CHICHESTER, See of.

CHICHESTER, See of. The correct blazon of these arms is " Azure, our Blessed Lord in judgment seated on His throne crowned, and a glory about His head, His right hand upraised in benediction and His left holding an open book all or, and out of His mouth a two-edged sword, point to the sinister gules."

[Recorded in the College of Arms.]

Either an intentional change has been made in an avoidance of idolatry, or possibly mere error has crept in, but this coat is usually blazoned as follows : —

" Azure, a Presbyter John sitting on a tombstone, in his left hand a mound, his right extended all or, with a linen mitre on his head and in his mouth a sword proper."

This devicefirst appearson the seal of Bishop Richard de la Wich (1245-53).

In Woodward's Ecclesiastical Heraldry it is stated that the shield is borne

" between two golden candlesticks with candles illuminated proper." I cannot find any official authority for this, and if, as is doubtless the case, candlesticks are to be found in some early seals, their position can only be that of appropriate ornament rather than that of being any integral part of the armorial insignia of the See.

Original Source bookofpublicarms00foxd_djvu.txt near line 6520.