CANTING ARMS.
In the introduction to a work entitled A Collection of Coats of Arms borne by the Nobility and Gentry of the County of Gloucester, London, J. Good, 159. New Bond Street, 1792, and which I believe was written by Sir George Nayler, it is asserted that—
"Armes parlantes, or canting arms, were not common till the commencement of the seventeenth century, when they prevailed under the auspices of King James."
Now doubtless they were more common in the seventeenth century, but I am of opinion that there are many instances of them centuries previous to the reign of King James; as, for example, in a roll of arms of the time of Edward II. (A.D. 1308-14), published by Sir Harris Nicolas from a manuscript in the British Museum, there are the following:
"Sire Peres Corbet, d'or, à un corbyn de sable.
Sire Johan le Fauconer, d'argent, à iii faucouns de goules.
Sire Johan Heroun, d'azure, à iii herouns d'argent.
Sire Richard de Cokfeld, d'azure, à une crois e iiii coks d'or.
Sire Richard de Barlingham, de goules, à iii ours (bears) d'argent.
Sire Johan de Swyneford, d'argent, à un cheveroun de sable, à iii testes de cenglers (swines' heads) d'or."
Sire Ammon de Lucy bore three luces; Sire William Bernak a fers between three barnacles, &c. There are many other examples in the same work, but as I think I have made my communication quite long enough, I forbear giving them.
Cid.