Heraldry is believed to have originated in the early 12th century as a means for noble combatants to distinguish friend from foe on the battlefield and during tournaments. The rules and terminology of heraldry became firmly established in the later 13th century in old French, being the language of the nobility of Western Europe at the time. From these practical origins, heraldry evolved to become the decorative art and mark of distinction which it remains to this day.
A bearer chooses their own arms, but this choice generally follows established trends. By looking at a number of the coats of arms of the Grand Priors of the English Priory of the Order of St John, we will be able to examine some examples of these trends, and at the same time, pick out some notable Grand Priors and follow the history of the Order in England.
All of the following coats of arms have been taken from the Chapter Hall panelling in St John’s Gate, and bear the white cross of the Order of St John, known as the Chief of Religion.
Canting arms
One trend for the choice of arms, more popular during the early period of heraldry, is to choose devices and figures which play on the bearer’s name, otherwise known as canting arms. An example can be seen in the arms of Henry of Arundel (1215-1216) whose arms depict 6 standing swallows which, in old French are termed arondels. The earldom of Arundel is one of the oldest in England and was created in 1138 for the Norman baron, William d’Aubigny. It is held today by the Duke of Norfolk who resides in the magnificent Arundel Castle.
Another example of this wordplay is illustrated by the arms of Robert de Mauneby whose arms bear a curious sleeved arm. This device is a so termed dextrochere, or ‘beloved’s right’ and depicts a hand inside a loose fitting sleeve called a maunch, which was worn during the early 12th century, and bears a distinct similarity to the bearer’s name. Maunby is recorded as having quarrelled with King Henry III and was subsequently removed from office but later reconciled and took his post back up.
Religious symbols
The Medieval period was a time of intense religious devotion and religious devices are unsurprisingly common in heraldic design of the period. There are over 400 different ways to depict the cross in heraldry, though only 20 or so are used commonly. Each of these varieties has a unique term which allows a reader to picture the exact design of, for instance, a cross fourche (with forked ends), or pomme (with rounded ends) or as pictured here in John Pavely’s arms, patonce with ends splayed to three points. Pavely (1358-71) had been appointed as the custodian of the coastline of Rhodes (a position termed Turcopolier) in 1335 and served as the admiral of an English fleet in 1360, an appointment which doubtless owed much to his experience of defending the coastline of Rhodes in the 1330s.
Martial symbols
The nobility played a central role in warfare during the medieval period; raising and leading the contingents of men-at-arms, infantry and archers which the larger armies were composed of. Warfare was therefore a popular source of inspiration for those wishing to emphasise their martial prowess and experience. The arms of Robert Hales, himself a veteran of multiple campaigns, depict three arrows with flights and barbed points. Hales is one of two Grand Priors who were killed in the line of duty; as Chancellor in 1380 Hales was held responsible for the imposition of the Poll Tax which was one of the principal grievances of the rebels who marched on London in 1381 and executed Hales on Tower Hill.
Shapes and furs
The other Grand Prior to suffer an unfortunate fate while in office was Sir John Langstrother (1469-71) who was incumbent during a tempestuous period of English history. Langstrother had occupied political posts on both sides during the Wars of the Roses but would eventually find himself on the losing side of Henry VI at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. For his part in leading part of Henry’s army, Langstrother was executed along with other prisoners after the battle. Langstrother’s arms display heraldic cockle shells or escallops, which are always depicted with their ear-like attachments at the top.
If you have ever passed St John’s Gate you may be familiar with the next coat of arms, those of Thomas Docwra (1501-27), under whose stewardship the Gate was constructed in 1504. Docwra was a respected diplomat and campaigner and his close relationship with Henry VIII ensured the Order in England outlived other Catholic institutions and organisations, which were dissolved in the early stages of the Reformation. Docwra’s arms are displayed on both the north and south sides of the Gate, as well as in the vaulted ceiling underneath the arch. The arms depict a chevron which has been engrailed or indented for decoration between three silver plates. Chevrons are very common devices in heraldry and feature in many of the earliest examples of arms from the early 12th century.
The Order in England was finally dissolved in 1540 under Docwra’s successor, William Weston (1527-40). Weston himself is said to have died of a broken heart on the very day that the Order was dissolved and the relief of his tomb resides today in the Crypt underneath the Priory Church in Clerkenwell. Weston’s arms contain 5 bezants or golden coins and ermine which is one of the two furs used in heraldic design. Ermine is meant to resemble the silvery white fur of the Stoat in winter, with the small black devices representing the black tip of its tail. The other fur is known as vair and resembles a chequerboard of blue and white rectangular shapes, and mimics the fur of the same name which consists of the backs and belly coats of squirrels sown together alternatively.
Nature
The Catholic Queen Mary briefly restored the Order in England during her reign and Thomas Tresham (1557-59) was appointed as the Grand Prior, despite having no involvement with the Order before this time. Mary died in November 1558 and Tresham followed in 1559, just before Elizabeth began to dismantle the Order once again. Trees and plants are common devices in heraldry and Tresham’s arms show six trefoils which are leaves of any description with three lobes and are shown slipped meaning with their stems attached. The use of trefoils also hints at an association with the bearer’s name.
The Royal arms
Despite the Priory of England ceasing to exist after the accession of Elizabeth I, the Order on Malta continued to appoint Grand Priors of England, though they resided on Malta and never visited their Priory. The Order continued in this regard because it believed, and hoped, that a protestant English monarchy was a temporary state of affairs and the Order in England would one day regain the status and lands it had enjoyed before the Reformation. One of these so called ‘titular’ Grand Priors was Henry Fitz James, the illegitimate son of James II, who acceded to the English throne in 1685. Fitz James was elected Grand Prior a year after his Catholic father had been ousted from the throne in favour of William III in the Glorious Revolution. The election of Fitz James may have been intended as a gesture of support for James II or in readiness for him successfully reclaiming the throne, which he ultimately failed to do after being defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Fitz James bore the same arms as his father with the addition of a silver baton which donates his illegitimacy. The Scottish lion and the Irish Harps which appear in the second and third quarters remain part of the royal arms to this day but the first and third quarters contain both the English lions and the French fleur-de-lis. The fleur-de-lis were the arms of the French monarchy and were included in the royal arms from 1340 when Edward III officially staked his claimed to the French throne, until 1801 when the claim was renounced.
Animals
The Order was refounded in England in 1831 and the Reverend Robert Peat elected Prior. However, it was not until the election of the Duke of Manchester as Grand Prior in 1861 that the Order began to resemble the humanitarian charity which it remains to this day. Under Manchester and his Secretary-General, Sir Edmund Lechmere, the Life Saving Medal was instituted (1874), the St John Ambulance Association and Brigade formed (1877 and 1888) and the St John Opthalmic Hospital first opened its doors (1882).
Manchester’s arms quarters the arms of two families; the three red lozenges of the Montagu family and the green eagle of the Monthermer family. Animals are very common in heraldry and a bearer will sometimes make a choice based upon similarity between the animal’s and their own name (e.g. a bull for Turnbull) or sometimes a desire to associate themselves with favourable characteristcis of a certain animal. For instance the lion is a popular choice for its reputation for courageousness and the eagle is by far the most popular bird, chosen for its characteristics of vigilance and strength.
In 1888 the Order became an Order of Chivalry with a member of the Royal Family always from then on serving as the Grand Prior. The arms of the Grand Prior will now remain the same Royal arms, with slight variations, and it is here that our investigation of heraldry in the Order of St John will come to an end.