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The Curiosities of Heraldry,' 25 indicate a Philosophy of Heraldry that has yet to be written. Like Philology, Zoology, Ethnology, and other sciences, it illustrates the sublime law of Development. Investigated in the spirit of Geology, combining the discovery of isolated facts with speculations as to their relation and common origin, it will render no small service in contributing to prove the connection of families and races up to remote and obscure periods, and thus throw a light on the history of mankind that might be obtained from no other source. The studies and tastes of the age happily tend to advance this kind of knowledge, and they could have received no grander homage than is presented in that magnificent temple of heraldry, the New Palace of Westminster.

25 The excellent and highly illustrated work of Mr. Lower, The Curiosities of Heraldry,' which enters more into the philosophy of the subject than any other, contains a very interesting appendix, illustrating the causes and modes of change in coat armour at early periods. But unfortunately for the doctrines enunciated in the body of the work, the heraldic genealogy of the Cobham family there given, completely contradicts them, and supports the views advanced in this essay. The arms there given were borne (though not so stated), it will appear, from critical examination of the document, assisted by a reference to the Kentish historians, at the time of the Conquest, and for several generations afterwards unchanged. If not, the same singular coincidence will appear, or the same wonderful ingenuity of the heralds must have been at work, as we have seen must characterise the whole ancient blazonry of England and Normandy.

26 The Scandinavians came from the east, as their heraldry indeed would prove, and moreover its extreme antiquity, for the lion, which enters so largely into their blazonry, would be unknown to the

aboriginal inhabitants of the shores of the Baltic. Other barbarian races in the same way may be traced to countries which furnished the objects of their ensigns. "Among the North American Indians symbols are employed for the purpose of distinguishing their tribes. The Shawanese nation, for example, was originally divided into twelve tribes, which were subdivided into septs or clans, recognized by the appellation of the Bear, the Turtle, the Eagle, &c. In some cases individuals, particularly the more eminent warriors, formerly assumed similar devices, commemorative of their prowess. "And this," says Mr. Taylor, an American antiquary, "is Indian heraldry." Gibbon considers the Germans described by Tacitus as aborigines; this is doubtful, though their shields, by their absence of any devices drawn from the animal kingdom, do not indicate their original seat. The rude simplicity of their distinctions would imply their inability to imitate, by drawing, any expressive devices, and such plain patterns on their shields were probably the earliest ornaments on their surface, and common to all barbarians in the infancy of their civilization.

LONDON: E. TUCKER, PRINTER, PERRY'S PLACE, OXFORD STREET.

[graphic][merged small][subsumed]

ITS

LORDS AND FAMILIES,

Ancient and Modern.

BY

WILLIAM SMITH ELLIS, ESQ.

(Reprinted from Vol. XI. of the Sussex Archæological Collections.)

LONDON:

JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE;

AND

THOMAS WELLS, HURSTPIERPOINT.

Price Eighteenpence.

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