huddleston family history and genealogy research center coat of arms page

One of the earliest descriptions of coats of arms appears in "The Siege of Caerlaverock" which describes the expedition of Edward 1st. (b.1239 d.1307) "The Hammer of the Scots",
to Scotland in July 1300, and his siege of the Castle of Caerlaverock near Dumfries. It contains details of the banners and shields of more than 100 nobles and knights. Here is an extract from a publication of The Heraldry Society" rendered into rhyme by CW Scott-Giles OBE. Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary , in 1960.
"In our Lord's Year thirteen hundred, on St. John's Day at Carlisle
Edward held great court, and ordered that all men in little while
Should prepare to march on Scotland,'gainst his foemen of the north.
Ready were they to the hour, and the good king led them forth.
Not in coats and surcoats rode they, on their chargers dearly bought,
But well armoured and securely, wary of surprise assault.
There were richly broidered trappings of silk or satin made
Many a lovely lance head pennon, many a banner proud displayed.
………Through fair days, by easy journeys, moved the host in squadrons four.
Hear the roll of the companions, and the banners which they bore……"
"Henry the good Earl of Lincoln, heart aflame with valour sure,
led the van, his silken banner saffron with a lion purpure"
* "baniere or de un cendall saffron o un lion rampant porprin" (Old French)
……….John de Holdeston, prompt in warfare, gules with fretty silver showed**……."
** rouge portoit frette d' argent (Old French)
Another translation appears thus:-
"John de Huddleston
Who appears well and promptly
In arms at all seasons
He served the Earl *
Which makes it right
That he should be named among his followers
He bore Gules fretty of Silver…"
*Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln , to whom John de Hudleston possibly owed one knight's fee, inherited from the original de Lacy overlords.
Another Roll of Arms, temp. Edward 2nd.(1307-27) has:-
Sir John de Hudleston ------gules fretty argent
Sir Adam de Hudleston-------gules fretty argent border indented or ( younger brother of Sir John)
Sir Richard de Hudleston------gules fretty argent label or ( son of Sir John)
Another Sir Richard -gules fretty argent label azure ( unidentified, unless Richard was a misprint, for another younger son, possibly Robert.)

"AC Fox-Davies. A Complete Guide to Heraldry."
"Isolated examples of coats of arms appear in the early part of the 12th.cent. or perhaps at the end of the 11th.; but by the end of the 3rd.crusade (1189) they existed as hereditary decorations of weapons of warfare….These weapons were highly prized and passed down in the family…."

It was necessary for a knight to be recognized in feudal times ... so he employed an emblem. This emblem was depicted on a shield and later on the surcoat worn over the armor. Hence, the term coat of arms was created.
The coat of arms is described as:
gules -----Red
fretty -----the design
argent -----silver
In addition to the escutcheon or shield, several extra ornaments maybe included. These additional elements are:
the helm
the crest
the motto
the mantle
the supports
The helm of the Huddleston Arms can be turned full face to indicate a Knight. A helm turned to a profile would indicate a gentlemen.
The crest is decribed as two arms holding a bloody scalp. In Heraldry, the crest is attached to the top of the helmet with ribbons of the same colors as the shield.
The mantle was the cloth that covered the helmet; and protected it from the suns heat. The mantle is the same colors as the shield.
The motto is Soli Deo Honour et Gloria, "To God alone be Honor and Glory". The motto can be placed above the crest or below the shield.

"The heir to the barony of Egremont was captured by the Saracens during the Crusades and held to ransom by the Dey of Algiers. No money was forthcoming from his brother at home who had made himself Lord of the barony. Our hero was strung up by his hair to a beam in the dungeon. The Princess Zaide, daughter of the Dey, had fallen in love with the crusader and aided by her maid, attempted to cut him down. Her hand was unsteady (with love for him?) and she missed her aim, severing the skin of his scalp, leaving it suspended and bleeding. The lovers fled and eventually arrived back in England.
Back at Egremont castle, the usurping baron was feasting in the Great hall. Suddenly, the sound of a horn at the gate was heard. It could only be rung by the rightful heir.The guilt-ridden baron realised it was his brother. However, all was forgiven, and the younger brother was given a share of the barony, which became the lordship of Millom. Some stories have the beautiful Zaide converting to Christianity and marrying her hero.
A bloody scalp raised up by two arms, form the crest of the Hudleston family, who married the heiress of the de Boyvilles, to whom this story probably refers. The horn and the "hatterel" (scalp) were apparently born by the first lords of Millom.