SECTION III

The Ordinaries:— The Chief; Fesse; Bar; Pale; Cross, its heraldic varieties; Bend; Saltire; Chevron; and Pile.

"Marks of Hereditary Honour, given or authorised by some supreme Power." —SCIENCE OF HERALDRY.

THE ORDINARIES.—The simple Charges of early Heraldry, which always have been held in the highest esteem and which are most familiar, are:—The Chief, the Fesse, the Bar, the Pale, the Cross, the Bend, the Saltire, the Chevron, and the Pile. They may be considered to have been derived from various means that were adopted to strengthen Shields for use in combat, the Cross always being in great favour from having a definite symbolism of its own. These Ordinaries may be formed by any of the Border Lines, No. 38. Occasionally they are borne alone; but more generally they are associated with other bearings, or they have various figures and devices charged upon themselves. In some cases, presently to be specified, more than one Ordinary may appear in a single composition. The Bar, the Pale, the Bend, and the Chevron have Diminutives. The Cross has many Varieties.

THE CHIEF (H. 3), bounded by a horizontal line, contains the uppermost third (or, in practice, somewhat less than the third, of the field of a Shield, as in No. 71. The Shield of LE BOTILER, No. 72, is—Or, a chief indented az. (H. 3). A Chief may be borne with any other Ordinary except the Fesse; it may also be charged with any other figures or devices:—thus, for Sire BERNARD DE BRUS, No. 73,—Az., a chief and a saltire or: for Sire JOHAN DE CLINTONE, No. 74,—Arg., on a chief az. two fleurs de lys or: and for Sire JOHAN DE CLINTONE de Madestoke, No. 75,—Arg., on a chief az. two mullets or (all E. 2). When any charge is set in the uppermost third of a Shield, or when several charges are disposed in a horizontal row across the uppermost part of a Shield, they all are said to be "in Chief."

THE FESSE (H. 3), which crosses the centre of a Shield horizontally, when charged occupies about one-third (or rather less than one-third) of the field; but when without charges, it is usually drawn somewhat narrower. The Shield of Lord CLIFFORD is,—Chequée or and az., a fesse gu., No. 76. For ROBT. LE FITZ-WATER,—Or, a fesse between two chevrons gu.: for JOHN DE PATESHULLE, No. 77,—Arg., a fesse sa., between three crescents gu. (all H.3): for WILLIAM LE VAVASOUR, No. 78,—Or, a fesse dancette sa.: for DE HEMENHALE, No. 79,—Or, on a fesse between two chevrons gu., three escallops arg.: and for DE DAGEWORTHE, No. 80,—Erm., a fesse gu. bezantée (all E. 2). When they are disposed in a horizontal row across the centre of a Shield, Charges are "in fesse."

THE BAR (H. 3), which may be placed horizontally in any part of the field except in fesse or at the chief of the Shield, is about one-fifth of the field (or sometimes less) in depth. A single bar very rarely occurs in blazon. Examples:—Or, two bars gu.,—for DE HARECOURT, No. 81: Az., two bars dancettée or,—for DE RIVERES: Or, two bars gu., in chief three torteaux,—for WAKE, No. 82. The Diminutive of the Bar is the Barrulet, one-half of its width. When they are disposed in couples, Barrulets are Bars Gemelles, these not being so deep as the barrulet: thus, No. 83,—for DE HUNTERCUMBE,—Erm., two bars gemelles gu. (H. 3). A Fesse or Bar, when placed between two similar figures narrower than barrulets, is said to be cotised by them; or, to be "doubly cotised," when placed between two bars gemelles: thus, for DE LA MERE, No. 84,—Or, a fesse doubly cotised (or, between two bars gemelles) az. (E. 2). An even number of bars alternately of a metal (or a fur) and a colour form the varied field which is to be blazoned "barry," the number of the bars in every case to be specified—as, "barry of six," "barry of eight," &c. If the number of bars exceeds eight (some writers say ten), it is "barrulée" or "barruly"; and in this case it is not necessary that the number of the bars should be specified, the word barrulée being used alone, or the expression "barrulée sans nombre" to denote a considerable number, but not a fixed number of bars—the number, however, always to be even. But this is a modern refinement of blazon to which little if any attention was paid in early days. It is to be observed that while the bars, whatever their number, if they are blazoned as bars, are to be treated as if they were executed in relief upon the field of a Shield, a Shield that is barry or barrulée has its field formed by bars which are all in the same plane. Examples:—Barry of six or and gu., for FITZ ALAN of Bedale, No. 85: Barry of six arg. and az., for DE GREY: Barry of eight or and az.,—for DE PENBRUGGE (all H. 3): Barrulée arg. and az., an orle of martlets gu.,—for DE VALENCE, Earl of PEMBROKE, No. 86; in this example ten bars are represented, but in the noble enamelled shield of the first De Valence (A.D. 1296) preserved in Westminster Abbey, the bars are twenty-eight in number. Charges, not "in fesse" or "in chief," that are disposed horizontally across the field are "bar-wise."

THE PALE.—Like the Fesse, this Ordinary occupies rather less than a central third of the field, but it is vertical in its position instead of horizontal. No. 87, for ERSKINE, is—Arg., a pale sa. Its Diminutives, the Pallet and the Endorse, severally one-half and one-fourth of its width, may be placed vertically in any part of the field. A Pale between two Endorses is "endorsed" but the term cotised is also employed with this meaning. An even number of Pallets of a metal (or a fur) and a colour set alternately, form the varied field to be blazoned "paly," the number of the Pallets (which lie all in the same plane) always to be specified: thus—Paly of six arg. and az., on a bend gu. three eaglets displayed or, for GRANDISON, No. 88 (H. 3) Charges that are disposed one above another in a vertical row are "in pale." This is the arrangement of the three golden lions of England.

The CROSS (H. 3), formed from a combination of a Fesse with a Pale, in its simplest form is set erect in the centre of the field, and it extends to the border-lines of the Shield. If at any time it may be necessary or apparently desirable specially to set forth in the blazoning of a Shield, that a Cross charged upon it does thus extend to the border-lines, such a Cross is blazoned as a "Cross throughout." No. 1, Arg., a Cross gu., the armorial ensign of ST. GEORGE, the special Patron Saint of England, may be blazoned as "A Cross of St. George." Of this Cross, the great symbol of the Christian Faith, Spenser says—

"And on his brest a bloodie Cross he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord.... Upon his Shield the like was also scored."

Faerie Queen, I. i. 2.

A Cross having a narrow border lying in the same plane with itself, is "fimbriated," such a border being a "fimbriation": thus, No. 89, Az., a cross gu., fimbriated arg., represents the Cross of St. George in our National "Union Jack." A Cross having its four extremities cut off square, so that it does not extend in any direction to the border-lines of the shield, is "couped" or "humettée". If the extremities of a Cross are cut off to points, it is "pointed," as in No. 90. If its central area is entirely removed, so that but little more than its outlines remain, it is "voided," or (H. 3) "a false Cross" ("faux croix"): when its four limbs are equal in length, it is a "Greek Cross," as No. 91: when the limbs are unequal, the lower limb or shaft being longer than the other three, as in No. 92, it is a "Latin Cross" or a "long cross": but neither of these two last terms are used regarding the plain cross throughout, notwithstanding that differences in the shape of the shield may materially alter the proportion of the limbs. If a cross be formed of a shaft and two horizontal limbs only (like the letter T), as in No. 93, it is a "Tau Cross," or "Cross Tau": if it is pierced at the intersection of the limbs, and the entire central area be voided, it is said to be "pierced quarterly." A Latin Cross on steps, is "on Degrees," and it is distinguished as a "Calvary Cross." Charges having a cruciform arrangement are "in Cross."

The CROSS:—its HERALDIC VARIETIES. The Cross-symbol appears in English Heraldry under very many varieties and modifications of form and condition, some of them of great beauty. The following engraved representations of the various examples are so explicit, that descriptions of them are unnecessary. The Cross Quadrate, No. 94. The Cross Patriarchal, No. 95. The Cross Fourchée, No. 96. The Cross Moline, represented charged upon the Shield attributed to the SAXON KINGS OF ENGLAND, No. 23: this same shield—Az., a Cross moline or, is borne by DE MOLINES or MOLYNEUX, No. 97. The Cross Cercelée or Recercelée (H. 3),—Gu., a Cross recercelée erm., No. 98, for ANTHONY BEC, Bishop of DURHAM. The Cross Patonce (H. 3),—Gu., a Cross patonce arg., No. 99, from the Seal of WM. DE VESCI, A.D. 1220. The Cross Fleury, No. 100, should be compared carefully with Nos. 97 and 99, the Crosses Moline and Patonce. The Cross Fleurettée, No. 101. The Cross Pommée, No. 102. The Cross Botonée or Treflée, No. 103. The Cross Crosslet, or Crosslet crossed, No. 104. The term "Crosslet" is strictly applicable to any Cross on a very small scale: but it is usually applied to denote a Cross that is crossed as in No. 104. Small Crosses Botonée are occasionally used as these "Crosses-Crosslets,"—as at Warwick in the arms of the BEAUCHAMPS, the Earls of WARWICK. Crosslets are frequently blazoned semée over the field of a Shield, in which case the special term crusilly is often used; and, in smaller numbers, they also are favourite Charges. No. 105 is the Cross Clechée or Urdée.

The Cross Patée or Formée is represented in No. 106. No. 107 is the "Cross of eight Points," or the Maltese Cross: this example is drawn from the portrait of PHILLIPPE DE VILLIERS DE L'ISLE-ADAM, elected forty-third Grand Master of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, A.D. 1521; this picture is in the possession of the Earl of Clarendon, K.G. The Cross Potent, No. 108. The Cross Avellane, No. 109. The Crossed-Crosslet, and the Crosses Patée, Botonée, and Potent, are also drawn having their shaft elongated and pointed at the base: in this form they are severally blazoned as a "Crossed-Crosslet Fitchée" (or fitched), a "Cross Patée Fitchée," &c.,—a Cross, that is, "fixable" in the ground; No. 110 is an example of a Cross Botonée Fitchée. Several of these varieties of the heraldic Cross occur but rarely; and there are other somewhat fanciful varieties so little in use, as to render any description of them unnecessary. The student of mediæval monumental antiquities will not fail to observe a certain degree of resemblance between some of the Crosses of Heraldry, and those that are incised and sculptured on sepulchral slabs.

The BEND (H. 3) resembles both the Fesse and the Pale in every condition, except that it crosses the field diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base. No. 111, the Shield of SCROPE, is—Az., a bend or. A celebrated contest for the right to bear this simple Shield took place, A.D. 1385-1390, between Sir RICHARD LE SCROPE and Sir ROBERT GROSVENOR, which was decided in favour of the former. No. 112, for RADCLYFFE, is—Arg., a bend engrailed sa. Two uncharged Bends may appear in one composition: thus, for LE BOTELER—Arg., two bends az., No. 113; and for FRERE—Gu., two bends or (both H. 3). The Diminutives of the Bend are the Bendlet and the Cotise, the one containing one-half and the other one-fourth of its area. A Cotise is sometimes borne singly, when it is a Riband. A bendlet couped is a baton. A Bend between two Cotises is cotised: thus, No. 114, for DE BOHUN,—Az., a Bend arg., cotised or, between six lioncels rampt. gold; this Shield is engraved from the Seal of HUMPHREY DE BOHUN, fourth Earl of HEREFORD (A.D. 1298-1322); in it the cotised Bend is very narrow, evidently to give more space for the lioncels. Charges displayed on a Bend slope with it—that is, they would be erect, were the Bend to be set vertically and to become a Pale: thus, another DE BOHUN, Sir Gilbert (H. 3), distinguishes his Shield by tincturing his Bend or, and charging upon it three escallops gules, as in No. 115. In No. 88, the eaglets also exemplify the disposition of charges upon a Bend. Charges set diagonally on the field of a Shield, in the position in which a bend would occupy, are said to be "in bend" and are arranged in the same manner: but it would be quite possible to have three or more charges each disposed bendwise; but yet, nevertheless, when taken together occupying the position of a fesse and therefore described also as in fesse. This distinction between charges bendwise (or bendways) and charges in bend should be carefully noted. A field divided into an even number of parts by lines drawn bendwise, is "bendy," the number of the divisions to be specified: as a matter of course, a field thus "bendy" becomes a "varied field," in which all the divisions lie in the same plane: thus, No. 116, for DE MONTFORD (H. 3 and E. 2)—Bendy of ten or and az. Bendlets are in relief, as in No. 117, for DE BRAY—Vairée, three Bendlets gu. If a field be divided by lines drawn bendwise, and also by others drawn either vertically or horizontally, it is "paly bendy," as No. 118, or "barry bendy," as No. 119. These two forms, which, however, are very rarely met with, should be carefully distinguished from a field lozengy. A Bend issuing from the sinister chief is a Bend Sinister.

The SALTIRE (H. 3), a combination of a Bend with a Bend Sinister, may also be regarded as a Diagonal Cross. Thus, the Crosses of St. ANDREW of SCOTLAND, and of St. PATRICK of IRELAND are Saltires—the former, No. 120—Az., a Saltire arg.: the latter—Arg., a Saltire gu. The arms of the great family of NEVILLE reverse those of St. PATRICK, and are—Gu., a Saltire arg., No. 121: so Drayton has recorded that

"Upon his surcoat valiant NEVILLE bore A silver Saltire upon martial red." Barons' War, i. 22.

Charges set on a Saltire slope with its limbs (all, however, pointing to the chief), the central charge being erect; and the disposition of charges set "in saltire" is the same: a single charge set on a Saltire is blazoned erect on the central point of the Ordinary, as in No. 122, another Shield of NEVILLE, in which the "Silver Saltire" is charged with a rose gules. A Saltire may be borne with a Chief, as in No. 73.

The CHEVRON (H. 3), in form and proportions is rather more than the lower half of a Saltire. The Diminutive is a Chevronel, containing half a Chevron, or perhaps less: thus, for DE STAFFORD (E. 2),—Or, a Chevron gu., No. 123: for the great family of DE CLARE, from whom so many other families derived their Chevrons and Chevronels—Or, three Chevronels gules, No. 124 (H. 3). Two Chevrons may be borne in one composition: or they may appear with a Fesse, as in No. 79: or with a Chief, as (H. 3), for DE CROMBE—Erm., a Chevron gu., and on a Chief of the last three escallops or; for ST. QUINTIN (H. 3)—Or, three Chevronels gu., a Chief vair. A field Chevronée is of rare occurrence: the three Chevronels of DE CLARE, however, No. 124, appear to have been derived from a field Chevronée: certainly, on his seal, "Strongbow" has the Chevronée Shield, No. 125, about A.D. 1175. Charges set on a Chevron, or disposed "in Chevron," are always placed erect.

The PILE (H. 3), resembling a wedge in form, is borne both single and in small groups. Unless some other disposition on the field be specified, this Ordinary issues from the chief of the Shield. Examples: Or, a Pile gu., between six and charged with three estoiles (or mullets) counter-changed,—for ROBERT DE CHANDOS, No. 126: Or, three Piles az., No. 127,—for Sir GUY DE BRIAN; Or, three Piles gu., a canton erm., No. 128,—for DE BASSETT (all H. 3): and (E. 2), Arg., a Pile engrailed sa.—for Sir ROB. DE FORNEUS. In early emblazonments three piles appear almost uniformly to be depicted with the points converging. But a distinction is now made, and when the piles are intended to converge, as in No. 128, they are termed "in point."

The probable structural origin of these Ordinaries is sufficiently apparent to render any further comment on that interesting circumstance superfluous.

CHAPTER VII

THE GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY