The _germ_ of that flourishing tree which eventually ramified into all the kingdoms of Christendom, and became one of the most striking and picturesque features of the feudal ages, and the most gorgeous ornament of chivalry, and which interweaves its branches into the entire framework of mediæval history, is doubtless to be found in the banners and ornamented shields of the warriors of antiquity. Standards, as the necessary distinctions of contending parties on the battle-field, must be nearly or quite as antient as war itself; and every such mark of distinction would readily become a national cognizance both in war and peace.[33] But it was reserved for later ages to apply similar marks and symbols to the purpose of distinguishing different commanders on the same side, and even after this became general it was some time ere the hereditary transmission of such ensigns was resorted to as a means of distinguishing families, which in the lapse of ages--the warlike idea in which they had their origin having vanished--has become almost the only purpose to which they are now applied. The standards used by the German princes in the centuries immediately preceding the Norman Conquest, are conjectured to have given rise to Heraldry, properly so called. Henry l'Oiseleur (the Fowler), who was raised to the throne of the West in 920, advanced it to its next stage when, in regulating the tournaments--which from mismanagement had too often become scenes of blood--he ordered that all combatants should be distinguished by a kind of mantles or livery composed of lists or narrow pieces of stuff of opposite colours, whence originated the pale, bend, &c.--the marks now denominated 'honourable ordinaries.'[34] If the honour of inventing heraldry be ascribed to the Germans, that of reducing it to a system must be assigned to France. To the French belong "the arrangement and combination of tinctures and metals, the variety of figures effected by the geometrical positions of lines, the attitudes of animals, and the grotesque delineation of monsters."[35] The art of describing an heraldric bearing in proper terms is called blasonry, from the French verb _blasonner_, whence also we derive our word _blaze_ in the sense of to proclaim or make known. "The heavens themselves _blaze_ forth the death of princes." _Shak._ "But he went out and began to publish it much, and to _blaze_ abroad the matter." _St. Mark._ "'Tis still our greatest pride, To _blaze_ those virtues which the good would hide." _Pope._