Anonymous - The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition
A >>
Anonymous >> The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
file which includes the original illustrations.
See 16273-h.htm or 16273-h.zip:
(http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/6/2/7/16273/16273-h/16273-h.htm)
or
(http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/6/2/7/16273/16273-h.zip)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's Note: The following changes have been made to |
| inconsistent spelling in the original text: Chap. IV.: 'scarpe' |
| for 'scrape'; and, in the dictionary: SEME/seme for SEME/seme. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
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
London:
Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co.
25, Paternoster Row.
London:
R. Clay, Printer, Bread Street Hill.
CHAPTER I.
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
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 Holy Land, consisting of the
troops of twenty different nations, they were obliged to adopt some
ensign or mark in order to marshal the vassals under the banners
of the various leaders. The regulation of the symbols whereby the
Sovereigns and Lords of Europe should be distinguished, all of whom
were ardent in maintaining the honour of the several nations to which
they belonged, was a matter of great nicety, and it was properly
entrusted to the Heralds who invented signs of honour which could not
be construed into offence, and made general regulations for their
display on the banners and shields of the chiefs of the different
nations. The ornaments and regulations were sanctioned by the
sovereigns engaged in the Crusade, and hence the origin of the present
system of Heraldry, which prevails with trifling variations in every
kingdom of Europe.
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. 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.
CHAP. II.
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. ALLIANCE, AND SUCCESSION.
_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 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, &c., 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 Alliance_ are those gained by marriage.
_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.
[Illustration: Escutcheon]
[Illustration: Lozenge]
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 Norman pointed shield is generally used in Heraldic
paintings in ecclesiastical 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:
[Illustration]
|-----------------|
| A B C | A, the dexter chief.
| | B, the precise middle chief.
| D | C, the sinister chief.
| | D, the honour point.
| E | E, the fess point.
| | F, the nombril point.
| F | G, the dexter base.
| | H, the precise middle base.
| G H I | 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--
yellow,
white,
red,
blue,
black,
green,
purple,
orange,
murrey.
These colours are denoted in engravings by various lines or dots, as
follows:
[Illustration: OR]
OR, which signifies _gold_, and in colour yellow, is expressed by
dots.
[Illustration: ARGENT]
ARGENT signifies _silver_ or _white_: it is left quite plain.
[Illustration: GULES]
GULES signifies _red_: it is expressed by lines drawn from the chief
to the base of the shield.
[Illustration: AZURE]
AZURE signifies _blue_: it is represented by lines drawn from the
dexter to the sinister side of the shield, parallel to the chief.
[Illustration: VERT]
VERT signifies _green_: it is represented by slanting lines, drawn
from the dexter to the sinister side of the shield.
[Illustration: PURPURE]
PURPURE, or _purple_, is expressed by diagonal lines, drawn from the
sinister to the dexter side of the shield.
[Illustration: SABLE]
SABLE, or _black_, is expressed by horizontal and perpendicular
lines crossing each other.
[Illustration: TENNE]
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.
[Illustration: SANGUINE]
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.
[Illustration: BEZANT]
BEZANT, _Or_.
[Illustration: HURTS]
HURTS, _Azure_.
[Illustration: PLATE]
PLATE, _Argent_.
[Illustration: TORTEAUX]
TORTEAUX, _gules_.
[Illustration: GOLPE]
GOLPE, _purpure_.
[Illustration: ORANGE]
ORANGE, _tenne_.
[Illustration: POMEIS]
POMEIS, _vert_.
[Illustration: PELLET]
PELLET, _sable_.
[Illustration: GUZES]
GUZES, _sanguine_.
FURS.
_Furs_ are used to ornament garments of state and denote dignity: they
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.
[Illustration: ERMINE]
ERMINE--white powdered with black tufts.
[Illustration: ERMINES]
ERMINES--field sable, powdering argent.
[Illustration: ERMINOIS]
ERMINOIS--field or, powdering sable.
[Illustration: PEAN]
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.
[Illustration: VAIR]
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.
[Illustration: COUNTER-VAIR]
COUNTER-VAIR, is when the bells are placed base against base, and
point against point.
[Illustration: POTENT]
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.
[Illustration: POTENT COUNTER-POTENT.]
POTENT COUNTER-POTENT. The heads of the crutches or potents touch each
other in the centre of the shield.
CHAP. III.
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
[Illustration: Engrailed]
Invected
[Illustration: Invected]
Wavy, or unde
[Illustration: Wavy]
Embattled, or crenelle
[Illustration: Embattled]
Nebule
[Illustration: Nebule]
Indented
[Illustration: Indented]
Dancette
[Illustration: Dancette]
Angled
[Illustration: Angled]
Bevilled
[Illustration: Bevilled]
Escartelle
[Illustration: Escartelle]
Nowy, or franche
[Illustration: Nowy]
Dove-tailed
[Illustration: Dove-tailed]
Embattled grady: sometimes called battled embattled
[Illustration: Embattled grady]
Potent
[Illustration: Potent]
Double arched
[Illustration: Double arched]
Arched or enarched
[Illustration: Arched]
Urdee
[Illustration: Urdee]
Radient
[Illustration: Radient]
If a shield is divided into four equal parts, it is said to be
quartered: this may be done two ways, viz.--
[Illustration: Quartered per cross]
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.
[Illustration: Quartered per Saltier]
QUARTERED PER SALTIER, which is made by two diagonal lines, dexter and
sinister, crossing each other in the centre of the field.
[Illustration: Quarterings]
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.
DIFFERENCES.
All members of the same family claim the same bearings in their coat
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.
[Illustration: Monastery of Bermondsey arms.]
[Illustration: or, a bordure engrailed, gules]
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.
The Heir, or first son, the LABEL
[Illustration: Label]
Second Son, the CRESCENT
[Illustration: Crescent]
Third Son, the MULLET
[Illustration: Mullet]
Fourth Son, the MARTLET
[Illustration: Martlet]
Fifth Son, the ANNULET
[Illustration: Annulet]
Sixth Son, the FLEUR-DE-LIS
[Illustration: Fleur-de-Lis]
Seventh Son, the ROSE
[Illustration: Rose]
Eighth Son, the CROSS MOLINE
[Illustration: Cross Moline]
Ninth Son, the DOUBLE QUATREFOIL
[Illustration: Double Quatrefoil]
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 centre 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 centre 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 diminution.
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.
[Illustration: Baton]
CHAP. IV.
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.
[Illustration: Chief]
Any of the lines before described may be used to form the chief.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: Fillet]
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.
[Illustration: Pale]
Ex. Azure, a pale, or.
The pale may be formed of any of the lines before 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.
[Illustration: Pallet]
Ex. Argent, a pallet, gules.
The pale has another diminutive one fourth its size; it is called an
_endorse_.
[Illustration: 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 BEND.
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.
[Illustration: Bend]
Ex. Argent, a bend, vert.
The bend has four diminutives, viz. the _garter_ which is half the
breadth of the bend.
[Illustration: Garter]
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.
[Illustration: Cotice]
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.
[Illustration: Riband]
Ex. Argent, a riband vert.
[Illustration: Bendlet]
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.
[Illustration: bend sinister]
Ex. Argent, a bend sinister, purpure.
The _scarpe_ is the diminutive of the bend sinister, and is half its
size.
[Illustration: scarpe]
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.
[Illustration: baton]
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.
[Illustration: fess]
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 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.
[Illustration: Bar]
Ex. Gules, two bars, argent.
The _closet_ is a diminutive of the bar, and is half its width.
[Illustration: Closet]
Ex. Argent, two closets, azure.
The _barrulet_ is half the width of the closet.
[Illustration: Barrulet]
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.
[Illustration: Gemels]
Ex. Azure, two bars, gemels, argent.
When the shield contains a number of bars of metal and colour
alternate, exceeding five, it is called _barry_ of so many pieces,
expressing their numbers.
[Illustration: Barry]
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.
[Illustration: Chevron]
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.
[Illustration: Chevronels]
Ex. Argent, two chevronels, gules.
And the _couple-close_, which is half the chevronel.
[Illustration: Couple-closes]
Ex. Gules, three couple-closes interlaced in base, or.
_Braced_ is sometimes used for interlaced. See the word 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.
[Illustration: Cross]
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, &c., 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.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8