ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2851 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2851 ************************************ From: Roberd mac Cormaic 11 Jun 2004 Greetings from the Academy of St. Gabriel! You asked about the appropriateness of the arms you've proposed, and about the antiquity of the label used as a cadency mark. Here's what we've found. The heraldic design you originally showed us can be blazoned: Azure, an owl Or and a label argent, on a chief Or, three crosses crosslet azure. The use of a label as a brisure goes back almost to the very beginnings of what we recognize as medieval heraldic display, and it was the most commonly used cadency mark. [1] There are several examples from the mid- to late-13th century [2][3][4], and one that we have from as early as 1203 [5]. The "tabs" on the labels used in this early period were considerably longer than what are shown on your example [6]. Also, while there were examples of labels that violated the tincture rules (for example, by placing a red label on a predominantly blue shield), we were unable to find any examples of a metal-colored label placed on a metal-colored peripheral charge, such as the silver label on the gold chief in the design you originally asked about. We have noticed that you appear to have redesigned that element (http://latakia.dyndns.org/~ruhl/images/arms-label.png) so that the label rests on the field, which solves that latter issue. This leads to the question of the best way to place the label on the design, when a chief is also present. We found that the label could be drawn entirely on the chief (where it often surmounted other charges placed there) [7], or more rarely, mostly on the chief with the tabs protruding onto the field. [8] While we must point out that many of the emblazons to which we have access are possibly not the ones that were actually used by the bearer (having been drawn by someone else at a later date, for example), we are reasonably confident that the best way to place the label on the arms at the time period you specified would be throughout (that is, extending from the left side to the right of the shield), probably with five points, with rather skinny elements. The horizontal band should lie quite close to the top of the shield, and the points should extend almost to the lower edge of the chief. The earliest examples we've found of owls in English arms were recorded around 1300 [9]. These examples all contain a set of three owls, even as late as ca. 1395 [10], so a single owl may not be the best choice if your goal is to re-create early English heraldic style. I hope this letter answers your questions. If any of this is unclear, please let us know, and we'll clarify those points. I was assisted in the preparation of this letter by Talan Gwynek, Iago ab Adam, Adelaide de Beaumont, Arval Benicoeur, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Aleksandr Traveller and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, -Roberd mac Cormaic 11 June 2004 ____________________ References: [1] Pastoureau, Michel, _Traite/ d'He/raldique_, 2nd ed. (Paris: grands manuels Picard, 1993), p. 183. [2] Neubecker, Ottfried, _Heraldry: Source, Symbols, and Meanings_ (Maidenhead, UK: McGraw-Hill Co., 1976), p.98. Philippe Hurepel (d.1234), Count of Clermont, son of Philippe II Augustus of France, 'Azure semy-des-lys or, a label of five points gules.' [3]Pereyra, Kristina, ed., "Bigot Roll of Arms, 1254" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel). http://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/bigot.html [4]Louda, J., & M. Maclagan, _Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe_ (New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1981), p.16 [table 3]. Edmund "Crouchback" (1245-1296), son of King Henry III of England, 'Gules, three lions passant guardant Or, in chief on a label of three points overall azure, nine fleurs-de-lys Or.' [5] Wagner, Anthony Richard, ed. Aspilogia II: Rolls of Arms: Henry III (London: The Society of Antiquaries, 1967), p.40, specifically the arms of Richard de Montfichet (d. 1267), 'Or, three chevrons gules and a label of five points azure', which he inherited in 1203. [6] Pastoureau, Michel, _Traite/ d'He/raldique_, 2nd ed. (Paris: grands manuels Picard, 1993). He mentions a study by L. Bouly de Lesdain, where the seal that he uses to illustrate this has a label overall whose points are nearly a third the height of the shield. [7] The greatest weight of evidence supports this position. The following from Bibliothe\que royale Albert Ier, _Gelre_ (Leuven: Jan van Helmont, 1992, ISBN 90-74318-03-7): Nr. 438: Vert, three palets vair and on a chief or a label gules (die here v. boven, identified as Gobert de la Bove); the label is throughout, of three points, and entirely on the chief, though its (narrow) horizontal band is almost at the top of the shield, and its points (which are about twice as wide as the horiz. band) almost reach the bottom of the chief. Nr. 959: Sable, on a chief argent a label gules (h. zeger v. gent, identified as Sohier de Gand); very similar to the previous label, though not quite so close to the top edge of the shield. Nr. 1146: Argent, on a chief gules a label azure (h. henric v. harve, identified as Henri de Harff); very similar to the last two labels. (Note the tincture violation.) >From the Heralds' Roll (Fitzwilliam Museum MS. 297; 15th c. painted vellum copy of roll of ca.1279): Nr. 66: Le Cunte de Seint Poel, Gules, three palets vair and on a chief or a label azure; the label is throughout, of five points, and it lies entirely on the chief. The points reach about three-quarters of the way down the chief. Nr. 404: Huge de Seint Poel, Gules, three palets vair and on a chief or a label azure bezanty; also throughout and of five points, which almost reach the bottom of the chief. Nr. 513: Yters de Magnard, Gules, two palets vair and on a chief or a label sable; again throughout and of five points, but these just reach the bottom edge of the chief. >From the Hyghalmen Roll, late 15th c., two folios of which are shown in Pl. 6 in Woodcock, Thomas and John Martin Robinson, _Heraldry in Historic Houses of Great Britain_ (ISBN 0-7078-0277-6): Sable, on a chief argent a label gules (de dalheym); the label is throughout, of three points, with a very skinny horizontal band. The points start skinny but widen toward base, and they reach most of the way to the bottom of the chief. [8] Foster, Joseph, _The Dictionary of Heraldry_ (New York: Arch Cape Press, 1989), p. 170: John de St. John (after 1300) Argent, on a chief gules two spur rowels or and overall a label azure. p.170. [9] Woodcock, Thomas, Janet Grant, & Ian Graham, _Dictionary of British Arms_, vol II. (The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1996). On page 151, there is a Scottish seal, 'an owl', dated 28 August 1296; the seal reads <s' will'i de prestvn> 'William (de) Preston'. Also, page 176 has the seal of Alan de Lexeden, temp. Edward I (1272x1307) as 'three owls in bend', and the 1358/9 seal of Ederun Walaus as 'three owls'. [10] Foster, Joseph, _The Dictionary of Heraldry_ (New York: Arch Cape Press, 1989), p. 174: John Saville (Richard II roll) Argent, on a bend sable three owls palewise argent.