The Convention of

The Baronage of Scotland

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The Crest

Clan chiefs sanction the use of their crest as a crest-badge by their clansmen, in which form it is customarily surrounded by a belt and buckle to distinguish it from the chief’s own crest, which is his personal property. 

Barons may also petition the Lord Lyon for a badge – as distinct from the crest – which is a separate armorial device, not necessarily a feature of the arms.

 This badge may be used by the "tail" or following of a landowner baron. The grant is linked to the baron’s pennon, a heraldic flag, 4ft. long, in the livery colours (usually the two most prominent colours of the arms themselves) which carries a large representation of the badge. The pennon is blazoned in the grant or matriculation.

This illustration shows the cap badge with the three eagle feathers of a chief with the crest encircled, without the belt and buckle which would be used by one of his followers, and with a coronet of an earl.