The science of herauldry, treated as a part of the civil law, and law of nations wherein reasons are given for its principles, and etymologies for its harder terms.

CHAP. XV. Of the BORDUR and ORLE. (Book 15)

SHields had Bordurs for their ornament, and sometimes for their difference, as vestiments had fringes, and thence did the Bordur grow an honourable Ordinarie amongst Heralds: It possesses the fifth part of the Shield amongst the English, but the third amongst the French. An Orle is a little Bordur, from the Latine word Orula, which signifies a little Bordur; but both the one and the other are given to recompense such, as have given protection and de∣fence: For the Bordur defends what is within it, and therefore Scotland got the Orle Flower deluc'd from the French, to recompense the assistance, the French got from the Scots in all the Wars: At which time, and for the same reason, the Scots got the guarding of the French King's body, which honour they retain to this day.

It is now us'd as a mark of distinction by Cadets, because they ought to defend their elder Brothers Family, as the Bordur defends the Shield.

All nations use few terms in describing Borders, except the English, who use very many, and such as are unnecessar, and have proceeded from affect∣ing French words for terms of art: For if the Bordur be charg'd with dead things, it is call'd a Bordur entoire, as of Annulets, Besants, &c. which word is from the French word entoure (about) corrupted; this word is also improper; for all Bordurs go about the Shield.

If the Bordur be charg'd with Fowles, it is call'd by them enalauron; if it be charg'd with other beasts, it is term'd enurny; if with Flowers, Fruits, or Leaves, verdoi; and then the particulars, and their numbers are exprest, as Verdoy of eight 〈…〉〈…〉 if with furre, it is call'd Purflew generally, and then the Furr is specified, as he bears G. a Bordur purflew ermine.

The French say only, G. a Bordur Ermine, as also they say, he bears Or, a Bordur of 8 Pigeons.

If the Bordur be of moe colours, it is said to be componed of such and such colours, when there is but one range of them: But if there be moe ranges, and these be counterly plac'd chequer wise, the Bordur is said to be compon'd, and counter-compounded.

Skinner in his Dictionary thinks, that enalauron is a corruption of inoru∣latus; but I think it comes from the French, who say, un bordure en ale∣rions, to describe a Bordure of martlets, so that enalauron is the corrupti- of en alerion.

The Fiblier is the French diminitive of a Bordur; but the English have no diminitive of it.

He translates likewise a Bordur purflew, fimbria acu puta nam pourfiler is profilare, id est, aureo filo intexere, so that purflew is rather a Bordur em∣broder'd, than furr'd.

The Orle is an inward Bordur as in the figure 12. and the Tressure or Tresheur, as the French call it, is the diminitive of the Orle, and where

[illustration]

There are two of these as in the Arms of Scotland, it is called a double tressure taenia gemella.

The description of the PLATE, belonging to the 15. Chapter.

I.

* 1.1GUles, a Lyon rampant argent within a bordur componed (accor∣ding to the English gobbonated) azur and of the first.

* 1.2Or, a Lyon rampant within a double tressure counterflowred gules, a bordur componed azur and argent: quartered with the Coats of Stewart and Randolph.

* 1.3Argent, a Lyons head erased gules, within a bordur componed azur and of the first.

II.

* 1.4Gules, a Lyon rampant within a bordur engrailed argent.

Argent, on a fesse azur, three Mollets of the first within a bor∣dur engrailed as the second.

III.

Azur, a bordur with these words, AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA.

IV.

* 1.5Azur, on an Orle Or, eight decrescents of the first, all within a bordur argent, charged with four Lyons rampant gules. Or accor∣ding to others, azur, within two bordurs, the outmost argent char∣ged with four Lyons rampant gules, the inmost Or, of 8 decres∣cents as the first.

V.

Or, a bordur gules.

* 1.6Or, a bordur azur.

Gyronie of eight, Or and sable, a bordur imbatled vert.

VI.

Per pale sable and argent, on a Chaplet, four quarterfoiles coun∣terchanged.

Per pale sable and argent, on a chaplet four cinquefoils all coun∣terchanged.

* 1.7Per pale sable and argent, on a chaplet four Mollets counter∣changed.

This by the French is termed un orle rond.

VII.

Argent, an orle gules, and in chief 3. Martlets sable.

* 1.8VIII.

Or, a Lyon rampant within a double tressure counterflowred (with flowers de lis) gules, armed and lingued azur.

IX.

Argent, a cheveron gules, betwixt three Cross Crosslets fitch∣ed sable,* 1.9 within a double tressure counterflowred of the se∣cond.

* 1.10Gules, a cheveron within a double tressure counterflowred ar∣gent: quartered with the Coat of Frazer, being, azur three frazes argent.

X.

* 1.11Argent, a Lyon rampant within a double tressure counterflowred azur, armed and lingued gules.

Or, a Lyon rampant sable, armed and lingued gules within a double tressure counterflowred of the second.* 1.12

XI.

* 1.13Or, three Cusheons within a double tressure counterflowered gules: now born by some of the name of Dumbar, and by Stewart Earl of Murray.

* 1.14Or, three Crescents within a double tressure counterflowred gules: quartered with the Coat of Cumming, azur three garbs Or.

* 1.15Azur, three Starrs within a double tressure counterflowered argent, quartered with the Coats of Athol and Stewart.

XII.

* 1.16Or, an Orle azur now born in the atchievement of the Earl of Hume.

Or, an Orle indented upon the inner-side azur.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wallace of Ellerslie.
• * 1.2

  Stewart Earl of Murray.
• * 1.3

  Spence of Aberdeen. of old.
• * 1.4

  Gray, Lord Gray.

  Mure of Caldwell.
• * 1.5

  Andrada in Spain.
• * 1.6

  Randeil. Campbell of Aberuc∣hill.

  Nairn of Strathuird one of the Lords of Session.

  Nairn granchyld to the old Nairns of Sandford.
• * 1.7

  Nairn now of Sand∣ford.
• * 1.8

  Ruther∣ford.

  His Royal Majesties coat as King of Scotland
• * 1.9

  Kennedy Earl of Castils.
• * 1.10

  Fleeming Earl of Wigton.
• * 1.11

  Lyon, Earl of Kinghorn
• * 1.12

  Buchanan of that ilk.
• * 1.13

  Randolph sometime Earl of Murray.
• * 1.14

  Seaton of Winton.
• * 1.15

  Murray Marquess of Athol.
• * 1.16

  Landell. Landell of Coule.