Primarily _armoiries_ were royal bequests, but in these days a pork-packer, an iron-founder or a cheese-maker concocts a trade-mark on heraldic lines and the thing has fallen flat. Fancy a pig sitting on a barrel top and flanked by two ears of corn, or a pyramid of cheeses overtopped by the motto "A full stomach maketh good health." Why it's almost as ridiculous as a crossed pick-axe, a shovel and a crow-bar would be for a navvy on a railway line! In the old days it was not often thus, though a similar ridiculous thing, which no one seemed to take the trouble to suppress, was found in the "_Armoiries des gueux_." One of these showed two twists of tobacco _en croix_, with the following motto: "_Dieu vous bénisse_!" At the head of the list of French _armoiries_ were those of _domain_ or _souveraineté_. Then followed several other distinct classes. "_Armoiries de Pretention_," where the patronal rights over a city or a province were given the holders, even though the province was under the chief domination of a more powerful noble. "_Armoiries de Concession_," given for services by a sovereign prince--such as the _armoiries_ belonging to Jeanne d'Arc. "_Armoiries de Patronage_," in reality quarterings added to an _armoirie_ already existing. These were frequently additions to the blazonings of families or cities. Paris took on the arms of the King of France, the insistent Louis, by this right. "_Armoiries de Dignité_," showing the distinction or dignities with which a person was endowed, and which were added to existing family arms. "_Armoiries de Famille_," as their name indicates, distinguishing one noble family from another. This class was further divided into three others, "_Substituées_," "_Succession_," or "_Alliance_," terms which explain themselves. "_Armoiries de Communauté_," distinctions given to noble chapters of military bodies, corporations, societies and the like. Finally there was a class which belonged to warriors alone. At all times illustrious soldiers adopted a _devise_, or symbol, which they caused to be painted on their shields. These were only considered as _armoiries_ when they were inherited by one who had followed in the footsteps of his ancestors. This usage dates from the end of the ninth century, and it is from this period that _armoiries_, properly called, came into being. [Illustration: Feudal Flags and Banners]