430 
HERALDRY. 
The knowledge of thefe points was formerly of great captains and fuceefsful generals. 6. From the fhape of 
importance, becaufe the charges were generally defcribed clouds, and from their Latin names nubes, and nebula , the 
<lnd blazoned according to them; but N they are feldom following line is called nebule, or nebuly. 7. The tagule, 
ufed now ; andeXcept the words 'in chief, in the centre, dr ragiily, is derived from ragged, or rugged ; as feveral 
and m bafe, we do not find that modern heralds employ alternate Humps or nodi feem to interrupt the fmooth- 
any other expreflions in their blazonry. It is proper al- nefs of the line. 8. The radiated, from radius, abeam 
ways to recolleft, that the dexter fide of the fhield is or ray of light, is compofed of ftraight and wavy points 
the fide that faces the left hand of the beholder. * alternately. See Plate 1 . lines of divifion on the right 
Defirous of adding, a colour to the metal of his fide, 
fhield, the warrior drew firft a perpendicular line from The oppofite fide contains: 1. The angled \ ine, which 
the top to the bale ; and this is called divided, or party is a plain one broken up in the middle by a right angle. 
per pale: the word party coining through the obfolete 2. The indented, in the fhape of a faw, draws its etymo- 
French partir, from the Latin partior , to divide in logy from the Latin dens, a tooth. 3. The dancette, near- 
parts. - ly the fame, and differing from it only by the teeth. 
The next operation, and the fimpleft, was to divide' which ought to be deeper and wider, and not to exceed 
the plain (Field by an horizontal line, from fide to fide; three in number; is moftly confined to diftinguilh a fefs. 
and this was and is Hill denominated party perfefs, or 4. The bevelled, feldom or never ufed, differs from the 
Amply per fefs. See Plate I. per fefs argent and gules. angled in this only, that the interruption is made by an 
The next proceeding, ofcourfe, was to crofs the pre- acute, inftead of a right, angle. 5, 6. The efcartele, and 
ceding line, and it produced what is termed quarterly, noue, or nowy, are rarely feen ; and are introduced here 
See Plate 1 . feventh row of fhields,: quarterly argent and only to clear us from any fufpicion of ignorance or care- - 
gules. This moffi Ample operation being performed, the lelfnefs. 7. The dove-tail, borrowing its name from the 
diagonal divifion next took place ; and then drawing the fhape of the wedge-like tail of that bird, alludes'to a 
line from the dexter corner of the fhield' to 'the left bafe, clofe and infeparable union. 8. The potence, claiming 
a new partition was obtained. See Plate I. fifth line of its origin from the old French word potence, a crutch, 
Ihields : per bend argent and gules. The fame natural pro- on which the lame-are obliged to fwing, reminded the 
cefs induced the warrior to invert the operation, and offsprings of a warrior, that their brave anceftor, and 
drawing a line from the left of the fhield diagonally to the founder of their iU.uftrious family, had loft a limb 
the right, he formed another partition, called per bend in the defence of his country. 
fmifter. See Plate I. fixth row of fhields. The next . 
change happened as for the perpendicular and horizon- ° F TtfE CHARGES borne on the SHIELD, 
tal lines; the two diagonals were eroded, and produced We have attempted hitherto, and, we hope, with 
a fixth divifion. See Plate I. feventh row of fhields : fuccefs, to give a clear and comprehenfive idea of the 
perfaltire argent and gules. Yet the combination was not manner in which different arms may have been anciently 
exiiaufted: they cut the faltire horizontally in two, produced, by the mere divifion of the fhield, modified 
and the cheveron appeared. See Plate I. fixth row of and characterized through a variety of lines, which 
ihields: per chevron argent and gules. Crofting the faltire are ftill, for the greateft part, commonly ufed among 
with a perpendicular line, gave gyronne of fix ; and heralds. The next objects which prefent themfelves 
adding the horizontal line, .they obtained the gyronne ol are particular bearings ; the principal of which, from 
eight. See Plate I. feventh line. There is another di- their frequent recurrence in hereditary fhields, have ob- 
vifion which fometimes takes place; and is ftyled per pale tained the name of ordinaries. But as armorifts do 
and per chevron. See Plate I. fixth row of fhields; but not always agree in their clalfification and nomenclature, 
the other, per fefs and per chevron, we do not remember fome dividing them into honourable ordinaries, fubordinate 
to have ever met with. The repetition of quarterly, or. ordinaries, and common charges, while others clafs them 
the perpendicular and horizontal lines crofting each1 other indiferirninately under one general denomination ; and, 
feveral times in a fhield, have generated checque-, and fince a fyftematical order mull be confidered as the beft 
the fame procefs with the diagonal lines have produced mode of aftifting the memory, we (hall concifely explain 
lozenge. See the two centre examples in the feventh row them under the following analytical arrangement, 
of fhields, Plate I. 
Several authors are of opinion that all thefe partitions ORDINARIES, 
have their origin from the cuts and bruifes that appeared Under this diftindlive title we comprehend eight of 
the fhields after ferious and obftinate engagements; the mod radical or principal charges, known in blazon 
fore, of the by the names of 
and that being proofs, as we obferved befc 
by t 
The pale. 
dangers the bearers had been expofed to, they gained 
them efteem, for which-reafon they were tranfmitte'd to 
pofterity, and became arms and marks of honour to their I 
future families. 1- 
From the fliape of the line by which thefe feveral 
partitions are produced, we may obtain many other com¬ 
binations. The upper margins on both fides of our firft 
Plate prefent the variations of them, with their proper The bend, 
denominations ; and in fo clear a manner as to be known I 
and underftood at firft fight. 
1. The fimpleft divifion is the plain or ftraight line. 
2. The next is fCooped or efcalloped, and is called in- 
grailed if the fcalloped part is on the infide; and invcEled 
if on the contrary ; and it is blazoned per fefs or per pale 
invented or ingrailed. 3. An undulated line is called 
wavy, andjs often made ufe of in aliufion to ultramarine 
The fefs. 
The bend finifter. 
The faltire. 
Thechevron. 
_ _|___„ „. ... .... The warrior, doubtlefs, had at'firft a plain fhield for 
achievements and naval expeditions. This line has alfo his defence; but when confpicuous marks became ne- 
been often employed, and is ftill now, chiefly in bordure, ceflary to diftinguilh the feveral branches of his family,, 
defigned to fignify baflardy. 5. From the battlements of it is probable that the eldeft of his fons, adhering re- 
a tower or caftle, this line borrowed the fhape and name fpeclfully to the original tindlure borne on the buckler, 
of embattled, and obtains naturally the preference in bla- and illuftrated by the glorious achievements of his fire, 
zoning arms or honourable augmentations for fkilful thought that the fimpleft and eafieft manner of produc- 
