.......Classical Heraldry .......

Arms of the 13th and 14th Centuries (10)

Sir Philip de Moubray ~ Gules a lion rampant Argent. Philip de Moubray held Stirling Castle for Edward II when it was besieged by Edward Bruce in 1314, and agreed to surrender if he was not relieved by midsummer, relief being defined as having the English army come within three leagues of the castle. The Battle of Bannockburn was the consequence and when, the Scots having won, Edward II sought shelter at Stirling, de Moubray was forced to turn him away, to save him from capture at the surrender.

Sir William d’Eyncourt ~ Azure billetté and a fess dancetté Or On the first day of Bannockburn, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, intercepted an English party of 300 men-at-arms trying to reach the castle. Instead of retiring, the English quarrelled about tactics and some of their leaders charged the Scots. Sir William d’Eyncourt was among these and was killed by the Scottish pikemen. His father Sir Edmund had borne these arms at Falkirk (1298), and his brother John at Caerlaverock (1300).

Sir Alexander de Seton ~ Or three crescents within a double tressure flory counterflory. On the night before the main battle at Bannockburn, Sir Alexander de Seton, it is said, came over to Bruce from the English side to assure him that if the Scots attacked in the morning against the English in their current position, the Scots would win victory easily. It is probable that at that time Seton was a prisoner and, being a Scot, understood Bruce’s situation well, but it is unlikely that Bruce was contemplating retreat.

Sir Giles de Argentin ~ Gules three covered cups within an orle of nine cross crosslets fitchée. This is one of the heroes of chivalry ~ owing to his conduct after the defeat at Bannockburn where, having led the King to safety, he announced, “Sire, I am not accustomed to fly,” and, returning to the mêlée, was slain. The artist drew here the three covered cups within an orle of crosses, but the Dunstable Tournament Roll of 1308 blazons those crosses as crusilly.

Edward de Brus, Earl of Carrick ~ Argent a chevron Gules. Edward, the last surviving brother of Robert the Bruce, was given the title previously held by his brother and his father, but after his death in Ireland, where he had created himself King, there being no legitimate heirs of his body, it reverted to the Crown. Although too impulsive to be a great warrior, he was brave and utterly loyal to his brother’s cause. At Bannockburn he commanded the right wing of the army.

Richard Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel ~ Gules a lion rampant Or. The artist’s reason for including these arms under this name is unknown, for their owner is not mentioned by name in the text, although his son is. He fought for Edward I in the Welsh wars of 1288, in Gascony 1295-97, and was at Caerlaverock in 1300. (In peerage law he is an interesting case, for the de jure descent of the Arundel earldom is controversial, and there is an argument for him having been created Earl of Sussex instead of Arundel.)

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