es or barrs, to distinguish the different
degrees. But however ingenious these inventions are, it is certain that
they are useless (as gold and silver helmets would be) because every
rank of nobility is distinguished by the coronet proper to his degree.
Whatever honour may be attributed to the helmet, the use of it with the
arms is but modern; and upon the coins of kings and sovereign princes,
where they are chiefly to be met with, the helmets are barred, and
either full or in profile, as best suited the occasion; and upon the
Garter plates of Christian Duke of Brunswick (1625), Gustavus Adolphus
King of Sweden (1628), and Charles Count Palatine of the Rhine (1633
and 1680), they are full fronted with seven barrs.

"In Great Britain we have but four kinds of helmets, according to the
four different degrees in the state--the king, the nobility, knights,
and gentry. The sovereign helmet full fronted, having seven barrs or
guards, visure without any bever; the nobilities the same, but half
turned to the right, and usually showing four barrs; the knight's
helmet full fronted, with the bever turned up; and the gentleman's in
profile, the bever or visor close; using steel helmets for all as the
only proper metal for a helmet common to all. Foreigners condemn us for
attributing that helmet to a knight, which they give to a king; and
more proper, says Mackensie, for a king without guard-visure than for a
knight (_Science of Heraldry_, p. 87.), because knights are in danger,
and have less need to command. But it must be observed, the knight's
helmet has a visor, and no barrs; the sovereign's barrs, because no
visor. And this kind of helmet, with barrs instead of a visor, seems to
have been contrived for princes and great commanders, who would have
been incommoded by the visor, and too much exposed without anything,
therefore had barrs: whereas knights being, according to Mackensie, in
more danger and having less need to command, had their helmet for
action; and are represented with the bever up, ready to receive the
king or general's command. As to the resemblance of the one to the
other, both being in full front, the connexion was not anciently so
remote as seems at this day. Knighthood is the first and most ancient
military honour, and therefore at this day sovereign princes and
knights are the