In strictness, the using of a crest on one's plate or seal without authority, is a trans gression of the above-mentioned acts; but practically, prosecutions have generally been confined to cases of open and public assumption of a shield of arms. The offender is cited before the Lyon court by precept at the instance of the procurator-fiscal; the statutory fine and confiscation have occasionally been enforced, but they have oftener, particularly of late, been avoided by a timely submission. In this commercial country, there are not a few persons whose social status would entitle them to the use of arms, but who, not having inherited a coat, instead of acquiring the privilege in a legal way, have a sham coat invented for them by some coach-painter or " finder' of artns.
The register of genealogies is a department of the Lyon office unconnected with heraldry, where evidence is taken of the `pedigree of applicants, irrespectively of noble or humble lineage, and recorded for preservation.
LYON or Lotto LYON, the title borne since the first half of the 15th. e. by the chief heraldic officer for Scotland. He is the presiding judge in the Lyon court (q.v.), and appoints the heralds, pursuivants, and messengers-at-arms. Unlike the English kings-of-arms, Ile has always exercised jurisdiction independently of the consta ble and marshal, bolding office directly from the sovereign by commission under the nTent seal. In Scotland he takes precedence "of all kniolits and gentlemen not being
officers of state, or senators of the college of justice." In England he ranks after gar ter, and before the provincial kings-of-arms. Since the revival of the order of the thistle, he has been king-of-arms of that order. So sacred bas his person been held that, in 1515, lord Drummond was declared guilty of treason, attainted, and imprisoned in Blackness ca.stle,lor striking Lyon. Prior to the revolution, Lyon was solemnly crowned at Holyrood on entering on office by the sovereign or his commissioner, his crown being of the form of the royal crown of Scotland, but enameled instead of being set with jewels. The crown is now only worn at coronations; and that actually supplied on occasion of the last four appointments has been similar to the crowns of the English. king-of-arms. Lyon's badge or medal, suspended by a triple row of gold chains, or on common occasions by a broad green ribbon, exhibits the arms of Scotland, and on the reverse, .St. Andrew on his cross; and his baton is of gold enameled green, powdered with the badges of the kingdom, and with gold ferrules at each end. Besides the velvet tabard of a king-of-arms, he has an embroidered crimson velvet robe; and as king of-arms of the thistle, a blue satin mantle, lined with white, with a St. Andrew's cross on the left shoulder.