“On his Banner were three Leopards, courant, of fine gold, set on red: fierce were they, haughty and cruel, to signify that, like them, the KING is dreadful to his enemies; for his bite is slight to none who inflame his anger: and yet, towards such as seek his friendship or submit to his power his kindness is soon rekindled.” —Roll of Carlaverock.

“With Scotland’s Arms, Device and Crest

Embroidered round and round.”

—Marmion.

How the “three Leopards courant” of the shrewd chronicler of Carlaverock are identical with the “three Lions passant guardant” of the Royal Shield of England I have already shown (see [page 84]). To the Norman Sovereigns of England, William I., William II., Henry I., and Stephen (A.D. 1066-1154), the same Shield of Arms has been assigned—Gu., two lions pass. guard., in pale, or, No. [22]. It must be distinctly understood, however, that there exists no certain authority for these Arms.

In like manner, Stephen is also said to have borne on a red Shield three golden Sagittaries, or Centaurs, with bows and arrows. And, again, Henry II. is considered to have added a third lion to the two on the Shield of his father, a single golden lion passant guardant on red being (also considered to be) the armorial ensign of the province of Aquitaine, acquired by Henry in right of his Consort, Alianore.

As early as the reign of Henry III., a Shield of Arms, [No. 23], was assigned to the Anglo-Saxon Kings: another Shield, [No. 2], was assigned to Edward the Confessor: and a third Shield, [No. 3], to another sainted Anglo-Saxon Prince, Edmund.

From the appearance of the Second Great Seal of Richard I., about A.D. 1195, all uncertainty concerning the Royal Arms of England is at an end, and they are borne as follows by the successive English Sovereigns:—

No. 22.— Royal Arms, supposed to have been borne before A.D. 1189. No. 187.— Royal Arms, from A.D. 1189 to 1340.

Richard I.: John: Henry III.: Edward I.: Edward II.: and Edward III., till the thirteenth year of his reign, A.D. 1340:—Gu., three lions passant guardant in pale or,—No. [187].