History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

EXPLANATION OF FRONTISPIECE.
The beautiful plate of Arms which faces the title page is a copy of an oil
painting in original colors made by Tiffany & Co., New York and owned by
Mr. Henry Montague Robertson of New York City, who kindly permitted it
to be copied for this work. It is not a fancy sketch prepared to please the
eye, but it is the correct paternal coat of arms of every Montague descended
from Peter No. i, and can be used by all of the female line [or collateral
branches] by placing it as a quartering only upon their shield to indicate
their descent from Montague.
The word blazon in Armory means a written description so precise as to
enable the reader to depict the escutcheon without other assistance. The
blazon of these arms is as follows :
Quarterly—first, argent, three fusils in fess gules between three pellets, for
Peter Montague, No. i; the same being the paternal arms of his father
Peter Montague of Boveney, Eng. Second—Azure, a griffin segreant, or.
for original Montague arms. Thus borne by the first eight generations in
England [A. D. 1066 to 1300]. Third— Gules, three legs, armed proper,,
with banded mail of the 13th century, conjoined in the centre at the upper
part of the thighs, flexiden, a triangle, garnished and spurred, or. for Fergus,
King of the isle of Man. These arms are a Heraldic curiosity, and are
inherited by Va. Montagues from their great ancestress Aufricia, wife of Sir
Simon Montague [No. 8, in Introduction] and dau. of Fergus, King of Man.
Fourth—Argent, three fusils in fess gules, for Sir Simon Montague of A. D.
1300, being the same as the first quarter without the pellets which were added
for difference of families. The combination of these quarters, as here rep-
resented, is well known and is not new. See plate of the coat of arms of the
Duke of Manchester, see quarterings of Anthony Browne, Viscount Montagu,
and quarterings of Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, all in Edmondsons Peerage.
See plate of Arms of Anne, wife of King Richard III, in Planche's Pursuivant
of Arms.
Crest.— " The head and wings erased of a griffin, segreant, or. placed over
the helmet of an Esquire." From the shield of Drogo-de-Montacuto, and
dating from the time of William the Conqueror, also similar to the crest
found on the garter plate of the first Earl of Salisbury. It is the most
ancient Montagu crest known.
Supporters.—No degree below that of a Baron was in England entitled
to bear Supporters, and although Peter No. 1, was descended from a Baron,