PREFACE.....In venturing to place before the public this little work—which takes up a line of enquiry never before attempted,—I would solicit criticism, not of that slashing condemnatory kind which destroys a statement without pointing out its co ... Read more

PREFACE.....In venturing to place before the public this little work—which takes up a line of enquiry never before attempted,—I would solicit criticism, not of that slashing condemnatory kind which destroys a statement without pointing out its correction;—that would only break my head, and make no one the wiser!—but I hope that antiquaries who have more knowledge than I, may, when pointing out errors, also explain what such statements ought to be, and give exact references in proof. With the help of such criticism (and the more severe, the more valuable it will be) I trust that another perfected issue, by myself, or by some other more qualified writer, may eventually appear as a handbook—most useful to the student, the antiquary, and the traveller. It is now a subject for much regret to all of us that the great knowledge of seals (the chief source of evidence as to ancient shields) acquired by the late Mr. Albert Way, F.S.A., and by the late Mr. Charles Spencer Perceval, F.S.A., has passed away with them, never having been recorded; and it seems very desirable that a classified body of such knowledge should be drawn up and available—enabling us to date with some certainty (within the limit of a few years) seals pendant to undated charters, stone carvings on ancient buildings, and illustrations in MSS., which are now labelled "circa." In the course of my researches I have noticed a number of cases where incorrect dates have been supposed,—and from some of these deductions have been drawn, which are consequently all wrong. In the following treatise each century from the eleventh to the fifteenth is separately dealt with; after that date the nomenclature of shields devised by my friend Mr. J. Paul Rylands, F.S.A., is followed, and the earliest and latest examples found of each shape adduced,—thus showing the range of time when that variety was most commonly in use. References are given for every statement. Mantlings, torces, wreaths, palm branches, and other adjuncts are discussed under their several headings—with descriptions and dates of any varieties found. In conclusion a concise index is given, which, it is hoped, sufficiently focuses the whole book for ready reference. Less