arms to distinguish one family from another, and to show how distant
younger branches are from the elder or principal branch. See p. 13.
[CHAP. III.]
DIMINUTION. A word sometimes used instead of difference.
DISPLAYED. A bird whose wings are expanded and legs spread is said to
be displayed.
[Illustration: Displayed]
Ex. Argent, an eagle displayed sable.
DORMANT. The French word for sleeping, used to denote the posture of a
lion, or any other beast reposing. See LION.
DOUBLINGS. The lining of robes of state, as also the rows of fur set
on the mantles of peers.
DOUBLE TRESSURE. Two Tressures, or orles, one within the other.
[Illustration: Double Tressure]
DOVETAILED. A term borrowed from carpentry to show tinctures joined
together by reversed wedges, which, being shaped like doves' tails,
are by joiners called dovetailing.
[Illustration: Dovetailed]
Ex. Quarterly per pale dove-tailed, or and gules.
DRAGON. An imaginary monster; a mixture of beast, bird, and reptile.
It is frequently borne in crests and charges.
[Illustration: Dragon]
Ex. Argent, a dragon proper, tail nowed.
DRAGON'S HEAD. Part of a celestial constellation, used by ancient
English heralds to denote tenne when emblazoning the arms of
sovereigns; this style of heraldry has become obsolete.
DRAGON'S TAIL. Part of the same constellation; formerly used to denote
sanguine.
DUKE. The highest degree of British peerage next to the prince of
Wales. This title is derived from the Latin word _dux_: the title of
Duke was known in other parts of Europe long before it was introduced
into England. The first person that was created a duke in this country
was Edward the Black Prince, who was created duke of Cornwall by his
father Edward the third. The title has since that time belonged to the
first born son of the monarch of England. A duke formerly possessed
great authority over the province that formed his dukedom, and had
large estates annexed to his title to support its dignity. At the
present time dukes are created by patent, and their dukedom is merely
nominal, neither power nor possessions being annexed to the title.
EAGLE. _Aquila_ in Ornithology. In Heraldry the eagle is accounted
one of the most noble bearings, and ought to be given only to such as
greatly excel in the virtues of generosity and courage, or for having
done some singular service to their sovereign.
EAGLET is a diminutive of eagle, properly signifying a young eagle.
In Heraldry, when several eagles are on the same escutcheon, they are
termed eaglets.
EARL. The third degree of British peerage. Under the Danish and Saxon
kings this was the highest title known in England conferred upon a
subject. It was formerly the custom upon creating an earl to assign
him, for the support of his state, the third penny from the fines and
profits of the sheriff's court, issuing out of the pleas of the shire
whence the earl took his title; as, formerly, there was no count or
earl but had a county or shire for his earldom. When the number of
earls was increased, they took their titles from towns and villages.
An earl is now created by patent.
EARL-MARSHAL OF ENGLAND. A very ancient, and formerly a very
important, officer, who had several courts under his jurisdiction, as
the Court of Chivalry, the Court of Honour. He still presides over the
Heralds' College, and nominally over the Marshalsea Court. The title
of Earl Marshal of England is now, and has been for some ages,
hereditary in the noble family of the Howards.
EASTERN CROWN. A crown with rays proceeding from a circle, called
by heralds an Eastern crown, is found in ancient achievements. The
annexed cut shows its form.
[Illustration: Eastern Crown]
EMBATTLED. A line, formed like the battlements on a wall or tower, is
said to be embattled or crenelle. When the line is used to form one
of the ordinaries, it is said to be embattled. See the lines, p. 11.
[CHAP. III.]
[Illustration: Embattled]
Ex. Gules, a bend sinister embattled, argent.
EMBATTLED GRADY. Where the battlements gradually rise one above
another.
[Illustration: Embattled Grady]
Ex. Argent, a fess gules, embattled grady. See the lines, p. 11.
[CHAP. III.]
EMBOWED. Any thing bent or curved, like a bow.
[Illustration: Embowed]
Ex. Gules, a dolphin naiant embowed or.
EMERALD. The name of a precious stone formerly substituted for vert in
emblazoning the arms of the nobility of England.
EN ARRIÈRE. An expression borrowed from the French, to signify any
creature borne with its back to view.
[Illustration: En arrière]
Ex. Argent, an eagle proper en arrière.
ENDORSE. The smallest diminutive of the pale.
[Illustration: Endorse]
Ex. Argent, a pale between endorses gules.
ENGRAILED. Any object being edged with small semi-circles, the points
turning outwards, is said to be engrailed.
[Illustration: Engrailed]
Ex. Argent, a pale azure engrailed.
ENHANCED. A term applied to bearings placed above their usual
situation.
[Illustration: Enhanced]
Ex. Argent, three bendlets, enhanced gules.
ENSIGNED. This word, in heraldic description, means ornamented.
[Illustration: Ensigned]
Ex. Argent, a man's heart gules, ensigned with a celestial crown or.
ERASED. Signifies any thing torn or plucked off from the part to which
nature affixed it; generally applied to the head and limbs of man or
beast.
[Illustration: Erased]
Ex. Argent, a leg erased at the midst of the thigh gules.
ERECT. This is said of any animal or parts of animals, naturally
horizontal, being placed in a perpendicular direction.
[Illustration: Erect]
Ex. Argent, a boar's head erect, and erased.
ERMINE. A white fur with black spots, represented as in the annexed
example.
[Illustration: Ermine]
ERMINES. This fur is represented by white spots on a black field.
[Illustration: Ermines]
ERMINOIS. A fur, the field, or, the spots or tufts, sable, as in the
annexed example.
[Illustration: Erminois]
ESCALOP. The shell of a sea-fish, used to decorate the palmers on
their way to and from Palestine; frequently used as a charge in
Heraldry.
[Illustration]
ESCUTCHEON. This word is sometimes used to express the whole coat of
arms, sometimes only the field upon which the arms are painted. It
more generally denotes the painted shields used at funerals. The
field, if the husband is dead and wife survives, is black on the
dexter side only; if the wife is deceased, it is black on the sinister
side; if both, it is black all over. The example shows that this is
the escutcheon of a deceased baron, whose lady survives.
[Illustration]
ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENCE. A small escutcheon, on which a man bears the
coat of arms of his wife, being an heiress. See p. 40. [CHAP. VI.]
[Illustration: Ex. Argent, a chevron or, between three crosslets
sable, on the fess point surtout the chevron an escutcheon of pretence
gules, three quatrefoils argent.]
ESQUIRE. The degree below a knight and above a gentleman. Those to
whom this title is due by right, are all the younger sons of noblemen
and their heirs male for ever, the four esquires of the king's body,
the eldest sons of baronets, of all knights and of their heirs male:
those who bear superior offices, as magistrates, high sheriffs,
mayors, and aldermen, have it during their continuance in office and
no longer. For the helmet of an esquire, see page 84.
[Illustration: Etoile.]
ETOILE. The French word for a star. It differs from the mullet in the
number of points, and four of the points being rayant.
FESS. An honourable ordinary occupying the third part of the shield
between the centre and the base.
[Illustration: Fess]
Ex. Argent, a fess gules.
[Illustration: Fess Point.]
FESS POINT. The exact centre of the escutcheon, as seen in the annexed
example. See the escutcheon lettered at p. 6., where this point is
marked with the letter E. [CHAP. II.]
FIELD. The whole surface of the shield or escutcheon: it is the ground
upon which the colours, tinctures, furs, ordinaries, and charges, are
represented.
FIGURED. Those bearings which are depicted with a human face, are said
to be figured.
[Illustration: Figured]
Ex. Gules, three bezants figured.
FILLET. The only diminutive belonging to the chief; its width is
one-fourth of the chief, and is always placed at the base of it. See
CHIEF, p. 18. [CHAP. IV.]
FIMBRIATED. An ordinary having a border of a different tincture is
said to be fimbriated.
[Illustration: Fimbriated]
Ex. Azure, a bend gules, fimbriated argent.
FITCHY. Is from the French word _fiché_, fixed. It is generally
applied to crosses which have their lower branch pointed, so that it
could be fixed in the ground. See CROSS FITCHY.
FLANCHES. Are formed of two curved lines placed opposite each other.
[Illustration: Flanche]
Ex. Azure, a flanche argent.
FLANK. That part of an escutcheon between the chief and the base.
[Illustration: Flank]
Ex. Argent, three mullets gules, accompanied with seven cross
crosslets fitchy sable--three in chief, one in fess, two in flanks,
one in base.
FLASQUES. A subordinate ordinary formed by curved lines placed
opposite each other, but not so near as in flanches.
[Illustration: Flasque]
Ex. Azure, a flasque argent.
[Illustration: Fleur-de-lis.]
FLEUR-DE-LIS. Supposed to represent the garden-lily. It is the bearing
of the Bourbons of France, but is frequently introduced in English
charges.
FLORY. Signifies flowered or adorned with the fleur-de-lis. See FLORY
COUNTER-FLORY, and CROSS-FLORY.
FRET. Two laths interlaced with a mascle.
[Illustration: Fret]
Ex. Azure, a fret argent.
FRETTY. This word denotes a field covered with fretwork or laths
interlacing each other.
[Illustration: Fretty]
Ex. Gules, fretty argent.
THE FUSIL. Is longer than the lozenge: the upper and lower ends are
more acute.
[Illustration: Fusil]
Ex. Or, a fusil purpure.
[Illustration: Galley.]
GALLEY. An ancient vessel propelled by oars; frequently used in
shields of naval officers.
[Illustration: Gambe.]
GAMBE. An obsolete French word, signifying a leg, and is still used in
Heraldry, for the leg of a lion or other creature borne in coats of
arms.
GARBE. The heraldic term for a sheaf of any kind of corn.
[Illustration: Garbe]
Ex. Argent, a garbe proper.
GARTER. One of the diminutives of the bend, being half the size.
[Illustration: Garter]
Ex. Or, a garter vert.
[Illustration: Garter.]
GARTER. The insignia of the most noble order of the knights of the
garter. It is formed of blue velvet edged with gold wire, and lined
with white satin; on the velvet is embroidered the motto of the order.
See KNIGHT.
[Illustration: Gauntlet.]
GAUNTLET. Armour for the hand.
GAZE. An intent look. This is said of a deer standing still, and
turning its head to look earnestly at any object.
[Illustration: Gaze]
Ex. Argent, a stag at gaze proper.
[Illustration: Gemels.]
GEMELS. This word signifies double. The example contains two double
bars, which in heraldic language would be called two bars gemels.
[Illustration: Golp.]
GOLPS. Roundlets of a purple tincture. The colour is not stated, as
the name denotes the colour.
GORGED. Any animals, particularly birds, that have collars round the
neck, are said to be gorged.
[Illustration: Gorged]
Ex. A swan's head erased at the neck, ducally gorged or.
[Illustration: Griffin.]
GRIFFIN or GRYPHON. A chimerical animal, half bird, half beast.
[Illustration: Guidon.]
GUIDON. A small semi-oval flag used in funeral processions. It is
generally charged with the paternal arms of the deceased.
[Illustration: Gules.]
GULES. Signifies red. It is represented in engraving by lines running
parallel with each other, from the chief to the base, as in the
example.
[Illustration: Gutty.]
GUTTY. A term derived from the Latin word _gutta_, a drop. A field
bearing drops, as in the example, is called gutty.
[Illustration: Gyron.]
GYRON. A triangular figure formed by two lines from one of the angles
of the shield to the centre. The gyron may be drawn in any part of the
shield, but it is generally placed as in the annexed example.
GYRONNY. When the field is covered with gyrons, their points uniting
in the centre.
[Illustration: Gyronny]
Ex. Gyronny of eight pieces, azure, argent, and gules.
HABERGEON. A coat of mail: it is also called a corslet and cuirass.
[Illustration: Habergeon]
Ex. Argent, an habergeon proper.
HABITED. Clothed figures, either as charges or supporters, are said to
be habited.
[Illustration: Harpy.]
HARPY. A chimerical animal, having the head and breast of a woman, and
the body and legs of a bird.
HAURIENT. A fish, in a perpendicular direction, with its head upwards.
[Illustration: Haurient]
Ex. Argent, a salmon proper haurient.
HELMET. An ancient piece of defensive armour for the head; it covered
the face, leaving an aperture in the front, secured by bars: this was
called the visor. The helmet is now placed over a coat of arms; and by
the metal from which it is made, the form, and position, denotes the
rank of the person whose arms are emblazoned beneath it.
The helmets of sovereigns are formed of burnished gold; those of
princes and peers, of every degree, silver figured with gold; knights,
esquires, and gentlemen, polished steel.
The helmets of the king, the royal family, and peers, are open-faced
and grated: the number of bars served formerly to distinguish the
bearer's quality. The helmets of knights are open-faced, without bars.
Esquires and gentlemen are known by the close helmet.
[Illustration: Grated helmet, direct front view.]
The position of the helmet is a mark of distinction. The direct front
view of the grated helmet belongs to sovereign princes and dukes.
[Illustration: Grated helmet, profile.]
The grated helmet in profile is common to all degrees of peerage under
a duke.
[Illustration: Open helmet, direct front view.]
The helmet without bars, with the beaver open, standing directly
fronting the spectator, denotes a knight.
[Illustration: Closed helmet, profile.]
The closed helmet seen in profile is appropriated to esquires and
gentlemen. See CREST, BEAVER, MANTLING.
HERALD. An officer at arms, whose business it is to declare war,
proclaim peace, marshal all the solemnities at the coronation;
baptisms, marriages, and funerals of the sovereign and nobility; and
to ascertain and blazon coats of arms.
The principal herald is Garter-King-at-Arms. It is his office to
regulate the solemnities, and emblazon the arms of the sovereign,
knights, and officers of the most noble order of the Garter.
Garter-King-at-Arms likewise presides over all heraldic ceremonies of
the Court. His crown of gold is formed with oak leaves, one shorter
than the other, springing from a circlet of gold, having engraved upon
it the words "MISERERE MEI DEUS." His tabard, as principal herald, is
of crimson velvet, splendidly embroidered with the arms of England.
Clarencieux and Norroy are called provincial kings-at-arms, the former
regulating all things connected with Heraldry in the provinces south
of the Trent; the latter in the provinces north of the Trent. They
have likewise crowns; and though the office of herald is not of so
much importance now as it was formerly, it is still considered a post
of great honour and emolument.
There are eight heralds that are not kings-at-arms. Their tabards
are of silk, embroidered with the royal arms. They are called York,
Lancaster, Somerset, Richmond, Chester, and Windsor. George the First
created a new herald called Hanover, and another called Gloucester.
The kings-at-arms, heralds, and pursuivants, form the Heralds'
College, by whom all matters connected with the coats of arms of every
gentleman in the kingdom are arranged and determined.
HILTED. The handle of a sword tinctured.
[Illustration: Hilted]
Ex. Argent, a sword proper couped, hilted or.
[Illustration: HONOUR POINT]
HONOUR POINT. That part of the shield between the precise middle chief
and the fess point. In the annexed example the large dot in the centre
shows the fess point; the point within the letter D, the _honour
point_. See p. 6. [CHAP. II.]
HORNED. This term is used to denote that the horn of a unicorn is of a
different tincture from his body.
[Illustration: Horned]
Ex. Azure, three unicorns' heads proper, erased, horned or.
HUMETTY. A term used to denote an ordinary, parts of which are couped
or cut off, so that it does not touch the edges of the shield.
[Illustration: Humetty]
Ex. Argent, a fess humetty gules, between three mullets sable.
[Illustration: HURTS]
HURTS. Blue roundlets: the colour is expressed in the name; therefore
the tincture is not otherwise named in emblazoning a coat of arms.
[Illustration: Spearhead imbued.]
IMBUED. Weapons spotted with blood are said to be imbued. The example
shows a spearhead imbued.
IMPALED. Two coats of arms, conjoined paleways, in one shield.
[Illustration: Impaled]
Ex. Argent, a fess gules, impaled with argent, a bend azure. See p.
38. [CHAP. VI.]
INCRESCENT. The new moon, with her horns turned towards the dexter
side of the shield.
[Illustration: Increscent]
Ex. Azure, a moon increscent argent.
INDENTED. A serrated figure, much smaller than the dancette.
[Illustration: Indented]
Ex. Or, a chief gules, indented.
INESCUTCHEON. The name given to small escutcheons forming a bearing of
a coat of arms.
[Illustration: Inescutcheon]
Ex. Argent, three inescutcheons gules.
INVECTED. A line formed with small semicircles, with the points turned
inward. Any ordinary drawn with this line is called invected.
[Illustration: Invected]
Ex. Argent, a bend gules, invected between two hurts.
ISSUANT, or ISSUING. Rays or other charges proceeding from any part of
the escutcheon. See RAY.
KNIGHT. A title of honour conferred upon a subject for eminent
services performed in war. In the course of time, knights that had
gained riches and high titles formed societies under the control and
direction of their monarchs in every part of Europe. The limits of
this work will only permit us to notice the orders of knighthood
introduced into England.
The KNIGHTS-BACHELORS were the earliest order of knighthood in
England. The title was conferred for services in war. It was merely
personal, and, like the knighthood conferred upon individuals at the
present time, did not descend to their posterity.
[Illustration: Knights-Banneret]
KNIGHTS-BANNERET. This ancient and honourable order has become
extinct. It obtained the title of banneret from the knights having
the right of having a square banner borne before them on the field
of battle, and at jousts and tournaments. Sir W. Segar gives the
following account of the creation of a knight-banneret:--"It is a
military order, and can only be conferred upon persons that have
performed some heroic act in the field. When this action is known to
the king, or general of the army, he commands the attendance of the
gallant warrior, who is led, between two knights, into the presence of
the king or general with his pennon of arms in his hand, and there
the heralds proclaim his merit, and declare him fit to become a
knight-banneret, and thenceforth to display a banner in the field.
Then the king or general causes the point of the pennon to be cut off
to make it square; it is then placed at the top of his lance, and the
new-made knight returns to his tent, the trumpets sounding before
him." Knights-banneret were certainly created in the reign of Edward
I., but how long before that time it is impossible to tell.
KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER. This is considered the most honourable order
of knighthood in Europe: it was founded by Edward III. in 1349; the
fraternity consists of twenty-six knights, to which are added the
princes of the blood royal. The king of England is the sovereign of
the order; their officers are a prelate, chancellor, registrar, and
king-at-arms.
The college of the order is in Windsor Castle, with the chapel of St.
George and the chapter-house. These buildings were erected by the
royal founder expressly for the accommodation of the knights of the
garter.
The garter is considered the principal ensign of this order: it is
worn on the left leg below the knee; it is formed of blue velvet,
edged with gold: on the velvet is embroidered the motto of the order,
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE.
The collar is of gold, weighing thirty ounces troy weight, and
contains twenty-six garters enamelled proper, in each a rose gules
between; the garters are connected by knots. The George is attached to
this collar: it represents St. George (the patron Saint of the order)
attacking the dragon; it is of gold enamelled, and may be enriched
with jewels at the pleasure of the possessor.
THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PATRICK. This illustrious Irish order was founded
by George III., 1783. It consists of the sovereign, a grand
master, the princes of the blood royal, and thirteen knights. The
lord-lieutenant for the time being is grand master. The device on the
jewel of this order is argent, a cross saltier gules surmounted with
a trefoil vert, charged with three imperial crowns or, the whole
inclosed in a circle of gold, bearing the motto QUIS SEPARABIT.
MDCCLXXXIII. An engraving of this jewel will be found on the sinister
side of the title-page.
THE KNIGHTS OF THE THISTLE. The most ancient order of the Thistle was
founded by James V. of Scotland, 1540, and revived by James II., king
of Great Britain, 1687, incorporated by Queen Anne, whose statutes
were confirmed by George I. The order consists of the sovereign and
twelve brethren or knights. Their motto is the national motto, NEMO ME
IMPUNE LACESSET; their badge or jewel, St. Andrew, supporting a cross,
surrounded with rays of gold, an engraving of which will be found on
the dexter side of the title-page.
[Illustration: Knight and Baronet]
KNIGHT AND BARONET. A degree of honour next to a baron, created by
King James I. to induce the English gentry to settle in the province
of Ulster. The title is knight and baronet; it is hereditary: the arms
are distinguished by an augmentation of a human hand gules, generally
borne on an escutcheon in the centre of the shield.
[Illustration: Knight and Baronet of Nova Scotia]
KNIGHT AND BARONET OF NOVA SCOTIA. A new creation during the reign
of George I. to induce capitalists to settle in that part of North
America. The title is hereditary: the arms are argent, St. Andrew's
Cross gules surtout, an escutcheon or, with a lion rampant gules
within a double tressure of the same, surmounted by a king's crown as
a crest.
KNIGHTS OF THE BATH. An ancient and honourable military order of
knighthood. The date of its origin is too remote to be traced with
certainty: by some authors it is said to have been instituted in
Normandy before the Conquest; it was re-established in England by
Henry IV., and revived by George I. The chapel of this order is Henry
VII.'s chapel in Westminster Abbey: the Dean of Westminster for the
time being is always dean of the order of the Bath. The number of the
knights is according to the pleasure of the sovereign. At the close of
the late war the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV., remodelled this
order of knighthood; and to enable himself to bestow marks of honour
upon the naval and military officers that had distinguished themselves
on the ocean and in the field, he divided the order into three
classes: first, all the noblemen that were Knights of the Bath were
henceforth to be called Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath, which
was also the title of the commanders of fleets and armies that were
rewarded by being admitted into the highest class of this noble order.
The second class are called Knights Commanders of the Bath; a great
number of naval and military officers above the rank of captains in
the navy and majors in the army are admitted into this class.
The third class is styled Companions of the Order of the Bath, and is
open to officers of inferior rank.
The Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath attach the initials K.G.C.B. to
their names and titles.
The Knights Commanders use the initials K.C.B.
The Companions are known by the initials C.B.
[Illustration: Label]
LABEL. The noblest of abatements serving as a difference between the
eldest and the junior sons. See DIFFERENCE.