HERALDRY

MALTBY ARMS

During years of genealogical research various references to Maltby Arms have been found, copied and preserved until quite an interesting little collection has been made.

Heraldry is a science in itself, and requires an expert to give accurate explanations, and this article is written by one at the very bottom of the Heraldie ladder, but a word as to the early use of Arms will help toward understanding some of the material which follows.

Rolls of arms are extant in England in the reigns of Henry III. [1216-1272]; Edward I, [1272-1307], and Edward II, [1307-1327].

The Roll of Caerlaverock contains the names and armorial bearings of the knights and barons who attended Edward I. at the siege of the Castle of Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire, in 1300, and exhibits heraldry already in a developed form.

The use of arms by private persons was prohibited by proclamation in the reign of Henry V.  All persons who had not borne arms at Agincourt were prohibited from assuming them unless by hereditary descent or with the sanction of the constituted authorities.  Periodical circuits, called visitations, were held afterward by the provincial heralds to take cognizance of the constituted authorities.  Periodical circuits, called visitations, were held afterward by the provincial heralds to take cognizance of the arms, pedigrees and marriages of  such as were entitled to the use of armorial bearings.  These visitations continued till about the end of the 17^th century.  The evidence of these records are much sought to establish hereditary right to bear arms.  It will be noticed that many of the arms here described are from various visitations.

The earliest Maltby coat-of-arms, so far as has yet been ascertained is that of Sire John Malebis in 1097.  The extract is taken from “The Genealogist,” New Series, 1896, p. 281.  The Parliamentary Roll of Arms:

1097.  SIRE JOHN MALEBIS – de argent a iij testes de bis de goul (Vide Yorkshire Parish Reg. Vol I and II).  A rough translation of the above I make: “argent, three heads of hinds gules.”  The above seems to have been a near relative of Hugo de Malebisse, see Pedigree No. I.

The next mention of Maltby arms seems to be in 1339.  In the Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. Xi. Pp. 686-7 with be found the following: “As the combinations out of which the early coats were formed were limited; it occasionally happened that two persons of the same nation bore the same arms and this gave rise to disputes which, as matters connected with military discipline, came under the jurisdiction of the earl marshall . . . case . . . were decided between Harding and St. Loo in 1312; Warburton and Gorges in 1321, and Sytsylt and Falsenham in 1333.  Hugh Maltby and Harmon Beckwith had a similar dispute in 1339.”  Another item referring to the same case appears in The Genealogist, in a article “The Right to Bear Arms” by “X,” as follows: “The Court of Chivalry (Curia Militaris) sat in 1339 to enquire into a mandate dated 18 Jan., 1339, against Harmon Beckwith by Hugh Lord Maltby, who alleged that Beckwith had assumed his arms.  Beckwith proved his right to the satisfaction of the court 14 Oct., 1339.”  (See Pedigree No. I for Hugh Maltby and Harmon Beckwith).

It was not, however, chance that caused Harmon Beckwith to adopt the Maltby arms.  His great grandfather was Sir Hercules Malebisse (Latin form of Maltby) who changed his name to Beckwith on his marriage in 1226 with Lady Dame Beckwith Bruce.  Their son, Sir Hercules Beckwith, had a son Nicholas, and it was Harmon, the son of this Nicholas who had the dispute with Hugh Maltby.  If one will consult Pedigree No. I if will be seen that William (9) de Malebisse, 1339, died in 1365, and here, with his son, Sir Thomas (10), this line died out.  This does not mean that the family died out; sim;ly the failure of male issue of the oldest son.  It is very probable, indeed practically certain, that the above Hugh Maltby was nearly related to William (9), probably his uncle.  It is rather an odd coincidence that Elizabeth (11) Maltby , daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas (10) Maltby married for her second husband, Adam Beckwith of Clint, a great-grandson of Harmon Beckwith, who had the dispute concerning the Maltby arms.  It must be borne in mind in the following pages that the Beckwiths are by birth Maltbys and the Beckwith blood is through a maternal ancestress.

Burke’s Gen. Armory and Rietstaps Ar. Gen. give:  Beckwith .  Arms of; Arg. A chev. Betw. 3 hinds heads erased gules.  Crest:  An antelope ppr. In the mouth a branch vert.  Motto: Joie en bien.”*

Burke also gives:  Malbech, Malbesh, Malbish, (Latin form of Maltby) Bu. A chev. Or., between 3 hinds heads erased or.  Compare these arms with the above Beckwith arms.

* Note the similarity with the arms of Sire John Malebis in 1697.  It is very probable that he was an older brother of Hugo (1), Pedigree No. I. and falling male issue his coat of arms was used by the descendants of Hugo (1).

Another item from Burke’s Gen. Arm is: Malbys:  Ar. A chevron between 3 hinds heads erased gules.

Glover’s Visitation of Yorkshire, 1612, edited  by Joseph Foster, gives:  Beckwith:  Arg. A chev between 3 hinds heads.

By consulting Pedigree No. 1 it will be seen that Margaret Maltby (9) sister of William de Malebisse, married Thomas Fairfax.  This will explain the following records:

FAIRFAX  (p. 39, Glover’s Vist. of Yorks., 1612, edited by Joseph Foster) of Walton and Gilling; one quartering is given as Arg. a chev. Between 3 foxes’ heads erased gules, for Malbys.

FAIRFAX  (p. 96).  The same, of Denton, Strelton and Streethorpe.

FAIRFAX  (p. 24).  In the church of Bolton Percy* you find the arms of Fairfax:  Arg. a chev. Sa. Between 3 hinds’ heads, erased gules (sa.)*  Also:  Arg. a chev. Between 3 hinds’ heads erased gules for Malbys.

Note.- Probably this is an error as to the foxes’ heads being quartered, as the arms of Malbys.  Evedently the arms of Malbys were hinds’ heads, which Beckwith adopted and which the Fairfaxes also used after the marriage with Margaret Maltby.  The arms of Fairfax as given by Burke’s Gen. Armory are: Arg. 3 bars genelles gules, surmounted by a lion rampant, sab.

Burke’s Gen. Arm. Gives: Malbys as, Arg. a chev. betw. 3 hinds’ heads, erased gules.

Burke’s Gen. Arm. Gives: Malbys: Gules a chev. betw. 3 hinds’ heads, erased arg., for Malbech, Malbesh, Malbish.

Maltby and Molzbi, Malbie, Malbysse.  Vide Doomsday Book.  Burke’s Gen. Arm. States: “The Beckwith family of Yorkshire is a very ancient one, which originally bore the name of Malbie or Malbysse, derived from Nicholas Beckwith, son of Hercules de Malbie, by Beckwith, his wife, one of the daughters of Sir William Bruce, Lord of Vglebarby;  Sir Roger Beckwith of Aldborough created a baronet, 1681; title extinct in 1741.”

Robson’s British Herald, pub. 1830, Vol. 2, gives:  Malbech, Malbesh or Malbish: gu. a chev. or. betw. 3 hinds’ heads, erased or.  Also Mawdeby, azure, a cross or.

Burke gives: Malbise: Ar. a chev. betw.  2 closets gu.

In the windows of the York Cathedral in a side aisle of the north part of the transept are these arms: Azure a chevron engrailed with 3 hinds’ heads, erased or.  Malbyss.  (Vide p. 532. “Ebor.”)

Since writing the above notes an item proving the theory of the Beckwith arms being hereditary from those of Sir John Malebisse, has come to light.  The Genealogist, 1888-89, Vor V, has this item: “There is a dead in Betham’s Baronetage (Vol. II, app. P. 607) proving the right of Harmon Beckwith, Esq., to the coat armour of John Lord Malebisse” (1339).

From the above notes it is quite clearly shown that the oldest Maltby coat-of-arms is that blazoned with the hinds’ heads, and the oldest branch of the family is quite evidently the Yorkshire branch shown in Pedigree No. I.

The next mention found of Maltby arms is in 1373.  “Introduction to the Book of Arms” has the following: “All the shields commemorate the descent and alliances of the Pastons and their kinsfolk the Barreys and Mawtebys . . .”

Margaret, daughter and heiress of John Mawteby, Esquire, the wife of John Paston, about 1440, made her will, 4 February, 1481-2, and thereby directed that many of the shields in this MS. Should grace her tomb.

Four scutcheons were to be at the corners of her gravestone, “whereof the first scochen shall be of my husbandes armes and myn departed the ii qte.  of Mawtebys arms and Berneys of Redham departed, the iij qte. of Mawtebys arms and Sir Roger Beauchamp departed.  And in myddis of seid stoon I will have a scochen sett of Mawtebys’ arms alone.”

Further impalements are: Mawteby impaled with gules, a fesse and six martlets or., for Beauchamp, Lord of Powilse.  Mawteby impaled with gules, billety or and a fess argent for Loveyn (Vide. “The Ancestor,” No. 10, pp. 87-9.)

The arms of the family of Mautby [Norfolk] are given in several places in Bloomfield’s Hist. of Norfolk as: Azue, a cross or. But in Vol. VIII, p. 407 of Bloomfield they are stated to be: azure, a cross formee or.; and this is the description given in the Visitation of Norfolk.  The latter is probably the correct description.  (Vide. Bloomfield’s, Norfolk, Vol. X, pp. 69-70; Vol. VI, p. 494; Vol. XI, p. 182; Vol, VII, p. 467; Visitation of Norkfolk, Edit. By Walter Rye, pp. 64-214).  Following are given various records pertaining to the Norfolk branch of the family: (See also Pedigree No. IV.)

Malby (Co. Norfolk) Azure, a cross formee or.

Mautby (Co. Norfolk, 1373)  Az. a cross or.

Malby (Norfolk) Az. a cross formee, coupe, or.  (Vide Berry Encylop. Heraldic., and also Burke.)

The Norfolk Maltbys held the Manor of Maltby, Co. Norfolk, from the Crown, prior to 1166.  Arms: a cross or.  (Vide. Bloomfield Hist. Norf. Vol. X., pp. 69-70; Bloomfield Hist. Norf., Vol. Vi., p. 494; Bloomfield His. Norf., Vol. Xi., p. 182.)

Burke gives arms of Mautebey and Mawedby as Azure, a cross or.

Bloomfield, Vol. VIII., states that “ the arms of Paston Mautby, etc., appear in the north window of Bresham Church.”  (p. 129)  “In Oxstraband Church appeared in a window the arms of Mautby-Berney.”  (p. 146).

The “Herald, and Gen.,” Vol. 4, has the following:  “On a tomb in Newton Chapel, Bristol Cathedral, is a large escutcheon of 24 quarterings, No. 24 being Azure a cross pattee throughout or. Maultby.

Friar Brackley’s Book of Arms, cir.  1440 has:  Mawteby:  Argent,  a chief indented or. (Paston) impaled with azure, a cross or.  (Mawteby).

In Vol. XI., of Bloomfield we find: “In the Church of Bacton appear on the steeple window the arms of Paston and Mautby;” (p.21.) and, “Mautby arms are in the church at Reedham;”  (p. 132.) also, “In the Church of St. Peter at Repps, are to be seen the arms of Mautby, as. a cross or.” (p. 182.) In Vol VI. We find the following:  “The family house of Paston was in Manor Oxmead, Norfolk,”  In the hall windows were: