. The arms of the Scottish bishoprics. in the seal of the Chapter of St. Giles at Edin-burgh (1496), the saint is represented as holding a book inhis left hand. So possibly the book held in the left handmay identify the figure on the Chapter seal of Elgin withSt. Giles. But this is only conjecture, and nothing shouldbe deduced as a certainty from this seal. The arms then at present used in the diocese of Moraycannot claim any ancient authority as diocesan arms, butthey nevertheless have a distinct historical value. Andtheir value consists in this :—Depicting, as they do, thepatron saint of the
. The arms of the Scottish bishoprics. in the seal of the Chapter of St. Giles at Edin-burgh (1496), the saint is represented as holding a book inhis left hand. So possibly the book held in the left handmay identify the figure on the Chapter seal of Elgin withSt. Giles. But this is only conjecture, and nothing shouldbe deduced as a certainty from this seal. The arms then at present used in the diocese of Moraycannot claim any ancient authority as diocesan arms, butthey nevertheless have a distinct historical value. Andtheir value consists in this :—Depicting, as they do, thepatron saint of the ancient Cathedral city, they serve toemphasise the identity of the modern diocese of Moraywith its Cathedral at Inverness, with the ancient andmediaeval diocese with its Cathedral at St. Giles town ofElgin. The arms may be blazoned thus :— Azure, within aChurch Porch St. Giles, vested and mitred, holding in his dexterhand a Cross, and in the sinister a Book; fawning againsthim a Hind pierced in the back by an arrow, all froper.*. CHAPTER XI. Ross. In March, 1673, John Paterson, Bishop of Ross, inaccordance with the act of the previous year, recorded atthe Lyon Oflice the arms which are still in use as the oflficialarms of the diocese : but although he was careful to carryout the requirements of the law, he does not appear to haveunderstood the significance of the arms which had beenofficially used by at least one of his predecessors. The arms represent two figures :—Dexter, a saint in ared garment, his hands folded on his breast; sinister, aBishop. Bishop Paterson recorded these arms with theLyon as follows:—Argent, a Bishop standing on thesinister habited in a long robe close girt, jiiirfure, mitred,and holding in his left hand a crosier or, and pointing withhis right to St. Boniface on the dexter side, clothed, andboth his hands laid on his breast, -proper. This interpreta-tion has been accepted by Woodward, and has l>een retainedin the Church Year Book. Now, in n
Size: 1184px × 2109px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidarmsofscottishbi00lyonric
