write to M r . Francis Steer, F . S . A . , Hon . Secretary, Marc Fitch Fund, at 63 Orchard Street, Chichester.

SUMMER IN A U T U M N

The Editorial Board of the H e r a l d r y Gazette very much regrets that the last issue was dated July 1961 instead of October 1961. It hopes however that members were not too confused and were, perhaps, a little gratified at having a second summer.

A GOWN OF ARMS

A recent picture in The L i v e r p o o l E c h o (30. 11. 61) showed the wife of the Mayor of Wallasey, Cheshire, at a civic function wearing a "deep blue evening g o w n " embroidered with "wheat sheaves and the Horn of Wirral" , being devices taken from the Borough's arms, granted in 1910. A shield, Or with a three-masted ship in full sail on the sea proper, was repeated on each of two side panels. We have often doubted the propriety of a Mayor's wife wearing a chain or like civic insignia in respect of an office which is not hers, but, although the Wallasey motif represents a dismemberment of the Borough's arms, it is an idea upon which the Mayor, who was responsible for it, can be congratulated and which others may emulate. So what Wallasey does to-day, we may see other boroughs in Cheshire doing to-morrow. There are ( m u t a t i s m u t a n d i s ) respectable precedents — on her effigy in Worcester Cathedral, Matilda, Countess of Salisbury, who died c. 1281, is pictured in a mantle azure sewn with shields of her paternal arms of Clifford.

When the Countess of Salisbury trod the stage

Mantles azure were all the rage, A sweeping line o'er sewn with a

shield Or more than one, that each revealed The magic and lure of her personal

arms, A n d now — gold garbed and gowned

in blue Wirral horned in proper hue, Invested with more than corporal

charms Wallasey's first lady in her Borough's

arms Marches with — O reincarnate effigy! -Fair Matilda, wife of Longespée, Hand in hand, in fact enarmed, in

proof That the mystery of heralds' panto­

mime, in truth, Embraces, transcends, transmutes,

the march of time.

T H E V A L U E OF ARMS

Those who love and appreciate heraldry are often called upon to defend it. It is not always easy to put into words what one feels and there­fore we are printing this extract from a speech made by Sir George Bellew, formerly Garter K ing of Arms, at the Institute of Marketing and Sales Man­agement, at Carpenters' Ha l l , 21st November, 1961, in response to the toast of "Heraldry", proposed by Lord Mancroft. It is here reproduced by kind permission of Lord Mancroft and Sir George Bellew.

Heraldry, as a subject, is curious and difficult; and it can be very boring. But the way Lord Mancroft handled it shows that, in the hands of a master, it can become both interesting and amusing.

I am going to touch on only one point connected with the Coat of Arms which was recently granted to you by Letters Patent and which you see so well, and so beautifully, emblazoned on your menu cards.

It is the question which many of you must be asking yourselves about this Coat of Arms; it is: what possible value can a Coat of Arms have for your Institute against the background of

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modern life, with its sputniks and beatniks, razor-edged economy, super­realism, super-materialism, and what not ? Can it really have any value at all when half of the time we are think­ing about space rockets and how to beat the fall-out?

Well - isn't it just because of all these very modern and terrifying things that something which is so very different from them, which is, in fact, completely unrelated to them, and even in direct conflict with them is rather refreshing -rather reassuring ?

Let's look at the Coat of Arms. Y o u can hardly fail to agree with me that it is a pretty thing, a decorative thing, a colourful and attractive thing. But there must be more to it than that. A n d I think there is. The trouble is it's hard to define. I have had forty years professional experience in heraldry and I still find it hard to define.

I can't get away with it by just saying: "It's got an indefinable something which is impossible to put your finger on" — though I must say that sounds pretty good to me.

Of course, if the College of Arms only had a Marketing or Sales Manager of its own it would be quite another story; it would immediately become apparent to everyone that the Coat of Arms was unquestionably the most important and vital thing in the world today!

The College of Arms, however, has never pushed its wares.

Though that is undoubtedly very dignified it also explains why so many heralds have a very lean and hungry look!

That, however, is digressing. I must get back to trying to evaluate the Arms of your Institute.

Your Coat of Arms is a symbol, and a symbol can be a powerful and influ­ential factor in the life of a community, be it a nation, or a corporate body like yours.

A symbol, if it is a good one, should be capable of conveying a message — or representing an idea, or an ideal — more forcefully, and much more quickly, than words can describe it.

For example — the Royal Arms, with "By appointment" written beneath, is a symbol. It at once brings to mind a high standard of quality in the pur­veying of goods and services.

The Union Flag is a symbol. As we all know, it stands for a high sense of national pride and honour, high hopes for the future — . . . and perhaps high taxation!

Then, again, there is the three golden balls. That is a symbol too.

A n d so is a heart, pierced by an arrow, with "Bert loves Ermintrude" underneath.

A l l these are symbols, and each tells its own story forcefully, and very quickly.

In your own case, your Coat of Arms symbolises the various high aims, aspirations and ethics of your faculty; it reminds you, or it should, that these things are worth bearing in mind.

It is also a reminder, looking at it all in one piece, and at its severely tradit­ional form, which comes to us out of the past, that we all have our roots in the past, and that some things that have come down to us from the past are worth preserving and worth passing on to those who come after us.

In a sense your Coat of Arms is also symbolic, and indeed symptomatic, of that curious, inexplicable phenomenon, which most of us are anxious to preserve, and for which we are even prepared to fight, if sufficiently goaded, called "The British Way of Life".

Though Coats of Arms are used in other countries, even in some of those behind the Iron Curtain, the same loving care and professional skill is not devoted to them, nor the same vener­ation paid to them, as in this country. Abroad they belong mostly to the past; here they belong also to the present and the future.

And that brings me to veneration. Of course these things are venerated. Rightly or wrongly they command a certain degree of respect.

This is partly because they emanate indirectly from the Crown, partly because not everyone can have one, and partly because they speak of the

noble traditions and long history of this country.

They are also respected because hardly anyone has a clue as to what they mean; and one is always respectful in the presence of the mysterious, or the unknown!

A l l this adds up to prestige. Undoubt­edly a little prestige is gained by the possession of an officially sponsored and authenticated Coat of Arms; and prestige is a thing for which people seem to have very little aversion; they are even,especially in business, prepared to pay good money for i t !

I suppose you could say that in some respects a Coat of Arms is a status symbol, a sort of hall-mark of respect­ability, stability, integrity, and so on . . .

It demonstrates, in a rather delicate way, good intentions, and nobility of of purpose.

Now a Coat of Arms should not be confused with a trade mark, though they are both symbols.

The former cost a lot of money, the latter very little. A Coat of Arms is therefore much more desirable, much more glamorous, much more noble !

To my mind a Coat or Arms is to a Trade Mark as the House of Lords is to . . . that other place!

Though a Trade Mark has advertising value, in respect of goods for sale, it has precious little of those other things which a Coat of Arms possesses, and which I have tried to describe. Besides, a Coat of Arms has, before now, been used in advertising; and to good effect. A n d there is no harm in it either, providing it is done discreetly and with dignity.

The very fact that a great number — and I mean a great number — of other important Institutes, public bodies, and great enterprises (like, for example, the City Companies, the Coal Board, the B.B.C. and the Atomic Energy Commission, to mention but a few) each has a Coat of Arms of its own, is surely in itself almost sufficient reason for the Institute of Marketing and Sales Management to follow suit. In fact it really defeats me why you waited so long (half a century I believe) before you saw the light and joined the happy

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band of those who, at least in the eyes of the College of Arms, are definitely U .

I should perhaps mention one other worthy quality attributed to Coats of Arms. They are supposed to engender a feeling of "esprit de corps", and indeed I think they do.

Whenever you see the Institute's Arms, wherever they may be, you don't have to actually glow with pride, puff out your chest, and shout out the motto! It would be sufficient if you felt a mild sense of "belonging" and perhaps even a mild sense of brother­hood towards your fellow members.

A l l this is rather heavy going, and I had better get down to a simple formula,

The value of a Coat of Arms, then, to an Institute such as yours, at least as I see it, is that it reminds, or is intended to remind, you, and indeed all of us, of many worthy and worthwhile things which we might otherwise in­advertently sometimes overlook. It probably does some good; and it certainly does no harm.

HERALDRY SOCIETY

TIES There is now an ample stock of ties,

in both red and blue terylene and silk. There are also new ties in black tery­lene and black silk, spattered with the badge in the same way as the other ties, A l l ties cost 15/6 in terylene, and 19/- in silk. Postage and packing is 1/-extra. Members requiring ties are asked to make it quite clear what colour ties they require and in what material. They are also asked to send the correct remittance with their orders.

B L A Z E R BADGES A n approved version of the Society's

badge, suitable for use on a blazer pocket, is now available. The badge is worked in gold wire on a background of black cloth. The badges are obtain­able from G . H . Constable Limited, 20/21 Duncan Terrace, London N.1 . Members ordering badges are asked to send £2 for the badge which will be sent post free. The badges will take

about fourteen days to complete as each one is individually made.

OBITUARY

We regret to announce the death of M r . A . B. G . Drabble, who died on 19th March, 1961. M r . Drabble, who had been a member of the society for many years very generously left the society in his will £50, and also Letters Patent granting him armorial bearings.

The Council also regrets to announce the death of M r . R. L . Sarson of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. Rex Sarson was one of the keenest members of The Heraldry Society and did a great deal to further the interests of the Society, particularly in the West Country where he lived. He was born in London in 1897 and for many years served as an altar-boy at Westminister Cathedral under the late Cardinal Vaughan. He went to Burnham sixteen years ago and was a founder of the Burnham-on-Sea Archaeological and Natural History Society. He was also a keen lecturer on heraldry. He leaves a widow and one daughter to whom the Council sends its sincere condolences.

BURKE'S G E N E R A L A R M O R Y

The Heraldry Society is an agent for the sale of the new photo-litho edition of Burke's G e n e r a l A r m o r y . It cannot however distribute this book in the United States of America nor in Canada, as the distribution rights are in the hands of the Genealogical Book Company of Baltimore. American and Canadian members, therefore, should order their copies through this company. Other members may order from The Heraldry Society, the cost of the book being seven guineas, post free. We would like to remind members that by ordering books, advertised by the Society, through the Society they are greatly benefiting it. We would also remind members that books not advertised by the Society are not obtainable through it, and should be ordered from a bookseller.

H O N O R A R Y MEMBERS The Council of the Heraldry Society

have bestowed honorary membership of the Society upon Professor and Mrs. R. C. Gale, who have been most generous benefactors of the Society for very many years.

L O N D O N O F F I C E

The London office has been used by many members since i t was opened but the times do not appear to be those most convenient to the majority of members. Therefore, as from the publication of this issue of the Gazette the times will be altered to the follow­ing:—

Tuesdays 11.30 a.m. — 2.30 p.m. Thursday 5.30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Fridays 2.30 p.m. — 5.30 p.m.

A N N U A L DINNER

As announced, the Annual Dinner will be at the Abercorn Rooms, E.C.1. , on 26th May. Members should apply to the Hon. Secretary for invitations before 15th May. The cost will be 27/6 for members and 30/- for each guest. Members wishing to be served a variety of suitable wines during the meal should send a further 22/6 per cover. This year a larger room has been booked and there will be plenty of room for all.

P R O G R A M M E

The informal discussions were so successful that further discussions and exhibitions of lantern slides, at which sherry is served, will take place at the London Office at 6.30 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday 15th March; Tuesday 27th March; Thursday 12th A p r i l ; Wednesday 25th A p r i l ; and Tuesday 8th May. Guests may be introduced.

A reception will be held on Saturday, 14th Apr i l at 6.30 p.m. at the London Office. Invitations are obtainable from the Hon. Secretary; 8/6 for members and 10/6 for guests, who are most welcome.

Published by The Heraldry Society, Swalcliffe, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire and with the authority of the Council, and Printed by A. G. Gray & Son Shaston Printing Works, Shaftesbury, Dorset.