The Handbook to English Heraldry Part 7

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 t.i.tle 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 ill.u.s.tration 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The FRETTE, in more recent Heraldry, has generally superseded the original _field fretty_.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 s.h.i.+eld, as in No. 149, differs from a field lozengy or gyronny, in being a bearing charged _upon_ the field of a s.h.i.+eld, 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--"_clouee_," as in No. 150. RICHARD DE TRUSSELL or TRESSELL (H. 3) bears--_Arg., a trellis gu., clouee or_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 148.--A Frette.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 149.--De Etchingham.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 150.--Trellis Clouee.]

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 "_bezantee_" or "_platee_." 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 t.i.tles, 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., bezantee_, 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 151.--Bezant.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 152.--Torteau.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 fas.h.i.+on, 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 s.h.i.+elds. "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 s.h.i.+eld 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 s.h.i.+eld, No. 155, bearing--_Arg., on a chief az.

three mullets of the field._ Next, upon the field of the s.h.i.+eld 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 155.--s.h.i.+eld of Douglas.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 156.--s.h.i.+eld of Douglas.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 157.--s.h.i.+eld of Douglas.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 158.--Isle of Man.]

The s.h.i.+eld 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. Planche to remark, that "the _arms_ of MAN are _legs_" ("Pursuivant of Arms," p. 112). The s.h.i.+eld 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 s.h.i.+eld of the mediaeval family of TREMAINE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 159.--s.h.i.+eld 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 s.h.i.+elds. Fine examples, in admirable preservation, may be seen boldly sculptured in the n.o.ble timber-roof of Westminster Hall; also in panels over the princ.i.p.al 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 s.h.i.+eld of Arms of the Abbey of ST. ALBAN--_Az., a saltire or_, supported by Angels, and the s.h.i.+eld ensigned by the Mitre of Abbot Thomas De la Mere, as it is represented in his n.o.ble Bra.s.s in the Abbey Church. The s.h.i.+eld 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 gla.s.s of the same period in the Abbey Church. Figures of Angels holding s.h.i.+elds of Arms--each figure having a s.h.i.+eld 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 a.s.sign 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 a.s.sociated in early Heraldry: and, after a while, others join them, including the Falcon, Ostrich, Swan, Peac.o.c.k or p.a.w.ne, and the Pelican borne both as a symbol of sacred significance, and also by the PELHAMS from being allusive to their name. c.o.c.ks, with the same allusive motive, were borne by c.o.c.kAYNE: 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 s.h.i.+eld 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 160.--Early Martlet.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 161.--Martlet.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 a.s.sumed 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 a.s.sist 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 s.h.i.+elds, is best known as the armorial ensign of the DAUPHIN, the eldest son and heir apparent of the Kings of France, who bore, marshalled with the arms of FRANCE--_Or, a Dolphin az._ This t.i.tle of "Dauphin" was first a.s.sumed by CHARLES V., who succeeded to the Crown of France in 1364. In No. 8 I have shown after what manner the Dolphin was represented by an ancient Greek Artist: in the Middle Ages the heraldic Dolphin appeared as in No. 163.

GEFFREY DE LUCY (H. 3) bears--_Gu., three Lucies or._ On his marriage with the heiress of ANTHONY, Lord LUCY, in 1369, HENRY, fourth Lord PERCY of Alnwick, quartered these three fish, with his own lion (blue on a golden field) and his fusils (gold on a blue field), upon the well-known s.h.i.+eld of the Earls of NORTHUMBERLAND (Chapter XI).

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 163.--Dolphin.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 165.--Escallop.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 164.--De Lucy.]

Another Carlaverock Banneret, ROBERT DE SCALES, whom the chronicler declares to have been both "handsome and amiable" as well as gallant in action, had "_six escallops of silver on a red banner_." This beautiful charge of the escallop, happy in its a.s.sociation with the pilgrims of the olden time, and always held in high esteem by Heralds, is generally drawn as in No. 165.

Reptiles and Insects occur but rarely in English Heraldry. Bees, Flies, b.u.t.terflies, and Snails are sometimes found, but they have no place in the earliest Rolls of Arms. Bees, as might be expected, appear in the Arms of _Bees_ton. _Azure, three b.u.t.terflies_, are the Arms of MUSCHAMP, and they are carved twice in the vaulting of the cloisters at Canterbury. Upon a monumental bra.s.s in the Church of Wheathampstead, in Hertfords.h.i.+re, the s.h.i.+eld of HUGO BOSTOCK (about A.D. 1435) bears,--_Arg., three Bats, their wings displayed, sa._

Imaginary and Fabulous Beings, some of them the creations of heraldic fancy when in a strangely eccentric mood, frequently appear as Supporters; and, in some cases, they take a part in the blazonry of s.h.i.+elds, or they are borne independently as Badges. A very brief description (all that is necessary) of the greater number of these monsters of _un_natural history will be given in the "Glossary of heraldic terms," in Chapter X.; consequently, it is enough here merely to refer to them as having a place in blazon. The Griffin or Gryphon, the most worthy of the group, is comparatively common. The Dragon and the Wivern or Wyvern, both of them winged monsters, differ in this respect, that the former has four legs, while the latter has two only.

In early blazon this distinction was not always observed. The c.o.c.katrice, always having two legs, is a Wyvern with a c.o.c.k's head.