Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-29
ARMORIAL BEARINGS.
INCIDENTS WHICH GAVE RISE
TO SOME OF THEM.
Mr. Morty, Ill, DucSl md His Cannon
"A Family VIII. Levles n Tribute
of Ho-ssshos.-A Man Hang
Ing on asG.bbet.

adopted at tho suggestion OF coacH
painters or seal engravers. There is,
perhaps some truth in this here says
the Saturday Eyoning Post but in
England no one is entitled to bear
arms without either "A hereditary claim
10 them or grant from the compe-
tent authorities-the Heralds College
in England the Lyons Court in Scot
land. and the Office OF Arms in Ire
land. The whims OF individuals, how
ever. have been the means OF orlgi-
mating some singular crests and ar
mortal bearings
A gentleman named Morty, for ex-
ample mounted in his garden num-
Der of cannon OF an Anticipated kind;
and soon afterwards had an armorlal
coat emblazoned on the panels Of his
carriage. Keeping clear of heraldic
phraseology we may shortly describe
this as including two cannon duck
and the motto "DuX Morti. A
friend struck on observing these Pc
culiar devices, asked Mr.. Morty his
reason for assuming them 'Well,
you see, was the reply II am very
fond OF ducks but they always nearly
! kill me with Indigestion, and / am
also very fond o cannon. SO | have
taken the cannon for my arms and the
duck for my crest while the motto.
! Leader to Death, applies equally
! TO tho duck To the cannon and TO
myself. because I'm called Morty."
Bishop Shirlaw. of Durham. again,
after his appointment to that diocese,
emblazoned his escutcheon with six
willow wands, which were arranged so
as to represent a cross. For some
time this was supposed TO indicate that
he had been a schoolmaster; but on
inquiring it was found that the bishop
had adopted the osiers because he was
the son Of a BASKET maker. Bearings
OF this kind are not uncommon. An
English nobleman had on his shield a
Greek cross entwined with rope5-a
device due to the fact that he had
commenced life rs rope maker. In
a similar way various trades have be.
oueathed. from somewhat remote
times, armorial bearings which con-
tinue in vogue One Henry Ferrers
for instance the founder OF the Earl
dom of Ferrers, was Master OF the
Horse and Master Farrier TO William
She Conquerer; hence the Ferrers Of
Rutlandshire bore three horseshoes on
their escutcheon. The horseshoe is
to the present day retained as the
family badge; and as lords of the
manor Of Oakham the Ferrers have
a right TO claim horseshoe from any
prince or peer who enters their do
main. At Oakham there is an en-.
trance gate studded with such tribute
shoes, some OF them OF great size;
and so recently rs 1881 when the Prin-
cess OF Wales passed through the
manor. she arrived provided with the
necessary horseshoe
Italian historians say that the Me-
dici family was founded by physi-
clan, who hung out sign displaying
six golden pills by way OF attracting
attention to his premises; hence, these
historians say, the six golden balls
which the crowned heads of many
countries ouarterel with their own
arms. Writing of Italy reminds us
too OF that strange heraldic freak
the well-known Legs Of Man. which
only differ from the ancient arms OF
Sicily in being mail clad and spurred.
1t seems at least possible that the one
badge was derived from the other
With reference TO this blanche says:
THE classical symbol of the Island
Of Sicily (Trinacria) was formed OF
three naked legs similarly conjoined.
.f,.1<. Cot. = IL. II
Man might have awakened in its
Norman sovereigns some recollections
Of their Mediterranean conquests."
Previous TO 1870. the arms OF Man
were totally different ship with
her sails furled
Almost as curious, perhaps, as the
device of the three legs is that OF the
large saucepan or cauldron so COM
mon in Spanish heraldry. This
seems to have originated from the
fact that certain mobiles were privi-
legged to levy troops to serve under
their private banners; and as they
were obliged to feed all these men at
their own expense, the barons added
the strange looking saucepan 10 their
Insignia
More startling, however than legs
or saucepans is the figure Of man
hanging from gibbet which is. or
was, borne on the escutcheon OF u
Scottish family. According to the
late DIR. r. Chambers, King Kenneth
H.. having expressed "A regret that
one of his kinsmen had been hanged
by his enemies and having offered a
high reward to any one who would
cut down the body and bring it to
him. nobody could be found to under
take the task-from fear, no doubt of
the said enemies. AT length man OF
humble appearance came forward
saying, 'Dal yell'' ("I dare'). This
hitherto obscure individual succeeded
In rescuing the body and was honored
with leave TO bear in his armorial coat
the figure OF a man hanging on glib
bet together with the motto ii dare. "
''both OF which. says DR. Chambers
'the Dalyells still assume Sixty