The Manual of Heraldry Part 24

Ex. Argent, a saltier, gules

SANGUINE. One of the heraldic tinctures. It is a dark red or blood colour. By some armorists it is called murrey. The latter word is considered obsolete.

SAPPHIRE. The name of a precious stone, formerly used to express azure.

SARDONYX. A precious stone, formerly used to denote sanguine in emblazoning the arms of the English n.o.bility.

SATURN. The name of a planet, used to denote sable in emblazoning the royal arms by ancient armorists.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sceptre]

SCEPTRE. A royal staff; an ensign of sovereignty borne in the hand. It was originally a javelin without a head. Sceptres of the present time are splendidly decorated with jewellery. The annexed engraving represents two sceptres of the kings of England: _the sceptre with the dove_ is of gold, three feet seven inches long; the circ.u.mference of the handle is three inches, and two inches and a quarter at the end of the staff; the pomel is decorated with a fillet of table diamonds and other precious stones; the mound at the top is enriched with a band of rose diamonds; upon the mound is a small cross of Calvary, over which is a dove with its wings expanded, as the emblem of mercy.

_The royal Sceptre with the Cross_ is of gold; the handle is plain, and the upper part wreathed; it is in length two feet nine inches, the fleur-de-lis of six leaves; the mound, and the cross above it, are richly embellished with amethysts and diamonds.

SCARPE. A diminutive of the bend sinister.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Scarpe]

Ex. Argent, a scarpe, gules.

SCROLL. The riband below the escutcheon, on which the motto is inscribed.

SEEDED. When the seed of a rose or any other flower is of a different tint from the petal, it is called seeded. The heraldic colour of the seed in the centre of a flower is or, but, as in other proper names, the colour of the seed is not mentioned unless it is of a different tincture.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Set foil or Six foil]

SET FOIL OR SIX FOIL. Six leaves conjoined in the centre.

SEGREANT. This term is used to describe a griffin displaying its wings as if about to fly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Segreant]

Ex. A griffin rampant, segreant, gules.

SEJANT. French word for sitting. See LION SEJANT.

SEMe. A French word for strewed. A field powdered or strewed with any object is said to be seme: thus a shield may be seme of fleur-de-lis, seme of hearts, &c.

SINISTER. A term used in Heraldry to signify the left side of any object. Thus a bend proceeding from the top of the left side of the shield is called a bend sinister.

SLIPPED. Torn from the stock or branch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Slipped]

Ex. Azure, three laurel leaves slipped, argent.

SOL. A planet, formerly used to denote or, in emblazoning royal arms.

It is the Latin name for the sun.

SOL, or THE SUN IN ITS SPLENDOUR. The sun is said to be in its splendour when it is figured (that is, delineated with a human face) and surrounded with rays. Sometimes this figure is called a sun in its glory.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sol, or The Sun in its Splendour]

Ex. Azure, a sun in its splendour.

STANDARD. A large square flag bearing the whole of the achievements of the monarch or n.o.bleman, as seen in the royal standard of England. The royal standard, when placed before the pavilion of the monarch either at a tournay or in an encampment, was eleven yards long and three yards broad.

The length of the standard when borne in the field denoted the rank of the leader: that of a duke was seven yards long; a peer of lower degree raised a standard five yards in length; that of a knight banneret was only four. In modern times standards of peers or knights banneret are seldom displayed but in funeral processions. The standard is then long and narrow, and pointed at the end; that of a duke is about fifteen feet in length, peers of lower degree about twelve.

The flag borne as the ensign of a regiment of cavalry is called a standard. The flags of foot soldiers are called colours.

STAR. This celestial figure is always represented as argent, and is supposed to have six rays or points; if they have more points the number must be named. See ETOILE.

STATANT. An animal standing still with all its legs on the ground. See LION STATANT.

SUPPORTERS are figures standing on the scroll, placed on each side of the shield as if to support it. Supporters in English Heraldry are granted only to persons included in the rank of n.o.bility or to knights banneret by favour of the sovereign.

The origin of this addition to the external ornaments of the escutcheon may be traced to the practice which originally prevailed in the regulation of tournaments. Some days prior to the tournament taking place, each knight desirous of entering the lists was required to hang up his shield, upon which his arms were emblazoned, at the place appointed by the prince or n.o.bleman that proclaimed the tournament, that they might be examined by the heralds, to prevent unqualified persons entering the lists. Each shield thus exhibited was guarded or supported by the servants of the knight to whom it belonged, and to disguise their livery these guardians of the shield a.s.sumed the appearance of savages, Moors, lions, griffins, and various other animals.

In after times, on the creation of a peer, the Heralds selected the supporters they deemed most appropriate, having some allusion either to the deeds, name, t.i.tle, arms, or motto of the newly-created peer.

SURMOUNTED. A figure or bearing having another over it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Surmounted]

Ex. Gules, a sword erect in pale, argent, surmounted by two keys, saltier, or.

SURTOUT. The French word for "over all." See ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE and OVER ALL.

TALBOT. A dog formerly used for hunting. It is formed something between a hound and a beagle, with a large snout, and long, round, thick ears.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Talbot]

Ex. Argent, a talbot's head erased, seme of billets.

TENNE, or TAWNEY. One of the tinctures used in emblazoning arms. It signifies orange colour, and is represented in engraving by lines drawn diagonally from the sinister to the dexter side of the shield, traversed by perpendicular lines from the base to the chief.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tiara]

TIARA. The Pope's mitre, with its triple crowns.

TINCTURE. A term used in Heraldry to express colour.

TOPAZ. The name of a precious stone, formerly used instead of or, in emblazoning the arms of the English n.o.bility.

TORTEAUX. Red roundlets.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Torteaux]