The encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information . in at what time in the 14th century these various fashionscrystallize into the recognized use of beasts,birds, reptiles, menor inanimate objects, definitely chosen as supporters of theshield, and not to be taken as the ornaments suggested by of the seal engraver. That supporters originate in thedecoration of the seal there can be little doubt. Some writers,the learned Menftrier among them, will have it that they werefirst the fantastically clad fellows who supported and displayedthe knig
The encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information . in at what time in the 14th century these various fashionscrystallize into the recognized use of beasts,birds, reptiles, menor inanimate objects, definitely chosen as supporters of theshield, and not to be taken as the ornaments suggested by of the seal engraver. That supporters originate in thedecoration of the seal there can be little doubt. Some writers,the learned Menftrier among them, will have it that they werefirst the fantastically clad fellows who supported and displayedthe knights shield at the opening of the tournament. If theearliest supporters were wild men, angels or Saracens, this theorymight be defended; but lions, boars and talbots, dogs and treesare guises into which a man would put himself with difficulty. 3i6 HERALDRY By the middle of the 14th century we find what are dearlyrecognizable as supporters. These, as in a lesser degree thecrest, are often personal rather than hereditary, being changedgeneration by generation. The same person is found using more. Arms of William, Lord Hastings, from his seal (1477), showingshield, crowned and crested helm witii mantle and supporters. than one pair of them. The kings of France have had angels assupporters of the shield of the fleurs de lys since the isth century,but the angels have only taken their place as the sole royalsupporters since the time of Louis XIV. Sovereigns ofEngland from Henry IV. to Elizabeth changed about betweensupporters of harts, leopards, antelopes, bulls, greyhounds, boarsand dragons. James I. at his accession to the English thronebrought the Scottish imicom to face the English leopard rampantacross his shield, and, ever since, the lion and unicorn havebeen the royal supporters. An old herald wrote as his opinion that there is little ornothing in precedent to direct the use of supporters. Moderncustom gives them, as a rule, only to peers, to knights of theGarter, the Thistle
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectencyclo, bookyear1910
