_Mermaid_, _Merman_, or _Triton_. The well-known fabulous creatures of the sea, borne occasionally as charges, but more frequently as supporters, badges, or crests. A mermaid was the device of Sir WILLIAM DE BRIVERE, who died in 1226, and it is the badge of the BERKELEYS. _Metal._ The Tinctures _Or_ and _Argent_: Nos. 50, 51. _Mill-rind._ See _Fer-de-Moline_. _Mitre._ The ensign of archiepiscopal and episcopal rank, placed above the arms of prelates of the Church of England, sometimes borne as a charge, and adopted by the BERKELEYS as their crest. The contour of the mitre has varied considerably at different periods, the early examples being low and concave in their sides, the later lofty and convex. See No. 159. _Moline._ A cross terminating like a Fer-de-moline, No. 97. In modern cadency it is the difference of the eighth son. _Moon._ No. 166, page 80. _Motto._ A word, or very short sentence, placed generally below a shield but sometimes above a crest, an idea perhaps derived from the “war-cries” of early times. A motto may be emblematical, or it may have some allusion to the person bearing it, or to his name and armorial insignia; or it may be the epigrammatic expression of some sentiment in special favour with the bearer of it. As a matter of course, allusive mottoes, like allusive arms, afford curious examples of mediæval puns. I give a few characteristic examples:--“_Vero nil verius_” (_nothing truer than truth_, or, _no greater verity than in Vere_)--VERE; “_Fare, fac_” (_Speak--act_; that is, _a word and blow_)--FAIRFAX; “_Cave_” (_beware_)--CAVE; “_Cavendo tutus_” (_safe, by caution_, or _by Cavendish_)--CAVENDISH; “_Set on_,” says SETON; “_Fight on_,” quoth FITTON; “_Festina lente_” (_On slow--push forward, but be cautious_, that is), adds ONSLOW. Again: JEFFERAY says, “_Je feray ce que je diray_” (_I shall be true to my word_); SCUDAMORE--_Scutum amoris divini_ (_the shield of Divine love_); says JAMES--“_J’aime jamais_” (_I love ever_); says ESTWICK--“_Est hic_” (_he is here_); and POLE--“_Pollet virtus_” (_valour prevails_); and TEV--“_Tais en temps_” (_be silent in time_). The crest of CHARTERIS, an arm with the hand grasping a sword, has over it--“_This our charter is_.” In his arms the Marquess CHOLMONDELEY bears _two helmets_, and his motto is--“_Cassis tutissima virtus_” (_valour is the safest helm_); the crest of the MARTINS of Dorsetshire was an ape, with the significant motto--“_He who looks at Martin’s ape, Martin’s ape shall look at him!_” The motto of PERCEVAL is--“_Perse valens_” (_strong in himself_); but, “_Do no yll_,” quoth DOYLE. Some “lippes,” as Camden remarks, have a taste for “this kind of lettuce.”