The wreath was formed by two large skeins of silk of different colours twisted together. This was worn at the lower part of the crest, not alone as an ornament, but to protect the head from the blow of a mace or sword. In Heraldry the wreath appears like a straight line or roll of two colours generally the same as the tinctures of the shield. The crest is usually placed upon the wreath.

The crest is the highest part among the ornaments of a coat of arms.

It is called crest from the Latin word _crista_, which signifies comb or tuft.

Crests were used as marks of honour long before the introduction of Heraldry. The helmets and crests of the Greek and Trojan warriors are beautifully described by Homer. The German heralds pay great attention to crests, and depict them as towering to a great height above the helmet. Knights who were desirous of concealing their rank, or wished particularly to distinguish themselves either in the battle field or tourney, frequently decorated their helmets with plants or flowers, chimerical figures, animals, &c.; these badges were also a.s.sumed by their descendants. The difference between crests and badges as heraldic ornaments is, that the former are always placed on a wreath, in the latter they are attached to the helmet. The scroll is a label or ribbon containing the motto: it is usually placed beneath the shield and supporters; see the word MOTTO in the Dictionary.

CHAP. VI.

MARSHALLING CHARGES ON ESCUTCHEONS BY THE RULES OF HERALDRY.

The symbolic figures of Heraldry are so well known to those acquainted with the science in every kingdom of Europe, that if an Englishman was to send a written emblazonment or description of an escutcheon to a French, German, or Spanish artist acquainted with the English language, either of them could return a properly drawn and coloured escutcheon; but a correct emblazonment would be indispensable. A single word omitted would spoil the shield.

I.

The reader has already been informed that in emblazoning an escutcheon, the colour of the field is first named; then the princ.i.p.al ordinary, such as the fess, the chevron, &c., naming the tincture and form of the ordinary; then proceed to describe the charges on the field, naming their situation, metal, or colour; lastly, describe the charges on the ordinary.

II.

When an honourable ordinary or some one figure is placed upon another, whether it be a fess, chevron, cross, &c., it is always to be named after the ordinary or figure over which it is placed, with either the words surtout or overall.

III.

In the blazoning such ordinaries as are plain, the bare mention of them is sufficient; but if an ordinary should be formed of any of the curved or angular lines, such as invected, indented, &c., the lines must be named.

IV.

When a princ.i.p.al figure possesses the centre of the field, its position is not to be expressed; it is always understood to be in the middle of the shield.

V.

When the situation of a princ.i.p.al bearing is not expressed, it is always understood to occupy the centre of the field. Ex. See Azure, an annulet argent, p. 48. (Dictionary)

VI.

The number of the points of mullets must be specified if more than five: also if a mullet or any other charge is pierced, it must be mentioned.

VII.

When a ray of the sun or other single figure is borne in any other part of the escutcheon than the centre, the point it issues from must be named.

VIII.

The natural colour of trees, plants, fruits, birds, &c., is to be expressed in emblazoning by the word _proper_; but if they vary from their natural colour, the tincture or metals that is used must be named.

IX.

Two metals cannot come in contact: thus or, cannot be placed on argent, but must be contrasted with a tincture.

X.

When there are many figures of the same species borne in coats of arms, their number must be observed as they stand, and properly expressed. The annexed arrangements of roundlets in shields will show how they are placed and described.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Two roundlets in pale]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Two roundlets in fess]

The two roundlets are arranged in pale, but they may appear in chief or base; or in fess, as in No. 2.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Three roundlets, two over one]

Three roundlets, two over one; if the single roundlet had been at the top, it would have been called _one over two_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Three roundlets in bend]

Three roundlets in bend. They might also be placed in fess, chief, base, or in pale.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Four roundlets, two over two]

Four roundlets, two over two. Some armorists call them _cantoned_ as they form a square figure.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Five roundlets in saltier]

Five roundlets; two, one, two, in saltier.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Five roundlets in cross]

Five roundlets; one, three, one, or in cross.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Six roundlets paleway]

Six roundlets; two, two, two, paleway.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Six roundlets in pile]

Six roundlets; three, two, one, in pile.