Grand Marshal, At the base of the shield a cloud, from the dexter side of which proceeds a hand holding a sword in pale, and from the sinister, another hand holding a baton of office. Grand Louvetier, Two wolves' heads at the base (Wolf-hunter,) corners of the shield. Grand Esquire, Two swords in pale with sashes. Grand Butler, Two bottles ornamented with the royal arms. [Illustration] The most singular supporters, perhaps, in the whole circle of heraldry are those of the noble French family of Albret. Two lions couchant, wearing helmets, support the lower part of the shield, and, above, are two eagles, each standing with one foot upon the head of the lion, while with the other he holds the upper part of the escocheon. The French armorists make a distinction between _supports_ and _tenans_: in this instance the lions are known by the former term, and the eagles by the latter. Mottoes will form the subject of a short separate chapter: it therefore only remains, in this brief view of extra-scutal insignia, to notice BADGES. Some families, as has already been observed, have no crests; a still greater number have no mottoes; and supporters belong to an exclusive few. Badges are still more unusual, and in modern times it would perhaps be a matter of difficulty to enumerate twenty families who use them. _Badge_, in its ordinary acceptation, signifies the mark or token of any thing; thus we are accustomed to call fetters the _badge_ of slavery, and a plain gold ring the _badge_ of matrimony; and thus in a figurative, or moral sense, Shakspeare says, "Sweet mercy is nobility's true _badge_." The word is of uncertain etymology. Junius derives it from 'bode,' or 'bade,' a messenger, and supposes it to be a _contractio per crasin_ from 'badage,' the credential of a messenger. Skinner and Minsheu, again, deduce it from 'bagghe,' Dutch, a jewel, or from 'bague,' French, a ring. But Johnson, with more reason, considers it a derivative of the Latin '_bajulo_,' to carry. "But on his breast a bloody cross he bore, The dear resemblance of his dying lord; For whose sweet sake that glorious _badge_ he wore." _Spenser._