NISBET'S UNREQUITED SERVICES.

75

very much enhanced by the numerous references which are introduced as the "proper vouchers" of his blazon. Mr. Chambers alludes to the patronage of literature by the Scottish Parliament at the commencement of the eighteenth century, stating, however, that it was "a good deal after the manner of the poor gentleman who bequeathed large ideal sums to his friends, and comforted himself with the reflection that it at least showed good will." He particularly refers to Nisbet's laborious Work on Heraldry, which the Author was unable to publish without assistance. Besides italic types- "whereof there were very few in this kingdom"-the book required a large number of copper-plate engravings; and "accordingly, on Nisbet's petition, the Parliament (3d) September 1703) recommended the Treasury to grant him £248, 6s. 8d. sterling, out of what fund they shall think fit." The fund selected appears to have been "the tonnage of foreign ships," but, in the words of the worthy Herald, "that fund not answering their expectations, and being encumbered with prior assignments," he never got a farthing from that source.

2

The Lord Lyon's Register consists of six large vellum folios, of which the first is very much thicker than the others, embracing as it does a period of 132 years, viz., from 1672 to 1804. The second volume extends to 1822, the third to 1835, the fourth to 1848, and the fifth to 1858; while the sixth is the current Record. At the commencement of Vol. i. are separately illumi

1 Domestic Annals of Scotland, iii. 276.

2 System of Heraldry, vol. i. Preface, p. iv.

76

EARLIEST VOLUME OF REGISTER.

nated the official and family bearings of Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, (Lord) Lyon during the reign of Charles II., followed by a verbal blazon of the Arms of the King, Duke of Albany, Archbishops, Bishops, and Nobility of Scotland, numerous blanks being left for those who failed to matriculate in accordance with the Act of "the Merry Monarch." Next in order come the bearings of the Knights Baronet, Knights Bachelor, and Barons, "all sett downe as their sur-names agree with the order of the alphabet, blanks being left for adding the atchievements of those who shall hereafter come in at the end of each letter." Then follow the matriculated "Armes belonging to the Gentlemen within the Kingdome. . . . insert alphabeticallie;" and after these the bearings of Burghs, Colleges, Corporations, Companies, and Offices; while the latter portion of the volume contains a number of "promiscuous matriculations." In a very few instances, the relative arms are illuminated in the margin of the verbal blazon,' and, in the earlier part of the Register, a single page not unfrequently embraces entries pertaining to eight different families.

In all the subsequent volumes, the verbal description of the arms is invariably accompanied by a pictorial blazon. In the case of Vol. ii., arms with supporters usually occupy an entire page of the Record, being placed above the relative verbal description; while escutcheons without supporters are painted in the mar gin of the blazon, varying in number from two to four

1 See Plate III. fig. 1.

SUBSEQUENT VOLUMES.

77

on each page. In the same volume, neither the sup ported nor the unsupported shields are timbred with helmets and mantlings, being merely surmounted by the Crest on a wreath of the bearer's liveries. Like certain portions of its predecessor, the whole of Vol. ii. abounds with highly questionable grants of supporters. Some idea of their prevalence may be formed when it is stated that, out of the 284 escutcheons which the volume contains, no fewer than 92-or very nearly one third of the whole--are accompanied by these exterior ornaments!

In the four later Volumes (iii.-vi.), an entire page is generally given to each entry, two pages being sometimes occupied, when the blazon extends beyond the ordinary length. The shields are invariably accompanied by suitable helmets and mantlings, not unfrequently surmounted by two, and occasionally by three crests and mottoes. In the case of the Nobility, the mantling is red, lined (or doubled) with ermine, that of Commoners being also red, but with a white lining. In a few instances, the mantling consists of the principal colour and metal in the escutcheon, with which the wreath (placed below the crest) is always alternately tinctured. Many of the illuminations in these later volumes are most beautifully executed. The handiwork of Mr. M'Innes, who held the office of herald painter about thirty years ago, could hardly be surpassed--of which the bearings of Dennistoun of Colgrain and Pringle of Whytbank, in Vol. iii., may be mentioned as examples. Both the drawing and colouring of the present herald painter, Mr. Frier, afford ample evidence

78

NEGLECTED REGISTRATIONS.

of his acknowledged artistic skill; and the admirable engrossing of the descriptive blazonry reflects the highest credit on Mr. Anderson, Marchmont Herald and Lyon Clerk-Depute, who, for many years, has devoted his time and talents to the service of the public in matters of Heraldry.

According to Mr. Tait's Deposition, "the injunction of the Acts of the Scottish Parliament, requiring all persons to register their arms, has not for many years past been strictly enforced, and there are many cases in which registration has not taken place, both with respect to those old families having right to arms, and likewise to persons bearing arms without any authority or legal right." Since the date of that Deposition, it is to be feared that there has been no very great improvement in the matter of registration. Although, doubtless, there is, in one respect, a marked difference between the two classes of persons mentioned by Mr. Tait as failing to comply with the legislative enactments, it must not be forgotten that both are equally required to matriculate their armorial bearings in the Register of the Lord Lyon. In the case of many of the "old families having right to arms prior to the year 1592, prescription would not unreasonably be pleaded. "I think it very hard," says Nisbet, "that a person cannot by right, jure antecessorio, carry the arms which his progenitors used, legally perhaps, the authority and warrant being lost through time; more especially when accounts of them are so indifferently taken and kept by our provincial heralds, and in

1 See Plate III. fig. 2.

.