Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos, (1708 – 1771), also known by the courtesy title Marquess of Carnarvon, was the second son of James the 1st Duke of Chandos. Henry was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hereford, later for Steyning, West Sussex between 1734 and 1741 becoming Grand Master of the Moderns in 1738, and later became MP for Bishop’s Castle.
His family Coat of arms is below and it seems that much of it was adopted into the Moderns’ Coat of Arms likely during his year as Grand Master.
A publication by Arthur Collins in 1741 entitled; “The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of England – Vol 1” defines for us Chandos Coat of Arms:
Arms: Argent, on a Cross a Leopard’s Head.
Crest: On a Wreath, the Bust of an old Man fide-fac’d, , Proper wreath’d about the Temples, Argent and Azure, vested paly of the first, and Gules and Semi of Roundles counterchanged, the cape Ermine; and on his Head is a Cap, Or, lin’d with white Fur.
Supporters: Two Otters, Argent.
Motto: Main Tien Le Droit
Key:
“Argent” – White or silvery white
“fide-fac’d” – In profile
“Azure” – Blue
“Paly” – divided into equal vertical stripes.
“Gules” – Red
“Semi” – shared
“Roundels” – circles
“counterchanged” – blurred
A little known story:
The Duke of Chandos, while staying at a small country inn near Newbury, saw the ostler beating his wife in a most cruel manner; he interfered and literally bought her for half a crown. She was a young and pretty woman; the Duke had her educated; and on the husband’s death in 1744, he married her. On her death-bed in 1759, she had her whole household assembled, told them her history, and drew from it a touching moral of reliance on Providence; as from the most wretched situation, she had been suddenly raised to one of the greatest prosperity; she entreated their forgiveness if at any time she had given needless offence, and then dismissed them with gifts; dying almost in the very act.
