Jessant-de-lys
Encyclopedia
Jessant-de-lys is a heraldic
term denoting a fleur-de-lys
issuing out of any object. It is most frequently seen in conjunction with a leopard
's face, meaning in heraldic language the face of a lion.
thus: "a leopard's face affrontée, resting upon a fleur-de-lys, and having the lower part of the flower issuing from the animal's mouth". This appears to describe a fleur-de-lis erect. The fleur-de-lys is on occasion shown reversed, perhaps as an heraldic difference, or simply in error.
proposed the Cantilupe jessant-de-lys arms to have been differences of their earlier arms of three fleurs-de-lys, which might be referred to as "Cantilupe ancient", which were used between about 1215 and 1280. Boutell however tentatively suggests them to be the result of a rare compounding of two separate coats of arms, resulting from a marriage to an heiress, akin to dimidiation
. This seems unlikely and he gives no genealogical data to support such marriage having occurred. Evidence of the use of "Cantilupe ancient" last appears in the Camden roll of arms
, c.1280. for Johan de Cauntelo They are earlier listed as Gules, 3 fleurs de lys or for Sir George de Cantilupe(d.1273) in the Charles's Roll, St. George's Roll, and in the Camden Roll. The arms of William II de Cantilupe
(d.1254) are listed even earlier in the Glover's Roll as: Gules, 3 fleurs de lys or. The earliest record of the arms of "Cantilupe ancient" is in the seal of William I de Cantilupe
(d.1239). John Nichols
in his History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester records a deed dated 1215 relating to William I de Cantilupe
's manor of Brentingby
, Leicestershire, on which the seal is three fleurs-de-lys circumscribed.
today. The episcopal seal of St Thomas still shows however the arms of "Cantilupe ancient" in the form of two groups of three fleurs-de-lys either side of a figure of the standing bishop. This suggests that the ancient arms were still in use at the start of his episcopal reign in 1275, when the seal would have been made. The modern arms were certainly in use in 1300, but by a cadet branch of the Cantilupe family (which had died out in the main line in 1273 on the death of Sir George de Cantilupe) in the form of another William de Cantilupe, who used a fess for difference, as recorded in the Caerlaverock Roll, which was a record of participants at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle
in 1300. His arms are recorded as Gules, a fess vair between 3 leopard's faces jessant-de-lys or. The Cantilupe family granted their arms, with differences, to many of their feudal
tenants, as arms of patronage, which have taken the form of "Cantilupe modern". Examples are in the 13th. c. to Hubard of Ipsley, Warwickshire, to John Woodforde of Brentingby
(fl.1316), Leicestershire and possibly to Denys of Siston
, Gloucestershire, formerly from Glamorgan, in connection with Candleston Castle
. From the latter family the arms were apparently borrowed by the unrelated family of Thomas Tenison
, Archbishop of Canterbury, from whom the unrelated family of Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate, again borrowed, probably as their family names signify "Dennis's son".
, whose lesser title is Viscount Cantelupe, both titles created in 1761 for the West family, distant descendants of the ancient Cantilupe family. The second quarter of the De La Warr coat of arms is blazon
ed thus: Azure, 3 leopard's faces reversed jessant-de-lys or
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
term denoting a fleur-de-lys
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
issuing out of any object. It is most frequently seen in conjunction with a leopard
Leopard (heraldry)
The leopard or lion passant guardant is a frequently used charge in heraldry. It mostly appears in groups of three, which are positioned over each another.-Heraldic and zoological leopards:...
's face, meaning in heraldic language the face of a lion.
Description
Charles Boutell op.cit. has described the chargeCharge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
thus: "a leopard's face affrontée, resting upon a fleur-de-lys, and having the lower part of the flower issuing from the animal's mouth". This appears to describe a fleur-de-lis erect. The fleur-de-lys is on occasion shown reversed, perhaps as an heraldic difference, or simply in error.
Origin
The earliest use of a leopard's face jessant-de-lys was in the last quarter of the 13th. century, by the Norman family of Cantilupe, borne as a group of three ("Cantilupe modern"). (N.B. plural is correctly "3 leopard's faces" not "3 leopards' faces"). J.R. PlanchéJames Planche
James Robinson Planché was a British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including extravaganza, farce, comedy, burletta, melodrama and opera...
proposed the Cantilupe jessant-de-lys arms to have been differences of their earlier arms of three fleurs-de-lys, which might be referred to as "Cantilupe ancient", which were used between about 1215 and 1280. Boutell however tentatively suggests them to be the result of a rare compounding of two separate coats of arms, resulting from a marriage to an heiress, akin to dimidiation
Dimidiation
In heraldry, dimidiation is a method of joining two coats of arms.For a time, dimidiation preceded the method known as impalement. Whereas impalement involves placing the whole of both coats of arms side by side in the same shield, dimidiation involves placing the dexter half of one coat of arms...
. This seems unlikely and he gives no genealogical data to support such marriage having occurred. Evidence of the use of "Cantilupe ancient" last appears in the Camden roll of arms
Roll of arms
A roll of arms is a collection of coats of arms, usually consisting of rows of painted pictures of shields, each shield accompanied by the name of the person bearing the arms...
, c.1280. for Johan de Cauntelo They are earlier listed as Gules, 3 fleurs de lys or for Sir George de Cantilupe(d.1273) in the Charles's Roll, St. George's Roll, and in the Camden Roll. The arms of William II de Cantilupe
William II de Cantilupe
William II de Cantilupe was an Anglo-Norman landownwer and administrator.He was born the son of William I de Cantilupe, who had also been an administrator and Sheriff...
(d.1254) are listed even earlier in the Glover's Roll as: Gules, 3 fleurs de lys or. The earliest record of the arms of "Cantilupe ancient" is in the seal of William I de Cantilupe
William I de Cantilupe
William I de Cantilupe was an Anglo-Norman baron and royal administrator.-Origins:...
(d.1239). John Nichols
John Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
in his History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester records a deed dated 1215 relating to William I de Cantilupe
William I de Cantilupe
William I de Cantilupe was an Anglo-Norman baron and royal administrator.-Origins:...
's manor of Brentingby
Brentingby
Brentingby is a village in Leicestershire, England....
, Leicestershire, on which the seal is three fleurs-de-lys circumscribed.
Earliest use
St Thomas Cantilupe(d.1282), Bishop of Hereford, granted his personal arms, the Cantilupe arms reversed (i.e. upside down) for difference to the see of Hereford, and the arms are still used by the Bishop of HerefordBishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
today. The episcopal seal of St Thomas still shows however the arms of "Cantilupe ancient" in the form of two groups of three fleurs-de-lys either side of a figure of the standing bishop. This suggests that the ancient arms were still in use at the start of his episcopal reign in 1275, when the seal would have been made. The modern arms were certainly in use in 1300, but by a cadet branch of the Cantilupe family (which had died out in the main line in 1273 on the death of Sir George de Cantilupe) in the form of another William de Cantilupe, who used a fess for difference, as recorded in the Caerlaverock Roll, which was a record of participants at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle, built in the 13th century, in the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve area at the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries in the southwest of Scotland. In the Middle Ages it was owned by the Maxwell family. Today, the castle is in the care of Historic...
in 1300. His arms are recorded as Gules, a fess vair between 3 leopard's faces jessant-de-lys or. The Cantilupe family granted their arms, with differences, to many of their feudal
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
tenants, as arms of patronage, which have taken the form of "Cantilupe modern". Examples are in the 13th. c. to Hubard of Ipsley, Warwickshire, to John Woodforde of Brentingby
Brentingby
Brentingby is a village in Leicestershire, England....
(fl.1316), Leicestershire and possibly to Denys of Siston
Siston
Siston is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England east of Bristol Castle, ancient centre of Bristol, recorded historically as Syston, Sistone, Syton, Sytone and Systun etc. The village lies at the confluence of the two sources of the Siston Brook, a tributary of the River Avon...
, Gloucestershire, formerly from Glamorgan, in connection with Candleston Castle
Candleston Castle
Candleston Castle is a 14th.c. fortified manor house, in ruins since the nineteenth century southwest of Merthyr Mawr, former Glamorgan, Wales, and just northwest of Ogmore Castle, separated by the River Ogmore. Candleston's original long and narrow rectangular structure lay across the western...
. From the latter family the arms were apparently borrowed by the unrelated family of Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs.-Life:...
, Archbishop of Canterbury, from whom the unrelated family of Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate, again borrowed, probably as their family names signify "Dennis's son".
Modern usage
The true Cantilupe modern arms are borne today only by the See of Hereford and the Earl De La WarrEarl De La Warr
Earl De La Warr is a title created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1761.In the United States, Thomas West, 3rd baron is often named in history books simply as Lord Delaware. He served as governor of the Jamestown Colony, and the Delaware Bay was named after him...
, whose lesser title is Viscount Cantelupe, both titles created in 1761 for the West family, distant descendants of the ancient Cantilupe family. The second quarter of the De La Warr coat of arms is blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed thus: Azure, 3 leopard's faces reversed jessant-de-lys or
Sources
- Boutell, Charles. Heraldry Modern and Popular, London, 1863
- Planché J.R.James PlancheJames Robinson Planché was a British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including extravaganza, farce, comedy, burletta, melodrama and opera...
, The Pursuivant of Arms, or, Heraldry Founded upon Facts, London, 1873, (first published 1852) p. 103-4