Note 935 — BOOK III.
Reading edition
[Ver. 106. The Half-Moone, &c.] The Silver Crescent is a well-known crest or badge of the Northumberland family. It was probably brought home from some of the Cruzades against the Sarazens. In an ancient Pedigree in verse, finely illuminated on a roll of vellum, and written in the reign of Henry VII. (in possession of the family) we have this fabulous account given of its original. The author begins with accounting for the name of Gernon or Algernon, often born by the Percies; who, he says, were
"... Gernons fyrst named of Brutys bloude of Troy: Which valliantly fyghtynge in the land of Persè [Persia] At pointe terrible ayance the miscreants on nyght, An hevynly mystery was schewyd hym, old bookys reherse; In hys scheld did schyne a Mone veryfying her lyght, Which to all the ooste yave a perfytte fyght, To vaynquys his enemys, and to deth them persue; And therefore the Persès [Percies] the Cressant doth renew."
In the dark ages no family was deemed considerable that did not derive its descent from the Trojan Brutus; or that was not distinguished by prodigies and miracles.