Clan Heraldry: What you can and can't wear and display

[A Robertson]

You will be able to quote all the relevant statutes, won't you?

No hurry.

[Chas]

You will be able to quote all the relevant statutes, won't you?

No hurry.

Of course -

http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/CCC_FirstPage.jsp

[Nathan]

This is getting silly now.
What point are you trying to make?

My point was that the article refered to was rubbish. As rubbish as the laws quoted.
Points made by other contributers refer to 'coats of arms' - You (Chas) and I (A Robertson) both live in England. You know yourself that the point about it being illegal to wear a coat of arms that have not been specifically granted to you, personally, is total rubbish. I am sure you have visited your local tourist shop and have been confronted with a huge display of every British coat of arms keyrings, pens, bookmarks etc. It is not illegal or against protocol to bear a coat of arms that have not been specifically granted to you.
You can wave, fly or whatever, a yellow/red lion rampart flag wherever you want.
Please tell me, who, (apart from the Queen/Lord Mayor/ 'dignitaries') flies a standard, pennant or guidon? (who wants to?)
The ONLY thing that will land you in trouble, is if you flash a knife around.
If you are Scottish or have Scottish ancestry, and are proud of it, you will try and get everything correct - but if you don't (or don't care about protocol) it NOT illegal.

Examples have been cited about people being reprimanded by the Lord Lyon for illegally displaying arms. Like any law, one has be caught to be prosecuted but that doesn't make the article rubbish.

The article is correct and valuable. Your point that enforcement is not carried out with zeal at the moment in the UK may be valid, but the idea that telling people about the law and detailing the proper protocol is rubbish, is itself rubbish.

The fact is that the rightful armiger may well be at the Bannockburn event and may well have cause to complain. Shrugging one's shoulders and citing the tat vendors who prey on the widespread misinformation in circulation and the ignorance of the general public regarding Scottish heraldry doesn't change the fact that the article is correct, useful and informative.

[David Thorpe]

I agree wholeheartedly that the legality issue is minor in comparison to the far weightier matters of decorum, good taste and respect.
I seriously doubt that Jock would be arrested, (much less tried, convicted and sentenced) for sporting a badge based on the Presidential seal here in the US. He might even escape prosecution for possessing eagle feathers. However, it would do nothing positive for others' opinions of him, even if nothing was said.
Why would anyone wish to deliberately offend, whether legal or not?

[Father Bill]

It has been my experience that a lot of folks talk about their "rights" rather than what is right. This seems to be associated with that in my mind.

[Jock Scot]

I agree wholeheartedly that the legality issue is minor in comparison to the far weightier matters of decorum, good taste and respect.
I seriously doubt that Jock would be arrested, (much less tried, convicted and sentenced) for sporting a badge based on the Presidential seal here in the US. He might even escape prosecution for possessing eagle feathers. However, it would do nothing positive for others' opinions of him, even if nothing was said.
Why would anyone wish to deliberately offend, whether legal or not?

Exactly so.

[A Robertson]

I just returned from Dumfries after a long weekend with family . . . . complete with a Robertson coat of arms keyring and pin badge, which I bought from a tourist shop.

[ThistleDown]

Was that the Gold Bros shop, by any chance? They'll sell whatever turns a penny, but I'd not stoop to buying from them. (I'm away under the chair now)

[Calgacus]

I just returned from Dumfries after a long weekend with family . . . . complete with a Robertson coat of arms keyring and pin badge, which I bought from a tourist shop.

Do the items in question carry the coat of arms or the clan crest? There is a difference.

Anyway, I recommend reading the following link, in case you are still not convinced.

http://www.donnachaidh.com/heraldry.html

[StevieR]

Do the items in question carry the coat of arms or the clan crest? There is a difference.

Anyway, I recommend reading the following link, in case you are still not convinced.

http://www.donnachaidh.com/heraldry.html

and this particular extract sums it up nicely for me:

". . . A Lyon Office document states: "It is not only illegal, but a social crime of the most grave character, to assume and purport to use your Chief's arms without a due and congruent difference. Anyone who does so merely publishes his own ignorance’s, and lapses into bad manners". . ."