Canting arms of the 14th. century family of Alabaster of Bicton, Devon: "Azure, three cross-bows bent or". (Sir William Pole (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.468; Tristram Risdon (d.1640), "Tristram Risdon's Notebook"). Pun on French "Arquebusier" "a crossbow-man", or derived from Latin "Balistarius", "a bowman". Not to be confused with the possibly later and apparently unconnected family of Alabaster/Arblaster of East Anglia/Essex whose arms were "Ermine, a cross-bow bent in pale gules" (Heraldic Visitation of Essex, 1634, p.485: William Scot of Chigwell, co. Essex, will was dated 20 November 1597, married Prudence daughter and coheir of Edmund Alabaster of Bretts Hall in Tendring, Essex. The Arms of Scot include as eighth quartering the Arms of Alabaster, namely "Ermine, a crossbow palewise gules")