Part 3 (1/2)

THE s.h.i.+ELD: ITS HERALDIC TREATMENT.--When a s.h.i.+eld is represented as standing erect, it is not necessary to specify that fact, since such a position may be a.s.sumed for a s.h.i.+eld unless another be set forth in blazoning. s.h.i.+elds are sometimes made to appear suspended by the _guige_, or s.h.i.+eld-belt (which was worn by Knights to sustain and secure their s.h.i.+elds to their persons); in some Seals and generally in architectural compositions, s.h.i.+elds-of-Arms appear suspended, erect, from their guiges; at Westminster some of the earliest s.h.i.+elds are thus suspended, with a very happy effect, from two points of suspension, the guige pa.s.sing over sculptured heads, as in No. 48, the Arms of Provence, borne by ALIANORE of Provence, Queen of HENRY III.--the _s.h.i.+eld_ is _gold_, and on it are blazoned _four red pallets_. In Seals, the suspended s.h.i.+eld is generally represented hanging by the sinister-chief angle, as in No. 49; and it hangs thus diagonally from below the helm.

A s.h.i.+eld thus placed is said to be ”_couche_.” This arrangement is also frequently adopted, when a s.h.i.+eld or an Achievement of arms is not placed upon a Seal; but in any case the position has no importance except as a matter of artistic treatment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 48.--Arms of Provence, Westminster Abbey.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 49.--s.h.i.+eld Couche.]

The entire surface of every s.h.i.+eld is termed the ”_Field_.” The same term is also applied to _every plain surface_. A s.h.i.+eld is said to be ”borne” by the personage to whom it belongs: and, in its turn, the s.h.i.+eld ”bears” whatever figures and devices may be displayed upon it; whence, all these figures and devices are ent.i.tled ”_Bearings_” or ”_Armorial Bearings_.” All figures and devices are also styled ”_Charges_”; and they are said to be ”_charged_” upon a s.h.i.+eld, Banner, or Surcoat, or upon one another. In blazoning, the field of the s.h.i.+eld is always first noticed and described: next follow the charges that rest upon the field of the s.h.i.+eld itself; then descriptions are given of the secondary bearings that are charged upon others of greater importance.

As a general rule, of several charges which all alike rest immediately upon the field of the s.h.i.+eld, the most important is the first to be blazoned; so that the arrangement of blazoning is determined by the comparative dignity of the bearings, as well as by the degree in which charges are nearer to the field and further from beholders. In some cases, however, a bearing charged upon the field of a s.h.i.+eld and many times repeated on a small scale, is blazoned (for the sake of simplicity and clearness of expression) next to the field of the s.h.i.+eld itself:--thus, if a lion be charged on the field of a s.h.i.+eld, and a considerable number of crosses surround the lion, and, like him, are placed on the field of the s.h.i.+eld also--the field of the s.h.i.+eld is blazoned first, the crosses second, and the lion third; and, if a crescent (or other bearing) be charged upon the lion's shoulder, it is the last in the blazon. In quartered s.h.i.+elds the blazoning commences afresh with each quartering. In blazoning armorial banners and horse-trappings, the latter often gorgeously enriched with heraldic blazonry, the dexter side of a flag is always next to the staff, and the head of a horse is supposed always to be looking towards the dexter.

CHAPTER V

THE GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY

SECTION II

_The Tinctures' Metals-- Colours-- Furs-- Varied Fields-- Law of Tinctures-- Counterchanging-- Diaper-- Disposition-- Blazoning in Tinctures._

”All the devices blazoned on the s.h.i.+eld In their own tinct”

--ELAINE.

In English Heraldry the TINCTURES comprise _Two Metals_, _Five Colours_, and _Eight Furs_. They are symbolised or indicated by dots and lines--a very convenient system, said to have been introduced, about the year 1630, by an Italian named Silvestre de Petrasancta. Some such symbolisation, however, may occasionally be found in antic.i.p.ation of Petrasancta. The system now in use was not generally adopted till the commencement of the eighteenth century. This system is never officially employed in a matter of record, and is now being discarded by many artists. The Metals, Colours, and Furs are named, their names are abbreviated, and they are severally indicated, as follows:--

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 50.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 51.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 52.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 53.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 54.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 55.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 56.]

TWO METALS.

t.i.tLES ABBREVIATIONS SYMBOLISATION.

1. Gold _Or_ Or No. 50.

2. Silver _Argent_ Arg. No. 51.

FIVE COLOURS

t.i.tLES ABBREVIATIONS SYMBOLISATION.

1. Blue _Azure_ _Az._ No. 52.

2. Red _Gules_ _Gu._ No. 53.

3. Black _Sable_ _Sa._ No. 54.