COLOGNE.

COLOGNE. Argent, on a chief gules, three crowns or.

As to this device of the three crowns the following extract from one of the Harleian MSS. is interesting :

" Collin (Cologne), the city which then at that time of day florished much and afforded rayre commodetes, and these mercha'ts that vsually traded to that citye set vp their signes ouer ther dores of ther Houses, the three Kinges of Collin, with the Armes of that Citye, which was the Three Crouens of the former kings in memorye of them, and by those signes the people knew in what wares they deld in."

The old legend is that early in the fourth century the bodies of these three kings were discovered and moved to Constantinople by the pious Empress Helena. Thence they found their way to Milan. After the taking of Milan by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, in the year 1162, the precious relics were granted to Reinaldus, Archbishop of Cologne, who brought them to that city, which proved to be their final resting-place. Cologne, proud of the honour, adopted as her arms, argent, on a chief gules, three royal crowns or.

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Original Source bookofpublicarms00foxd_djvu.txt near line 7300.