Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-07-22

I ,.rs. AZ ne skisida had sheir SOusdatiOn q
4. e,.,s- Of The nloss Gscisaa GsEnaAs' o.
rlviaw sAeir shieid various odlcrs--a eus'OSa
vhieh received sender meaning IN the
,ourpameaes ef the middle agsss The knight,
bound to defend the honor Of danes. Sad de.
vote himself to their protection. wearing
their eOlors On his shield. BY aegsess the
partitions or sections o. shields came int
use; for when, as onsn occurred. q kNisAt
was the champion Of several ladies, he bore
several solOES On his shield, which had there
ioue 70 be divided iAto fields. WAsa the
martial ycalA Of almCst all Europe len their
homes, about the end Of the sleveNtA eea,a>
~, Inspired With religious enthusiasm 10
Conquer ;Ae Holy Land, the ass OF arms be.
came SIN more esaeral and necessary. IN
order to Distinguish the nations armies, and
families. the ptiacss aud commanders chose
their symbols, sometimes in commemoratioa
Of the exploits and evsats Of the campaign,
OF Of the dignity Of the commander, and
sometimes fron mere fancy OF passing ha-
NOR, ...
Blazenlag. HiStsriNing, and Mar
SAaIling Arms.
Blazoning 10 the methodical description
of a bearing. In the FIRST, place, the shield
Is described according to its sinc,ures, figures,
and partitions. The inferior parts of an ss-
cutcheou are the blazored-the helm, with
its insignia, which are trumpet wings, and
plumes, men and animals. or their mem
bers then the wreath and its iinctures after
which the corones cap, &c. finally the sup
| potters, the mantle, the device, and other
secondary things Such terms for the color
mus, be used as are agreeable TO the station
and quality of the bearer. All persons be-
low the degree Of noble mast have their coats
blazoned by colors and Inetals; noble men
by precious stones; and kings and princes
by planets.
In emblazoning shields Of arms, metals
colors, and fn-s are used to depict the devices
the technical terms of which are these:-oi
metals, gold, called OF, and silver. argent
only are employed of colors, red, called
gules, blue, azure, black, sable, green, vert,
and purple, purpure ;-and of fnrs, princi-
pAlly the skin of the little animal called
remiae, and combination Of grey and
white squirrel skins, called vair.
In blazoning arms il is an established rule
with heralds, that animals are always to be
interpreted in the best sense, that is, accor-
ding to their most noble and generous quail
tiles, that the most honor may rebound to
the bearers. Thus the fox, being reputed
witty and given 10 flchins for his prey, if
this be the charge of an escutehson, we are
TO conceive the quality represented to be his
wit and canning, and not his theft.
All savage beasts are to be figured in their
fercess action: ms lion erected, his mouth
wide open. his claws extended and thus
formed he is said to be rampant. AIeopard
or wolf is 70 be portrayed going Al ii we're
which form of action suits their
natural disposition. and is called PEASANT.
The gentler kinds are to be sent forth in their
nobIest and most advantageous action, as a
horse running or vaultins, greyhound
a deer tripping, a lamb going with
smooth and easy pace.
Every animal is to be represented as mo
wing or looking 10 the rightside of the shield;
and it is general rule, that the right foot
be placed foremost, because the right side is
reckoned the beginning Of motion. The
upper part is nobler than the lower, and
things that are constrained either 10
lsok up or down, ought rather to be designed
looking upwards. We observe however
that Notwithstanding such precepts OF Gull
linn and other masters Of armeiy, there are
lions PEASANT, eouchaht, dormant, as well as
and most animals In arms look
down and not up. Birds are esteemed
more honorable bearing than fish, and wild
and ravenous birds than tame ones. When
their bills and feet are of difercRt color
from the rest, they are said TO be membered.
Rirds Of prey are moro properly said to be
armed. In the blazoning OF fowls much ex.
ercised en- flight, ifthe wings be not display
cd, they are said to be borne close, for ex-
ample, he teareth an eagle, hawk, or a
swallow, close. Fish are borne different
ways, upright, endowed, extended, endorsed.
surmounted of each other, fretted, ,riangled.
Those borne feeding should be termed de-
youring. Those borne directly upright are
termed Hauriant, and those borne traverse
the escntcheon, naiant.
To historify, in heraldry. is to explain the
history of coat of arms, its origin, and the
changes it has undergone. If the herald is
e. nwrIasa koo.sur kse%o.:n>M.,