The idea of a CREST, of some accessory specially designed to form its crowning adornment, appears inseparable from the existence and use of a Helm. The Warriors and Warrior Divinities of classic antiquity are represented to us, wearing head-pieces richly crested: and, in the Middle Ages, had no other Heraldry ever been devised, assuredly ornaments of some kind would have been placed on helms and basinets, and these insignia would have been held in high esteem and honour. Accordingly, about the time that Coat-Armour became hereditary, having been reduced to a system and accepted as an independent science, heraldic Crests began to be worn as honourable distinctions of the most exalted dignity by the mediæval chivalry. [Illustration: No. 375.--Richard I.] [Illustration: No. 376.--Henry de Perci.] [Illustration: No. 377.--Henry de Laci.] [Illustration: No. 378.--Seal of Alexander de Balliol, A.D. 1292.] Upon the Second Great Seal of RICHARD I. the cylindrical helm of the King appears surmounted by a kind of cap or fan charged with a lion passant, the whole being arched over by a radiated ornament somewhat resembling a displayed fan, as in No. 375. Similar Crests, somewhat modified in their details, are represented in other seals of the same era, and with them the flowing Contoise or Scarf is sometimes associated, as in No. 376, from the seal of Baron HENRY DE PERCI, A.D. 1300. Similar ornaments were also placed by the knights of those ages upon the heads of their chargers. The seal of HENRY DE LACI, Earl of LINCOLN, A.D. 1272, shows the Fan-Crest both upon the helm of the Earl, No. 377, and the head of his war-horse. Another equally characteristic example is the Seal of ALEXANDER DE BALLIOL, No. 378, appended to the “General Release” given by JOHN BALLIOL to EDWARD I., 2nd January, 1292: it will be observed that this knight displays the arms of his house, No. 134, upon his Shield, and also, in addition to the Fan-Crest, upon the barding of his charger. Again I am indebted to the kindness and liberality of Mr. Laing for the use of his admirable woodcut of this fine and interesting seal. [Illustration: No. 379.--Helm of Thomas, second Earl of Lancaster.] The flowing Contoise continued to be attached to helms till about the middle of the fourteenth century; unless, indeed, some veritable “lady’s favour” were worn in its stead by knights favoured as was Sir LAUNCELOT, who, on a memorable day,-- “Wore, against his wont, upon his helm A sleeve of scarlet, broidered with great pearls, Some gentle maiden’s gift.” [Illustration: No. 380.--Helm and Crest of Sir Geoffrey Luterell: A.D. 1345.] [Illustration: No. 381.--Seal of Sir Robert de Marny, A.D. 1366.]