be of ermine, and containing a number of rows of ermine spots, equal to those of the guards on their coronation robes, expressing their respective degrees: viz. a baron, two rows; a viscount, two and a half; an earl, three; a marquis, three and a half; a duke, four, &c.

"This proposal,” he adds, "having met with general approbation, was carried into execution, and had the desired effect of showing the distinction between the several degrees of our nobility; after which I formed mantles for the knights companions of the several orders, taken from the mantles and robes which they wear at their installations."

The lambrequin should be of the principal colour in the arms, and the lining of the principal metal. Considerable fancy and taste may be displayed in these ornaments, which were often powdered with the badges of the family. Some fine examples may be seen in the Garter Plates of the 15th century.

THE WREATH.

The wreath is placed over the helmet as a support for the crest. It is composed of two rolls of silk twisted together, and of the colours or metal of the arms. If one of the rolls be metal, the other must be of the principal colour of the arms; but when there is no metal in the arms, then one of the rolls should be of the colour of the field, and the other part of the colour of the immediate charge.

In the middle ages, no man, who was under the degree of a knight, had his crest set on a wreath.

THE CREST.

The crest is the highest part of the ornaments of a coat of arms, and is placed on the wreath, unless it is issuant from a coronet, or standing on a chapeau, in either of which cases, the wreath is dispensed with. Crests appear on the helmets of Knights as early as the 13th century; and after the institution of the order of the Garter, and in imitation of King Edward the Third, who was the first king of England that bore a crest on his helmet, all knights companions of the order began to wear crests. This practice soon became more general, until at length they were assumed discretionally by all who considered themselves as legally entitled to bear arms.

BADGES.

Badges were anciently placed on banners, ensigns, caparisons, and the breasts or shoulders of private soldiers, servants, and attendants; and that without any wreath, or other thing, under them. They were much worn from the reign of King Edward the First, until that of Queen Elizabeth, when they grew into disuse.

Gerard Leigh says, the badge was not placed on a wreath in the time of Henry the Fifth; and it never should be so borne.

The Earl Delawarr bears the crampette and impaled rose; and the Lord Abergavenny bears the portcullis and rose, which were ancient badges. For further particulars refer to the articles BADGES, in the DICTIONARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS.

MOTTO.

The motto, mot, word, legend, saying, or epigraph, added or appropriated to arms, not being hereditary may be taken, changed, varied, or relinquished, when and as often as the bearer thinks fit; and may, with impunity to the assumer, be the same as is used by other families. Many still in use have been originally war-cries.

SUPPORTERS.

Supporters are exterior ornaments, placed at the sides of the escutcheon to support it. Menestrier and others say, that supporters had their origin from tilts and tournaments, wherein the knights caused their shields to be carried by servants or pages, under the disguise of lions, bears, griffins, Moors, &c., who also held and guarded the escutcheons, which the knights were obliged to expose to public view some time before the lists were opened.

Supporters have formerly been taken from such animals or birds as are borne in the shields, or had been introduced by the early engravers as ornaments on the seals, and at the present day they are occasionally chosen as bearing some allusion to the services of those whose arms they support.

It does not appear to have been customary with our ancestors to change or alter their family supporters; neither is it a practice used in our days, except in some singular instances, and then it has been done under the sanction of the royal sign-manual, &c.

The practice of the sovereigns of England granting supporters to the peers of each degree, seems to have

commenced in the reign of King Henry the Eighth, as did that of granting the like ornaments to the arms of the knights of the Garter and of the Bath.

Supporters do not appear to the arms of the kings of England before the time of Richard II.; but a lion, or, and an eagle or falcon proper have been assigned to the arms of Edward III. The arms of Richard II. are seen accompanied rather than supported by two white harts, collared and chained or; and in Westminster Hall, by angels. A lion and an antelope, and sometimes an antelope and a swan, have been assigned to Henry IV. and Henry V., but upon no very reliable authority. Examples of the arms of Henry VI. appear supported by two antelopes argent, also, others, with a lion for the dexter, and a panther, antelope, or heraldic tiger for the sinister supporter. The arms of Edward IV. are painted in a contemporary MS. in the British Museum, supported by two white lions. He is said also to have used a lion, or, for the dexter and a bull sable for the sinister supporter. Of Edward V., there is no example. Richard III. seems to have generally used two boars argent. Henry VII. a dragon gules and a greyhound argent, a lion, or, and a dragon gules, and occasionally two greyhounds argent.

Henry VIII. generally a lion or, and a dragon gules. Sometimes the red dragon on the dexter side, and a white bull, greyhound, or cock on the sinister.

Edward VI., lion or, and dragon gules.

Mary, lion or, and dragon or, or a greyhound argent. When impaled with the arms of her husband, King Philip of Spain, the shield is supported by an eagle and a lion.

Elizabeth used the lion and dragon both or, and sometimes, in lieu of the dragon, the greyhound argent.

On the accession of James I., one of the silver unicorns at that time used as supporters to the royal arms of Scotland supplanted the dragon and greyhound of the Tudors, and since that period the supporters of the royal arms of the United Kingdoms have remained unchanged, being, dexter a lion rampant, gardant, or imperially crowned proper. Sinister, a unicorn, argent, armed, unguled, and crined, or, gorged with a coronet composed of crosses-pattée, and fleursde-lis, having a chain affixed thereto, all of the last, passing between the forelegs, and reflexed over the back.

The Nova-Scotia baronets are, by their patents of creation, allowed to carry supporters, notwithstanding that privilege was not granted to the English baronets, at the time of the institution of their dignity. Some of the English baronets now bear supporters, but it is by virtue of a royal licence obtained for that special purpose.

The kings of arms in England are not authorized to grant supporters to any person under the degree of a knight Grand Cross of the Bath, unless they receive a royal warrant directed to them for that purpose; and yet Lyon king of arms of Scotland may, by virtue of his office, grant supporters without such royal warrant, within the kingdom of Scotland, and has frequently put that power in practice.

The eldest sons of peers, above the degree of a baron, bear their fathers' arms and supporters with a label, and use the coronet belonging to their father's second title, if he has one; but all younger sons bear their arms with proper differences, and use no coronet or supporters.