But what is a stronger argument is, that the same sort of supporters are placed in the seals of divers persons ne ver advanced to the peerage. Instances of this kind are often met with ; nay, the engraver bath frequently indulged his fancy so fat, as to insert such figures as do not seem proper, according to our present notions of supporters of arms ; as two swords on each side the arms of Sir John de Harcla ; and St George fighting with the dragon on one side, the Virgin with our Saviour in her arms on the other side of a seal affixed to a deed of the Lord Ferrets, whose arms on the impress of a seal pendent to a deed of the 17th May, 9 Henry VI. have not any supporters.
When supporters were assumed, if there were two on one seal, they were generally the same ; but sometimes there was only one, and at other times three, as may be wen on various seals." " After having considered the observations of Mr Ans tis," says Edmonstone, I am persuaded that not a doubt can remain of supporters having originated from the fancy of seal engravers. However this may be, it is certain, that in England supporters were of old worn by many persons of the commons. All those, particularly, who bore offices of dignity in the state, as the lord deputy of Ireland, the lord of the marches of Wales, the warden of the stannaries, Sr.c. and even by families altogether in private life ; as the Stevenings of Sussex, the Stawells of Somerset, the \Val lops of Hants, Savage of Cheshire, Sze. ; and certainly the supporters still worn by the descendants of some of these families, rest on a much more honourable foundation than any modern grant of supporters that can be obtained from a college of awns." It is worthy of remark, that supporters were formerly changed very frequently, according to the choice of indi viduals, and by no means considered as fixed and unaltera hle marks of descent, like the proper armorial bearings. From King Edward III. till James I. few of the English kings wore the same supporters as their predecessors. The lion, the falcon, the hart, the antelope, the swan, the leopard, the the boar, the greyhound, the dragon, and the eagle, were all successively used by the monarchs of England ; and one of them, (Edward IV.) altered his no less than three times. Edward VI. was the first who bore the lion crowned with the imperial crown. This was retained by Mary and Elizabeth ; and James also used it as his dexter supporter, placing the Scottish unicorn* on the left side ; on which arrangemen•no alteration has been made by any or his successors.
Henry VIII. was the first king of England who for merly granted supporters to the peers of the realm. He gave the like ornaments to the knights of the garter and of bath. The kings of arms in England are authorised to grant supporters to all persons not under the degree of a knight of the bath ; and whoever of an inferior rank bears supporters in that kingdom, does so by an express grant from the crown.
In Scotland, the right to bear supporters is commonly supposed to rest on somewhat a different footing. Some of the baronets of Nova Scotia have taken up the notion, that they are, by the terms of their patents, entitled to add sup porters to their paternal coats, and they accordingly wear them in their armorial ensigns. But an impartial considera tion of the clause in the patents will convince them of their mistake, more particularly as it is not pretended, that there ever was any other royal grant or warrant issued, where on they can found a claim to any such privilege. In the patents previous to the year 1629, it is ordained, " that the baronets and their heirs-male shall, as an addition of ho nour to their armories, bear, either on a canton or Ines cutchcon, at their option, the ensign of Nova Scotia, being Argent, a cross of St Andrew azure charged, with an Mes e utcheon of the royal arms of Scotland, supported on the dexter by the royal unicorn, and on the sinister by a savage or wild man proper," &c. ; all evidently referring to what is within the canton or inescutcheon, and not to any exte rior ornaments of the baronet's own shield, of which the said canton or inescutcheon is henceforth to form a part. As for the patents posterior to the year 1629, the whole of the clause just quoted is omitted, and the patentee is not allowed to carry a canton or inescutcheon of honourable augmentation to his coat ; but, in lieu thereof," around his neck an orange tanny silk ribbon, whereon shall be pendent in a scutcheon argent, a saltier azure, therein an escutcheon of the arms of Scotland," &c. This alteration, in all pro bability, took place on account of the manifest impropriety of blazoning supporters, mottos, &c. on a canton or ines cutcheon ; an objection which could never have occurred, had the construction which has been put on the clause of gift been the proper one.