Two of the family about this period were "Knights Companions of the Garter," and their banners, with the Lee arms above, were suspended in St.George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The coat-of-arms was a shield "band sinister battled and embattled," the crest a closed visor surmounted by a squirrel holding a nut.

The motto, which may be thought characteristic of one of General Lee's traits as a soldier, was, "_Non incautus futuri_" Such are the brief notices given of the family in England.

They seem to have been persons of high character, and often of distinction.

When Richard Lee came to Virginia, and founded the family anew there, as Launcelot, the first Lee, had founded it in England, he brought over in his veins some of the best and most valiant blood of the great Norman race.
This Richard Lee, the _princeps_ of the family in Virginia, was, it seems, like the rest of his kindred, strongly Cavalier in his sentiments; indeed, the Lees seem always to have been Cavalier.