English heraldry / [Charles Boutell].

  • Charles Boutell
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: English heraldry / [Charles Boutell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/376 page 9
    A device differing from that in No. io only in having the conjoined limbs in armour, will be found in our own English Heraldry to be the armorial ensign of the Isle of Man. This Heraldry of Antiquity is to be regarded as the pre- decessor, and not as the ancestor of the Heraldry of Eng land. Thefe may be much that is common to both ; but, there is nothing to show the later system to have been a lineal descendant from the earlier. The Heraldry, there- fore, that has flourished, declined, and now is in the act of reviving in our own country in almost the full vigour of its best days, I shall treat as an independent science, proceed- ing from a single source, and from thence flowing onwards with varied fortunes, side by side with the chequered chronicles of England. In the course of its progress from the palmy days of Edward III., it has had to encounter, in a degree without precedent or parallel, that most painful and mischievous of trials—the excessive admiration of in- judicious friends. Hence, Heraldry was brought into dis- repute, and even into contempt, by the very persons who loved it with a genuine but a most unwise love. In process of time, no nonsense appeared too extravagant, and no fable too wild, to be engrafted upon the grave dignity of the Herald’s early science. Better times at length have suc- ceeded. Heraldry now has friends and admirers, zealous as of old, whose zeal is guided aright by a sound judgment in alliance with a pure taste. Very much already has been accomplished to sweep away the amazing mass of absurdities and errors which had overwhelmed our English Heraldry, by such men as Nicholas, Nichols, Courthope, Seton, Planch^, Walford, Montagu, and Lower: and the good work goes on and prospers, with the most cheering assu- rances of coirmlete and triumphant success.
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