BRITISH HERALDRY

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1934, Page 5

BRITISH HERALDRY

FAMOUS COLLEGE OF ARMS. OPENS ITS DOOR TO PUBLIC. For the first time since its incorporation 450 years ago by Richard Crookback the College of Arms in Queen Victoria Street, London, has admitted the public to inspect its documents and treasures accumulated over the penturies. The College of Arms is the home of the English heralds and their art. Years before their incorporation in 1484 heraldry had already been established in England. Though armorial devices have been traced to the symbols of all ages and every part of the world—from the lion’s whelp of Judah to the chrysanthemum of the Emperor of Japan—perhaps the first actual record of an emblazoned shield in England is that of Richard the Lion-Hearted, who in 1189 displayed a lion ramping toward the sinister side. The art spread rapidly over Europe. Heralds became not only messengers of war and peace, ceremonial marshals at coronations, tournaments, or funerals, but also extremely learned and skilful in tracing descents, pedigrees, and coats of arms. In 1530 Henry VIII inaugurated the great series of herald’s visitations to the counties of England, “to reforme all false Armorie and Armes devised without authoritie . . . and then to deface and take away wheresoever they be set.” Among the exhibits which the heralds, celebrating their long existence, have put on display is a pic-ture-roll of immense length illustrating a tournament in 1509-10 in which King Henry VIII of the many wives splintered a lance. There are also several tournament score books, indicating the points or marks won by competitors. It was part of a herald’s duty to keep such scores. Among several grants of arms there is a draft of one to John Shakespeare, father of William. Of particular interest to Americans is the picture of heralds proclaiming the Peace of Versailles in 1783, in which the independence of the 13 colonies was recognised by England. In a later document appears the signature .of Lord Nelson, greatest of England’s admirals, who traced his descent from the Walpole family. The name is shakily written, for the admiral’s only hand,- his left, was unaccustomed to use. The largest chart of descent is one made in 1641 for the first Earl of Carbery. The oldest roll of arms, a nameless work, shows the proud lion passant of Gerald del Pie. Modern documents include the grant of arms to Barnes in 1932 in which appear two racing oars coloured respectively with Oxford and Cambridge blue, although heraldry affects to recognise only azure. Other exhibits include a prayer book with embroidered, heraldic binding used by King Charles 11, and the brilliant armorial of the Kingdom of Haiti, compiled by osder of Henri Christophe, who raised himself from slavery to a throne.