The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-22
PORTO RICo's COAT OF ARMS.
The Device Awarded to the Island
hy Ferdinand.

The Device Awarded to the Island
by Ferdinand.
SAN JUAN, p. R.. Oct. 12.-When the
sovereignty of Porto Rico passed from
Spain to the United States. some interest
was aroused among the lovers of the his
torical by the illustrations in various
magazines and books. representing lamb
on rock in the middle Of the sea, holding
over his shoulder a flag tipped with a
cross, which purported to be the coat Of
arms of Porto Rico. Nearly all represen-
tations that have appeared are incorrect.
as the following royal decree will show:
On. Fernando, by the grace of God, King Of
Aragon DC.
Whereas Pedro Moreno, Attorney General Of
San Juan, situated in the ocean sea Of Indies.
sent TO me by the courts OF justice. council
men, knights. squires, officers. and gentlemen
to report that after said island was by me and
her most Serene HighneSs Dona Isabel my dear
and beloved wife (who eternal bliss may enjoy
found. discovered, taken and ordered to be
populated, having now Christian population
which will be increased, without having been to
it awarded as yet 4 coat-ofarms and devices
to its seals and ensigns, as are granted to other
cities and towns OF the kingdom to be placed
on their seals and designs and requesting me TO
to be affixed in its ensigns, seals, and other
things requiring it.
I, having in consideration that the said island
was by me and the said Queen Isabel my very
dear and beloved wife (who eternal bliss may
enjoy found and taken and as you are its
first populators worshiping our Lord in our
Catholic faith. and in consideration Of the good
and loyal services rendered to me by the in
habitants of said island, and the hardships
and perils endured in populating and conqueriny
it, reducing the Indians to our obedience. and
being it just that those that are loyal and render
their good services, should be honored and re.
warded and said island more ennobied l award
and hereby. give said island coat-of-arms an
escutcheon' with green field and plated lamb
resting in it on a red rock. banner sustained
by said lamb having at the end cross and
bordered with castles, lions. banners and crosses
of jerusalem and device and l with
their crowns, Jokes, and arrows, and written
motto around in this manner: Joannes est
nomen ejus"
The Aforesaid coat OF arms I give to said
Island of San Juan that 1t may be by all known
and placed and affixed in their ensigns and seals.
or anywhere it may be considered necessary, Just
the same as other coats OF arms are used in
those cities and towns of the Kingdom Of Cas-
tile to which have given coats OF arns, and by
this my cedule command the Prince Charles my
dear and beloved grandson. the infantes, dukes.
pre!ates counts, marquises. grandces, chiefs OF
orders, priors,- commissaries, and sub-commis-
ORDERS governors of castles and strongholds and
those OF public cdifces. the board and judges
of the supreme courts. mayors and high con.
stables OF our house and court, charceries, and
to all councils and aldermen, mayors. and con-
stables and all Others, and to cities, towns.
or hamlets within our kingdom and dominion
to comply with all in this my cedule contained
without any infringement thereof to be con-
sented by anyone, under penalty OF losing my
grace, and the payment Of thousand maravedis
to my house in each case.
Done at Burgos on the eighth day OF November.
81 tha fny Re- fhQ nj
Palencia.
The above is literal translation of the
original, which is deposited in the Indies
General Archives at Seville. Spain.
In 1882 Frav lingo Abbad. the private
secretary Of the Bishop, says in his civil
history and geography of Porto Rico that
the coat-of-arms of this island was a
plated lamb in a green field, resting on
red book, said lamb unfolding flag hav-
Ing at its end a cross like that which San
Juan has for device. the escutcheon Dor
dered with castles, lions. and banners,
with an F and l having upon as device
the crown, yoke, and arrows OF the Cath
olic King"
AS heraldic bearings can only be issued |
by competent authority. and by the same |
authority amended, 1t is safe to say that |
the coat-of-arms representing the lamb |
standing upon rock is nothing but the |
Of an artists within, for 1t can |
be averred that no order has ever been |
issued amending the above decree pro-
by Ferdinand and Isabel, Kings |
,f Spain.
The only authentic order that has ever
modified it in any way was the conces-
sion granted on April 10, 1897, which al
lowed to be stamped around the es-
cutcheon the following motto: For it's |
valor. constancy, and fidelity Is verY no.
Die and loyal this city" This was granted
to the island for having repulsed and
finally beaten off the British who had laid |
siege to San Juan.
The lamb is the representation of Jesus
Christ, resting on book (the gospel and
the white flag. an emblem Of peace.
Some contend that the letters F. I.
mean Faithful Island" while others de-
clare that they stand for Ferdinand and
Isabella" The letters F. I. with crowns
above them, the yoke and the bunch of
arrows were peculiar to coins and medals
minted during the reign of the Catholic
kings. and had special Specification.
The Catholic Church. in the celebration
If matrimony, bound the contracting par
les with a cloth band. This band was
,alled the yoke. The Interpretation of
he device is therefore this: Ferdinand,
King Of Aragon and Sicily. and Isabel,
Queen Of Castillo and Leon. under the
yoke united their arms, thus
one power.
Castles and lions are blazons Of Cas-
lille. and with its treasury the discovery
" America was carried out; and the cross
II Jerusalem which was the device of the
crusaders who went into Palestine to fight
against the Moors. recalls the conquest
If Granada. and is also peculiar to the
eals and coins Of this epoch