Part 4

Ex. Argent, a pale, dancette vert.

DEBRUISED. Any animal that has an ordinary placed upon it is said to be debruised.

Ex. Argent, a lion rampant guardant gules, debruised by a fess azure.

DECRESSANT, or DECRESCENT. A moon in its wane, whose horns are turned to the sinister side of the escutcheon.

Ex. Azure, a moon decrescent, proper.

DEMI, or DEMY. This particle is always joined to a substantive, and signifies half; as, a demi-lion, _i.e._ half a lion.

DETRIMENT. The moon is said to be in its detriment when it is eclipsed.

Ex. Argent, the moon in her detriment sable.

DEXTER. A word used in Heraldry to signify the right side of any thing.

DIADEM, a circle of gold with points rising from it, worn by ancient kings as the token of royalty. The diadem of most of the monarchs of Europe, as represented in ancient statuary, stained glass, and paintings, resembles the annexed engraving; the kings of England, from the Conquest to Henry VII., all wore a diadem of this shape.

DIAMOND. The hardest and most valuable of precious stones; it was formerly used by English heralds to denote black or sable in blazoning the arms of the nobility.

DIFFERENCE. The term given to a certain figure added to coats of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.]

Ex. Gules, a bend sinister embattled, argent.

EMBATTLED GRADY. Where the battlements gradually rise one above another.

Ex. Argent, a fess gules, embattled grady. See the lines, p. 11. [CHAP. III.]

EMBOWED. Any thing bent or curved, like a bow.

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.

Ex. Argent, an eagle proper en arrière.

ENDORSE. The smallest diminutive of the pale.

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.

Ex. Argent, a pale azure engrailed.

ENHANCED. A term applied to bearings placed above their usual situation.

Ex. Argent, three bendlets, enhanced gules.

ENSIGNED. This word, in heraldic description, means ornamented.

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.

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.

Ex. Argent, a boar's head erect, and erased.

ERMINE. A white fur with black spots, represented as in the annexed example.

ERMINES. This fur is represented by white spots on a black field.

ERMINOIS. A fur, the field, or, the spots or tufts, sable, as in the annexed example.

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.

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.

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.]

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.

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.

Ex. Argent, a fess gules.

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.

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.

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.

Ex. Azure, a flanche argent.

FLANK. That part of an escutcheon between the chief and the base.

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.

Ex. Azure, a flasque argent.

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.

Ex. Azure, a fret argent.

FRETTY. This word denotes a field covered with fretwork or laths interlacing each other.

Ex. Gules, fretty argent.

THE FUSIL. Is longer than the lozenge: the upper and lower ends are more acute.

Ex. Or, a fusil purpure.

GALLEY. An ancient vessel propelled by oars; frequently used in shields of naval officers.

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.

Ex. Argent, a garbe proper.

GARTER. One of the diminutives of the bend, being half the size.

Ex. Or, a garter vert.

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.

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.

Ex. Argent, a stag at gaze proper.

GEMELS. This word signifies double. The example contains two double bars, which in heraldic language would be called two bars gemels.

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.

Ex. A swan's head erased at the neck, ducally gorged or.

GRIFFIN or GRYPHON. A chimerical animal, half bird, half beast.

GUIDON. A small semi-oval flag used in funeral processions. It is generally charged with the paternal arms of the deceased.

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.

GUTTY. A term derived from the Latin word _gutta_, a drop. A field bearing drops, as in the example, is called gutty.

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.

Ex. Gyronny of eight pieces, azure, argent, and gules.

HABERGEON. A coat of mail: it is also called a corslet and cuirass.

Ex. Argent, an habergeon proper.

HABITED. Clothed figures, either as charges or supporters, are said to be habited.

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.

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.

The position of the helmet is a mark of distinction. The direct front view of the grated helmet belongs to sovereign princes and dukes.

The grated helmet in profile is common to all degrees of peerage under a duke.

The helmet without bars, with the beaver open, standing directly fronting the spectator, denotes a knight.

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.

Ex. Argent, a sword proper couped, hilted or.

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.

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.

Ex. Argent, a fess humetty gules, between three mullets sable.

HURTS. Blue roundlets: the colour is expressed in the name; therefore the tincture is not otherwise named in emblazoning a coat of arms.

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.

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.

Ex. Azure, a moon increscent argent.

INDENTED. A serrated figure, much smaller than the dancette.

Ex. Or, a chief gules, indented.

INESCUTCHEON. The name given to small escutcheons forming a bearing of a coat of arms.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.