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Heraldic achievement of King Charles III with royal crest of England: Upon the royal helmet the royal crown proper thereon statant guardant or a lion imperially crowned also proper	Heraldic achievement of King Charles III as used by His Majesty’s  Government (royal crest replaced by a crown)

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• KENT Heraldry

  KENT

  

  Official blazon

  Arms : Gules a Horse forcene Argent.
  Crest : Issuant from a Mural Crown proper three Masts rigged with courses set and topsails furled proper flying from each masthead a Pennon Argent charged with a Cross Gules.
  Supporters : On either side a Sea Lion or gorged with a Collar Gules pendent there from an Escutcheon the dexter of the Arms of the See of Canterbury and the sinister of the Arms of the Cinque Ports.
  Motto: ‘INVICTA’ – Unconquered

  Origin/meaning

  The arms were officially granted on 17 October 1933 and re-confirmed in 1975.

  The white horse of Kent is supposedly the old symbol for the Saxon kingdom of Kent, dating from the 6-8^th century. The crest shows a mural crown, which symbolises the many castles in the county, as well as the independent Saxon kingdom of Kent. The sails are symbols for the strong ties of the county with the sea and stand for the navy, the mercantile marine and fisheries.The sea lions are also a symbol for the strong ties with the navy, the lion being the British lion. The sea lions also symbolise that Kent is the frontier of Britain with continental Europe.

  The left supporter wears the arms of the Cinque Ports, five harbour cities that had to provide support for the English navy until modern times. Four of these cities are in Kent. The arms are three lions with ship hulls as tails.

  The right supporter wears a shield with the arms of the Archbishopric of Canterbury, founded in 597 by St. Augustine. Canterbury is in Kent.

  The motto means ‘unconquered’. In 1067, shortly after the Norman Conquest (1066, as every schoolboy knows), a detachment of Kentishmen ambushed the newly crowned King William and surrounded him. In return for his life, he promised that the county would be able to keep its ancient privileges – thus Kent was the only part of England unconquered by the Normans (that is, according to legend)

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  What unicorns mean to Scottish identity

  

  By Mike MacEacheran9th April 2019

  From Edinburgh to St Andrews and Glasgow to Dundee, the one-horned mythological horse is real in Scotland.

  In a corner of Edinburgh, outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse with its witches’ hat towers and crenellated turrets, 74-year-old tour guide Kenny Hanley can often be found pointing to a little piece of magic atop an ornamental gateway at the residence’s southern approach.

  The focus of his attention is an almost-forgotten stone emblem of the city and country in which he lives, and yet few realise it’s one that teems with meaning, telling an almost unbelievable story about Scotland’s national identity.

  It tells an almost unbelievable story about Scotland’s national identity

  Take a step back, and the fuller picture emerges. There’s a second cast-stone figure opposite – a rampant lion, crowned, and holding a ceremonial flag as it stands guard. But Hanley’s gaze remains drawn to the slender, mythical creature wrapped in chains to our right.

  The stone is just stone and the lion is just a lion, but this horse-like figure – adorned with a singularly fancy horn on its forehead – is extraordinary. It is a unicorn. And, believe the hype or not, it is Scotland’s national animal.

  

  The gateway at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, is guarded on one side by a stone unicorn (Credit: doughoughton/Alamy)

  Until recently, all talk of unicorns belonged in the glitteriest corner of a children’s playroom. Or on a rainbow-coloured cereal box. It’s a subject rarely cerebral enough to merit debate, but these days, wide-eyed unicorns are everywhere.

  From cartoons and movies to fashion and social media, they have a bigger role to play in the public consciousness than ever before. To cap it all, there’s now a National Unicorn Day on 9 April. Hashtag #NationalUnicornDay on Instagram and you’ll find yourself entering a world of sparkly cupcakes and multi-coloured memes. Amid this, let’s not forget JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, inspired by many real places in Edinburgh and brimming with stories of magical unicorn blood and unicorn hair-infused wands.

  Not that any of that matters to Hanley, who saw his first unicorn more than 60 years ago, when growing up in the city’s Canongate district near the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

  “It’s long been a symbol of purity and power, but also of virginity and subtlety,” said Hanley, who works as a Blue Badge guide for the Scottish Tourist Guides Association. “And those values still stand up when thinking about Scotland today. These are characteristics embedded in the Scottish psyche.”

  The unicorn is Scotland’s national animal 

  In most countries, the national animal is little more than a consequence of natural history or geography. Australia’s is the red kangaroo and South Africa’s is the springbok. Spain has the bull, while India venerates the Royal Bengal tiger. Canada celebrates the North American beaver, Russia the Eurasian brown bear. Indonesia? The Komodo dragon. Afghanistan? The snow leopard. Scotland? Well, theirs is more in keeping with a once-upon-a-time world.

  To the outsider, this all may seem absurd. Yet today there are dozens of places to see the pure-white, mythical horse of fairy tales at large in Edinburgh ­– and across all of Scotland. Blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality, you can see reminders of its influence on heraldic crests, engravings, gold coins, royal seals, wall panels, coats of arms, tombs and tapestries.

  It’s long been a symbol of purity and power

  At the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, Craigmillar Castle and St Giles’ Cathedral, all in Edinburgh, unicorns are ubiquitous. Move west to Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and there are well-preserved unicorns on an inner courtyard fountain and on what remains of the ceiling. Veer north-west to Stirling Castle and the mythical beast is the focus of the intricate Stirling Tapestries, seven hand-woven recreations of ‘The Unicorn Tapestries’ (one of the most valuable artworks of the late Middle Ages; the originals are now on display at the The Met Cloisters in New York).

  And from Aberdeenshire’s Delgatie Castle to Dundee’s HMS Unicorn (Scotland’s oldest surviving wooden warship), via the mercat (or market) crosses of Prestonpans and Glasgow, there are a multitude of cloven-hooved unicorns, crowned at the throat and holding royal cartouches.  (a cartouche is the royal nameplate or seal that was used by all ancient Egyptian pharaohs as a powerful amulet of protection for all eternity )

  

  Recreations of The Unicorn Tapestries, one of the most valuable artworks of the late Middle Ages, hang in Scotland’s Stirling Castle (Credit: lowefoto/Alamy)

  The unicorn is a symbol built on an ideology, and learning about it opens doors and surprises you. Even I find it almost unexplainable at times.”

  This enigmatic creature has an equally complex and convoluted history that spans some 3,000 years. Considered real by the Ancient Greeks, the horse-like quadrupeds were first mentioned in the 4th Century BC by classical historian Ctesias in Indica, a book on India in which he describes the creature as a ‘wild ass’ with a horn sprouting from its temple.

  Belief spread when the unicorn popped up in the Old Testament and references to mythical horses occurred in the Quran (the appearances of which are still wildly debated today), while the existence of other peculiar-looking, flesh-and-blood creatures, such as the rhinoceros, the oryx and the narwhal, did little to dispel the myth. One theory suggests unicorns were flushed off the face of the Earth because they were simply too slow to get onto Noah’s Ark before the flood.

  

  The HMS Unicorn, Scotland’s oldest surviving wooden warship, features a multitude of cloven-hooved unicorns (Credit: Pep Masip/Alamy)

  Over time, the creature came to represent Jesus Christ, while others believed it could only be tamed by virgins. By the 12th Century, the unicorn had made its first appearance in Scotland, placed on the royal coat of arms by William I (also known as William the Lion).

  According to the National Museum of Scotland, medieval legend further suggests only a king could hold a unicorn captive because of the supposed danger it posed, something that may have given rise to its widespread adoption. What is known is James II wholeheartedly embraced the legend, and the unicorn became the symbol of purity and power that Scottish kings and nobility identified with in the 15th Century. Over time, this led to the unicorn becoming officially recognised as Scotland’s national animal.

  What started with James II flourished through a succession of his ancestors – notably James III, James IV and his grandson James V – who ensured its appearance on coins, royal seals and coats of arms. Indeed, the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 before the Union of the Crowns (the accession of James VI of Scotland to the thrones of England and Ireland), was supported by not one, but two unicorns.

  

  Before the Union of the Crowns in 1603, Scotland’s Royal Coat of Arms was supported by two unicorns (Credit: Lucian Milasan/Alamy)

  Despite such evocative history, the mythical beast remains misunderstood, at least according to one fervent Scottish believer. Liam Devlin is Scotland’s official Unicorn Pursuivant, a badge of office for the Court of the Lord Lyon, which helps bring order to matters of Scottish heraldry. Devlin, now in his fourth year in the role, believes the unicorn’s true meaning is getting lost in metaphor.

  “Its significance is being damaged by politicians [around the world, particularly when it comes to Brexit] who use it as an image of uncertainty and fanciful thinking,” said Devlin, who is also a Knight of Malta and a member of The Heraldry Society of Scotland. “Some Scottish nationalists also think the unicorn’s chains symbolise our subjugation from England. But that’s nonsense. The chains predate the Acts of Union in 1707 [that led to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain] and show the savage nature of the beast – it is not My Little Pony with a horn. So it would be good to administer a history lesson to these unpatriotic politicians.”

  For the best part of three decades, another Scot, 72-year-old John Donaldson, has worked to bring unicorns back into the national conversation through art. The self-taught woodcarver has added to the architectural and heraldic legacy of the country in a way that no-one else has – and his works are beyond staggering.

  In particular, Donaldson worked with Historic Environment Scotland on the seven-year refurbishment of Stirling Castle, recreating the magnificent Stirling Heads – 16th-Century oak medallions carved with images of kings, queens and nobles – as well as a 1.8m by 1.2m ceiling boss of King James V’s crest and coat of arms for the King’s Bed Chamber. Unicorns, of course, are front and centre.

  “It’ll be on the ceiling for hundreds of years and it’s a great legacy to leave behind for Scotland,” he told me. “This story shouldn’t be relegated to our past, because it’s a distinct part of our heritage, and our past is our future. People come here to see history, and whether that’s castles or unicorns, it’s a major attraction and part of our national fabric. It’s who we are.”

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  mustang | Etymology, origin and meaning of mustang by etymonline Said to be influenced by the Spanish word mostrenco “straying, wild,” which is probably from mostrar, from Latin monstrare “to show.” Though now feral, the animals are descended from tame horses brought to the Americas by the Spaniards. The brand of automobile was introduced by Ford in 1962. Entries linking to Mustang *meik-

  Mustangs | Spirit of the Shrinking West, National Geographic magazine Mustangs are a mythic symbol of freedom, heroism, romance, limitless possibilities, and the vanishing West. Along with that fantasy, wild horses also embody some of the intractable complexities and contradictions of modern American life. It is believed that two million wild horses roamed the largely unfenced American West in the early 190

  The vanishing WEST.  Western culture is majorly under attack.  I hope that you are aware of that fact.  IF not, WAKE UP, you are asleep.  Eastern Teachings are rampant everywhere, white people and especially Bible believers and those who cherish the Constitution are viewed as dangerous, criminal and a threat to society. 

  Norfolk Southern’s  Thoroughbred/Mustang reminds me of the Denver Airport’s BLUE DEMON named BLUECIFER!

  In case you have not noticed, Norfolk Southern Railroad has been in the news over and over again over the past few months.  

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  Interestingly enough, I have also seen old Blucifer in the News recently.  

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  Magnificent Horse of the Celtic Gods – ‘Enbarr of the Flowing Mane’

  

  
  Submitted by Alastair Kneale 
  January 12, 2019 – 5:32pm

  

  Horses hold a special place in Celtic mythology and there are many examples of where they take on religious significance in Celtic legend. There are few, though, that are as magnificent as the horse known as Enbarr; some alternate name spellings are Aenbharr, Aonbharr and Énbarr. Described as Enbarr of the Flowing Mane, this horse is associated with the great Celtic Sea god Manannán mac Lir. He features in Irish, Scottish and Manx mythology and is Cognate with Manawydan fab Llŷr in Wales. Manannán is closely associated with the Isle of Man (Mannin) and it is from him that the Island derives its name. He is referred to as the first ruler of Mannin and ceremonies continue to be held on the Island in his honour. His role as a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Tuatha Dé) is recounted in many Celtic stories.

  Stories of the Tuatha Dé have been told through medieval Irish literature which were based on much earlier tales handed down through oral traditions of storytelling. Manannán was known to have been a great magician and was in possession of a number of enchanted items with astounding magical powers. However, there is little to match his magnificent horse Enbarr of the Flowing Mane. This beautiful pure white horse could travel like the wind over land and sea.  Manannán lent Enbarr, along with other of his magical possessions to his foster son Lugh, who fought battles for the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland. Lugh is an important god of Irish mythology. He was sent to the Isle of Man as a boy to be schooled by Manannán in many skills and to become a great warrior. Manannán had him trained with his own sons in the use of arms, and he learned to hunt and to fish, to run and to swim. He grew tall and strong and brave. However, the time came, with his people the Tuatha Dé engaged in war in Ireland, for him to return home. Important in his quest was his magnificent Enbarr.

  

  Enbarr was very precious to Lugh. In the story Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann (The Fate of the Children of Tuireann), Lugh refused to loan Enbarr to the sons of Tuireann, but as a result had to lend the self-navigating boat called Sguaba Tuinne. Lugh was a great and important god and hero of Irish mythology and father of the hero Cú Chulainn. He is associated with the harvest festival of Lughnasadh, which is named after him. Lughnasadh is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Traditionally held on 1 August, or around halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. It is one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc and Beltane. Historically, it was widely observed in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Modern Irish it is called Lúnasa, in Scottish Gaelic: Lùnastal, and in Manx: Luanistyn.