The Handbook to English Heraldry Part 4

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 66.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 67.]

Should the field of any charge be divided into a single row of small squares, alternately, _e.g._ of a metal and a colour, as No. 66, it is _Componee_ or _Compony_ (sometimes written _gobony_): if into two such rows, as in No. 67, it is _Counter Compony_: but, if the field of a Shield, or the surface of any charge be divided into three, or more than three, such rows, it is _Chequee_ or _Checky_; thus, the Arms of the Earl de WARENNE are _Chequee or and az._, No. 68 (H. 3 and E. 2).

THE LAW OF TINCTURES.--Every charge is supposed to rest upon the field of a Shield, or on the surface of some charge. It is a strict rule, that a charge of a metal must rest upon a field that is of a colour or fur; or, contrariwise, that a charge of a colour must rest on a field that is of a metal or fur,--that is, that _metal be not on metal, nor colour on colour_. This rule is modified in the case of _varied fields_, upon which may be charged a bearing of either a metal or a colour: also, a partial relaxation of the rule is conceded when one bearing is charged upon another, should the conditions of any particular case require such a concession. This rule does not apply to bordures, nor very stringently to augmentations or crests, and it is not so rigidly enforced in Foreign as in British Heraldry. There are, of course, a few exceptions, but they are not numerous, the one usually instanced as an intentional violation being the _silver_ armorial Shield of the CRUSADER KINGS of JERUSALEM, No. 69, upon which _five golden crosses_ are charged; the motive in this remarkable exception to an established rule being said to be to cause this Shield to be unlike that of any other potentate. What may be termed the accessories of a charge are not included in this law of tinctures: thus, a silver lion having a red tongue may be charged on a blue shield, and the red tongue may rest on the blue field of the Shield.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 69.--Arms of Jerusalem.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 70.--Arms of Fenwick.]

COUNTERCHANGING is dividing the field of a Shield in such a manner that it is, _e.g._ in part of a metal and in part of a colour, and then arranging the charges in such a manner that they shall be reciprocally of the same colour and metal: thus, the shield of John Fenwick, No. 70 (R. 2) is,--_per-fesse gu. and arg., six martlets, three, two, one, counterchanged_; that is, the field is red in chief and silver in base, and the birds or parts of the birds on the red field are silver, and those on the silver field are red.

DIAPERING.--This term denotes a system of decorating plain surfaces in various ways, which was in great favour with the early heraldic artists.

In the use of Diaper, which is often desirable when artistic reasons suggest its suitability, care must be taken that the decorative designs and patterns do not in any way admit of their being mistaken for charges. This diaper may be executed in low relief, subordinated to the relief of the charges; and it is not required to yield any obedience to the law of tinctures. In the Shield, No. 68 (the original, a very n.o.ble shield, is at Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk), which is simply _chequee_, the Diapering may be alternately azure and or on the squares that are alternately or and azure; or the Diaper may be dark blue, or sable, or argent on the azure squares, and on the golden ones whatever the artist might consider would be most effective; but the Diaper, in this and in all other examples, must always be subordinate to the area and tincture of the field. The finest known early example of heraldic Diaper in enamel, is the Shield of WILLIAM DE VALENCE, Earl of PEMBROKE, in Westminster Abbey, A.D. 1296. Very beautiful early examples of Diapering have been preserved in relics of heraldic stained gla.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 68.--Shield of Arms of Earl de Warrenne, Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk.]

DISPOSITION: BLAZONING.--By _Disposition_ is understood the placing and arranging of charges. A single important charge, which has not a fixed position of its own, is placed in the centre of any composition: and minor charges are arranged in their most natural and consistent order and positions, any deviation from which must be specified. A single charge, many times repeated, and small in size, whether with or without any special orderly disposition, is said to be _Semee_--strewn, that is, or scattered over the field, as seed is sown by the hand; or, if the charges are very small or very numerous, the term _poudree_ or _powdered_ has sometimes been used. The expression--"_three, two, one_,"

signifies that a charge is repeated six times, the Disposition being three in a horizontal row towards the chief of the Shield, then two in a similar row in the centre, and one in base. In the same manner, the expressions--"_four, four, one_," "_four, three, two, one_," "_three and one_," &c., are used as occasion may require. For other dispositions of charges other appropriate terms will present themselves to our notice, growing out of our subject as it advances.

Should a _Tincture_ or a _Number_ occur a second time in blazoning a single composition, it must be indicated, not by repeating the word already used, but by reference to it. Thus, if the tincture of the field should occur a second time, reference is made to it in the formula--"_of the field_:" or, perhaps more frequently--"_of the first_;" or, if the tincture that is named second in order in the blazoning be repeated, it is indicated by the expression--"_of the second_;" and so on. Again: should there be three fleurs de lys and also three crescents in one and the same composition, having specified the "three fleurs de lys," the number of the crescents would be set forth in the words--"_as many_ crescents:" providing nothing else has in the wording of the blazon intervened in such a way as to cause uncertainty by the use of the term; and so, in like manner, with any other numbers of these or of any other charges.

In descriptive Blazoning, Epithets, which follow their own Nouns, precede the Tinctures that are a.s.sociated with those nouns: thus, a black rampant lion having golden claws is blazoned,--_a lion rampt.

sa., armed or_. In written and printed blazoning, the arrangement of the words and the placing the stops are alike matters of supreme importance.

The sentences are to be short. A comma is to mark the end of each complete minor clause or division of a sentence: a colon, each more important clause. A point or period is to follow every abbreviated word, to mark the fact of the abbreviation, but without affecting the additional presence of a comma (as in the blazoning, "_a lion rampant sa._,") or of a colon, as the case may be; but a second period is unnecessary. It is a very common error to overload heraldic blazoning with commas which, instead of aiding to simplify the sentences, obscure the meaning and perplex the reader. It is always correct to write--"_three lion's heads_," "_six pilgrim's staves_," &c.: and always incorrect to write--"_three lions' heads_," "_six pilgrims' staves_,"

&c.; but it is a point printers have an apparently invincible objection to accept.

EMBLAZONING IN TINCTURES.--On this head I must be content to offer to students only a few brief practical observations. The metal _Gold_ may be rendered with gold prepared in small saucers, or (most advantageously) in minute slabs; this preparation is applied, like a common water-colour, by moistening the gold with water; and it is desirable previously to have washed the paper, card (or vellum) with diluted white of egg. Gold leaf may also be used, but the process is tedious, and requires both skill and experience to ensure complete success. Yellow paint, again, may be used to represent the metal, the best colours being _cadmium yellow_, or "_aureolin_" (Winsor and Newton) mixed with _Chinese white_. For shading, _carmine_, or _crimson lake_, mixed with gum. For _Silver_, _aluminium_ may be used with excellent effect; or _Chinese white_; or the paper may be left white: for shading, _grey_ (_blue_ and _Indian ink_ mixed) and gum. The Aluminium is prepared, like the gold, in minute slabs: it may be obtained, of great excellence, from Messrs. Winsor & Newton, by whom also a very pure preparation of gold is sold; but both the gold and the aluminium slabs are sold by all good artists' colourmen. These Metals may be diapered, as well as burnished, with an agate-burnisher.

For _Azure_:--_French blue_, freely mixed with _Chinese white_ and a very little gum, the colour to be laid on thick: shade with _Prussian blue_ mixed with a larger proportion of gum. For _Gules_:--_Orange vermilion_ either pure, or mixed with a very little _cadmium yellow_ or _Chinese white_, and still less gum: (never use a brilliant but most treacherous preparation known as "pure scarlet:") shade with _carmine_ or _crimson lake_, and gum. For _Vert_:--_emerald green_, with _Chinese white_ and a little gum: shade with dark green, made from mixing _aureolin_ (or _gamboge_) with _Prussian blue_ and gum. For _Purpure_:--mix _carmine_ and _French blue_, with a little gum: shade with a darker tint of the same. For _Sable_:--Very dark _grey_, made by mixing a little _Chinese white_ and gum with black: shade with black and more gum.

When the Metals are rendered by gold and aluminium, it is desirable that these tinctures should be applied, and that the diapering and burnishing of the Metals should also be completed with the burnisher, before the adjoining colours are laid on. The burnishing may be executed in two or three hours after the Metals have been applied to the paper; and the paper should be placed upon a piece of gla.s.s during the processes of burnishing and diapering.

CHAPTER VI

THE GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY

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 a.s.sociated 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_."

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 71.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 72.--Le Botiler.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 73.--De Brus.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 74.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 75.--De Clintone.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 76.--De Clifford]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 77.--De Pateshulle.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 78.--Le Vavasour.]

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,--_Chequee 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. bezantee_ (all E. 2). When they are disposed in a horizontal row across the centre of a Shield, Charges are "_in fesse_."

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 79.--De Hemenhale.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 80.--De Dageworthe.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 81.--De Harecourt.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 82.--Wake.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 83.--De Hunterc.u.mbe.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 84.--De la Mere.]

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 dancettee 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 HUNTERc.u.mBE,--_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 "_barrulee_" or "_barruly_"; and in this case it is not necessary that the number of the bars should be specified, the word _barrulee_ being used alone, or the expression "_barrulee 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 barrulee 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): _Barrulee 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 n.o.ble 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_."

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 85.--Fitzalan of Bedale.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 86.--De Valence.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 87.--Erskine.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 88.--Grandison.]

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.