Murray, when the rebels surrendered at Preston, was made prisoner, and tried as a deserter, being half-pay officer, found guilty, and condemned to be shot; but he pleaded that he had given his commission into the hands of a relation, previous to his entering into the rebellion; this, though he could bring no proof of at that time, yet with his friends' interest, and his Majesty's reprieve, were the means of saving his life. When he was removed with the rest of the prisoners, to the house of Mr. Wingilby, in Preston, he conducted himself with great decorum during the whole time. Viscount Kenmure conducted himself with great bravery in the action at Preston, although he was a very young man. HERALDRY. "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, The paths of glory lead but to the grave." THE ancient families of Ley, Hoghton, Skillicorne, Singilton, Massey, Botiler, Barton, Pleasington, Travers, Preston, Featherstone, Aderton, More, Werden, Blackborne, Farington, Chorley, Anderton, Hatch, Lancaster, Cleton, Banester, Osbaldestone, Hescoith, Westbye, Southworthe, Talbot, Molyneux, Shireburn, Greenhaugh, Stanley, Dalton, Hornby, Crooke, Assheton, Bushell, Gregson, Catterall, Walton, Fleetwood, Hulton, Pilliford, Typpinge, Rishton, Brockholes, Patten, Langton, Wall, Starkey, Rigby, Sidgreaves, Dewhurst, Whittele, Meddowes, Sudall, Baroun, Denham, Walmsley, Ryley, and several others, whose arms we shall give, are of this part of the county. The following blazonry are the arms of gentlemen, and others, residing in Preston and its neighbourhood. Heraldry is a peculiar science which teaches the art of blazoning, or to explain in heraldic terms all that belongs to coat armour; as well as to marshall, or place with the most exact regularity, divers arms upon the field, or escutcheon. Arms are most generally called coats of arms; and are hereditary marks of honour conferred upon particular families, made up of certain colours and symbols, granted by sovereign princes, as a reward for military valour, or some other signal public service done; and serve to denote the descent and alliance of the bearer; also to distinguish states, cities, towns, societies, &c. civil, ecclesiastical, and military. It appears that this pleasing and essentially necessary science, was cultivated in the very earliest ages. Homer, Virgil, and Ovid, represent their heroes as having their shields ornamented with a variety of antique figures or symbols, whereby they were the more easily recognised in the field of battle. The Emperor Alexander the Great, wishing to honour those of his captains and soldiers who had achieved any memorable action, and by way of exciting in them emulation, granted them certain badges of honour to be borne on their armour and banners; this prerogative being reserved exclusively to himself. Cambden, Spellman, Gwillm, Parkinson, Edmundson, Coats, and others, agree, that hereditary arms of families were not used until the end of the eleventh century; but we have evidence that they were used before that time, as may be seen in Drake's History of York. They are sometimes engraved, embossed, or painted on shields, targets, banners, and other martial instruments. There are various coat armour holden by families and communities, upon different occasions, such as arms of dominion, of pretension, of concession, of community, of patronage, of family, of alliance, of succession, of assumption. The principal and integral parts of arms are, the escutcheon, the tinctures, the charges; the ornaments to be acquainted with, and to have a general knowledge of coat armour, requires great attention and study. In order to shew the nature and use of this art, an instance shall be adduced. -To understand well the arms of succession, and such as are taken up by those who inherit certain estates, manors, lands, &e. either by will, entail, or donation, and which they either impale, or quarter with their own: this, recollect, multiplies the titles of some particular families, from mere necessity, and not, as is vainly understood by many, for the mere purposes of ostentation; therefore, all young men who are students in the civil code of our country, ought to make heraldry a peculiar branch of their study, as it sometimes leads to the recovery of estates which would otherwise be lost. Gentlemen of fine estates, during the year 1501, had their heralds, who wore their coats of arms at Christmas, and at other solemn times, who used to cry in the great hall, before the assembled visitors, Largesse, three times, as may be seen in Aubrey's M.S.S. preserved in the Ashmolean Museum. It appears, that the crowns or coronets of generals and princes, are all taken from some prominent feature or other in civil or mili tary architecture. Thus the mural and naval crown of the Romans, the crenated crown (after the patterns of the castle battlements,) are all taken from fortifications, whether naval or military, from the battlements of fosses, ships, or castles. The language of heraldry may be considered as a sort of historical monument: coins undoubtedly are so considered; in these many ancient forms of buildings, of utensils, and national costume, are preserved. There is, in some books of travels which we have seen lately, a vignette, representing a coin of the Greek empire, whereon is impressed the figure of a castle, having battlements crenated, or very deeply indented. It is certain that such battlements first suggested the pattern of those rude crowns worn by Charlemagne, and our Saxon princes. As there are many persons who are entirely unacquainted with the meaning of heraldic terms used in the ceremonials for the late royal funerals, and the rank and functions of the different heralds who assisted at them. We shall insert a concise explanation of the functions so made use of, for the more ready information of those who feel an active interest in the pleasing study of heraldry. HERALDS.-In former days, heralds frequently attended their sovereigns in the wars fought abroad, and in their progress thither, were often dispatched to other princes, with peculiar messages of war, as defiances, &c. and if they received any personal violence or affront, it was highly resented by those whom they served. Their business was to determine peace and war, leagues and agreements, and proclaim them. They were also employed at jousts and tournaments. Noblemen, as well as princes, had their heralds and pursuivants. EARL MARSHAL.-One of the great officers of the crown, who takes cognizance of all matters touching honour and arms. He determines all questions and differences that may arise between heralds and other persons, concerning pedigrees, honour, arms, crests, supporters, and armorial ensigns. He bears a staff of pure gold, tipped with black, having the king's arms enamelled on one end, and that of his own on the other; and takes his place with the lord great chamberlain. Assisted by the kings and heralds, he marshals and orders the proclamation and coronation of our kings, their marriages, christenings, funeral obsequies, cavalcades, royal interviews and feasts. GARTER, PRINCIPAL KING OF ARMS.-This officer was constituted by Henry the 5th, with the advice and consent of the knights of the Garter, for the service of this noble society. His duty, in relation to the garter, is to perform whatever the sovereign, prelate, or chancellor of the order shall enjoin. This officer, as principal herald, or king of arms, in England, (as lion, in Scotland, ulster, in Ireland,) marshals the solemn funerals of the higher order of the nobility of England, as princes, dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons. CLARENCIEUX, KING OF ARMS.-Was so named from the Duke of Clarence, to whom he first belonged; for Lionel, third son of Edward 3rd, having by his wife the honour of Clare, in the county of Thomond, was afterwards declared Duke of Clarence; which dukedom escheating to Edward 4th, he made his earl king at arms. His office is to marshal the funerals of the lower nobility; as baronets, knights, and esquires, on the south side of the Trent; whence he is sometimes called surroy, or southroy, in contradis➡ tinction to norroy. These two last are denominated provincial heralds, as they divide the kingdom between them, into provinces. They have power to visit noblemen's families, to set down their pedigrees, distinguish their arms, appoint persons their arms, and, with garter, to direct their other heralds. NORROY, KING OF ARMS.-His office is to marshal the fune rals of all the inferior nobility, as baronets, knights, esquires, and gentlemen, on the north side of the Trent. PURSUIVANT. The lowest order of officers at arms. They are, properly, attendants on the heralds when they marshal public ceremonies. Of those in England, there were formerly many, but at present only four, viz. blue mantle, rouge cross, rouge dragon, and portcullice. In Scotland there is only one king at arms, styled lion, who has under him no less than six heralds, as many pursuivants, and a great number of niessengers at arms. BLAZONRY. ASSHETON, of Ribble-bank, near Preston-Argent, a cheveron between three boar's heads couped azure. ASSHETON, Preston-Argent, a mullet sable, pierced of the field. Crest, a mower with his scythe, his face and hands proper, his habit and cap counterchanged argent and sable, the handle |