TheThree Legs of ManGules, three legs armed, conjoined in fesse at theupper part of the thighs, flexed in triangle, garnished andspurred
That Mann has legs for its arms is well known - what is much lesswell known is the origin of this device. For many years the sharingof the common device of three legs between Man and Sicily made manyassume that there had to be some connection (a theory first putforward byCamden in1607) - see for example the ingenious theory first put forward byJohn Newton in 1885 thatit was in 1255/6 when the young Prince Edmund of England was promisedthe throne of Sicily and King Alexander III of Scotland who wasvisiting London adapted the device for his newly acquired Isleof Man.
A Wagner (Richmond Herald) demonstrates that the device of threelegs was associated with Man from at least c.1270 being described assuch in several heraldic compilations of that period though only one,Segar's Roll of c.1280 provides an illustration of three legs inchain mail, running clockwise, joined at a triangle (Rey de Man -Gules three mailed legs argent conjoined at the thigh). Note thatspurs were a later invention and may well have been derived from thethree stars sometimes seen near the feet. Devices based on thetrisqueta (triple knot) are well known from the 10th century silverpennies issued at York by the Norse-Irish kings Sithric, Ragnald andAnlaf Cuaran. The rulers of Mann were also associated with thisfamily.
Camden states:
The ship seals will be discussed shortly, the earliest surviving representation of the three legs would appear to be a detail of the arms of the Kings of Man on the Priest's tomb (probably that of Edward IV's chaplain de Grimsby) in Beverley Minster Yorkshire. The earliest representation on the Island is on the 14th century Pillar Cross of Kirk Maughold which probably dates from time of Montagu possession (1333-1391). Another early representation is on thepommell of the sword of state but as this would appear to have spurs it is likely that the sword dates from Stanley period (spurs were only introduced in 15th century).
Although the early representations showed the legs runningclockwise (supporting the supposition they are derived from a sunsymbol) later representations showed both clockwise andanticlockwise. This latter case gave rise to pun:
The modern rendition is to run the legs clockwise.
The Manx Flag is to use the three legs device on a red background- as an official national flag its use dates only from 1931 beforewhich date the Union Flag (commonlyreferred to as Union Jack) would be flown. However the three legs ona flag is of older origin - the Stanleys used red legs on a white background for their troops and white legs on a red background for naval purposes..
The punning motto 'Quocunque Jesseris Stabit' -generally given as 'which everway I am thrown I will stand'. However the verb 'jeceris' is the second person ('thee') of the future perfect tense of iacere, to throw, hurl, and thus the phrase is probably nearer 'whateverway you will have thrown [it] it will stand'. The motto first made its appearance onJohn Murrey's silver penny of 1668 where it could be read as 'however it is tested it will pass' which is not a bad motto for a coin for those times when false coins abounded. Possibly these coins gave its familiar association with the three legs.
Camden makes reference to these ship seals which do not now exist,presumed lost in the 1731 fire in the Cottonian Library - Megaw tellsof the fortuitous timing of J. R. Oliver's enquiry to the BritishMusem when compiling his collection of historical documents, in thata privately owned document of 1641Sir Christopher Hatton's Bookof Seals (now in Northamtonshire Record. Office) was being boundand the Museum provided him with photographs of the facsimiles inthis document (those of1245&1246 though Megawbelieves the fragments are from the same seal). Reference to othership seals of the 1190's are made by Clarencieux King of Arms in1735/6 insupport of the Dukeof Athol's claim to the three legs device.Blundellin his manuscript history discusses this ship seal - stating thatit was unknown to himself but he would trust Camden.
A. R. WagnerThe Origin of the Arms of Man J. Manx MuseumVI #76 pp77/8 1959/60
B.R.S. MegawThe Ship Seals of the Kings of Man J. ManxMuseum VI #76 pp78/80 1959/60
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