see
young lion,—alluding to the excellency and nobility of hisdisposition: the sceptre was another symbol which dis-tinguished the same person. Zebulun was known by a ship;his residence was declared to be by a haven of the sea.Isacliar was represented by a strong ass couching betweentwo burdens. Dan was made eminent by the insignia ofjustice and legislation, quartered with a serpent, the em-blem of fecundity, but in this instance of cunning. GadWas personified by instruments of warfare; because, it wasdeclared himself and descendants should be concerned inwarlike enterprises. Asher was figuratively designated byfertility. Naphtali was represented by a hind enjoyingfreedom: as was also Joseph by a branch laden w r ith fruits.The symbol of Benjamin was a wolf rending its spoil.
Such various devices as we have enumerated, we aretold distinguished the banners of those patriarchal families.If the Talmudist and Jewish traditions are correct, this isunquestionably the oldest record we have of armorial hear-ings. Among various nations, and particularly it was usualamong all warlike people to bear arms. It is said, thechief vessel of the Argonautic expedition was ornamentedby a yellow' fleece, as the insignia of its commander. It isalso alleged that the aruforial bearing of Bellerophon wasa winged Pegasus. The ensign of imperial Rome was aneagle. In Rome , w r e are also told, there was established acollege of arms. It is very evident, from that rare andelegant specimen of Lalinity which we have of Tacitus , inDe Mor. Germanica, who definitely and distinctly assures us,in enumerating the warlike instruments of that people, thatthe cavalry had nothing but a frameu, a species of javelin.The infantry, of which their greatest force consisted, hadalso missive weapons, of each a certain number, whichthey threw to an immense distance. They were eithernaked, or dressed in a light mantle, sagulo leves. A Ger-man paid no attention to dress, “ but decorated his shieldwith the choicest colours.
Although this last instance adduced, alludes to embla-zoning the shield, it certainly has no reference to the signswith which a shield is charged ; nor, indeed, has the formerany relation to other hearings than what may be said todistinguish nations, there being nothing characteristic ofthose specific bearings which are now known as serving todistinguish families of honourable descent from the ignoble,or to discriminate different individuals. This species ofhonourable distinction, it is conjectured, had its origin inGermany , about the period of the Crusades.