A Complete Guide to Heraldry Part 14

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 160.--Cross raguly.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 161.--Cross dovetailed.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 162.--Pa.s.sion Cross.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 "Pa.s.sion 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 fleurette (Fig. 168); the cross moline, {129} (Fig. 169), the cross potent (Fig. 170), the cross patee or formee (Fig. 171), the cross patonce (Fig. 172), and the cross crosslet (Fig. 173).

PLATE III.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 164.--Crucifix.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 165.--Cross couped.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 166.--Cross botonny.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 167.--Cross flory.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 168.--Cross fleurette.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 169.--Cross moline.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 170.--Cross potent.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 171.--Cross patee (or formee).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 172.--Cross patonce.]

Of other but much more uncommon varieties examples will be found of the cross parted and fretty (Fig. 174), of the cross patee quadrate (Fig. 175), of a cross pointed and voided in the arms of Dukinfield (quartered by Darbishire), and of a cross cleche voided and pomette as in the arms of Cawston. A cross quarter-pierced (Fig. 176) has the field visible at the centre. A cross tau or St. Anthony's Cross is shown in Fig. 177, the real Maltese Cross in Fig. 178, and the Patriarchal Cross in Fig. 179. {130}

Whenever a cross or cross crosslet has the bottom arm elongated and pointed it is said to be "fitched" (Figs. 180 and 181), but when a point is added at the foot_ e.g._ of a cross patee, it is then termed "fitchee at the foot" (Fig. 182).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 173.--Cross crosslet.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 174.--Cross parted and fretty.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 175.--Cross patee quadrate.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 176.--Cross quarter-pierced.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 177.--Cross Tau.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 178.--Maltese Cross.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 179.--Patriarchal Cross.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 180.--Cross crosslet fitched.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 181.--Cross patee fitched.]

Of the hundreds of other varieties it may confidently be said that a large proportion originated in misunderstandings of the crude drawings of early armorists, added to the varying and alternating descriptions applied at a more pliable and fluent period of heraldic blazon. A striking ill.u.s.tration of this will be found in the cross botonny, which is now, and has been for a long time past, regularised with us as a distinct variety of {131} constant occurrence. From early ill.u.s.trations there is now no doubt that this was the original form, or one of the earliest forms, of the cross crosslet. It is foolish to ignore these varieties, reducing all crosses to a few original forms, for they are now mostly stereotyped and accepted; but at the same time it is useless to attempt to learn them, for in a lifetime they will mostly be met with but once each or thereabouts. A field seme of cross crosslets (Fig. 183) is termed crusilly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 182.--Cross patee fitched at foot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 183.--Crusilly.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 184.--Saltire.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 185.--Saltire engrailed.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 186.--Saltire invecked.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 187.--Saltire embattled.]

THE SALTIRE

The saltire or saltier (Fig. 184) is more frequently to be met with in Scottish than in English heraldry. This is not surprising, inasmuch as the saltire is known as the Cross of St. Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland.

Its form is too well known to need description. It is of course subject to the usual part.i.tion lines (Figs. 185-192).

When a saltire is charged the charges are usually placed conformably therewith.

The field of a coat of arms is often per saltire.

When one saltire couped is the princ.i.p.al charge it will usually be {132} found that it is couped conformably to the outline of the shield; but if the couped saltire be one of a number or a subsidiary charge it will be found couped by horizontal lines, or by lines at right angles. The saltire has not developed into so many varieties of form as the cross, and (_e.g._) a saltire botonny is a.s.sumed to be a cross botonny placed saltireways, but a saltire parted and fretty is to be met with (Fig. 193).

THE CHIEF

The chief (Fig. 194), which is a broad band across the top of the shield containing (theoretically, but not in fact) the uppermost third of the area of the field, is a very favourite ordinary. It is of course subject to the variations of the usual part.i.tion lines (Figs. 195-203). It is usually drawn to contain about one-fifth of the area of the field, though in cases where it is used for a landscape augmentation it will usually be found of a rather greater area.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 188.--Saltire indented.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 189.--Saltire wavy.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 190.--Saltire nebuly.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 191.--Saltire raguly.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 192.--Saltire dovetailed.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 193.--Saltire parted and fretty.]