itles
and insignia of honour, which the Sovereigns and Knights of Europe
have bound themselves to protect; and those rules constitute the
science of Heraldry which forms the subject of the following pages.

CHAP. II.

VARIOUS SORTS OF ARMS.

Arms are not only granted to individuals and families, but also to
cities, corporate bodies, and learned societies. They may therefore be
classed as follows:--

Arms of DOMINION, PRETENSION, CONCESSION. COMMUNITY, PATRONAGE,
FAMILY. ALLIANCE, AND SUCCESSION.

_Arms of Dominion or Sovereignty_ are properly the arms of the kings
or sovereigns of the territories they govern, which are also regarded
as the arms of the State. Thus the Lions of England and the Russian
Eagle are the arms of the Kings of England and the Emperors of Russia,
and cannot properly be altered by a change of dynasty.

_Arms of Pretension_ are those of kingdoms, provinces, or territories
to which a prince or lord has some claim, and which he adds to his
own, though the kingdoms or territories are governed by a foreign king
or lord: thus the Kings of England for many ages quartered the arms
of France in their escutcheon as the descendants of Edward III., who
claimed that kingdom, in right of his mother, a French princess.

_Arms of Concession_ are arms granted by sovereigns as the reward of
virtue, valour, or extraordinary service. All arms granted to subjects
were originally conceded by the Sovereign.

_Arms of Community_ are those of bishoprics, cities, universities,
academies, societies, and corporate bodies.

_Arms of Patronage_ are such as governors of provinces, lords of
manors, &c., add to their family arms as a token of their superiority,
right, and jurisdiction.

_Arms of Family_, or paternal arms, are such as are hereditary and
belong to one particular family, which none others have a right to
assume, nor can they do so without rendering themselves guilty of a
breach of the laws of honour punishable by the Earl Marshal and the
Kings at Arms. The assumption of arms has however become so common
that little notice is taken of it at the present time.

_Arms of Alliance_ are those gained by marriage.

_Arms of Succession_ are such as are taken up by those who inherit
certain estates by bequest, entail, or donation.

SHIELDS, TINCTURES, FURS, &c.

The _Shield_ contains the field or ground whereon are represented the
charges or figures that form a coat of arms. These were painted on th