Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Watkins Family History Society - They are my Arms

Watkins Family History Society - They are my Arms

What I am writing here applies only to Arms provided by the College of Arms which is part of the English Court. They cover England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland have their own organisations

letters patent of David G. Watkins

The three sets of Arms at the top of the document are, on the left, the then Earl Marshall of England (he has since died), the middle are those of HM Queen Elizabeth II and those on the right are those of the College of Arms. The Seals hanging on the blue ribbons at the bottom are those of of Garter and Clarenceux, the two Kings of Arms responsible for the issuing of the Letters Patent. Finally, not visible because it is on the back is a note to say that the Arms have been registered with the College of Arms - they should be pretty safe there as the two Great Fires of London (1666 and 1940) gutted the building but didn't hurt the vaults. As you can see, Arms are a very personal thing and to use somebody else's is meaningless. Come to think of it, they won't mean a great deal to my successors!

after the College of Arms, this is the best website on the subject of coats of arms yet !

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