Fig. 80.Fig. 80.—Bendlets.
Fig. 80.—Bendlets.
A bend will usually be found between two charges. Occasionally it will be found between four, but more frequently between six. In none of these cases is it necessary to specify the position of the subsidiary charges. It is presumed that the bend separates them into even numbers, but their exact position (beyond this) upon the shield is left to the judgment of the artist, and their disposition is governed by the space left available by the shape of the shield. A further presumption is permitted in the case of a bend betweenthreeobjects, which are presumed to be two in chief and one in base. But even in the case of three the position will be usually found to be specifically stated, as would be the case with any other uneven number.
Fig. 81.Fig. 81.—Bend cottised.
Fig. 81.—Bend cottised.
Charges on a bend are placed in the direction of the bend. In such cases it is not necessary to specify that the charges are bendwise. When a charge or charges occupy the position which a bend would, they are said to be placed "in bend." This is not the same thing as a charge placed "bendwise" (or bendways). In this case the charge itself is slanted into the angle at which the bend crosses the shield, but the position of the charge upon the shield is not governed thereby.
When a bend and chief occur together in the same arms, the chief will usually surmount the bend, the latter issuing from the angle between the base of the chief and the side of the shield. An instance to the contrary, however, will be found in the arms of Fitz-Herbert of Swynnerton, in which the bend is continued over the chief. This instance, however (as doubtless all others of the kind), is due to theuse of the bend in early times as a mark of difference. The coat of arms, therefore, had an earlier and separate existence without the bend, which has been superimposed as a difference upon a previously existing coat. The use of the bend as a difference will be again referred to when considering more fully the marks and methods of indicating cadency.
Fig. 82.Fig. 82.—Bend sinister.
Fig. 82.—Bend sinister.
A curious instance of the use of the sun's rays in bend will be found in the arms of Warde-Aldam.[8]
The bend sinister (Fig. 82), is very frequently stated to be the mark of illegitimacy. It certainly has been so used upon some occasions, but these occasions are very few and far between, the charge more frequently made use of being the bendlet or its derivative the baton (Fig. 83). These will be treated more fully in the chapter on the marks of illegitimacy. The bend sinister, which is a band running from the sinister chief corner through the centre of the escutcheon to the dexter base, need not necessarily indicate bastardy. Naturally the popular idea which has originated and become stereotyped concerning it renders its appearance extremely rare, but in at least two cases it occurs without, as far as I am aware, carrying any such meaning. At any rate, in neither case are the coats "bastardised" versions of older arms. These cases are the arms of Shiffner: "Azure, a bend sinister, in chief two estoiles, in like bend or; in base the end and stock of an anchor gold, issuing from waves of the sea proper;" and Burne-Jones: "Azure, on a bend sinister argent, between seven mullets, four in chief and three in base or, three pairs of wings addorsed purpure."
Fig. 83.Fig. 83.—Baton sinister.
Fig. 83.—Baton sinister.
No coat with the chief charge a single bendlet occurs in Papworth. A single case, however, is to be found in the Lyon Register in the duly matriculated arms of Porterfield of that Ilk: "Or, a bendlet between a stag's head erased in chief and a hunting-horn in base sable, garnished gules." Single bendlets, however, both dexter and sinister, occur as ancient difference marks, and are then sometimes known as ribands. So described, it occurs in blazon of the arms of Abernethy: "Or, a lion rampant gules, debruised of a ribbon sable," quartered by Lindsay, Earl of Crawford and Balcarres; but here again the bendlet is a markof cadency. In theGelre Armorial, in this particular coat the ribbon is made "engrailed," which is most unusual, and which does not appear to be the accepted form. In many of the Scottish matriculations of this Abernethy coat in which this riband occurs it is termed a "cost," doubtless another form of the word cottise.
When a bend or bendlets (or, in fact, any other charge) are raised above their natural position in the shield they are termed "enhanced" (Fig. 84). An instance of this occurs in the well-known coat of Byron, viz.: "Argent, three bendlets enhanced gules," and in the arms of Manchester, which were based upon this coat.
Fig. 84.Fig. 84.—Bendlets enhanced.
Fig. 84.—Bendlets enhanced.
Fig. 85.Fig. 85.—Pale.
Fig. 85.—Pale.
Fig. 86.Fig. 86.—Pale engrailed.
Fig. 86.—Pale engrailed.
When the field is composed of an even number of equal pieces divided by lines following the angle of a bend the field is blazoned "bendy" of so many (Fig. 58). In most cases it will be composed of six or eight pieces, but as there is no diminutive of "bendy," the number must always be stated.
The pale is a broad perpendicular band passing from the top of the escutcheon to the bottom (Fig. 85). Like all the other ordinaries, it is stated to contain the third part of the area of the field, and it is the only one which is at all frequently drawn in that proportion. But even with the pale, the most frequent occasion upon which this proportion is definitely given, this exaggerated width will be presently explained. The artistic latitude, however, permits the pale to be drawn of this proportion if this be convenient to the charges upon it.
Like the other ordinaries, the pale will be found varied by the different lines of partition (Figs. 86-94).
The single circumstance in which the pale is regularly drawn to contain a full third of the field by measurement is when the coat is "per fess and a pale counterchanged." This, it will be noticed, divides the shield into six equal portions (Fig. 95). The ease with which, bythe employment of these conditions, a new coat can be based upon an old one which shall leave three original charges in the same position, and upon a field of the original tincture, and yet shall produce an entirely different and distinct coat of arms, has led to this particular form being constantly repeated in modern grants.
Fig. 87.Fig. 87.—Pale invecked.
Fig. 87.—Pale invecked.
Fig. 88.Fig. 88.—Pale embattled.
Fig. 88.—Pale embattled.
Fig. 89.Fig. 89.—Pale raguly.
Fig. 89.—Pale raguly.
Fig. 90.Fig. 90.—Pale dovetailed.
Fig. 90.—Pale dovetailed.
Fig. 91.Fig. 91.—Pale indented.
Fig. 91.—Pale indented.
Fig. 92.Fig. 92.—Pale wavy.
Fig. 92.—Pale wavy.
Fig. 93.Fig. 93.—Pale nebuly.
Fig. 93.—Pale nebuly.
Fig. 94.Fig. 94.—Pale rayonné.
Fig. 94.—Pale rayonné.
Fig. 95.Fig. 95.—Pale per fesse counter changed.
Fig. 95.—Pale per fesse counter changed.
The diminutive of the pale is the pallet (Fig. 96), and the pale cottised is sometimes termed "endorsed."
Except when it is used as a mark of difference or distinction (then usually wavy), the pallet is not found singly; but two pallets, or three, are not exceptional. Charged upon other ordinaries, particularly on the chief and the chevron, pallets are of constant occurrence.
When the field is striped vertically it is said to be "paly" of so many (Fig. 57).
Fig. 96.Fig. 96.—Pallets.
Fig. 96.—Pallets.
Fig. 97.Fig. 97.—The arms of Amaury de Montfort, Earl of Gloucester; died before 1214. (From his seal.)
Fig. 97.—The arms of Amaury de Montfort, Earl of Gloucester; died before 1214. (From his seal.)
Fig. 98.Fig. 98.—Arms of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester; died 1265. (From MS. Cott., Nero, D. 1.)
Fig. 98.—Arms of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester; died 1265. (From MS. Cott., Nero, D. 1.)
Fig. 99.Fig. 99.—Fess.
Fig. 99.—Fess.
Fig. 100.Fig. 100.—Fess engrailed.
Fig. 100.—Fess engrailed.
Fig. 101.Fig. 101.—Fess invecked.
Fig. 101.—Fess invecked.
The arms shown in Fig. 97 are interesting inasmuch as they are doubtless an early form of the coat per pale indented argent and gules, which is generally described as a banner borne for the honour of Hinckley, by the Simons de Montfort, Earls of Leicester, father and son. In a Rolltemp.Henry III., to Simon the younger is ascribed "Le Banner party endentee dargent & de goules," although the arms of both father and son are known to have been as Fig. 98: "Gules, a lion rampant queue-fourchée argent." More probably the indented coat gives the original Montfort arms.
The fess is a broad horizontal band crossing the escutcheon in the centre (Fig. 99). It is seldom drawn to contain a full third of the area of the shield. It is subject to the lines of partition (Figs. 100-109).
A curious variety of the fess dancetté is borne by the Shropshire family Plowden of Plowden. They bear: Azure, a fess dancetté, the upper points terminating in fleurs-de-lis (Fig. 110). A fess couped (Fig. 111) is found in the arms of Lee.
Fig. 102.Fig. 102.—Fess embattled.
Fig. 102.—Fess embattled.
Fig. 103.Fig. 103.—Fess embattled counter-embattled.
Fig. 103.—Fess embattled counter-embattled.
Fig. 104.Fig. 104.—Fess raguly.
Fig. 104.—Fess raguly.
Fig. 105.Fig. 105.—Fess dovetailed.
Fig. 105.—Fess dovetailed.
Fig. 106.Fig. 106.—Fess indented.
Fig. 106.—Fess indented.
Fig. 107.Fig. 107.—Fess dancetté.
Fig. 107.—Fess dancetté.
Fig. 108.Fig. 108.—Fess wavy.
Fig. 108.—Fess wavy.
Fig. 109.Fig. 109.—Fess nebuly.
Fig. 109.—Fess nebuly.
Fig. 110.Fig. 110.—The arms of Plowden.
Fig. 110.—The arms of Plowden.
The "fess embattled" is only crenellated upon the upper edge; but when both edges are embattled it is a fess embattled and counter-embattled. The termbretessé(which is said to indicate that the battlements on the upper edge are opposite the battlements on the lower edge, and the indentations likewise corresponding) is a term and a distinction neither of which are regarded in British armory.
A fess wreathed (Fig. 112) is a bearing which seems to be almost peculiar to the Carmichael family, but the arms of Waye of Devon are an additional example, being: Sable, two bars wreathed argent and gules. I know of no other ordinary borne in a wreathed form, but there seems no reason why this peculiarity should be confined to the fess.
Fig. 111.Fig. 111.—Fess couped.
Fig. 111.—Fess couped.
Fig. 112.Fig. 112.—Fess wreathed.
Fig. 112.—Fess wreathed.
Fig. 113.Fig. 113.—Two Bars.
Fig. 113.—Two Bars.
Fig. 114.Fig. 114.—Bars embattled.
Fig. 114.—Bars embattled.
Fig. 115.Fig. 115.—Bars engrailed.
Fig. 115.—Bars engrailed.
Fig. 116.Fig. 116.—Bars invecked.
Fig. 116.—Bars invecked.
It is a fixed rule of British armory that there can be onlyonefess upon a shield. If two figures of this character are found they are termedbars(Fig. 113). But it is hardly correct to speak of the bar as a diminutive of the fess, because if two bars only appear on the shield there would be little, if any, diminution made from the width of the fess when depicting the bars. As is the case with other ordinaries, there is much latitude allowed to the artist in deciding the dimensions, it being usually permitted for these to be governed by the charges upon the fess or bars, and the charges between which these are placed.
Bars, like the fess, are of course equally subject to all the varying lines of partition (Figs. 114-118).
The diminutive of the bar is the barrulet, which is half its width and double the width of the cottise. But the barrulet willalmost invariablybe found borne inpairs, when such a pair is usually known as a "bar gemel" and not as two barrulets. Thus a coat with four barruletswould have these placed at equal distances from each other; but a coat with two bars gemel would be depicted with two of its barrulets placed closely together in chief and two placed closely together in base, the disposition being governed by the fact that the two barrulets comprising the "bar gemel" are onlyone charge. Fig. 119 shows three bars gemel. There is theoretically no limit to the number of bars or bars gemel which can be placed upon the shield. In practical use, however, four will be found the maximum.
Fig. 117.Fig. 117.—Bars raguly.
Fig. 117.—Bars raguly.
Fig. 118.Fig. 118.—Bars dovetailed.
Fig. 118.—Bars dovetailed.
Fig. 119.Fig. 119.—Bars gemel.
Fig. 119.—Bars gemel.
A field composed of four, six, eight, or ten horizontal pieces of equal width is "barry of such and such a number of pieces," the number being always specified (Figs. 55 and 56). A field composed of an equal number of horizontally shaped pieces, when these exceed ten in number, is termed "barruly" of such and such a number. The term barruly is also sometimes used for ten pieces. If the number is omitted "barry" will usually be of six pieces, though sometimes of eight. On the other hand a field composed of five, seven, or nine pieces is not barry, but (e.g.) two bars, three bars, and four bars respectively. This distinction in modern coats needs to be carefully noted, but in ancient coats it is not of equal importance. Anciently also a shield "barry" was drawn of a greater number of pieces (see Figs. 120, 121 and 122) than would nowadays be employed. In modern armory a field so depicted would more correctly be termed "barruly."
Whilst a field can be and often is barry of two colours or two metals, an uneven number of pieces must of necessity be of metal and colour or fur. Consequently in a shielde.g.divided into seven equal horizontal divisions, alternately gules and sable, there must be a mistake somewhere.
Although these distinctions require to be carefully noted as regards modern arms, it should be remembered that they are distinctions evolved by the intricacies and requirements of modern armory, and ancient arms were not so trammelled.
A field divided horizontally into three equal divisions ofe.g.gules, sable, and argent is theoretically blazoned by British rules "party per fess gules and argent, a fess sable." This, however, gives an exaggerated width to the fess which it does not really possess with us, and the German rules, which would blazon it "tierced per fess gules, sable, and argent," would seem preferable.
Fig. 120.Fig. 120.—Arms of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke (d.1296); Barruly azure and argent, a label of five points gules, the files depending from the chief line of the shield, and each file charged with three lions passant guardant or. (From MS. Reg. 14, C. vii.)
Fig. 120.—Arms of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke (d.1296); Barruly azure and argent, a label of five points gules, the files depending from the chief line of the shield, and each file charged with three lions passant guardant or. (From MS. Reg. 14, C. vii.)
Fig. 121.Fig. 121.—Arms of Laurence de Hastings, Earl of Pembroke (d.1348); Quarterly, 1 and 4, or, a maunch gules (for Hastings); 2 and 3, barruly argent and azure, an orle of martlets (for Valence). (From his seal.)
Fig. 121.—Arms of Laurence de Hastings, Earl of Pembroke (d.1348); Quarterly, 1 and 4, or, a maunch gules (for Hastings); 2 and 3, barruly argent and azure, an orle of martlets (for Valence). (From his seal.)
Fig. 122.Fig. 122.—Arms of Edmund Grey, Earl of Kent (d.1489): Quarterly, 1 and 4, barry of six, argent and azure, in chief three torteaux (for Grey); 2 and 3, Hastings and Valence sub-quarterly. (From his seal, 1442.)
Fig. 122.—Arms of Edmund Grey, Earl of Kent (d.1489): Quarterly, 1 and 4, barry of six, argent and azure, in chief three torteaux (for Grey); 2 and 3, Hastings and Valence sub-quarterly. (From his seal, 1442.)
Fig. 123.Fig. 123.—Barry, per chevron counter-changed.
Fig. 123.—Barry, per chevron counter-changed.
Fig. 124.Fig. 124.—Barry-bendy.
Fig. 124.—Barry-bendy.
Fig. 125.Fig. 125.—Paly-bendy.
Fig. 125.—Paly-bendy.
A field which is barry may also be counterchanged, as in the arms of Ballingall, where it is counterchanged per pale; but it can also be counterchanged per chevron (Fig. 123), or per bend dexter or sinister. Such counterchanging should be carefully distinguished from fields which are "barry-bendy" (Fig. 124), or "paly-bendy" (Fig. 125). In these latter cases the field is divided first by lines horizontal (for barry) or perpendicular (for paly), and subsequently by lines bendy (dexter or sinister).
The result produced is very similar to "lozengy" (Fig. 126), and care should be taken to distinguish the two.
Barry-bendy is sometimes blazoned "fusilly in bend," whilst paly-bendy is sometimes blazoned "fusilly in bend sinister," but the other terms are the more accurate and acceptable.
Fig. 126.Fig. 126.—Lozengy.
Fig. 126.—Lozengy.
Fig. 127.Fig. 127.—Chevron.
Fig. 127.—Chevron.
Fig. 128.Fig. 128.—Chevron engrailed.
Fig. 128.—Chevron engrailed.
Fig. 129.Fig. 129.—Chevron invecked.
Fig. 129.—Chevron invecked.
Fig. 130.Fig. 130.—Chevron embattled.
Fig. 130.—Chevron embattled.
Fig. 131.Fig. 131.—Chevron embattled and counter-embattled.
Fig. 131.—Chevron embattled and counter-embattled.
"Lozengy" is made by use of lines in bend crossed by lines in bend sinister (Fig. 126), and "fusilly" the same, only drawn at a more acute angle.
Probably the ordinary of most frequent occurrence in British, as also in French armory, is the chevron (Fig. 127). It is comparatively rare in German heraldry. The term is derived from the French wordchevron, meaning a rafter, and the heraldic chevron is the same shape as a gable rafter. In early examples of heraldic art the chevron will be found depicted reaching very nearly to the top of the shield, the angle contained within the chevron being necessarily more acute. The chevron then attained very much more nearly to its full area of one-third of the field than is now given to it. As the chevron became accompanied by charges, it was naturally drawn so that it would allow of these charges being more easily represented, and its height becameless whilst the angle it enclosed was increased. But now, as then, it is perfectly at the pleasure of the artist to design his chevron at the height and angle which will best allow the proper representation of the charges which accompany it.
Fig. 132.Fig. 132.—Chevron indented.
Fig. 132.—Chevron indented.
Fig. 133.Fig. 133.—Chevron wavy.
Fig. 133.—Chevron wavy.
Fig. 134.Fig. 134.—Chevron nebuly.
Fig. 134.—Chevron nebuly.
Fig. 135.Fig. 135.—Chevron raguly.
Fig. 135.—Chevron raguly.
Fig. 136.Fig. 136.—Chevron dovetailed.
Fig. 136.—Chevron dovetailed.
Fig. 137.Fig. 137.—Chevron doubly cottised.
Fig. 137.—Chevron doubly cottised.
The chevron, of course, is subject to the usual lines of partition (Figs. 128-136), and can be cottised and doubly cottised (Fig. 137).
It is usually found between three charges, but the necessity of modern differentiation has recently introduced the disposition of four charges, three in chief and one in base, which is by no means a happy invention. An even worse disposition occurs in the arms of a certain family of Mitchell, where the four escallops which are the principal charges are arranged two in chief and two in base.
Fig. 138.Fig. 138.—Chevron quarterly.
Fig. 138.—Chevron quarterly.
Ermine spots upon a chevron do not follow the direction of it, but in the cases of chevrons vair, and chevrons chequy, authoritative examples can be found in which the chequers and rows of vair both do, and do not, conform to the direction of the chevron. My own preference is to make the rows horizontal.
A chevron quarterly is divided by a line chevronwise, apparentlydividing the chevron into two chevronels, and then by a vertical line in the centre (Fig. 138).
A chevron in point embowed will be found in the arms of Trapaud quartered by Adlercron (Fig. 139).
A field per chevron (Fig. 52) is often met with, and the division line in this case (like the enclosing lines of a real chevron) is subject to the usual partition lines, but how one is to determine the differentiation between per chevron engrailed and per chevron invecked I am uncertain, but think the points should be upwards for engrailed.
The field when entirely composed of an even number of chevrons is termed "chevronny" (Fig. 59).
The diminutive of the chevron is the chevronel (Fig. 140).
Chevronels "interlaced" or "braced" (Fig. 141), will be found in the arms of Sirr. The chevronel is very seldom met with singly, but a case of this will be found in the arms of Spry.
A chevron "rompu" or broken is depicted as in Fig. 142.
Fig. 139.
Fig. 139.—Armorial bearings of Rodolph Ladeveze Adlercron, Esq.: Quarterly, 1 and 4, argent, an eagle displayed, wings inverted sable, langued gules, membered and ducally crowned or (for Adlercron): 2 and 3, argent, a chevron in point embowed between in chief two mullets and in base a lion rampant all gules (for Trapaud). Mantling sable and argent. Crest: on a wreath of the colours, a demi-eagle displayed sable, langued gules, ducally crowned or, the dexter wing per fess argent and azure, the sinister per fess of the last and or. Motto: "Quo fata vocant."
Fig. 139.—Armorial bearings of Rodolph Ladeveze Adlercron, Esq.: Quarterly, 1 and 4, argent, an eagle displayed, wings inverted sable, langued gules, membered and ducally crowned or (for Adlercron): 2 and 3, argent, a chevron in point embowed between in chief two mullets and in base a lion rampant all gules (for Trapaud). Mantling sable and argent. Crest: on a wreath of the colours, a demi-eagle displayed sable, langued gules, ducally crowned or, the dexter wing per fess argent and azure, the sinister per fess of the last and or. Motto: "Quo fata vocant."
The pile (Fig. 143) is a triangular wedge usually (and unless otherwise specified) issuing from the chief. The pile is subject to the usual lines of partition (Figs. 144-151).
The early representation of the pile (when coats of arms had no secondary charges and were nice and simple) made the point nearly reach to the base of the escutcheon, and as a consequence it naturally was not so wide. It is now usually drawn so that its upper edge occupies very nearly the whole of the top line of the escutcheon; butthe angles and proportions of the pile are very much at the discretion of the artist, and governed by the charges which need to be introduced in the field of the escutcheon or upon the pile.
Fig. 140.Fig. 140.—Chevronels.
Fig. 140.—Chevronels.
Fig. 141.Fig. 141.—Chevronels braced.
Fig. 141.—Chevronels braced.
Fig. 142.Fig. 142.—Chevron rompu.
Fig. 142.—Chevron rompu.
Fig. 143.Fig. 143.—Pile.
Fig. 143.—Pile.
Fig. 144.Fig. 144.—Pile engrailed.
Fig. 144.—Pile engrailed.
Fig. 145.Fig. 145.—Pile invecked.
Fig. 145.—Pile invecked.
Fig. 146.Fig. 146.—Pile embattled.
Fig. 146.—Pile embattled.
Fig. 147.Fig. 147.—Pile indented.
Fig. 147.—Pile indented.
Fig. 148.Fig. 148.—Pile wavy.
Fig. 148.—Pile wavy.
A single pile may issue from any point of the escutcheon except the base; the arms of Darbishire showing a pile issuing from the dexter chief point.
A single pile cannot issue in base if it be unaccompanied by other piles, as the field would then be blazoned per chevron.
Two piles issuing in chief will be found in the arms of Holles, Earl of Clare.
When three piles, instead of pointing directly at right angles to the line of the chief, all point to the same point, touching or nearly touchingat the tips, as in the arms of the Earl of Huntingdon and Chester or in the arms of Isham,[9]they are described as three piles in point. This term and its differentiation probably are modern refinements, as with the early long-pointed shield any other position was impossible. The arms of Henderson show three piles issuing from the sinister side of the escutcheon.
A disposition of three piles which will very frequently be found in modern British heraldry is two issuing in chief and one in base (Fig. 152).
Piles terminating in fleurs-de-lis or crosses patée are to be met with, and reference may be made to the arms of Poynter and Dickson-Poynder. Each of these coats has the field pily counter-pily, the points ending in crosses formée.
Fig. 149.Fig. 149.—Pile nebuly.
Fig. 149.—Pile nebuly.
Fig. 150.Fig. 150.—Pile raguly.
Fig. 150.—Pile raguly.
Fig. 151.Fig. 151.—Pile dovetailed.
Fig. 151.—Pile dovetailed.
An unusual instance of a pile in which it issues from a chevron will be found in the arms of Wright, which are: "Sable, on a chevron argent, three spear-heads gules, in chief two unicorns' heads erased argent, armed and maned or, in base on a pile of the last, issuant from the chevron, a unicorn's head erased of the field."
The pall, pairle, or shakefork (Fig. 153), is almost unknown in English heraldry, but in Scotland its constant occurrence in the arms of the Cunninghame and allied families has given it a recognised position among the ordinaries.
As usually borne by the Cunninghame family the ends are couped and pointed, but in some cases it is borne throughout.
The pall in its proper ecclesiastical form appears in the arms of the Archiepiscopal Sees of Canterbury, Armagh, and Dublin. Thoughin these cases the pall or pallium (Fig. 154), is now considered to have no other heraldic status than that of an appropriately ecclesiastical charge upon an official coat of arms, there can be very little doubt that originally the pall of itself was the heraldic symbol in this country of an archbishop, and borne for that reason by all archbishops, including the Archbishop of York, although his official archiepiscopal coat is now changed to: "Gules, two keys in saltire argent, in chief a royal crown or."
Fig. 152.Fig. 152.—Three piles, two in chief and one in base.
Fig. 152.—Three piles, two in chief and one in base.
Fig. 153.Fig. 153.—Shakefork.
Fig. 153.—Shakefork.
Fig. 154.Fig. 154.—Ecclesiastical pallium.
Fig. 154.—Ecclesiastical pallium.
Fig. 155.Fig. 155.—Cross.
Fig. 155.—Cross.
Fig. 156.Fig. 156.—Cross engrailed.
Fig. 156.—Cross engrailed.
Fig. 157.Fig. 157.—Cross invecked.
Fig. 157.—Cross invecked.
The necessity of displaying this device of rank—the pallium—upon a field of some tincture has led to its corruption into a usual and stereotyped "charge."
The heraldic cross (Fig. 155), the huge preponderance of which in armory we of course owe to the Crusades, like all other armorial charges, has strangely developed. There are nearly four hundred varieties known to armory, or rather to heraldic text-books, and doubtless authenticated examples could be found of most if not of them all. But some dozen or twenty forms are about as many as will be found regularly or constantly occurring. Some but not all of the varieties of the cross are subject to the lines of partition (Figs. 156-161).
When the heraldic cross was first assumed with any reason beyond geometrical convenience, there can be no doubt that it was intended to represent the Sacred Cross itself. The symbolism of the cross is older than our present system of armory, but the cross itself is more ancient than its symbolism. A cross depicted upon the long, pointed shields of those who fought for the Cross would be of that shape, with the elongated arm in base.
Fig. 158.Fig. 158.—Cross embattled.
Fig. 158.—Cross embattled.
Fig. 159.Fig. 159.—Cross indented.
Fig. 159.—Cross indented.
Fig. 160.Fig. 160.—Cross raguly.
Fig. 160.—Cross raguly.
Fig. 161.Fig. 161.—Cross dovetailed.
Fig. 161.—Cross dovetailed.
Fig. 162.Fig. 162.—Passion Cross.
Fig. 162.—Passion Cross.
Fig. 163.Fig. 163.—Cross Calvary.
Fig. 163.—Cross Calvary.
But the contemporary shortening of the shield, together with the introduction of charges in its angles, led naturally to the arms of the cross being so disposed that the parts of the field left visible were as nearly as possible equal. The Sacred Cross, therefore, in heraldry is now known as a "Passion Cross" (Fig. 162) (or sometimes as a "long cross"), or, if upon steps or "grieces," the number of which needs to be specified, as a "Cross Calvary" (Fig. 163). The crucifix (Fig. 164), under that description is sometimes met with as a charge.
The ordinary heraldic cross (Fig. 155) is always continued throughout the shield unless stated to be couped (Fig. 165).
Of the crosses more regularly in use may be mentioned the cross botonny (Fig. 166), the cross flory (Fig. 167), which must be distinguished from the cross fleuretté (Fig. 168); the cross moline,(Fig. 169), the cross potent (Fig. 170), the cross patée or formée (Fig. 171), the cross patonce (Fig. 172), and the cross crosslet (Fig. 173).