When seen sideways the rounded top of the helm causes the crest to appear as if standing upon the wreath, and this has no doubt given rise to the present malpractice.
The Rev. C. Boutell in his smaller English Heraldry quotes the Hastings brass at Elsing, of the year 1347, as the earliest instance of a wreath about a crest (fig. [81]). But this brass is probably French, and in English work the wreath does not come into being much before the close of the fourteenth century, and was not regularly used until about 1450.
Fig. 81. Helm with crest and wreath, from the Hastings brass at Elsing, 1347.
The wreath or torse, as it was also called, from being a twist, was usually of two colours, derived from the principal metal and colour of the arms; but the fifteenth century stall-plates show many variations from this rule. Thus Lewis lord Bourchier (c. 1421) has a torse of blue, gold, and black, and John earl of Tankerville (c. 1421) one of green, red, and white. John lord Bourchier (c. 1421) and Henry lord Bourchier (c. 1452) both have black and green torses. Richard Wydville lord Rivers (c. 1450) has the crest issuing from a green torse, crested with a crown of holly leaves. Thomas lord Stanley (c. 1459) has a torse of gold and blue with red spots or jewels between, and Sir William Chamberlayne (c. 1461) a red and blue torse.
The modern practice is that the twists of a torse shall be only six in number; but in old heraldry there was no such rule, and any number from four may be found, whatever would look best. In the Harsick brass (fig. [82]) there are eleven twists.
Fig. 82. Helm with crest and torse and simple form of mantling, from the Harsick brass at Southacre, 1384.