Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/24

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12
REMARKS ON MEDIEVAL HERALDRY.

matter to have faithfully copied before time, or the hand of the spoiler or restorer shall efface them. Such copies would throw light on each other, and assist essentially in verifying the genealogies and arms of the county families in times past, and become valuable documents in the hands of local historians. Examples of coat armour, badges, crests, &c., that can be referred to the thirteenth, fourteenth, or the early part of the fifteenth century, are especially deserving of notice.

Glover's Ordinary, judging from the printed copies of it, does not refer to any authorities, nor are the additions by Edmondson and Berry in any way distinguished from the original work. But Glover himself may be regarded as an authority to some extent; for he was a learned herald and careful compiler. I would therefore recommend that the text of Glover should be printed from, or collated with, the MS. in the custody, I believe, of the College of Arms, and that all the additions and corrections by Edmondson and Berry should be retained, but marked in some way for distinction, as suppose with an asterisk (*) and dagger (†) respectively; and that all those made under the sanction of the Committee should have the authorities for them subjoined, by which they would be readily known: and in order that such references may be both brief and clear, an explanation of them should be inserted at the beginning. To names which are alike, though borne by different families, it would be advisable to add the distinguishing localities; for Glover was in general content to give the name without more. On no account should any new matter be introduced without the authority for it, or, if merely explanatory, without its being inclosed in brackets or the like.

The book would be made yet more useful if it contained a catalogue of the arms of the kings and queens of England, and of their children, and a list of such royal and other cognizances and badges as are well authenticated. Those arms and the royal cognizances and badges might for the most part be collected from Milles's Catalogue of Honor, Sandford's Genealogical History, Vincent's Errors of Brooke, and Mr. Willement's Regal Heraldry. The author of the last-mentioned work would I hope not only readily give permission to use the information contained in it, but furnish other valuable, matter for the publication from the rich store that he is reputed to possess. At all events, I trust Mr. Willement, to