A Mortimer Quartering on an Unusual Royal Shield
Contributed by Hugh Wood
The rather streaky coat of arms on the right is one of several adorning an impressive gateway at Lumley Castle in County Durham. Originally built in 1389 by Ralph Lumley 1st baron Lumley (d1400), this gateway dates only from the 18th century. The various coats of arms on it form a collection of historical Lumleys with their wives, and this one is of Thomas Lumley (d1502) and his wife Margaret (aka Elizabeth) Plantagenet, a natural daughter of Edward IV. Though some of the shield is difficult to make out, the Mortimer quartering in the sinister base is quite clear.
Thomas Lumley and Margaret Plantagenet
Lumley castle is now a hotel
On the dexter side are the arms of Lumley which have a fess between three parrots.
It is interesting to follow the development of the arms on the sinister side.
Margaret’s grandfather, Richard 3rd Duke of York, bore quarterly France and England with a label, each point charged with three red balls (torteaux). Richard’s mother was Anne Mortimer and her arms were quarterly Mortimer and de Burgh, the Burgh arms coming from the 3rd earl of March’s marriage to Philippa, Countess of Ulster.
Lumley
Or a fess gules between 3
parrots vert armed and collared gules
Richard of York
France quartering England
with the ‘York’ label
for difference
Anne Mortimer
Quarterly Mortimer and de Burgh
Before becoming king, their son Edward IV quartered his father’s arms with his grandmother’s de Burgh and Mortimer arms. The difference label with the torteaux on his father’s arms was discarded, as the inclusion of the other quarterings meant that the shield could no longer be confused with any other.
On becoming king, Edward adopted the usual royal arms (quarterly France and England), but his earlier quartered arms continued to be used by his daughter Elizabeth of York, and can be seen on her joint arms with her husband Henry VII.
The best known of Edward IV’s natural children is Arthur Plantagenet KG (d1542) who was created Viscount Lisle. His arms, as shown on his Garter plate in St George’s chapel, Windsor, are identical to those of his half-sister, queen Elizabeth of York, except for the addition of a bend sinister overall for bastardy. And these are exactly the arms on the streaky shield at Lumley castle, used there to represent Margaret Plantagenet, Arthur’s half-sister and similarly illegitimate.
Edward IV before he was king
Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
Arthur Plantagenet
Leave A Comment