"ASHBY FAMILY" "Coat of Arms" The Ashby Coat of Arms was drawn by a heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation can be found in Burke's General Armory. The heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe anin8ividual Coat of Arms. In their language the Arms (shield) is as follows: Quarterly 1 and 4 azure a chevron ermine between three leopard's faces or 2 and 3 over pale azure and gules, three peons in fesse, a lion passant in chief and another in base, or above the shield and helmet is the crest which is described as "On a Mural crown argent a leopard's face affronte" or when translated, the blazon also describes the original colors of the Ashby Arms and Crest asit appeared centuries ago, Explanation of the~Coat of Arms In heraldry blue symbolizes truth, loyalty, honesty, and happiness. Ermine is the fur denoting judgeship~ It is as the supreme judge of the realm that the monarch uses ermine, not in his royal capacity. It isdue to the fact that the ermine hated dirt of any kind and the Anglo-Saxon has always believed that his judge should be "elean". Gold is the metal denoting strength, authority, and wealth. The chevron is called an honorable ordinary which simply means one of the honorable charges most ordinarily used. It is a mark of noble blood and knighthood and takes it shape from the shape of an ancient saddle. It: is the mark of a leader of mounted knights. The leopard's head was the symbol of an intrepid warrior. There are three for the Holy Trinity. It is sometimes depicted as "breathing flames of fierceness and courage" The leopard's face in the crest has the same significance. The mural coronet, as a rule, denotes the taking of some walled castle or some exploit in defending the wall of afortress the name coming from the Latin word "wall" The mantling or decorative matter around the shi.eld has no special shape. This is left to the taste and discretion of the artist. The only hera'ldic rule as to the mantle is that it must be in the livery colors of the shield; the two first metals and/or colors mentioned in the blazon. The mantle takes it name from a cloak or mantle which the mounted knight wore suspended from his helmet. This was to protect him, encased as he was in metal, from the summer's hot sun rays or the winter's snows which would have fairly cooked or frozen him as the case might be. This mantle would become cut and slashed in combat and the knight was very proud of these rents. He usually had them patched in contrasting colors to make them more noticeable. The helmet is in profile and is of steel color as it should be. Only those who actually bear titles are entitled to display a helmet of another metal or in other positions. Originally these "Armes" were worn in battle so the common soldier could recognize his commander, as the face was completely covered by the helmet. There was an order that none should assume another's mark. As these are no longer needed, they have been layed aside as military dress and now are used for distinction of families only.