Magdalen College arms. From a gate leading to the College parkland and meadows. William of Waynflete's family name was Patten and the basic form of his arms are shared with a number of families with …More
Magdalen College arms.
From a gate leading to the College parkland and meadows. William of Waynflete's family name was Patten and the basic form of his arms are shared with a number of families with the same name. The College appears to have followed the practice of other Colleges and adopted the arms of its founder from its earliest years. But it was only in 1574 (nearly 120 years after the foundation) that any official sanction was provided for this practice, when Richard Lee, Portcullis, confirmed and recorded the arms after an official 'Visitacion made of the Universitie' when he noted "theauncient Armes belonginge and appertayning to the college of S. Mary Magdalen incorporat by the name of the President and Scholers of the colege of S. Mary Magdalen within the Universitie of Oxford as from William Waynflet, Bushopp of Wynchester and Prelate of the moste Honorable Ordre of the Gartier". The College paid 45 shilllings "feciali insignia Collegii depingenti". The formal description of the arms is: Lozengy (or Fusilly) sable and ermine, on a chief of the first three lilies argent. The basic field represents the paternal arms, but originally the rhombi were in the 'lozengy' rather than the 'fusilly' form with their horizontal diameter equal to their sides. The lilies were added to represent William of Waynflete's association with Eton from the arms of which the lily is borrowed. In early versions the lilies are 'stalked and seeded or' i.e. with gold bits top and bottom. But later the lilies appear with green stems and much foliage. Later Pugin introduced a floribund version of the lily when designing his Magdalen wallpaper, but probably took this from a piece of surviving embroidery from the Founder's cloak. A small pair of lilies appear also on the toes of the Founder's ceremonial shoes which are preserved in the College. Portcullis Lee also hands down a Latin motto taken from the Magnificat which is not recorded anywhere else as belonging to Waynflete or to the College: "Fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius". (For He has done great things for me and Holy is His Name).
From a gate leading to the College parkland and meadows. William of Waynflete's family name was Patten and the basic form of his arms are shared with a number of families with the same name. The College appears to have followed the practice of other Colleges and adopted the arms of its founder from its earliest years. But it was only in 1574 (nearly 120 years after the foundation) that any official sanction was provided for this practice, when Richard Lee, Portcullis, confirmed and recorded the arms after an official 'Visitacion made of the Universitie' when he noted "theauncient Armes belonginge and appertayning to the college of S. Mary Magdalen incorporat by the name of the President and Scholers of the colege of S. Mary Magdalen within the Universitie of Oxford as from William Waynflet, Bushopp of Wynchester and Prelate of the moste Honorable Ordre of the Gartier". The College paid 45 shilllings "feciali insignia Collegii depingenti". The formal description of the arms is: Lozengy (or Fusilly) sable and ermine, on a chief of the first three lilies argent. The basic field represents the paternal arms, but originally the rhombi were in the 'lozengy' rather than the 'fusilly' form with their horizontal diameter equal to their sides. The lilies were added to represent William of Waynflete's association with Eton from the arms of which the lily is borrowed. In early versions the lilies are 'stalked and seeded or' i.e. with gold bits top and bottom. But later the lilies appear with green stems and much foliage. Later Pugin introduced a floribund version of the lily when designing his Magdalen wallpaper, but probably took this from a piece of surviving embroidery from the Founder's cloak. A small pair of lilies appear also on the toes of the Founder's ceremonial shoes which are preserved in the College. Portcullis Lee also hands down a Latin motto taken from the Magnificat which is not recorded anywhere else as belonging to Waynflete or to the College: "Fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius". (For He has done great things for me and Holy is His Name).