as in a painting in the Church of St. Stephen at Bologna, when all the four Evangelists appear similarly associated with their respective cognizances. The Lily is universally known as the type of purity and innocence, and consequently it became (sometimes appearing more like an arum than a lilium,) the especial symbol of the Virgin Mary. It is likewise given to some Saints, both male and female, who were remarkable for having spent a pure and holy life, and to none were these characteristics more applicable than to John, whose high, noble and spotless life resulted in the acknowledged personal affection for him, evinced by our Lord himself when on earth. A highly interesting paper, nay, volume, might be produced upon the history of this symbol, which, under the cognomen of Fleur-de-Lis (flower-de-luce,) has become one of the most celebrated cognizances of history, as of heraldry; here it will only be necessary to advert to a few of its leading features. The true origin of the symbol is involved in obscurity, the form being used as an ornament before Frank, or Goth, or Gaul was known upon the theatre of earth. It appears upon the head-dresses and other ornaments of some Egyptian idols, on Etruscan necklaces of gold, and likewise upon spear heads and military standards of the Roman period, examples of which may be seen in the (I may now say OUR) Mayer Collection, Free Public Library and Museum. The revival of this symbol in the dark ages appears to be certainly Phallic-subsequently merging into the more decorous fleur-de-lis. Even the Maltese and other crosses are derived from four Phalli, sometimes separate, in other cases combined. Upon leaden pieces of this period found in the Seine, a Phallus appears upon one side, and a pure Maltese cross on the other. The early chroniclers agree in ascribing to Clovis, reigning A.D. 481-511, the first assumption of the fleur-de-lis upon his banner; the tradition being that when very hardly pressed by the Germans in one of his campaigns, he made a solemn vow to God, in answer to which an angel is recorded to have revealed to a holy anchorite the will of heaven, that the king should substitute for the three loads of his emblazonry, a similar number of the holy emblems, lilies.* It need scarcely be added that with the new cognizance victory so crowned the arms of Clovis, that the fleur-de-lis crowning the celebrated Oriflamme became the honoured and permanent badge of the royal house of France, which had previously been a complete point of personal and individual choice with his predecessors, as with our Norman and Plantagenet kings, until Richard I. charged the royal coat of arms with his lions. The reported origin of the French fleur-de-lis being traced to three frogs has elicited much amusing discussion of late years in our useful contemporary, Notes and Queries. Doubtlessly both devices were often at this early date so rudely portrayed as greatly to resemble each other. Mr. Boutell, in his Handbook, says "This most beautiful "and effective charge, generally supposed to be the flower of "the lily, is the ancient cognizance of France. In its origin "this fleur-de-lis, or flower-de-luce, may be a rebus, signi"fying the flower of Louis." Mr. Planché, after quoting this supposition, remarks-" Clovis is the Frankish form of "the modern Louis, the 'C' being dropped, as in 'Clothaire' "="Lothaire' &c. If Clovis himself bore this famous "heraldic charge, it may have been assumed by the Frankish "Prince as his rebus, from the favourite clove pink or gilly"flower. The fleur-de-lis appears in early Heraldry under "several modifications of its typical form. It was in especial "favour with the designers of the inlaid pavement tiles of the "middle ages; it forms one of the figures of the diaper of the • J. Elliott Hodgkin, Notes and Queries, Series XI, Feb. 9, 1867, pp. 121–2. "shield of Robert de Vere, A.D. 1298, and it decorates the Royal Arms of Scotland in the shield that Henry III placed "in Westminster Abbey. This same figure was known to the "Romans; and it formed the ornamental heads of sceptres "and pommels of swords from the earliest period of the "French monarchy." Cognizance of King Henry II-A crescent beneath a star, an escarbuncle of eight rays, and the genet (genista tinctoria) along with the broom plant, or broom plant alone. Richard I.-Broom plant on the helmet. The first king having fixed arms, viz. :-gules, three lions passant, gardant or, with the broom plant on the helmet; also the first who bore the crowned lion and used nos for ego. "Dieu et mon "droit" was first assumed by him after his great victory at Gisors. John, when Earl of Morton, bore two lions passant, gardant; when King, three. The last paper upon the subject of the Seals of Liverpool is from the pen of John Gough Nichols, Esq., F.S.A., Session III, 1850-1, pp. 52-55. In it the bird of the original matrix is asserted to be "an eagle, the eagle of St. John the "Evangelist, and the object carried in his mouth is or was "meant to be the inkhorn wherewith the bird is usually de picted as attending on the prophet in the Isle of Patmos. "Such is the solution of this long-debated enigma." !!! The preceding explanations shew how even excellent authorities on certain subjects may be led wrong by too confident and hasty a judgment on imperfect data. The more distinct Lilford impression thoroughly disabuses us of any such intention on the part of the fabricators of the original matrix. Mr. Nichols continues-" The reason of the symbol of St. "John being adopted as the device of the Burgesses of "Liverpool, I imagine, will be found in the fact that the "original guild of their corporation was placed under the tutelary patronage of that saint. I am aware that the "Parish Church is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron of fishermen. But there was a chantry in it dedicated to "St. John; and those who can trace the early history of that chantry, which I have not the means of doing, will probably "find that it was supported by the town guild." In reference to this passage, which ought to have instigated the local antiquaries to an elaborate research among the remaining early archives of the town, but appears to have remained uncommented upon, the writer has simply to remark that, inasmuch as the chantry named was not founded until above a century later than the acknowledged fabrication of the Seal, the connection, if any, between them must be held as extremely problematical. The chapel or chantry of St. John was founded by a certain John de Leverpol, son of Richard de Leverpol, and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist in the 19th year of King Edward II, 1324.* As a burgess of note, he might possibly desire to honour the tutelary saint of his town's guild; but personal considerations are invariably more powerful incentives than public ones, and the probability is that the founder dedicated his chantry to St. John as his own patron saint. In concluding these sketchy and fugitive notes, the writer has merely to remark that in reference to the label beneath the eagle of our seal, inscribed IOHIS, about which so much has been said and written, he sees no difficulty whatever. There can be no reasonable doubt of the letters upon the Lilford impression at any rate; and that these imply “of "John," i.e., in this instance, "symbol of John" (the Evangelist), seems equally clear. The facts and comments above given, he conceives, serve to explain the rest. * Gregson's Fragments for a History of Lancashire, appendix, p. 63. PROCEEDINGS. NINETEENTH SESSION, 1866.67. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, Free Public Library, 18th October, 1866. THOMAS DAWSON Esq., M.R.C.S., IN THE CHAIR. The SECRETARY read the following REPORT. In retiring from their offices, the Council have to report that during the past Session nineteen ordinary meetings were held, at which twentytwo papers were read. Two of the meetings were of a miscellaneous character, one having been held, by special invitation of the proprietor, at Mr. Mayer's Museum, when the members and their friends shewed, by a numerous attendance, their appreciation of that gentleman's kindness. The present numerical strength of the Society is shewn by the following Table, viz. : |