See P. 130.Frontispiece
THE
MANUAL OF HERALDRY:
BEING
A CONCISE DESCRIPTION
OF
THE SEVERAL TERMS USED,
AND CONTAINING
A Dictionary of every Designation in the Science.
ILLUSTRATED BY
FOUR HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.
FIFTH EDITION.
ARTHUR HALL, VIRTUE & CO.
25, PATERNOSTER ROW.
R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.
MANUAL OF HERALDRY.
CONTENTS
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CHAPTER
I ORIGIN
OF COATS OF ARMS. |
PAGE |
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CHAPTER
II VARIOUS
SORTS OF ARMS. |
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CHAPTER
III LINES
USED IN PARTING THE FIELD. |
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CHAPTER
IV HONOURABLE
ORDINARIES. |
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CHAPTER
V SUBORDINATE
ORDINARIES. |
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CHAPTER
VI MARSHALLING
CHARGES ON ESCUTCHEONS BY THE RULES OF HERALDRY. |
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CHAPTER
VII ORDER
OF PRECEDENCY. |
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DICTIONARY OF HERALDIC TERMS |
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CHAPTER
VIII HERALDRY
IN CONNECTION WITH HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DECORATION, COSTUME,
AMUSEMENT, RELIGIOUS SOLEMNITIES, FUNERAL RITES, ETC. |
ORIGIN OF COATS OF ARMS.
Heraldry is the science which teaches how to
blazon or describe in proper terms armorial bearings and their accessories.
Many volumes have been written on the origin of
Heraldry and even on the antiquity of separate charges contained in an
escutcheon: it would be filling the pages of an elementary work on Heraldry to
little purpose to enter upon an inquiry as to the exact period of the
introduction of an art that has existed in some degree in all countries whose
inhabitants have emerged from barbarism to civilization. In all ages men have
made use of figures of living creatures, trees, flowers, and inanimate objects,
as symbolical signs to distinguish themselves in war, or denote the bravery and
courage of their chief or nation.
The allegorical designs emblazoned on the
standards, shields, and armour of the Greeks and Romans—the White Horse of the
Saxons, the Raven of the Danes, and the Lion of the Normans, may all be termed [Page 2] heraldic devices; but according to the opinions of Camden,
Spelman, and other high authorities, hereditary arms of families were first
introduced at the commencement of the twelfth century. When numerous armies
engaged in the expeditions to the
The passion for military fame which prevailed at
this period led to the introduction of mock battles, called Tournaments. Here
the Knights appeared with the Heraldic honours conferred upon them for deeds of
prowess in actual battle. All were emulous of such distinctions. The
subordinate followers appeared with the distinctive arms of their Lord, with
the addition of some mark denoting inferiority. These marks of honour at first
were merely pieces of stuff of various colours cut into strips and sewn on the
surcoat or garment worn over armour, to protect it from the effect of exposure
to the atmosphere. These strips were disposed in various ways, and gave the
idea of the chief, bend, chevron, &c. [Page 3] Figures of animals and
other objects were gradually introduced; and as none could legally claim or use
those honourable distinctions unless they were granted by the Kings of Arms,
those Heraldic sovereigns formed a code of laws for the regulation of titles
and insignia of honour, which the Sovereigns and Knights of Europe have bound
themselves to protect; and those rules constitute the science of Heraldry which
forms the subject of the following pages.
VARIOUS SORTS OF ARMS.
Arms are not only granted to individuals and
families, but also to cities, corporate bodies, and learned societies. They may
therefore be classed as follows:—
Arms of DOMINION, PRETENSION, CONCESSION.
COMMUNITY, PATRONAGE, FAMILY.
Arms of Dominion or Sovereignty are properly the arms
of the kings or sovereigns of the territories they govern, which are also
regarded as the arms of the State. Thus the Lions of England and the Russian
Eagle are the arms of the Kings of England and the Emperors of Russia, and
cannot properly be altered by a change of dynasty.
Arms of Pretension are those of kingdoms,
provinces, or territories to which a prince or lord has some claim, and which
he adds to his own, though the kingdoms or territories are governed by a
foreign king or lord: thus the Kings of England for many ages quartered the
arms of France in their escutcheon as the descendants of Edward III., who
claimed that kingdom, in right of his mother, a French princess.
Arms of Concession are arms granted by
sovereigns as the reward of virtue, valour, or extraordinary service. All arms
granted to subjects were originally [Page 5] conceded by the
Sovereign.
Arms of Community are those of
bishoprics, cities, universities, academies, societies, and corporate bodies.
Arms of Patronage are such as governors
of provinces, lords of manors, add to their family arms as a token of their
superiority, right, and jurisdiction.
Arms of Family, or paternal arms, are
such as are hereditary and belong to one particular family, which none others
have a right to assume, nor can they do so without rendering themselves guilty
of a breach of the laws of honour punishable by the Earl Marshal and the Kings
at Arms. The assumption of arms has however become so common that little notice
is taken of it at the present time.
Arms of
Arms of Succession are such as are taken
up by those who inherit certain estates by bequest, entail, or donation.
SHIELDS, TINCTURES, FURS, &c.
The Shield contains the field or
ground whereon are represented the charges or figures that form a coat of arms.
These were painted on the shield before they were placed on banners, standards,
and coat armour; and wherever they appear at the present time they are painted
on a plane or superficies resembling a shield.
Shields in Heraldic language are called
Escutcheons or Scutcheons, from the Latin word scutum. The forms
of the shield or field upon which arms are emblazoned are varied according to
the taste of the painter. The 
buildings:
the escutcheons of maiden ladies and widows are painted on a lozenge-shaped
shield. Armorists distinguish several points in the
escutcheon in order to determine exactly the position of the bearings or
charges. They are denoted in the annexed diagram, by the first nine letters of
the alphabet ranged in the following manner:
A,
the dexter chief.
B, the precise middle chief.
C, the sinister chief.
D, the honour point.
E, the fess point.
F, the nombril point.
G, the dexter base.
H, the precise middle base.
I, the sinister base.
The dexter side of the escutcheon answers to the
left hand, and the sinister side to the right hand of the person that looks at
it.
TINCTURES.
By the term Tincture is meant that
variable hue which is given to shields and their bearings; they are divided into
colours and furs.
The colours or metals used in emblazoning arms
are—
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yellow, |
blue, |
purple, |
These colours are denoted in engravings by
various lines or dots, as follows:
OR,
which signifies gold, and in colour yellow, is expressed by dots.
ARGENT
signifies silver or white: it is left quite plain.
GULES
signifies red: it is expressed by lines drawn from the chief to
the base of the shield.
AZURE
signifies blue: it is represented by lines drawn from the dexter
to the sinister side of the shield, parallel to the chief.
VERT
signifies green: it is represented by slanting lines, drawn from
the dexter to the sinister side of the shield.
PURPURE,
or purple, is expressed by diagonal lines, drawn from the
sinister to the dexter side of the shield.
SABLE,
or black, is expressed by horizontal and perpendicular lines
crossing each other.
TENNE,
which is tawny, or orange colour, is marked by
diagonal lines drawn from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield,
traversed by perpendicular lines from the chief.
SANGUINE
is dark red, or murrey colour; it is represented by
diagonal lines crossing each other.
In addition to the foregoing tinctures, there
are nine roundlets or balls used in Armory, the names of which are sufficient
to denote their colour without expressing the same.
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BEZANT, Or. |
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PLATE, Argent. |
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FURS.
Furs are used to ornament garments of state and
denote dignity: ther are used in Heraldry, not only for the lining of mantles
and other ornaments of the shield, but also as bearings on escutcheons.
WHITE, represented by a plain shield, like argent.
ERMINE—white
powdered with black tufts.
ERMINES—field
sable, powdering argent.
ERMINOIS—field
or, powdering sable.
PEAN—field
sable; powdering or.
ERMYNITES—Argent,
powdered sable, with the addition of a single red hair on each side the sable
tufts. This fur is seldom seen in English heraldry; and it is impossible to
give an example without using colour.
VAIR—argent
and azure. It is represented by small bells, part reversed, ranged in lines in
such a manner, that the base argent is opposite to the base azure.
COUNTER-VAIR,
is when the bells are placed base against base, and point against point.
POTENT—an
obsolete word for a crutch: it is so called in Chaucer's description of Old
Age.
"So
eld she was that she ne went
A foote, but it were by potent."
The
field is filled with small potents, ranged in lines, azure and argent.
POTENT
COUNTER-POTENT.
The heads of the crutches or potents touch each other in the centre of the
shield.
LINES USED IN PARTING
THE FIELD.
Escutcheons that have more than one tincture are
divided by lines; the straight lines are either perpendicular |, horizontal —,
diagonal line dexter \, and diagonal line sinister /.
Curved and angular lines are numerous, and each
has an Heraldic name expressive of its form. The names and figures of those
most commonly used by English armorists are as follow:—
Engrailed
Invected
Wavy, or undé
Embattled, or crenelle
Nebule
Indented
Dancette
Angled
Bevilled
Escartelle
Nowy, or franché
Dove-tailed
Embattled
grady:
sometimes called
battled embattled
Potent
Double
arched
Arched or enarched
Urdée
Radient
If a shield is divided into four equal parts, it
is said to be quartered: this may be done two ways, viz.—
QUARTERED
PER CROSS—The shield is divided into four parts, called quarters, by an
horizontal and perpendicular line, crossing each other in the centre of the
field, each of which is numbered.
QUARTERED
PER SALTIER, which is made by two diagonal lines, dexter and sinister,
crossing each other in the centre of the field.
The
Escutcheon is sometimes divided into a great number of parts, in order to place
in it the arms of several families to which one is allied; this is called a
genealogical achievement. The compartments are called QUARTERINGS.
All members of the same family claim the same
bearings in their coats of arms; and to distinguish the principal bearer from
his descendants or relatives, it was necessary to invent some sign so that the
degree of consanguinity might be known. These signs are called DIFFERENCES.
During the Crusades, the only difference consisted in the bordure or border,
which, as the name implies, was a border or edging running round the edge of
the shield. The colour and form of this border served to distinguish the
leaders of the different bands that served under one duke or chieftain. The
same difference might be used to denote a diversity between particular persons
descended from one family. At the present time they are not used to denote a
difference, but as one of the ordinaries to a coat of arms. 
The annexed example exhibits the arms of the
Monastery of Bermondsey. Party per pale, azure and gules; a bordure, argent.
This bordure is plain; but they may be formed by any of the foregoing lines.
The annexed example is or, a bordure
engrailed, gules.
The differences used by armorists at the present
time are nine in number. They not only distinguish the sons of one family, but
also denote the subordinate degrees in each house.
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The
Heir, or first son, the LABEL |
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Third
Son, the MULLET |
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Fourth
Son, the MARTLET |
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Fifth
Son, the ANNULET |
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Sixth
Son, the FLEUR-DE-LIS |
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Seventh
Son, [Page 15]the ROSE |
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Eighth
Son, the CROSS |
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Ninth
Son, the DOUBLE QUATREFOIL |
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Should either of the nine brothers have male
children, the eldest child would place the label on the difference that
distinguished his father; the second son would place the crescent upon it; the
third the mullet; continuing the same order for as many sons as he may have.
The label only, is used in the arms of the royal
family as a difference; but the points of the label are charged with different
figures to distinguish the second and succeeding sons. The arms of the sons of
King George III. were thus distinguished: the shield of the arms of the Prince
of Wales by a label; the Duke of York's by the label, the center point of which
was charged with a red cross; that of the Duke of Clarence by a label, the
dexter and sinister points of which were charged with an anchor, the center
point with the red cross; each of the succeeding sons were differenced by
charges on the points of the labels.
All the figures denoting differences are also
used as perfect charges on the shield; but their size and situation will
sufficiently determine whether the figure is used as a perfect coat of arms, or
is introduced as a difference or dimunition.
Sisters have no differences in their coats of
arms. They are permitted to bear the arms of their father, as the eldest son
does after his father's decease.
Guillim, Leigh, and other ancient armorists
mention divers figures, which, they assert, were formerly added to coats of
arms as marks of degradation for slander, cowardice, murder, and other crimes,
and to them they give the name of abatements of honour; others have called them
blots in the escutcheon: but as no instance can be produced of such
dishonourable marks having been borne in a coat of arms, they may justly be
considered as chimerical, or at any rate obsolete, and unworthy of
consideration at the present time. Porney pithily observes, "that arms
being marks of honour, they cannot admit of any note of infamy, nor would any
one bear them if they were so branded. It is true, a man may be degraded for
divers crimes, particularly high treason; but in such cases the escutcheon is
reversed, trod upon, and torn in pieces, to denote a total extinction and
suppression of the honour and dignity of the person to whom it belonged."
The
only abatement used in heraldry is the baton: this denotes illegitimacy.
It is borne in the escutcheons of the dukes that assume the royal arms as the
illegitimate descendants of King Charles the Second.
HONOURABLE ORDINARIES.
Honourable ordinaries are the original marks of
distinction bestowed by sovereigns on subjects that have become eminent for
their services, either in the council or the field of battle. Volumes have been
written upon the origin and form of the honourable ordinaries. These long and
tedious inquiries can only be interesting to antiquaries: it is sufficient for
the tyro in heraldry to know that they are merely broad lines or bands of
various colours, which have different names, according to the place they occupy
in the shield; ancient armorists admit but nine honourable ordinaries—the chief,
the pale, the bend, the bend sinister, the fess, the bar, the chevron, the
cross, and the saltier.
The chief is an ordinary
terminated by an horizontal line, which, if it is of any other form but
straight, its form must be expressed; it is placed in the upper part of the
escutcheon, and occupies one third of the field.
Ex.
Argent, on a chief, gules, two mullets, sable.
Any of the lines before described may be used to
form the chief.
Ex.
Argent, a chief, azure, indented.
The chief has a diminutive called a fillet;
it must never be more than one fourth the breadth of the chief.
Ex.
Or, a chief, purpure, in the lower part a fillet, azure.
This ordinary may be charged with a variety of
figures, which are always named after the tincture of the chief.
It may be necessary to inform the reader that,
in describing a coat of arms, the general colour of the shield or the field is
first described, then the honourable ordinaries, their tinctures, then the
object with which they are charged. We shall have to remark more particularly
on the order of describing ordinaries, tinctures, and charges on coats of arms,
when we treat of the rules of heraldry; but the student might have been
confused if this brief direction had been omitted, as we shall have to describe
every shield of arms in the same order.
The pale is an honourable
ordinary, consisting of two perpendicular lines drawn from the top to the base
of the escutcheon, and contains one third of the width of the field.
Ex.
Azure, a pale, or.
The pale may be formed of any of the lines before [Page 19] described; it is then called a pale engrailed, a pale
dancette, &c.
The pale has a diminutive called the pallet,
which is one half the width of the pale.
Ex.
Argent, a pallet, gules.
The pale has another diminutive one fourth its
size; it is called an endorse.
Ex.
Argent, a pale between two endorses, gules.
The pale and the pallet may receive any charge;
but the endorse is never to be charged with any thing.
THE
The bend is an honourable
ordinary, formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the
sinister base, and contains the fifth part of the field if uncharged; but if
charged with other figures, the third part of the field.
Ex.
Argent, a bend, vert.
The bend has four diminutives, viz. the garter
which [Page 20] is half the breadth of the bend.
Ex.
Argent, a garter, gules.
The cotice which is the fourth
part of the bend. Cotices generally accompany the bend in pairs; thus a bend
between two cotices is said to be cotised.
Ex.
Gules, a bend, argent, coticed of the same.
The riband, which is one third
less than the garter and the bendlet, must never occupy more than
one sixth of the field.
Ex.
Argent, a riband vert.
Ex.
Gules, two bendlets, engrailed, argent.
The bend sinister is the same
breadth as the bend dexter, and is drawn from the sinister to the dexter side
of the shield.
Ex.
Argent, a bend sinister, purpure.
The scarpe is the diminutive of
the bend sinister, and is half its size.
Ex.
Argent, a scarpe, purpure.
The baton is the fourth part of
the bend, and, as before mentioned, it is a mark of illegitimacy, and seldom
used in Heraldry, but by the illegitimate descendants of royalty.
Ex.
Gules, a baton, sable, garnished, or.
THE FESS AND BAR.
The fess is formed by two
horizontal lines drawn above and below the centre of the shield. The fess
contains in breadth one third of the field.
Ex.
Argent, a fess, azure.
The bar is formed in the same
manner as the fess, but it only occupies the fifth part of the field. It
differs from the fess, that ordinary being always placed in the [Page 22] centre of the field; but the bar may be placed in any part
of it, and there may be more than one bar in an escutcheon.
Ex.
Gules, two bars, argent.
The closet is a diminutive of the
bar, and is half its width.
Ex.
Argent, two closets, azure.
The barrulet is half the width of
the closet.
Ex.
Gules, two barrulets, argent.
The annexed example is to illustrate the word gemels,
which is frequently used to describe double bars. The word gemels
is a corruption of the French word jumelles, which signifies
double.
Ex.
Azure, two bars, gemels, argent.
When the shield contains a number of bars of
metal [Page 23] and colour alternate, exceeding five, it is called barry
of so many pieces, expressing their numbers.
Ex.
Barry of seven pieces, argent and azure.
THE CHEVRON.
The figure of the chevron has been
described as representing the gable of a roof. It is a very ancient ordinary,
and the less it is charged with other figures the more ancient and honourable
it appears.
Ex.
Argent, a chevron, gules.
The diminutives of the chevron, according to
English Heraldry, are the chevronel, which is half the breadth of
the chevron.
Ex.
Argent, two chevronels, gules.
And the couple-close, which is
half the chevronel.
Ex.
Gules, three couple-closes interlaced in base, or.
Braced is sometimes used for interlaced. See
the word [Page 24] BRACED
in the Dictionary.
THE CROSS.
This, as its name imports, was the
distinguishing badge of the Crusaders, in its simplest form. It was merely two
pieces of list or riband of the same length, crossing each other at right
angles. The colour of the riband or list denoted the nation to which the
Crusader belonged. The cross is an honourable ordinary, occupying one fifth of
the shield when not charged, but if charged, one third.
Ex.
Or, a cross, gules.
When the cross became the distinguishing badge
of different leaders in the Crusades, the simple form given in the preceding
example was not generally adopted. Some bordered the red list with a narrow
white edge, others terminated the arms of the cross with short pieces of the
same colour, placed transversely, making each arm of the cross have the
appearance of a short crutch; the ends of these crutches meeting in a point,
make the cross potent. There is so great a variety of crosses used in Heraldry
that it would be impossible to describe them within the limits of this
introduction to Heraldry. The reader will find a great number of those most
used in English Heraldry described and illustrated in the Dictionary. He of
course will understand, if a coat of arms comes under his notice where this
ordinary is described as a cross engrailed, a cross invected, [Page 25] that the form of the cross is the same as that in the last
example, but that the lines forming it are engrailed, invected, &c. Small
crosses borne as charges are called crosslets.
See the words CROSS,
CROSSLETS,
in the Dictionary.
THE SALTIER.
The saltier was formed by making
two pieces of riband cross diagonally, having the appearance of the letter X,
or, speaking heraldically, the bend and bend sinister crossing each other in
the centre of the shield. The saltier, if uncharged, occupies one-fifth of the
field; if charged, one-third.
Ex.
Gules, a saltier, argent.
Like the cross, the saltier may be borne
engrailed, wavy, and the termination of the arms of the saltier varied; but
there are not so many examples of the variation of the form in the saltier as
in the cross.
SUBORDINATE ORDINARIES.
In order more particularly to distinguish the
subordinates in an army (the chieftains of different countries alone being
entitled to the preceding marks of honour), other figures were invented by
ancient armorists, and by them termed subordinate ordinaries. Their names and
forms are as follows:—
The
gyron is a triangular figure formed by drawing a line from the
dexter angle of the chief of the shield to the fess point, and an horizontal
line from that point to the dexter side of the shield.
The field is said to be gyrony
when it is covered with gyrons.
Ex.
Gyrony of eight pieces, argent and gules.
The
canton is a square part of the escutcheon, usually occupying
about one-eighth of the field; it is placed over the chief at the dexter side
of the shield: it may be charged, and when this is the case, its size may be
increased. The canton represents the banner of the ancient Knights [Page 27] Banneret. The canton in the example is marked A.
See KNIGHTS BANNERET
in the Dictionary.
The lozenge is formed by four
equal and parallel lines but not rectangular, two of its opposite angles being
acute, and two obtuse.
Ex.
Argent, a lozenge, vert.
The fusil is narrower than the
lozenge, the angles at the chief and base being more acute, and the others more
obtuse.
Ex.
Argent, a fusil, purpure.
The mascle is in the shape of a
lozenge but perforated through its whole extent except a narrow border.
Ex.
Gules, a mascle, argent.
The fret is formed by two lines
interlaced in saltier with a mascle.
Ex.
Azure, a fret, argent.
Fretty is when the shield is covered with lines[Page 28] crossing each other diagonally and interlaced.
Ex.
Gules, fretty of ten pieces, argent.
At the present time it is not usual to name the
number of pieces, but merely the word fretty.
The pile is formed like a wedge,
and may be borne wavy, engrailed, &c.; it issues generally from the chief,
and extends towards the base, but it may be borne in bend or issue from the
base.
See PILE
and IN PILE
in Dictionary.
Ex.
Argent, a pile, azure.
The inescutcheon is a small
escutcheon borne within the shield.
Ex.
Argent, a pale, gules, over all an inescutcheon or, a mullet sable.
An orle is a perforated
inescutcheon, and usually takes the shape of the shield whereon it is placed.
Ex.
Azure, an orle, argent.
The flanche is formed by two
curved lines nearly
[Page 29] touching each other in
the centre of the shield.
Ex.
Azure, a flanche, argent.
In the flasque the curved lines do
not approach so near each other.
Ex.
Azure, a flasque, argent.
In the voider the lines are still
wider apart; this ordinary occupies nearly the whole of the field: it may be
charged.
Ex.
Azure, a voider, argent.
The tressure is a border at some
distance from the edge of the field, half the breadth of an orle: the tressure
may be double or treble.
Ex.
Or, a double tressure, gules.
Tressures are generally ornamented, or borne
flory or [Page 30] counter flory as in the annexed example.
Ex. Argent, a double tressure, flory and
counter-flory, gules.
CHARGES BORNE IN COATS OF ARMS.
At first when the Feudal System prevailed, not
only in England, but other parts of Europe, none but military chieftains bore
Coats of Arms. And as few persons held land under the Crown but by military
tenure, that is, under the obligation of attending in person with a certain
number of vassals and retainers when their services were required by the king
for the defence of the state, heraldic honours were confined to the nobility,
who were the great landholders of the kingdom. When they granted any portion of
their territory to their knights and followers as rewards for deeds of prowess
in the field or other services, the new possessors of the land retained the
arms of their patrons with a slight difference to denote their subordinate
degree. The ingenuity of the armorist was not then taxed to find a multitude of
devices to distinguish every family. And when chivalry became the prevailing
pursuit of all that sought honour and distinction by deeds of arms and gallant courtesy,
the knights assumed the privilege that warriors in all ages have used; viz.
that of choosing any device they pleased to ornament the crests of their
helmets in the field of battle, or in the mock combat of the tournament: the
knight was known and named from the device used as his crest. Thus the heralds,
in introducing him to the judges of the field, or to the lady that bestowed [Page 31] the prizes, called him the Knight of the Swan, the Knight
of the Lion, without mentioning any other title. And knights whose fame for
gallantry and prowess was firmly established, had their crests painted over
their coats of arms. In two or three generations the bearer of the arms
established his right to a new crest, and the heralds, to preserve the memory
of the ancient honour of the family, introduced the old crest into the coat of
arms, either as a charge upon the principal ordinary, or on an unoccupied part
of the field. This will in some measure account for the variety of animals and
parts of animals found in shields of arms. When the sovereigns of Europe, to
decrease the power of the great barons, bestowed estates and titles not only
for deeds of arms, but wisdom in council, superior learning, and other
qualities which the original bearers of arms thought beneath their notice, the
heralds were obliged to invent new symbols in emblazoning the arms of the
modern nobility; and when arms were granted to civic and commercial
corporations, and to private individuals who had no claim to military honours,
we can easily conceive that the ingenuity of the armorists was severely tested,
and excuse the apparent confusion that prevailed in granting arms after the War
of the Roses. Sir William Dugdale, in his treatise entitled "Ancient Usage
in bearing Arms", states that, "Many errors have been and are still
committed in granting coats of arms to such persons as have not advanced
themselves by the sword, being such as rise by their judgment or skill in arts,
affairs, and trades"; with good reason affirming that the latter should
however only be allowed "notes or marks of honour fit for their calling,
and to show forth the manner of their rising, and not be set off with those
representations which in their nature are only proper for martial [Page 32] men."
It would be utterly impossible to give either a
graphic or written description of all the charges in a book of this size or
even in one ten times as large. The sun, moon, stars, comets, meteors, have
been introduced to denote glory, grandeur, power, &c.; lions, leopards,
tigers, serpents, stags, have been employed to signify courage, strength,
prudence, swiftness, &c.
The application to certain exercises, such as
war, hunting, music, fishing, has furnished lances, swords, armour, musical
instruments, architecture, columns, chevrons, builders' tools, &c. Human
bodies, or distinct parts of them, are frequently used as charges. Trees,
plants, fruits, and flowers have also been admitted to denote the rarities,
advantages, and singularities of different countries.
The relation of some creatures, figures, &c.
to particular names has been a fruitful source for variety of arms. Thus, the
family of Coningsby bears three conies; of Arundel, six swallows; of Corbet, a
raven; of Urson, a bear; of Camel, a camel; of Starky, a stork; of Castleman, a
castle triple-towered; of Shuttleworth, three weaver's shuttles. Hundreds of
other names might be given, but the before-mentioned will be sufficient to show
the reader the origin of many singular charges in coats of arms.
Not only were natural and artificial figures
used, but the lack of information on Zoology and other branches of Natural
History led to the introduction of fabulous animals, such as dragons, griffins,
harpies, wiverns, &c. A great number of charges, indeed most of them that
require explanation, will be found in the Dictionary of Heraldic Terms, which
will prevent the necessity of describing them more at large in this part of the
book.
THE EXTERNAL ORNAMENTS OF ESCUTCHEONS.
The ornaments that accompany or surround
escutcheons were introduced to denote the birth, dignity, or office of the
person to whom the coat of arms belongs. We shall merely give the names of the
various objects in this place, and refer the reader to the different words in
the Dictionary. Over regal escutcheons are placed the crown which pertains to
the nation over which the sovereign presides. The crown is generally surmounted
with a crest: as in the arms of the kings of England, the crown is surmounted
by a lion statant, guardant, crowned.
Over the Papal arms is placed a tiara or triple
crown, without a crest.
Above the arms of archbishops and bishops the
mitre is placed instead of a crest.
Coronets are worn by all princes and peers. They
vary in form according to the rank of the nobleman. A full description will be
found in the Dictionary of the coronets of the prince of Wales, royal dukes,
dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons.
Helmets are placed over arms, and show the rank
of the person to whom the arms belong: 1st, by the metal of which they are
made; 2dly, by their form; 3dly, by their position. See the word HELMET
in the Dictionary.
Mantlings were the ancient coverings of helmets to
preserve them and the bearers from the injuries of the weather. It is probable
that they were highly ornamented with scroll-work of gold and silver, and their
borders or edges cast into fanciful shapes. They are now formed into
scroll-work proceeding from the sides of the helmet, and are great ornaments to
an escutcheon. See a more full description under the word MANTLING.
CHAPEAUX.
A chapeau is an ancient hat or
rather cap of dignity worn by dukes. They were formed of scarlet velvet and
turned up with fur. They are frequently used instead of a wreath under the
crests of noblemen and even gentlemen.
The wreath was formed by two large skeins of
silk of different colours twisted together. This was worn at the lower part of
the crest, not alone as an ornament, but to protect the head from the blow of a
mace or sword. In Heraldry the wreath appears like a straight line or roll of
two colours generally the same as the tinctures of the shield. The crest is
usually placed upon the wreath.
The crest is the highest part among the
ornaments of a coat of arms. It is called crest from the Latin word crista,
which signifies comb or tuft.
Crests were used as marks of honour long before
the introduction of Heraldry. The helmets and crests of the Greek and Trojan
warriors are beautifully described by Homer. The German heralds pay great
attention to crests, and depict them as towering to a great height above the
helmet. Knights who were desirous of concealing their rank, or wished
particularly to distinguish themselves either in the battle field or tourney,
frequently decorated their helmets with plants or flowers, chimerical figures,
animals, &c.; these badges were also assumed by their descendants. The
difference between crests and badges as heraldic ornaments is, that the former
are always placed on a wreath, in the latter they are attached to the helmet.
The scroll is a label or ribbon containing the motto: it is usually placed
beneath the shield and supporters; see the word MOTTO
in the Dictionary.
MARSHALLING CHARGES ON ESCUTCHEONS BY THE RULES
OF HERALDRY.
The symbolic figures of Heraldry are so well
known to those acquainted with the science in every kingdom of Europe, that if
an Englishman was to send a written emblazonment or description of an
escutcheon to a French, German, or Spanish artist acquainted with the English
language, either of them could return a properly drawn and coloured escutcheon;
but a correct emblazonment would be indispensable. A single word omitted would
spoil the shield.
I.
The reader has already been informed that in
emblazoning an escutcheon, the colour of the field is first named; then the
principal ordinary, such as the fess, the chevron, &c., naming the tincture
and form of the ordinary; then proceed to describe the charges on the field, naming
their situation, metal, or colour; lastly, describe the charges on the
ordinary.
II.
When an honourable ordinary or some one figure
is placed upon another, whether it be a fess, chevron, cross, &c., it is
always to be named after the ordinary or figure over which it is placed, with
either the words surtout or overall.
III.
In the blazoning such ordinaries as are plain,
the bare mention of them is sufficient; but if an ordinary should be formed of
any of the curved or angular lines, such as invected, indented, &c., the
lines must be named.
IV.
When a principal figure possesses the centre of
the field, its position is not to be expressed; it is always understood to be
in the middle of the shield.
V.
When the situation of a principal bearing is not
expressed, it is always understood to occupy the centre of the field. Ex. See Azure, an annulet
argent, p. 48.
VI.
The number of the points of mullets must be specified
if more than five: also if a mullet or any other charge is pierced, it must be
mentioned.
VII.
When a ray of the sun or other single figure is
borne in any other part of the escutcheon than the centre, the point it issues
from must be named.
VIII.
The natural colour of trees, plants, fruits,
birds, &c., is to be expressed in emblazoning by the word proper;
but if they vary from their natural colour, the tincture or metals that is used
must be named.
IX.
Two metals cannot come in contact: thus or, cannot
be placed on argent, but must be contrasted with a tincture.
X.
When there are many figures of the same species
borne in coats of arms, their number must be observed as they stand, and
properly expressed. The annexed arrangements of roundlets in shields will show
how they are placed and described.
The
two roundlets are arranged in pale, but they may appear in chief or base; or in
fess, as in No. 2.
Three roundlets, two over one; if the single
roundlet had been at the top, it would have been called one over two.
Three roundlets in bend. They might also be
placed in fess, chief, base, or in pale.
Four
roundlets, two over two. Some armorists call them cantoned as
they form a square figure.
Five roundlets; two, one, two, in saltier.
Five roundlets; one, three, one, or in cross.
Six
roundlets; two, two, two, paleway.
Six
roundlets; three, two, one, in pile.
There are seldom more figures than seven, but no
matter the number; they are placed in the same way, commencing with the figures
at the top of the shield, or in chief. If the field was strewed all over with
roundlets, this would be expressed by the word semé.
Marshalling coats of
arms,
is the act of disposing the arms of several persons in one escutcheon, so that
their relation to each other may be clearly marked.
In Heraldry, the husband and wife are called baron and femme; and when they are descended from
distinct families, both their arms are placed in the same escutcheon, divided
by a perpendicular line through
[Page 39] the centre of the
shield. As this line runs in the same direction, and occupies part of the space
in the shield appropriated to the ordinary called the pale, the shield is in
heraldic language said to be parted per pale. The arms of the
baron (the husband) are always placed on the dexter side of the escutcheon; and
the femme (the wife), on the sinister side, as in the annexed example.
Parted
per pale, baron and femme, two coats; first, or, a chevron gules; second, barry
of twelve pieces, azure and argent.
If a widower marries again, the arms of both his
wives are placed on the sinister side, which is parted per fess; that is,
parted by an horizontal line running in the direction of the fess, and
occupying the same place. The arms of the first wife are placed in the upper
compartment of the shield, called the chief; the arms of the second wife in the
lower compartment, called the base.
Parted
per pale, baron and femme, three coats;—first, gules, on a bend azure, three
trefoils vert: second, parted per fess, in chief azure, a mascle or, with a
label argent for difference. In base ermine, a fess, dancette gules. The same
rule would apply if the husband had three or more wives; they would all be
placed in the sinister division of the shield.
Where the baron marries an heiress,
he does not impale his arms with hers, as in the preceding examples, but bears
them in an escutcheon of pretence in the centre of the shield, showing his
pretension to her lands
[Page 40] in consequence of his
marriage with the lady who is legally entitled to them. The escutcheon of
pretence is not used by the children of such marriage; they bear the arms of
their father and mother quarterly, and so transmit them to posterity. Annexed
is an example of the arms of the femme on escutcheon of pretence.
Baron and femme, two coats; first, gules, a
saltier argent; second, on an escutcheon of pretence, azure, a chevron, or.
If a peeress in her own right, or the daughter
of a peer, marries a private gentleman, their coats of arms are not conjoined
paleways, as baron and femme, but are placed upon separate shields by the side
of each other; they are usually inclosed in a mantel, the shield of the baron
occupying the dexter side of the mantel, that of the femme the sinister; each
party has a right to all the ornaments incidental to their rank. The femme
claiming the arms of her father, has a right to his supporters and coronet. The
baron, who only ranks as an esquire, has no right to supporters or coronet, but
exhibits the proper helmet, wreath, and crest.
The peeress, by marrying one beneath her in
rank, confers no dignity on her husband, but loses none of her own. She is
still addressed as "your ladyship," though her husband only ranks as
a gentleman; and it is for this reason that the arms cannot be conjoined in one
shield as baron and femme.
Ex. Baron and femme, two atchievements. First,
azure, a pile or, crest a star of six points, argent; second, gules, a cross
flory argent, surmounted by an earl's coronet: supporters, on the dexter side a
stag ducally gorged and chained, on the sinister side a [Page 41] griffin gorged and
chained; motto, Honour and Truth.
In the arms of the femme joined to the paternal
coat of the baron, the proper differences by which they were borne by the
father of the lady must be inserted.
If the arms of the baron has a bordure, that
must be omitted on the sinister side of the shield.
Archbishops and bishops impale the paternal arms
with the arms of the see over which they preside, placing the arms of the
bishopric on the dexter, and their paternal arms on the sinister side of the
shield; a bishop does not emblazon the arms of his wife on the same shield with
that which contains the arms of the see, but on a separate shield.
Arms of augmentation are marshalled according to
the direction of the College of Heralds: they are usually placed on a canton in
the dexter chief of the shield; in some cases they occupy the whole of the
chief. The mark of distinction denoting a baronet is usually placed on an
escutcheon, on the fess point of the shield.
The rules here laid down apply to funeral
atchievements, banners, &c. The only difference, as will be [Page 42] seen by the annexed examples, is, that the ground of the
hatchment is black, that surrounds the arms of the deceased, whether baron or
femme, and white round the arms of the survivor.
In
fig. 1. the black is left on the dexter side, showing that the husband
is deceased, and that his wife survives him.
Fig.
2. shows that the husband survives the wife.
Fig.
3. shows that the husband and his first wife are deceased, and that the
second wife is the survivor.
Fig.
4. The shield on the dexter side of the hatchment is parted per pale;
first, the arms of the bishopric; second, the paternal arms of the bishop. The
shield on the dexter side is the arms of the bishop impaling those of his wife
as baron and femme; the ground of the hatchment is black round the sinister [Page 43] side of this shield, showing that it is the wife that is dead.
Fig.
5. is the hatchment of a lady that has died unmarried. The arms of females
of all ranks are placed in a lozenge-shaped shield.
Fig.
6. is the hatchment of the widow of a bishop; the arms are the same as
those displayed at fig. 4.: here the lozenge-shaped shield is parted per pale.
Baron and femme:—first, parted paleways, on the dexter side the arms of the
bishopric, on the sinister side the paternal arms of the bishop. Second, the
arms of the femme: the widow of a bishop has a right to exhibit the arms of the
see over which her husband presided, as though his death has dissolved all
connection with the see. She has a right to emblazon all that will honour her
deceased husband.
For banners, pennons, guidons, cyphers,
hatchments, &c., and all other matters where heraldic emblazonment is used
in funeral processions, the reader is referred to the Dictionary.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCY.
The
order of precedency to be observed in England was settled by an act of parliament
passed in the thirty-first year of the reign of Henry VIII. The order has been
varied at different periods to accord with the alterations in the families of
the reigning monarchs, and the creation of new offices. The following table
shows the order of precedency at the present time, viz. the eighth year of the
reign of Queen Victoria.
·
The
Queen.
·
The
Prince of Wales.
·
The
Queen's Children.
·
Prince
Albert of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha.
·
The
Queen's Uncles.
·
The
Children of the Queen's Uncles.
The
following dignitaries precede all Dukes, except those of the blood royal:—
·
Archbishop
of Canterbury, primate of all England.
·
Lord
High Chancellor or Keeper.
·
Archbishop
of York, primate of England.
·
Lord
High Treasurer.
·
Lord
President of the Privy Council.
·
Lord
Privy Seal.
The
following dignitaries precede all of their own [Page 45] degree:—
·
The
Earl Marshal.
·
Lord
Steward of her Majesty's household.
·
Lord
Chamberlain.
·
Secretaries
of State.
·
Dukes
according to the date of their patent.
·
Marquises
according to the date of their patent.
·
Dukes'
eldest Sons.
·
Earls
according to their patents.
·
Marquises'
eldest Sons.
·
Dukes'
younger Sons.
·
Viscounts
according to their patents.
·
Earls'
eldest Sons.
·
Marquises'
younger Sons.
·
Bishops
of London, Durham, and Winchester; all other Bishops according to their
seniority of consecration.
·
Barons
according to their patents.
·
Speaker
of the House of Commons.
·
Viscounts'
eldest Sons.
·
Earls'
younger Sons.
·
Barons'
eldest Sons.
·
Knights
of the Garter, commoners.
·
Privy
Councillors, commoners.
·
Chancellor
of the Exchequer.
·
Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster.
·
Lord
Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
·
Master
of the Rolls.
·
The
Vice-Chancellor of England.
·
Lord
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
·
Lord
Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
·
Judges
and Barons of the degree of the Coif, according to seniority
·
Viscounts'
younger Sons. [Page 46]
·
Barons'
younger Sons.
·
Baronets.
·
Knights
of the Bath.
·
Knights
Commanders of the Bath.
·
Field
and Flag Officers.
·
Knights
Bachelors.
·
Masters
in Chancery.
·
Doctors
graduate.
·
Serjeants
at Law.
·
Esquires
of the King's Body.
·
Esquires
of the Knights of the Bath.
·
Esquires
by creation.
·
Esquires
by office.
·
Clergymen,
Barristers at Law, Officers in the Royal Navy and Army who are Gentlemen by
Profession, and Gentlemen entitled to bear arms.
·
Citizens.
·
Burgesses.
The
Lords Spiritual of Ireland rank next after the Lords Spiritual of Great
Britain; the priority of signing any treaty or public instrument by the members
of the government is always taken by rank of place, not by title.
The
style prefixed to the titles of the peerage of Great Britain and Ireland are as
follows :—
·
Princes
of the Blood, His Royal Highness.
·
Archbishops,
His Grace.
·
Dukes,
The Most Noble His Grace.
·
Marquesses,
the Most Honorable.
·
Earls,
Viscounts, and Barons, The Right Honorable.
·
Bishops,
The Right Reverend.
OF
HERALDIC TERMS
ABAISSÉ. A French word, generally used in heraldry
instead of the English word abased. When the fess, or any other ordinary
properly placed above the fess point of the shield, is brought below it, that
ordinary is said to be abaissé.
ABATEMENT. Any figure added to coats of arms tending
to lower the dignity or station of the bearer. Thus, the baton, denoting
illegitimacy, is an abatement: so, also, are the differences in coats of arms
showing the degrees of consanguinity.
ADDORSED. Any animals set back to back. See LION.
ALLERION. An eagle displayed,
without beak or feet.
Ex.
Argent, an allerion gules.
ALTERNATE. Figures or tinctures that succeed each
other by turns.
AMETHYST. A precious stone of a violet colour, the name
of which was formerly used instead of purpure, to denote the purple tincture
when emblazoning the arms of the English nobility.
ANNULET. A small circle borne as
a charge in coats of
[Page 48] arms.
Ex.
Azure, an annulet argent. Annulets are added to arms for a difference.
See DIFFERENCES,
p. 13.
ANCIENT. A small flag or ensign. The bearer of the flag
was called by its name. Iago was ancient to the troops commanded
by Othello.
"This
is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
The same indeed, a very valiant fellow." SHAKSPEARE.
ARCHBISHOPS. Church dignitaries of the first class.
There are but two in England—the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of
York. The former is the first peer of England next to the royal family, and has
the title of Grace given to him; and likewise Most Reverend
Father in God. He is styled Primate of all England, and Metropolitan.
The
Archbishop of York has precedence of dukes and great officers of state, except
the lord chancellor. He is called His Grace and Most
Reverend Father in God; and styled Primate of England and
Metropolitan.
ARGENT. The French word for silver, of which metal all
white fields or charges are supposed to consist.
ARMED. This word is used to
express the horns, hoofs, beak, or talons of any beast or bird of prey, when borne
of a different tincture from those of their bodies.
Ex.
Crest, a demi-griffin armed, gules.
[Page 49] ARMORIST. A person skilled in the
bearings of coats of arms, and all relating to their emblazonment.
ARMS. A word derived from the
Latin arma, which signifies in Heraldry a mark of honour, serving
to distinguish states, cities, families, &c.
ARROWS. Short darts feathered at the ends.
Ex.
Argent, three arrows paleways, points in chief sable, feathered.
ASPECTANT. Animals placed face to face in a charge
are said to be aspectant. If they are about to attack each other, they are said
to be combatant.
ASSUMPTIVE. Arms assumed without being sanctioned by
a grant from the College of Heralds.
ASSURGENT. A man or beast rising out of the sea is
said to be assurgent.
ATCHIEVEMENT. The coat of arms fully
emblazoned according to the rules of Heraldry. The lozenge-shaped atchievements
that are displayed on the outside of the houses of persons deceased are
commonly called Hatchments.
ATTIRED. When the horns of a stag are of a different
tincture to its head, it is said to be attired.
Ex.
Argent, a stag lodged, proper, attired, or
AUGMENTATION. This word signifies in Heraldry a
particular mark of honour, granted by the sovereign in consideration of some
noble action, or by favour; and either quartered with the family arms, or on an [Page 50] escutcheon or canton.
Ex.
Ermine, on a chevron azure, three foxes' heads erased, argent. The
augmentation is in a canton azure, a fleur-de-lis argent.
AZURE. The French word for blue:
it is distinguished in heraldic engraving by lines running parallel to each
other in an horizontal direction, as in the annexed example.
BADGE. A distinctive mark worn by servants, retainers,
and followers of royalty or nobility, who, being beneath the rank of gentlemen,
have no right to armorial bearings. The rose and crown is the badge of the
servants, &c., of the Kings of England: they are displayed as in the
annexed example.
BANDED. Anything tied with a band.
Ex.
Argent. Three arrows proper, banded.
BANNER. The principal standard
of a knight. The great banner borne at the funeral of a nobleman contains all
the quarterings of his arms: it varies in size according to the rank of the
deceased. The banner of the sovereign is five feet square; that of a prince or
duke, four feet square; for all noblemen of inferior rank, three feet square.
BANNER ROLL is a small square flag
containing a single escutcheon of the deceased. Thus, if there are twelve
quarterings in the banner, the same number of banner rolls will be required to
be borne in the funeral procession. The annexed engraving shows the banner and
banner-roll.
BAR. An honourable ordinary,
occupying one-fifth of the shield. It may be placed in any part of the field.
It has two diminutives, the closet and barrulet.
Ex.
Ermine, two bars gules.
BARBED. Bearded. It is also applied to roses.
Ex.
Azure, a rose argent, barbed, and seeded proper.
BARON. The lowest title of the peerage of Great
Britain.
BARON AND FEMME. Terms used in Heraldry
to denote [Page 52] the arms of a man and his wife, marshalled together. See p. 38.
BARRULET. The smallest diminutive of the bar. The closet
is half the bar; the barrulet half the closet.
Ex.
Gules, two barrulets argent.
BARRY. A field divided transversely into several equal
parts, and consisting of two different tinctures interchangeably disposed.
Ex.
Barry of eight pieces, azure and argent.
BATON. BATUNE. BASTON. It is generally used as
an abatement in coats of arms to denote illegitimacy.
Ex.
Or, a cross gules, over all a baton argent.
BATTERING RAM. An instrument used for battering down
walls before gunpowder was known in Europe: it is frequently borne as a charge
in a coat of arms.
Ex.
Argent, a battering ram proper.
BATTLE AXE. An ancient military weapon, frequently
borne on arms as a mark of prowess.
Ex.
Argent, three battle axes gules two over one.
BATTLEMENTS. Divisions or apertures on the top of
castle walls or towers.
Ex.
Gules, three towers embattled argent.
BEAKED. The beak of a bird being of a different tint
from the body is said to be beaked.
Ex.
An eagle's head erased, beaked, or.
BEAVER. That part of the helmet
that defends the sight.
BELLED. Having bells.
Ex.
Argent, a barrulet gules, belled with three bells proper.
BEND. One of the honourable
ordinaries formed by
[Page 54] two diagonal lines
drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth
part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third.
Ex.
Azure, a bend argent.
BEND SINISTER. Is the reverse of the bend; it is seldom
found in coats of arms, as it is reckoned an abatement.
Ex.
Argent, a bend sinister gules.
IN BEND. Figures placed in a
slanting direction from the dexter chief to the sinister base are said to be in
bend.
Ex.
Or, three torteaux in bend.
BENDLET. A diminutive of the bend, of the same shape,
but only half the width of the bend.
BENDY. This word serves to denote a field divided
diagonally into several bends, varying in metal and colour.
Ex.
Bendy of six pieces, azure and argent.
BESANT, or BEZANT. Gold coin of Byzantium;
when they appear in a coat of arms their colour is not described: a besant is
always or.
BILLETS. This charge is, by some authors, supposed to
represent tiles or bricks; by others that it represents a letter or billet. The
name and form of the charge most accords with the latter opinion.
Ex.
Argent, three billets azure, two over one.
BISHOPS. Church dignitaries: they are barons of the
realm, and have precedence next to viscounts: they have the title of lords,
and right reverend fathers in God.
BLAZON. To describe in proper colours, or lines
representing colours, all that belongs to coats of arms. Arms may also be
emblazoned by describing the charges and tinctures of a coat of arms in
heraldic terms.
BLUE-MANTEL. A title of one of the
pursuivants at arms. See HERALD.
BORDURE or BORDER. This was the most
ancient difference in coats of arms, to distinguish different branches of the
same family. It is a border round the edge of the shield. Its situation is
always the same; but the inner edge may be varied.
Ex.
Argent, a sinister hand couped at the wrist and erected gules, within a
bordure azure.
BOTTONNY. See CROSS BOTTONNY.
BOUJET. An ancient water bucket, frequently borne in
shields of arms.
Ex.
Argent, a boujet proper.
BRACED. Two figures of the same
form, interlacing each other.
Ex.
Vert, two triangles braced, argent.
BRASED and BRAZED are words sometimes used by
ancient armorists. They always describe things interlaced or braced together.
BROAD ARROW. An ancient weapon of war, thrown by an
engine. It is frequently borne as a charge in coats of arms.
Ex.
Argent, a broad arrow gules.
CABOCHED or CABOSHED. Beasts' heads borne
without any part of the neck, and full faced.
Ex.
Argent, a stag's head caboshed, proper.
CALTROP. An iron instrument made to annoy an enemy's
cavalry. They were formed of iron, being four spikes conjoined in such a manner
that one was always upwards. It is found in many ancient coats of arms.
Ex.
Argent, a caltrop proper.
CANTON. The French word for
corner. It is a small square figure, generally placed at the dexter chief of
the shield, as in the annexed example.
CELESTIAL
CROWN.
Distinguished from any other crown by the stars on the points or rays that
proceed from the circlet.
CHAPEAU. Cap of maintenance or
dignity, borne only by sovereign princes. It is formed of crimson or scarlet
velvet, lined with ermine.
CHAPLET. An ancient ornament for the head, granted to
gallant knights for acts of courtesy. It is frequently borne as a charge in a
shield of arms, and always tinted in its natural colours.
Ex.
Argent, a chaplet proper.
CHARGE. The figures or bearings contained in an
escutcheon.
CHECKY. The field covered with alternate squares of
metal and fur.
Ex.
Checky, sable and argent.
CHEVRON. This ordinary is supposed to represent the
rafters of the gable of a house.
Ex.
Or, a chevron gules.
CHEVRONEL. The diminutive of the chevron, being one
half its size.
Ex.
Argent, two chevronels gules.
CHIEF. One of the honourable
ordinaries. It is placed on the upper part of the shield and contains a third
part of it. The letters show the points in the chief. A is the dexter chief; B,
the precise middle chief; C, the sinister chief.
CHIMERICAL FIGURES. Imaginary figures, such
as griffins, dragons, harpies, &c.: all of them will be found under their
proper names.
CINQUE FOIL. Five leaves conjoined
in the centre.
CIVIC CAP. A cap of dignity borne by mayors of
cities or corporate bodies: it is formed of sables garnished with ermine.
CLARION. A horn or trumpet borne
in this shape in English and German coat-armour.
Ex.
Azure, three clarions or.
CLENCHED. The fingers pressed towards the palm of the
hand.
Ex.
Azure, a dexter arm vambraced couped, the fist clenched proper.
CLOSE. A bird with its wings closed.
CLOSET.. A diminutive of the bar, being only one half
its width.
Ex.
Or, two closets azure.
[Page 60]
CLOSEGIRT. A figure whose dress is fastened round
the waist.
Ex.
Gules, an angel erect with wings expanded or, dress closegirt.
COAT ARMOUR, or Surcoat. A loose
garment worn over the armour of a knight; hence the term coat of arms. On this
garment were emblazoned the armorial bearings of the wearer.
COCKATRICE. A chimerical animal, a cock with a
dragon's tail and wings.
COLLARED. Having a collar. Dogs
and inferior animals are sometimes collared: the supporters and charges are
generally said to be gorged. See GORGED.
COMBATANT. A French word for fighting. See LION.
COMPLEMENT. The Heraldic term for the full moon.
When this figure is introduced as a charge in a coat of arms, it is called a
moon in her complement.
COMPONY. A term applied to a bordure, pale, bend, [Page 61] or any other ordinary, made up of squares of alternate
metal and colour.
Ex.
Argent, an inescutcheon azure, border compony, or and gules.
CONJOINED. Joined together.
Ex.
Argent, three legs armed, conjoined at the fess point at the upper extremity
of the thigh, flexed in a triangle, garnished and spurred, or.
CONY. An heraldic name for a young rabbit.
COTICE. One of the diminutives of the bend: cotices are
generally borne on each side of the bend.
Ex.
Gules, a bend argent, coticed of the same.
The
cotices are frequently of a different tincture from the bend they cotice.
COUCHANT. The French word for
lying down with the breast towards the earth, and the head raised. See LION COUCHANT.
COUNT. A nobleman that was deputed by the king to
govern a county or shire: the title is not used in the British Peerage; his
rank is equal to an earl.
COUNTER. In Heraldry implies
contrariety, as in the following examples:—
COUNTER-CHANGED. The intermixture of
metal with colours opposed to each other.
Ex.
Per pale, or and azure, on a chevron, three mullets all counter-changed.
COUNTER SALIENT. Two animals leaping
different ways from each other.
Ex.
Argent, two foxes counter salient.
COUNTER PASSANT. Two animals passing the
contrary way to each other.
Ex.
Or, two lions passant counter passant gules, the uppermost facing the
sinister side of the escutcheon, both collared sable, garnished argent.
COUNTER FLORY. Any ordinary ornamented
with fleurs-de-luce: the points of the flowers run alternately in a contrary
direction.
Ex.
Or, a pale purpure, flory and counter flory gules.
COUPED. From the French word couper, to
cut. The [Page 63] cross in the example is couped, part of it being cut off,
so as not to touch the edges of the shield.
Ex.
Azure, a cross couped argent.
COUPED. The head or limbs of any animal cut close is
called couped.
Ex.
Argent, a boar's head proper couped.
COUPLE-CLOSE. One of the diminutives of the chevron,
half the size of the chevronel.
Ex.
Argent, three couple-closes interlaced vert.
Ex.
Argent, a stag proper courant.
CRENELLE. The French heraldic
term for embattled. See EMBATTLED.
CRESCENT. The half moon with its horns turned [Page 64] upwards.
Ex.
Azure, a crescent argent.
CREST. The ornament on the
upper part of the helmet in Heraldry placed over coats of arms, either with or
without the helmet. By referring to the title-page
of this work the crests of Great Britain will be found with all the adornments
of regal helmets.
The
English crest is a crown surmounted by a lion statant guardant crowned, or.
The
Scottish crest is an imperial crown, surmounted by a lion sejant guardant,
displaying two sceptres or.
The
Irish crest is an ancient diadem surmounted by an embattled tower, a stag
courant issuing from the portal.
The
crest of Wales is a dragon passant guardant, gules.—The whole of these crests,
with mantlings, &c., are emblazoned on the title-page of this Manual.
Crests
are usually displayed upon a wreath as in 
the
annexed example, which is a demi-lion rampant. If a crest this size had been
placed upon an helmet of proportionate size it must have occupied a sixth part
of this page, and the shield containing the arms to be in proportion
considerably larger: in showing the crest without the helmet proportion is of
little consequence. See HELMET,
WREATH,
and MANTLING.
CRESTED. A cock or other bird, whose comb is of a different
tincture from the body, is said to be crested. See JOWLOPED.
CRINED. This is said of an animal whose hair is of a
different tincture from its body.
Ex.
Argent, a mermaid gules, crined or.
CROSIER. The pastoral staff of a bishop or abbot: a very
frequent charge in ecclesiastical arms.
Ex.
Or, a crosier gules, in bend.
CROSS. An honourable ordinary,
more used as a charge in a coat of arms than any of the others. During the
Crusades for the recovery of the Holy Land, the troops of the different nations
that joined in the Crusade displayed crosses on their banners and arms: every
soldier bore a cross upon his dress; this was composed of two pieces of list or
riband of equal length, crossing each other at right angles. The soldiers of
France attached their national emblem, the fleur-de-lis, to the ends of the
members of the cross; hence the introduction of the cross flory. The Crusaders
from the Papal dominions placed transverse pieces on each member of the plain
cross, and by this means transformed it into four small crosses springing from
a centre, forming what is now called the cross-crosslet. It would be impossible
within the limits of this work to give an example of all the [Page 66] crosses that have been introduced as bearings in coats of
arms. Berry, in his comprehensive work on Heraldry, gives nearly two hundred
examples, without giving all that might be found. The following are the crosses most used in English Heraldry.
|
Cross |
|
Cross
potent |
|
|
Cross
flory |
|
Cross
crosslet |
|
|
Cross
bottonny |
|
Cross
pattee |
|
|
|
Cross
patonce |
|
|
|
Cross
moline |
|
Cross
quadrate |
|
|
Cross
quarter-pierced |
|
Cross
of Calvary |
|
|
Cross
fitchy |
|
Cross
patriarchal |
|
|
|
Cross
potent rebated |
|
CURTANA. The pointless sword of mercy is the principal
in dignity of the three swords that are borne naked before the British monarchs
at their coronation.
CROWN AND CORONETS.
|
The
crown of the king of England. |
|
Coronet
of the prince of Wales |
|
|
Of
a princess of England |
|
Of
a marquis |
|
|
Of
a royal duke |
|
Of
an earl |
|
|
Of
a duke |
|
Of
a viscount |
|
|
|
Coronet
of a baron |
|
DANCETTE. A zig-zag figure with spaces between the
points, much larger than in the indented.
Ex.
Argent, a pale, dancette vert.
DEBRUISED. Any animal that has an ordinary placed
upon it is said to be debruised.
Ex.
Argent, a lion rampant guardant gules, debruised by a fess azure.
DECRESSANT, or DECRESCENT. A moon in its
wane, whose horns are turned to the sinister side of the escutcheon.
Ex.
Azure, a moon decrescent, proper.
DEMI, or DEMY. This particle is always joined
to a substantive, and signifies half; as, a demi-lion, i.e. half
a lion.
DETRIMENT. The moon is said to be in its detriment
when it is eclipsed.
Ex.
Argent, the moon in her detriment sable.
DEXTER. A word used in Heraldry to signify the right
side of any thing.
DIADEM, a circle of gold with points rising from it,
worn by ancient kings as the token of royalty. The diadem of most of the monarchs
of Europe, as represented in ancient statuary, stained glass, and paintings,
resembles the annexed engraving; the kings of England, from the Conquest to
Henry VII., all wore a diadem of this shape.
DIAMOND. The hardest and most valuable of precious
stones; it was formerly used by English heralds to denote black or sable in
blazoning the arms of the nobility.
DIFFERENCE. The term given to a
certain figure added
[Page 70] to coats of arms to
distinguish one family from another, and to show how distant younger branches
are from the elder or principal branch. See p. 13.
DIMINUTION. A word sometimes used instead of difference.
DISPLAYED. A bird whose wings are expanded and legs
spread is said to be displayed.
Ex.
Argent, an eagle displayed sable.
DORMANT. The French word for
sleeping, used to denote the posture of a lion, or any other beast reposing.
See LION.
DOUBLINGS. The lining of robes of state, as also
the rows of fur set on the mantles of peers.
DOUBLE TRESSURE. Two Tressures, or
orles, one within the other.
DOVETAILED. A term borrowed from carpentry to show
tinctures joined together by reversed wedges, which, being shaped like doves'
tails, are by joiners called dovetailing.
Ex.
Quarterly per pale dove-tailed, or and gules.
DRAGON.. An imaginary monster; a mixture of beast, [Page 71] bird, and reptile. It is frequently borne in crests and
charges.
Ex.
Argent, a dragon proper, tail nowed.
DRAGON'S HEAD. Part of a celestial constellation, used
by ancient English heralds to denote tenne when emblazoning the arms of
sovereigns; this style of heraldry has become obsolete.
DRAGON'S TAIL. Part of the same constellation; formerly
used to denote sanguine.
DUKE. The highest degree of British peerage next to
the prince of Wales. This title is derived from the Latin word dux:
the title of Duke was known in other parts of Europe long before it was
introduced into England. The first person that was created a duke in this
country was Edward the Black Prince, who was created duke of Cornwall by his
father Edward the third. The title has since that time belonged to the first
born son of the monarch of England. A duke formerly possessed great authority
over the province that formed his dukedom, and had large estates annexed to his
title to support its dignity. At the present time dukes are created by patent,
and their dukedom is merely nominal, neither power nor possessions being
annexed to the title.
EAGLE. Aquila in Ornithology. In
Heraldry the eagle is accounted one of the most noble bearings, and ought to be
given only to such as greatly excel in the virtues of generosity and courage, or
for having done some singular service to their sovereign.
EAGLET is a diminutive of eagle, properly signifying a [Page 72] young eagle. In Heraldry, when several eagles are on the
same escutcheon, they are termed eaglets.
EARL. The third degree of British peerage. Under the
Danish and Saxon kings this was the highest title known in England conferred
upon a subject. It was formerly the custom upon creating an earl to assign him,
for the support of his state, the third penny from the fines and profits of the
sheriff's court, issuing out of the pleas of the shire whence the earl took his
title; as, formerly, there was no count or earl but had a county or shire for
his earldom. When the number of earls was increased, they took their titles
from towns and villages. An earl is now created by patent.
EARL-MARSHAL OF
ENGLAND.
A very ancient, and formerly a very important, officer, who had several courts
under his jurisdiction, as the Court of Chivalry, the Court of Honour. He still
presides over the Heralds' College, and nominally over the Marshalsea Court.
The title of Earl Marshal of England is now, and has been for some ages,
hereditary in the noble family of the Howards.
EASTERN CROWN. A crown with rays
proceeding from a circle, called by heralds an Eastern crown, is found in
ancient achievements. The annexed cut shows its form.
EMBATTLED. A line, formed like the
battlements on a wall or tower, is said to be embattled or crenelle. When the
line is used to form one of the ordinaries, it is said to be embattled. See the
lines, p. 11.
Ex.
Gules, a bend sinister embattled, [Page 73] argent.
EMBATTLED GRADY. Where the battlements
gradually rise one above another.
Ex.
Argent, a fess gules, embattled grady. See the lines p. 11.
EMBOWED. Any thing bent or curved, like a bow.
Ex.
Gules, a dolphin naiant embowed or.
EMERALD. The name of a precious stone formerly
substituted for vert in emblazoning the arms of the nobility of England.
EN ARRIÈRE. An expression borrowed
from the French, to signify any creature borne with its back to view.
Ex.
Argent, an eagle proper en arrière.
ENDORSE. The smallest diminutive of the pale.
Ex.
Argent, a pale between endorses [Page 74] gules.
ENGRAILED. Any object being edged with small
semi-circles, the points turning outwards, is said to be engrailed.
Ex.
Argent, a pale azure engrailed.
ENHANCED. A term applied to bearings placed above their
usual situation.
Ex.
Argent, three bendlets, enhanced gules.
ENSIGNED. This word, in heraldic description, means
ornamented.
Ex.
Argent, a man's heart gules, ensigned with a celestial crown or.
ERASED. Signifies any thing torn or plucked off from
the part to which nature affixed it; generally applied to the head and limbs of
man or beast.
Ex.
Argent, a leg erased at the [Page 75] midst of the thigh
gules.
ERECT. This is said of any animal or parts of animals,
naturally horizontal, being placed in a perpendicular direction.
Ex.
Argent, a boar's head erect, and erased.
ERMINE. A white fur with black spots, represented as in
the annexed example.
ERMINES. This fur is represented by white spots on a
black field.
ERMINOIS. A fur, the field, or, the spots or tufts,
sable, as in the annexed example.
ESCALOP. The shell of a sea-fish, used to decorate the
palmers on their way to and from Palestine; frequently used as a charge in
Heraldry.
ESCUTCHEON. This word is sometimes
used to express the whole coat of arms, sometimes only the field upon which the
arms are painted. It more generally denotes the painted shields used at
funerals. The field, if the husband is dead and wife survives, is black on the
dexter side only; if the wife is deceased, it is black on the sinister side; if
both, it is black all over. The example shows that this is the escutcheon of a
deceased baron, whose lady survives.
ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE. A small escutcheon, on
which a man bears the coat of arms of his wife, being an heiress.
See p. 40.
Ex.
Argent, a chevron or, between three crosslets sable, on the fess point
surtout the chevron an escutcheon of pretence gules, three quatrefoils argent.
ESQUIRE. The degree below a knight and above a
gentleman. Those to whom this title is due by right, are all the younger sons
of noblemen and their heirs male for ever, the four esquires of the king's
body, the eldest sons of baronets, of all knights and of their heirs male:
those who bear superior offices, as magistrates, high sheriffs, mayors, and
aldermen, have it during their continuance in office and no [Page 77] longer. For the helmet of an esquire, see page 84.
ETOILE. The French word for a
star. It differs from the mullet in the number of points, and four of the
points being rayant.
FESS. An honourable ordinary
occupying the third part of the shield between the centre and the base.
Ex.
Argent, a fess gules.
FESS POINT. The exact centre of the
escutcheon, as seen in the annexed example. See the escutcheon lettered at p. 6.,
where this point is marked with the letter E.
FIELD. The whole surface of the shield or escutcheon:
it is the ground upon which the colours, tinctures, furs, ordinaries, and
charges, are represented.
FIGURED. Those bearings which are depicted with a human
face, are said to be figured.
Ex.
Gules, three bezants figured.
FILLET. The only diminutive
belonging to the chief; its width is one-fourth of the chief, and is always
placed at the base of it. See CHIEF,
p. 18.
FIMBRIATED. An ordinary having a border of a
different [Page 78] tincture is said to be fimbriated.
Ex.
Azure, a bend gules, fimbriated argent.
FITCHY. Is from the French word
fiché, fixed. It is generally applied to crosses which have their
lower branch pointed, so that it could be fixed in the ground. See CROSS FITCHY.
FLANCHES. Are formed of two curved lines placed opposite
each other.
Ex.
Azure, a flanche argent.
FLANK. That part of an escutcheon between the chief
and the base.
Ex.
Argent, three mullets gules, accompanied with seven cross crosslets fitchy
sable—three in chief, one in fess, two in flanks, one in base.
FLASQUES. A subordinate ordinary formed by curved lines
placed opposite each other, but not so near as in flanches.
Ex.
Azure, a flasque argent.
FLEUR-DE-LIS. Supposed to represent the garden-lily.
It is the bearing of the Bourbons of France, but is frequently introduced in English
charges.
FLORY. Signifies flowered or
adorned with the fleur-de-lis. See FLORY
COUNTER-FLORY, and CROSS-FLORY.
FRET. Two laths interlaced with a mascle.
Ex.
Azure, a fret argent.
FRETTY. This word denotes a field