THE HERALDIC "STAIN" OF TRADE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SID,—The idea that in England heraldry takes any note of commerce except to honour it has no foundation in fact, as shown by the frequent grants of arms to trading corpora- tions, such as the Merchant Adventurers, incorporated by Edward L, and the Vintners, who received their arms so long ago as 1437. It is true that in France an ennobled person sacrificed his rank for ever if he engaged in com- merce, though even there in 1669 the King limited this penalty to those who traded retail. It is noticeable that English heraldic literature says little of either " gentlemen " or trade. Technically, from the heraldic point of view, a man is either nobilis or ignobilis, known to the authorities or unknown ; but, as frequently pointed out by the scoffers, most men who care to make themselves known can do so by paying the fees demanded by the Crown. Those who object on principle to heraldry should press their attack a great deal further than the offices of arms, as all arms are granted on behalf of the Sovereign; and no one but the King himself can authorise a man to assume the arms of another family, not even if it be that of the grantee's own mother. Such grants are made by Royal Warrant under the sign manual, or as it is occasionally described, under the Royal Signet. Judging from the sad events of the past three weeks, it does not appear that there is much likelihood of the Earl Marshal's office being dispensed with in the near future.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A. R. H.
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