THE ANCHOR

"great dependence may be

placed in the bearer"

The Christian emblem of hope and refuge; awarded to sea warriors for special feats performed; the Greeks and Romans referred to the anchor as sacred as it was always dedicated to some god. The anchor was given to Clement of Rome and Nicolas of Bari. Nicolas of Bari is the patron saint of sailors. Also signifies steadfastness and stability.

In seafaring nations, the anchor is a symbol of good luck, of safety, and of security, and thus of trust and confidence. Anchors, besides being the symbols of hope, may be derived from naval services. Or, on a pile engrailed azure three anchors of the first, is borne by the name of Byde.

Here is a symbol implying that great dependence may be placed in the bearer: the pile representing the stability of his character, and the anchors, that the firmest hope may be reposed in his integrity. Or, an anchor sable between two lions passant gules (the symbols of hope with courage), appertains to the name of Delme ; Argent, on a chief azure three anchors or, to the name of Pack.

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SHACKLES

An honourable bearing

The achievement of taking a prisoner has been represented by the bearing of shackles, or handcuffs, in the shield. Of this we have an example in the arms,— Argent, a shack-bolt sable, which appertains to the name of Nuthall; Sable, three shack-bolts argent, to the name of Anderton.

Guillim says, in respect of these arms,—" He that by his valour shall in the wars take his enemy and retain him as his prisoner, may well for such his good service be guerdoned with such a kind of bearing as is here demonstrated, which is an honourable bearing in armory.

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WHEELS

achievements of a soldier

In the conveyance of baggage, and transporting the munition of an army, as well as in the construction of carriages, wheels may express figuratively the valuable services and achievements of a soldier.

Or, a fess embattled between three cart-wheels sable, is borne by the name of Cartwright, of Gloucester; Gules, three carriagewheels or, by the name of Roet; Azure, a fess, and in base a carriage-wheel argent, by the name of Nostaing, in France. Gules, a cart-wheel argent, is the heraldic insignia of the Archbishopric of Mentz.

This device is said to be derived from Willigus, who was Archbishop of Mentz in the reign of the Emperor Otho II.: he, though a great man in his day, assumed the wheel as a mark of his humility, showing the lowness of his origin, his father having been a wheelwright. Cart-wheels occur frequently in continental shields of arms. Broken wheels are often met with in German arms.

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ARROWS

an emblem of affliction

An ancient and honourable symbol sometimes referred to as the emblem of affliction; martial readiness; if with a cross it denotes affliction; a bow and arrow signifies a man resolved to abide the uttermost hazard of battle. Arrows are usually borne barbed and flighted, i.e. feathered. In English heraldry the arrow is always represented with its barb or point downwards, unless otherwise expressed. Arrows, when in bundles, are termed sheaves, and are understood, unless a greater number is mentioned, to consist of three only, one in pale (upright) and two others in saltier (crossing it) bound together or banded. It is not uncommon, however, to have five or seven in a sheaf; but the number, if more than three, must be specified.

It was a custom amongst the Persians, when they went to war, for every man to cast an arrow into a chest provided for the purpose, and placed before the throne of their king; and, at their return, every one to take his own shaft, that so, by the number of arrows remaining, the number of the deceased might be certainly known.

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