Page:The book of public arms, 1915.pdf/44

ALTRINCHAM (or Altringham, Cheshire). Has no armorial bearings used are, quarterly gules and or, in the first quarter a lion pass(illegible text) The editor suggests that these are the arms of the Cheshire family (illegible text) Motto—"Pax et abundantia."

ALVA. Has no arms and its seal is not heraldic.

ALYTH (Co. Forfar). Has no arms and its seal is not heraldic.

AMERICA, United States of. Arms (on the seal of the United States), an eagle displayed, in the dexter claw an olive branch, and in the sinister a sheaf of three arrows, the points upwards, all proper, from the beak a scroll, or ribbon, thereon "E pluribus unum": above the head, encircled by clouds, also proper, the azure sky and glory, with as many mullets, or stars, of six points argent as there are States: on the body of the eagle a shield paly of thirteen (in allusion to the thirteen first United States) argent and gules, a chief azure.

[The stars and stripes were suggested by the arms of George Washington. The arms as above quoted exist by original legislative enactment, and the glory originally consisted of thirteen stars. Though additional States have from time to time been admitted to the Union there has been no further legislative action, and consequently there is no real authority for any increase in the number of stars. The stars however, are now more usally omitted from the head of the Eagle, and represented to the number of over fourty on the chief, which like most other American Heraldry is absurd. According to the latest bulletin there are now forty-eight in six rows each of eight stars.]

AMERICAN COLONIAL ASSOCIATI0N, North. Refer to North American Colonial Association.

AMERICAN LAND CO. Refer to British American Land Co.

AMICABLE SOCIETY.(Incorporated by Royal Charter of Queen Anne, 1706.) Azure, encircled by a snake the tail in the mouth or, two hands conjoined in fesse couped above the wrists proper, on a chief embattled of the second an hour glass sable between two wings expanded of the field.— Crest On a wreath of the colours, a snake nowed, the head towards the sinister, thereon a dove proper from the beak an escroll with the motto "Prudens Simplicitas." Motto—Benath the arms, "Esto perpetua."

[Recorded the College of Arms, Gts. xxiv. 335.]

AMIENS (France). Gules, a tree eradicated and leaved argent, a chief azure, semé-de-lis or.