1265. (From MS. Cott., Nero, D. 1.)]

[Illustration: FIG. 99.--Fess.] [Illustration: FIG. 100.--Fess engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 101.--Fess invecked.] The arms shown in Fig. 97 are interesting inasmuch as they are doubtless an early form of the coat per pale indented argent and gules, which is generally described as a banner borne for the honour of Hinckley, by the Simons de Montfort, Earls of Leicester, father and son. In a Roll _temp._ Henry III., to Simon the younger is ascribed "Le Banner party endentee dargent & de goules," although the arms of both father and son are known to have been as Fig. 98: "Gules, a lion rampant queue-fourchée argent." More probably the indented coat gives the original Montfort arms. THE FESS The fess is a broad horizontal band crossing the escutcheon in the centre (Fig. 99). It is seldom drawn to contain a full third of the area of the shield. It is subject to the lines of partition (Figs. 100-109). {118} A curious variety of the fess dancetté is borne by the Shropshire family Plowden of Plowden. They bear: Azure, a fess dancetté, the upper points terminating in fleurs-de-lis (Fig. 110). A fess couped (Fig. 111) is found in the arms of Lee. [Illustration: FIG. 102.--Fess embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 103.--Fess embattled counter-embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 104.--Fess raguly.] [Illustration: FIG. 105.--Fess dovetailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 106.--Fess indented.] [Illustration: FIG. 107.--Fess dancetté.] [Illustration: FIG. 108.--Fess wavy.] [Illustration: FIG. 109.--Fess nebuly.] [Illustration: FIG. 110.--The arms of Plowden.] The "fess embattled" is only crenellated upon the upper edge; but when both edges are embattled it is a fess embattled and counter-embattled. The term _bretessé_ (which is said to indicate that the battlements on the upper edge are opposite the battlements on the lower edge, and the indentations likewise corresponding) is a term and a distinction neither of which are regarded in British armory. {119} A fess wreathed (Fig. 112) is a bearing which seems to be almost peculiar to the Carmichael family, but the arms of Waye of Devon are an additional example, being: Sable, two bars wreathed argent and gules. I know of no other ordinary borne in a wreathed form, but there seems no reason why this peculiarity should be confined to the fess. [Illustration: FIG. 111.--Fess couped.] [Illustration: FIG. 112.--Fess wreathed.] [Illustration: FIG. 113.--Two Bars.] [Illustration: FIG. 114.--Bars embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 115.--Bars engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 116.--Bars invecked.] It is a fixed rule of British armory that there can be only _one_ fess upon a shield. If two figures of this character are found they are termed _bars_ (Fig. 113). But it is hardly correct to speak of the bar as a diminutive of the fess, because if two bars only appear on the shield there would be little, if any, diminution made from the width of the fess when depicting the bars. As is the case with other ordinaries, there is much latitude allowed to the artist in deciding the dimensions, it being usually permitted for these to be governed by the charges upon the fess or bars, and the charges between which these are placed. Bars, like the fess, are of course equally subject to all the varying lines of partition (Figs. 114-118). The diminutive of the bar is the barrulet, which is half its width and double the width of the cottise. But the barrulet will _almost invariably_ be found borne in _pairs_, when such a pair is usually known as a "bar gemel" and not as two barrulets. Thus a coat with four barrulets {120} would have these placed at equal distances from each other; but a coat with two bars gemel would be depicted with two of its barrulets placed closely together in chief and two placed closely together in base, the disposition being governed by the fact that the two barrulets comprising the "bar gemel" are only _one charge_. Fig. 119 shows three bars gemel. There is theoretically no limit to the number of bars or bars gemel which can be placed upon the shield. In practical use, however, four will be found the maximum. [Illustration: FIG. 117.--Bars raguly.] [Illustration: FIG. 118.--Bars dovetailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 119.--Bars gemel.] A field composed of four, six, eight, or ten horizontal pieces of equal width is "barry of such and such a number of pieces," the number being always specified (Figs. 55 and 56). A field composed of an equal number of horizontally shaped pieces, when these exceed ten in number, is termed "barruly" of such and such a number. The term barruly is also sometimes used for ten pieces. If the number is omitted "barry" will usually be of six pieces, though sometimes of eight. On the other hand a field composed of five, seven, or nine pieces is not barry, but (_e.g._) two bars, three bars, and four bars respectively. This distinction in modern coats needs to be carefully noted, but in ancient coats it is not of equal importance. Anciently also a shield "barry" was drawn of a greater number of pieces (see Figs. 120, 121 and 122) than would nowadays be employed. In modern armory a field so depicted would more correctly be termed "barruly." Whilst a field can be and often is barry of two colours or two metals, an uneven number of pieces must of necessity be of metal and colour or fur. Consequently in a shield _e.g._ divided into seven equal horizontal divisions, alternately gules and sable, there must be a mistake somewhere. Although these distinctions require to be carefully noted as regards modern arms, it should be remembered that they are distinctions evolved by the intricacies and requirements of modern armory, and ancient arms were not so trammelled. {121} A field divided horizontally into three equal divisions of _e.g._ gules, sable, and argent is theoretically blazoned by British rules "party per fess gules and argent, a fess sable." This, however, gives an exaggerated width to the fess which it does not really possess with us, and the German rules, which would blazon it "tierced per fess gules, sable, and argent," would seem preferable. [Illustration: FIG. 120.--Arms of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke (d. 1296); Barruly azure and argent, a label of five points gules, the files depending from the chief line of the shield, and each file charged with three lions passant guardant or. (From MS. Reg. 14, C. vii.)] [Illustration: FIG. 121.--Arms of Laurence de Hastings, Earl of Pembroke (d. 1348); Quarterly, 1 and 4, or, a maunch gules (for Hastings); 2 and 3, barruly argent and azure, an orle of martlets (for Valence). (From his seal.)] [Illustration: FIG. 122.--Arms of Edmund Grey, Earl of Kent (d. 1489): Quarterly, 1 and 4, barry of six, argent and azure, in chief three torteaux (for Grey); 2 and 3, Hastings and Valence sub-quarterly. (From his seal, 1442.)] [Illustration: FIG. 123.--Barry, per chevron counter-changed.] [Illustration: FIG. 124.--Barry-bendy.] [Illustration: FIG. 125.--Paly-bendy.] A field which is barry may also be counterchanged, as in the arms of Ballingall, where it is counterchanged per pale; but it can also be counterchanged per chevron (Fig. 123), or per bend dexter or sinister. Such counterchanging should be carefully distinguished from fields which are "barry-bendy" (Fig. 124), or "paly-bendy" (Fig. 125). In these latter cases the field is divided first by lines horizontal (for barry) or perpendicular (for paly), and subsequently by lines bendy (dexter or sinister). {122} The result produced is very similar to "lozengy" (Fig. 126), and care should be taken to distinguish the two. Barry-bendy is sometimes blazoned "fusilly in bend," whilst paly-bendy is sometimes blazoned "fusilly in bend sinister," but the other terms are the more accurate and acceptable. [Illustration: FIG. 126.--Lozengy.] [Illustration: FIG. 127.--Chevron.] [Illustration: FIG. 128.--Chevron engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 129.--Chevron invecked.] [Illustration: FIG. 130.--Chevron embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 131.--Chevron embattled and counter-embattled.] "Lozengy" is made by use of lines in bend crossed by lines in bend sinister (Fig. 126), and "fusilly" the same, only drawn at a more acute angle. THE CHEVRON Probably the ordinary of most frequent occurrence in British, as also in French armory, is the chevron (Fig. 127). It is comparatively rare in German heraldry. The term is derived from the French word _chevron_, meaning a rafter, and the heraldic chevron is the same shape as a gable rafter. In early examples of heraldic art the chevron will be found depicted reaching very nearly to the top of the shield, the angle contained within the chevron being necessarily more acute. The chevron then attained very much more nearly to its full area of one-third of the field than is now given to it. As the chevron became accompanied by charges, it was naturally drawn so that it would allow of these charges being more easily represented, and its height became {123} less whilst the angle it enclosed was increased. But now, as then, it is perfectly at the pleasure of the artist to design his chevron at the height and angle which will best allow the proper representation of the charges which accompany it. [Illustration: FIG. 132.--Chevron indented.] [Illustration: FIG. 133.--Chevron wavy.] [Illustration: FIG. 134.--Chevron nebuly.] [Illustration: FIG. 135.--Chevron raguly.] [Illustration: FIG. 136.--Chevron dovetailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 137.--Chevron doubly cottised.] The chevron, of course, is subject to the usual lines of partition (Figs. 128-136), and can be cottised and doubly cottised (Fig. 137). It is usually found between three charges, but the necessity of modern differentiation has recently introduced the disposition of four charges, three in chief and one in base, which is by no means a happy invention. An even worse disposition occurs in the arms of a certain family of Mitchell, where the four escallops which are the principal charges are arranged two in chief and two in base. [Illustration: FIG. 138.--Chevron quarterly.] Ermine spots upon a chevron do not follow the direction of it, but in the cases of chevrons vair, and chevrons chequy, authoritative examples can be found in which the chequers and rows of vair both do, and do not, conform to the direction of the chevron. My own preference is to make the rows horizontal. A chevron quarterly is divided by a line chevronwise, apparently {124} dividing the chevron into two chevronels, and then by a vertical line in the centre (Fig. 138). A chevron in point embowed will be found in the arms of Trapaud quartered by Adlercron (Fig. 139). A field per chevron (Fig. 52) is often met with, and the division line in this case (like the enclosing lines of a real chevron) is subject to the usual partition lines, but how one is to determine the differentiation between per chevron engrailed and per chevron invecked I am uncertain, but think the points should be upwards for engrailed. The field when entirely composed of an even number of chevrons is termed "chevronny" (Fig. 59). The diminutive of the chevron is the chevronel (Fig. 140). Chevronels "interlaced" or "braced" (Fig. 141), will be found in the arms of Sirr. The chevronel is very seldom met with singly, but a case of this will be found in the arms of Spry. A chevron "rompu" or broken is depicted as in Fig. 142. [Illustration] FIG. 139.--Armorial bearings of Rodolph Ladeveze Adlercron, Esq.: Quarterly, 1 and 4, argent, an eagle displayed, wings inverted sable, langued gules, membered and ducally crowned or (for Adlercron): 2 and 3, argent, a chevron in point embowed between in chief two mullets and in base a lion rampant all gules (for Trapaud). Mantling sable and argent. Crest: on a wreath of the colours, a demi-eagle displayed sable, langued gules, ducally crowned or, the dexter wing per fess argent and azure, the sinister per fess of the last and or. Motto: "Quo fata vocant." THE PILE The pile (Fig. 143) is a triangular wedge usually (and unless otherwise specified) issuing from the chief. The pile is subject to the usual lines of partition (Figs. 144-151). The early representation of the pile (when coats of arms had no secondary charges and were nice and simple) made the point nearly reach to the base of the escutcheon, and as a consequence it naturally was not so wide. It is now usually drawn so that its upper edge occupies very nearly the whole of the top line of the escutcheon; but {125} the angles and proportions of the pile are very much at the discretion of the artist, and governed by the charges which need to be introduced in the field of the escutcheon or upon the pile. [Illustration: FIG. 140.--Chevronels.] [Illustration: FIG. 141.--Chevronels braced.] [Illustration: FIG. 142.--Chevron rompu.] [Illustration: FIG. 143.--Pile.] [Illustration: FIG. 144.--Pile engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 145.--Pile invecked.] [Illustration: FIG. 146.--Pile embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 147.--Pile indented.] [Illustration: FIG. 148.--Pile wavy.] A single pile may issue from any point of the escutcheon except the base; the arms of Darbishire showing a pile issuing from the dexter chief point. A single pile cannot issue in base if it be unaccompanied by other piles, as the field would then be blazoned per chevron. Two piles issuing in chief will be found in the arms of Holles, Earl of Clare. When three piles, instead of pointing directly at right angles to the line of the chief, all point to the same point, touching or nearly touching {126} at the tips, as in the arms of the Earl of Huntingdon and Chester or in the arms of Isham,[9] they are described as three piles in point. This term and its differentiation probably are modern refinements, as with the early long-pointed shield any other position was impossible. The arms of Henderson show three piles issuing from the sinister side of the escutcheon. A disposition of three piles which will very frequently be found in modern British heraldry is two issuing in chief and one in base (Fig. 152). Piles terminating in fleurs-de-lis or crosses patée are to be met with, and reference may be made to the arms of Poynter and Dickson-Poynder. Each of these coats has the field pily counter-pily, the points ending in crosses formée. [Illustration: FIG. 149.--Pile nebuly.] [Illustration: FIG. 150.--Pile raguly.] [Illustration: FIG. 151.--Pile dovetailed.] An unusual instance of a pile in which it issues from a chevron will be found in the arms of Wright, which are: "Sable, on a chevron argent, three spear-heads gules, in chief two unicorns' heads erased argent, armed and maned or, in base on a pile of the last, issuant from the chevron, a unicorn's head erased of the field." THE SHAKEFORK The pall, pairle, or shakefork (Fig. 153), is almost unknown in English heraldry, but in Scotland its constant occurrence in the arms of the Cunninghame and allied families has given it a recognised position among the ordinaries. As usually borne by the Cunninghame family the ends are couped and pointed, but in some cases it is borne throughout. The pall in its proper ecclesiastical form appears in the arms of the Archiepiscopal Sees of Canterbury, Armagh, and Dublin. Though {127} in these cases the pall or pallium (Fig. 154), is now considered to have no other heraldic status than that of an appropriately ecclesiastical charge upon an official coat of arms, there can be very little doubt that originally the pall of itself was the heraldic symbol in this country of an archbishop, and borne for that reason by all archbishops, including the Archbishop of York, although his official archiepiscopal coat is now changed to: "Gules, two keys in saltire argent, in chief a royal crown or." [Illustration: FIG. 152.--Three piles, two in chief and one in base.] [Illustration: FIG. 153.--Shakefork.] [Illustration: FIG. 154.--Ecclesiastical pallium.] [Illustration: FIG. 155.--Cross.] [Illustration: FIG. 156.--Cross engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 157.--Cross invecked.] The necessity of displaying this device of rank--the pallium--upon a field of some tincture has led to its corruption into a usual and stereotyped "charge." THE CROSS The heraldic cross (Fig. 155), the huge preponderance of which in armory we of course owe to the Crusades, like all other armorial charges, has strangely developed. There are nearly four hundred varieties known to armory, or rather to heraldic text-books, and doubtless authenticated examples could be found of most if not of them all. But some dozen or twenty forms are about as many as will be found regularly or constantly occurring. Some but not all of the varieties of the cross are subject to the lines of partition (Figs. 156-161). {128} When the heraldic cross was first assumed with any reason beyond geometrical convenience, there can be no doubt that it was intended to represent the Sacred Cross itself. The symbolism of the cross is older than our present system of armory, but the cross itself is more ancient than its symbolism. A cross depicted upon the long, pointed shields of those who fought for the Cross would be of that shape, with the elongated arm in base. [Illustration: FIG. 158.--Cross embattled.] [Illustration: FIG. 159.--Cross indented.] [Illustration: FIG. 160.--Cross raguly.] [Illustration: FIG. 161.--Cross dovetailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 162.--Passion Cross.] [Illustration: FIG. 163.--Cross Calvary.] But the contemporary shortening of the shield, together with the