The Forbes Crest Badge

While the coat of arms is attributed to individuals and there is no such thing as a clan coat of arms, the heraldic badge is granted to clan chiefs and clan members as a mark of allegiance to their chief.

In Scottish heraldry, the grant of badges is limited to those categories of individuals who may be expected to have a "numerous following", that is to say a significant body of adherents or supporters.

A badge may be defined as "An armorial device, not part of the coat of arms, but available to an armigerous person for the purpose of identification." Badges may consist of no more than a charge from the shield of arms, but others were emblems adopted for their hidden meaning or in allusion to a name, title or office.

In the case of an armiger, the crest badge is composed of his crest, encircled by a plain circle on which is inscribed the individual's motto. As a mark of allegiance to their chief, members of a clan are permitted to wear a clansmen's badge, consisting of their chief's crest surrounded by a strap and buckle device on which the chief's motto is inscribed.

The Forbes Crest Badge

Here we see on the tartan, within a buckle, the crest: a stags head and the motto: “Grace Me Guide”.

by MissPalin

(Sources: Scottish Heraldry)