ns upon the helmet, by Stephen Martin Leake, Esq.,
Garter, may be acceptable to your querist S. N.

"The helmet, called _galea_ by the Greeks, _cassis_ by the Romans, is
called _helm_ (which signifies the head) by the Germans; whence the
French _heaume_, and our _helmet_. It is of great account with the
Germans: the helm and crest deriving their use from tournaments, whence
arms took their origin; and this being with them the most essential
mark of noblesse, neither the Germans nor French allow a new made
gentleman to bear a helmet, but only a wreath of his colours; and when
he is a gentleman of three descents, to bear a helmet with three barrs
for his three descents (Menestrier, _Abrege methodique des Armoiries_,
1672, p. 28.; _Origine des Ornemens des Armoiries_, p. 2.). _Tymbre_ is
the general word used for the casque or helm by the French. Menestrier,
in his _Origine des Ornemens des Armoiries_, p. 13., says the modern
heralds observe three things with regard to the _tymbre_: the matter,
the form, and the situation. That kings should have their helmets of
gold open, and in full front; princes and lords of silver, and somewhat
turned with a certain number of barrs, according to their degree;
gentlemen to have their helmets of steel, and in profile. Colombiere
assigns a knight a helmet bordered with silver, barons with gold,
counts and viscounts the like, and the barrs gold; marquisses the helm
same, and damasked with gold; dukes and princes the gold helmet,
damasked. And as to the barrs, new gentlemen without any; gentlemen of
three descents, three barrs; knights and ancient gentlemen, five;
barons seven; counts and viscounts nine; marquisses eleven. But Moreau,
who first propagated these inventions (_Origine des Ornemens des
Armoiries_, p. 17.), assigns to an emperor or king eleven, a prince or
duke nine, a marquis and count seven, a baron five: whence it seems
there is no {646} certain rule or uniform practice observed herein,
unless in the situation of the helmet, wherein both the Germans and
French account it more noble to bear an open helmet than a close one;
but these are novel distinctions. Anciently, the helmets were all
turned to the right, and close; and it is but some years since, says
Menestrier (_Abrege Methodique_, 1672, p. 28.), that they began to
observe the number of grill