History of the Talbot

In 1597 William Dethick, Garter Principal King of Arms at the Office of Arms in London, confirmed the talbot as the 'proper & indubitate' crest of the Grosvenor family. He decreed that it would not be lawful for anyone else to use the same crest on shields, targets, standards, pennons, guidons, tents, pavilions, liveries, buildings, tombs, monuments, caparisons etc. The penalty for unauthorised use was forfeiture of the offender's sword, armour and habiliments, and a further penalty 'as the cause shall require', and a fine. The Grosvenors had already been using the talbot as a device on their seals. William Dethick refers particularly to documents dated 1422, 1466 and 1494 but there are others in the Grosvenor archives. The choice of a talbot as an armorial device was an apt one. The name Grosvenor, variously spelled in old charters as Grandveneur, Gravenor etc derives from the office of Chief Huntsman in Normandy, the home of the family before the Norman Conquest. The talbot, now extinct, was a hound, 'a dog of the kind used in hunting'. The crest is still used, though not at jousts and tilts as it once was, and it can be seen on name plates of roads and properties on the Grosvenor Estate. The Golf Club moved from Eaton to its new quarters in Waverton in 1993, but it retains its association with Eaton and the Grosvenor Estate not only through its name, but also through the use of the talbot as its letterhead.

Eileen Simpson - Archivist, Eaton Estate Office

To all and Singuler Noble and Gentlemen of what estates Dignities or degrees bearing Armes, to whome theise p'sentes shall come: William Dethick Garter principall King of Arms, Greeting. Know yee, y t whereas by thauthority of my Office from the Queenes most excellent Ma tie her highnes most noble & victorious Progenitors I am to take generall notice & record, & to make publique declaration, manifestac'on, & testimonie for all matters of Arms, Pedegrees, & descents, & for all presidents of honor, and causes of chevalry, & gentility thorough all her Ma ties kingdomes, dominions, Principalities, Isles, & provinces: To thend y t like as manie Noble & gent' do beare Armes by their ancient names & parentages, & from their families, kyndreds, mariages, & descents: So it is requisite, y t diverse others in respect of their valiant prowesse, vertues, dignities, & deserts should have & enioy such ensignes & tokens of honor & worthines most necessary to be had & used in all y e valiant fact of Gent': Wherefore as it is manifest to mee, & knowen to many in sundry ages touching y e ancient descent & famous genealogie of y e name & family of Grandvenour , called Grosvenor , or Graveno r of Holme in y e County Palatine of Cheste r (whereof Richard Grosvenor of Eaton in y e said County palatyne esq r is lineall heire [mascle inserted ]), bearing their ancient Shield of Arms: So likewise be it known to all persons aforesaid, y t I y e said Garter principall king of Arms upon search made in y e Registers & records of my Office, & having ben required to take notice, & make certificate of y is Creast of Cognizance of a Talbot standing on a wreath of his colours p'teyning to y e name & family of y e said Grosvenors, The w ch by vertue & proofe of sundry ancient Seales & Evidences shewed & produced in my said Office Viz. As by an Indenture of S r Thomas Grosvenor knight y t confirmed certein lands to Henry Venables y e elde r upon condic'ons, & sealed w th y e said Hownd, dated y e feast of S t Laurence An o x mo H 5 ti : One other deede also of conveyance of lands made by Ralphe Grosvenor, of Eaton Esq r [d inserted ] sonne & heire [mascle inserted ] to y e said S r Thomas Grosvenor knight sealed in like manner & dated An o 6 to Ed: 4 ti : Also, by a deede of like conveyance of lands made by Robert Grosvenor Esq r sonne & heire of y e said Ralphe dated in y e feast of Philipp & Jacob An o 9 o H. 7 mi & sealed w th y e like Hownd & by sundry other Seales & ancient monum ts may & doth appeare, & standeth hetherto proved in my s d Office, y t the said Talbot so standing upon a wreath of his colours is y e particular & indubitate Badge Creast or Cognizance appropriate to y t name & family of Grosvenor afores d : In considerac'on of y e premisses & for further declarac'on & testimony thereof, I y e aforesaid do by y eis p'ntes adiudge & decree, confirme, blaze, & exemplify this Creast or Cognizance of a Talbot Or standing upon a wreath of his colours (as more playnly appeareth depicted in y is margent) to be y e proper & indubitate Creast or cognizance of y e said name & family of Grosvenor : & y t they shall, or may lawfully use & beare y e same Talbot w th y eir due differences for ever Inhibiting , & by y e tenor hereof signifieng, y t it shall not be lawfull for any other person or p'sons of what othe r name family or kyndred soever w th in y is Royalme of England, or of Ma ties kingdomes, Dominions, principalityes, Illes, & provinces afores d to beare or use y e said Hownd gold in manner & forme aforesaid for Badge, Creast, or cognizance on Shield, or Targett, Standart, Pennon, Guydon, or pensile: neyther upon tents, Pavilions, Liveries utensiles, buildings, edifices, Tombes, Sepulchers, or monuments nor in any warlike cause upon y eir Caparisons, trawings, Bases, or furniture at Justs, tilt, Torney, or barrier neyther for any other civile use or exercises, upon peine of forfaiture of his Sword, Armo r , & habiliments, & further penalty to be imposed (as y e cause shall require) & to be fined at my Office according to y e Lawes of Arms & customes y t to gentility belongeth In witnes & perperuall remembrance whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, & fastened y e Seale of my Office endorsed w th y e Signet of my Armes. Yeoven at y e Office of Arms, London, y e xx th day of august in y e xxxix th yeare of y e reigne of o r most happy Sovereigne Lady Elizabeth by y e grace of God Queene of England, Fraunce & Ireland, Defender of y e Fayth &c An'o Domini 1597

Will'm Dethick Garter

principall kinge of Arms