Balgonie
Castle
Balgonie
is the |
Heraldry
The first Lairds of Balgonie were the Sibbald family, who were the principal family of the name. Their Coat of Arms was Argent a cross moline Gules pierced with a square hole. It is believed that they also used the same cross as a crest. Mottos were not widely used at this time but they have been ascribed the motto "Justitia". The other branches of the Sibbald family generally bore a blue cross moline (differencing by tincture). The Lundins of Balgonie were a senior Cadet line of the name and simply differenced the Arms of Lundin of that Ilk by tincture. They bore paly of six Argent and Gules, on a bend Azure three cushions Argent. These were quarterd with Sibbald of Balgonie in 2 & 3. The Lundins also bore the Sibbald crest and motto, as representors of this important family. Of the Boswell brothers, only David Boswell of Craigincalt appears to have recorded his Arms, viz quarterly 1 & 4 Argent on a fess Sable three cinquefoils Argent (Boswell of Balmuto), 2 & 3 Or a lion rampant Gules, overall a ribbond (bendlet) Sable (Abernethy of that Ilk) all within a bordure indented Gules. The crest was a hawk Proper, hooded and belled Or and the motto was "I Hope for Better". Sir Alexander Leslie of Balgonie, 1st Earl of Leven and Lord Balgonie, was descended from the Leslies of Balquain, a major branch of Clan Leslie. When Charles I elevated him to the peerage he also granted him new Arms, with an Augmentation-of-Honour. This was the crowned thistle, the Royal badge of Scotland. This was only the second time that this had been granted (the other being Lord Torphichen in 1565). His Arms were quarterly 1 & 4, Azure a thistle crowned with an imperial crown all Proper (Augmentation-of-Honour), 2 & 3, Argent on a bend Azure three buckles Or (Leslie). The crest was a demi man in armour holding in his dexter hand a dagger, point downwards, all Proper. For supporters on either side he bore two men in armour holding the Scottish flag, all Proper. This flag was red with a canton of St. Andrew, being the head quarter flag of the 1st Earl during the Bishop's and English Civil Wars. His motto was "Pro Rege et Patria". From the 7th Earl onwards, following the resumption of the Earldom of Melville (as Earl of Leven & Melville), the Arms were re-recorded to show the double honours. They became quarterly 1 Augmentation-of Honour, 2 Gules three crescents Argent on a bordure Argent eight roses Gules (Melville of that Ilk), 3 Argent a fess Gules (Melville of Raith), 4 Leslie. They used both crests, the second being a rachhound's head erased Proper collared Gules. The sinister supporter was changed to the Melville one of a rachhound rampant Proper collared Gules. They also added the Melville motto of "Denique Caelum". The Balfours of Balgonie were Cadets of Balfour of Balbirnie and ultimately Balfour of Dovan (who had gained Dovan by marriage to a daughter of Sibbald of Balgonie). The Arms of Balfour of Balgonie & Newton Don were Argent on a chevron engrailed between three molets Sable an otter's head erased Argent, all within a bordure engrailed Sable. The crest was a palm tree Proper and the motto was "Virtus ad Athera Tendit". The Arms of Morris of Balgonie & Eddergoll are Vert, on a chevron Argent, between three dirks Proper hilts Or, three roses Gules barbed and seeded Proper. These are impaled with those of Lady Balgonie viz Or a fess chequy Azure and Argent, in chief between two billets Gules a fetterlock Sable and in base a thunderbolt Gules (for Stuart). The crest is a Scots pine tree Proper between two roses Gules barbed and seeded Proper. The motto is "Truth and Chivalry".
In Scotland, Lairds and Chieftains can be granted a Guidon of eight feet in length with a rounded end. That of Morris of Balgonie & Eddergoll has in the hoist the St. Andrew's cross, of five tracts Argent and Vert, over which is placed the crest, a Scots pine tree Proper between two roses Gules Barbed and seeded Proper, and in the fly in letters Sable his Motto "Truth and Chivalry".
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