To start with, what on earth is a Specht Pursuivant? Well those of you versed in heraldry know that a Pursuivant is the lowest rank of herald, coming after the Kings of Arms and the Heralds. A specht is a Scots word for a woodpecker (so now you understand the background graphic).

The combination comes from a poem, "The Buke of the Howlat" which was composed by Richard Holland for the Earl of Moray in the mid-15th century.

The poem is a version of the "parliament of birds" theme, in which an owl complains to the Pope of the birds about its ugliness and as result is given a coat made from a feather from each of the other birds. Thus clothed, the owl becomes insufferably grand and is punished by having not only the coat removed, but all his own feathers. Leaving him worse off than when he started.

The Buke of the Howlat differs from most versions of the tale by having a large section on the deeds and the heraldry of the Douglases, starting with Sir James Douglas "The Good", who went crusading carrying the heart of King Robert I. There is considerable debate on the additional contemporary meaning this section added to the poem, too long for a blog. Those who want to know more will find my article on this in

Genealogica Et Heraldica: Proceedings of the XXVII International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences, St. Andrews, 21-26 August, 2006, Volume 1 (ISBN 978-0952525875)

 What is known is that the poem was written at Darnaway, probably for performance in the great hall of the castle which still exists, tacked on to the back of the current Georgian "castle".

To get back to heraldry, despite the Georgian period not being the best for the architectural use of heraldry, there is some at Darnaway. Sadly the castle is no longer regularly open to the public, but I was able to take some photos about 15 years ago when it was. These heraldic beasts are on the staircase that you can see in the photo above.

The arms of the current line of the Earls of Moray - 1&4 Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules all within a bordure compony Argent and Azure (for James Stuart, 1st Earl of Moray, bastard of James V by Margaret Erskine), 2nd Or a fess chequy Azure and Argent (Stuart, for James Stuart, 2nd Lord Doune, who married the heiress of the 1st Earl and became in the right of his wife the 2nd "Bonnie" Earl of Moray). 3rd Or three cushions within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (Randolph, for the Earldom of Moray).

The arms of the Marquises of Huntly. The 3rd Earl of Moray married the daughter of the 1st Marquis of Huntly in an arranged match to end the Huntly-Moray feud. The 1st Marquis being one of the murderers of the 2nd Earl. 1st Azure three boars' heads couped Or (Gordon) 2nd Or three lions heads erased Gules langued Azure (Lordship of Badenoch) 3rd Or three crescents within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (Seton) 4th Azure three cinquefoils Argent (Fraser).

The arms of the Earls of Home. The 4th Earl of Moray (d1653) married the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Home. 1&4 Vert a lion rampant Argent armed and langued Gules (Home), 2&3 Argent three popinjays Vert beaked and membered Gules (Pepdie), Over all an escutcheon, Or an orle Azure (Landell).

The arms of Lockhart of Carnwath. The 8th Earl of Moray married the Dowager Countess of Aboyne, daughter of George Lockhart of Carnwath. Argent a man's heart Gules within a fetterlock Sable on a chief Azure three boars heads erased of the first, all within a bordure Azure charged with five stars Argent.

There is probably more heraldry on the outside of the castle, but that's all I've got. If you are in the area and the castle is open it's well worth a look. I recall an enormous heraldic carpet in the dining room with the arms of the Ainslies (the 14th Earl's mother was an Ainslie).

Hello

Specht Pursuivant is the idle murmurings of a local on heraldry and history, mainly in the north east of Scotland.