General Notes

(a) In Dugdale's "Usage of Arms", are given the numerous variations (for the sake of "difference") in the armorial ensigns borne by the various members of the Basset family.  From this it would appear that the house of Weldon, and that of Drayton, both of whom derived from the elder sons of Richard Basset by Maud, daughter and heir of Geoffrey Ridel (a powerful feudal Baron, whose lands they inherited), adopted the "3 piles" (the Ridel coat), but that William Basset (ancestor of the house of Sapcote, being the youngest son of the said William and Maud), "having no advancement by the house of Rydell, retained "Undie" the devise of the Bassets, and only changed the colours thereof (from gold and red) into silver and black.  But, about the time of Edward III, Simon Basset, Baron of Sapcote (descended from the forenamed William) and Sir John Basset of Blore (also so descended), both of them (I know not the case why) at one instant (as I think) relinquished their devise of "Undie" and invested themselves into "Ridels" (ie. the 3 piles with certain variations). [G.E. Cokayne]  J. H. Round, however points out that all this is invalidated by the fact that Geoffrey Ridel d. as early as 1120, when there cannot have existed a family coat of Ridel. [Vicary Gibbs]  [Complete Peerage II:1 note (a)]