The English CREST is
meant to be as distinctive to a particular family as Arms, and
Heralds make every effort to see that there is no duplication.
The Crest has its own blazon the 'ordinaire'. The
Blakeley Crest is a green dragon's head coming out of a
gold coronet, which is on a red, and gold rolled scarf, surmounting
a Knight's helmet. (See image of Coat of Arms, above for
crest showing Helm and Torse, Crest to left shows another
version of the Blakeley Crest showing only the coronet).
The HELM - this is the helmet, and the type denoted the
rank of the bearer. It is not actually part of the Crest
but merely a supporter for it and as such is not mentioned in
the ordinaire. The closed Helm denoted an esquire or gentleman
and is a steel helmet. The steel helmet is always placed
sideways. The TORSE - this is a rolled up scarf,
also known as the Crest-wreath. It is a twisted ribbon
of two or more tinctures, of which six are visible on the Crest.
'It was originally used to hide the nuts and bolts used to
secure the Crest to the Helm' JP Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald
of Arms.
The CREST-CORONET was originally used as an alternative
to the Torse and seldom borne together. However instances do
occur in ancient and modern heraldry - if both are on an ordinaire,
both should be used. 'Out of a crest-coronet Or a dragons
head Vert' would describe the BLAKELEY Crest, but the Blazons
program doesn't do Crests so I can't verify this. Adding
the Torse would make it 'On a torse Gules and Or out of a
crest-coronet Or a dragons head Vert'.
THE MOTTO: This can appear under the Coat
of Arms or above the Crest. One of the motto's I have
come across for the Blakeley's is 'Auxillium meum ab alto'
which could loosely translate from the Latin as 'My help
cometh from above'.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Brooke-Little, 'Boutell's Heraldry', Richmond Herald
of Arms
Burke, Sir Bernard; 'General Armory of England, Scotland,
Wales & Ireland', 2nd Ed. 1884
Fox-Davies, AC; 'Crests of the families of Great Britain
and Ireland', 3rd Ed, 1905
