I am indebted to a large number of gentlemen who have most kindly assisted me by supplying me with information, suggestions, &c., during the eight years I have been gathering material for the present book. First and foremost among these I must mention Mr. H. W. King of Leigh, Hon. Secretary to the Essex Archæological Society, who, as he says, “knows the descent of nearly every house and plot of ground in the parish for two or three generations, and the name of every owner.” Among other gentlemen to whom I am indebted in varying degrees, I may mention Mr. G. F. Beaumont, Mr. Fred. Chancellor, that veteran Essex archæologist Mr. Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., Mr. Wm. Cole, F.E.S., Hon. Secretary of the Essex Field Club, Mr. Thos. B. Daniell, the Rev. H. L. Elliot, Mr. C. K. Probert, Mr. G. N. Maynard, Mr. H. Ecroyd Smith, and others, I have also to express my thanks to the following gentlemen, magistrates’ clerks to the various Petty Sessional Divisions of Essex, who have most kindly supplied me with lists of such beer-houses as have signs in their respective divisions:--Messrs. A. J. Arthy (Rochford), Jos. Beaumont (Dengie), W. Bindon Blood (Witham), J. and J. T. Collin (Saffron Walden), G. Creed (Epping and Harlow), Augustus Cunnington (Freshwell and South Hinckford), W. W. Duffield (Chelmsford), H. S. Haynes (Havering), A. H. Hunt (Orsett), and Chas. Smith (Ongar). I have also to thank the Essex Archæological Society for the use of the four blocks of the De Vere badges appearing on p. 70; the Essex Field Club for that of the Rose Inn, Peldon, on p. 118; Messrs. Chambers & Sons of 22, Wilson Street, Finsbury, for that of the Brewers’ Arms on p. 32; Messrs. Couchman & Co. of 14, Throgmorton Street, E.C., for that of the Drapers’ Arms on p. 40; and the Brewers’, Drapers’ and Butchers’ Companies for kindly allowing me to insert cuts of their arms. To my cousin, Miss S. Christy, I am indebted for kindly drawing the illustrations appearing on pp. 87 and 140. Portions of the Introduction and other parts of the book have already appeared in an altered form in _Chambers’s Journal_ (Jan., 1887, p. 785), and I am indebted to the editor for permission to reprint. Finally, I have to thank the Subscribers, who, by kindly ordering copies, have diminished the loss which almost invariably attends the publication of works of this nature. As the book has already extended to considerably more space than was originally intended, I trust the Subscribers will excuse the omission of the customary list. [Illustration: signature of _Miller Christy_] CHELMSFORD, _February 1, 1887_. [Illustration] [Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER II. HERALDIC SIGNS 29 CHAPTER III. MAMMALIAN SIGNS 46 CHAPTER IV. ORNITHOLOGICAL SIGNS 91 CHAPTER V. PISCATORY, INSECT, AND REPTILIAN SIGNS 103 CHAPTER VI. BOTANICAL SIGNS 107 CHAPTER VII. HUMAN SIGNS 120 CHAPTER VIII. NAUTICAL SIGNS 134