the Lozenge and the Mascle were evidently held to be identical.
The Shield of the famous HUBERT DE BURGH, Earl of KENT, in the early
Rolls is blazoned as “_masculée_”: 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 Shield.

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._

[Illustration: No. 20.--Montacute.]

[Illustration: No. 146.--Deincourt.]

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

[Illustration: No. 147.--Campbell.]

The GYRON, a triangular figure, not known in English blazon as a
separate charge (except perhaps in the one case of the arms of
Mortimer), gives its title to the _gyronny field_, which is more
commonly found in the Heraldry of the North than of the South. The field
gyronny generally, and more particularly in Scotland, is divided into
_eight pieces_: but the divisions are sometimes six, ten, twelve, or
even sixteen in number. A Roll of the time of HENRY III. has, for WARIN
DE BASINGBORNE--“_Gerony d’or et d’azur_.” The Arms of CAMPBELL
are--_Gyronny or and sa._, No. 147.[3] Here, where there are eight
pieces of divisions, it is not necessary to specify the number; but if
they were either more or less than eight the blazon would be--_gyronny
of six, of ten, &c._

[Footnote 3: In the illustration the colours are unfortunately
reversed.]

The FRETTE, in more recent Heraldry, has generally superseded the
original _field fretty_. This interlaced design, whether borne as a
distinct figure, as No. 148, or repeated over the field of a Shield, as
in No. 149, differs from a field lozengy or gyronny, in being a bearing
charged _upon_ the field of a Shield, and not a form of varied surface:
No. 149, for DE ETCHINGHAM (E. 2), is--_Az., fretty arg._ An early
variety or modification of Frette is the _Trellis_ or _Treille_, in
which the pieces do not interlace, but all those in bend lie over all
those in bend sinister, and they are fastened at the crossings with
nails--“_clouée_,” as in No. 150. RICHARD DE TRUSSELL or TRESSELL (H. 3)
bears--_Arg., a trellis gu., clouée or_.

[Illustration: No. 148.--A Frette.]

[Illustration: No. 149.--De Etchingham.]

[Illustration: No. 150.--Trellis Clouée.]

The ROUNDLES, or ROUNDLETS. These simple figures, in constant use in
every age of Heraldry, are divided into two groups, which correspond
with the division of the Tinctures into “Metals” and “Colours.”

The first group contains the two Roundles of the _Metals_, which are
_flat discs_: 1, The _Bezant_, or golden Roundle, No. 151, which has
apparently derived its name from the Byzantine coins with which the
Crusaders, when in the East, would have been familiar. 2, The Silver
Roundle, or _Plate_, is from the Spanish “Plata”--_silver_. When Bezants
or Plates appear in considerable numbers, the field on which they are
charged is said to be “_bezantée_” or “_platée_.” See No. 140.

The second group contains the five Roundles of the _Colours_, which are
_globular_, and are usually shaded accordingly. The _Torteau_, No. 152,
in the plural _Torteaux_, is gules: the _Hurt_ is azure: the _Pellet_ or
_Ogress_ is sable: the _Pomme_ is vert: and the _Golpe_ is purpure.
These distinctive titles, which are more calculated to perplex the
student than to simplify his study, are of comparatively recent origin,
the early Heralds having used the terms “_Bezant_,” “_Plate_,” and
“_Torteau_,” with the general designations “_Roundle_” and “_Pellet_,”
adding the tinctures for the others. Examples:--_Az., bezantée_, for WM.
DE LA ZOUCHE: _Or, on a fesse gu. three plates_, for ROGER DE
HUNTINGFIELD: _Arg., ten torteaux, four, three, two, one_, for ALEX.
GIFFARD (all H. 3). See also Nos. 80, 82.

[Illustration: No. 151.--Bezant.]

[Illustration: No. 152.--Torteau.]

[Illustration: No. 153.--Fountain.]

A circular figure or Roundle that is _barry wavy arg. and az._, is
blazoned as a “_Fountain_,” No. 153. Examples:--_Arg., three fountains_,
for WELLES: _Arg., a Chevron sable between three fountains_, borne by a
family named _Sykes_, their name being an ancient term signifying a well
or fountain. An _Annulet_, or a plain ring, No. 154, was sometimes
blazoned as a “_false Roundle_”--a Roundle, that is, pierced, and having
its central area removed.

[Illustration: No. 154.--Annulet.]




CHAPTER VIII

THE GRAMMAR OF HERALDRY

SECTION V

_Miscellaneous Charges:-- Human Beings-- Animals-- Birds-- Fish--
Reptiles and Insects-- Imaginary Beings-- Natural Objects-- Various
Artificial Figures and Devices-- Appropriate Descriptive Epithets._

“The Formes of pure celestiall bodies mixt with grosse terrestrials;
earthly animals with watery; sauage beasts with tame; fowles of prey
with home-bred; these again with riuer fowles; reptiles with things
gressible; aery insecta with earthly; also things naturall with
artificiall.”
--GUILLIM’S “Display of Heraldry,” A.D. 1611.


Thus, in his own quaint fashion, the enthusiastic old Herald of the
seventeenth century indicates the number and variety of the Charges,
which in process of time had been introduced into Armory even before his
era. In earlier days the Charges of Heraldry were much less varied,
comparatively few in their numbers, and generally of a simple character.
It will readily be understood, however, that fresh figures and devices
would continually appear in blazon; and also that these, in their turn,
would lead the way for the introduction of further varieties and new
modifications.

Human Beings are of very rare occurrence, except as Supporters. Parts of
the human frame constantly appear, but they are more generally borne as
Crests upon helms than as charges on shields. “Moor’s heads” or
“Saracen’s heads” appear in some coats, with arms, hands and legs: and a
human heart is well known as a charge in the coat of the famous house of
DOUGLAS, where it was placed to commemorate the duty entrusted by ROBERT
BRUCE to the “good Sir JAMES DOUGLAS,” that he should bear with him the
heart of his Sovereign and friend to the Holy Land, and bury it there.
Sir James fell, fighting with the Moors of Spain, A.D. 1330. This Shield
of Douglas is a characteristic example of the gradual development of
armorial composition. About A.D. 1290, the Seal of WILLIAM, Lord
DOUGLAS, displays his Shield, No. 155, bearing--_Arg., on a chief az.
three mullets of the field._ Next, upon the field of the Shield of
WILLIAM, Lord DOUGLAS, A.D. 1333, there appears, in addition, _a human
heart gules_, as in No. 156. And, finally, the heart is ensigned with a
_royal crown_, as in No. 157, this form appearing as early as 1387.

[Illustration: No. 155.--Shield of Douglas.]

[Illustration: No. 156.--Shield of Douglas.]

[Illustration: No. 157.--Shield of Douglas.]

[Illustration: No. 158.--Isle of Man.]

The Shield of the ancient kingdom of the ISLE OF MAN, No. 158, still
continues to be the heraldic ensign of that island: it is--_Gu., three
human legs in armour ppr., conjoined in the fesse-point at the upper
part of the thighs, and flexed in triangle._ This true curiosity of
Heraldry leads Mr. Planché to remark, that “the _arms_ of MAN are
_legs_” (“Pursuivant of Arms,” p. 112). The Shield represented in No.
158 is drawn from an original example of the age of EDWARD I. in the
Heralds’ College. At later periods, the armour of the conjoined limbs is
represented in conformity with the usages then prevalent, and golden
spurs are added. The ancient symbol of the island of Sicily, in which
the limbs are without either armour or clothing, has been represented in
No. 10: this device also appears in ancient examples with a human head
at the junction of the limbs. Three human arms, united in the same
manner, are borne on the shield of the mediæval family of TREMAINE.

[Illustration: No. 159.--Shield of St. Alban’s Abbey
(partly restored).]

Human figures, winged and vested, and designed to represent ANGELS, are
occasionally introduced in English Heraldry, their office generally
being to act as “Supporters” to armorial Shields. Fine examples, in
admirable preservation, may be seen boldly sculptured in the noble
timber-roof of Westminster Hall; also in panels over the principal
entrance to the Hall, and in various parts of the Abbey of Westminster.
In the grand Abbey Church of St. Alban at St. Alban’s, numerous other
examples of great excellence yet remain, the works of Abbot John de
Wheathamstede, about A.D. 1440. In No. 159 I give a representation of
the Shield of Arms of the Abbey of ST. ALBAN--_Az., a saltire or_,
supported by Angels, and the Shield ensigned by the Mitre of Abbot
Thomas De la Mere, as it is represented in his noble Brass in the Abbey
Church. The Shield and the Angel Figures are the work of Abbot John. The
Heads of the Figures, which are destroyed in the original, are restored
from stained glass of the same period in the Abbey Church. Figures of
Angels holding Shields of Arms--each figure having a shield in front of
its breast, are frequently sculptured as corbels in Gothic churches.

In the earliest Rolls of Arms, the Lion is the only animal that is found
in blazon, with the sole addition of Boar’s heads. Deer, dogs, bulls,
calves, rams, and a few other animals subsequently appear to share
heraldic service and honours with the king of beasts. In modern Armory,
however, almost every living creature has been required to discharge
such duties as Heralds have been pleased to assign to them. The Lion of
Heraldry I leave to be considered, with the Eagle, in the next Chapter.
In comparatively early blazon, the _Bear_ is borne by FITZ URSE: the
_Calf_, by CALVELEY and DE VELE: the _Ram_, by RAMSEY and RAMRYGE: the
_Lamb_, by LAMBERT and LAMBTON: the _Otter_ (_loutre_, in French), by
LUTTREL: the _Hedgehog_ (Fr., _herrison_), by DE HERIZ, afterwards
HARRIS: and so also, in like manner, some other animals appear as _armes
parlantes_ (see p. 16).

With the lordly Eagle a few other Birds are associated in early
Heraldry: and, after a while, others join them, including the Falcon,
Ostrich, Swan, Peacock or Pawne, and the Pelican borne both as a symbol
of sacred significance, and also by the PELHAMS from being allusive to
their name. Cocks, with the same allusive motive, were borne by
COCKAYNE: Parrots, blazoned as “_Popinjays_,” appear as early as
HENRY III.: and in a Roll of EDWARD II., the Sire MOUNPYNZON has a Lion
charged on the shoulder with a Chaffinch--in French a _Pinson_. The
favourite bird, however, of the early Heralds is the Martlet, the
heraldic Martin, a near relative of the Swallow or _Hirondelle_. The
Martlet is practically always represented in profile, at rest, and with
its wings closed. The few exceptions are modern. In some early examples
the feet are shown, as in No. 160: but, in the Shield of Earl WM. DE
VALENCE in Westminster Abbey, A.D. 1296, the Martlet appears feetless,
as in No. 161; and at a later period this mode of representation was
generally adopted. French Heralds deprive their Martlets of beak as well
as feet.

[Illustration: No. 160.--Early Martlet.]

[Illustration: No. 161.--Martlet.]

[Illustration: No. 162.--Banner of De Barre.]

“As the symbol of a name,” writes Mr. Moule, “almost all Fish have been
used in Heraldry; and in many instances Fish have been assumed in Arms
in reference to the produce of the estate, giving to the quaint device a
twofold interest” (“Heraldry of Fish,” p 13). The earliest examples are
the Barbel, the Dolphin, the Luce (or Pike), the Herring, and the Roach.
In conjunction with fish we may perhaps consider the Escallop which, as
a charge, belongs to the earliest period of Heraldry. The Barbel, so
named from the barbs attached to its mouth to assist it in its search
for food, was introduced into English Heraldry by JOHN, Count DE BARRE,
whose elder brother married ALIANORE, eldest daughter of EDWARD I. At
Carlaverock he displayed, as the chronicler has recorded, “_a blue
banner, crusilly, with two Barbels of gold, and a red border
en-grailed_,” No. 162. The Dolphin, borne by GILES DE FISHBOURNE (H. 3),
and afterwards introduced into several English Shields, is best known as
the armorial ensign of the DAUPHIN, the eldest