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But in many instances
THE VAVASOURS. 317
actual letters were introduced into the shields.
The ancient family of Toft bore argent a chevron between three text "T"S
sable; and Thurland three Greek taus, i.e. "T," on a chief indented. Sometimes
the meaning of the letters is not so apparent, for the family of
Kekitmore bore three text "s"s, viz. "S.S.S." gules;* sometimes they applied
to
sacred things, e.g. Archbishop Sudbury carried, argent on a cross azure,
the letter "M" crowned or; the city of Rochester, Or on a cross gules, the
letter "R" of the field, or sometimes the letter "x" surmounted by the
letter " I " sable. The priory of Bridlington carried, per pale
argent,
three Roman "B"s counter-changed.
The charge on an ancient seal
of the Vavasours
seems to have been originally a peculiar
variety of this practice, for it is neither a simple
letter nor a simple device, but the fess twice
indented so as to form a letter "M." Since then,
however, the indentations have been increased,
so that the simple meaning of the charge has
been rendered very indistinct. But the legend
sable and
round tells us that it is the seal of Magerus (or
Malger, or Mauger) le Vavassur.
Two considerations at once arise therefrom. First, what was a
vavasour? secondly, who was Mauger the Vavassur, or Vavasour?
As regards the former, there is some little difficulty in accurately
tracing the details of an office which has long gone out of vogue. According
to the Imperial Dictionary, the etymology of the word is as follows :
" The word vassal seems to have meant what we now term a subordinate,
" just as vaslet, or varlet, was applied to a boy between the ages of seven
" and fourteen years, after which he became an esquire." Hallam says
:
" In ancient days a vassal was a feudatory, or tenant holding
" a lord, and bound by his tenure to feudal service." f
lands under
According to the feudal system, all land was vested in the King,
and all landholders held of him by service of " grand sergeanty," or
"petit sergeanty," as I have shewn on page 62. Every baron, therefore, was
a vassal of the King. A vavasour seems to have been a vassal of a
vassal, i.e. va-vasour, holding land of him on exactly the same terms as
he held them of his lord. A position inferior indeed to the baronage,
but next to it, with many subordinate retainers, tenants, and villeins.
Hallam, in vol. i., p. 149, further says: "In France all who held lands
" immediately depending upon the Crown, whatever titles they may bear,
" were comprised in the order of barons. To these corresponded the
R 2
Guillim. t Hallam, Middle Ages, vol. ii., p. 555.