The British Museum, in London, acquired, some time ago, an original ancient manuscript known as “Harleian Heraldic Manuscript No. 269", the date of which is about A.D. 1180. In the British Museum catalogue this unique and most interesting manuscript is described as ‘an old heraldrical book in small folio, done in the time of king Henry VI. On folio 66 is trick of Arms and description in quaint mediaeval English entitled "the Armys of owre Lord Jesew Cryst after the form of the Passyon", which is described as follows: On a mount, a standing figure three-quarters to the Left, clad in the seamless ‘cote of sylvyr saddely with golde’, girt about the waist. As the old Herald puts it, ‘This is made for God’s cote.’ In the right hand a spear-headed flagstaff (the soldiers who took Jesus are usually represented by spears) with banner of blue, thereon the Agnus Dei contourne with a cruciferous nimbus of gold. The sinister foot of the Lamb and the Staff, which terminates in a cross-crosslet, are set in a golden chalice, the pennon charged with a red cross. The left hand, holding a blue shield charged with a silver Vernycle (a white cloth or handkerchief of Saint Veronica bearing the head of Christ), transfixed with three triple spikes, resembling a cross flory. On a golden helmet, with rosset mantling, a golden cross pierced by three nails, at the top a scroll inscribed I.N.R.I., all between on the dexter a birch and on the sinister a scourge.

Heraldry is believed to have had its inception in the banners of the twelve tribes of Israel, and heraldic symbolism is a complete and fascinating subject in itself. In a day when genealogies were of first importance, it was discovered that Jesus, not having “Armys,” could not have been a gentleman! The above emblazonment represents an effort to remedy the condition.. According to the laws of heraldry, the drawing contains an accurate account of the achievements of Jesus the Christ. Although the trick of arms were recorded more than seven centuries ago, as far as can be ascertained it has never heretofore been illumined. Mr. Wilson guarantees the accuracy of the illumination, which dates from those centuries “when faith was vivid and devotion strong.”