Fig. 52.
"Wait," said the farmer, "and I will show you my conjuring tools;" and therewith he produced his plough and a cartwheel. From this anecdote we gather that Sir Payne Roet must have been distinguished as an agriculturist.
Then come the implements for making clothes as well as some items of dress. Wool-cards are borne by the Cardingtons; shuttles by the Shuttleworths; Sir John Maunsel bears three maunches (sleeves); the Bartlelots, gloves; the Hose family bear stockings; the Arthurs of Ireland three boots, blazoned as "three Irish brogues"; the Huths have a hat (hut being the German for hat).
One family of Palmers charges their shield with three palmer's staves; another has a pilgrim's scrip. The Spences bear three penny-pieces, this latter charge symbolizing commerce.
Workman's tools—pickaxes, hammers, levels, squares, hatchets, nails, plummets, etc.—had all great heraldic significance. The pickaxe was to remind its bearer "whence he was digged"; the level that his actions must be justified by the rule of reason and justice; the square taught the cultivation of an even judgment; the nails, fixity of purpose; the plummet, prudence in fathoming the problems of life.
The objects wrought by these tools follow. First, come works of masonry.
One Oldcastle bears a "tower triple-towered"; Sir Edward Mansel, a tower with a scaling ladder against it; whilst three castles occur in the arms of the Scarborough family. The heralds, be it noted, made a great distinction between a tower and a castle, when charging either upon a shield. For, whereas a tower must never occupy the whole of the field, a castle "extendeth itself all over the shield from one side to the other." Three arches are borne by the Archers; the Trowbridges bear a bridge.
Keys occur fairly often, being borne either singly or in threes. The Bells very properly bear bells, and these latter we also find in the Dobell coat of arms, which affords an excellent example of canting heraldry (Fig. 53). One, Stratford, bears three trestles meant to imply their bearer's love of hospitality.
