Origin of Names 



73 



fixing the French King's coat of arms, Azure, a trois 

 fleurs-de-lis d'or (three golden Fleurs-de-Hs on a blue 

 field). See Fig. IV. 



The azure ground with golden Fleurs-de-lis remained 

 the symbol of royalty until the beginning of the 

 fifteenth century, when the white standard of Jeanne 

 d 'Arc wrought marvels, and by degrees the custom 

 was introduced of depicting Fleurs-de-lis on white 

 ground. 



In Heraldry gold signifies the four kingly virtues : 

 nobility, good-will, charity and magnanimity. Blue 

 is the symbol of chastity, innocence and candor. 

 White, the symbol of light, typifies innocence and 

 purity, joy and glory. White and blue possess par- 

 ticular significance, being the colors ascribed by the 

 Roman Church to the Virgin Mary. 



■ ' — — — 



Fig. IV. — Standard of Charles VI* 



*(Courtesy of Newberry Library, Chicago.) From "Flags of The World," 

 by Edward Hulme. 



