User:Fscotth1

Haskell Family Crest

From Norman-French stock HASKELL and a companion of William the Conqueror, the Haskell’s of this line claim descent; and in evidence of their claim adduce their coat-of-arms, which goes far to substantiate their claims. The escutcheon itself is Norman. Its field is (sais) or fur—Sais is derived from the fur with which the robes of only nobles or knights were lined. The colors, argent and sable, are those such as rendered the bearers noteworthy, the combination indicating unblemished reputation. Argent compounded with sable means the yielding up of pleasure. Sable, the most ancient armory colors, compounded with argent means famous. It is without device. Anciently it was the opinion that such were of the highest honor. It bears the tesse or waist belt of honor, one of the insignia of knighthood, it being of gold would imply that the bearer was a knight of no mean power or wealth.

The legend of the crest is given thusly: At the battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror, being faint from lack of food, saw in the distance, near the lines of Harold, an apple tree in fruit; expressing his belief that one or two of the apples would revive him until the fortunes of the day should be decided, one of his attendants (a knight), Roget de Haskell by name, dashed forward amid a shower of the enemy's arrows, secured and brought to his sovereign a scarf filled with the fruit, whereupon the Conqueror bade him bear as his crest the fruit bearing apple tree pierced by a flying arrow. The impression is that the knight was mortally wounded.

At the head of the coat-of-arms is the apple tree pierced by the arrow. The motto, "Craygnez honte Aymez loyante." Vincit Veritas = Truth Conquers