CHAPTER XI
FIVE COATS OF ARMS
In this chapter we must say a few words about the five "achievements" which are shown in the coloured plates. These represent respectively the armorial bearings of a duke, marquess, earl, baron, and baronet.[1]
[1:] We have to apologize to our readers for the omission—owing to want of space—of an example of the armorial bearings of a viscount.
To begin with No. 1.
This coat of arms belongs to the Duke of Leinster, and should be blazoned—as you will know by this time—viz.: "Arg : a saltier gu : crest, a monkey statant ppr : environed about the middle with a plain collar and chained or. ; supporters, two monkeys, environed and chained as the crest"; motto, "Crom aboo"—literally "Crom to victory," Crom being the name of an old castle belonging to the Fitzgeralds.
Now, in this achievement the trio of monkeys tell the story, not of their bearer's grand deeds, but of the noble feat performed by one of their own ancestors. And this is the monkey's story:
Long, long ago, in the reign of Edward I., John Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald (later first Earl of Kildare,[2] but at that time only an infant), was staying in the Castle of Woodstock, when the building suddenly broke into flames. In the first panic caused by the fire no one remembered the poor baby lying helpless in his cradle; but when, later on, some of the servants went back to search for him, they found only the smouldering remains of his cradle on the charred floor of the burnt-out nursery. Distracted with remorse, they wandered about the smoking ruins, vainly seeking for the child. Suddenly, a queer chattering attracted their attention to one of the high, blackened towers of the castle, and there, outlined against the sky, stood the pet ape of the household, holding the baby boy safe and sound in his long, hairy arms! On this occasion, the monkey had put his betters to shame, and had saved the helpless life which they had left to perish.