The Arms of the Draper's Company

138 THE LAMBARDE CUP. THE ARMS OF THE DRAPERS' COMPANY. BY MISS M. A. GREENWOOD. (Librarian to the Drapers' Company.) THE Grant of Arms of 1439 to the Drapers' Company is the earliest existing document of its kind. Only two Companies, the Mercers and the Goldsmiths, were granted Arms before the Drapers' Company, and neither of them has preserved its Grant. Most of the Coats of Arms of other Companies bear some indication of the particular trades the Companies represented, but that of the Drapers' Company is one of the exceptions, their Crest alone referring to their trade. From very early times, the Drapers of .London were organised in a; Fraternity, and a special district of London became known as The Drapery. In 1364, the Drapers succeeded in obtaining defini te recognition from the Crown, and were granted a charter by Edward III, which is still in their possession. They received THE ARMS OF THE DRAPERS' COMPANY. 139 another Charter from Henry VI in 1438-39. In the same year, the Company received its first Grant of Arms, which were designed by William Brugges, the first Garter King of Arms, the office having been created by Henry V in 1417. The following is a translation of an extract :- " . . . the notables of the Mystery founded in very great honour have decided amongst themselves to commemorate their said Corporation once a year, that is to say on the Monday next after the Feast of the Assumption of the most blessed Virgin Lady Mother and Empress of all things in Heaven and Earth, our very glorious Lady Saint Mary, of whom was born the heavenly and Imperial Sun, the most glorious King and Lord of all Justice, our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ . . . in honour of the very glorious Virgin and Mother Mary, who is in the shadow of the sun, and yet shines with all clearness and purity, I have devised in their Blazon three Sunbeams issuing from three flaming clouds crowned with three Imperial Crowns of gold on a shield of azure ... " The three Imperial Crowns then, have a distinct allusion the sovereignty of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It would perhaps be interesting to compare the Company's seal of this date with these Arms. Although the original no longer exists, there is a cast of the Seal in the British Museum. On it is found the Virgin with the Triple Crown on her head, in her right hand a sceptre and in her left a palm branch. She is surrounded by a radiant halo which is supported by four Angels with wings expanded. Over her head is the Almighty, lifting His right hand in benediction, while with the left He places the Crown on the Virgin's head. Under her cloak is a group of people, probably representing the Drapers. At her feet is a shield bearing the Company's Arms. Round the Seal is the inscription :" Sigiltu + ComuneFraternitat' Be' Marie Mistere Pannaior' London." In the reign of Elizabeth, William Hervey, Clariencieulx Principal Herald and King of Arms, confirmed the Grant, and also granted a helm, crest, and supporters. The crowns are the same as in the original Grant. This Confirmation is dated 5th July, 1561, and the following is an extract:- 140 THE ARMS OF THE DRAPERS' COMPANY. " . I have graunted and assigned unto them for an augmentation of theyr saide Armes, healme and create with two supporters, as followeth, that is to saye, uppon the healme, a mount vert, thereon a ramme couchant golde, horned and cleved sable on a wreathe argent and sable, mantilled gules, dobled argent and for theyr supporters two lyons golde, spotted sable, armed and langed gules, supporting theyr sayd armes. " On obtaining a new charter from James I (which is now its Acting Charter) the Company asked for a fresh Coat of Arms, which William Segar, Garter Principal King of Arms, granted in 1613. He says, · ". . . . withoute ympeachement to their Judgements, or arrogating to myself more knowledge than I can avowe, I; the said William Segar . . . have perused examyned and corrected the same, and doe fynde that the Blason of the said Armory ought to be as followeth. That is to saye : Aaure uppon three Clowdes proper the Sonne beames ysuing three Imperiall Crownes gould tripled and for their Crest upon a healme forth of a wreath of their coullora a Mount Vert thereon a Ram iacent fleeced gould unarmed and unguled sable, the whole hatchment mantled gules doubled argent as in the margent are depicted and supported by two Leona Or pellated." In this Grant the Company's Motto, "Unto God Only Be Honor And Glory " is added. The Imperial Crowns " depicted in the margent " are arched as in Royal Crownsa mistake of William Segar's from which much confusion has arisen-such confusion that in 1920 the Company obtained from the College of Arms the correct emblazonment. The Arms on the Lambarde Cup are of course those of the earliest Grant of Arms. NoTE.-Thanks are due to the Drapers' Company for permission to publish information from their Records and the photograph of the Cup ; to Major Gore Lambarde for permission to reproduce the contemporary portrait of William Lambarde ; and to Brigadier General Fane Lambard, C.M.G., D.S.O., F.S.A., for the extracts from the accounts.