The Manual of Heraldry; Fifth Edition | Page 6

saltier as in the cross.

CHAP. V.
SUBORDINATE ORDINARIES.
In order more particularly to distinguish the subordinates in an army (the chieftains of different countries alone being entitled to the preceding marks of honour), other figures were invented by ancient armorists, and by them termed subordinate ordinaries. Their names and forms are as follows:--
[Illustration: Gyron]
The gyron is a triangular figure formed by drawing a line from the dexter angle of the chief of the shield to the fess point, and an horizontal line from that point to the dexter side of the shield.
The field is said to be gyrony when it is covered with gyrons.
[Illustration: Gyrony]
Ex. Gyrony of eight pieces, argent and gules.
[Illustration: Canton]
The canton is a square part of the escutcheon, usually occupying about one-eighth of the field; it is placed over the chief at the dexter side of the shield: it may be charged, and when this is the case, its size may be increased. The canton represents the banner of the ancient Knights Banneret. The canton in the example is marked A.
See KNIGHTS BANNERET in the Dictionary.
The lozenge is formed by four equal and parallel lines but not rectangular, two of its opposite angles being acute, and two obtuse.
[Illustration: Lozenge]
Ex. Argent, a lozenge, vert.
The fusil is narrower than the lozenge, the angles at the chief and base being more acute, and the others more obtuse.
[Illustration: Fusil]
Ex. Argent, a fusil, purpure.
The mascle is in the shape of a lozenge but perforated through its whole extent except a narrow border.
[Illustration: Mascle]
Ex. Gules, a mascle, argent.
The fret is formed by two lines interlaced in saltier with a mascle.
[Illustration: Fret]
Ex. Azure, a fret, argent.
Fretty is when the shield is covered with lines crossing each other diagonally and interlaced.
[Illustration: Fretty]
Ex. Gules, fretty of ten pieces, argent.
At the present time it is not usual to name the number of pieces, but merely the word fretty.
The pile is formed like a wedge, and may be borne wavy, engrailed, &c.; it issues generally from the chief, and extends towards the base, but it may be borne in bend or issue from the base.
See PILE and IN PILE in Dictionary.
[Illustration: Pile]
Ex. Argent, a pile, azure.
The inescutcheon is a small escutcheon borne within the shield.
[Illustration: Inescutcheon]
Ex. Argent, a pale, gules, over all an inescutcheon or, a mullet sable.
An orle is a perforated inescutcheon, and usually takes the shape of the shield whereon it is placed.
[Illustration: Orle]
Ex. Azure, an orle, argent.
The flanche is formed by two curved lines nearly touching each other in the centre of the shield.
[Illustration: Flanche]
Ex. Azure, a flanche, argent.
In the flasque the curved lines do not approach so near each other.
[Illustration: Flasque]
Ex. Azure, a flasque, argent.
In the voider the lines are still wider apart; this ordinary occupies nearly the whole of the field: it may be charged.
[Illustration: Voider]
Ex. Azure, a voider, argent.
The tressure is a border at some distance from the edge of the field, half the breadth of an orle: the tressure may be double or treble.
[Illustration: Tressure]
Ex. Or, a double tressure, gules.
Tressures are generally ornamented, or borne flory or counter flory as in the annexed example.
[Illustration: Ornamented double tressure]
Ex. Argent, a double tressure, flory and counter-flory, gules.
CHARGES BORNE IN COATS OF ARMS.
At first when the Feudal System prevailed, not only in England, but other parts of Europe, none but military chieftains bore Coats of Arms. And as few persons held land under the Crown but by military tenure, that is, under the obligation of attending in person with a certain number of vassals and retainers when their services were required by the king for the defence of the state, heraldic honours were confined to the nobility, who were the great landholders of the kingdom. When they granted any portion of their territory to their knights and followers as rewards for deeds of prowess in the field or other services, the new possessors of the land retained the arms of their patrons with a slight difference to denote their subordinate degree. The ingenuity of the armorist was not then taxed to find a multitude of devices to distinguish every family. And when chivalry became the prevailing pursuit of all that sought honour and distinction by deeds of arms and gallant courtesy, the knights assumed the privilege that warriors in all ages have used; viz. that of choosing any device they pleased to ornament the crests of their helmets in the field of battle, or in the mock combat of the tournament: the knight was known and named from the device used as his crest. Thus the heralds, in introducing him to the judges of the field, or to the lady that bestowed the prizes, called him the Knight of the Swan, the Knight of the Lion, &c., without mentioning any other title. And knights whose fame for gallantry and prowess was firmly established, had their crests