HERALDRY. 
lets or ogresses, sable ; pomeis, vert ; golpes, 
purpure ; oranges, tenue, and grosses, san- 
guine. In these nine varieties are in- 
cluded all the colours generally used in 
blazonry. 
The blazoning of the arms of gentlemen, 
esquires, knights, and baronets, is derived 
from metals and colours ; those of barons, 
viscounts, earls, marquisses, and dukes, from 
precious stones ; and those of princes, kings, 
and emperors from tire planets. See Co- 
lours. 
Or, gold, is expressed by dots (see Plate 
of I. Heraldry, fig. l)and is intended as an 
intimation that as gold surpasses all other 
metals in value and purity, he that bears it 
should endeavour to excel in the same pro- 
portion, the same insinuation is implied in 
the topaz and the sun. 
Argent, or white, is represented by a per- 
fect blank (see fig. 2), this colour ranks 
next to Or, and without gold and silver 
Heraldry would be imperfect, argent sig- 
nifies innocence, temperance and hope, the 
pearl was supposed by the antients to pos- 
sess a restorative property, and Luna is ac- 
knowledged to be the mistress of honour, 
the seas and tides. 
Gules, red, is expressed by perpendi- 
cular lines, or lines paleways from the chief 
to the base (see fig. 3), this colour has ever 
been considered as symbolical of majesty 
and dignity; the ruby cannot be wasted 
by fire or water, and Mars, the planet, al- 
ludes to the heathen God of battle, the 
patron of courage and military address. 
Azure, blue, the lines in this instance 
are horizontal (see fig. 4) and intended for 
the tint of the air or sky, and is said to 
denote loyalty, fidelity, and chastity ; the 
precious stone and planet in azure were 
adopted as possessed of superior qualities, 
emblematic of the worth of nobles and 
princes. 
Sable, or black, represented by perpen- 
dicular and horizontal lines crossing each 
other at right angles (see fig. 5). Sable 
indicates gravity, constancy, and grief for 
the loss of friends ; the diamond is the most 
valuable of all stones, and Saturn presides 
over counsellors and other grave charac- 
ters. 
Vert, green, the lines are bendways (see 
fig. 6) or from the sinister corner of the 
chief to the opposite of the base, and is 
emblematical of youth, peace, and concord. 
Purpure, is a colour composed of a large 
part of crimson, and a less of blue, and the 
lines which express it tend directly con- 
trary to those of vert, (see fig. 7) this word 
is derived from the fish called purpura ; the 
amethyst was preferred for its excellence 
to decorate the breast of Aaron, and the 
planet Mercury signifies goodness of tem- 
per. 
Tenne, or tawny, is a mixture of red and 
yellow, and represented by lines like those 
of purpure, it has been but little used in 
England, but was formerly in a consider- 
able degree in France. 
Sanguine, is composed of lake and a small 
quantity of Spanish brown, and expressed 
by lines as purpure, it was much used by 
the knights of the Bath, and by the serjeants 
at law in their ve&ttnents ; the Sardonix is 
said by St.John to be the sixth stone in 
the Heavenly Jerusalem, 
Furs are the next object to be consider- 
ed, the use of which may be thus explained. 
Ermine, implies a field argent, with the 
powdering sable, (see fig. 8.) 
Ermines, is the reverse, or a field sable, 
and the powderings argent. 
Erminois signifies a field or, and the pow- 
dering sable, 
Pean, is a field sable, and the powder- 
ings or. 
Vair, is of two descriptions., if it con- 
sists of argent and azure it is sufficient to 
say vair, but if it is compounded of any 
other colours, it is usual to say vairy pf the 
colours adopted, (see fig. 9.) 
Fig. 10 is blazoned potent-counter-po- 
tent, and the colours argent and azure. 
Doublings, or furs, were antientiy,and are 
at present used for the linings of the robes 
and mantles of senators, consuls and kings. 
The bordure is extended to a great va- 
riety, as(fig, 11) gules a bordure, or;(fig. 12), 
a bordure indented, argent ; (fig. 13) a bor- 
dure counter compone, argent and gules. 
The bordure is generally one-sixth part 
of the breadth of the shield, and is in- 
grailed, indented, charged, coinponed and 
countered. If the inner line of the bordure 
is strait and the latter plain, the colour of 
the bordure alone is named in blazoning ; if 
it is charged with parts of plants or flowers, 
it is described as verdoy of trefoils. If it 
consists of ermines, Vair or vairy, or any of 
the furs, the heralds say purflew of ermines. 
When charged with martlets, charged with 
an enaluron of martlets. 
The label is the first of the distinctive 
marks of the branches of a family, and is 
borne by the eldest son during the life 
of his father (see fig. 14). The second 
son bears a orescent, the third a mullet, 
