BADGE, the term by which, in general, all honorary decorations and special cogni zances are known. Badges are either conferred by the state or sovereign, or assumed by the individual for purposes of distinction, the former class havirg very frequently had their origin in the hitter. Of badges conferred by public authoriCy, for the purpose of inciting to exertion, and gratifying honorable ambition, numerous instances are to be met with in every part of the world. The garter of the English knight, the golden fleece of the Spanish grandee. and the button of the Chinese mandarin, will occur as familiar examples. To the same class belong not only the stars and crosses with which princes and other persons of rank are adorned in this country, and to a far greater extent on the continent, but the medal of the private soldier, and even those not less honorable decorations which are now frequently conferred by private societies for acts of voluntary daring, such as the medal given by the humane society for saving from drowning. Amongst the ancients, one of the most usual emblems of authority was a gold ring, which was worn generally on the fourth finger. A ring of this description was the mark of senatorial and magisterial dignity, and latterly of knighthood at Rome; iron rings, during the earlier period, at all events, having been used by private citizens. The right of wearing a gold ring (pis annuli auret) was gradually extended, till at length Justinian conferred it on all the citizens of the empire. In the early times of the republic, when ambassadors were sent to foreign states, they were furnished with gold rings, which they wore during their mission as badges of authority. From an early period, every freeman in Greece appears to have used a ring, though the custom, not being mentioned by Homer, can scarcely have belonged to the earliest period of the histo7v of that people. and is commonly supposed to have been of Asiatic origin. Rings are often mentioned in scripture as badges of authority both amongst the Jews and other oriental nations. We read of Pharaoh taking off his ring and putting it on Joseph's hand, as a token of the power which he committed to him (Gen. xli. 42); and still earlier (Gen. xxxviii. 18), .Tudali left his signet with Tamar as a pledge. In the New Testa ment, rings are spoken of rather as marks of wealth and luxury than as badges of official rank; e.g., James i12. and Luke xy, 22, where, ou the return of the prodigal son, the father ordered that a ring should be put on his finger. As to the workmanship and materials of ancient rings, see RIMS, SIGNET, etc. Of badges assumed for the purpose
of distinction, none are more famous than the white and red roses of York and Lancaster. Henry VII. combined these two emblems, first carrying a rose per pale. white and red, and afterwards placing the white rose within the red one. One of queen Elizabeth's badges was a golden falcon perched on the stump of a tree between two growing branches of white and red roses, a B. which is said to have been given to her mother, Anne Boleyn, by Henry VIII. The btar and ragged staff, which still exists as a sign in London, was the 11. of the great earl of "Warwick. The white hart and surer swan, which are frequently met with as signs to inns, have a similar origin, the first having been the B. of Richard II., and the second having belonged to the house of Lancaster. The garb and sickle, the B. of the Hungerfords, is another very beautiful and less common example of the same class of badges. Different countries have also distinctive badges, generally connected with the history either of the actual ruling or of some former dynasty. Of these, the Item. de lia of France. and the other badges, for which it from time to timo makes way—viz., the cap of liberty and other emblems of republicanism, the eagles of the empire, borrowed from Rome, and the bees and other insignia which the Bonaparte family have assumed, may all be taken as examples.
B. of Engladd.—The present B. of England is a rose white and red, ensigned with the royal crown. The initials V. It, cosigned with a crown, which are used on military accouterments, is also a species of national badge.
B. of Scotland is a thistle ensigned with a royal crown.
B. of has two national badges—the golden harp and the trefoil, both of which are carried ensigned with the royal crown.
The three bulges of England, Scotland, an Ireland, carried conjoined, may be seen under any representation of the royal arms.
B. of Wales is a dragon passant, wings elevated, gales, on a mount vert.
B. of Ulster is on a shield or canton, or, a sinister hand erect and apaumee, gu. This B., which is popularly known as "the bloody hand," is borne in the paternal coats of English haronets.
B. of Nora Scotia, which is borne by the Nova Scotia baronets, is, or, a saltire azure, thereon an escutcheon of the arms of Scotland, and ensigned with an imperial crown, the motto being. Rix mentis honestx One of the oldest and most celebrated badges in existence is the so-called jewel of king Alfred. For the badges of the different orders of knighthood, see their respective titles.