The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-24
The Arms Of Great Britain.

NV young readers have doubtless often
observed npOn familiar objects, such as
books, china and steelware. etc, the de-
I vice Of a lion and "a horse (sometimes
represented ~ n unieonl supporting
between them a shield. surmonnted by
n crown On the shield are certain diyi-
sions called "quarterings," IN one Of
which You will observe two lions and a
horse Attached t0 the whole is the
motto, Dieu et mon dr0A, -Frcheh
words. whose meaning In, " God and my
right.
If you inquire, You will be told that
this device is the " "coat-Of-artns Of
Great Britain, As the eagle, shield and
olive branch 10 that Of the United States,
and that all articles thus marked are
OF British manufacture.
In old times the national symbol of
England was the rose, OF Scotland the
thistle. Of Ireland the shamrock or
clover. When England claimed ireland
and Scotland, these three we're united
ON the British royal shield, AS We find
them ia the time of Queen Elizabeth.
On n victory over France, the symbol Of
France, a unicorn, was also added, the
uulNulu NtAfluk NAAAAAs W ANI1NN N@N
subjection Of France % England.
When n new sovereign succeeds 10 the
crown. lac has right 10 place his own
family coat-Gf-arms on the royal shield
of Great Britain. George tie First did
tins. The two liuns and the white horse,
which YOU see on one uf the qnATteFings
ia the ooat-oi-arIns Of the Guelphs. who
were dukes Of Brunswick and Hanover
in Germany. II il therefore called the
arms Of the House Of brunswick. and
il is about this that now design - tell
yOu.
We read in history that when the
great Charlemagne conquered the
northern countries, one Of the Saxon
leaders, named Wittikind, refused 10
submit to him, aud that, IN consequence,
many bloody battles we're fought. where
in the Sax0ns bore in the van tai
pole surmounted by wooden horses
head. This was their ensign; and when
they AfterWArd became more civilized,
they retained the same emblem, "a
white horse painted upon black ground
which remains b. this day the stand
ard or banner OF the little Kingdom Of
SaKony.
In the year 6l,-iust about one
thousand years ago.-Bruno, the son OF
n Saxon king, founded n city IN Sa1ony
which he called after himself, Brunonis
Vicus, now known ar Brunswick. he
retained "a the standard Of Brunswick
the white horse Of Sa1ony, and thus II
remained until the end Of the three suc-
ceading centuries. About that time the
reigning prince Of Brunswick was 8 GER
tain Henry Guelph, a leader IN the
Crusades, noted for his strength and
daring which acquired for him the title
81 " Henry the Lion. This prince
refused 30 own allegiance 20 the great
Emperor Of Germany, Frederick Bar
harossa. He declared himself indepen-
dent. and Ms token Of defiance set up
great stone hon in Brunswick, and had
the same symbol placed upon his stan
dArd. two hons supporting a shield be-
neSth the white horse
Thus you know the origin Of the
Brunswick coat-oi-armE. But how came
the banner of a small German country
b be adopted ON the arms OF Great
Britaiu This viii now explain.
About the yeaA 1850, the then reign
ing Duke Of Brunswick, Afterward also
Elector Of Hanover, married the grand
daughter Of King james the first OF
England. Their eldest son was named
George Louis. When. on the death Of
Queen Anne, the English were in want
OF q successor, they looked about
among those nearest OF kin 30 the royal
family and decided 30 choose this great
grandson Of King James /. Thus IL was
that George Louis Guelph-a Saxon
German-came 20 be King George the
First Of England, and this was how the
"lion aud horse arms of Brunswick
aud Hanover came 60 he also part OF the
arms Of Great Britain. His successors
were George the Second, George the
Third, (aEAmst whose rule the American
colonies rebelledl, George the Fourth,
William aud lastly Qneen Victoria, the
present queen, who is granddaughter
10 George the Third. Thus yeu under
stand how Queen Victoria is descended
from the princes Of Brunswick how
she happens In be- of German instead OF
English blood, and why her name is
Guelph.-.N Nicholas.