Sect. VI. The several Kinds of Honourable Ordinaries and their Diminutives.

HOnourable Ordinaries are Nine, as follows,

1. The Cross, which contains the 5th part of the Escocheon, when uncharg’d and charg’d, the 3rd. See the Arms of Allesbury.

2. Chief the 3d. See Worksly.

3. Pale the 3d. See an Example in the Arms of Areskine, Dodge, &c.

The Diminutives are,

A Pallet.

An Endorse.

4. Bend, which contains when charg’d the 3d Part, uncharg’d the 5th part of the Escocheon; and has the following Diminutives,

A Bendlet.

A Gartier.

A Cost.

A Riband.

There are also Bends Sinister, with proper Diminutions, as,

A Bend.

A Scarpe.

A Battune.

Note. The Battune is a Mark of Bastardy; and every Bearer may have it of what Colour he please, but only the spurious Sons of Princes, may bear them of Metal or Furr.

5. Fesse, containing the 3d part of the Escocheon; see the Arms of Abbehall.

6. Escocheon the 5th part; see Hulgreve’s Coat.

7. Chevron, containing the 5th, or as others, the 3d part of the Escocheon; see one in the Arms of Avene. Its Diminutives are

A Chevronel.

A Couple-Close.

There is extant a rare Example of bearing a Chrvron, which I have thought to insert, for that Reason.

He beareth Or, a Chevron in Chief, Azure. This Charge (saith Gwillim) was not remov’d from its proper place, without good reason; nevertheless, the Beating it as usual, had been better.

8. The 8th Ordinary is the Saltire, which uncharged has the 5th, charg’d, the 3d part of the Escocheon; there is a plain Saltire in the Arms of Aston.

9. A Bar, containing the 5th part of the Field, of which there are in the Book, numerous Examples: The Diminutives are,

A Closet.

A Barulet.

Note 1. When you have any of the Ordinaries born plain, you need not mention their Plainness, for that is their natural Form.

Note2. All of most of these may be A, inveck’d, ingrail’d, indented, &c. voided, couped, cotised or surmounted, as in the 8th Section will further appear.

There are other Common Charges, which tho’ they do not take upon ’em the Title of Honourables, are yet of Worthy Bearing, as

And these you will find born, not only single and in Pairs, but by the six, eight, ten or twelve together.

The Canton, of which you have an Example in the Arms of Basset of Uleigh, Carey of London, and others.

A Quarter; see Estanton’s Coat.

A Pile, for the Shape and different Bearing of which, both as to Position and Number, see many Examples in the Pages following, particularly the Duke of Newcastle’s.

The three following are the same secundum quid (as to their Form) but not secundum quantum (as to Magnitude), and in this Book there are some few Examples of ’em.

Flanches.

Flasques.

Voiders.

An Orle, of which you will find Examples; as also of Common Charges born, in Orle, or Orlewise.

I purposely forbear to mention the several Kinds of Crosses, because such as are now used in Arms, are very frequently to be found.