Letter from Everard Green, Rouge Dragon, Heralds College, London, E.C. to John H....

"So many many thanks for your kind letter and Christmas greetings. The Santo Vino window in the dining room comes out very well in the photograph and I only wish the ridge of your noble down was just visible to give people an idea of your earthly paradise of Nunwell! Christmas I keep with the Purefry Fitzgeralds at Shalstone Manor, near Buckingham, but I get back to Chambers on the 30th so please send me very trusty heraldic clients. As regards your shield, if your good mother-in-law (Bel-mere the French say)is in the quick, she and not her daughters, is the representative, in blood of her branch of the race. If so, you impale your wife's very royal coat. If Mrs. Somerset is dead you can still impale if you like as the placing in pretence. The arms is very modern and I fancy quite unknown to even Dugdale. If however, you want to do so, have two shields. Thus:- This is very foreign, but all Knights of any order do it, but they repeat their own shield and either impale or put sur le tout their wifes arms. On the Somerset coat put a crescent on a martlet as you say and this in fess point. My superb book-plate as Sir Wollaston Franks called it, was designed and etched by the celebrated artist and etcher Mr. G. W. Eve of 573 High Road, Chiswick, W. Let him give you an estimate? Mine was £15 15s. 0d. and he goes up to £21 I fancy. I shall be at all times charmed to come to Nunwell from a Saturday to Tuesday, after February, but all January I am herald in waiting here. Wishing you and Mrs. Oglander and the Lady Joan also the cheery and nice Stricklands, if they are your happy guests all Christmas and New Year greetings and with homage to Mrs. Oglander, I am yours exceedingly etc."

(102/598A)