There was also a large square flag bearing the whole of the achievements of the monarch or
nobleman, as seen in the royal standard of England. The royal standard, when placed before the
pavilion of the monarch either at a tourney or in an encampment, was eleven yards long and three
yards broad.
The length of the standard when borne in the field denoted the rank of the leader: that of a duke was
seven yards long; a peer of lower degree raised a standard five yards in length; that of a knight
banneret was only four. In modern times standards of peers or knights banneret are seldom displayed
but in funeral processions. The standard is then long and narrow, and pointed at the end; that of a duke
is about fifteen feet in length, peers of lower degree about twelve.
The flag borne as the ensign of a regiment of cavalry is called a standard. The flags of foot soldiers
are called colours.
nobleman, as seen in the royal standard of England. The royal standard, when placed before the
pavilion of the monarch either at a tourney or in an encampment, was eleven yards long and three
yards broad.
The length of the standard when borne in the field denoted the rank of the leader: that of a duke was
seven yards long; a peer of lower degree raised a standard five yards in length; that of a knight
banneret was only four. In modern times standards of peers or knights banneret are seldom displayed
but in funeral processions. The standard is then long and narrow, and pointed at the end; that of a duke
is about fifteen feet in length, peers of lower degree about twelve.
The flag borne as the ensign of a regiment of cavalry is called a standard. The flags of foot soldiers
are called colours.
In the olden time, when a Knight had distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry, it was the custom to mark his
meritorious conduct by prompt advancement on the very field of battle. In such a case, the point or points of the good
Knight’s Pennon were rent off, and thus the small Flag was reduced to the square form of the Banner, by which
thenceforth he was to be distinguished. Froissart, in his own graphic manner, has described the ceremonial which
attended the first display of the Banner of a newly-created Banneret on the field of battle. Sir John Chandos, one of the
Knights Founders of the Garter, appeared with his maiden Banner on the field, on the morning of the battle of Naveret,
in Castile, April 3rd, 1367:—“He brought his banner in his hands,” says the chronicler, “rolled up” (rolled round the staff),
“and said to the Prince of Wales”—it was the Black Prince,—“’My Lord, behold, here is my Banner: I deliver it to you in
this way,”—still rolled round the staff, that is—“’that it may please you to display it, and that this day I may raise it; for,
thank God, I have land and heritage sufficient to support the rank as it ought to be!’ Then the Prince and the King”—Don
Petro, King of Castile—“took the Banner, which was of silver with a sharp pile gules, between their hands by the staff,
and displayed it, and returned it to him, the Prince saying—’Sir John, behold your Banner; may God grant you may do
your duty!’ Then Sir John Chandos bore his Banner (displayed) to his own Company, and said—’Gentlemen, see here
my Banner and yours; preserve it as your own!’” We see that, like another hero of a later period, the Black Prince
held the maxim—“England expects every man to do his duty.”
Quarterings, Marks of Cadency, and Differences (but not impalements) are blazoned on Banners under the very same
conditions that they appear on Shields of Arms. For example, the Banners, as well as the Shield, on the seal of Sir
Robert de Hungerford, are Differenced with a label for Cadency, and thus are distinguished from the
corresponding Banners and Shield on the Seal of Sir Robert’s father.
Crests, Badges, Supporters, and other external accessories and ornaments of Armorial Shields have no place on
Banners, a Banner representing a Shield, and being charged as a Shield. In the seventeenth century, however,
English Banners sometimes were charged with Achievements of Arms, including all the accessories and ornaments of
Shields.
In early times Banners appear in use at sea, as well as on land; and the same Banners were used both on shore and
afloat. The sails of our early shipping, also, are constantly represented as covered with armorial blazonry, and they thus
were enabled to act as Ship-Flags. Many curious and interesting representations of the strange, unwieldy, unship-shape
looking craft that were the ancestors of the British Navy, are introduced with their heraldic sails and their Banners into
the compositions of Seals. A fine example of its order is the Seal of John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, A.D. 1436,
“Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine,” . The ship is really a noble-looking vessel, with her solitary sail
blazoned with the Lord Admiral’s Arms—England, within a bordure of France,—the same arms that were borne by Prince
John of Eltham. In this example the crew are not represented: but in other Seals of early shipping figures are
commonly introduced, and almost always they are drawn of ludicrously disproportionate size. This ship does not display
any Banner from a banner-staff, but has a nautical Pennon of ample size flying at the mast-head: when Banners are
displayed on board ships upon early Seals, they are generally narrow in proportion to their height, a form of Banner
adopted on land as well as at sea, in consequence of the greater inconvenience attending the display of broad or really
square Banners. At a later period, however, Ship-Flags of very large size came into favour.
meritorious conduct by prompt advancement on the very field of battle. In such a case, the point or points of the good
Knight’s Pennon were rent off, and thus the small Flag was reduced to the square form of the Banner, by which
thenceforth he was to be distinguished. Froissart, in his own graphic manner, has described the ceremonial which
attended the first display of the Banner of a newly-created Banneret on the field of battle. Sir John Chandos, one of the
Knights Founders of the Garter, appeared with his maiden Banner on the field, on the morning of the battle of Naveret,
in Castile, April 3rd, 1367:—“He brought his banner in his hands,” says the chronicler, “rolled up” (rolled round the staff),
“and said to the Prince of Wales”—it was the Black Prince,—“’My Lord, behold, here is my Banner: I deliver it to you in
this way,”—still rolled round the staff, that is—“’that it may please you to display it, and that this day I may raise it; for,
thank God, I have land and heritage sufficient to support the rank as it ought to be!’ Then the Prince and the King”—Don
Petro, King of Castile—“took the Banner, which was of silver with a sharp pile gules, between their hands by the staff,
and displayed it, and returned it to him, the Prince saying—’Sir John, behold your Banner; may God grant you may do
your duty!’ Then Sir John Chandos bore his Banner (displayed) to his own Company, and said—’Gentlemen, see here
my Banner and yours; preserve it as your own!’” We see that, like another hero of a later period, the Black Prince
held the maxim—“England expects every man to do his duty.”
Quarterings, Marks of Cadency, and Differences (but not impalements) are blazoned on Banners under the very same
conditions that they appear on Shields of Arms. For example, the Banners, as well as the Shield, on the seal of Sir
Robert de Hungerford, are Differenced with a label for Cadency, and thus are distinguished from the
corresponding Banners and Shield on the Seal of Sir Robert’s father.
Crests, Badges, Supporters, and other external accessories and ornaments of Armorial Shields have no place on
Banners, a Banner representing a Shield, and being charged as a Shield. In the seventeenth century, however,
English Banners sometimes were charged with Achievements of Arms, including all the accessories and ornaments of
Shields.
In early times Banners appear in use at sea, as well as on land; and the same Banners were used both on shore and
afloat. The sails of our early shipping, also, are constantly represented as covered with armorial blazonry, and they thus
were enabled to act as Ship-Flags. Many curious and interesting representations of the strange, unwieldy, unship-shape
looking craft that were the ancestors of the British Navy, are introduced with their heraldic sails and their Banners into
the compositions of Seals. A fine example of its order is the Seal of John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, A.D. 1436,
“Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine,” . The ship is really a noble-looking vessel, with her solitary sail
blazoned with the Lord Admiral’s Arms—England, within a bordure of France,—the same arms that were borne by Prince
John of Eltham. In this example the crew are not represented: but in other Seals of early shipping figures are
commonly introduced, and almost always they are drawn of ludicrously disproportionate size. This ship does not display
any Banner from a banner-staff, but has a nautical Pennon of ample size flying at the mast-head: when Banners are
displayed on board ships upon early Seals, they are generally narrow in proportion to their height, a form of Banner
adopted on land as well as at sea, in consequence of the greater inconvenience attending the display of broad or really
square Banners. At a later period, however, Ship-Flags of very large size came into favour.
All members of the same family claim the same bearings in their coats of arms; and to
distinguish the principal bearer from his descendants or relatives, it was necessary to invent
some sign so that the degree of consanguinity might be known. These signs are called
DIFFERENCES.
During the Crusades, the only difference consisted in the bordure or border, which, as the name
implies, was a border or edging running round the edge of the shield. The colour and form of
this border served to distinguish the leaders of the different bands that served under one duke
or chieftain. The same difference might be used to denote a diversity between particular
persons descended from one family.
At the present time they are not used to denote a difference, but as one of the ordinaries to a
coat of arms. Sisters have no differences in their coats of arms. They are permitted to bear the
arms of their father, as the eldest son does after his father's decease.Guillim, Leigh, and other
ancient armorists mention divers figures, which, they assert, were formerly added to coats of
arms as marks of degradation for slander, cowardice, murder, and other crimes, and to them
they give the name of abatements of honour; others have called them blots in the escutcheon:
but as no instance can be produced of such dishonourable marks having been borne in a coat
of arms, they may justly be considered as chimerical, or at any rate obsolete, and unworthy of
consideration at the present time.
Porney pithily observes, "that arms being marks of honour, they cannot admit of any note of
infamy, nor would any one bear them if they were so branded. It is true, a man may be
degraded for divers crimes, particularly high treason; but in such cases the escutcheon is
reversed, trod upon, and torn in pieces, to denote a total extinction and suppression of the
honour and dignity of the person to whom it belonged."
Baton : The only abatement used in heraldry is the baton: this denotes illegitimacy. It is borne in
the escutcheons of the dukes that assume the royal arms as the illegitimate descendants of
King Charles the Second.
distinguish the principal bearer from his descendants or relatives, it was necessary to invent
some sign so that the degree of consanguinity might be known. These signs are called
DIFFERENCES.
During the Crusades, the only difference consisted in the bordure or border, which, as the name
implies, was a border or edging running round the edge of the shield. The colour and form of
this border served to distinguish the leaders of the different bands that served under one duke
or chieftain. The same difference might be used to denote a diversity between particular
persons descended from one family.
At the present time they are not used to denote a difference, but as one of the ordinaries to a
coat of arms. Sisters have no differences in their coats of arms. They are permitted to bear the
arms of their father, as the eldest son does after his father's decease.Guillim, Leigh, and other
ancient armorists mention divers figures, which, they assert, were formerly added to coats of
arms as marks of degradation for slander, cowardice, murder, and other crimes, and to them
they give the name of abatements of honour; others have called them blots in the escutcheon:
but as no instance can be produced of such dishonourable marks having been borne in a coat
of arms, they may justly be considered as chimerical, or at any rate obsolete, and unworthy of
consideration at the present time.
Porney pithily observes, "that arms being marks of honour, they cannot admit of any note of
infamy, nor would any one bear them if they were so branded. It is true, a man may be
degraded for divers crimes, particularly high treason; but in such cases the escutcheon is
reversed, trod upon, and torn in pieces, to denote a total extinction and suppression of the
honour and dignity of the person to whom it belonged."
Baton : The only abatement used in heraldry is the baton: this denotes illegitimacy. It is borne in
the escutcheons of the dukes that assume the royal arms as the illegitimate descendants of
King Charles the Second.
| YOUR COAT OF ARMS GUIDE We can customize the shape of your banner to suit your needs. In considering your design, it may be helpful to know a few things about how they did things back then, and what makes a good design for today's usage. The actual shape or Shield that contains the design is called the Escutcheon. The form of this field can vary according to your personal style and usage. The Escutcheon is divided into several parts to accommodate complicated heraldry |
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A, the dexter chief.
B, the precise middle chief.
C, the sinister chief.
D, the honour point.
E, the fess point.
F, the nombril point.
G, the dexter base.
H, the precise middle base.
I, the sinister base.
B, the precise middle chief.
C, the sinister chief.
D, the honour point.
E, the fess point.
F, the nombril point.
G, the dexter base.
H, the precise middle base.
I, the sinister base.
KNIGHTS-BANNERET. This ancient and honourable order has become extinct. It
obtained the title of banneret from the knights having the right of having a square banner
borne before them on the field of battle, and at jousts and tournaments. Sir W. Segar
gives the following account of the creation of a knight-banneret:—
"It is a military order, and can only be conferred upon persons that have performed some
heroic act in the field. When this action is known to the king, or general of the army, he
commands the attendance of the gallant warrior, who is led, between two knights, into the
presence of the king or general with his pennon of arms in his hand, and there the heralds
proclaim his merit, and declare him fit to become a knight-banneret, and thenceforth to
display a banner in the field.
Then the king or general causes the point of the pennon to be cut off to make it square; it
is then placed at the top of his lance, and the new-made knight returns to his tent, the
trumpets sounding before him." Knights-banneret were certainly created in the reign of
Edward I., but how long before that time it is impossible to tell.
obtained the title of banneret from the knights having the right of having a square banner
borne before them on the field of battle, and at jousts and tournaments. Sir W. Segar
gives the following account of the creation of a knight-banneret:—
"It is a military order, and can only be conferred upon persons that have performed some
heroic act in the field. When this action is known to the king, or general of the army, he
commands the attendance of the gallant warrior, who is led, between two knights, into the
presence of the king or general with his pennon of arms in his hand, and there the heralds
proclaim his merit, and declare him fit to become a knight-banneret, and thenceforth to
display a banner in the field.
Then the king or general causes the point of the pennon to be cut off to make it square; it
is then placed at the top of his lance, and the new-made knight returns to his tent, the
trumpets sounding before him." Knights-banneret were certainly created in the reign of
Edward I., but how long before that time it is impossible to tell.
| EXCERPTS FROM "THE DRAGON AND THE RAVEN" Literary Descriptions of the use of Heraldry in Battle Edmund had never before seen the Danes, and he could not but admit that their appearance was enough to shake the stoutest heart. All carried great shields covering them from head to foot. These were composed of wood, bark, or leather painted or embossed, and in the cases of the chiefs plated with gold and silver. So large were these that in naval encounters, if the fear of falling into the enemy's hands forced them to throw themselves into the sea, they could float on their shields; and after death in battle a soldier was carried to his grave on his buckler. As they stood facing the Saxons they locked their shields together so as to form a barrier well-nigh impregnable against the arrows. All wore helmets, the common men of leather, the leaders of iron or copper, while many in addition wore coats of mail. Each carried a sword, a battle-axe, and a bow and arrows. Some of the swords were short and curled like a scimitar; others were long and straight, and were wielded with both hands. They wore their hair long and hanging down their shoulders, and for the most part shaved their cheeks and chins, but wore their moustaches very long. They were, for the most, tall, lithe, and sinewy men, but physically in no way superior to the Saxons, from whom they differed very widely in complexion, the Saxons being fair while the Danes were very dark, as much so as modern gypsies; indeed, the Saxon historians speak of them as the black pagans. Upon the other hand many of the Northmen, being Scandinavians, were as fair as the Saxons themselves. The Danes began the battle, those in front shouting fiercely, and striking their swords on their shields with a clashing noise, while the ranks behind shot a shower of arrows among the Saxons. These at once replied. The combat was not continued long at a distance, for the Danes with a mighty shout rushed upon the Saxons. These stood their ground firmly and a desperate conflict ensued. The Saxon chiefs vied with each other in acts of bravery, and singling out the leaders of the Danes engaged with them in hand-to-hand conflict. About mid-day a solid mass of the enemy were seen approaching, and the banners with the Black Raven on a blood-red field showed that it contained leaders of importance, and was, in fact, the main body of the Danes. It was an imposing sight as it marched towards the fort, with the fluttering banners, the sun shining upon the brass helmets and shields of the chiefs, and the spear-heads and swords of the footmen. Here and there parties of horsemen galloped about the plain. On the third day after they had anchored they perceived four black specks in the distance, and these the sailors soon declared to be Danish craft. They were rowing rapidly, having ten oars on either side, and at their mast-heads floated the Danish Raven. The anchor was got up, and as the Danes approached, the Golden Dragon, the standard of Wessex, was run up to the mast-head, the sails were hoisted, the oars got out, and the vessel advanced to meet the approaching Danes. These for a moment stopped rowing in astonishment at seeing so large a ship bearing the Saxon flag. |
VARIOUS SORTS OF ARMS.
Arms are not only granted to individuals and families, but also to cities, corporate bodies,
and learned societies. They may therefore be classed as follows:—
Arms of DOMINION, PRETENSION, CONCESSION.
COMMUNITY, PATRONAGE, FAMILY.
ALLIANCE, AND SUCCESSION.
Arms of Dominion or Sovereignty
are properly the arms of the kings or sovereigns of the
territories they govern, which are also regarded as the arms of the State. Thus the Lions of
England and the Russian Eagle are the arms of the Kings of England and the Emperors
of Russia, and cannot properly be altered by a change of dynasty.
Arms of Pretension
are those of kingdoms, provinces, or territories to which a prince or
lord has some claim, and which he adds to his own, though the kingdoms or territories
are governed by a foreign king or lord: thus the Kings of England for many ages
quartered the arms of France in their escutcheon as the descendants of Edward III.,
who claimed that kingdom, in right of his mother, a French princess.
Arms of Concession
are arms granted by sovereigns as the reward of virtue, valour,
or extraordinary service. All arms granted to subjects were originally conceded
by the Sovereign.
Arms of Community
are those of bishoprics, cities, universities, academies, societies,
and corporate bodies.
Arms of Patronage
are such as governors of provinces, lords of manors, add to their
family arms as a token of their superiority, right, and jurisdiction.
Arms of Family
or paternal arms, are such as are hereditary and belong to one
particular family, which none others have a right to assume, nor can they do so
without rendering themselves guilty of a breach of the laws of honour punishable by
the Earl Marshal and the Kings at Arms. The assumption of arms has however become
so common that little notice is taken of it at the present time.
Arms of Alliance
are those gained by marriage.
Arms of Succession
are such as are taken up by those who inherit certain estates by bequest, entail, or donation.
Arms are not only granted to individuals and families, but also to cities, corporate bodies,
and learned societies. They may therefore be classed as follows:—
Arms of DOMINION, PRETENSION, CONCESSION.
COMMUNITY, PATRONAGE, FAMILY.
ALLIANCE, AND SUCCESSION.
Arms of Dominion or Sovereignty
are properly the arms of the kings or sovereigns of the
territories they govern, which are also regarded as the arms of the State. Thus the Lions of
England and the Russian Eagle are the arms of the Kings of England and the Emperors
of Russia, and cannot properly be altered by a change of dynasty.
Arms of Pretension
are those of kingdoms, provinces, or territories to which a prince or
lord has some claim, and which he adds to his own, though the kingdoms or territories
are governed by a foreign king or lord: thus the Kings of England for many ages
quartered the arms of France in their escutcheon as the descendants of Edward III.,
who claimed that kingdom, in right of his mother, a French princess.
Arms of Concession
are arms granted by sovereigns as the reward of virtue, valour,
or extraordinary service. All arms granted to subjects were originally conceded
by the Sovereign.
Arms of Community
are those of bishoprics, cities, universities, academies, societies,
and corporate bodies.
Arms of Patronage
are such as governors of provinces, lords of manors, add to their
family arms as a token of their superiority, right, and jurisdiction.
Arms of Family
or paternal arms, are such as are hereditary and belong to one
particular family, which none others have a right to assume, nor can they do so
without rendering themselves guilty of a breach of the laws of honour punishable by
the Earl Marshal and the Kings at Arms. The assumption of arms has however become
so common that little notice is taken of it at the present time.
Arms of Alliance
are those gained by marriage.
Arms of Succession
are such as are taken up by those who inherit certain estates by bequest, entail, or donation.
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