The Cub and I came across a coat of arms we hadn’t seen before: red lion rampant on silver, beneath a black fess with three white scallop shells. Motto: “Che sera …” with a third word we couldn’t make out.
I told him I would try to find out who they belonged to.
Anyone have any idea? From context, my guess is royalty in the 18th century, possibly English.
It’s the Russell coat of arms"Che sara sara" is the family motto.
The relevant branch of the family is the Duke of Bedford.
On a side note, we’ve actually met the 14th Duke and his wife. The old couple were lovely people but I know the Duke has now passed away and his son holds the title.
Amongst other holdings they own a very sizable chunk of Bloomsbury in London, which is insanely valuable real estate.
Thanks to both of you for the replies. I knew someone here would have the answers. (I thought “fess” wasn’t quite right…)
Wow. And I thought it was Doris Day.History and Bedford adoption.
Cadency, cadency, as my harmony professor used to say.
A simple glance of the brisure makes the distinction clear to the meanest intelligence. I’ve been keenly aware of black mullets since schoolyard days–thought everyone did. Kept me from mixing with the rougher element.
Just to be clear here to others - the arms of the Earl Russel are the Russel arms along with the 3rd son brisure of a black mullet (5-pointed star), and the arms of the Duke of Bedford are the actual Russel arms, as the Russel title is actually a cadet branch of the family, despite the name. The Duke is *way *over the Earl in terms of precedence.
Just ask Gene Chandler.
At court we say “Russell”, you know.
:smack: I knew that…
Russel is my nephew’s name.
To be fair, it’s only because of the Doris Day earworm and personal encounter with the old Duke that I knew the answer to this at all. My knowledge of heraldry is pretty much zero.
He doesn’t know how to use the three seashells!
That’s how you say it. Reminds me of two men in Wodehouse, one who addresses the other as “Mr. Ffrench,” who is corrected “that’s ffrench.”
But Sally sells them at certain locations.
Again, I’m impressed with the Dope.
I would have no idea how to even frame the question.
Reminds me of the joke about the guy who met a big-hat Texan and asked him how big his ranch was. “Oh, 'bout eighty acres,” he replied. “Eighty acres!” the guy said. “Why, that’s so small I bet it doesn’t even have a name!” “Well, you’re right,” the Texan admitted. “Most people just call it downtown Dallas.”
Actually the British pronunciation is “Rathbun”.
Big hat Texan visits Israeli ranch, says in his ranch you can drive from sunup to sundown and still be on his ranch, Israeli says he had a car like that.
ETA: I think you and I have publicly traded these two jokes once before…
“The sun is riz, the sun is set, and we is still in Texas yet!”
Always good to see a heraldry question so promptly answered. God bless the Dope!
