Part 6 (2/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 134.--De Balliol.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 135.--Single Tressure Flory.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 137.--Double Tressure flory counterflory.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 136.--Single Tressure flory counterflory.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 138.--Scotland.]

The TRESSURE (H. 3) may be regarded as a variety of the Orle; indeed, in its simplest form it is a very narrow Orle, which is generally set round with fleurs de lys. A Tressure thus enriched is represented in No. 135: in this example all the heads of the fleurs de lys point externally, and all their stalks internally, and this accordingly is blazoned as a ”_Tressure flory_.” In No. 136, which, like No. 135, is a single Tressure, the fleurs de lys are so disposed that the heads and stalks of the flowers point alternately in contrary directions: this is blazoned as a ”_Tressure flory counterflory_.” From this last example the Tressure that is so well known in the blazonry of the Royal s.h.i.+eld of SCOTLAND differs, in being ”_double_.” This, the double Tressure of Scotland, is a combination of two such single Tressures as No. 136, and it is produced from them in the manner following:--From one such single Tressure, as No. 136, all the alternate heads and stalks of the fleurs de lys that point internally are cut away and removed; then a second similar Tressure, of rather smaller size, is denuded of all its external adornment, and in that condition it is placed within the former Tressure, leaving a narrow interval between the two. Each component half of this ”double Tressure flory counterflory,” accordingly, has its own independent series of demi-fleurs de lys, the stalks and heads of the flowers alternating, and the one alternate series pointing externally, while the other points internally. When in combination, these two series of demi-fleurs de lys must be so arranged that the heads of the flowers in one series correspond with their stalks in the other, as in No. 137.

I am thus particular in describing the process of producing the Royal Tressure, because it is frequently to be seen incorrectly drawn. No.

138, the Royal s.h.i.+eld of SCOTLAND, now displayed in the second quarter of the Royal Arms of the UNITED KINGDOM, is thus blazoned--_Or, a lion rampt. within a double Tressure flory counterflory, gu._ It will be observed that a narrow strip of the golden field of this s.h.i.+eld intervenes between the two Tressures. There are many fine examples of this s.h.i.+eld in Scottish Seals; in the Garter-plate, also, of JAMES V. of Scotland, K.G., at Windsor; and on the Monuments in Westminster Abbey to MARY Queen of SCOTS (A.D. 1604), and to the Countess of LENNOX, the mother of Lord DARNLEY (A.D. 1577). Mr. Seton (”Scottish Heraldry,” p.

447) states that the Tressure may be borne ”triple”; and, after specifying the Scottish families upon whose s.h.i.+elds the same honourable bearing is blazoned, he adds:--”In the coat of the Marquess of HUNTLY, the Tressure is flowered with fleurs de lys within, and adorned with _crescents_ without; while in that of the Earl of ABERDEEN it is flowered and counter-flowered with _thistles_, _roses_, and fleurs de lys alternately.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 139.--De Waltone.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 140.--Richard, Earl of Cornwall.]

The BORDURE (H. 3), as its name implies, forms a border to a s.h.i.+eld: it is borne both plain and charged. Thus, for DE WALTONE (E. 2)--_Arg., a cross patee sa., within a Bordure indented gu._, No. 139: for RICHARD, Earl of CORNWALL, second son of King JOHN (H. 3),--_Arg., a lion rampt.

gu., crowned or, within a Bordure sa. bezantee_, No. 140. The Bordure, and its important services in Heraldry, will be more fully considered hereafter. (See Chapters XII. and XIII.)

FLANCHES are always borne in pairs; but they are not of very early date, nor do they often appear in blazon. _Flanches_ are formed by two curved lines issuing from the chief, one on each side of the s.h.i.+eld: they are shown, shaded for azure, in No. 141; and in No. 142 are their Diminutives, _Flasques_ or _Voiders_, shaded for gules. But these diminutives are hardly ever met with. There is a close resemblance between these charges and a peculiar dress worn by Ladies of rank in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; but it is not easy to determine whether the dress suggested the Flanches on the s.h.i.+eld, or was derived from them. One thing, however, is certain--the dress must have possessed very decided good qualities, since it continued in favour for more than two centuries. It is remarkable that many of the ancient Greek s.h.i.+elds have pierced Flanches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 141.--Flanches.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 142.--Flasques.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 143.--Mascle.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 144.--Rustre.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 145.--De Burgh, Earl of Kent.]

The LOZENGE (E. 2), MASCLE (H. 3), and RUSTRE. The _Lozenge_ is a diamond-shaped figure, or a parallelogram set diagonally. The _Mascle_ is a _Lozenge voided of the field_, No. 143; and the _Rustre_, No. 144, is a _Lozenge pierced with a circular opening_. In the early days of Heraldry the Lozenge and the Mascle were evidently held to be identical.

The s.h.i.+eld of the famous HUBERT DE BURGH, Earl of KENT, in the early Rolls is blazoned as ”_masculee_”: but his Seal proves it to have been, as in No. 145, _lozengy vair and gu._ The Lozenge, it will be remembered, is always set erect upon the field of a s.h.i.+eld.

The FUSIL is an _elongated Lozenge_. The Arms of MONTACUTE or MONTAGU (see No. 20) are--_Arg., three Fusils conjoined in fesse gu._, No. 20: the Arms of PERCY are--_Az., five fusils conjoined in fesse or._

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 20.--Montacute.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 146.--Deincourt.]

The BILLET (H. 3) is a small elongated rectangular figure. Thus, for DEINCOURT, No. 146--_Az., billettee, a fesse dancette or._ The early Heralds blazoned a ”Fesse Dancette” as simply a ”_Dancette_” or ”_Danse_.” See also No. 130.

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