The shield may be divided by a centre perpendicular line from top to bottom; this is called divisionper Pale, and when the dividing line is thickened it becomes a charge, andis described "a Pale." A husband impales his wife's coat with his own, on the sinister side, except when the lady is an heraldic heiress, when her coat will be found on an escutcheon of Pretence in the centre of her husband's shield. Children of such a marriage are entitled to quarter their mother's coat with their paternal coat. They can also use any ancestral quarterings to which their mother was entitled.
When a shield is divided by a central horizontal line it is said to be dividedper Fess, and when the dividing line is thickened it becomes a charge and is called "a Fess." Several small fesses are called bars, or the shield may be described as "Barry."
If the perpendicular pale and the horizontal fess lines are combined, a shield becomes "Quartered" or "Quarterly," and if these lines are thickened we get the Cross, of which there are several varieties,e.g.cross pattée, with the ends flattened out like feet; cross crosslet with each end crossed by a little bar; cross moline with double-pointed ends; cross fleury with triple-pointed ends, and so on. If a shield is covered all over with reduplications of the quartering lines, so as to be divided into a numberof little squares, or quarterings, it is said to be chequy or compony.
When a shield is divided diagonally, either from right to left, or from left to right, which must be specified, it is said to beper Bend, dexter or sinister, as the case may be. If either of these lines is thickened so as to become a charge it is called "a Bend" (dexter or sinister). If the dexter and sinister dividing Bend lines are combined, a divisionper Saltireis the result, and if these lines are thickened so as to become a charge, it is called "a Saltire." If the upper triangle in the Saltire is drawn down into a narrow point and forms a charge, it is called "a Pile." There may be several of these, and their number, position, and colour are always stated. If the Saltire lines are repeated so as to cover the entire shield with diamond-shaped spaces, it is said to be Lozengy, and if these lines are thickened so as to become charges, it is called Fretty, and the little bars are interlaced.
If now the dividing lines of a quartered coat and those of a coat divided per Saltire be combined, we get a division known as Gyronny, common in Scottish heraldry.
If a shield is divided by an angular line in a gable form, the two lowest lines of a division per Saltire, it is calledper Chevron, and if this line is thickened so as to become a charge, it is called a Chevron.
When a third part of the top of a shield is marked off by a horizontal line it forms what is called a Chief, and when the top left-hand corner is marked off as a small square, measuring about a third of the chief, it is called a Canton, and is often an honourable augmentation to a coat-of-arms, granted for some distinguished service.
When a shield has a narrow border all round it, it is called a Bordure, and this is also often an honourable augmentation, difference, or mark of cadency on a family coat-of-arms.
The boundary lines of all these charges are normally straight, but they may also be either
Engrailed
Engrailed
Engrailed
Embattled
Embattled
Embattled
Indented
Indented
Indented
Dancetty
Dancetty
Dancetty
Wavy
Wavy
Wavy
Raguly
Raguly
Raguly
Nebuly
Nebuly
Nebuly
and a few more which are rarely met with.
Charges are usually placed on shields in certain positions which follow one or other of the main lines of division which have just been enumerated.
For instance, the three lions of England are arranged one under the other, on an imaginary line running from the top to the bottom of the shield. If such a broad line existed it would be called a Pale, so the lions are said to be "In, or Per Pale." Similarly, they might be arranged "In Fess" or "In Bend," and so on.
All charges and bearings on shields should be shown flat except
The Fret, which is interlaced.
Fretty, a small fret repeated, also interlaced.
Roundels in colour, which should be shown as hemispherical. They doubtless represent the bosses on a shield. The metal roundels, however, the Bezant of gold, and the Plate of silver, no doubt represent coins, and are shown flat; and that Cadency marks may correctly be represented, as in relief on a shield.
Heraldic charges are numerous, and if any prolonged investigation is likely to be required their names and forms will have to be learnt. But a few of the commoner charges may well be explained here, as such explanation may possibly in many cases save a long search.
ADragonis a monster with scales all over him; he has four legs ending in eagle's talons and a spear-head at the end of his tail, his wings are like the wings of a bat, with a claw at the end of each rib.AGriffinhas the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle, and the hind-quarters of a lion.AWyvernhas a dragon's head and wings, with two eagle's legs, his tail is curled round itself and ends in a spear-point. He is scaly all over.ACockatriceis a Wyvern with a cock's head.ABasiliskis a cockatrice with its tail ending in a dragon's head.ALionshows one eye, one ear, and stands upon one foot, rampant. He has a mane, and his tail has a tuft at the end, and he shows no spots. If a lion is otherwise depicted it must be mentioned in the blazon. A lion showing two eyes and two ears is a lion "Leopardé."ALeopardshows two eyes and two ears; he has no mane and his tail is not tufted. He should show spots and be "nowhere shaggy." If he only shows one eye and one ear he is a leopard "Lionné."
ADragonis a monster with scales all over him; he has four legs ending in eagle's talons and a spear-head at the end of his tail, his wings are like the wings of a bat, with a claw at the end of each rib.
AGriffinhas the head, front legs, and wings of an eagle, and the hind-quarters of a lion.
AWyvernhas a dragon's head and wings, with two eagle's legs, his tail is curled round itself and ends in a spear-point. He is scaly all over.
ACockatriceis a Wyvern with a cock's head.
ABasiliskis a cockatrice with its tail ending in a dragon's head.
ALionshows one eye, one ear, and stands upon one foot, rampant. He has a mane, and his tail has a tuft at the end, and he shows no spots. If a lion is otherwise depicted it must be mentioned in the blazon. A lion showing two eyes and two ears is a lion "Leopardé."
ALeopardshows two eyes and two ears; he has no mane and his tail is not tufted. He should show spots and be "nowhere shaggy." If he only shows one eye and one ear he is a leopard "Lionné."
Most of the other animals explain themselves, but there are a few curious charges, no doubt survivals of common forms, which also retain their ancient heraldic names, and these forms and names are useful to remember; among them the following occur perhaps most frequently:—
A Caltrap.
A Caltrap.
A Caltrap.
A Chess-rook.
A Chess-rook.
A Chess-rook.
A Clarion.
A Clarion.
A Clarion.
A Fer-de-Moline.
A Fer-de-Moline.
A Fer-de-Moline.
A Fermail.
A Fermail.
A Fermail.
A Fountain.
A Fountain.
A Fountain.
A Fret.
A Fret.
A Fret.
A Fusil.
A Fusil.
A Fusil.
A Mascle.
A Mascle.
A Mascle.
A Maunch or Sleeve.
A Maunch or Sleeve.
A Maunch or Sleeve.
A Pheon.
A Pheon.
A Pheon.
A Rustre.
A Rustre.
A Rustre.
A Water Bouget.
A Water Bouget.
A Water Bouget.
Heraldic Shields changed their forms at different periods, but it is not necessary to trouble much about that here, as coats-of-arms on books are always simple in shape. But it may be noted that unmarried ladies or widows show their arms in the form of a Lozenge. Guillim says, "This form is derived from the fusil, or spindle for yarn, single women being called spinsters."The lozenge is an inconvenient form, and it is broadened out whenever possible. When a wife's coat is shown on an escutcheon of Pretence in the centre of her husband's shield, it loses its lozenge form.
In view of a possible second volume in continuation of the present, I should feel most grateful if any librarians or owners of libraries will send me rubbings of any more coats-of-arms on books that they know of. To make a rubbing, from which I can make a drawing, is quite easy. A piece of soft paper should be used, and kept from slipping by a weight. Put the paper carefully over the stamped part of the book, and then with the finger gently press the paper down into the stamped leather. When the design can just be distinguished, rub over the paper, without letting it slip, with an H.B. pencil cut to a broad round point, and it will be found that in this way, with a little practice, every line and dot in a stamp will show quite clearly. The impressed lines on the leather will show as white on the rubbing. From such a rubbing a drawing can be made. Besides the rubbing, I should also like a copy of the title of the book, and the name of the owner or library to which it belongs.
I am aware that many of my attributions of coats in the following pages are open to criticism, and I shall be very grateful if any of my readers can correct any of them with authority. At the end of the book I have givena short list of the books of reference, heraldic and biographical, which I have found of most service in the compilation of this book, and I gratefully record my indebtedness to them all.
I have taken the Royal Titles from the respective Great Seals.
C. D.
Burlington Fine Arts Club,September 1908.