Edward III (in a skirmish near Calais) ‘Ha! St. Edward! Ha! St. George!’
The dukes of Burgundy, ‘Montjoye St. Andrew!’
The kings of Scotland, ‘St. Andrew!’
The dukes of Normandy, ‘Dieu aye!’ (aide.)
The emperors of Germany, ‘A dextre et a sinistre!’
The counts of Milan, ‘Milan the Valiant!’
The counts of Hainault, ‘Hainault the Noble!’
The use of mottoes became very fashionable in England from the example of Edward III. The motto of the Garter, ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense,’ with the order itself, dates from this reign.[194] Edward made use of various mottoes suited to different occasions and circumstances. Many of these are now obscure, and appear destitute of point, such as ‘It is as it is,’ embroidered upon a white linen doublet made for this king. Others are more easily understood, as the daring and profane couplet wrought upon his surcoat and shield, provided to be used at a tournament:
“Hay, hay, the wythe Swan;
By Gode’s soul I am thy man!”
Mottoes upon antient seals are extremely rare. Mr. Montagu says, “I have examined many hundred early seals and engravings and drawings of seals preserved in the British Museum, and I know but of about half a dozen.... One is of the year 1418, inscribed ‘Sigillum Jean de Juch,’ and contains the motto Bien Sur. Perhaps the very earliest instance of a motto anywhere is afforded by the seal of Sir John de Byron, appended to a deed dated 21o Edward I.”[195] The motto here is Crede Beronti, surrounding the arms.[196]