of Hugh the Great, Earl of Vermandois; and this origin of their coat is countenanced by similar examples, that will be noticed hereafter, of the adoption of the arms of another family, on marriage, if of superior rank. The Warrens, it must be remembered, were not descended from any scion of the Vermandois family, or their chequy, though identical in every respect with the arms of the latter, would be differenced in some way. And it might be supposed, that though that were not the case, yet any difference that had been assumed would be relinquished, as being unnecessary, in a country where the Vermandois bearings would never be seen. This distinguished blazon having once been introduced into the heraldry of the English nobles seems to have been speedily adopted by those who could make out any claim to it. Roger de Newburg, created by the Conqueror Earl of Warwick, having married Gundrada, daughter of the second Earl of Warren, relinquished his paternal coat of arms, and took the new Warren coat, adding a chevron ermine (2) to denote his descent from the Earl of Perche, who bore three chevrons. The various coats of the baronial family of Clifford, that have chequy for their basis, seem to be derived from the same source; the fess and bendlet (3, 4) which the early branches added, being taken from Wm. Fitz-Osborn their ancestor, who bore those charges combined, and from whom they inherited Clifford Castle. The derivation would have been indirect, through Toni a heiress, whose father probably married a Warren. The crest borne by the Cliffords, a wyvern, is the identical crest of the Warrens, and greatly strengthens this derivation. Of the nineteen knights who, in 26 Hen. III, held their fees of the barony of Lewes or honour of Warren, only one is known to have borne arms that are derived from the Warren coat, viz. Hugh de Pierrepoint, who bore azure a chief chequy, or and gules (5).
It appears from the instances mentioned, that it was not only the custom to adopt the arms of a heiress, though by no means general, but also of a wife's family, though no heiress, if of superior rank. Thus William de Beauchamp on marrying Bertha, sister of Giles de Braose, Bishop of Hereford, took that family's arms, which were vaire; and — De Maminot (7) took the arms of De Vere (6), changing the colours, on the occasion
