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Archiver > WARWICK > 1999-05 > 0925549357


From: "Roy_Simons" <>
Subject: Re: Coat-of-Arms
Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 10:02:37 +0100


Good morning Listers,

My grateful thanks for all the knowledgeable responses regarding
the description of Arms, particularly those from Ross, Robin, Deb and
John. As A result I think I could now draw a passable representation
of the Coat of Arms - except for "panfrey", which remains a mystery.

Clearly, now, "fefs" = Fess - the first "f" actually being "f" and
the second "f", being the first of a double "s" was actually a long
"s".
"flipped" = slipped - again a long "s".

The "ermine", further reading shows, is actually a Stoat - larger
than a weasel (17/10), and the only member of the Polecat family to
have a permanent black tip on its tail and a coat that turns white in
winter (in the northern parts of Britain).

I should have remembered. When I was a young lad, living on a
farm in Worcestershire, the farmer would tell me with great mirth that
I could always tell a Weasel from a Stoat, because it stoatally
different.
At last, after 60 years, I now understand him !

I thought, at first, that a Panfrey was some small animal or bird
that was one of the prey of the stoat. Now I wonder whether it could
be a representation of a banner, ie a flag on a stick, held in the
mouth of the stoat. I have seen such devices. Any further thoughts
on Panfrey, which is not included in glossaries of heraldic terms that
have been referred to?

Again, many thanks,
Roy

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