Carey.—In the Reign of Henry V. was held, at Smithfield, a Just between Robert Carey of the West, Son of Sir John Carey, Knight, and a Foreign Knight, of the Kingdom of Aragon. Carey vanquished the Aragonese, and took his Coat Armour in lieu of his own; viz. "Argent, on a Bend Sable, Three Roses of the First:" which have ever since been borne by the name of Carey, whose antient Coat was "Gules, a Chevron between Three Swans Proper, one whereof they still retain in their Crest[263]."
N. B. These are the Arms of Carey; though, from the words "of the West," one would think Carew was intended. But the account agrees with the Arms of Viscount Falkland.
Cooper and Cowper.—Cooper Earl of Shaftesbury bears Three Bulls: Cowper Earl Cowper does not.
"The Eagle and Child" having been adopted as the Crest of the Earl of Derby, its Origin is a circumstance of no small curiosity.
Nothing is more common than for a Tenant or Dependant to take the Crest of his Lord or Chief for a Sign; which will account for the greatest part of the Bulls' Heads, Griffins, Falcons, Lions, Boars, &c. in the Kingdom. Thus from one quarter they straggled into different places, as those people who had occasion for Signs emigrated from their own Counties and Districts. Amongst these the Sign in question is one; and is to be found in various places that have no present connexion with the original, the Importer of such Device being, perhaps, long since dead. This, being the Crest or Cognizance of the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, it most probably was first used in Lancashire, and the parts contiguous, as a Sign.
I at first conceived it to be a fabulous affair; but find, from good and respectable authorities, that there is not only probable, but substantial History contained in it; as the major part of the Estate is derived to the Family from the Issue of the very Child in question. The first account of this matter I shall give from "A Survey of the Isle of Man[264]," of which the Stanleys were for several ages Kings and Lords, holding of the Kings of England, by Grant of Henry IV. (anno 7), by Homage and the Service of a[265] Cast (of Falcons), payable on Coronations. The Stanleys were Kings as much as any Tributary King whatsoever, making Laws, &c. They appeared on a certain day in Royal Array, sitting in a Chair, covered with a Royal Cloth and Cushions, with their Visage to the East; the Sword borne before them, with the point upwards; with their Barons, Knights, Squires, &c. about them. Such were the Descendants of the Child we are going to speak of more largely.
Sir John Stanley (temp. Richard II.) was a Knight of the greatest fame in matters of Chivalry; who, having been a great Traveller, was known for his prowess in most parts of Europe. On his return, he was followed by a Frenchman, who challenged the whole English Nation. Sir John accepted his challenge, fought, and slew him in the presence of the King. This addition to his fame raised his reputation among the men, and procured him so much favour with the ladies, that he attracted the particular attention of the Heiress of the Family of Latham, who was young, rich, and beautiful. Sir John, with the true spirit of Errantry, declared it was for her he fought; and at length, contrary to the inclination of her Father, married the Lady.
Mr. Sacheverell then relates the story which gave birth to this appendage to the Armorial Bearing of the Stanley Family. These are his words:
"The Lord of Latham and his Lady, being Childless, as they were walking in the Park, heard a Child crying in an Eagle's nest: they immediately ordered their servants to search the Eyery, who presented them with a beautiful Boy, in rich swadling-cloaths. The good old lady looked upon it as a present sent from Heaven, ordered it to be carefully educated, and gave it the Surname of Latham. He (the Child) was knighted by King Edward III. by the name of Sir Oskytel Latham, and left sole Heir of that vast estate. He had one daughter, named Isabella, who by marriage brought the honours of Latham and Knowsley, with many other Lordships, to Sir John Stanley."
Mr. Sacheverell goes no further into the Story; and the Reader will be naturally inclined to know whose Child this was, and how it was conveyed into the Eagle's nest. For this we must have recourse to Sir William Dugdale[266], who relates the Story more circumstantially, and, as he says, upon credible tradition; viz. That a Sir Thomas de Latham had a natural Son, called Oskytel, by an obscure woman, who lived near him; and, "having no Child by his Lady, he designed to adopt this Oskytel for his Heir; but so that he himself might not be suspected to have been the Father. Observing, therefore, that an Eagle had built her Nest in a large spread oak within his Park at Lathom, he caused the Child in swadling cloaths to be privily conveyed thither; and (as a wonder) presently called forth his Wife to see it; representing to her, that, having no Issue, God Almighty had thus sent him a Male Child, and so preserved, that he looked upon it as a miracle; disguising the truth so artificially from her, that she forthwith took him (the Child) with great fondness into the house, educating him with no less affection than if she had been his natural Mother; whereupon he became Heir to that fair inheritance; and that, in token thereof, not only his Descendants, whilst the Male Line endured, but the Stanleys proceeding from the said Isabel (the Heir Female), have ever since borne the Child in the Eagle's Nest, with the Eagle thereon, for their Crest.