Winchester Coat of Arms

Coat granted October 3, 1826 to Henry Winchester, Esq.
References: Burke's General Armoury; Burke's Landed Gentry; Fairbairn's Book of Crests

Arms: Ore (gold), on a cross azure pierced of the field, between four mascles gules, as many crosses crosslet fitches argent.

Crest: In front of a cross croslet fitches or a lion passant azure, the dexter fore paw supporting a mascle as in the arms.

Motto: Hoc ardur vincere docet. This teaches us to overcome difficulties.

Cross: All crosses denote Crusader ancestry. The cross fitchee, or pointed cross has an interesting story: picture a band of men, mounted, banners flying -- these banners, their cloaks, their shields, and the blankets on the horses all beating a cross in some form, painted or sewn, having the same color and form. These Crusaders are going through a wilderness section, and the going is rough. The sun is at the zenith point, men and horses alike stumble under the excessive heat, but "HALT" comes the command, in English, in French, in German or Italian, according to the country from which they came. The men look up and see a cross held aloft; it is their signal for noon-tide prayer, and is held by the leader. The cross is made of a branch slashed from a tree during their marches, and roughly shaped with the aid of a crude knife. It is pointed (fitchee) -- the prayer time over, the leader plants the cross in the gound, the point easing the way into the sand. This points the way for the next band approaching. The plain blue cross extending across the shield represents the Passion Cross of Calvary.

Mascle: A diamond shaped figure with the center cut out. Guilim says, "This is a mesh of net, which in Holy Writ is the hieroglyphic for persuasion."

Lion: Is the king of beasts, emblamatical of service.

Colors are representative of the personal characterisics of the original bearer, and are granted only upon merit.

• Ore (gold)- denotes generosity and elevation of mind.
• Gules (red) - denotes military courage and magnanimity.
• Argent (silver) - denotes sincerity and peace.
• Azure (blue) - denotes loyalty and truth.

The Mantling was a large scarf of heavy cloth or leather thrown over the helmet to protect the neck from the heat of the sun, the armour from rust, and to foil the enemy's sword. There is a wreath of the colors holding the mantling on to the helmet, six strands showing, the first of the metal, second of the color, and then alternating. Upon this six-stranded wreath, the crest rests.