[Ill.u.s.tration: Gaze]

Ex. Argent, a stag at gaze proper.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gemels.]

GEMELS. This word signifies double. The example contains two double bars, which in heraldic language would be called two bars gemels.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Golp.]

GOLPS. Roundlets of a purple tincture. The colour is not stated, as the name denotes the colour.

GORGED. Any animals, particularly birds, that have collars round the neck, are said to be gorged.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gorged]

Ex. A swan's head erased at the neck, ducally gorged or.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Griffin.]

GRIFFIN or GRYPHON. A chimerical animal, half bird, half beast.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Guidon.]

GUIDON. A small semi-oval flag used in funeral processions. It is generally charged with the paternal arms of the deceased.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gules.]

GULES. Signifies red. It is represented in engraving by lines running parallel with each other, from the chief to the base, as in the example.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gutty.]

GUTTY. A term derived from the Latin word _gutta_, a drop. A field bearing drops, as in the example, is called gutty.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gyron.]

GYRON. A triangular figure formed by two lines from one of the angles of the shield to the centre. The gyron may be drawn in any part of the shield, but it is generally placed as in the annexed example.

GYRONNY. When the field is covered with gyrons, their points uniting in the centre.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gyronny]

Ex. Gyronny of eight pieces, azure, argent, and gules.

HABERGEON. A coat of mail: it is also called a corslet and cuira.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habergeon]

Ex. Argent, an habergeon proper.

HABITED. Clothed figures, either as charges or supporters, are said to be habited.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Harpy.]

HARPY. A chimerical animal, having the head and breast of a woman, and the body and legs of a bird.

HAURIENT. A fish, in a perpendicular direction, with its head upwards.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Haurient]

Ex. Argent, a salmon proper haurient.

HELMET. An ancient piece of defensive armour for the head; it covered the face, leaving an aperture in the front, secured by bars: this was called the visor. The helmet is now placed over a coat of arms; and by the metal from which it is made, the form, and position, denotes the rank of the person whose arms are emblazoned beneath it.

The helmets of sovereigns are formed of burnished gold; those of princes and peers, of every degree, silver figured with gold; knights, esquires, and gentlemen, polished steel.

The helmets of the king, the royal family, and peers, are open-faced and grated: the number of bars served formerly to distinguish the bearer's quality. The helmets of knights are open-faced, without bars.

Esquires and gentlemen are known by the close helmet.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grated helmet, direct front view.]

The position of the helmet is a mark of distinction. The direct front view of the grated helmet belongs to sovereign princes and dukes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grated helmet, profile.]

The grated helmet in profile is common to all degrees of peerage under a duke.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Open helmet, direct front view.]

The helmet without bars, with the beaver open, standing directly fronting the spectator, denotes a knight.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Closed helmet, profile.]

The closed helmet seen in profile is appropriated to esquires and gentlemen. See CREST, BEAVER, MANTLING.

HERALD. An officer at arms, whose business it is to declare war, proclaim peace, marshal all the solemnities at the coronation; baptisms, marriages, and funerals of the sovereign and n.o.bility; and to ascertain and blazon coats of arms.

The princ.i.p.al herald is Garter-King-at-Arms. It is his office to regulate the solemnities, and emblazon the arms of the sovereign, knights, and officers of the most n.o.ble order of the Garter.

Garter-King-at-Arms likewise presides over all heraldic ceremonies of the Court. His crown of gold is formed with oak leaves, one shorter than the other, springing from a circlet of gold, having engraved upon it the words "MISERERE MEI DEUS." His tabard, as princ.i.p.al herald, is of crimson velvet, splendidly embroidered with the arms of England.

Clarencieux and Norroy are called provincial kings-at-arms, the former regulating all things connected with Heraldry in the provinces south of the Trent; the latter in the provinces north of the Trent. They have likewise crowns; and though the office of herald is not of so much importance now as it was formerly, it is still considered a post of great honour and emolument.

There are eight heralds that are not kings-at-arms. Their tabards are of silk, embroidered with the royal arms. They are called York, Lancaster, Somerset, Richmond, Chester, and Windsor. George the First created a new herald called Hanover, and another called Gloucester.

The kings-at-arms, heralds, and pursuivants, form the Heralds'

College, by whom all matters connected with the coats of arms of every gentleman in the kingdom are arranged and determined.

HILTED. The handle of a sword tinctured.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Hilted]